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[Friday Video: Celebrating remakes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/friday-video-celebrating-remakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/friday-video-celebrating-remakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/friday-video-celebrating-remakes/#commentsFiled under:


Lately, we've had remakes on the brain, and foremost among them seems to be Final Fantasy IV. Maybe it's just because we're crazy about the franchise, but we also like the love and care that Square Enix puts into their remake efforts. Due to that, the trailer from this year's TGS just doesn't get old, which is why we've decided it deserves a place in this week's video spotlight.

JoystiqFriday Video: Celebrating remakes originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-remakesFinal-Fantasy-IVFinalFantasyIVremakeSquare EnixSquareEnixtgs07trailerFri, 12 Oct 2007 19:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Tales of Shakonia]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/tales-of-shakonia/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/tales-of-shakonia/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/tales-of-shakonia/#commentsFiled under:


This trailer for next year's Tales of Symphonia sequel is looking pretty good, but we'll warn you that it's a little on the shaky side. Yep, just when you thought we were done with TGS, a few last minute items keep popping up, like this little gem.

We know a lot of people have mixed feelings about Tales of Symphonia -- some people are just rabid for it, while others found it disappointing -- but how's Knights of Ratatoskr striking you?

JoystiqTales of Shakonia originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Knights-of-RatatoskrNamco-BandaiRatatoskrpgTales-of-Symphoniatgs07trailerWed, 03 Oct 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq interviews Team Ninja's Tomonobu Itagaki]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/joystiq-interviews-team-ninjas-tomonobu-itagaki/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/joystiq-interviews-team-ninjas-tomonobu-itagaki/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/joystiq-interviews-team-ninjas-tomonobu-itagaki/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's not too long into our interview with Tomonobu Itagaki before he issues us with an impromptu challenge. "If there's a game out there that is more beautiful, more interactive, faster and has better action than this game, please let me know." The Team Ninja boss has a train of thought that truly exemplifies the bluntest characteristics of that phrase. It's an unstoppable machine barreling down a track without diversion and without apologies -- because it's a train.

We conducted (oh dear) an interview with the outspoken developer at the Team Ninja offices shortly after the Tokyo Game Show, focusing on the aforementioned title, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. After the break, you'll find Itagaki's concise thoughts on Dragon Sequels, dual-screen slashing, how the competition stacks up and why multiplayer Ninja Gaiden might just piss you off.

Continue reading Joystiq interviews Team Ninja's Tomonobu Itagaki

JoystiqJoystiq interviews Team Ninja's Tomonobu Itagaki originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActionAdventureDragon-SwordDSItagakiNinja-GaidenNinja-Gaiden-Dragon-SwordNinja-Gaiden-DSNintendoTeam-NinjaTecmoTGSTGS07Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq interviews Jade Raymond of Assassin's Creed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/02/joystiq-interviews-jade-raymond-of-assassins-creed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/02/joystiq-interviews-jade-raymond-of-assassins-creed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/02/joystiq-interviews-jade-raymond-of-assassins-creed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Oh, Jade. You surely are Ubisoft's finest asset, with your playful and inquisitive eyes inviting us to relive the many adventures we had after our first and far too brief meeting. If only we could be reunited and take some more pictures of our escapades. If only mere images could capture your boldness, allure and glistening green lips! Where is Beyond Good & Evil 2?

Putting our reminiscing aside, we can talk about the other Jade at Ubisoft -- Jade Raymond, producer of big budget bump-off epic, Assassin's Creed. More specifically, we can talk about us talking to her about sandboxes, flower boxes, pushy crowds and Star Trek's Holodeck in a brief Tokyo Game Show chat. Find it after the break.

Continue reading Joystiq interviews Jade Raymond of Assassin's Creed

JoystiqJoystiq interviews Jade Raymond of Assassin's Creed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-CreedAssassinsCreedJade-RaymondMicrosoftPCPS3TGSTGS07UbisoftUbisoft-MontrealXbox-360Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: Joystiq chronicles some crystals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/tgs07-joystiq-chronicles-some-crystals/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/tgs07-joystiq-chronicles-some-crystals/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/tgs07-joystiq-chronicles-some-crystals/#commentsFiled under: ,

Even though the game is already out in Japan, Square Enix was happy to show off Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates at this year's TGS. Joystiq's TGS contingent happened upon the game and engaged in a multiplayer session with Square Enix booth staff, for our edification, and found the experience "very shallow".

The game hews closely to the Gamecube original, without the restrictive hardware requirements, of course, Your team picks character classes and explores a dungeon together, finding magic in the form of powerup items along the way. The magic is equippable from a menu on the touchscreen. Players have the ability to "boost" each other in order to make difficult jumps, which sounds fun, but could lead to split parties very easily (how does the last guy get up?)

What the Joystiq team saw as "shallow," we see as "intriguing." They decry the lack of anything to do other than defeat wave after wave of enemies, but that sounds quite like bliss to us, especially when the movement is "quite free" as described. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles sounds like it might be unexpectedly action-oriented.

JoystiqTGS07: Joystiq chronicles some crystals originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final-fantasyfinalfantasyring-of-fatesringoffatessquare-enixsquareenixtgs07Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: Interview with Loco Roco's Tsutomu Kouno]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/tgs07-interview-with-loco-rocos-tsutomu-kouno/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/tgs07-interview-with-loco-rocos-tsutomu-kouno/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/tgs07-interview-with-loco-rocos-tsutomu-kouno/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We had the opportunity to catch up with the father of Loco Roco, Tsutomu Kouno, and ask him a few questions about his newly released sequel, Loco Roco Cocoreccho. The interview was conducted along with Spencer Yip from Siliconera. We ask him what his inspirations were, why he decided to develop an "interactive screensaver" and whether there will be any downloadable content in the future. Find the full interview after the break.

What was your inspiration for the Loco Roco franchise?
I carry a PDA around with me wherever I go and I draw out any ideas that I have. Several years ago I found myself drawing Loco Rocos on the train in various forms. Around that time the PSP had first been announced so I started to think how I could turn my little characters into a game. I thought to myself: "there must be a way to have the shoulder buttons of the PSP control the movement."

Continue reading TGS07: Interview with Loco Roco's Tsutomu Kouno

JoystiqTGS07: Interview with Loco Roco's Tsutomu Kouno originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>loco-rocoPS3PSPTGStgs07tsutomu-kounoMon, 01 Oct 2007 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq vs. the Square Enix store]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/joystiq-vs-the-square-enix-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/joystiq-vs-the-square-enix-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/01/joystiq-vs-the-square-enix-store/#commentsFiled under: ,


One of the greatest pieces of advice ever imparted by a space-faring amphibian comes directly from the Rebel Alliance's lovable but frequently surprised Admiral Ackbar. Whenever questioned about what exactly Japan's official Square Enix store is and what it represents, we feel compelled to swivel dramatically in our chairs, face the camera and blurt out, "It's a trap!"

And it's a sneaky one too. Don't march into the modest Shinjuku building expecting alarms to sound and a metal trellis to drop behind you, as the incredibly polite and professional cashiers aren't the least bit interested in capturing your body (that happens in another part of Tokyo, we hear). No, these people are silently clawing at the contents of your wallet -- and you'll find that very often the "people" are nothing more than androgynous CG citizens. If the life-sized Sephiroth trapped beneath the glass floor is pondering anything, it's the unusual business of selling real things from a fake place.

Here you'll find merchandise mined from a plethora of planets in the Square Enix universe, with every cellphone strap, shirt, figurine, lighter and necklace accounted for. If your favorite Squalls and Clouds and Soras have worn or wielded it, it's probably in a display case here with an exorbitant price tag to keep it company. Oh, and there are spoons -- yet another item meant to stir up your strange emotional attachment to places and characters that are, in reality, nothing more than reams of code and purveyors of profit.

You'll never catch us falling for it.

Gallery: Square Enix Store -- Japan

Continue reading Joystiq vs. the Square Enix store

JoystiqJoystiq vs. the Square Enix store originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Final-FantasyjoystiqfeaturesSquare-EnixTGS07tokyo-game-showMon, 01 Oct 2007 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS Video Games Museum highlights Japan's taste]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/30/tgs-video-games-museum-highlights-japans-taste/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/30/tgs-video-games-museum-highlights-japans-taste/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/30/tgs-video-games-museum-highlights-japans-taste/#commentsFiled under: ,


Hidden away at the very end of the second hall at Tokyo Game Show was a booth dedicated to, supposedly, showcasing top of the class video games from generations past. Several stations were set up, around 12 or so, which allowed gamers to step back in time and play those great games that perhaps they hadn't had the chance to play before.

All well and good you might think, until you notice that the majority of the games are RPGs and a large proportion of those are from the Final Fantasy series. This particular "museum" (which failed to showcase anything older than the PlayStation 1) was clearly tailored to the very specific tastes found in Japan. Still, why not just cut out the middle man and call it the "Final Fantasy Museum"?

We were a bit snap-happy and took a few photos of the booth - the gallery for which can be found below. Our favourite image shows two old rivals sitting side by side in perfect harmony. Seeing Final Fantasy VII and Zelda: Ocarina of Time together like that really tugged at our heartstrings. Other games shown at the booth included:
  • Phantasy Star Online
  • Dragon Quest VIII
  • Brain Training
  • Final Fantasy XII
  • Final Fantasy XI
  • Taiko Drum Master

Gallery: Museum @ TGS07


JoystiqTGS Video Games Museum highlights Japan's taste originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Sep 2007 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>TGStgs07video-game-museumSun, 30 Sep 2007 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS hands-on: Final Fantasy Ring of Fates multiplayer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/30/tgs-hands-on-final-fantasy-ring-of-fates-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/30/tgs-hands-on-final-fantasy-ring-of-fates-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/30/tgs-hands-on-final-fantasy-ring-of-fates-multiplayer/#commentsFiled under: ,


Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles for the Gamecube was a bit of a hit-and-miss title. Touted as a multiplayer roleplaying experience, the game required you to have access to four Gameboy Advances (and three friends) to fully enjoy. The lackluster single player mode meant many were put off before they even started calling through their little black books looking for GBA owning friends.

The franchise has survived, however, and has moved onto the Nintendo DS in the form of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates. We took advantage of the strangely short line (the game being out in Japan might have something to do with it) and played a 4-player multiplayer game with the Square Enix booth attendants.

Multiplayer seems to consist of co-operative dungeon crawler, with no sign of story or non-battle gameplay. Players can choose their character class, which affects their base attack style. Magic can be used by all players by picking up giant materia orbs, just like in the original. The action all takes place on the top screen while the bottom screen contains your stats. The bottom screen also shows how many of each materia you have and allows you to change between the different magics by tapping the desired orb on the screen.

Continue reading TGS hands-on: Final Fantasy Ring of Fates multiplayer

JoystiqTGS hands-on: Final Fantasy Ring of Fates multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Action-AdventureDSfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-ring-of-fatesring-of-fatesRPGSquare-EnixTGStgs07Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS hands-on: No More Heroes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/30/tgs-hands-on-no-more-heroes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/30/tgs-hands-on-no-more-heroes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/30/tgs-hands-on-no-more-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Given the over-the-top action and exuberant style found in Grasshopper Manufacture's No More Heroes, it came as a great relief to learn that the game's control scheme wasn't similarly vigorous. There's nothing worse than an action game that translates fairly familiar tasks into manic swatting for the simple sake of justifying its existence on the Wii. That isn't to say the motion controls are so reserved as to become worthless, but No More Heroes does seem to share our support of No More Flailing -- sometimes it makes more sense to smack someone with a sword simply by pressing a button.

Here, the button in question is the one obviously marked "A" and the sword is a lightsaber. It's really more like a battery-powered katana, but we're confident that the Star Wars weapon is culturally ingrained enough to make the explanation that much simpler. Rather than get into electric sword specifics, know that protagonist and assassin Travis Touchdown uses one to hit and slice things repeatedly. Said things are targeted by holding the Z-button on the nunchuk, evaded by pressing on the directional pad and ultimately sent into a stunned state with enough battery. (A cheeky double reference there, as you also have to recharge your sword occasionally by giving it -- and the Wii remote -- a few jolts, just like you would an uncooperative flashlight.)

Continue reading TGS hands-on: No More Heroes

JoystiqTGS hands-on: No More Heroes originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Grasshopper-ManufactureNo-More-HeroesNoMoreHeroesSuda-51TGSTGS07WiiSun, 30 Sep 2007 21:03:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS hands-on: Cooking Mama 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/30/tgs-hands-on-cooking-mama-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/30/tgs-hands-on-cooking-mama-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/30/tgs-hands-on-cooking-mama-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Scouring the show floor at TGS is hungry work, but when all the eateries are full of the Dreaded Public where can you get the sustenance you require? We tried our luck at the Cooking Mama 2 booth, just in case they had some tasty swag to give away. Sadly, there was none. While we were there, however, we did get embroiled (which kind of sounds like boiled) in the game.

The first thing we noticed about the game, once we'd finally worked our way through the main menu to some actual gameplay, was that the touch controls are much more responsive than in Cooking Mama 1. Whereas previously success in the game relied as much on the DS being your friend as it did on your skill, now the game plays with much less frustration.

The game itself is more of the same. More of an upgrade than a sequel, Cooking Mama 2 has extra recipes to produce as well as more diverse methods of cooking. During our play session we were challenged to scale a fish, open a sea urchin and empty an oyster. All without getting our hands covered in sea ming (that is, ming from the sea).

Continue reading TGS hands-on: Cooking Mama 2

JoystiqTGS hands-on: Cooking Mama 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cooking-mama-2DShands-onTGStgs07Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Friday Video: Love is a sweaty field]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/friday-video-love-is-a-sweaty-field/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/friday-video-love-is-a-sweaty-field/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/friday-video-love-is-a-sweaty-field/#commentsFiled under:


With the flow of media from TGS finally slowing, we thought we'd dedicate one last video spotlight to the awesome games we've seen lately, and all the footage from the show. While that left us with many options for today's featured video, one clearly slid to the head of the pack: Duel Love.

Because, you know, we're all about touching around here.

JoystiqFriday Video: Love is a sweaty field originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 19:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>duel-lovefightignnamco-bandaisweattgs07Fri, 28 Sep 2007 19:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Sayonara Tokyo: The TGS aftermath]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/sayonara-tokyo-the-tgs-aftermath/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/sayonara-tokyo-the-tgs-aftermath/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/sayonara-tokyo-the-tgs-aftermath/#commentsFiled under: , ,


As our fearless leader Christopher Grant flies out of Narita Airport and returns to his vile trans-dimensional lair, the last remaining blemishes of Joystiq are being scrubbed from the silky sheet of Japan. A sigh of relief now washes over Tokyo, a city content to be rid of the obnoxious bloggers who devoured cheeseburgers on its trains, hurled paper into the "plastics" recycling bin and remained insultingly ignorant of the current Haruhi Suzimiya craze.

Though this year's Tokyo Game Show wasn't quite filled with earth-shaking revelations, it did allow us to gain further insight into anticipated titles such as Metal Gear Solid 4, echochrome, Ninja Gaiden 2, Nights: Journey of Dreams and, err... Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon. But that's not all! This weekend will see our last batch of impressions materialize, along with a sordid account of Joystiq's run-in with the official Square Enix store. Following that, we'll share some interviews involving Gran Turismo 5, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword, Loco Roco and Assassin's Creed.

As they say in Japan, "Please look forward to it!"

Continue reading Sayonara Tokyo: The TGS aftermath

JoystiqSayonara Tokyo: The TGS aftermath originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>TGSTGS07Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:34:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: Gabu Gabu Planet: multiplayer NOM NOM NOM]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/tgs07-gabu-gabu-planet-multiplayer-nom-nom-nom/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/tgs07-gabu-gabu-planet-multiplayer-nom-nom-nom/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/tgs07-gabu-gabu-planet-multiplayer-nom-nom-nom/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Now that the major TGS stuff has been posted, the really interesting stuff starts. Spencer from Siliconera has begun writing up impressions of the lesser-known games he played at the show, like this under-the-radar title from Koei. Gabu Gabu Planet is a competitive eating game, but more in the vein of a Pac-Man/Katamari Damacy mashup than the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.

The game stars four "alien dogs" whose goal is to eat everything in sight. You can try to eat as much as possible, or go for bonuses by eating multiples of the same item consecutively. As you eat, you get bigger, and can eat more.

The game is slated for release in Europe in January as Prey the Stars, and in the US in March (or a month in the past). Check out the video at Siliconera to see if it's worth waiting for. We like the way the simplistic gameplay looks, ourselves.

JoystiqTGS07: Gabu Gabu Planet: multiplayer NOM NOM NOM originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gabu-gabu-planetkoeiprey-the-starstgs07Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07 leftovers: Devil May Cry 4 screenshots]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/tgs07-leftovers-devil-may-cry-4-screenshots/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/tgs07-leftovers-devil-may-cry-4-screenshots/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/tgs07-leftovers-devil-may-cry-4-screenshots/#commentsFiled under:


Click for high-res image.

One of the games that drew in the largest crowds at Tokyo Game Show was Devil May Cry 4, running on both PS3 and Xbox 360. There's a good reason for its popularity -- it simply reeks of cool. The gameplay doesn't stray far from its predecessors, which is a good thing in our eye. The cheesy characters and Spike TV-esque productions return for this next-gen sequel, which focuses on the continuing battle between Nero and Dante.

Level design was clearly the biggest flaw of Devil May Cry 3, and it seems like the upcoming sequel does much to resolve it, offering less claustrophobic levels to battle in. Although some may criticize the game for lacking the challenge of games like Ninja Gaiden, it's clear that the game encourages style over survival. Considering the over-the-top nature of the franchise, that's part of its allure.

JoystiqTGS07 leftovers: Devil May Cry 4 screenshots originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>devil-may-crydevil-may-cry-4tgs07Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07 leftovers: Soulcalibur IV screenshots]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/tgs07-leftovers-soulcalibur-iv-screenshots/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/tgs07-leftovers-soulcalibur-iv-screenshots/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/tgs07-leftovers-soulcalibur-iv-screenshots/#commentsFiled under:


Click for high-res image.

We still have a few leftover goodies from Tokyo Game Show. Like these screenshots of Soulcalibur IV. As a wise roommate once said, "these are pretty." Indeed, they are pretty.

There should be more to say about the game, aside from gawking at its pretty looks (what game these days doesn't look good?). But, we've already focused on the outlandish character designs -- and the ridiculous story. It looks like we have no choice but to drool just a little bit longer.

JoystiqTGS07 leftovers: Soulcalibur IV screenshots originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>soul-calibur-ivsoulcalibursoulcalibur-ivtgs07Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: Power Pro Baseball swings for the fences]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/tgs07-power-pro-baseball-swings-for-the-fences/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/tgs07-power-pro-baseball-swings-for-the-fences/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/28/tgs07-power-pro-baseball-swings-for-the-fences/#commentsFiled under:


This latest clip from Power Pro Baseball (MLB Power Pros for us here in the states) has us all kinds of excited for some super-deformed baseball on our Wii. In showing us how a game is set up and played, we're dying to get in on the action. We just wish the game was Wi-Fi compatible ...

JoystiqTGS07: Power Pro Baseball swings for the fences originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballmlbmlb-power-prosmlbpowerprospower-pro-baseballpowerprobaseballtgs07Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: Time Crisis 4 impressions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-time-crisis-4-impressions/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-time-crisis-4-impressions/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-time-crisis-4-impressions/#commentsFiled under:


Click for high-res image.

The light gun genre may be a dying breed, but Time Crisis 4 ignores all warnings. In spite of some sloppy graphical and presentation issues, it's clear that Time Crisis 4 is the best, if not only, option for fans of the genre.

Right now, the game doesn't have that "next-gen polish" we've become so accustomed to on the PS3. Textures and character models don't really pop out. However, the framerate seems pretty solid, and the action flows at a brisk pace. At the very least, it looks better than the other light gun port, Ghost Squad on Wii.

The new FPS mode is where the game features the most potential, adding some depth to the arcade experience. Right now, the AI is fairly unintelligent, and the level design feels similar to the original on-rails mode. What may come as jarring for some is the lack of a gun model on-screen. FPS players have long been used to the gun being on screen, but because this game requires players to aim with the Guncon 3 (G-Con in the PAL territories), the indicator is unnecessary.

Right now, Time Crisis 4 looks like it needs some polish. However, Guncon 3 is an excellent peripheral that has us keeping high hopes for future light gun titles.

Continue reading TGS07: Time Crisis 4 impressions

JoystiqTGS07: Time Crisis 4 impressions originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guncontgs07time-crisistime-crisis-4Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS hands-on: Patapon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs-hands-on-patapon/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs-hands-on-patapon/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs-hands-on-patapon/#commentsFiled under:


Patapon, a PSP title which we've seen very little of so far, is proving a great hit at the Tokyo Game Show. With a line that was sometimes longer than Metal Gear Online we were curious to see what all the fuss was about. Finally we braved the Dreaded Public and got our hands on the goods.

Stepping into the Patapon enclosure a Sony booth attendee talked us through the gist of the game. We couldn't understand some of the Japanese, though we did enjoy it whenever she sang instructions to us. "Pon pon pata pon ... pata pata pata pon." Lovely.

Your tribe of one-eyed worshippers are required to go from one end of the level to the other (with two levels in the demo on the show floor). The only method of getting them there is to command them to act by performing different beats with the circle and square buttons, which correspond to the sounds "pata" and "pon", respectively. By stringing combinations of these two sounds together your minions will perform different actions.

Continue reading TGS hands-on: Patapon

JoystiqTGS hands-on: Patapon originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>patapontgs07Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS hands-on: Patapon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs-hands-on-patapon/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs-hands-on-patapon/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs-hands-on-patapon/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Patapon, a PSP title which we've seen very little of so far, is proving a great hit at the Tokyo Game Show. With a line that was sometimes longer than Metal Gear Online we were curious to see what all the fuss was about. Finally we braved the Dreaded Public and got our hands on the goods.

Stepping into the Patapon enclosure a Sony booth attendee talked us through the gist of the game. We couldn't understand some of the Japanese, though we did enjoy it whenever she sang instructions to us. "Pon pon pata pon ... pata pata pata pon." Lovely.

Your tribe of one-eyed worshippers are required to go from one end of the level to the other (with two levels in the demo on the show floor). The only method of getting them there is to command them to act by performing different beats with the circle and square buttons, which correspond to the sounds "pata" and "pon", respectively. By stringing combinations of these two sounds together your minions will perform different actions.

Continue reading TGS hands-on: Patapon

JoystiqTGS hands-on: Patapon originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pataponPSPTGStgs07Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: The story of Soulcalibur IV]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-the-story-of-soulcalibur-iv/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-the-story-of-soulcalibur-iv/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-the-story-of-soulcalibur-iv/#commentsFiled under:


Click to see high-res image.

Namco Bandai has managed to sneak a little bit of story into all of its Soulcalibur fighting games. Ultimately, they provide little reason as to why these characters seem to enjoy beating the c**p out of each other -- but it's good fun for us, nonetheless. The story of the upcoming Soulcalibur IV ties in the fate of the Soul Edge and the Soul Calibur and is presented in its now-trademark melodramatic style.

A fun drinking game to play while reading the Prologue is to take a shot every time the word "soul" is used. Let's see if you can survive!

Gallery: Soulcalibur IV - concept art

Continue reading TGS07: The story of Soulcalibur IV

JoystiqTGS07: The story of Soulcalibur IV originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>soul-calibursoul-calibur-ivsoulcaliburtgs07Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: GameCube gets some CPR]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-gamecube-gets-some-cpr/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-gamecube-gets-some-cpr/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-gamecube-gets-some-cpr/#commentsFiled under:


It feels good to see that someone out there still likes the GameCube. At the recently concluded TGS, some students whipped up the game you see above. Titled Blowind, it's a platformer where the protagonists are armed with gigantic fans. These can be used in an offensive manner, using gusts of wind to attack your enemies and also as an aid in jumping.

We'll probably never get to play it, but it's still nice to see the dead platform getting some love.

JoystiqTGS07: GameCube gets some CPR originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamecubetgs07Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:03:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07 bits: Darth Vader paparazzi]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-bits-darth-vader-paparazzi/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-bits-darth-vader-paparazzi/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-bits-darth-vader-paparazzi/#commentsFiled under: ,


It seems the Tokyo Game Show's intense draw extends beyond international borders and well into intergalactic, fictional universes, a fact highlighted by Saturday's arrival of one Darth Vader. The force-choking, emperor-dunking Jedi was seen leading an imperial march through the show floor, glaring intensely at cosplayers and scolding his accompanying stormtroopers for being unable to complete the Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles demo.

When quizzed about his favorite games at the show, Mr. Vader blamed Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon for putting something resembling a smile on his horribly scarred face. He also noted disappointment in the response of Japanese gamers to Halo 3's "Believe" marketing campaign, describing their lack of faith as "disturbing."

Gallery: TGS07: Darth Vader paparazzi

JoystiqTGS07 bits: Darth Vader paparazzi originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Darth-VaderStar-WarsTGSTGS07Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:56:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: Wii captures Fatal Frame]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-wii-captures-fatal-frame/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-wii-captures-fatal-frame/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-wii-captures-fatal-frame/#commentsFiled under:

Tecmo is bringing the next Fatal Frame title to the Wii, and they're recruiting Team Awesome-Crazy at Grasshopper Manufacture on board to handle the details. Clearly, this eclipses all the other news that's come out of this year's Tokyo Game Show. That's it. There's no topping it.

Okay, maybe we're biased here, but Fatal Frame represents some of the best in horror gaming. While the photography-centric series lacks the action some prefer in survival horror games, Fatal Frame has always offered a gorgeous, spooky, thoughtful experience that blends horror and adventure. Combine that with the twisted sense of surrealism Grasshopper can bring to the table, and Fatal Frame IV is set to be an amazing title.

[Thanks, Brandon!]

JoystiqTGS07: Wii captures Fatal Frame originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fatal-Frame-4Fatal-Frame-4-Mask-of-the-Lunar-EclipseGrasshopper-ManufactureNintendoSurvival-HorrorTecmotgs07WiiWed, 26 Sep 2007 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: Puzzle Fighters coming to EU in early November]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-puzzle-fighters-coming-to-eu-in-early-november/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-puzzle-fighters-coming-to-eu-in-early-november/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/tgs07-puzzle-fighters-coming-to-eu-in-early-november/#commentsFiled under: ,

Whilst getting some hands-on time with Devil May Cry 4 at TGS with the guys from Capcom we asked a few questions regarding Puzzle Fighter HD and its delay in Europe. The Capcom representitives told us that the game would be available for download on the EU PSN store in early November. The reason for the delay is, as usual, localisation issues. They were also quick to mention that in solving these issues now all future Capcom downloadable content will be available worldwide simultaneously. Sounds like a good deal to us.

We followed up by asking whether Sony Europe would be providing any localisation aid to publishers now that they recognise the issues that are causing the delays and trying to fix them. Quite frankly, the answer is no. Third party publishers who want their content available to all regions simultaneously will have to make it happen themselves. But if Capcom can promise that all future releases will be available without delays, then others must be able to do the same, right Sony?

JoystiqTGS07: Puzzle Fighters coming to EU in early November originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcompuzzle-fightertgs07Wed, 26 Sep 2007 05:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: Beautiful new Tales of Innocence trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/25/tgs07-beautiful-new-tales-of-innocence-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/25/tgs07-beautiful-new-tales-of-innocence-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/25/tgs07-beautiful-new-tales-of-innocence-trailer/#commentsFiled under:


The post-show media just keeps rolling in! We're not complaining, though ... far from it, when the media in question is as mind-boggling as this Tales of Innocence trailer. Even us dedicated DS fans are sometimes impressed with the capabilities creative developers can wring out of our handheld.

This latest Tales installment is due for release in December in Japan, and there's no word on localization, but after seeing this trailer, we can only hope Namco Bandai picks up the slack.

[Thanks, creamsugar!]

JoystiqTGS07: Beautiful new Tales of Innocence trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alfa-SystemNamco-BandaiNamcoBandairpgTales-of-Innocencetalesofinnocencetgs07trailerTue, 25 Sep 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: A very short glimpse at Opoona]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/25/tgs07-a-very-short-glimpse-at-opoona/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/25/tgs07-a-very-short-glimpse-at-opoona/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/25/tgs07-a-very-short-glimpse-at-opoona/#commentsFiled under:


The first rule of taking video at a game show is you do not talk about Fight Club make sure half of your video does not consist of the back of some random dude's head. Considering the video is on the shorter side, this isn't that big of a deal. We still get a good glimpse at the character status screens, along with a small chunk of environment exploration. But, know this: if you do it again GameSpot, we're coming for you.

JoystiqTGS07: A very short glimpse at Opoona originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>opoonatgs07Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: PixelJunk Monsters unearthed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/25/tgs07-pixeljunk-monsters-unearthed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/25/tgs07-pixeljunk-monsters-unearthed/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/25/tgs07-pixeljunk-monsters-unearthed/#commentsFiled under: ,


Hidden away in a list of upcoming PSN releases at Tokyo Game Show was PixelJunk Monsters. There isn't much known about the title, but if it's anything like the newly-released PixelJunk Racers, it should bring back new retro 2D gameplay to PS3 audiences everywhere. We have to wonder if you play as the monster, or are are trying to defend yourself from the monster in these new pics -- let the speculation begin.

JoystiqTGS07: PixelJunk Monsters unearthed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pixeljunk-monsterstgs07Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: The new (and old) features of Wipeout HD]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/the-new-and-old-features-of-wipeout-hd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/the-new-and-old-features-of-wipeout-hd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/the-new-and-old-features-of-wipeout-hd/#commentsFiled under: ,


Wipeout HD is hitting the PLAYSTATION Store later this year, and although it's just a remix of tracks from previous games, there's a lot to look forward to. In addition to the obviously improved graphics, the game takes a few key features from previous Wipeout titles, and adds a few of its own:
  • SIXAXIS support - "Wipeout HD provides full support of the SIXAXIS wireless controller." Tilt-ready racing, perhaps?
  • Mag-Strips - From the upcoming Wipeout Pulse game on PSP, this feature allows players to defy gravity through tracks that feature loops, vertical drops, and 90 degree sections.
  • Teams - Like any Wipeout game, this iteration features eight teams from Wipeout Pulse.
  • Seven Race Modes, including Zone - Single Race, Tournament, Time Trial, Speed Lap, Zone Mode, Elimination and Head-2-Head. Zone Mode, from Wipeout Pure, will make your craft go progressively faster throughout a race until your ship explodes. It's one of the best additions to the franchise in recent memory.
  • Three New Weapons - The Repulser, Shuriken and Leach Beam.
  • Photo Mode - Like Wipeout Pulse, players will be able to take screenshots from within the game.
  • 8 Eight Player Online Multiplayer - With "Team vs Team" mode, which allows teams of two to compete in larger races.
  • Community Website - Lets players create their own profiles and see stats and data for other players.
  • Downloadable Content - The game will continue to expand through more downloadable packs.
  • Music - Nine fully-licensed music tracks, remixed in 5.1.
Expect Wipeout HD to hit the Store later this year. Until then, check out our new screenshots.

JoystiqTGS07: The new (and old) features of Wipeout HD originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>tgs07wipeoutwipeout-hdMon, 24 Sep 2007 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: The Ninja Gaiden stylus lets you murder your DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-the-ninja-gaiden-stylus-lets-you-murder-your-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-the-ninja-gaiden-stylus-lets-you-murder-your-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-the-ninja-gaiden-stylus-lets-you-murder-your-ds/#commentsFiled under: ,

GayGamer's Fruit Brute just posted a picture of the styli he picked up in Tokyo while in town for TGS. Of special interest is the promotional Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword stylus, which he received at a Tecmo party. It's a little sword! With a scabbard and everything.

Sure, poking at the touch screen with a plastic finger is okay, but the idea that we could advance through Elite Beat Agents by repeatedly stabbing and slicing at the title characters is disturbingly irresistible. Wait, that came out wrong. We can, and quite frequently do, resist the urge to stab fictional characters.

JoystiqTGS07: The Ninja Gaiden stylus lets you murder your DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dragon-SwordNinja-GaidenNinja-Gaiden-Dragon-SwordNinja-Gaiden-DSstylustgs07Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Can you imagine? Katamari rolling to PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/can-you-imagine-katamari-rolling-to-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/can-you-imagine-katamari-rolling-to-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/can-you-imagine-katamari-rolling-to-ps3/#commentsFiled under: ,


While at the Tokyo Game Show, 1UP was able to confirm with director Jun Morikawa that Beautiful Katamari would not be arriving on the PlayStation 3. But, fans of rolling take heart! Morikawa says that the series will "definitely be making its way to the console soon," just not in the Beautiful Katamari state.

So, will this be the Katamari that evolves the series at least a little bit past the roots established in the 2004 original? Well, what does your heart tell you? Because ours is walking away, shaking its head and laughing, which we can't imagine is a good sign.

[Via PS3F]

JoystiqCan you imagine? Katamari rolling to PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beautifulkatamarikatamaridamacyPS3tgs07Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: D3 announces Oneechanbara R]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-d3-announces-oneechanbara-r/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-d3-announces-oneechanbara-r/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-d3-announces-oneechanbara-r/#commentsFiled under:


D3 Publisher's Oneechanbara was a Simple 2000 action game about a bikini-and-cowboy-hat-clad girl hacking up tons of zombies with a samurai sword, getting covered with blood in the process. It's reportedly not very good and represents the amount of effort expected from a 3D action game designed to be sold for about $20.

That hasn't stopped it from being popular enough for numerous sequels, including a full-priced release on the Xbox 360. And now it's headed to the Wii in what promises to be a mess to control. But a different kind of mess than previous Oneechanbara games! Famitsu was on the scene to take lots of pictures of the model dressed as the heroine, Aya, and one picture of a guy playing the game or whatever.

Luckily, a Ruliweb poster captured some video, so you can see, you know, the real game. As Simple series fans (for some reason), we'd like to see this come to the U.S., at a nice Simple price. However, since Oneechanbara R is not part of the Simple Wii series, we doubt it'll be budget-priced in Japan.

[Via NeoGAF]

JoystiqTGS07: D3 announces Oneechanbara R originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actiond3oneechanbaratgs07Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: Finally, someone explains the tiger]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-finally-someone-explains-the-tiger/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-finally-someone-explains-the-tiger/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-finally-someone-explains-the-tiger/#commentsFiled under:

As happy as we are to hear gameplay impressions of No More Heroes, all of which cast the game as a straightforward combo-based action game in the vein of God Hand (YES) with limited, and sensible, waggle, none of the hands-on posts have satisfied our curiosity regarding the game's most mysterious feature: the tiger.

We've stared at screenshots and video, hoping to glean from context what is going on with the little tiger icon in the upper right corner, to no avail. We cheered as, during one TGS demo video, the booth attendant seemed to point in that direction, but nothing ever came of that, either.

That's why Spencer Yip is awesome. He asked point-blank what the deal with the freaking tiger was, and brought back the answer to the expectant masses like Moses coming down with a very specific set of commandments that don't actually tell anyone to do anything. It turns out that it's a meter for a "super mode" transformation that has yet to be implemented.

We can relax now.

JoystiqTGS07: Finally, someone explains the tiger originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>no-more-heroesnomoreheroessuda-51suda51tgs07tigerubisoftMon, 24 Sep 2007 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: Oboro Muramasa Youtouden looks even better in motion]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-oboro-muramasa-youtouden-looks-even-better-in-motion/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-oboro-muramasa-youtouden-looks-even-better-in-motion/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-oboro-muramasa-youtouden-looks-even-better-in-motion/#commentsFiled under: ,


We're already in agreeance that Oboro Muramasa Youtouden is one of the best-looking games announced for the Wii -- we shook hands on it, signed the appropriate forms, and even had a notary stamp the papers to make it official. Still, this first video glimpse of the 2D ARPG managed to leave us in a state of ecstasy, our skin alive with pleasure. What secret resource has Vanillaware tapped into that other developers have so far ignored? Most of the titles we saw at the Tokyo Game Show didn't look half as good as this.

JoystiqTGS07: Oboro Muramasa Youtouden looks even better in motion originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2darpgmarvelous-interactivemarvelousinteractiveoboro-muramasa-youtodenoboromuramasayoutodenoboromuramasayoutoudentgstgs07trailervanillawareMon, 24 Sep 2007 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: New trailer for Dragon Quest IV]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-new-trailer-for-dragon-quest-iv/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-new-trailer-for-dragon-quest-iv/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-new-trailer-for-dragon-quest-iv/#commentsFiled under:

Having just received a release date and price for Japan, we knew the game would be on-hand in Tokyo, but nothing in the way of video managed to climb out from under the already suffocating amount of news. That is, until now. And, while the above video is mainly just some pan shots of concept art with small portions of gameplay tossed in for good measure, it's still enough to get you pumped for the game.

[Via NeoGAF]

JoystiqTGS07: New trailer for Dragon Quest IV originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dqivdragon-questdragon-quest-ivdragonquestdragonquestivsquareenixtgs07Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: Siliconera cracks open Time Hollow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-siliconera-cracks-open-time-hollow/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-siliconera-cracks-open-time-hollow/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/24/tgs07-siliconera-cracks-open-time-hollow/#commentsFiled under:

We know that the Tokyo Game Show has been "wrapped up", but there's still plenty of news being posted that we feel we'd be remiss if we didn't pass on. Like this hands-on preview of Konami's Time Hollow from Siliconera, which sounds like a much more serious, supernatural take on the kind of environment-investigation puzzles found in the Ace Attorney series.

Basically, the game involves you, as high school student Horo Tokio (a pun on "Time Hollow"-- "Horo" is a Japanicized pronunciation of "hollow", and "Toki" is Japanese for "time"), using a magic pen to draw circles around things you want to go back in time and fix. Key events are saved as "flashbacks" which you can then revisit and mess with using your tiiiiime pen. In the example scenario, you circle and fix the gears on a girl's bike so she doesn't die in a wreck. Charming!

This game is set for a Japanese release in January of next year, which seems very soon for a newly-announced title. Hopefully Konami can use some of that same speed in producing a localized version.

JoystiqTGS07: Siliconera cracks open Time Hollow originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurekonamitgs07time-hollowMon, 24 Sep 2007 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: A look back]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/23/tgs07-a-look-back/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/23/tgs07-a-look-back/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/23/tgs07-a-look-back/#commentsFiled under:

Another big show has come to an end, but we're left with tons of news and video to sift through in the wake of the Tokyo Game Show. There's so much planned for the DS that we can barely keep track of it all; some days, it seems like everyone wants a piece of the handheld, and this year's show certainly reflects that. Here's a recap of the coverage:

News

An evident US release for Dungeon Explorer
Front Mission 2089 announced for DS
Time Hollow adds to the DS time-travel game genre
Kingdom Hearts confirmed for DS
EA Populating the DS
Konami moves beyond yoga
New DS game aims at the wine-loving crowd

Video

That's some Spirited gameplay
Apollo Justice trailer
Flip what ya mama gave ya: Ninja Gaiden TGS trailer

Impressions

Joystiq goes hands-on with Dragon Sword
Game Center CX, the new game about old games, previewed
Checking out Cooking Mama 2
Kohler validates our enthusiasm for Arkanoid and Space Invaders
Bangai-O Spirits dazzles IGN

JoystiqTGS07: A look back originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>tgs07Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:08:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Poll Police: How did you feel about TGS '07?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/23/ps3-poll-police-how-did-you-feel-about-tgs-07/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/23/ps3-poll-police-how-did-you-feel-about-tgs-07/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/23/ps3-poll-police-how-did-you-feel-about-tgs-07/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Poll Police have pulled out of their duties in Tokyo, as the Tokyo Game Show winds down. We believe it was T.S. Eliot who once said "This is the way Tokyo Game Show ends; not with a bang, but a whimper." Well, if Eliot were a gamer, we're sure that'd be true. Anyhow, we've got our opinions about the show for this year, but we're curious about what you thought. So, our poll for this week is quite simple: what impression did you take away from TGS?
TGS '07: What did you think?
I thought it was a pretty exciting show.
It was neither here nor there on my radar.
I thought it was sort of tame.
It was bad.
pollcode.com free polls
We don't know if it was the plethora of trailers and moderate dearth of playables, or the delay of Home, or the already-common-knowledge announcement of the DualShock 3, but TGS was missing a bang this year. Our personal opinion -- don't vote just to agree. However, you should check out our results from last week's poll after the jump. Technically, most of you should have been pleased.

Continue reading PS3 Poll Police: How did you feel about TGS '07?

JoystiqPS3 Poll Police: How did you feel about TGS '07? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturespoll-policetgs07Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: That's a wrap!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/23/tgs07-thats-a-wrap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/23/tgs07-thats-a-wrap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/23/tgs07-thats-a-wrap/#commentsFiled under:

So, the Tokyo Game Show has come to a close. It's sad to see such a beautiful thing come to an end, eh? We think so, too. But, in case you are one of the few that haven't read all of the news or watched all of the new trailers, then be sure to scroll down the post further.

We've got all of the links you need.

News:
Sega makes a horrible prediction
Hori joysticks rejoices as SNK announces King of Fighters, Samurai Showdown collections
Wii Sports wins CESA award
Scribbling mustaches on Zack and Wiki
Neo Geo VC games already obsolete
Snake in Smash Bros. Brawl
Treasure confirms title in development
Project O still rolling slowly along

Video:
Mysterious trailer: Shiren the Wanderer 3
No More Heroes says yes to more videos
NiGHTS gameplay video swoops in to save the day
Athletic World features leaning
Umbrella Chronicles trailer shows Wesker as a zombie?!
Sonic Riders and Mibri & Tebri trailers

Screens:
Turn your giant, featureless head toward some Power Pro screens

Hands-on impressions:
Joystiq finds the NiGHTS demo lacks motion control, validation

JoystiqTGS07: That's a wrap! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 23 Sep 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>tgs07Sun, 23 Sep 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS hands-on: echochrome]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/22/tgs-hands-on-echochrome/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/22/tgs-hands-on-echochrome/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/22/tgs-hands-on-echochrome/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

After its shocking E3 debut, we desperately wanted to play echochrome, the mind-bending Escher-inspired puzzle game that has players changing their perspective. Available on the PS3 as a downloadable title and as a PSP game, echochrome excited audiences with its truly innovative concept. But, how did the publicly playable PS3 demo play?

Well, it works exactly as you expect it to. The demonstration features an English-speaking monotone voice that seems a perfect match with the game's ultra-minimalist presentation. She'll explain the five rules of the game that control the way your perspective, the world, and your character, all interact with each other. Each sequence has players testing out a single new device, such as being able to block obstacles by hiding them from the player's vision. Through this brief tutorial, players will be gifted with the ability to start playing through the game's mind-destroying puzzles.

The single level available in the demonstration had us attempting to collect echoes, shadows situated in various points in the stage. As simple as that may sound, imagining the total destruction of object permanence is not something we're readily accustomed to. The on-screen avatar acts like a lemming, constantly going forward, even if it means certain doom for the character. This means players will have to act fast, and position the level correctly as the avatar makes its way forward. This is where we found that the camera rotates a bit too slowly for our tastes. We ended one of our lives trying to cover a hole, but couldn't rotate the level quickly enough to save our character. Thankfully, each echo that one walks into acts as a checkpoint, so that the level we played didn't become frustrating. However, we hope that Sony will make moving the camera a bit speedier.

echochrome is a simple, innovative, and more importantly, fun title that continues to deliver on the PlayStation Store's promise of offering gamers unique gameplay experiences. Although we didn't get to play much, it's clear that Sony has something truly special in their hands.

JoystiqTGS hands-on: echochrome originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 Sep 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EchochromeGame-YarouzeJapan-StudioPS3PSNPSPPuzzleSCESony-Computer-EntertainmentTGStgs07Sat, 22 Sep 2007 18:30:00 EST