[Shipping Out] August 28th
Stunts! Hack-n-slash! Role-playing! Dead guys! Monster Hunter! NARUTOOOOO!
Published: August 28, 2007
Welcome to Shipping Out, our weekly notice of all them thar games that ship from publishers to retailers in preparation for their street date a day later. In many cases, these games won't be on store shelves until tomorrow, but in the interest of getting the word out, letting the PR departments have their fancy quotes and saving us sanity as the weekly releases pile up, we're going to be consolidating everything down into one handy little news story at the end of the day, along with this description. Neat, eh? And lazy!
It's the TPS way.
[PlayStation 2]
[Stuntman: Ignition]
While we absolutely hated the first Stuntman, the sequel, which distills the same basic scripted series of events down into a more focused, enjoyable series of challenges (and the physics are better too -- no more wooden boxes that can flip your car!), actually looks pretty damn fun. Plus, there's the bonus of it not being developed by original developer Reflections, and instead by Paradigm Entertainment (who did the surprisingly good Spy Hunter remake).
“Stuntman: Ignition combines addictive, pick-up-and-play game mechanics with Hollywood thrills to deliver a completely unique action driving experience,” intoned Dave Miller, THQ's global brand director. “There are plenty of action-packed blockbuster movies in theaters this summer, but only one game that lets players step into the role of a real Hollywood stunt driver.”
“Stuntman: Ignition features six uniquely-themed movies with 36 stunt runs along with commercial deals and stunt shows that can be performed in over 25 vehicles,” rattled off Dave Gatchel, general manager, Paradigm Entertainment. “The amped up action continues online with several unique multiplayer modes and a stunt constructor feature that lets gamers create their own stunt tracks and share them online.”
[Wild ARMs 5]
XSEED and Media.Vision's follow-up to the surprisingly good Wild ARMs 4 offers a freely explorable overworld map, an enhanced version of the Hex Battle System, an entirely new storyline, some of the best dungeons and puzzles of the series and... well hell, man, you should just go buy the game already.
[PlayStation Portable]
[Dead Head Fred]
It was a long time coming, but Vicious Cycle Software (recently scooped up by D3Publisher) and their head-swapping, foul-mouthed dead detective are headed to the PSP. Revel in the vocal performance of Scrubs' John C. McGinley! Delight in spitting teeth at enemies and shrinking down to explore dark, scary holes! Fight zombies! Hooray!
“Dead Head Fred represents all the qualities in a game that we strive to deliver to our customers such as unique gameplay elements, distinctive characters and environments that draw players into the game-world,” gushed Peter Andrew, VP of product development at D3PA. “We’re confident that Dead Head Fred will offer hours of non-stop action and the entertaining twisted and sarcastic humor that gamers enjoy.”
“Dead Head Fred is one of the most robust and fully-featured games available on the PSP system,” boasts Eric Peterson, president of Vicious Cycle. “We’re pleased to offer fans a completely original IP that takes full advantage of the technical capabilities of the PSP system and offers a compelling gameplay experience.”
[Monster Hunter Freedom 2]
Capcom's amazingly popular co-op monster slaying adventure ships to US stores today after selling like crazy over in Japan (it was the first PSP game to reach a million sold copies over there, y'know). With literally hundreds of items to craft and missions to take, Ad-Hoc Wi-Fi party-based play and some of the purdiest graphics we've ever seen on the PSP, something tells us the game will be pretty damn cool. Or you could just let Executive VP, Officer and head of Capcom's consumer software publishing in Europe and the Americas, Mark Beaumont, tell you the same thing. No, seriously, check it out:
“Monster Hunter Freedom’s incredible graphics, deep gameplay and compelling multiplayer quests represent the very best that the PSP system has to offer,” reiterated Beaumont. “In Japan, we’ve seen the Monster Hunter phenomenon take off based on players coming together for face-to-face multiplayer ‘hunting parties,’ which we will foster with our own community here in North America.”
[Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes]
US and Euro gamers should feel pretty durned special: you get a special PSP port of the strikingly good PS2 fighter developed by CyberConnect 2 (of .hack fame). The PSP version introduces a ton of new unlockables, Wi-Fi vs. play and all-new 3-on-3 fights that were in the PS2 cousin. Not bad, eh? And of course it's NARUTOOOOOO.
“Fans of Naruto can now re-enact the fast-paced battles that have become the trademark of the popular manga and animated series,” explains Makoto Iwai, Namco Bandai Games America's EVP and COO. “NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes is the ultimate treat for gamers of all ages as it delivers great characters and lightning fast action in a nice small package.”
[PlayStation 3]
[Dynasty Warriors Gundam]
It's definitely a bigger tag-team combo in its native Japan than it is here in the States, but throwing together the worlds of Dynasty Warriors and Gundam isn't an idea that won't be well-received by some folks here in the good ol' U S of A. Imagine lots o' robots doing their hack and slash thang and you've got a pretty good idea of what to expect here.
“The combination of Dynasty Warriors’ unparalleled gameplay and Gundam’s larger-than-life setting offers fans of both franchises epic experiences that will not disappoint” squealed Makoto Iwai, EVP and COO at Namco Bandai Games America. “Representing a collaboration between two premier companies, Dynasty Warriors:GUNDAM is truly a legendary adventure.”
And there you have it, kids. Better get used to the feeling of an empty wallet, cause this is just the start of things to come...
It's the TPS way.
[PlayStation 2]
[Stuntman: Ignition]
While we absolutely hated the first Stuntman, the sequel, which distills the same basic scripted series of events down into a more focused, enjoyable series of challenges (and the physics are better too -- no more wooden boxes that can flip your car!), actually looks pretty damn fun. Plus, there's the bonus of it not being developed by original developer Reflections, and instead by Paradigm Entertainment (who did the surprisingly good Spy Hunter remake).
“Stuntman: Ignition combines addictive, pick-up-and-play game mechanics with Hollywood thrills to deliver a completely unique action driving experience,” intoned Dave Miller, THQ's global brand director. “There are plenty of action-packed blockbuster movies in theaters this summer, but only one game that lets players step into the role of a real Hollywood stunt driver.”
“Stuntman: Ignition features six uniquely-themed movies with 36 stunt runs along with commercial deals and stunt shows that can be performed in over 25 vehicles,” rattled off Dave Gatchel, general manager, Paradigm Entertainment. “The amped up action continues online with several unique multiplayer modes and a stunt constructor feature that lets gamers create their own stunt tracks and share them online.”
[Wild ARMs 5]
XSEED and Media.Vision's follow-up to the surprisingly good Wild ARMs 4 offers a freely explorable overworld map, an enhanced version of the Hex Battle System, an entirely new storyline, some of the best dungeons and puzzles of the series and... well hell, man, you should just go buy the game already.
[PlayStation Portable]
[Dead Head Fred]
It was a long time coming, but Vicious Cycle Software (recently scooped up by D3Publisher) and their head-swapping, foul-mouthed dead detective are headed to the PSP. Revel in the vocal performance of Scrubs' John C. McGinley! Delight in spitting teeth at enemies and shrinking down to explore dark, scary holes! Fight zombies! Hooray!
“Dead Head Fred represents all the qualities in a game that we strive to deliver to our customers such as unique gameplay elements, distinctive characters and environments that draw players into the game-world,” gushed Peter Andrew, VP of product development at D3PA. “We’re confident that Dead Head Fred will offer hours of non-stop action and the entertaining twisted and sarcastic humor that gamers enjoy.”
“Dead Head Fred is one of the most robust and fully-featured games available on the PSP system,” boasts Eric Peterson, president of Vicious Cycle. “We’re pleased to offer fans a completely original IP that takes full advantage of the technical capabilities of the PSP system and offers a compelling gameplay experience.”
[Monster Hunter Freedom 2]
Capcom's amazingly popular co-op monster slaying adventure ships to US stores today after selling like crazy over in Japan (it was the first PSP game to reach a million sold copies over there, y'know). With literally hundreds of items to craft and missions to take, Ad-Hoc Wi-Fi party-based play and some of the purdiest graphics we've ever seen on the PSP, something tells us the game will be pretty damn cool. Or you could just let Executive VP, Officer and head of Capcom's consumer software publishing in Europe and the Americas, Mark Beaumont, tell you the same thing. No, seriously, check it out:
“Monster Hunter Freedom’s incredible graphics, deep gameplay and compelling multiplayer quests represent the very best that the PSP system has to offer,” reiterated Beaumont. “In Japan, we’ve seen the Monster Hunter phenomenon take off based on players coming together for face-to-face multiplayer ‘hunting parties,’ which we will foster with our own community here in North America.”
[Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes]
US and Euro gamers should feel pretty durned special: you get a special PSP port of the strikingly good PS2 fighter developed by CyberConnect 2 (of .hack fame). The PSP version introduces a ton of new unlockables, Wi-Fi vs. play and all-new 3-on-3 fights that were in the PS2 cousin. Not bad, eh? And of course it's NARUTOOOOOO.
“Fans of Naruto can now re-enact the fast-paced battles that have become the trademark of the popular manga and animated series,” explains Makoto Iwai, Namco Bandai Games America's EVP and COO. “NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes is the ultimate treat for gamers of all ages as it delivers great characters and lightning fast action in a nice small package.”
[PlayStation 3]
[Dynasty Warriors Gundam]
It's definitely a bigger tag-team combo in its native Japan than it is here in the States, but throwing together the worlds of Dynasty Warriors and Gundam isn't an idea that won't be well-received by some folks here in the good ol' U S of A. Imagine lots o' robots doing their hack and slash thang and you've got a pretty good idea of what to expect here.
“The combination of Dynasty Warriors’ unparalleled gameplay and Gundam’s larger-than-life setting offers fans of both franchises epic experiences that will not disappoint” squealed Makoto Iwai, EVP and COO at Namco Bandai Games America. “Representing a collaboration between two premier companies, Dynasty Warriors:GUNDAM is truly a legendary adventure.”
And there you have it, kids. Better get used to the feeling of an empty wallet, cause this is just the start of things to come...