The Release List 04.09.09: The Chronicles of Riddick, Oboro Muramasa, Arcana Heart 2, Guilty Gear XX, More
Posted by Tommy Coloma on 04.09.2009
Riddick gets ready to shiv his next victim, one of the best looking games you'll see this generation gets released on the Wii, and hot girl-on-girl action highlights yet another PS2 fighting game.
So many games, so little time...
This week's highlightsNote: Release dates are subject to change
The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (PS3, 360, PC)
Many consider Escape from Butcher Bay to be one of the best movie tie-in games ever released. It mixed elements from several different genres (first-person shooter, hand-to-hand combat, stealth, and exploration) into a fun game and then wrapped it into a decent story that perfectly complemented the movies it was based on (Pitch Black, Dark Fury, and The Chronicles of Riddick). I'm not into first-person shooters and even I liked the game. Then again, Pitch Black is one of my all-time favorites, so I may be a little biased.
This update contains a enhanced version of Escape from Butcher Bay, a new campaign called Assault on Dark Athena, as well as multi-player options. Those who have played the original can look forward to improved graphics and supposedly smarter enemies. The Dark Athena portion looks promising, though I have heard that there are some pacing issues. If you haven't played the original, you really should check this out just for Escape from Butcher Bay alone as it really is that good - whether or not Dark Athena is as good as its predecessor won't change that. As for me, multi-player is what I've been eying since this was announced, especially the "Pitch Black" mode in which one character plays as Riddick and hunts the other players in the dark.
the "Clever Drones" trailer
Oboro Muramasa (Wii Import)
Note: We are definitely getting this in the US. However, no definitive release date has been given yet.
Yes, the Odin Sphere-like graphics are gorgeous. However, I'd say that the most noteworthy aspect of Oboro Muramasa is the fact that it is a good disc-based 2D platformer ON A CONSOLE that does not cater specifically to grade-schoolers. I really hope that the game exceeds all sales expectations so that more companies will come to realize that 2D platformers do not have to be relegated to handhelds.
What are the differences between the male and female characters?
"Basically, the female starts from a place called Kyo - it's where Kyoto is today - and she is going to Edo - where Tokyo is now. So she is going up north, and the male character is actually going down from Edo to Kyo. You'll see a little crossover, like in the middle you'll go through a city and you'll see the other character in the back drinking tea or eating."
"When you go through the stages, there are some stages where you'll think that there are supposed to be enemies, but there are none, and you don't know why, but when you play the other side, you'll find out that the other player already defeated that enemy and moved on."
Can you tell us about the RPG elements in the game?
"First of all, the demo that we showed yesterday and the one that's on the floor - they are more action-oriented. We just put some of the action stages together. The action part is like the encounter in typical RPGs. So in the real game, you'll fight and then you'll be in a section where you can walk and talk to other people. While there you'll be able to set up your items or change your weapons and then go into another section to fight."
Are there going to be sub-missions and stuff like that?
"There will be sub-quests. If you talk to certain people, they'll give you a mission, and it's up to you to fulfill that plot if you want."
Is it catered to the hardcore - the ones who played games like the original Ninja Gaiden back in the day?
"It is a core game. Not as much as Ninja Gaiden, the old series, but more like Legend of Kage and Genpei Toma Den - something in that sense. It's an action game that everybody can play. It does have some difficulty to it, but its simple controls allow you to do great things."
the Japanese "Overview" trailer
the TGS 2008 demo
Suggoi! Arcana Heart 2 (PS2 Import)
Last year I described the first Arcana Heart as "a fighting game that features different schoolgirls who represent pretty much every female archetype you can think of from anime and manga." I guess that can be used to describe Arcana Heart 2 as well. This sequel adds six more to the mix, bringing the number of girls that you can play with to seventeen.
I've read numerous reports on SRK that this is a pretty bad port. You can expect lots of slowdown during supers, unbearable load times, and graphical tearing. Unless you're a big fan, it might be better to stick to the first game and hope that an improved PS3 port (with online play!) comes out in the future.
the "Debut" trailer
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus (PSP, PS2) Accent Core Plus is essentially 2007's Accent Core with a major bug fix, an updated story mode, two additional characters (Kliff and Justice), and a King of Fighters-style (three-on-three) team mode. This will most likely be the "Super Turbo" of the GGXX series as Aksys has shifted its focus to BlazBlue. So, you probably don't have to worry about there being yet another sequel/rehash/update in the near future. Accent Core Plus would be worth getting for team mode alone if you have someone to play with. Otherwise, it really is a tossup considering all the fighting games that have been released recently and the ones that are set to be released later this year, including Guilty Gear's spiritual successor, BlazBlue.
Note: the Wii version comes out on May 12
a fight montage
Hammerin' Hero (PSP) Hammerin' Harry (Daiku no Gensan) started out as an arcade game that eventually found its way onto the NES, Game Boy, and SNES. Even though he started out in platformers, Harry somehow found himself in pachinko hell in the late 90s. Now, after a long stint as a pachinko mascot, he has returned to his roots.
All of the games in the series (save for the the one puzzler and the pachinko offshoots) were platformers that had you using the mighty hammer to whack your enemies to death. In this one, however, you can use other weapons by simply wearing different things. For example, if you happen to be sporting DJ garb you can throw records. Or, score a baseball player uniform and you can swing a bat. While Hammerin' Hero is a short game, there are lots of costumes, items, and people scattered throughout the levels that may be worth finding, so it could prove to be a good pick-up-and-play game.
the "Debut" trailer
Professor Heinz Wolff's Gravity (Wii, DS)
What we've got here is a physics-based puzzler. Basically, each level contains a button that must be pressed. A marble is dropped from a specific location in the room and, depending on where you placed special objects earlier, that marble should either be made to press the button itself or it should cause the other objects to do so. Those who liked The Incredible Machine or enjoy solving puzzles might dig this.
The other US releases Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor (PC)
DCS: Black Shark (PC)
Dragonball Evolution (PSP)
Elven Legacy (PC)
Hannah Montana: The Movie (PS3, 360, Wii, DS)
Ninja Blade (360)
The Godfather 2 (PS3, 360, PC)
