Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Magicka shows us The Other Side of the Coin on June 14]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/magicka-shows-us-the-other-side-of-the-coin-on-june-14/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/magicka-shows-us-the-other-side-of-the-coin-on-june-14/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/magicka-shows-us-the-other-side-of-the-coin-on-june-14/#comments Image
Arrowhead Game Studios is preparing the next DLC expansion for its wizard-powered adventure, Magicka. The Other Side of the Coin expands upon the story of Magicka by placing players in the boots of Alucart, an evil vampire who is in no way related to Alucard from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

The Other Side of the Coin will cost $4.99 and also includes four new challenge maps when it becomes available for download on June 14.

JoystiqMagicka shows us The Other Side of the Coin on June 14 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 May 2012 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agsarrowhead-game-studioscastlevania-symphony-of-the-nightmagickapcthe-other-side-of-the-coinWed, 30 May 2012 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN Tuesday: Awesomenauts, Mortal Kombat]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/psn-tuesday-awesomenauts-mortal-kombat/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/psn-tuesday-awesomenauts-mortal-kombat/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/psn-tuesday-awesomenauts-mortal-kombat/#comments Nothing can prepare you for this week's nostalgic update on the PlayStation Store ... save for a succinct summary such as this one. Awesomenauts brings a faux-retro flair to the MOBA genre today (for free, if you're a PlayStation Plus subscriber), while Mortal Kombat reduces its depraved fighting to more diminutive form on Vita.

PlayStation Plus subscribers receive some other freebies this week, including Trine 2, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Castlevania Chronicles. The PS One Classics lineup is bolstered with The Legend of Dragoon, and moving up a generation to PlayStation 2 gets you the original Max Payne.

Check the PlayStation Blog for a full list of new store items, if you please.

JoystiqPSN Tuesday: Awesomenauts, Mortal Kombat originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2012 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awesomenautscastlevania-chroniclescastlevania-symphony-of-the-nightmax-paynemortal-kombatplaystationplaystation-vitaps3psn-tuesdaypspsonythe-legend-of-dragoontrine-2vitaTue, 01 May 2012 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[PS Plus offers free Awesomenauts, Rock of Ages, Symphony of the Night, more in May]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/ps-plus-offers-free-awesomenauts-rock-of-ages-symphony-of-the/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/ps-plus-offers-free-awesomenauts-rock-of-ages-symphony-of-the/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/ps-plus-offers-free-awesomenauts-rock-of-ages-symphony-of-the/#comments ImagePlayStation Plus members are going to be busy in May, frantically trying to play all of the free content that is being dumped on them. Awesomenauts, which hits PSN on May 1, will be free to PS+ users right away. It's accompanied by Trine 2 and Rock of Ages.

Two of the best PSOne Classics are being thrown in as well on May 1: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Castlevania Chronicles, a remake of the original 'Vania. Saints Row: The Third ... isn't free, but it is 20% off for Plus users when it comes to PSN May 15.

For more, including free Minis and discounts on more upcoming PSN games, check the PlayStation Blog. For the answer to the tough question of whether relatively cheap access to all these games is worth an ongoing subscription, when you know you'll lose them when your subscription lapses, check your heart.

JoystiqPS Plus offers free Awesomenauts, Rock of Ages, Symphony of the Night, more in May originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awesomenautscastlevania-chroniclescastlevania-symphony-of-the-nightplaystationplaystation-plusplaystation-vitaps3psprock-of-agessonytrine-2vitaTue, 24 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Grandpa Aaron loves Bioshock, can't wait to see you for Thanksgiving]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/grandpa-aaron-loves-bioshock-cant-wait-to-see-you-for-thanksgi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/grandpa-aaron-loves-bioshock-cant-wait-to-see-you-for-thanksgi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/grandpa-aaron-loves-bioshock-cant-wait-to-see-you-for-thanksgi/#comments It's getting to be that time of year where mushy, sentimental and "awww"-inducing chatter overwhelms all channels of media and fills your heart with a warm sense of home, whether you like it or not. For example: Reddit user Jungleradio gave his 80 year-old grandfather copies of Bioshock, Red Dead Redemption, Braid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for his birthday, with quaint, heartwarming results.

Jump past the break for Grandpa Aaron's take on each game, and don't forget to tell your Aunt Suzy to bring Nana's twice-baked potato recipe to the next family reunion.

Continue reading Grandpa Aaron loves Bioshock, can't wait to see you for Thanksgiving

JoystiqGrandpa Aaron loves Bioshock, can't wait to see you for Thanksgiving originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>80awwwbioshockbraidcastlevania-symphony-of-the-nightgrandfathergrandpagrandpa-aaronheartwarmingred-dead-redemptionredditSat, 05 Nov 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Castlevania content marked down by 50 percent on XBLA]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/castlevania-content-marked-down-by-50-percent-on-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/castlevania-content-marked-down-by-50-percent-on-xbla/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/castlevania-content-marked-down-by-50-percent-on-xbla/#comments Alright, it's official -- America's got vampire fever. Why not channel your friends and families' unswerving love for romantic bloodsucker fiction into something a little healthier? Maybe turn them onto Castlevania: Symphony of the Night or Harmony of Despair, which are half-price on XBLA this week.

Continue reading Castlevania content marked down by 50 percent on XBLA

JoystiqCastlevania content marked down by 50 percent on XBLA originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 May 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlevania-harmony-of-despaircastlevania-symphony-of-the-nightkonamimicrosoftxblaxboxxbox-live-marketplaceTue, 03 May 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Castlevania: Symphony of the Night stages coming to Harmony of Despair]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/castlevania-symphony-of-the-night-stages-coming-to-harmony-of-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/castlevania-symphony-of-the-night-stages-coming-to-harmony-of-d/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/castlevania-symphony-of-the-night-stages-coming-to-harmony-of-d/#comments Konami's multiplayer, side-scrolling dungeon crawler Castlevania: Harmony of Despair already looks very, very familiar -- a phenomenon which can be attributed to its re-using of sprites from previous entries in the series. According to the game's official Japanese site, that policy isn't being reversed any time soon: In January, the game will see the addition of an eighth level, based off the underground area from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night -- a stage which culminates in a fight with the creepy, spherical corpse-monster, Legion.

The downloadable level -- as well as another titled "Lord of the Flies," which is either hinting at a level featuring Beelzebub or possibly a level where you drop rocks on island-bound children -- will cost 320 Microsoft Points ($4). It's unclear whether the January release window listed on the site for this DLC is applicable in the States; we've contacted Konami for confirmation. And to ask about the whole "dropping rocks on children" thing.

JoystiqCastlevania: Symphony of the Night stages coming to Harmony of Despair originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlevania-harmony-of-despaircastlevania-symphony-of-the-nightdlckonamimicrosoftxblaxboxWed, 29 Dec 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Konami bundles downloadable Castlevanias with Japanese Lords of Shadow special edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/konami-bundles-downloadable-castlevanias-with-japanese-lords-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/konami-bundles-downloadable-castlevanias-with-japanese-lords-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/konami-bundles-downloadable-castlevanias-with-japanese-lords-of/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Hideo Kojima as the Chupacabra isn't the only advantage the Japanese version of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow has over its worldwide contemporaries. Those who purchase the special edition in Japan will also have their choice of downloadable Vanias as bonuses.

The PS3 version of the game includes a code for the PSOne Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, playable on PS3 or PSP. The Xbox 360 version gets you a copy of the XBLA game Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. Which means there is now another reason the PS3 version will outsell the Xbox release by a massive margin (other than there being so few Xboxes in Japan).

The Japanese special edition isn't universally better: it carries a price tag of ¥9,980 ($122), and Lords of Shadow won't even be available in Japan until December 16.

JoystiqKonami bundles downloadable Castlevanias with Japanese Lords of Shadow special edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlevania-harmony-of-despairCastlevania-Lords-of-Shadowcastlevania-symphony-of-the-nightjapankonamiLords-of-Shadowmicrosoftplaystationps3xboxMon, 11 Oct 2010 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: James' Picks of 2007]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/best-of-the-rest-james-picks-of-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/best-of-the-rest-james-picks-of-2007/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/best-of-the-rest-james-picks-of-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

pac-man ce
Pac-Man Championship Edition (XBLA)

If not worthy of a Top 10 spot, then certainly Pac-Man deserves Joystiq's 'Comeback Player of the Year' award. I covered Pac-Man CE's overblown launch in early June, but it wasn't until I became a devoted player at home that I realized the sheer genius of the first true Pac-Man sequel since 'the Ms.' hit the maze in '82. Designer Toru Iwatani managed to scrape off a quarter-century of rust and fashion a remarkably relevant game that held me down during an otherwise punishing summer drought. Geometry Wars might be the most celebrated, but Pac-Man CE is Xbox Live Arcade's true star.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: James' Picks of 2007

JoystiqBest of the Rest: James' Picks of 2007 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Actionassassins-creedassassinscreedbest-of-the-rest-2007castlevaniacastlevania-symphony-of-the-nightcrackdownDSeverdayshootereveryday-shooterGOTY-2007heavenly-swordheavenlyswordjeanne-darcLost-Planet-Extreme-ConditionlostplanetmasseffectMicrosoftmlb-07pac-manpac-man-cepac-man-championship-editionphantom-hourglassphatomhourglasspicrossPS3psnPSPpuzzle-questpuzzlequestQueasy-GamesRealtime-WorldsRiot-ActSandboxSCEShooterSony-Computer-Entertainmentsuper-stardust-hdsuperstardusthdsymphony-of-the-nightsymphonyofthenightWiixblaXbox-360zeldaTue, 01 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST