CHeck out the Nintendo lineup in this video, there are a lot of usual suspects but there is really one big stand out for me. At about 2:30 into the video you will see a clip of Punch Out! Not sure if they are alluding to a whole new game or perhaps a re-hashed version on the WiiWare but it is about time we get some Punch Out love on the Wii.
During an interview with Satoshi Sakai the producer of Phantasy Star Universe and also the new Phantasy Star Zero he discussed some of the details behind the new Nintendo DS RPG. This looks like another title I will be importing over to play on the go. This one will be in a new world but will be modeled after Phantasy Star Online (PSO) and will give you the opportunity to play online.
The ability to draw and chat online will lead to some interesting illustrations I can imagine, you just took my super rare dagger you get “C======3”. I am all about nostalgia so bring on some classic PSO action for me to enjoy along with my Phantasy Star Portable for my PSP.
· Phantasy Star Zero is a completely new title set in a brand new world.
· Zero’s gameplay mechanics will be based heavily around PSO’s. But despite this, the developers hope that the unique style will attract more fans to the series, even those who have never touched a previous Phantasy Star title.
· The Nintendo DS was selected as the platform for this title to help broaden the age range of players.
· Zero was selected as part of the title to invoke thoughts of a new beginning for the series.
· You will be able to play with people you’ve never met over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. No details were given on if or how Friend Codes will be used, however.
· PS0 will not support voice chat or vibration functions.
· PSO’s word select system is a possibility, but has not been confirmed.
· PSO’s symbol chat will not return for this game. It is being replaced by visual chat, allowing users to draw their own pictures using the stylus.
· Many common item and technique names will return from PSO.
· The developers hope that, despite this game taking place in a completely new world, it will still bring out feelings of nostalgia and other fond memories.
Recently there has been quite a buzz flying around with news of a new NIntendo DS. This time it seems that it isn’t just a new color or making it slimmer, but actually getting different functions.
Nintendo has announced that it will release an upgraded model of its popular handheld, the Nintendo DS. Featuring a camera, music playback and more modernized features, it will come to market in Japan this year at a price not far above the current mode.
Looks like Nintendo is looking ot push their DS into the forefront of handheld gaming even further. Was Nintendo worried about the new iPhones gaming capabilities? I doubt they were trembling over the PSP since they have been consistently beating them out. The price point is also looking attractive, I may see a new DS in my future.
The upgraded DS will be released in Japan this year at a price of “under 20,000 yen” ($189). For reference, the current DS sells in Japan for 16,800 yen ($159).
Thanks EHT for the tip.
After a few great updates, we get a rather bland one this week. We get 2 new WiiWare games and a fun but hard title from the Super NES days. I guess all good things come to an end. Hit the jump for pricing and description.
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Strong and I do mean strong Wiikly update this week. We get two WiiWare games, one of them being the new 8 bit Mega Man 9 and something else you won’t buy. We also will get 2 very good titles on the Virtual Console. An NES multiplayer classic and one of the best games to ever come out for the Sega Genesis. Hit the jump for pricing and descriptions. Back to back strong updates. Tommy likey. Tommy want wingy.
Valkyrie Profile is a great classic game that was re-done not too long ago for the PSP and seems to be getting anew iteration for the Nintendo DS now. Watching the cut scenes it is hard to believe that it is on the DS, but the actual battles and in-game characters themselves resemble the Final Fantasy Tactics series. Valkyrie Profile is a notoriously hard game that pulls no punches and really has a stiff learning and decision tree. Certain decisions you make early in the game affected both the outcome of the game and how you got there.
Why do I torture myself with these videos? Better question why do they keep making these blasted videos. Just shows me more and more what I won’t be buying on October 20. This poor Japanese girl is being forced to play this crappy game over and over, she probably goes home and kills puppies to feel better after the shoots. Why does she need to hold the harmonica to her face and why even have a damn harmonica in the game?! Sigh! Watch as Nintendo infuriates me some more with this latest Wii Music clip.
If you ever needed a sign of Armageddon I think this might just be it, yes ladies and gentleman the Xbox 360 has outsold the Nintendo Wii in Japan! During the month of September the Xbox 360 put on a show and beat out the PS3 and Wii.
The 360 sold 28,681 units from September 8 to September 14, beating out the Wii’s 27,057 sales and trouncing the PS3’s 8,050. To further put this success into context, the 360 only shifted a dismal 845 units the previous week.
It is no doubt in correlation to the drastic price drop of the Xbox 360 in combination with new JRPGs hitting the market. Tales of Vesperia alone is a console mover as it is geared perfectly for the Japanese audience and is a very solid game that the Western RPG fan can enjoy as well. Also throw in the mix the new Square Enix RPG Infinite Undiscovery, which I am not a huge fan of, but has the Square Enix name on it that is sure to bring Japanese fans in.
So in conclusion, head toward your bomb shelters now and lock yourself up because the winds are shifting!
We talked a bit about the new Phantasy Star Portable that recently released in Japan for the Sony PSP and now we have confirmation that a DS version entitled Phantasy Star Zero will come to the Nintendo DS on December 25th of this year. The announce and release of the DS title is much more accelerated than any other title in the franchises history.
Seems like Phantasy Star is getting some handheld love and fast, this title is only scheduled to release in Japan but as with the success of the PSP version I would not be surprised if this comes stateside as well.
The DS version looks a bit more cartoonish in nature but still seems to retain the overall charm of Phantasy Star. One advantage off the bat that the DS version will have aside from stylus chat capabilities will by online play via wifi, which is awesome! Unfortunately the PSP version only has an Ad-Hoc capability that just isn’t the same.
Click here to see the official Phantasy Star Zero website and screenshots.
Not a bad update this week. We get an episode update for the WiiWare game Strong Bad and also another original title. We also get maybe the best game in the Mega Man series. Hit the jump for pricing and descriptions. Chances are we all will be buying this one.
