Namco Bandai was in town the other day and I went over to play some games. There were some very cool things to see. Most impressive were Inversion, Dark Souls, and Ace Combat Assault Horizon.
Dark Souls
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Enter a dark world filled with despair and threaded by hope where your ability to creatively strategize, learn and overcome unpredictable and unique challenges determines your fate. Dark Souls will demand your absolute concentration, unflinchingly punish your mistakes, but reward your ability to learn from death. Each challenge is a mind game met with endless combinations that will test your ability to creatively strategize a way to conquer unimaginable monsters and progress deeper into this bleak and forbidding environment filled with the undead.
SOULCALIBUR V
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3
Release Date: 2012
SOULCALIBUR V is the latest entry in the premier weapons-based head-to-head fighting series. SOULCALIBUR V takes place 17 years after the events of SOULCALIBUR IV and continues the epic story of warriors in search of the legendary Soul Swords in 17th century Europe. The heroic battles transpire in a beautiful and fluid world with eye-popping graphics and visual appeal. SOULCALIBUR V tunes the battle, movement, and visual systems so players can pull off cool dynamic attacks with ease and battle with complete freedom.
ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON
Platforms: Xbox 360 / PS3
Release Date: October 11, 2011
Developed by the Project Aces team, ACE COMBAT® ASSAULT HORIZON intensifies the franchise, escalating combat to the next level with aircraft that are literally torn apart, spewing oil and debris across the sky. Players will engage in combat across the globe, dodging skyscrapers, and turning their enemies into fiery supersonic debris in both single player and online multiplayer. Never before has combat been so fast and in-your-face.
Featuring a story written by New York Times’ bestselling military author, Jim DeFelice, writer of Leopards Kill and Threat Level Black, ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON puts players in the shoes of a top gun pilot in an international task force. The engaging war drama will span real-world locations, such as Dubai and Russia, and incorporate new categories of aircrafts, including super-sonic jets and the introduction of the attack helicopter, door gunner and more.
INVERSION
Platforms: Xbox 360 / PS3
Release Date: February 7, 2011
I was most impressed with Inversion. This game introduces the idea of using gravity in combat. So gravity can shape the exploration and the battles. At one point, you’re actually fighting with enemies that are walking on the wall. Do you chase them onto the wall or shoot them even though it isn’t quite a straight shot? It’s up to you.
Developed by Saber Interactive, INVERSION takes players on a whirlwind journey complete with nonstop firefights and a suspense-filled storyline. Packed to the brim with action, INVERSION also introduces revolutionary gravity-wielding combat, zero gravity environments, vector changes, and a unique destructible cover system.
Take on the role of a young father and husband, Davis Russel, who finds himself thrust into war when his peaceful city is invaded by an unknown enemy. With his daughter missing and conventional weapons and tactics all but useless, this ordinary cop and his partner Leo Delgado will rise up to heed the call of duty, master the fundamental forces of gravity and save the world.
Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi
Platforms: PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Developed by Spike Co. Ltd., Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi is a new landmark game for the Dragon Ball Z franchise. The game features upgraded environmental and character graphics, with designs drawn from the original manga series. Destructible battlefields, including massive craters and ki blasts cutting across the sky deliver a more dynamic experience and immediate sense of urgency to the exhilarating fights. An enhanced story mode drops players into the rich Dragon Ball Z universe, filled with beloved characters and powerful enemies. An accessible battle system allows gamers of all ages to hold their own in fast-paced battles, while still retaining tactical depth for hardcore fans.
Go Vacation
Platforms: Nintendo Wii
Release Date: Fall 2011
Set on the resort of Kawawii Island, Go Vacation brings an open-ended world of exploration and adventure that includes engaging activities for the entire family to enjoy. With a fun variety of activities to play, Go Vacation is the perfect gaming getaway.
From snowcapped mountains to the bright lights of a bustling cityscape, Go Vacation gives gamers the option to take part in heated street races, relaxing fishing excursions and pulse-pounding skydiving sessions and more—all accessed by actually visiting each location in-game instead of simply choosing them from a menu. With support for a whole suite of Wii hardware accessories, including the Wii Balance Board, the Wii Zapper and Wii MotionPlus, every activity offers a fun and natural control scheme that allows gamers to easily jump in and play.
Each of the resort locations in Kawawii Island offer their own distinctive landscape and thematic adventures. From inline skating, hang gliding, surfing, skydiving, horseback riding, tennis, fishing, snowboarding, street racing, dancing and more, there is no shortage of activities for players to take part in.
Power Rangers Samurai
Platforms: Wii / Nintendo DS
Release Date: Holiday 2011
Based on Saban Brands’ incredibly popular Power Rangers Samurai TV show on Nickelodeon, players of all ages will finally be able to join the Rangers as they physically immerse themselves into the morphing action of the iconic team of heroes.
Power Rangers Samurai will let fans wield the Samuraizer to master the elements of Fire, Water, Sky, Forest, and Earth as they morph into Red, Blue, Pink, Green, or Yellow Rangers. Martial arts training and fitness combined with team based battles teach the importance of team work, friendship, and responsibility to battle hordes of Nighlok monsters. Players can also unlock secret passageways, access hidden levels, and get hints on how to defeat the armies of evil while collecting enough Zords to gain the Samurai Megazord needed to take down the MegaMonster once and for all.
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations
Platforms: PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
Release date: 2012
Based on the popular animated NARUTO SHIPPUDEN series and coming to North America in 2012, the title will offer a vast selection of playable & support characters spanning every generation of the NARUTO saga, alongside incredible online functionality to take the NARUTO ninja fight onto the global stage in the much-beloved fighting series.
Developed by CyberConnect2, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM Generations (not yet rated) is the latest rendition in the smash hit ‘NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm’ series of games. The title will power the series into the future by revolutionizing online play and ramping up the number of playable and support characters far beyond any NARUTO game in the wildly popular franchise. Players will compete in a variety of online battle modes with their favorite NARUTO characters, including Naruto and Sasuke. NARUTO fans have been waiting to see more of Zabuza and Haku since the launch of the original Manga, and now they will have their chance! These are just a few of the many new ninja in the game.
PAC-MAN & Galaga DIMENSIONS
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Release date: July 26
The one package includes six Pac-Man and Galaga games, including Pac-Man CE, Galaga Legions, original arcade versions of Pac-Man and Galaga, plus the new titles Galaga 3D IMPACT and Pac-Man Tilt. Featuring Galaga 3D IMPACT, experience the invading Galaga alien armada like never before. Players will use the gyro sensor in the Nintendo 3DS system to take the role of a space ship pilot. Maneuver the Nintendo 3DS system in real-time to blast away the Galaga threat. In PAC-MAN Tilt, a brand new side-scrolling PAC-MAN adventure. Players use the 3DS system’s motion sensor to tilt PAC-MAN’s world and use the surrounding environment to help him escape puzzles and defeat enemies.
Galaga 30th Collection
Platform: iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch)
Release date: June 9
The Galaga 30th Collection universal app will act as a hub for the Galaga universe across all iOS devices. iPhone®, iPod® touch and iPad® owners will be able to experience the celebrated Galaga franchise at the tips of their fingers. Galaga 30th Collection will be available June 9 for free bundled with a copy of Galaxian®. Future in-app purchases will be available through the year.
The Mooniacs
Platform: iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) and Android
Release date: June 30
MSRP: Apple App Store: $1.99. Amazon Appstore: $0.99
A fun, family-friendly, physics based puzzle game easy to pick up but impossible to put down, The Mooniacs follows the quest of Plink and Blube in their efforts to round-up the adorable JujuBee creatures – highly sought after throughout the universe.
The journey begins with the dynamic duo returning home, when their ship suddenly malfunctions. In a desperate attempt to save their precious cargo of JujuBees, Blube jumps out of thedamaged ship and falls into a lost region of a strange uncharted planet, while Plink crash lands and is ejected on the otherside of thismysterious world. The pair must traverse the planet and attempt to recapture their JujuBees as quickly and efficiently as possible. With downloadable bonus content, three alternative endings, 90 core levels, and multiple ways to complete each level, The Mooniacs has lasting replayability beyond the core game. JujuBees traded or spent within the game also contribute to “The Great Swarm”; the exciting new onlineSocial Meta Game that connects players worldwide, working together to unlock 10 free additional bonus levels. JujuBees can also be spent in The Mooniacs’ level hint system, which provides for three different levels of “help” – essential for those confounded by some of The Mooniacs’ trickier levels.
Developed by Bad Juju Games, The Mooniacs takes advantage of the iOS and Android platforms offering full Game Center and OpenFeint support respectively, while further extending the game experience to exclusive web-based leaderboards for registered users. More than other titles in this genre, players are continuously connected and rewarded for their gameplay contributions. Moreover, full Retina display graphics make the characters and environments pop off the screen with razor-sharp detail.
Dead to Rights—Retribution, from Namco Bandai, isn’t a game-changer, but it’s engaging and fun, with some cool and unique ideas. The “Retribution” comes from your character’s drive for vengeance for his father’s murder. Accompanying you on your quest: your seemingly unstoppable, smart and stealthy dog, Shadow. And how cool is that, to have a reliable partner in a single-player game? Shadow has two kill moves—he can rip out a man’s throat or perform a…well, a teste-kill. You can also take advantage of some normal dog behavior, such as the propensity to pee on things.
The game isn’t terribly difficult, even on the highest level. There are some reliable strategies to get through the levels, one involving freezing time—a special power that you’ll have to pick up along the way. As in real life, finding cover is a fairly reliable way to keep your head attached to your body—and as in real life, no cover is indestructible, so you can’t just sit tight (although, why would you want to?).
I recommend playing this game on an Xbox 360 over a PlayStation3 because for some reason, the the PS3 supports only 1080i resolution while the Xbox 360 lets you play at 1080p. With all the textures, effects, and of course, spraying blood, the full resolution is more rewarding. The game isn’t what I’d call “extreme realism,” but it looks good and is convincing. Overall, between the look and the gameplay, I’d rate Dead to Rights—Retribution a 7 or 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. It won’t be the greatest gaming experience of your life, but it’s a lot of fun, the headshots are stellar, and this bears repeating: Your partner is an awesome dog.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IN THE VIDEO I SAY THAT CAPCOM IS THE PUBLISHER BUT IT IS NAMCO BANDAI. THIS IS ALICIA KIM’S FAULT BECAUSE I ASSOCIATE HER WITH THE GAME AND SHE WAS PREVIOUSLY AT CAPCOM.
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