The latest issue of Japanese gaming supermag, Famitsu, had a welcome surprise for fans of Nintendo's three-DVD-wide home console -- the announcement of Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga for the Wii. Gamekyo originally posted scans of the article announcing the title, translating a few key features of the former PSP series' Wii-imagining -- chief among these being an online co-op mode using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. While the PSP version of Valhalla Knights received middling reviews, we remain, as ever, cautiously optimistic about any RPG offerings for the Wii -- though considering the game is about 70 percent complete and not due out in Japan until next year, it may be a while before we get our hands on it.

The latest Famitsu has some info on one of those nine unannounced PS3 games coming from Sony and to be shown off at TGS next week. Demon's Souls is a single-player, fantasy-themed action-RPG being developed by From Software (and directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, of Armored Core fame), and published by SCEJ. Though it's a new IP, the game's director and SCE producer mention From Software's RPG series King's Field – perhaps a spiritual successor of some kind? Demon's Souls will be playable at TGS, so we'll find out then, okay?

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

As if two new PSP games and an impressive collaboration with the famed animators at Studio Ghibli wasn't enough for one day, Level-5 has also dropped some additional details on sequels to two of their biggest DS titles: Professor Layton and Inazuma Eleven

The third Professor Layton offering is the only one of these five Level-5 games not being released in 2009; instead, it's set for a November 27th release in Japan. The soccer-themed Inazuma Eleven will return in 2009 with Inazuma Eleven 2, packing a new storyline, more characters, and a new team made up of space invaders! Level-5 will be "formally unveiling" all five titles later this week in Tokyo; we'll try to wrastle all of 'em up at TGS next month.

While coding away on its PS3-exclusive RPG, White Knight Story, not to mention the newly revealed DS project with the animators at Studio Ghibli, and two DS sequels, Japanese dev Level-5 somehow still has time left in the day to work on two more PSP titles. Who needs sleep, anyway?

A new Famitsu scan reveals that the studio behind 2007's Jeanne d'arc is developing a new scare-tastic RPG for the PSP called Ushiro, in which players will step into the boots of a shinigami, or God of Death in order to battle monsters and -- oddly -- help grant people's wishes. Dambol Senki (translated as "Cardboard War Machine") is described as an RPG in which you're tasked with building a small robot (called an LBX) and battling against other LBXs you encouter around ten. Little beyond this is known about what Level-5 has planned, though with TGS bearing down on us like a runaway scythe, we wish hope we'll find out more soon.

[Via PSP Fanboy]


Source – Level-5 Announces New RPGs
Source – Level-5 announces Ushiro for the PSP

Recent scans from Japanese gaming weekly Famitsu detail a new Nintendo DS project titled Ninokuni: The Another World from the fine folks at Level-5 (which is currently putting the finish touches on the PS3's White Knight Story). "What's so special about this project?" you ask, clutching your Totoro plushie. Get this: the animation will be handled by the legendary Studio Ghibli. Not altogether too surprising; anyone familiar with the excellent animation in Level-5's Professor Layton series knows that there wasn't much room for improvement.

Famitsu says there will be a console version though a platform has not yet been decided; Level-5 wants the experience to be distinct from the DS release and that desire will affect the platform decision. Both versions will come with the same "Magic Master" book – shared by the main character of the game – which will need to be referred to while playing the game (let's hope it's portable!). With TGS just around the corner, we're hoping to hear more – and maybe see more – soon.

[Via Opposable Thumbs]

Famitsu has posted a correction on its website (via IGN) about an incorrect The Last Remnant release date that appeared in the latest Famitsu PS3 publication. The issue, dedicated to Square Enix's recent DKΣ3713 event, incorrectly listed the PlayStation 3 version of the game as coming November 20, the same day as the Xbox 360 release. The PS3 version's actual release date is, as they say, TBA for both Japan and the rest of the world. As far as we know, the Xbox 360 version is still poised to make that November 20 "worldwide" release.

As our extreme fondness for Seaman clearly shows, we absolutely adore bizarre games. Sure, Nintendo's upcoming Wii title Captain Rainbow may have a severe lack of Nimoy and man-faced fish, but it more than makes up for it with trippy visuals and an all-star (well, half-star) cast of Nintendo's supporting characters. We're definitely intrigued by what we've seen from the game, though we weren't sure exactly how we were going to interact with the lonely Birdo and a morbidly obese Little Mac -- until a recent Famitsu article revealed a few details about the title's gameplay.

As our Wiimote-toting brethren at Wii Fanboy succinctly observed -- Captain Rainbow appears to be one part Animal Crossing, and one part action. The titular yo-yo wielder will make his way about Mimin island, helping its inhabitants and playing certain minigames, the rewards for which are crystals known as "kirarin". Collecting 20 kirarin will open up one of the game's action portions, in which the Captain will traverse a side-scrolling level to collect a falling star, which will grant the wish of one of the island's inhabitants. That seems just bizarre enough to ensure the game won't be coming to America, but our fingers are crossed nonetheless.

Japanese gaming information purveyor Famitsu writes that Mega Man 9 is priced at 1000 Wii Points. We're currently unaware of any WiiWare title changing prices across the Pacific, so the newest adventure of the Blue Bomber could hit our shores for $10. But ... there's a possible catch.

Wii Fanboy tells us that both Nintendo Power and Famitsu now allude to some kind of DLC for the game. If it's anything like the Final Fantasy: My Life as a King DLC we're not going to fret; however, if it's $10 for the first three bosses and five bucks for every boss after that -- expect a full blown nutter.

[Via Wii Fanboy]

In a statement issued to Eurogamer, Square Enix has denied a recent report which stated that Final Fantasy Versus XIII had been put on hold in order to prioritize completion of regular ol' Final Fantasy XIII. According to a translated Famitsu interview with Versus director, Tetsuya Nomura, work on the spin-off title had been temporarily suspended while staffers helped out on the next highly anticipated, and not even remotely final, Final Fantasy installment.

"Reports that development for Final Fantasy Versus XIII is on hold are false," countered Square Enix. "The truth of the situation is that when free, some staff from the Versus team have been helping with the XIII team on development of Final Fantasy XIII. Development for both titles is continuing as originally scheduled."

That almost sounds like good news, until you realize that the "originally scheduled" release date for either title is likely quite far off. And that makes us so very, very sad.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Here is the Metal Gear Solid 4 tale of two regions. In Japan, Famitsu reports that MGS4 sold 476,334 copies in its first few days, becoming the best-selling PS3 game to date in the region. Snake also boosted sales of the PS3 itself, with Japanese sales hovering around the 10K mark; the console sold 77,208 for the week.

The UK tells a slightly different MGS4 sales tale. MGS4 is the second fastest-selling PS3 title behind Grand Theft Auto IV and was 14,000 short of MGS2's initial sales in 2002. Although the UK's Chart-Track apparently did not release actual numbers, the company's director did say that MGS4 had a "minimal impact" on hardware sales and that "there's not a lot to say about it."

Unless Sony or Konami sends out a release, we're not expecting US sales figures until NPD's June report releases sometime next month.

Source: Famitsu (translation) report (Via IGN)
Source: Chart-Track: MGS4 had "minimal" impact on UK PS3 sales

Japanese games mag giant Famitsu has rated Metal Gear Solid 4 and bestowed it with its highest honor: a score of 40/40. MGS4 is the first PS3 title to receive such high praise from the magazine's editors. It has already picked up similarly glowing scores from European and Western publications.

Famitsu has only handed out a 40/40 score to seven other games in its history: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64), Soulcalibur (DC), Vagrant Story (PS), The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (GCN), Nintendogs (DS), Final Fantasy XII (PS2), and Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii). We imagine Otacon is peeing his pants right about now.

[Kotaku via PS3 Fanboy]

If you're a Tenchu seeker who, despite the franchise's decidedly clumsy plummet from grace, insists on having your ninjas murder enemies with elegance and discretion (sorry, Ryu), you'd best check out the latest issue of Japan's Famitsu magazine. According to IGN, its pages declare that Tenchu 4 is headed for the Japanese Wii on October 23rd. The game is said to be developed by Acquire, the same company that delivered the original Dimensional Ninja Action Movie: Tenchu. And not Tenchu Z.

Not much else is known at this time, so you're more than welcome to speculate about how you'll use the Wiimote as a sword and the nunchuk as a ... well, we're sure you'll think of something.

Since it's abundantly clear that we need to grow up, allow us to tell you about our dream of becoming city planners -- nay, creators! -- as soon as we reach adulthood. According to the latest issue of Japan's Famitsu magazine (as translated by the men of IGN), SimCity Creator will prove to be the ideal training tool. First announced in February of this year, the Wii game allows puerile planners such as ourselves to draw rivers or tracks (inevitably shaped like genitalia) with the Wiimote in the construction of our virtual cities.

You'll be able to change the style of your buildings, with options including European, Chinese and Indian designs. Apparently, you can also opt for buildings made of crystal or candy. You'll be wanting to show those off to your friends via the game's city-sharing Wi-Fi Connection feature, shortly before you inflict a hilarious cataclysm upon your potentially edible metropolis. That's always been our favorite part of city planning.

The game is currently expected to hit Japan in September. We'll let you know as soon as EA unveils its plans for other regions. Update: SimCity Creator will be available on the Wii and Nintendo DS on September 22, 2008 in North America and on September 19, 2008 in Europe and Asia-Pacific regions.


Source -- Official EA press release
Source -- Famitsu information

We weren't that surprised when Nintendo denied any knowledge of the existence of a new DS model hinted at by Famitsu publisher Hirokazu Hamamura last week. We were a little more surprised when Hamamura himself denied ever making the prediction.

IGN is reporting on a statement released by Enterbrain (Famitsu's parent company) explaining that reports of the original prediction were inaccurate and that Hamamura actually "believes it unlikely that Nintendo would release a new form factor or a successor model" for the DS. So was it simply a mistaken quote/translation, or did the powers-that-be at Nintendo put the screws to Enterbrain in order to tone back the speculation? We may never know the truth, but that won't stop us from wildly speculating ourselves ...

Much like the ancient evils that plague the survival-horror genre, it seems Siren is about to be resurrected for a new, thrill-seeking audience. The pages of Famitsu have apparently revealed "Siren New Translation," an alleged PlayStation 3 remake of the 2003 scare-a-thon. The original game saw ten unlucky souls attempting to escape a Japanese village, aided only by the occasional blunt object and the ability to see through the eyes of nearby creatures. One of those was considerably more useful than the other.

Siren New Translation seems set for a July 24th release, with a demo expected to boo-come* available on the Japanese PSN next week. Is that it for the mysterious countdown on Sony's Japanese site?

[Via PS3 Fanboy, Kotaku]

*Alright, that one probably deserves an apology.