And all five things can be done before breakfast if you get the game when it hits PSN exclusively on October 30th and wait until early the next morning to play it. Well, that’s not going to happen, as Okami is more of a game you’ll stay up ALL night playing. With spiffy HD visuals, PlayStation Move support, many, many hours of gameplay (yes, there’s loads of replay value here as well) and more, chalk this up as yet another winner from Capcom.
Much more than a straightforward port of the former Xbox 360 exclusive, Earth Defense Forces 3 Portable comes screaming onto the Vita as the game developer Sandlot most likely wanted to make in the first place. The return of Pale Wing and her energy-based weaponry (from EDF 2 on the PS2 and PSP) adds a new way to experience the game, while an up to four-player co-op mode, rebalanced and all-new weapon drops, new enemy types, trophies galore and seven new levels makes this an absolute must-buy for anyone with a Vita. While the import is indeed entirely in Japanese, the fact that the game is coming to the US this winter in English means Vita owners here have a great game in the pipeline that will get plenty of play and replay. For those who’ve played the 360 version to death, there’s definitely enough new content there to get you equally obsessed (and yes, perhaps it’s time to get that Vita if you’ve been on the fence).
As this went live only a short time ago (a bit late, I think), I’m sitting here trying to download the game at a Starbucks, but may have to get back to getting it tomorrow, as it’s a big file and I’ve under an hour left before they kick me out. Gyaaaa! Still, I’m also in the middle of too many other games on the Vita at the moment: Dokuro, Retro City Rampage (I just started my review for that) and the import version of EDF 3 Portable so I won’t even get to touch Orgarhythm until at least Friday. Still, it’s a very, very good time to be a Vita owner, that’s for sure. I still need to get my paws on Virtue’s Last Reward, Corpse Party: Book of Shadows was just announced yesterday for the PSP (and will hopefully be playable on the Vita) and more key to niche gems are on the way. Sony fans, take heart – the Vita is far, far from “dead” these days…
Here’s the second developer diary from SCEE about Wonderbook, but let’s forget about that for a minute. Four little words, Sony, just four little words:
Fifty Shades of Grey.
Grab the rights to this NOW. I’m just saying… that stupid book and its two sequels have sold in the millions and you have an untapped (pun not intended) source of potential female PS3 owners (that thinner cuter model you just introduced, y’know) who’d LOVE to have an interactive version of the book they can surprise their significant (or insignificant) others (or other selves) with. Sure, the kid books will do OK, but get a dev team to whip out (no pun intended) a version of the first book with some nice PS Move bells and whistles, get it in a limited edition package with a coupon from Trojan Vibrations and BOOM – watch the money rollllllllllllll in.
I’m just saying – tap that market fast before the movie hits and the fad wears out. No charge for this idea – you can thank me later.
Most of the games I saw and played yesterday are under embargo for a few days or up to next month, so I can’t spill all the beans yet, but let’s just say some of you naysayers are going to be eating a load of crow when it comes to certain titles in their lineup. I’ll start rolling out previews for each title as their embargoes lift, but while you’re waiting, I’ll keep you posted on stuff I can write about over the next few days on the mobile and console front. OK, I’m off to bed for two hours, as I have a LOT to do and need to hop up and get an earlier start than usual…
I was laughing when I saw this trailer because I have too many memories of the arcade original and I bet not a lot of gamers this one is targeted to even know where the theme song in the original game comes from. Oh well – if the game is as cool as the first one in terms of action and replay value, I’m all in and then some…
Yeah, you know who you are. Laugh at these awesome visuals at your own peril, kids. Listen up: I’m old, so I KNOW exactly what’s going to happen here. Codgers like me will groove on the sprite-heavy, colors a’poppin graphics, tough as nails gameplay and huge open world that means we’ll be hooked in for weeks. Ironic hipster types (bless their bespectacled hearts) who think they’re cooler than they are in real life will remember the indie games they played over the past few years and get the retro vibe full on. Meanwhile, the wee ones under a certain age who think every damn game MUST be a FPS or packing “realistic” 3D graphics that require a PC upgrade every three weeks or new console or whatever will be laughing and pointing like the fools they are until they pick up a controller and get a butt cheek handed back to them by some random digital thug. It’s all about respect, as I keep saying… and Canadian developer Vblank Entertainment is going to learn you whippersnappers a thing or two.
Your PS3 is starving for this one, and so is your Vita… so yeah, do the right thing and get this game, Before it gets YOU.
Is Ubisoft’s upcoming portable side story the best PS Vita game to date? Well, I’m not (that) psychic, but it sure looks like a prime contender. Check out this latest behind the scenes look at what’s definitely a game worth playing on Sony’s handheld. The system may be struggling a bit these days, but this could be one of those titles that becomes a system seller, killer app, must-play and so forth and so on. Hey, all that hard work here HAS to get some appreciation, I say…
Granted, hardcore fans out there KNOW this, but I always get a chuckle when I hear people wondering why games like this are still made and/or getting attention. Those people are, of course, folks who’ve either never tried shooters or are terminally terrible at them, so they never get listened to. Especially by developers like G.rev and publishers like Rising Star Games (who deserve a big tip of the hat for keeping the flame going). Under Defeat was initially an arcade hit in Japan before landing on the Dreamcast around six years ago (Sega’s console was getting some excellent games in Japan long after it died out everywhere else in the world) and is now headed stateside and to Europe on the PS3 and Xbox 360. The interesting thing here is the game will be made available for the same price point for its digital and retail editions (a mere $29.99), but the retail version will pack in a soundtrack CD, digital art book download,DLC patches and an exclusive letter from the CEO of G.Rev and the game’s executive producer, Hiroyuki Maruyama (no doubt thanking those who got off their lazy asses and walked to their nearest game emporium rather than sit at home and press a few buttons because they’re stuck to the sofa).
Of course, PS3 and 360 shmup fans will be giddy with delight, but where’s the Vita version? That system has a wide screen too, you know…
I really thought this RPG series was gone for good after the flawed open world Eldar Saga on the Wii, but it looks as if Marvelous AQL is giving it a new go on the Vita with Valhalla Knights 3… in Japan at least. If you can read Japanese, definitely check out the official site for info on the game, which is still a work in progress, but expected to be released sometime in 2013. These screens look fine to me, showing off decent draw distance and some generic, but otherwise nice looking fantasy characters and environments.
My bet is if it’s good and what looking like a multiplayer component for up to six (or is that seven ?) players runs smoothly, we could see it hit North America at some point. Granted, that all revolves on the game being marketable here, as some gamers only have long memories when it comes to bad reviews. I’ve liked many aspects of the Valhalla Knights games so far, but hope AQL can pull it together with 3 and make something that feels complete in every area. If they do, I’s gather Xseed will be the ones to tackle the localization and publishing chores, as they’ve handled the other titles that have arrived in the US. More updates to come…
"DESTROY ALL FANBOYS!" 