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Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce demo now available

by Richard Mitchell { Feb 4th 2010 at 12:45PM }

Considering Xbox Live is currently knee-deep in face huggers and split-chinned alien jerks, you'd be forgiven for not noticing there's another demo available on Marketplace. That demo is for Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce, otherwise known as that Dynasty Warriors game with a mythical twist, including Dragon Ball-esque character transformations. The demo allows players to try out the single-player mode -- the full game supports four. Like other entries in the series, expect hordes of enemies and, of course, plenty of button mashing.

Shortcut: Add the Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce demo to your 360 download queue [Via Xbox.com]

Tecmo Koei lowers profit forecast after Q3 losses

by JC Fletcher { Feb 3rd 2010 at 6:00AM }

Tecmo Koei has announced that it's lowering its annual operating profit forecast (essentially its guess for how much profit it will bring in before taxes) by a painful 95%. In addition, stock fell 9.5% to 630 yen ($7).

This comes after the announcement of disappointing third-quarter losses (PDF link) totaling 1.842 billion yen ($20.4 million), and after the announcement that two high-profile games, Quantum Theory and Trinity: Zill O'll Zero, have been delayed, thus eliminating whatever they would have contributed to the current fiscal year. Now it's all up to Dead or Alive: Paradise and the Western releases of Monster Rancher DS and Again.

Source [PDF]

DOA Paradise special edition is predictably naughty

by David Hinkle { Feb 2nd 2010 at 7:15PM }

Let's be honest: You're not thinking about getting Dead or Alive Paradise for the intuitive volleyball mechanics or the scenic, beach-front battles -- this game lacks both. You're buying this game because you want to ogle fake women with comically large and bouncy breasts. Or, according to Tecmo, you're buying this because you're a woman who has never purchased a Tecmo title before and this is something relevant to your interests. Either way, the company's hoping you'll want to pay extra for a special edition bundle of the "game."

Game Watch points out the extra busty package set to release in Japan -- complete with inappropriate Kasumi statue add-on and several other items, including a "Secret Picture Collection" and soundtrack CD. It's like a one-man pity party start-up kit. Are you guys getting it yet? Wanting this makes you a pervert.

There's no word on whether this'll make its way over to the States when the game releases in March, but we'll be sure to let you know.

Quantum Theory, Trinity: Souls of Zill O'll delayed [update]

by JC Fletcher { Feb 2nd 2010 at 10:55AM }

Tecmo Koei announced delays of two of its titles in Japan today. The female-focused shooter, Quantum Theory, has been moved out of its March 25 date to a troubling "TBA" date in the interest of improving quality. Tecmo Koei Europe confirmed that the delay affects the European release date, and it's likely to bump the North American date as well -- after all, if the game is still being worked on in March, we don't expect it to be released. [Update: Tecmo has confirmed the North American delay to Joystiq.]

The Koei side also delayed a title: Omega Force's RPG Trinity: Zill O'll Zero, which is to be released outside of Japan as Trinity: Souls of Zill O'll. Its new release date is also "TBA."

[Via Andriasang]

Source: Quantum site
Source: Zill O'll site

Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce demo on PSN, Xbox Live Feb. 4

by David Hinkle { Jan 29th 2010 at 6:16PM }

If you prefer your demos in the English language, then forget about trying to access the Japanese demo and instead, hunker down until February 4 when Koei will unleash a button-bashing demo of Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce onto PSN and Xbox Live. Giving gamers a taste of the title two weeks before its scheduled release on February 16, there's sadly no word on the exact contents of the demo in the press release issued. Do you really need to know more? It's Dynasty Warriors -- you mess dudes up. That's how it works.

Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce assaults retail shelves on February 16.

Gallery: Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce (1.29.2010)

Koei throwing a gigantic Samurai Festival

by JC Fletcher { Jan 28th 2010 at 10:02AM }

Koei has decided that assembling giant crowds of fictionalized historical armies isn't enough! The publisher is now turning its attention toward assembling giant crowds of real people with its Sengoku Bushou Matsuri (Warring States Commander Festival), to be held March 6-7 in Saitama, Japan. The event is intended to celebrate not only samurai culture, but (of course) Koei's own recent Wii release, Samurai Warriors 3.

The event is packed with Japanese celebrities, including singer and suspected vampire Gackt, and the entire Samurai Warriors 3 voice cast will attend. We believe all the attending celebrities will be participating in some kind of war drama. Which means that if you want to see TV stars pantomiming samurai warfare in outrageous, game-inspired costumes, this is probably where you want to go. Here's the really crazy part: Koei expects 80,000 to attend.

[Via GameGrep; thanks, Peter]

Watch this Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce 2 trailer, then play the demo

by JC Fletcher { Jan 21st 2010 at 5:20PM }

Koei released a new trailer for the latest PSP Dynasty Warriors game, Multi Raid 2, today. Multi Raid (known as Strikeforce in America) features weird fantasy monsters, transformations, and, most importantly, ad hoc multiplayer. And maybe it's just us, but this trailer briefly makes the series look ... kind of cool (specifically when it shows that army of glowy-eyed dudes). See the trailer after the break.

If the trailer made you want to try the game, good news! Koei just made a Japanese demo available from its website. Download away! Something tells us you won't need to read a lot of text to understand what's going on (since what's going on is you mashing buttons to kill thousands of soldiers).

[Via Koei Warriors]

Continued →

Last Rebellion heading to Europe March 12, US 'in February'

by Ben Gilbert { Jan 17th 2010 at 5:30PM }

You can imagine our surprise when we discovered Nippon Ichi's Last Rebellion had gotten itself a release date -- it's been nearly nine months since we last heard anything on the title (and that was its announcement!). The game's set to hit PlayStation 3 consoles on March 12 in Europe and 'February' for North America, just in time for those of you who love JRPGs yet are stridently against the purchase of Final Fantasy XIII.

In fact, between the release of FFXIII on March 9, Resonance of Fate launching the same day, and now this, we're inclined to rename the whole month with a JRPG theme. How about "Manarch?" Maybe "Marchic?" Perhaps "Marchlotsofbeltsandzippers?" Alright, alright -- we've clearly gone too far.

Gallery: Last Rebellion

More Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce media than you can shake a Dragon Sword at

by JC Fletcher { Jan 7th 2010 at 2:45AM }

If you only play games with Ryu Hayabusa in them, then Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce is likely to be your first experience with Koei's historical-ish brawler franchise. If you only play games with the ancient Chinese ruler Fu Xi in them, however, you're likely to be much better versed in the series. In either case, there's a Strikeforce for you: as reported, Fu Xi (and other characters from the Warriors Orochi series) appear in the Xbox 360 version, and Ryu in the PS3 version, both with exclusive missions that grant you the use of their "signature weapon" when completed.

New galleries give you a look at Fu Xi and the extra-beefy crossover ninja. And a new trailer (above) does what it can to get you pumped about Strikeforce, the Dynasty Warriors game with not only characters from other franchises, but giant tigers in it!

Gallery: Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce (Fu Xi)

Gallery: Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce (Ryu)

North Star Musou videos punch a hole in our heart

by David Hinkle { Dec 29th 2009 at 3:00AM }

If you're not excited by Fist of the North Star Musou, then maybe you should go watch that Gandhi movie or something. However, if the thought of punching stuff makes you want to punch stuff, then check out Musou's new internet digs.

The official site for the game has received quite the substantial update, assaulting our eyeballs with a variety of new screenshots, gameplay videos (past the break) and bios for characters and stages. There's even a flexing shirt rip that would make Balrog pee his boxing shorts!

[Via Andriasang]

Continued →

Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce footage murderously arrives online

by Ben Gilbert { Dec 17th 2009 at 6:40PM }

Would you believe us if we told you that Koei's first Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce trailer had to brutally slice its way through an army 1,000 strong to arrive where you see it today, resting atop this post? It's the truth! It joined up with three friends online to "infiltrate heavily-armed enemy strongholds" and "slay dragons" and ... oh, who're we kidding. It's a trailer for one of the many upcoming Warriors games, and certainly not one of the historical characters littered throughout the series, bent on murdering all that stands in its path. It does, however, feature all of the aforementioned excitement. So there's that, right?

Gallery: Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce (PS3/360)

Fist of the North Star Musou hits Japan in March

by JC Fletcher { Dec 1st 2009 at 9:30AM }

Japanese gamers and eager importers will be able to start throwing hundreds of high-speed punches at giant thugs as soon as March 2010. In a video game, we mean. Specifically, in North Star Musou, the Dynasty Warriors spin-off based on the legendary, post-apocalyptic fighting manga, Fist of the North Star.

Also, unfortunately, the company released the price for the upcoming brawler. We say "unfortunately" because it's ¥8,190 ($94.27), which probably marks the end of quite a few import plans. Koei has yet to announce a localized version of the game, but we don't think the publisher would allow a Warriors game to go unreleased.

Gallery: Fist of the North Star

[Via Andriasang]

Koei's Nobunaga's Ambition Online driven toward PS3

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 30th 2009 at 2:15PM }

Koei is apparently set to release Nobunaga's Ambition Online for PS3 next year. AndriaSang has translated a 4Gamer's report, which claims that the publisher announced an unspecified 2010 launch during a recent press conference.

We've contacted Koei to find out if the ultra-hardcore strategy title will release in the US. Nobunaga's Ambition Online's fourth expansion is set for release on PS2 and Windows (PC) in March of next year.

[Thanks, Peter]

Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce brings the crowds online in February

by JC Fletcher { Nov 19th 2009 at 5:10PM }

Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce, the upgraded PS3 and Xbox 360 port of the PSP's hit Dynasty Warriors game, will launch in North America this February, according to an announcement from Koei. We understand that keeping all the upcoming Warriors games straight may be confusing to people not keeping a close eye on the series, so we'll break it down.

This isn't the Fist of the North Star one, and it's not the Wii one game that Shigeru Miyamoto is peripherally involved in. This is the Dynasty Warriors with the crazy Dragon Ball Z-style transformations. This is the one that features Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 characters on PS3 and Warriors Orochi 2 characters on Xbox 360. Most importantly, this is the Dynasty Warriors with online multiplayer for teams of up to four players!

Gallery: Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce (PS3/360)

See North Star Musou's gory details in video teaser

by JC Fletcher { Oct 16th 2009 at 3:30PM }

Tecmo Koei opened a teaser site for the new North Star Musou, featuring a brief clip of in-game action. If you're familiar with either Fist of the North Star or the Dynasty Warriors games, you know exactly what to expect: a little post-apocalyptic Mad Max-esque wasteland, and one giant guy exploding a horde of identical thugs with his bare fists and feet. The combination of these two licenses is doing a pretty good job of renewing our interest in both!

See the footage after the break. If you squint, it kind of looks like a high-definition God Hand sequel.