Saying adieu for the weekend...

Just giving everyone the heads up that I'll be away from my PC until Tuesday night due to a personal vacation. There won't be any updates to the site until then, but expect a wave of updates as I try to catch up to the weekend news on Wednesday morning.

Happy gaming.

Crazy Week at Play-Asia: 20% off all in stock items!

Outside of the banner ads, I'm really not one to want to make a big deal about a special offer for online retail sites, but every once in a while an offer comes up that I have to turn around and share.

Hot on the heels of Play-Asia's Lucky New Year sales, Play-Asia has started up a second promotion called "Crazy Week". All this week (starting Friday, March 30th and lasting until April 5th) Play-Asia is featuring 20% off all items in stock that are older than a month. Want to pick up Do Don Pachi Dai Ou Jou? Pick it up at a discount. How about Naruto? Absolutely. 20% off.

This sale not only features games, but consoles, accessories, and more...

If you get the time, be sure to check it out. You may just find that import gem you are missing from your collection.

To Visit Play-Asia, please follow the link.

Ketsui coming to the Nintendo DS?

(NOTE: Take all this with a grain of salt... It is near April 1st after all...)

There are few things in life that truly shock me. I mean absolutely really shock me. So, when I was sent a link to a video with the title, "You Won't Believe This", I was a bit pessimistic. People tend to be a bit over zealous when it comes to e-mails they send me. Something that someone usually claims "I'm not going to believe", I tend to shrug off as being "neat", but not necessarily the awe-inspiring event that they originally made it out to be.

I was wrong to be pessimistic with this one.

The link that I was sent directed me to a K. Mihara blog. As a bit of a background, K. Mihara is the head of Arika and over saw the responsibilities of the home releases of Dodonpachi Dai Ou Jou and Espgaluda. I was familiar with the blog address from a rather disappointing entry that he had posted earlier informing us that the Arika-lead home port of Ketsui (Kizuna Jigoku Tachi) to the Playstation 2 had hit a wall due to an issue with the fifth stage of the game proving to be too taxing on the systems hardware. Since the game was not able to be perfectly replicated, Mihara delivered the news that we would more than likely not see a Playstation 2 release of the title.

But wait... What was that at the bottom of his blog post?

I was shocked to see it in action, but Ketsui lived. Albeit in a slightly different form. The video which I've posted below, is the final boss (DOOM) of Ketsui playing on the Nintendo DS.

Amazing.

I assume that an Arika port to the DS would be given a lot more latitude when it comes to how "close" to the source the game would need to be. Unlike the PS2 game where K. Mihara was demanding perfection, the DS title would probably be a reinvisioning of the original, scaled for the hardware, but still delivering the manic shooting experience that everyone expects from the series. Do I think this is a possibility?

Perhaps. It is rumored that Mihara has requested feedback on this project to see whether or not there is enough fan support for such a port. It may be disappointing to have witnessed the death of the PS2 version and it is a bit sad that this may be offered as our consolation, but the fact that the game may live on to see a commercial release is a technical feat in and of itself. It's about time we received some manic shooting action on the DS anyway...

Import Preview - Hokuto No Ken (PS2)

When I first experienced Hokuto No Ken at an arcade in California, I didn’t quite know what to expect. I usually don’t support many licensed products, since licenses are often used as a way for bad games to sell large amounts. But due to Arc System Works track record with 2D fighting games, I had faith that Hokuto No Ken would be something more than Guilty Gears with a palette swap and shallower depth.

Being a fan of the Fist of the North Star anime, I was surprised (and relieved) that in the game each of the characters had an immediate sense of familiarity, and their “styles” were each developed based off the original source material. Overall, however, the most intriguing thing was the fact that not only did the game stand well on its own, but it didn’t seem to miss a beat compared to the Guilty Gear series that it was roughly based on.

As a bit of background on the game, the Fist of the North Star series is set on a post-apocalyptic earth. The main character of the series, Kenshiro, uses his skills in the art of Hokuto No Ken (a secret martial arts style) to protect the weak that would be preyed on by the numerous “evil-doers” roaming the lands. Hokuto No Ken takes place during the first half of the original manga, and actually features most of the original voice actors from the anime.

The gameplay is immediately accessible to anyone familiar with Guilty Gear.

Though there are a few minor changes, the same combo based fighting engine exists here in Hokuto No Ken. There are a few balancing issues (which are to be expected). The juggling abilities aren’t quite broken, but for some characters they are close. The game is also notorious for punishing you for mistakes. This is a common part of most fighting games (especially when played against a human opponent), but I can see where the level of punishment you receive would be frustrating for a new player trying to learn the system.

Hokuto No Ken features a Seven Stars of the Hokuto gauge which lowers progressively during the course of the match based on various attacks performed. Once the bar is empty, characters are able to perform Instant Kill-styled moves from the Guilty Gear series.

The anime was notorious for it’s over the top violence and gruesome fights. Fortunately (for fans of the anime that is), this has been carried over to the game with utmost concern on the part of the developers. The blood will flow in this game… And freely.

Graphically, the game is impressive. And though Arc System Works still hasn’t quite reached Street Fighter III Third Strike animation quality, the quality of the work more than makes up for it. This game is as impressive as any of the Guilty Gear games.

Cloth moves naturally, all motions are extremely fluid… All of the backgrounds have little details that were included that while unnecessary, add another layer of coating and polish to the final product. There are also full screen animations of the characters that will fill the television during certain attacks, making the game play a much more cinematic experience than you’re a-typical fighter.

Arc System Works has succeeded with Hokuto no Ken. This game is faithful to its source material and is a worthy extension to their already great Guilty Gear series. Finally making its way to home consoles, Hokuto No Ken is looking to be a 2D anime/fighting game fan aficionados dream.

The game promises to deliver with additional modes and improved blance. I am expecting the final copy in my hands this week from www.play-asia.com, but if it captures just a bit of the flavor and action that the arcade version had, this may very well be one of the top fighting games released this year on a home console.

VITAL STATS

Developed by Arc System Works for the arcade and the Playstation 2 console

Published by Sega/Sammy

Originally produced for the Atomiswave hardware (an extension of the NAOMI)

10 playable characters: Kenshiro, Shin, Raoh, Rei, Jagi, Juda, Toki, Thouther, Mamiya, Mr. Heart

Cameos from several characters from the Fist of the Northstar series

Japanese release comes with a training DVD as well as a history of the series documentary covering previous games


Kenshiro Combo DVD

First Radio Allergy (GCN) Review

Despite it's delay to the end of April, Radio Allergy has already been reviewed in the May issue of Nintendo Power. Though I haven't been able to independently verify the accuracy of this review (as its contents were provided by a third party source), I can verify that the score 5/10 is correct. Shooters have not scored all too well with main stream media sources since the mid-90's, so this score should be taken with a grain of salt.

Milestone's other shooter, Chaos Field, received similar marks upon its domestic release. Radio Allergy was first released in Japan for the arcades based on the NAOMI hardware. It was later ported to the Dreamcast, Gamecube, and PS2, before seeing its US release by 03.

From Nintendo Power -
Chances are if you liked the brain busting insanity of a game like Ikaruga, then you'll appreciate an intense old-style shooter like Radio Allergy-that is, if you can stomach its quirkiness and rudimentary mechanics. Of course, it's natural for a top-down shooter like this to be a little weird, but Radio Allergy makes a special effort to showcase pointless dialogue, odd bosses, and even odder enemy projectiles that take the form of baseballs and soccer balls.

But what makes Radio Allergy especially difficult to recommend is the fact that there just isn't much to it. Sure, it offers a challenge that any shooter fan would respect, but there's no real interesting weapon management or strategy involved, save for the fact that there are three weapon types and three ships to choose from before you enter the actual game. Ultimately, Radio Allergy is just a bland old-school shooter in a candy colored, cel-shaded shell. - Giancarlo V, 5/10

Big Wii Giveaway: Wii Love the 80's

Are you a child of the arcades?
Remember playing Galaga and Pac-Man for the first time?

If so, VH1 Gamebreak has a contest for you.



This week, VH1 Game Break’s got a giant Wii giveaway for you. There’s one big, grand prize package and that includes one o’ them thar Nintendo Wii systems that’s taken the country by storm. But that’s not all! We’ll include a mammoth 10,000 Wii Points which lets you buy old school games via the Wii’s Shop Channel Online. Know what? We’re not done yet. We’ll throw in a Nintendo T-shirt and cap, too.

The best part of this contest is that it’s really easy to enter and win. In the comments section, tell us your favorite anecdote about playing old school 80s games and how those great games shaped your life.

Don’t just write us one sentence. You have to write between 40 and 100 words or you’ll be disqualified. Make it funny, weird, sad, whatever. But definitely make it old school.

Click here for a little more about the contest and the rules.

Start thinking today. The contest ends on Friday, March 30. Winners will be announced next Monday morning. So what are you waiting for?

http://wii.nintendo.com

If you thought Smash my Wii was bad...

This video is painful to watch.

And not in a good way.

Asteroids was one of the early games that sparked the video game revolution during the early 1980's. It was a vector based game created by Atari in 1979. The player had to shoot oncoming Asteroids while attempting to avoid any of the fragments that were created once the asteroids were blown up. The game featured the first high score tables in video game history; allowing the players to enter their initials in order to compare their results with other players. Nearly EVERY arcade game to this day offers some variation of this innovation Asteroids created.

A game with this sort of pedigree deserves a spot in a museum... But instead of honoring the title with such a spot, the company who made this video (SSI) determined that the game deserved to be made into unusable mulch (they shredded the monitor?).

In the original postings, the company claimed that the game didn't work - but if someone would have only taken a few moments to try to find out the problem and correct it - this cabinet and version of Asteroids would be worth a small fortune.

But alas...

Sometimes, people destroy things for no reason.

If you are a fan of classic arcade games, this will be very hard to watch...

Tekken 6 Confirmed to be on Playstation 3 Based Hardware

Though this is no surprise considering Sony's relationship with Namco for their previous Arcade hardware, it does help clear up earlier rumors in regards to the hardware base for the new fighter. It also explains the Playstation 3 hardware and modified controllers that were being used to control the fighter at the AOU 2007 preview. People didn't think those were just there for show, right?

Source: http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/business/news/20070326p2g00m0bu023000c.html

Fighting game "Tekken 6" will go on sale later this year as the first arcade game using Sony's PlayStation 3 technology, game developer Namco Bandai Games Inc. announced Monday.

"Tekken 6" will be available for amusement parks and other game arcade facilities worldwide, but the company has not decided on the exact launch date for that game or others that will follow, using Sony's latest game technology, Namco Bandai spokeswoman Miki Baba said.

Tokyo-based Namco Bandai, Japan's second largest toy and game business group and maker of the "Ridge Racer" and "Pac Man" games, has previously used the predecessor PlayStation 2 technology to develop arcade versions of games, Baba said.

Namco Bandai has sold its PS2 arcade technology to other makers, but it is still undecided about whether to sell its PS3 cell-based technology, Baba said.

The PlayStation 3 went on sale in the U.S. and Japan late last year and in March in Europe.

Technology for PlayStation 3 includes a new computer chip called "Cell," which Sony Corp. developed with IBM Corp. and Toshiba Corp. and will be used in new gadgets for the home as well as video game products. (AP)

Devastation 2007 - The Temple Arcade (Tournament Notice)

With the spring/summer tournament season starting up, several local arcades and tournament facilities have been posting up notices about tournaments coming up in the upcoming weeks. And though everyone knows about the "big" ones, for every EVO2k Qualifier, there are smaller run tournaments that despite the local presence provides high quality action and a great opportunity to hone skills in preparation for the next level.

Devastation 2007 is a third annual event held at the Temple Arcade in Phoenix, Arizona. This year's event is going to see several console-based games played over the course of a single day, March 31st, 2007. Games being featured in this year's event are Guilty Gear XX Slash, Street Fighter III: Third Strike, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Street Fighter Alpha Anthology, Super Street Fighter II Turbo, Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection, and Virtual Fighter 5.

The host is kindly providing several arcade sticks for those wanting to have a true arcade experience, but according to the information on the site, will also gladly welcome players the chance to bring their own stick if they happen to have a favorite that they can't leave home without.

For more information about Devastation 2007, please visit the Temple Arcade website. The tournament is also accepting pre-registration for those interested in jumping straight into the action the day of the event.

http://www.thetemplearcade.com

* For tournament organizers wishing to have their tournament notices listed, please e-mail me at rgutierrez82@yahoo.com

Strategy and Cheese, part II (Street Fighter II)

This is the second part of the Street Fighter II video series that I am featuring here at Arcade Renaissance.

After beginning the series with fan favorite, RYU, I have now decided to move on to perennial Street Fighter II characters, Zangief and Vega (US). Though the strategy sections on these two characters are not as in depth as the Ryu portion, there is enough detail and information here to give you a decent shot at making a new a player into a better player with little effort. Due to the length of the two videos, I have made the decision to combine them into one section.

If you wish to view the first video or to find out more about this video series, including who made it and where it came from, you can view it here:

http://arcaderenaissance.blogspot.com/2007/03/what-do-you-get-when-you-mix-cheese.html

If you have a specific Street Fighter II: Special Champion's Edition character you would like to see, don't hesitate to leave a comment or send me an e-mail.



Previous Videos:
General Strategies
Ryu (also includes a brief intro to the series)
Zangief/Vega
E. Honda/Blanka
Balrog/Chun Li
Guile
Ken/Dhalsim/Sagat/M. Bison

Capcom Online Game Center

http://www.ga-cen.com

Originally shown as a video at the Tokyo Game Show, from what can be gathered from the press releases, the Capcom Game Center is going to be an online "Arcade" that allows multiplayer play over an Internet-connected PC. There is said to be over 20 titles playable for the service.

In the promo on www.ga-cen.com, there are images from several versions of Street Fighter and the Darkstalker series. For non-fighting game fans, Capcom has reached into its vaults and pulled out some classics like Trojan, Side Arm, Forgotten Worlds, Mercs, and 1942.

The Capcom Game Center is currently in its beta stages. There is no word on US availability.

Video Game Releases for the Week of March 26th - March 30th

Want to know what to expect this week when it comes to arcade games coming to home and portable consoles? Though release dates are always subject to change, here's a list of what you should be able to expect to find on the shelves of your local stores...

Nintendo DS
Konami Classics: Arcade Hits (03/27/07)

15 timeless classics on one cartridge - includes Contra, Gradius, Time Pilot, Scramble, Rush'N Attack, Horror Maze, Pooyan, Roc'N Rope, Track & Field, Circus Charlie, Basketball, Road Fighter, Yie Air Kung Fu, RainbowBell, Shao-lin's Road

Customize your view with several different vertical and horizontal screen configurations

Extensive support for Wireless play (ed. note - no WiFi however) - compete with friends in cooperative or head to head action, send demo versions of each game to other players and share replays with others via local wireless connection

Listen to tracks from any of the 15 included titles in Jukebox Mode or close your system and listen to a random selection of music with headphones

Playstation 2
Metal Slug Anthology (03/28/2007)

Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of METAL SLUG

Seven incredible METAL SLUG games on one UMD - METAL SLUG 1, METAL SLUG 2, METAL SLUG X, METAL SLUG 3, METAL SLUG 4, METAL SLUG 5, METAL SLUG 6

Arcade perfect port of each title

Pick-up-and-play, non-stop action

Playstation Portable
Virtual Tennis 3 (03/26/2007)

Court Games: 10 all-new mini games!

Easy to play, difficult to master: Anyone can pick up Virtua Tennis 3 for instant enjoyment, but honing your skills will be a challenge.

Fast, fun and thoroughly addictive: Mini-games and online modes keep gameplay fresh and challenging.

New World Tour mode: Create your own superstar and enjoy a host of new mini-games, tournaments and challenges.

Tennis Stars: Features 20 of the world's biggest tennis stars playing on a variety of stadium and surfaces from across the world.

Xbox 360
Dance Dance Revolution Universe (03/27/2007)

Over 65 new songs, including songs and dance remixes exclusive for the Xbox 360™, licensed songs, and popular hits!

New HOW TO PLAY, TRIAL and SUPER EASY modes aimed at first-time players and beginners

All-new nonstop megamixes now offer "DJ continuous mixes" of multiple songs just like a real dance club

New Relay mode lets friends and family play DDR like a marathon race, allowing players to switch off to other teammates and keep the dance party going all night long

Enhancements to the common modes and features from the original DDR series, including Workout Mode, Edit Mode, Quest Mode, Party Mode and more!

Xbox Live enabled online competitions, download new songs and dance steps, upload content, compete head-to-head, view internet ranking, instant messaging/email, talk live and more!

New Xbox 360™ exclusive downloadable song packs

Jetpac Refuelled (03/28/2007)

Available only on Xbox Live Arcade

Remake of the original Jetpac

High-definition graphics, brand new levels (over 100)

Co-operative gameplay over Xbox Live with leaderboards and achievements

Original Jetpac is also included in the game

Import Corner

Taito Memories 2 Gekan PS2 (03/29/2007) - Another great collection of classic Taito hits. Includes Operation Wolf, Night Striker, Metal Soldier Isaac 2, Gyrodine, Warrior Blade, TT Field Goal, Rainbow Island Extra, Chase HQ, and many, many more.

Hokuto No Ken PS2 (03/29/2007) - Arcade fighting game based on the anime. It is developed by the Guilty Gear series developer, Arc System Works


Be sure to come back Monday morning to get information on any arcade-style games released on the Virtual Console, as well as our Virtual Console Pick of the Week!

Calling David Jaffe

As for what I think about those, well look: as it should be clear from the interviews I've been doing as of late, right now in my work, I'm no longer interested in going head to head with the likes of Halo, Mass Effect, Resistance, Devil May Cry 4, etc. Hell, I don't even want to go head to head against our own GOD OF WAR. I just want to do smaller, simpler games that focus on the fun.

- David Jaffe, from his Blog at http://criminalcrackdown.blogspot.com/2007/03/it-may-not-be-for-you.html

First things first. I applaud David Jaffe for taking the time to respond to the criticism that was being directed towards the Calling All Cars video that was posted at Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/gaming/clips/clip-calling-all-cars-246107.php).

Everyone seems to have a certain level of expectations when it comes to video games, and despite the fact that the market is open to all sorts of expression in design, people tend to want to paint specific developers into a single archetype. I can definitely understand Mr. Jaffe's frustration then, when after deciding to take a new philosophical standpoint in his games that the primary reaction he seems to be getting is one of disapproval from some fans.

There is a certain amount of backlash that would have to be expected however, considering that the popular stance on many "hardcore" gaming sites is that the games that Mr. Jaffe is wishing to focus on (the "smaller, simpler" games) are being seen as a problem and a threat to "hardcore" gamers. This opinion is further solidified by the comments from Mr. Jaffe's blog where he states that he is no longer interested in competing against the Halo's of the world.

Is this truly an accurate view of the current state of the industry? That somehow "smaller, simpler" games (which is what we can classify most Arcade titles as being) are at war with the epic titles?

Perhaps. But, in my opinion, it is truly refreshing to see even big name game designers take a step back and return to some basics that seem to be a second focus in a lot of big budget titles.

Fun is the adjective that I think of when I look at Calling All Cars. It seems to be a wild, wacky ride, that shares some familiarity with the pick up and play titles that call arcades their home. I don't see a dichotomy in views or a threat to other games. I just see a developer's pet project coming to fruition as he is creating a game he's been wanting to make. Isn't this what matters in a gaming industry that seems to becoming increasingly stagnate?

To David Jaffe - Continue to branch out. Make the games you want to make. Focus on what you consider fun. Whether or not people criticize them on video is irrelevant, because if you follow the philosophy you are preaching, no one can argue with the results.

(PS... Continue posting arcade title screen shots on your site.)

Guncon for the Playstation 3?

It's amazing what you'll find searching through the online sites of retail game stores. And though you do have to take the information gathered with a grain of salt, it doesn't hurt to speculate.

Yesterday, EBGames and Gamestop both began accepting pre-orders online for Time Crisis 4 with a Guncon for the Playstation 3, which is set to retail for $89.99. According to the sites, the game and gun has a scheduled ship date of November 13th, 2007.

Though Namco Bandai Games America have been unable to be reached for comment as of the posting date, I will try to keep everyone informed just as soon as we hear additional details. For HD-TV adopters, this is definitely great news, as previous versions of the Guncon are incompatible with HD-TVs. It is reasonable to assume that any Guncon released for the Playstation 3 will be compatible with High Def televisions due to Sony's support of the High definition format.

Originally released in the arcades in late 2006, Time Crisis 4 continues the highly successful franchise that has seen titles released in the Arcades and on the home Playstation consoles since 1996. It is known primarily for it's pedal based "cover" system, that allows you to hide behind cover and reload with a pedal. The series is also known for it's force feedback Guns, which in the arcades were some of the first to provide a real "weight" behind the weapon.

I'll be keeping an eye on this one...

What do you get when you mix cheese with a solid bit of strategy?

Yes, I know... I'm a bit late to the party, but considering that Street Fighter II Turbo is available on the Xbox 360 for online play, it's relevant... somewhat.

I was digging through some old files this afternoon and came across what has to be one of the more surprising jewels of the "authorized" Capcom videos released during the late 80's, early 90's.

Golian Castro Productions created this video with the help of Capcom and the #1 ranked Street Fighter player at the time. Not only does it provide tons of depth, but it also gives an added benefit of entertainment by it's obviously dated production. The video is about 45 minutes long with a special feature on each of the characters selectable in the Special Champion's Edition of Street Fighter II.

I've only put up Ryu's portion of the strategy, but it does give you a great idea as to just what exactly you can expect from the video.

I'm still trying to master that Triple Hit Dragon Punch Combo...



Previous Videos:
General Strategies
Ryu (also includes a brief intro to the series)
Zangief/Vega
E. Honda/Blanka
Balrog/Chun Li
Guile
Ken/Dhalsim/Sagat/M. Bison

Pleasant suprises in small packages (TMNT GBA First Impressions)

Arcade style scrolling 2D action? Check.

Deep combo system and great juggling abilities? Check.

All four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with select moves that can be done with your partner for added benefits? Check.

4 Player multiplayer over a GBA link cable? MIA.

With everything that Ubisoft has gotten right with the latest installment of the Turtles franchise, it's hard to really fault that last omission. Though it does feel a bit unnatural to not have any multiplayer modes available in a game that screams for it, it is easy to forget that fact when you really start getting into the meat and potatoes of the game.

What this game offers that the TMNT brand hasn't offered in a while is an incredibly satisfying brawler experience that builds on the foundations of the Konami classics and delivers the necessary gameplay to quench the desires of TMNT and genre fans.

Like any good brawler, the combo system in TMNT actually determines the amount of points that you gain during the course of a level. You can use these points to then purchase additional abilities. The more combo hits you chain in a row, the higher your multiplier increases and the more points you get. This offers a completely new layer of gameplay that was never present in the original Arcade titles.

I've just started getting into the game, so I'll definitely be sure to give a bit more in depth opinions once I really sink my teeth into it. But be assured that this game packs a lot of punch in its small package. Just don't get it confused with it's next gen counterparts. The Gameboy Advance really is the way to go for the best new TMNT experience available.

And so it starts...

I've never been much for introductions. No matter how short and to the point the writer makes them, they often come off as being one big post of "blah, blah, blah". So, not surprisingly, I am going to do this as quickly and painlessly as possible.

If you read the description, I am striving to provide a collective source for all news on Arcade style games. Whether this be brawlers, fighters, shooters, or action run n' guns, this will be a primary retreat to go to in order to get updates on your favorite series, genres, and independent developers that are carrying on the arcade's torch.

Where do you start with such a broad topic?

Well, quite simply, you just do.

I hope you enjoy the ride...