Joystiq

Nicalis wants your input on The Binding of Isaac's makeover

Mike Suszek — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 13:30:00 EST

Nicalis is proposing four different art styles for The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, the console remake of Team Meat's bizarre PC game. Fans can vote on the four mock-up 16-bit art styles seen in the gallery below to determine which direction Nicalis will take the remake in.

According to The Binding of Isaac creator Edmund McMillen's Tumblr blog, the game is getting a face lift "because I think the art is tired and I'm sick of looking at it." The survey also asks for input on which platforms the game should appear on, with 3DS and Wii U listed as options.

Nicalis will begin development on the project in January and hopes to launch PS3, Vita and PC (Steam) versions of The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth by the end of 2013, with Xbox 360, iOS and Nintendo console ports a possibility.

Gallery: The Binding of Isaac (Rebirth Mock-Up Art)

Nicalis wants your input on The Binding of Isaac's makeover originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Dec 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: New Twisted Treeline map now live in League of Legends

Mike Schramm — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 23:00:00 EST

The brand new version of the 3v3 Twisted Treeline map in Riot Games' League of Legends is now live for players. This is no mere tweak: Riot has completely remade one of the game's three modes.

As you can see above, there's a new layout and redone art, new map-specific items in the store (no more generic wards!), Dominion-style speed shrines, and special altars with buffs to grab. There's also a new giant spider boss named Vilemaw who, like Baron Nashor, will grant a teamwide bonus when defeated.

The map is still in beta right now and is expected to be considered as such for a while, though the new version is being used in ranked Season 3 play already. Twisted Treeline's 3v3 player variant has almost always been part of League of Legends, but with this revamp LoL's millions of players have gained yet another way to experience the game.

PSA: New Twisted Treeline map now live in League of Legends originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Mesa scheduled to launch on September 14

Mike Suszek — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 19:30:00 EST

Black Mesa, a fan-made Half-Life remake that began development in 2004, will see its first public release on September 14. According to a post on the game's official forums, the launch won't be of the entire game, but will include the team's "re-envisioning of Half-Life all the way up to Lambda Core," which constitutes about eight to ten hours of gameplay.

Black Mesa is a "total conversion" Half-Life 2 mod that uses the Source engine in order to tell the story of the esteemed 1997 first-person shooter by Valve, Half-Life. No launch date has been announced for the full version of the PC-only remake.

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

Gallery: Black Mesa (Half-Life Source Remake)

Black Mesa scheduled to launch on September 14 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Binding of Isaac in production for consoles, PC as a new game

Jessica Conditt — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:30:00 EST

A revamped version of The Binding of Isaac is crawling to consoles and PC via a mystery publisher and a new team, Edmund McMillen reveals on his Formspring account. This is more than an update to the existing Binding of Isaac available on Steam - it's a brand new game.

"The remake will be more than just an expansion, it will be a new game with all new graphics, music, etc. It will also feature an expansion-sized pack of all new content, bosses, characters enemies, items etc.," McMillen writes. "And yes, in about a year if/when it comes out, the Flash version of the game will appear obsolete for sure. But a year is a long time and I'll do what I can to make sure the guys who remake it make it substantial enough for you to play through all over again."

The new Isaac will have local co-op and is aiming to launch on all platforms; McMillen even gives the 3DS a 50 percent chance. McMillen is "avoiding all the business BS," but the team has been talking to Microsoft for a while, and "they seem to also want Isaac a lot, but only time will tell if anything gets signed."

McMillen says he'll ask the investors about selling the new game at a discount for current Binding of Isaac and Wrath of the Lamb owners, but since he's not the one fronting the money he doesn't call the shots.

The Binding of Isaac in production for consoles, PC as a new game originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cinemaware is back at it with a Kickstarter campaign for Wings: Director's Cut

Mike Suszek — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST

Cinemaware recently announced plans to remake its 1990 Amiga game Wings (no, not that Wings), and hopes to fund it with a Kickstarter campaign. The developer's goal is to reach $350k on the funding platform in order to complete Wings: Director's Cut, which would include new missions and story elements not seen in the original game.

Per its Kickstarter page for the project, the game is in development for PC and both Android and iOS mobile platforms. Additionally, the company noted its excitement for the Ouya console (which finished its own crowd-funding campaign at $8.5 million this past week), saying it "became official supporters of the Ouya campaign on Kickstarter, and are in line to receive a development kit." Ouya support is in the works for Wings: Director's Cut since Cinemaware has to use that development kit for something, after all.

Continue reading Cinemaware is back at it with a Kickstarter campaign for Wings: Director's Cut

Cinemaware is back at it with a Kickstarter campaign for Wings: Director's Cut originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jace Hall is out for Blood, asks fans what they want in a remake

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 23:59:00 EST

Jace Hall, founder and former CEO of Monolith Productions, is looking to bring back 1997's original gore-fest of a game, Blood. Hall brings the idea up on The Postmortem, a Blood fan forum, gauging interest and asking for wish lists in a potential Blood remake.

"To be clear, I am thinking of bringing the ORIGINAL Blood game back as it was, with functionality alterations/enhancements that are similar but superior to ZDAEMON's," Hall writes. "I would also make it work on all platforms, and not just PC."

Hall has all of the legal rights and issues "handled" and will get support from anyone with a legal investment in Blood, he says. Hall will be the one footing the bill the new game as well: "One thing to also know is that if I go ahead and attempt to bring Blood back, I will be the one actually paying the bill. It is certainly going to cost money to do this, and I will not likely be getting my money back. It will be all for the fun of it. Just something to know."

Hall has reservations about releasing the source code for Blood, writing, "Part of what I'm hoping to achieve with this potential project is a game that really allows people to build measurable value in their cummulative game accomplishments." The conversation is on-going at The Postmortem if you'd like to share your blood-soaked dream list with Hall himself.

Jace Hall is out for Blood, asks fans what they want in a remake originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Aug 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo 'hasn't decided' whether to remake A Link to the Past or Majora's Mask

JC Fletcher — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 10:45:00 EST

Nintendo is wavering between remaking The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for 3DS and remaking Majora's Mask, Shigeru Miyamoto told IGN. "We haven't quite decided yet, whether we're going to do A Link to the Past, because there's also the possibility of doing a remake of Majora's Mask," Miyamoto said. "This is something we've certainly been talking about and doing a little bit of experimenting with, to figure out which way we're going to go."

Miyamoto said that now that the company has the dual goals of expanding the 3DS audience and building up the Wii U library, "we have lots of good opportunities in terms of thinking about which Zelda game is going to be best for which purpose." That suggests that one of these remakes could end up as a Wii U release.

Nintendo 'hasn't decided' whether to remake A Link to the Past or Majora's Mask originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cave Story+ hits the 3DS eShop soon, separate from Cave Story 3D

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST

Cave Story+, an updated and 3D version of indie classic Cave Story, is slated to hit the 3DS eShop "in a month or so," developer and Nicalis CEO Tyrone Rodriguez told Destructoid. Cave Story+ is a remade, separate game from DSiWare's Cave Story 3D, not an update, meaning even those who own Cave Story 3D will have to purchase Cave Story+ new.

"I fought really hard to try to get it to be just a 'simple' update; I feel that Nintendo wanted the same thing too, but the logistics behind it are pretty huge," Rodriguez said. "The good thing is that if you already bought the DSiWare version on your 3DS and ever delete it, you'll still be able to download it. The update won't stop you from playing the prior version of the game."

A version of Cave Story+ launched on Steam last year, but the 3DS version will be different even from that iteration, Rodriguez said. The eShop version can't handle the Steam HD art or new music, but the sprites will be rendered in 3D, set to the beat of the original soundtrack.

Rodriguez teased a Steam update for Cave Story+ as well, saying, "You already know about the Cave Story+ Steam updates we have planned? How do online leaderboards for the challenges sound?" Sounds great, Rodriguez. Just great.

Cave Story+ hits the 3DS eShop soon, separate from Cave Story 3D originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All aboard The Last Express on iOS, Mechner's classic adventure revamped

Jessica Conditt — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:59:00 EST

Jordan Mechner, creator of Karateka and a small, obscure franchise called Prince of Persia, is bringing his 1997 game The Last Express to iOS with the help of French developer DotEmu. The Last Express is a real-time, point-and-click adventure game taking place on the Orient Express just before World War I.

DotEmu's version includes the entire game, all 20-plus hours of gameplay with a few "enhancements" for iOS devices, Mechner writes, and is expected to launch some time this year.

All aboard The Last Express on iOS, Mechner's classic adventure revamped originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition arrives this summer [update: more news!]

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:12:00 EST

Nope, we still don't really know what this Baldur's Gate announcement business is, but we sure do know its name now: "Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition." Huzzah! As previously reported, Beamdog is working on the Baldur's Gate project, though the developer's Overhaul Games division is taking lead. Atari is handling publishing duties, and Wizards of the Coast is licensing its (D&D-based) IP.

From the few details we have, the project sounds an awful lot like an HD remake to us - especially given the fancier logo and "Enhanced Edition" subtitle. We've reached out to Beamdog for clarity on what the game actually is, and what platforms it'll end up on (among other things). For now, know that Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition will land on whatever those platforms are at some point this summer. We're gonna take a wild guess that it'll be on PC at the very least.

Update: Beamdog reps tell us that the team at Overhaul is adding "new, original content" to the original game to make up the Enhanced Edition. "This is the Enhanced Edition, it's not a repackage. We have the original source code and are doing a significant update." He also confirms that no platforms have been announced just yet.

Update 2: A Beamdog rep also confirms that the company is self-publishing. Though he wouldn't go into detail regarding the new content, he says that "it's being lovingly crafted in the spirit of the original with the help of some of the original developers." Additionally, Cameron Tofer and Trent Oster have been working on the project ("planning and organizing") for "over a year now." We'll also hear more soon, as the team is planning "regular announcements every week with more details."

Continue reading Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition arrives this summer [update: more news!]

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition arrives this summer [update: more news!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baldur's Gate teaser site gets a countdown and a soundtrack

Mike Schramm — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:15:00 EST

BaldursGate.com just appeared back at the end of February with naught more than a poem and a rumor, and it's lain dormant since then -- until now. Just this evening, a countdown has appeared on the site, along with a tune (more on that in a second), both that seem to be hinting at a big reveal coming up in just about twelve hours from now, at 11am Pacific on Thursday morning.

The music, which is reminiscent of the theme from the legendary singleplayer RPG (and sounds great) is indeed linked to a file on Beamdog.com, which is former BioWare designer Trent Oster's website, and has previously published an enhanced remake of BioWare's MDK2. Considering that the sound file is actually located at "files/overhaul/theme.mp3," it's probably a good bet that the announcement is some sort of Baldur's Gate remake from Oster's studio, Overhaul Games.

For exactly what platforms however (PC, iOS, or even consoles), we'll have to wait until the official word arrives. The good news is that there's not too long to wait. If you hurry, you can listen to the minute-long theme music about 720 more times before the big reveal arrives.

Baldur's Gate teaser site gets a countdown and a soundtrack originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Killzone PSN version 'delayed indefinitely' [update]

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST

[Update: This post erroneously referred to this version of Killzone as a "remake" for PS3, but it was intended to refer to the PSN re-release of the PlayStation 2 game. We apologize for contributing to the 'ghastly confusion.]

Killzone the First was scheduled to become a downloadable PSN game in late January, but has since been "delayed indefinitely," according to the official Killzone Twitter account.

Killzone franchise creators Guerrilla Games are currently working on the next entry in the series, as well as a still-unnamed "new IP."

Killzone PSN version 'delayed indefinitely' [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST

While regaling Chinese Final Fantasy fans with tales of upcoming downloadable content headed to Final Fantasy XIII-2 during the Taipei Game Show, Square Enix producer Shinji Hashimoto also took time to answer fan questions about various FF projects. One such question directed at Hashimoto wondered if the upcoming PlayStation 3 and Vita re-rerelease of Final Fantasy X would be a "remake" (like the recent re-release of Halo: Combat Evolved) or a "remaster" (like last fall's Ico/Shadow of the Colossus collection).

Hashimoto left little space for interpretation of his answer, directly stating it is a "remaster." He also pointed out that "the screen is much prettier than the original," though we're unable to corroborate that just yet as the game hasn't even been mentioned since its announcement last fall at Tokyo Game Show 2011, let alone shown.

We've followed up with Square's US reps to see when we might hear more about the upcoming Vita and PS3 remaster, but aren't holding our breath for new info.

[Image credit: GNN.Gamer.tw]

Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Space Quest II remade, released for free

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:30:00 EST

Perhaps "remade" isn't the best word to describe what the team at Infamous Adventures has done to Sierra's 1987 classic Space Quest II: Vohaul's Revenge. "Lovingly rebuilt," perhaps, or "delicately hand-milled," if such a term can be considered applicable in a programming sense. (We've decided it can.)

Infamous Adventures' reproduction features "hand-drawn backgrounds, hand animated characters, a full voice pack featuring over 4,000 recorded lines and a whole lot of extras," according to the group's official website. We don't know what's more touching, the fact that a small group of people completely rejiggered a classic out of love for the original, or that the fruits of their labor can be downloaded for free.

Watch those system requirements, though, as the PC version requires a whole meg of RAM.

Space Quest II remade, released for free originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Little Big Adventure remake confirmed, may be used as testbed for third title

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST

Originally discussed back in August, talk of a remade/remixed version of Adeline Software International's Little Big Adventure (known stateside as Relentless: Twinsen's Adventure) has resurfaced during an interview between GoG.com and the creative minds behind the series, Didier Chanfray, Frédérick Raynal and Sébastien Viannay.

Other than confirmation that a rerelease of the original Little Big Adventure is in the works, the team also hinted at the possibility of an eventual Little Big Adventure 3: "We obviously have a lot of ideas for a third part, our best fans already know some of them, but before telling you more we need to test some of them with the remake. Games are different nowadays and we don't want to be stuck in 90's." If only every developer could be so self-aware.

Little Big Adventure remake confirmed, may be used as testbed for third title originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kojima the producer open to MGS remake, Kojima the creator not so much

Ludwig Kietzmann — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST

Konami's recent Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is an odd product for shipping without anything called "Metal Gear Solid HD" in the box. One part of series creator Hideo Kojima views the omission as a call to be answered, while another is eager to spend less time in the past.

"There are a lot of people wanting remakes of the original, and as producer I want to answer those calls," Kojima tells Official PlayStation Magazine. "But as a creator I'm not very interested in going back. If we were to do it, it would have to be a total remake - the only thing that would be the same would be the story. If it happened at some point I would stay as a producer, but would have to hand off most of the actual creating."

We've heard of Metal Gear Solid's seemingly inevitable continuation before, and of Kojima's wearying dance between director and producer. The first Metal Gear Solid is satisfactory in being "the game I wanted to make," says Kojima, who sounds like he'd rather not meddle and make it once more -- never mind that it's already been redone in MGS: Twin Snakes with the help of Silicon Knights and Nintendo. "If you bring the gameplay up to modern standards, then you lose a bit of the original game. It was a game made for a certain era - not just the story, but the controls and everything about it reflect that era in which the game was made."

That's right. Back in the day, there wasn't enough visual fidelity to tell whose footprints those were -- and we liked it.

Kojima the producer open to MGS remake, Kojima the creator not so much originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc coming to XBLA/PSN next Spring

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST

Haven't yet had enough of Rayman, despite the recent release of Rayman Origins, you horrible, insatiable glutton? We'll try to turn a blind eye to your avarice as we share with you this exciting news: Ubisoft just announced that Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc is being ported from its original Xbox and PS2 platforms to the XBLA and PSN during Spring 2012.

The game will feature an "all-new high-definition makeover," and will be "updated to run at 60 frames per second and offers improved audio quality." Apart from that, it's the same Rayman you've come to know and love: Rewarding platforming, loveable characters and the constant, quiet unease of controlling a protagonist who has apparently been drawn and quartered.

Gallery: Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc HD (XBLA/PSN)

Continue reading Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc coming to XBLA/PSN next Spring

Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc coming to XBLA/PSN next Spring originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Deja Review: Radiant Silvergun

Jordan Mallory — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:55:00 EST

We're of the firm opinion that your time is too precious, too valuable to be spent reading a full review for a game that was already reviewed many, many years ago. What's the point of applying a score to a game that's old enough to be enrolled in the sixth grade? That's why we invented Deja Review: A quick look at the new features and relative agelessness of remade, revived and re-released games.

It may not have garnered the same enthusiastic posthumous cult following as its little brother, but the Sega Saturn was a very good console -- provided you were a very specific type of gamer. Unlike its contemporaries whose processing architectures were designed to excel at 3D graphics (not 3D-glasses 3D, just, you know, polygons), the Saturn's extremely complex and unconventional processor configuration was uniquely suited for 2D, sprite-based games.

While the Crash Bandicoots, Crocs, and Super Mario 64s of the period were pioneering the field of depth perception, the Saturn became a safe haven for 2D skill-based games like Radiant Silvergun. Despite the fact that it was never released stateside, Treasure's manic 1998 shooter is thought of as a definitive Saturn classic, which continues to influence contemporary shmups even to this day. Now, through the magic of XBLA, an entirely new generation of gamers are being exposed to the genesis of bullet-hell, and even after 13 years, Radiant Silvergun is still a relevant, infuriating masterpiece.

Gallery: Radiant Silvergun (XBLA)

Continue reading Deja Review: Radiant Silvergun

Deja Review: Radiant Silvergun originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Deja Review: Star Fox 64 3D

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:20:00 EST

If you've spent any time with the Nintendo 3DS -- especially if that time was spent with the handheld's aeronautical launch title, Pilotwings Resort -- you're probably aware that flying games are right in this handheld's wheelhouse. Moving forward through the sky as objects and other pilots move towards, around and behind you looks invariably dope with the 3D slider turned on; this law is no less incontrovertible in the system's latest first-party remake: Star Fox 64 3D.

But games can't live on dopeness alone -- they need meat on their bones as well. Star Fox has no lack of content, but if you owned the Nintendo 64 original and thoroughly explored its brief and branching campaign back in 1997, you've probably seen that content plenty of times before. Much like Ocarina of Time 3D before it, Star Fox 64 3D is banking on a single bulletpoint to earn your purchase: You've never seen that content quite like this.

Gallery: Starfox 64 3D (Comic Con 2011)

Continue reading Deja Review: Star Fox 64 3D

Deja Review: Star Fox 64 3D originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Metal Max 2 being remade for DS

JC Fletcher — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:20:00 EST

RPGs that have no chance of being localized are the hot new thing for Nintendo fans, right? Well, this one's very unlikely to make it over. Metal Max 2 was originally released on Super Famicom by Data East, and is now being ported to DS. The post-apocalyptic mech RPG is being remade in the style of Metal Max 3, its DS sequel ... which was never released here. The new version is called Metal Max 2 Reloaded, according to Famitsu leaks.

You might actually be familiar with the series: one of the games, a PS2 entry, was localized by Atlus as Metal Saga. All of the games are open-ended, mission-based RPGs, in which players choose missions to complete in the order of their choice, as a team of mechanics, soldiers, bounty hunters, and robodogs.

Metal Max 2 being remade for DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Persona 2: Innocent Sin coming to PSP this fall

JC Fletcher — Tue, 24 May 2011 10:25:00 EST

As hinted by a time-lost relic of a newsletter sent last week by Atlus, the PSP remake of Persona 2: Innocent Sin is on the way to North America, with a release scheduled for sometime this fall. Persona fans have extra reason to get excited about this particular release, as the PlayStation original was never localized.

Even if you have already played the original, in Japanese or through a fan translation, this one offers new content in the form of new sidequests, a new interface, and an optional new soundtrack by director Shoji Meguro. This post also offers new content: screens in the gallery below, and a trailer after the break.

Persona 2: Innocent Sin was the first game in Atlus's Shin Megami Tensei series to drop the traditional first-person dungeons in favor of a third-person viewpoint. Like the other Personas, it's all about cool high school kids negotiating (and fighting) with demons and discovering their powerful "Persona" alter egos. In this one, students at Seven Sisters High School find that rumors start mysteriously coming true in their hometown of Sumaru City, including the rumor that if you call your own cell phone number, a demon called the Joker appears and grants a wish. Being teenagers, the kids decide to wisely avoid tempting fate.

Just kidding.

Gallery: Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)

Continue reading Persona 2: Innocent Sin coming to PSP this fall

Persona 2: Innocent Sin coming to PSP this fall originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 May 2011 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warlords screens are fairly full of fireballs

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 11 May 2011 05:00:00 EST

The constituent elements in the latest batch of screenshots for Atari's Warlords remake are just what you'd expect: Castles, tiny soldiers and more fireballs than could possibly be numbered by anyone, even if they're using some kind of sophisticated fireball-counting apparatus.

Continue reading Warlords screens are fairly full of fireballs

Warlords screens are fairly full of fireballs originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 May 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miyamoto would most like to see a Link to the Past remake on 3DS

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST

Shigeru Miyamoto has a habit for developing games that show off the strength of new Nintendo platforms -- and it sounds like he's planning on doing so once again for the 3DS. Speaking to Edge, Miyamoto explained now that Nintendo has finished developing the 3DS hardware, it can "focus more on gaming" in the coming year, adding that we can expect "remakes of games on 3DS as well." When asked for a specific title he'd like to see remade, Miyamoto reached into his own back catalog, answering, "I think A Link To The Past."

Deciding that wasn't enough of a pseudo-sadistic tease, Miyamoto explained some of the functionality he'd like to see in a 3DS Link to the Past remake. "Do you remember Xevious," Miyamoto asked. "It's two-layered and I really wanted to create that at the time. So to see Link To The Past in two layers would be quite attractive for me." Such a remake sounds just perfect for the 3D Classics section of the 3DS eShop -- a storefront which, serendipitously enough, will play host to a renovated version of Xevious itself.

Miyamoto would most like to see a Link to the Past remake on 3DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just Add Water reveals screenshot of abandoned Paradroid remake

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:30:00 EST

The Oddworld franchise isn't the only series developer Just Add Water had its sights on for a reboot -- the company recently tweeted a concept image of an abandoned remake of the Commodore 64 classic Paradroid. (That's Spanish for "for Droid," you know.)

Continue reading Just Add Water reveals screenshot of abandoned Paradroid remake

Just Add Water reveals screenshot of abandoned Paradroid remake originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Modders work their HD magic on Resident Evil 4, no remake required

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST

Though Capcom has big plans to release an HD relaunch of its frequently relaunched survival horror title, Resident Evil 4, the PC modding community has beaten the company to the punch. Check out the video below to see how a cadre of plug-ins can give the title a (totally free) high-def overhaul.

Continue reading Modders work their HD magic on Resident Evil 4, no remake required

Modders work their HD magic on Resident Evil 4, no remake required originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee HD remake in development at Just Add Water

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST

Though the studio is still hard at work on its HD renovation of one installment of the Oddworld Inhabitants franchise, Stranger's Wrath, it seems Just Add Water already has a second remake underway. EGM recently teased an interview (which will appear in its upcoming March 2011 issue) with series creator Lorne Lanning, in which he reveals, "Abe HD is going into production," later adding, "It's basically Abe's Oddysee being redone in a 3D physics engine as a 2D side-scrolling platformer."

Though pickings are slim in the EGM preview, Lanning did mention that the studio is "not trying to reinvent any wheels. It's like, 'Can we make that experience in a new engine, with new tech, in the old way?'" We bet you can, if you really put your mind to it. We've got our fingers crossed that more details about the Odd remake will surface in the full interview, when the new EGM hits newsstands next month.

Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee HD remake in development at Just Add Water originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fan-made Sonic the Hedgehog 2 HD remake trailer runs loose

Andrew Yoon — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST

Fans continue their attempts to make a better Sonic game than Sega can -- this time, by remaking one of the franchise's all-time favorites. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 HD is an update to the Genesis classic that, barring any ceast and desist letters, should be available to everyone in alpha form in "Q1" of this year.

Unlike the previously-released Sonic Fan Remix, Sonic 2 HD isn't trying to stray too far from the simplistic visuals of the 16-bit original. While we think it's a rather impressive fan endeavor, many Sonic fans disagree. One outspoken commenter noted on the game's official site: "I thought you guys were gonna show us something that would blow away a project like Sonic Fan Remix. Guess not guys ... I'm not following this sh-t anymore."

Sonic fans really are hard to please, huh? Check out the trailer after the break.

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Fan-made Sonic the Hedgehog 2 HD remake trailer runs loose originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation arrives in North America on Feb. 14

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST

15 years ago, Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie launched in Japan, with a Nintendo DS remake of that game arriving last January. This coming February 14th, Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation will launch in North America, effectively ending the 15-year exclusivity the game has endured and completing the trilogy of DQ remakes on Nintendo DS. The game arrives for Nintendo DS on Valentine's Day, bringing with it "new character options and enhancements."

Nintendo gets more specific in the announcement, citing updated graphics as the main difference between the original release and the forthcoming update. But then, if the North American release is the same as the Japanese re-release on Nintendo DS, we expect to see an improved map system, a slime curling minigame, and several other revisions.

Oh, and of course, there will be plenty of slimes. Relax.

Gallery: Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation

Continue reading Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation arrives in North America on Feb. 14

Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation arrives in North America on Feb. 14 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unofficial remake of first Batman game released

James Ransom-Wiley — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:30:00 EST

For a full-color history lesson, we suggest you check out the recently completed and simply adorable remake of Batman -- the first Batman! The 3D isometric gem was developed by Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond, and published in 1986 by the once formidable British games giant Ocean Software -- a sort of ancestor of the modern-day Atari Inc. through its Infogrames lineage -- for the ZX Spectrum, MSX and Amstrad CPC (and PCW) "microcomputers" (contemporaries of the dominant Commodore 64).

The game stars an Adam West-looking Batman on a scavenger hunt around the deadly Batcave for seven pieces of the Batcraft (so he can get it hovering again and go rescue Robin, of course). According to the Sinclair User review (issue #50, pg. 51), Batman is notable for being an early, if not the first, game to implement a checkpoint system.

The unofficial remake of Batman was developed by Tomaz Kac (who also faithfully remade Ritman and Drummond's Head Over Heels followup) and is available to download and play for free on PC. An earlier freeware remake, dubbed Watman, was released for DOS and Game Boy Advance about ten years ago. Consider yourself schooled.

[Image sources: Retrospec / RudyKoch]

Unofficial remake of first Batman game released originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fan-made Duke Nukem 3D remake green-lighted by Gearbox

James Ransom-Wiley — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Project lead Frederik "Fresch" Schreiber has received a non-commercial license to proceed with Duke Nukem: Next-Gen, his Unreal Engine 3-powered Duke Nukem 3D remake. Fresch secured the license in just under three weeks after his first announcement -- a credit to rights holder Gearbox's openness to share the franchise with the community -- and has aleady assembled a team of nine other contributors (though he is still "hiring" for a number of positions).

Fresch, who abandoned similar "next-gen" remakes of Daikatana (too unpopular) and SIN (shut down by MumboJumbo), has plans to release a public multiplayer demo of Duke Nukem: Next-Gen "sooner than you think." Of course, the full version will be released "when it's done" -- and he notes that "Duke Nukem: Next-Gen" is, wisely, just a codename.

Check out the freeware project's first test video after the break.

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Fan-made Duke Nukem 3D remake green-lighted by Gearbox originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath remake coming to PS3 in 2011

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:17:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Are you ready, Steef? Just Add Water is working on a high-definition remake of Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath. The Gravity Crash developer announced the project earlier today, highlighting it as the first in a "long and fruitful relationship" with the original game's developer, Oddworld Inhabitants. "Having a chance to update the great title and release it on PS3 is just a brilliant opportunity, not least for us, but for the fans too," added Just Add Water MD Stewart Gilray.

Set for release on PlayStation Network during Easter next year, the PS3 remake of Stranger's Wrath will offer enhanced 720p visuals, more detailed character models, remastered dialogue, PlayStation Move support and "additional bonus material."

When it launched on Xbox in January 2005, Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath was notable for being, well, a really bizarre first-person shooter. It placed the franchise's environmental missive inside a wild and weird Western aesthetic, and replaced ammunition with ravenous fuzzballs. An EA-developed port for PlayStation 2 never made it to stores.

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath remake coming to PS3 in 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy Legend 3 remake on the way to DS

JC Fletcher — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Last year, for the 20th anniversary of the SaGa series, Square Enix released a DS remake of the Game Boy's SaGa 2, which we knew as Final Fantasy Legend 2. This year, Square Enix is remaking SaGa 3: The Ruler of Space and Time (our Final Fantasy Legend 3), though there isn't a particular occasion for it.

Early Famitsu scans show the same kind of slightly cutesy visual makeover given to SaGa 2. Siliconera reports that it'll retain the freaky class system from the original, in which characters can change classes immediately either by equipping cyborg parts from downed enemies -- or eating meat made of defeated monsters.

Following the usual pattern for these Famitsu leaks, we expect to learn more about SaGa 3: The Ruler of Space and Time - Shadow or Light later this week.

Final Fantasy Legend 3 remake on the way to DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square Enix confirms Tactics Ogre remake for North America

JC Fletcher — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:50:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

We didn't have to wait long at all to hear about a North American release for the PSP Tactics Ogre remake. Square Enix has already announced a localized version, under the game's original title Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together.

Square Enix's announcement offers additional detail as to exactly what's new in the revamped version. 3D maps have been added, along with updated graphics and 15 new tracks from composers Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata. In terms of gameplay, there's a new "Battle Skill" ability that players can use alongside the game's existing magic and special abilities.

There's still some waiting involved with this game, as Square did not offer a timeframe for its debut.

Gallery: Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (first screens)

Gallery: Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (art)

Square Enix confirms Tactics Ogre remake for North America originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamefly listings suggest Centipede and Star Raiders remakes

JC Fletcher — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

[Star Raiders Tribute Page]

It would appear that Haunted House marked the beginning of a new series of revamped Atari classics. Siliconera spotted GameFly listings for PS3 and Xbox 360 games called "Star Raiders" and "Centipede."

Centipede, of course, is one of the most well-known early arcade games, featuring a trackball-controlled avatar firing lasers at on-screen centipedes and mushrooms. Star Raiders isn't as well known. It's a first-person, Star Trek-style space exploration and combat simulator released on various Atari computers -- as well as on Atari 2600, where it used the "Video Touch Pad" controller.

The fact that these are on Gamefly suggests that they're retail releases -- since Gamefly doesn't rent downloadable games.

Gamefly listings suggest Centipede and Star Raiders remakes originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raystorm HD storming Japanese XBLA and PSN May 5

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:15:00 EST

Though "mum" is still the word on the stateside release plans of Taito's renovated shoot-em-up Raystorm HD, Japanese scrolling aerial warfare enthusiasts will be pleased to know the game's recently announced, completely imminent release date. According to Japanese gaming news site Game Watch, Taito has confirmed the game will arrive in Japan on XBLA May 5 for 1,200 and PSN May 6 for 1,500 yen.

Just like every other time we've written about Raystorm HD, we'll contact Taito to see if we can find out anything about the game's North American release. Should we hear anything back, we'll travel directly to Vegas, because we've obviously been stricken with an impossible amount of good fortune.

Raystorm HD storming Japanese XBLA and PSN May 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square Enix undecided about FF5 and FF6 DS remakes

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST

Square Enix producer Shinji Hashimoto was in the question-answering mood yesterday, responding to a handful of queries thrown his way via the Square Enix Partners Twitter account. After explaining to his curious followers that the company is "undecided" about downloadable ports of Seiken Densetsu 3 and mobile RPG Ever Heart Odyssey, Hashimoto addressed the possibility of DS remakes for Final Fantasy V and VI, stating (according to Andriasang's translation), "for FF5 and 6, there are technical issues as well, so at present these are also undecided."

We're not quite sure what that means. The only technical issue we can see in this situation is that Square Enix could put the original versions of both games on a single DS cart, and we would still pay $40 for it, making us technically insane.

Square Enix undecided about FF5 and FF6 DS remakes originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No More Heroes remakes outsold the original by a little

JC Fletcher — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:15:00 EST

We're not going to say that No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise is a hit, but those of us in constant fear of Marvelous running out of money can breathe a sigh of relief, as the remake has brought a little cash in (more considering that the game is a port and therefore probably less expensive to produce).

In fact, both versions managed to make it into the Media Create top ten, with the PS3 version's 16,000 copies securing a #7 position and the Xbox 360 version's 15,000 copies at #8. Both of these actually outperformed the Wii original, which sold 11,700 copies in its debut week back in 2007.

Now that we think about it, however, the real story might be that 15,000 people in Japan bought an Xbox 360 game in a single week.

Gallery: No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise (PS3/Xbox 360)

No More Heroes remakes outsold the original by a little originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Jam brings Larry Bird and Magic Johnson back to the hardwood

David Hinkle — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST

If you thought your excitement for NBA Jam couldn't get any higher after reading our preview, know that MTV Multiplayer has confirmed that classic ballers Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are in the game. Creative director Trey Smith said that the second-to-last team that players will face in the Classic Campaign mode -- the game's "worst-to-first ladder tournament," which pits players against a series of teams -- will be decided based on who wins the 2010 NBA championships. Then, the final match will feature the iconic duo.

There's no word on other possible unlockable characters, but, frankly, we're going to flip out if we don't get to play as Chow Chow or Bill Clinton. Get on it, EA!

NBA Jam brings Larry Bird and Magic Johnson back to the hardwood originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on: NBA Jam

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 03:00:00 EST

You need to get the preconception that NBA Jam is part of the rigid "sports game" genre out of your mind right this second. I can understand why you might possess this notion: for gamers whose youths were spent mastering the original game's showboating mechanics, Jam is one of the few franchises they can call up when accused of not playing sports games. For folks unfamiliar with the franchise, one might logically associate a bouncy, orange sphere with its eponymous sport: "basketball."

Yet, based on my time with EA Canada's Wii-make of NBA Jam earlier this month, I don't think the "sports game" archetype -- a turn-off for many non-sports enthusiasts -- is an accurate descriptor for what's going on here. Jam is a "party game" and will likely overtake Rock Band and Boom Blox as my entertainment of choice while hosting a social gathering. Provided, of course, attendees are prepared to get buffeted with an unstoppable deluge of smack talk.

Gallery: NBA Jam

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Hands-on: NBA Jam originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nomura mentions three more Kingdom Hearts games in interview

JC Fletcher — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST

An interview with Square Enix's Tetsuya Nomura, printed in the Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Ultimania guide book, outs the planning of three new games in the Disney/Square action RPG series. And one of them is, for real, Kingdom Hearts III. However, Nomura hasn't started the actual production of the title -- evidently he's busy with Final Fantasy Versus XIII, which is apparently a real game that people are working on.

"We won't take up KH3 until we've reached a certain target with FF Versus XIII," Nomura said, according to Andriasang's translation of the text provided by FF-Reunion. One of the two additional Kingdom Hearts games will be out this year. Another, due later, features multiple protagonists like Birth by Sleep.

Nomura also dashed any hope of another super-deluxe re-release like the Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix. "The voice actors for the overseas version are all high caliber, so it wouldn't be bad to release a Final Mix version," he said. " ... However, because for KH2FM+ we released Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories as a set, we have the feeling that people's expectations for the content of a Final Mix have become extremely high. I'd like to say this here -- we won't do anything that big ever again. (laughs)."

Nomura mentions three more Kingdom Hearts games in interview originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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