The Negative Edge News Report 07.31.08

Posted by Tommy Coloma on 07.31.2008

This week we talk about the planned "ending" for The Force Unleashed's demo, Microsoft's Summer of Arcade, the return of Karateka, and getting sued for saying Wiimote. We also have this week's release list, info on the next MegaTen game, and More!



I'm still a little burned out after going to Anime Expo and E3 back-to-back and then having to play catch-up at work, but I decided that I've missed enough weeks this year. So here I am, fighting off Mr. Sandman just for you, my loyal readers. Luckily, there's enough news to talk about so I didn't have to spend too much time searching for things to discuss.

Let's go -


The News As I See It

---

A demo with an ending. What a novel idea!

Matt Shell, the Marketing Manager over at LucasArts, recently announced that the demo for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will be released some time in August. He also mentioned that the game will allow players to use Force powers that would not normally be available during that particular level in the retail game. In addition, the download will have an actual ending that will be exclusive to the demo.

Credit: DarkZero via MaxConsole

I like the idea of being able to play something for a few minutes and still have closure when I'm done. I just hope that adding an ending doesn't bite them in the ass. It'll be ok if the gameplay and story are awesome, but if just one if them is lacking, seeing the demo's ending might, in the minds of many, constitute a "good enough for me" feeling that will negatively impact sales.

On a related note, I think that the implications for episodic content could be staggering. While the demo doesn't count as episodic content per se, future developers could use it as a model for their episodic gaming plans. Developers can give prospective customers and fans alike a separate experience that will make them more interested in their product. Can you imagine downloading a level of Gears or Tomb Raider that has it's own separate storyline and payoff at the end for $5-10? The only thing that I'd be worried about would be if the developers completely nix free demos in favor of these short games. But they wouldn't do that, would they?

---

Microsoft's Summer of Arcade Awesome

Microsoft just put up a list of some of the games that it will be releasing in the next few weeks. Let's take a look at the games in question -

Geometry Wars 2 (July 30 – August 5)

At one point, Geometry Wars was the best thing about about the Xbox 360. The system has come a long way, hasn't it? Highlights of this release include 1-4 player action as well as co-op play.

Braid (August 6 – August 12)

"Braid is a 2-D platform game where you can never die and never lose. Despite this, Braid is challenging—but the challenge is about solving puzzles, rather than forcing you to replay tricky jumps." A 2D platformer with puzzle solving aspects? On a console? I'm so there!

Bionic Commando Rearmed (August 13 – August 19)

As someone who played the original extensively, this was the game that I was looking forward to playing at E3 the most (well... behind Mega Man 9 and Street Fighter IV of course). One quick playthrough of the demo convinced me that this is something that fans of the original and people new to the series will love. The game is way too easy on the default difficulty (the developers wanted to open the game up to people who aren't good with 2D platformers), but after asking I was told that it's hardest setting is fairly close to the NES original's difficulty. The only problem I have is the fact that the 360 controller's d-pad is horrible for games like. You really need to be able to hit diagonal directions on command in this game, and unfortunately, the 360's d-pad doesn't make it easy. If you have a PS3, I'd suggest that you get that version instead. It isn't fun dieing because Microsoft insists on subjecting its fans to shitty d-pads.

Galaga Legions (August 20 – August 26)

They're giving Galaga the same treatment they gave Pac-Man. Whether this remake can emulate the success the dot-eating maze runner had remains to be seen. But, as we've witnessed with the Pac-Man update, anything is possible.

Castle Crashers (August 27 – September 2)

I honestly don't know what the big deal about this game is. It has pretty graphics, but is that it? Out of all the games on the list, Castle Crashers is the only one that I know that I will not get on release. Can someone explain to me why everyone is so in love with this?

---

Another MegaTen game this year?

In the latest issue of Famutsu, Atlus made an announceent for Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha Vs Avadon King. The game will be released in October in Japan and will feature the same main character from the previous game. Those who get the "Plus Edition" will get a free copy of Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Manaix Chronicle Edition.

Credit: SCRAWL

I'm not sure if it's really a good idea to follow up Persona 4 with this so soon, but then again, we're getting a new MegaTen game, which is always good.

---

But will it have an ending as special as the original's?

According to Gamasutra, Jordan Mechner, the creator of the Prince of Persia, is going to be involved in a follow-up to Karateka. No details were provided, so it's up to us to imagine what the game will be about. Since the original saw one man kicking and punching his way through hordes of henchmen, a bird, and the boss in order to reach Princess Mariko, I'd imagine that that would be the main storyline for the update. The one thing that I really want to know is whether or not they will use the bad ending in the new game. To this day, that ending is still up there as one of my most memorable moments in video games ever, so I'd love to see a modern take on it. Now that I think about it, that's a little depressing as the game came out in 1984.

---

The NCSX Quote of the Week

It's been a little while since we've had one of these. Maybe the writer was taking a break as well.

It seems like Nintendo lawsuits are becoming more and more common these days. Big moneymakers inevitably draw in gold diggers, so that isn't unexpected. But sometimes, green-eyed douchebags set their sights on the wrong people. Need an example? Just take a look at the following paragraphs that were posted at NCSX -

Last week, we received a letter from a law firm representing a company which holds the "Weemote™" trademark. The letter stated that we were to stop using the term, "Wiimote" in our product descriptions and NCS Game Notes™ because our actions could possibly cause confusion in the marketplace. NCS respects trademarks and ©opyrights since we also own trademarks and copyrighted material so we're obliging even though we think it's a bit of a stretch... but whatever.

From this day forth, the word "Wiimote" has been banished from N©S' shopping sites and replaced with the word "Wii Remote™." We wasted spent about an hour on Friday making sure the term "Wiimote" was waxed from the NCS shopping experience. We'll endeavor to search and replace instances of the word "Wiimote" on our other websites by the end of the month. We wouldn't want the "Weemote™" trademark holder to be supposedly damaged by our conjunction of the words "Wii" and "Remote." We're thinking of coining a new word - "Wii-rote" or maybe just "Wote." As in, "Wave your Wote in the air. Wave it like ya just don't care."
Quick, someone trademark that.

So, if you're a vendor who's foolish enough to use the word "Wiimote" in your literature and product descriptions, watch it. You're liable to get a letter from a law firm. Can the word "Wiimote" be banned from every shopping site on the internet? Maybe. Maybe not. In any case, the word "Wiimote" will be stricken from this posting in approximately 24 hours lest we receive another letter. Y'know, a letter from a law firm.


The Release List

---

I guess that publishers were holding back until E3 was over as there are quite a few releases that are worth mentioning. Some include: Final Fantasy IV (DS), New International Track & Field (DS), SNK Arcade Classics vol. 1 (Wii), Dokidoki Majo Shinpan! 2 DUO (DS Import), Underwater Attack (DS Import), Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus (PSP Import), Hitman Reborn! DS Flame Rumble Hyper (DS Import), MLB Power Pros 2008 (PS2), Spectral Force 3 (Xbox 360), Metal Slug 7 (DS Import), Gundam Battle Universe(PSP), and Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1 (Wii and PS2). Here are a few more that you might want to check out -



KORG DS-10 Synthesizer (DS Import)
This is actually a synth and sequencer. Being that it is not a game, I don't really have much to say about it. Thankfully, Jacob Lopez did a hands-on preview a week ago that you can check out here. This app is supposed to be released in the US down the line, but if you're hardcore into synths and sequencers and can't wait (and if you don't mind paying $60+ for DS software that isn't a game), then you might want to consider importing now.

---

Soul Calibur IV (Xbox 360 and PS3)
I got the PS3 version the other day since it had both Vader and better controls. I never got into the Soul Calibur series, but as someone that plays a lot of fighting games in general, I have to say that I like the characters and fighting engine so far. Online play isn't as bad as I had been expecting from a developer that hasn't put out an online fighting game before. The bonus characters (the ones that were created by Anime/Manga artists as one-offs for this game) were all pretty easy to get (I got all of them the night I bought the game) and are fun to use, though I wish I could shut them up 'cause some of their voices are beyond annoying. Most people are getting the PS3 version for Vader, and I don't blame them. He is just so fun to use. Yes, it is most likely that he will be available on the 360 as a paid add-on down the road, but for now, he is reason enough to choose the PS3 version over the 360 one.

---

Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns (DS)
Ok... So I was supposed to do a review for this game over a year-and-a-half ago, but for one reason or another I never got to it. Possibly because of the guilt I still feel for not doing the review for the original, I volunteered to do a review for the second one. I'll do it soon. I swear! To give you a taste of what to expect from the game, I've pasted an excerpt from my unfinished review of the first Izuna down below -

"You're on the thirtieth floor of a forty floor dungeon. It took you well over an hour to reach that point. Enemies have surrounded you and more are on the way. Your life bar is nearly depleted. You can no longer use magic to escape. There is absolutely nothing that you can do to get out of this situation. In a few moments everything that you've collected up to this point will be lost. When you try again you will have to start over from the first floor. It wouldn't be so bad... if this wasn't the fifth time this has already happened... today."

Yes, Izuna is hard. If you want to be challenged, get this game.

---

Windy x Windam (DS Import)
This is known in most circles as "that fighting game that has Izuna as a selectable character." Famitsu gave it a 4/6/4/4, so as much as I like Izuna and fighting games, even I find it hard to convince myself to import this. It's still on my radar though, but I'll wait until it reaches bargain-bin status before I take the plunge.

---

Phantasy Star Portable (PSP Import)
This is supposedly Phantasy Star Universe in portable form. My one gripe is the fact that you can't take this game online. There is local multiplayer, but how often are you going to find someone that actually likes Phantasy Star Universe, let alone someone that has a copy of the game? If you're interested, you can download a demo here. It's in Japanese, but you should be able to figure it out.

---

Rhythm Tengoku Gold (DS Import)
I was going to completely gloss over this, mostly because of the fugly cover (sometimes I'm shallow like that), but then I noticed that it was developed by Nintendo. The game looks like it plays like WarioWare, only with a focus on music. Watch the whole video down below. It's awesome.


Footage from the GBA version. A taste of things to come?

---

Ginga Ojousama Densetsu Collection (PSP Import)
I believe that this came out earlier this year, but due to popular demand, it was recently reissued. This collection comes with 3 games - three interactive adventures and one shooter. The shooter, a PC-Engine game called Fukei Densetsu Sapphire, is the one that I am most interested in as it is considered one of the best on the system. Instead of paying $400+ for the game, I can now get it for a measly $30. Sounds good to me!

---

Wario Land Shake (Wii Import)
This is the next game in the Wario Land series, but instead of being relegated to a portable, it somehow found its way onto a console. After all these years, we finally got a side-scrolling platformer from Nintendo on a console. I really hope that this game does well as I see it as a test by Nintendo to see if side-scrolling platformers on consoles are still viable. We're supposed to get this game in September, but if you can't wait for some 2d platforming goodness, you know what you must do.

---

Samurai Spirits Rokuban Shoubu (Wii and PS2 Import)
This collection contains Samurai Showdown 1-6. I believe that this is scheduled for release in the US in December. But why wait?


That will be 255 Rupees Please!

---

Ga-Ko Alarm Clock (AKA that Metal Gear Solid 4 egg timer)
Released by Konami, this is that clock that the little girl used to get her horrible eggs to taste right. This is going to be hard to find in a few days, so if you want it, get it now.


I'll admit it. I want one!

To Be Continued...

---

That's all I have for this week.

Now, I was just told that if all else fails, I should use fire. If I can grasp the meaning of those words, I'll be back next week.