Most Recent: PSP

Final Fantasy IV: Interlude is around 15 hours, maturity returns to original FFIV

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

The Super Nintendo. The PlayStation. The Game Boy Advance. The Nintendo DS. Going on its fifth platform, Square Enix is still giving you reasons to buy Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection. One such reason is Final Fantasy IV: Interlude, an all new game set to connect the original IV with its WiiWare sequel, The After Years. The PlayStation Blog revealed that this new connected story will be “weighing in at 15-odd hours of new gameplay.” I’d be happy if a downloadable game gave me 15 hours, so it’s excellent for this episode to be more like a full game.

Another feature may be of more note to RPG purists: the PSBlog portrays this version of the game as its “pure, uncensored form,” specifically denoting skimpy outfits and mature references. This is actually a big deal. For example, Final Fantasy VI directly translated is almost a completely different game than American players were used to, dealing with issues of prostitution, teen pregnancy, and suicide. No word if “Spoony Bard” will return (it did), but expect a nice package when FFIV: The Complete Collection releases for PSP on April 19.

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Ghostbusters, PlayStation Move Heroes answer the call on PlayStation Store

Posted on March 23, 2011 by John Scalzo

Welcome to one of the biggest PlayStation Store updates ever!

It’s possible you’re too busy playing the newly released SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy Seals beta to notice, but Sony added seven games to the store yesterday and another two to the PSP store. But first things first, the Spring Fever 2011 sale continues this week with discounts on Tetris (now $4.99, regular price $9.99) and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (now $9.99, regular price $19.99).

As for the new releases, check ’em out:

  • Ghostbusters: Sanctum Of Slime – A top-down twin-stick shooter starring the Ghostbusters and this week’s “spotlight update” to boot.
  • Swarm – An action platformer from HotHead Games.
  • Battle: Los Angeles – A first person shooter based on the hugely popular new movie.
  • Premier Manager – A front office simulation of Europe’s numbe one soccer league.
  • DC Universe Online – The superhero MMO is now downloadable.
  • PlayStation Move Heroes – Everyone’s favorite Sony mascots (except for Kratos) go head-to-head-to-head in this Move-powered crossover.
  • Legend of Mana – It’s not as cool as Secret of Mana, but it’s definitely a PSone Classic.

As I said, the PSP store also received two updates: Hoard, a dragon-powered “action strategy” title; and the increasingly illnamed Dissidia 012 [duodecim]: Final Fantasy.

Hit the jump for more details on all of this week’s releases or visit the PlayStation.Blog for a full rundown of all the new game add-ons. (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, PSP | Tagged , , , ,

New Releases: 3DS, Crysis 2, Lego Star Wars III, More

Posted on March 19, 2011 by John Scalzo

The wait for Nintendo’s handheld is almost over as the Nintendo 3DS arrives in stores this week. Available in both Cosmo Black and the awesomely two-tone Aqua Blue, the system will be available on Sunday, March 27 along with a launch lineup of 18 titles.

However, if you prefer to do your gaming on a big screen, one of the biggest first person shooters of the year, Crysis 2, will be released for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. More aliens can be had in the latest Lego Star Wars, which is also available this week. Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars will be coming to the 3DS, DS, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii and Xbox 360.

Other new releases this week include Square Enix’s Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy (PSP), Sony’s Ratchet, Jak and Sly crossover PlayStation Move Heroes (PS3) and the medieval people management of The Sims Medieval (PC)

The full list of the rest of this week’s new releases can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

The 2010-2011 Video Game Awards Season

Posted on March 17, 2011 by John Scalzo

Beginning with the Spike TV Video Game Awards in early December and culminating with last night’s BAFTA Games Awards, the 2010-2011 “video game awards season” has come to a close. And after four months of awards, acceptance speeches and arguments, we have a clearer picture of what really were the best games of the year.

The snobbier segments of the game community love to decry the Spike TV Video Game Awards as an embarrassment and not representative of the feelings of “real” gamers. Typically, the show’s world premiere trailers overshadow the actual awards themselves. But the event is spearheaded by Geoff Keighley of GameTrailers TV and the winners are voted on by a well-respected contingent of game journalists, so I guess it could be worse.

That said, this year’s Spike TV Video Game Awards “Game of the Year” was awarded to Rockstar’s epic western Red Dead Redemption. Keighley and company spread the love as the remaining major awards all went to other games: “Best PC Game” StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty; “Best PS3 Game” God of War III; “Best Wii Game” Super Mario Galaxy 2; “Best Xbox 360 Game” Halo: Reach; “Best Handheld Game” God of War: Ghost of Sparta; and “Best Downloadable Game” Costume Quest.

If Spike TV’s annual awards attempt to reach the mainstream, Time Magazine‘s top ten is the polar opposite, reaching into corners of the gaming world that are often ignored. This year’s selections are no different, including Alan Wake being awarded the #1 spot with iOS phenomenon Angry Birds at #2. The rest of the list was pretty typical, but the lack of Alan Wake’s spiritual twin, Heavy Rain, was the baffling part. Also, Limbo received its first love of the year-end awards with a sixth-place selection. (more…)

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Crysis 2 demo, Hard Corps: Uprising, Parasite Eve on PlayStation Store this week

Posted on March 14, 2011 by John Scalzo

A PlayStation.Blog weekly feature, “The Drop,” has given us a sneak peek at what games will be available to download tomorrow from the PlayStation Store.

While not a full game, the biggest addition to this week’s PSN update is the PS3 version of the Crysis 2 multiplayer demo. Another huge demo available this week is Mortal Kombat. The sample was made available to download for PlayStation Plus users last week, but now every PS3 owner will have a chance to test out the Mature-rated fighter. Finally, a demo of the minigame crossover PlayStation Move Heroes is also in the works for the Tuesday update.

If you’re more interested in full games, you can find three in this week’s PSN update. PS3 owners will be able to download the Contra prequel Hard Corps: Uprising along with the “building and brawling mash up” Slam Bolt Scrappers. And PSone Classics collectors will be thrilled to learn that Parasite Eve will be added to the service this week ahead of The 3rd Birthday‘s March 29 release.

And speaking of PSP games, this week’s PlayStation Store update sees the release of five of them: Shooter Gods Eater Burst, RPG Jikandia: The Timeless Land, sports sim Major League Baseball 2K11, puzzle racer Vertigo and the fighting game Dissidia 012 Prologus: Final Fantasy.

Posted in News, PS3, PSP | Tagged , , ,

New Releases: Homefront, Okamiden, Yakuza 4, More

Posted on March 12, 2011 by John Scalzo

The Spring thaw is doing more than raising the mercury in your thermometer, it’s also bringing more big games to stores.

This week, THQ’s Red Dawn-inspired war game, Homefront, will be released on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. In fact, Red Dawn director John Milius was heavily involved in the creator of Homefront’s storyline.

Other big name releases this week fall into a few well known franchises:

  • Capcom will release Okamiden, pint-sized spinoff of Okami, for the DS
  • Sega brings Kazuma Kiryu back to America (but keeps the game’s Japanese sensibilities intact) in Yakuza 4 (PS3).
  • Andre Agassi serves up his first video game appearance in over 15 years in Top Spin 4 (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360).
  • And finally, Sega will release Total War: Shogun 2 on the PC.

The full list of the rest of this week’s new releases can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in DS, News, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , , ,

Call of Duty: Black Ops leads February sales, becomes bestselling game of all-time

Posted on March 11, 2011 by John Scalzo

After becoming the bestselling PS3 game, Call of Duty: Black Ops can now lay claim to just being the bestselling game, period.

According to the NPD Group, the Treyarch-developed game passed Wii Play in February to become the bestselling game of all-time. Exact sales figures weren’t released, but Wii Play is known to have sold over 13 million copies. So let’s call it 14 million. Of course, Wii Play is a Wii exclusive while the sales of Call of Duty: Black Ops have been split across the DS, PC, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360.

Not surprisingly, Black Ops was also the top-selling game in February, where it was joined by newcomers Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, Killzone 3, Bulletstorm and Mario Sports Mix. The full top ten (which is still littered with dance games), can be seen right here:

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PC)
2. Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds Xbox 360, PS3)
3. Just Dance 2 (Wii)
4. NBA 2K11 (Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, Wii, PS2, PC)
5. Dead Space 2 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
6. Zumba Fitness: Join the Party (Wii, Xbox 360, PS3)
7. Bulletstorm (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
8. Killzone 3 (PS3)
9. Michael Jackson: The Experience (Wii, DS, PSP)
10. Mario Sports Mix (Wii)

Posted in DS, News, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy prologue coming to PSN

Posted on March 10, 2011 by John Scalzo

The person at Square Enix who comes up with game titles must be stopped!

Today, the publisher announced Dissidia Duodecim Prologus: Final Fantasy, a PlayStation Network-exclusive downloadable prequel chapter to Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy. The ridiculously named PSP download will be released on March 15 and is similar to Capcom’s bite-sized Dead Rising 2 prequel, Case Zero. At $2.99, the game carries a bite-sized price to match.

Prologus will star Final Fantasy XIII‘s Lightning in her first apperance outside her original adventure. The events of Prologus will lead up to the beginning of Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy, which will be available for the PSP on March 22.

In addition to getting a taste of Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy, players will be able to unlock a variety of items in Prologus that’ll carry over into the full game. And everyone who purchases the prelude will unlock Aerith Gainsborough (from Final Fantasy VII) as an Assist Character in the full game.

You can check out a Lighting-centric trailer for Dissidia Duodecim Prologus: Final Fantasy after the break. (more…)

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