The Release List for the week of December 21, 2009
Note: Release dates are subject to change
If you ever got into The Incredible Machine and you don't mind playing a moeified version of that, then this is definitely up your alley. Essentially, at the start of each level, you're given a few different objects that you have to strategically lay about. When you're ready, you press the play button and the blue-haired girl starts to move forward, interacting with the objects when she touches them. Each elicits a different response/action from the girl. For example, if she reaches a basketball she'll kick it, causing whatever it hits to get knocked over. If she encounters a banana peel she'll slip, forcing her to stay in place for a bit while other things are happening on the screen. There are some objects that she'll pick up and throw and others that she'll turn on. Doing certain things causes the girl to lose energy, so you have to place food at different spots to replenish her health. It is up to you to figure out where to place everything so that she can open up a path to each level's goal. You have zero control once the girl starts moving, so part of the fun is watching her make her way (or fail to make her way) to the goal.
I played quite a bit of Coro Pata at TGS earlier this year and I have to say that it was actually pretty fun. Unfortunately, I only played the first three levels, so I was exposed to just a few of the objects in the game. After looking at the video down below, it's clear to me that there are a lot more that we'll get to mess around with as the game progresses. So, I expect the levels to get much more difficult as the game progresses.
What we've got here is the first original Darius since G. Darius hit the arcades back in 1997. Obviously, this is a pretty big release for shmup fans and reason enough for many to finally get a PSP. Luckily, Taito is showing that it is taking this series’ resurrection somewhat seriously as the company has enlisted the help of Kanetake Ebikawa and Takayuki Yanase, both responsible for the mech designs in Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and Zuntata’s Hisayoshi Ogura, a composer who is well known for his previous work on the Darius series. In addition, two of the series’ staples – mecha space fish and branching paths – are back in full force (though there seem to be less paths compared to previous titles). Those looking for something different will have another ship to choose from as well as the option to play the new Burst mode.
Getting a new Darius after twelve years is pretty exciting, especially since it is being released on the region-free PSP. The new ship with its homing missiles and weaker gun should spice things up and playing Burst mode with one life, no continues, no power-ups, and maxed-out weapons could be fun for the hardcore fans. My only gripe is that, as with many games that started out in 2D, the series has been relegated to a handheld system. While better than nothing, it's still annoying.
Lina just found out that she finally passed the alchemist test after three tries. Being the gracious person that she is, she wants show off her accomplishment to her friend Luon. Unfortunately, she arrives at his house as he is having an argument with his father. In due course, Luon gets fed up and runs out of the house with Lina in pursuit. They eventually end up in a forest where the trees are on fire. Because the two happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, some forest fairies believe that the duo are responsible for what is happening. As punishment, Lina and Luon must repair the damage caused by the fire within three years.
This is the third Atelier title to be released for the DS after Atelier Lise and Atelier Annie and, like the others, you can expect to come across a lot of quests that put your item creation and resource management skills to the test as you pay off "your" debt and maybe figure out what really caused the fire. It may not mix things up that much from the previous DS games, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
The Simple Series is made up of mostly budget titles that rip off other successful games. The low-budgetness isn't always a bad thing though, as it gives the developers some freedom to experiment, which is probably how the Onechanbara series was born. I mean, where else would they have gotten the idea for zombie-hunting bikini-and-cowboy-hat-wearing girls with swords? Akuma Hunters was developed by the same ones who brought us Onechanbara, so we can probably expect some similarities between the two. However, there are enough differences to warrant more than just a cursory glance. For example, instead of taking out the walking dead, your mission is to exterminate (or capture?) demons and monsters. This makes things harder since now your enemies have two health gauges that you have to mind - one that must be depleted to knock them down and another that must be lowered to put them away for good. To make things worse, if you don't take your enemies out right away, they'll get back up. There are also four different characters that you can choose to play as, each with different playstyles and weapons. Money earned from your escapades can be used to buy new equipment, accessories, and clothes so that you can customize the girls as you see fit. And, of course, there is co-op play, so you can rid the world of demons with your friends.
This looks to be a pretty decent start to what could end up being another hit franchise for D3 and Tamsoft and another success story for the often under-appreciated Simple Series. Four-player co-op in particular might be cool over Xbox Live! or PSN, so I hope that it becomes enough of a hit to warrant a console release. Sadly, even if that happens, I doubt that I'd be able to find three other friends to play with...
This is essentially of Metal Slug 7 with a higher resolution and co-op. Long-time Metal Slug fans who were disappointed with the DS version of MS7 can find some comfort in knowing that they can now play the newest iteration of the series with friends.
This volume contains the following:
Garou Densetsu (Fatal Fury) Battle Archives Vol. 1
Garou Densetsu (Fatal Fury) Battle Archives Vol. 2
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
Ryuuko no Ken: Ten-Chi-Jin (aka Art of Fighting)
Samurai Spirits: Rokuban Shoubu (SS:1-5, SS:TK)
Sunsoft Collection (Galaxy Fight and Waku Waku 7)
This volume contains the following:
King of Fighters Orochi Collection
King of Fighters NESTS Saga
King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match
World Heroes Gorgeous
Fuun Super Combo
Bakumatsu Rouman: Last Blade 2-in-1
Fuyu no Sonata DS
Loopop Cube: Loop * Salad Portable: Matatabi (PSP)
Nankoku Sodachi DS
Nizu no Senritsu Portable (PSP)
PostPet DS Yumemi ru Momo to Fushigi no Pen
Zelda no Densetsu: Taiyou no Kiteki (DS)
Guitar Hero: Van Halen (360, PS2, PS3, Wii)
myNotebook: Green (DSiWare)
Playmobil Circus (Wii)
Playmobil Pirates (DS)
Savage Moon: The Hera Campaign (PSP)
tags: 0 Day Attack on Earth, AiRace, AiRace: Tunnel, Akuma Hunters, Atelier Annie, Atelier Lina, Atelier Lise, Coro Pata, Coropata, D3, Darius, Darius Burst, DS, DSiWare, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, G. Darius, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kizuna: Ichi-Ni Maki Pack, Hisayoshi Ogura, Kanetake Ebikawa, Lina no Atelier: Strahl no Renkinjutsushi, Little Busters! Converted Edition, Lucky Star: Net Idol Meister, LukPlus, MagusTale Eternity: Seikaiju to Koisuru Mahou Tsukai, Metal Slug 7, Metal Slug XX, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, NeoGeo Online Collection Complete Box Vol. 1, NeoGeo Online Collection Complete Box Vol. 2, Onechanbara, Pallurikio, PS2, PSP, Simple 2500 Series: Akuma Hunters – Exorsister, Simple Series, Taito, Takayuki Yanase, Tamsoft, Wii, WiiWare, XBLA, Zuntata
December 24, 2009 at 2:36 amG-DARIUS
why is DARIUS Burst, METAL SLUG 10 only on psp?? i’ve been waiting 12 LONNGG YEARS FOR NEW TITLE for ps2 at lease.
December 24, 2009 at 10:27 amtommy
It’s probably to keep development costs down. Let’s just hope that Taito decides to release the game on PSN or Xbox Live! some time down the line.