Demo for Yakuza 4 coming to PlayStation Store

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

Sega’s European and American divisions announced today that the latest entry in Japan’s answer to Grand Theft Auto, Yakuza 4, will have a downloadable demo coming to the PlayStation Store. The demo will come early for PlayStation Plus subscribers on February 16, 2011, and a week later for all PSN users on February 23. One unique aspect Yakuza 4 brought to the series was the inclusion of four playable characters, and you’ll be able to try out all of them when the demo hits.

Yakuza 3 and 4 on the PlayStation 3 were those kind of rare gems from the East no one really expected to eventually make their way to American shores. These games coming over is proof that Sega still does a few things incredibly right.

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New Batman: Arkham City screenshots give bad guys something to lose sleep over

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

I am totally ready to mess up those dudes to the left. A few new screenshots have leaked for Batman: Arkham City coming sometime in the fourth quarter of 2011. In addition to the quick glimpse into predator mode to the left, they also show Bruce stalking a helicopter, Harley looking hot as ever, and Two Face doing his (or, um, “their”) best Uncle Sam impression. Hit the gallery below for the pics in their full size.

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New Tactics Ogre video brings the love you’ve been missing

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

Before the team formerly known as Quest made Final Fantasy Tactics, before they even needed the “formerly” in their name, a group of dedicated Japanese RPG developers churned out the masterpiece known as Tactics Ogre. The game focuses on the nation of Valeria, and the Liberation Army’s struggle to bring freedom to an oppressed people. A big part of the game’s attraction, apart from being an entry in the awesome Ogre Battle series, is that it is the spiritual predecessor to Final Fantasy Tactics, with a similar art style, combat system, and interface. After releasing only in Japan on the Super Famicom and Sega Saturn, a limited North American release for the PlayStation, and no fan translation in sight, many RPG fanatics gave up on playing this game. But finally, the game will see an all-new re-imagining and it’s coming later this month.

The trailer shows a few animated scenes from the game, some in a normal animation style, others in a kind of story book mode. The iconic artwork of Akihido Yoshida is brought to life by the trademark sounds of Hitoshi Sakimoto, who went on to work on the newest big player in the Strategy RPG sub-genre, Valkyria Chronicles. If you’re even remotely a fan of RPG’s, Final Fantasy, or just own a PSP, this is a spectacle you don’t want to miss. Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together will release for the PlayStation Portable on February 15, 2011.

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First trailer for Lego Pirates of the Caribbean

Posted on February 1, 2011 by John Scalzo

The MTV Multiplayer blog has an exclusive first look at Lego Pirates of the Caribbean. You can follow the link to view it or you can just play the video right here.

In the video, you’ll be treated to a Lego-ized version of Jack Sparrow’s grand entrance from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The game will include levels from all three current Pirates movies as well as the upcoming On Stranger Tides.

Lego Pirates of the Caribbean will be released for the DS, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii and Xbox 360 this May.

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Madden NFL 11 says Steelers will be Super Bowl XLV champs

Posted on February 1, 2011 by John Scalzo

EA Sports and the Madden NFL series have weighed in with their annual Super Bowl pick. In this year’s simulation, the Terrible Towels wiped the floor with the Cheeseheads 24-20 thanks to some last-second defensive heroics.

But the man most responsible for Pittsburgh’s simulated Super Bowl XLV victory was wide receiver Mike Wallace, who took home MVP honors after putting up 111 total yards and scoring a touchdown.

Highlights of the virtual contest between the Steelers and the Packers can be seen above including Ben Roethlisberger’s game-winning TD.

Gamblers take note, EA Sports has correctly picked the winner in six of the last seven Super Bowls.

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Bionic Commando: Rearmed 2, Assassin’s Creed II lead PlayStation Store update

Posted on February 1, 2011 by John Scalzo

Sony has performed their weekly update of the PlayStation Store with lots of new games and lots of discounts for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

Those new games include a downloadable edition of Assassin’s Creed II: Deluxe Edition (which features all of the DLC) and Capcom’s platforming sequel Bionic Commando: Rearmed 2. Also available this week is Atari’s puzzler The UnderGarden and Tales From Space: About A Blob, another puzzler (and just for Plus users for now).

Mega Man 2 is this week’s lone addition to the PSone Classic Imports section.

The PSP Store will receive a trio of games this week, one-on-one fighter Samurai Showdown and minis versions of Wackylands Boss and the excellent Pac-Man Championship Edition.

More information on all of these games can be found after the break with a full rundown of this week’s downloadables at the PlayStation.Blog.

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Michael Pachter embarrasses himself again by saying “Wii 2 will fail”

Posted on February 1, 2011 by John Scalzo

Michael Pachter, video game analyst extraordinaire for Wedbush Securities, was a guest on this week’s Bonus Round talking 2011 predictions with Geoff Keighley. “The Pach” was in rare form during this panel. Most people stop at their feet, but Pachter may have shoved his whole leg in his mouth.

During a discussion about the future of the Wii, Pachter laid out his prediction (once again) that Nintendo will announce a Wii 2 at this year’s E3. Whether or not Nintendo has a Wii 2 planned doesn’t much matter as the analyst goes one further and then claims that the Wii 2 “will fail” without third party support:

Pachter: “So without third-party support, I think the Wii 2, if it’s truly a revolutionary device, will fail. I think they boxed themselves in. No matter what they do, it won’t be as successful as the Wii.”

Just… wow.

ATTENTION INVESTORS! Michael Pachter is a moron. He has no greater insight into the video game industry than your average forum fanboy. I would volunteer to do his job for a quarter of his salary and I would do it better.

For proof, just look at that statement. The Wii 2 hasn’t even been announced yet and Pachter is already writing it off. This is lunacy. Especially when you consider the fact that a Nintendo system lives and dies by its first party support. Even the GameCube, a “failure” against the PS2, was hugely profitable for Nintendo and produced a bevy of classic games.

If you want to watch the hilarity yourself, check out the video after the break. The Wii 2 talk starts at the 17:09 mark.

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Miyamoto confirms Super Mario Bros. 3DS… again

Posted on February 1, 2011 by John Scalzo

The latest Iwata Asks column is all about the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. But after the Nintendo president and his illustrious panel of guests finished talking about the past, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto dropped some hints about the plumber’s future.

Miyamoto: [I]n the interests of adopting new technology for the Super Mario Bros. tradition, I am now making a new Super Mario Bros. game for the Nintendo 3DS system.

While Super Mario Bros. 3DS remains officially unannounced, this isn’t the first time Miyamoto has talked about a new Mario game on Nintendo’s upcoming handheld. Back in October, during an investor’s Q&A session, he actually revealed that there are two Mario games in development for the 3DS. What makes today’s quote interesting is that, according to Miyamoto, we may be playing a Mario game on the 3DS sooner rather than later:

Miyamoto: I want to show everyone as soon as possible what the new Super Mario Bros. will be like on the Nintendo 3DS.

And we can’t wait to play it. So what are you waiting for Nintendo? Announce this thing already!

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