Shinjuku, Japan-based independent developer CAVE announced today that Guwange will release worldwide on November 10, marking its first “exclusive” Xbox Live Arcade effort. A vertical-scrolling shooter, the title sports a distinct old-school feel, as evidenced by the pixel-heavy visuals.
The announcement comes as a result of a fan poll that CAVE ran on its in-house development blog last year. Of the shooters listed, Guwange took the no. 1 spot in popularity. more »
With a restored edition of Sega’s over-the-top cab racer Crazy Taxi due out on PSN and XBLA in November, the company saw fit to pin down firm release dates today. It’s slated to hit PSN on November 23, with a XBLA release following on November 24. It’ll set you back 800 MS Points ($9.99).
Following its 1999 debut in arcades, the title quickly garnered worldwide appeal when it was ported over to Sega’s now-defunct Dreamcast. The addictive mix of chauffeuring and stunt-based gameplay made for a crazy premise. more »
Ubisoft announced today that Michel Ancel’s unforgettable action-adventure effort Beyond Good & Evil is receiving a high-def makeover on PSN and XBLA.
Released to critical acclaim circa 2003, the title borrows exploration elements from Zelda and features a charming art style. Due out next year, the HD remake will boast achievements and trophies, backed by “new secrets” and a remastered musical score.
There’s no word if a PC release is on the cards. The original enjoyed a multi-platform release across PS2, GameCube, PC and Xbox. With Beyond Good & Evil 2 on the horizon, this will certainly serve as a much-welcomed refresher and ignite interest among those that missed out on its debut.
Developer Just Add Water has went on record to say that an XBLA release of Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath is not on the cards primarily due to file size limitations imposed by Microsoft.
One thing we can discuss in regard to the 360 version is the size of the game. On XBLA there is a 2GigaByte size limit we have to adhere to, currently the title weighs in at 2.1GB and that is without any updates, so either we have to pull a miracle out of the bag with some type of amazing compression system, or ask Microsoft to increase their 2GB limit, however this limit is apparently hardware led, so please let us try and make a miracle happen.
Just Add Water’s frustrations are hardly scathing. Numerous developers have lamented over Microsoft’s restrictions in the past. Many of them have been granted exceptions, most notably Capcom. more »
Sega’s iconic blue hedgehog will make a long-awaited return to his side-scrolling platformer roots in Sonic 4: Episode 1 this October, the company announced today. The title was hit with an abrupt delay last May in order to allow for additional development time.
The iPhone version will be the first out of the gate, with a October 7 release. Next is the WiiWare rendition, scheduled to drop on October 11, followed by an October 12 and October 13 debut on PlayStation Network and XBLA respectively.
While Sega has yet to specify a price point for the iPhone version, the others will ring in at $15. If this one takes off, expect more episodes to follow, with Sega having already laid out plans to position Sonic 4 as an episodic effort.
Capcom continues its Mega Man Universe media blitz ahead of TGS with more screenshots and details on the various customization aspects. The title includes a built-in editor that allows players to create and share their own stages with a wide variety of building blocks at their disposal.
Additionally, the character customization tool is quite extensive. Capcom says players can assemble a do-it-yourself Mega Man to their liking, using custom parts. Abilities are determined based on the parts chosen.
Blending the creative freedom of Little Big Planet with the oft-narrow mechanics of Mega Man makes for an interesting take. We’ll be watching this one closely as more details surface at TGS next week. For more screenshots, hit the break. more »
Capcom’s Mega Man Universe has been shrouded in mystery, until now. In keeping with its “megaified” theme, the company offers up a trio of gameplay videos of the retro-infused side-scroller straight out of PAX. The art style appears reminiscent to that of PSP title Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X, blending 3D polygonal visuals with 2D backdrops.
Some more subtle elements from the 8-bit originals have been left in as well, most notably the pellet-style life meter and image representations of energy tanks and 1UPs. For the most part, it’s a new-age throwback, and so far, we’re liking what we see.
At the tail end of each trailer, Capcom teases that characters from Street Fighter as well as other fan-favorite Capcom properties will be playable. While play styles for secondary characters remain to be seen, with the multitude of attributes Capcom has to work with at their disposal, there’s a near endless amount of possibilities.
View the other two clips past the break. Mega Man Universe is slated to hit XBLA and PSN, with a release date still TBA.
Adding to the growing list of artsy PSN and XBLA efforts is Ubisoft’s Outland, a stylized action-platformer that draws inspiration from the critically-lauded shoot ‘em up Ikaruga.
Developed by Housemarque, the same team behind Super Stardust HD, the title is described by IGN as a cross between Prince of Persia and Ikaruga, combining the best bits of both — platforming and polarity driven combat. Like in Ikaruga, foes are immune to bullet sprays of the same polarity, while opposite-colored bullets deal damage. Building upon this mechanic, players can also switch between light and dark forms to shield themselves from enemy attacks.
Also promised are large levels with “branching paths and secrets.” Backed by lush colorful visuals that resemble that of a watercolor storybook, this one looks like it’s shaping up to be a winner. With Ubisoft prepping a formal unveil at PAX, chances are gameplay footage will surface soon.
Outland Preview [IGN]
Xbox Live community manager Major Nelson revealed today that the blue hedgehog’s first-ever Dreamcast outing Sonic Adventure and PopCap’s addictive tower defense title Plants vs. Zombies will headline September’s lineup on Xbox Live Arcade.
Following the release of both titles, Microsoft is serving up a platter of four titles in a promotion it has dubbed “The Game Feast.” The initiative will run its course through September 29 to October 20, with a new title featured each week. Additionally, from September 17 to September 20, Microsoft is giving Xbox Live Silver members a free trial pass to several features reserved for the Gold membership tier, including online multiplayer, as well as Last.fm, Twitter, and Facebook integration.
For a full breakdown of what’s to come, hit the jump. more »
Your imagination is the limit in the recently announced Mega Man Universe, according to project lead and series creator Keiji Inafune. While details surrounding the title still remain scant, Inafune dropped word during a Comic Con panel that it will offer up an unprecedented amount of creative freedom, giving players the ability to shape Mega Man’s 8-bit look to their liking.
“We wanted to preserve as much as we can of the classic 8-bit Mega Man feel, while allowing players to project their own Mega Man onto the game,” explained Inafune. He added, “We wanted to create a platform where players can play as their favorite version of Mega Man, another Capcom character — or maybe a different character completely. You’ll be able to play as the Mega Man of your dreams.”
