MegaMan Universe Cancelled

Last year Capcom registered a domain for “MegaMan Universe”. No one knew exactly what it was until they released a teaser that showed absolutely nothing, but was awesome nonetheless:

Details would soon emerge about the title not long after the release of the teaser. MegaMan Universe was to be a play/create/share title similar to Sony’s LittleBigPlanet, only substituting Sackboy for nearly every type of incarnation of MegaMan and other Capcom heroes like Ryu from Street Fighter and Arhtur from Ghosts N’ Goblins. Using assets similar to those seen in MegaMan 2 for the NES, players would be tasked with creating their own MegaMan levels. Demo’s of the game were presented at last year’s TGS, and opinions of the game were not the highest. Critics loved the ability to create levels, but felt the gameplay just didn’t feel “MegaMan” enough.

Today Capcom released a press statement stating that MegaMan Universe has been officially cancelled. Whether it’s due to the unfortunate turn of events that hit Japan this month, the loss of Keiji Inafune or other factors remains to be seen.

As a long time MegaMan fan I’m not that sad to hear of this news. While the teaser for MMU was excellent, I’m not a personal fan of games where it’s up to the players to make the game. People have made astounding levels using mods in games like Left 4 Dead and Sony’s own LBP, but when I buy a game I like to play it as I don’t have the patience to invest in learning the tools for level creation. Maybe with the cancellation of MMU, more assets will be moved to the MML3 3DS project.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, Subtitle: I Don’t Care

Last November I posted a rumor from Kotaku that Slant 6, the developers of the SOCOM PSP games and the PS3 outing SOCOM: Confrontation, were developing a squad based Resident Evil title. That particular rumor has been flaring up as of late, and today Capcom officially announced Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Taking place during the events in Raccoon City as seen in RE 2 & 3 on the PSOne, players take on the role of a member of the U.S.S (or Umbrella Security Services, how they differ from the U.B.C.S remains to be seen), as they venture into the ill-fated city to destroy any evidence of the bio-hazard released by Umbrella. Played as a third-person shooter either single player or up to four players co-operatively, the U.S.S not only have to deal with the zombies and BOW’s unleashed in the city, but the US government as well, as they have issued soldiers to secure evidence of Umbrella’s wrong doings.

Classic characters and locations like the police station and Leon S. Kennedy are expected to make an appearance, and players will also have the option to rewrite the series time line by eliminating characters like the above mentioned. RE:OCC will also have a number of competitive modes as well.

As the title was only formally announced today, there is little that anyone knows about the title (screens have yet to be released), but from the description I find it hard to get excited about this game. As ridiculous as the story has gotten in the RE universe, I enjoy and revel in it. Where is the next chapter in the series after 5? Is Capcom so drained of talent that they simply can’t press forward with a new chapter? Instead we get yet another in a lllllloooooonnnnnngggggg list of “me-too” squad based shooters, in environments that series fans have gone over ad nausem in the past. Teaming up with people to kill zombies? Valve cornered that market with Left 4 Dead. Killing main characters? People want to PLAY as these characters, not kill them.

Resident Evil is a horror franchise, it more or less opened the doors for franchises like Silent Hill, Parasite Eve and Dead Space. Now it’s just yet another co-op shooter, competing in an already over crowded space. Capcom needs to either reboot the entire series or be bold enough to push forward with an RE6. Chapter 5 was a bit of a let down, primarily due to poor AI, but it was still enjoyable and sold really well.

Given that the majority of the best selling games on the market today are shooters of one form or another (Halo, Gears, COD, etc.) it’s not surprising that Capcom would like to enter this space, and what better way than with their most popular series? For fans who didn’t “get” RE prior to 4, and for people looking for a jumping on point to the series, this could bring them into the fold. Longtime fans way want to save up and get a 3DS (if they haven’t got one already) for RE:Revelations or download the HD updates of CODE: Veronica and 4 on their console of choice in the fall.

Why The Latest Duke Nukem Forever Delay Is Not A Big Deal

Duke Nukem Forever, announced way back in April 1997, looked like it would never be released and was delegated to more than an industry joke. The final nail in the coffin seemed to come from the closing of original developer 3D Realms back in 2009.

It seemed that Duke Nukem truly was Forever when last September at the Penny Arcade Expo, Randy Pitchford from Gearbox Software announced to the world that they would be finishing development on the long gestating title for an eventual release in 2011.

Early in 2011 the release date for DNF was set at May 3rd/2011. After several playable demos, videos and screenshots it seemed that Gearbox was on track to finally release DNF. Today it was announced that despite their best efforts to meet the release date of early May, the team at Gearbox needed more time to polish the title and pushed the release date to June of 2011:

While it is certainly a blow to the many people waiting to get their hands on the painfully long delayed title, the delay is not that large. The fear that many have at this point is that this will signal a series of delays, missed release dates and a repeat of 3D Realms history.

Given that the title has been in development for 14 years, one month to finally get the game is not that long. Unlike 3D Realms, who kept quiet during most of the games development, Pitchford and Gearbox have taken every opportunity to showcase the game to the press in the form of demos, as well as videos and screens to the public. If this gives the team a little bit more time to make the game even a little bit better, as long as it does not lead to a series of delays, it is ultimately better for both the game and the people who will eventually play it.

DNF publisher 2K Games is a subsidiary of Take Two Interactive, the parent company of GTA/Red Dead Redemption developer Rockstar games. Rockstar is set to publish their period detective game LA Noire two weeks after DNF’s initial release date on May 17^th. LA Noire has been gathering a lot of hype as of late and is being positioned as this year’s RDR, being released in the exact same time frame as the hit western. Even though the main reason cited for the delay in DNF is development, there has to be some publishing pressure from Take Two as well to have one big game for May and then another in June.

There’s no getting around the fact that the delay of DNF for those anticipating it (like those how pre-ordered the Balls of Steel edition for their Birthday, May 18th if your wondering) is disappointing. As long as this delay does not lead to several more, a month out of 14 years is not that much more. As Shigeru Miyamoto says, “a bad game is bad forever, but a delayed game is eventually good”. Just try to stick to a schedule, Randy, okay?

Ghostbusters: Sanctum Of Slime Oozes To Consoles

Having found success with the release of 2009′s Ghostbusters: The Videogame, publisher Atari is releasing the pseudo-sequel this week to both the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles with a pending release for the PC.

Subtitled Sanctum of Slim, the follow up is a download only top down, twin stick shooter that can be played cooperatively both locally and online. Like the 2009 release, players will take the role of rookie Ghostbusters with the role of the original team being delegated to support roles. Unfortunately none of the cast from the film will reprise their roles as the iconic characters.

Once again the story is set after the events of the last film, Ghostbusters II, and involves an increase in paranormal activity in the city of New York after the release of Dr. Janosz Poha from a mental institution, following a mental breakdown after being controlled by Vigo.

Sanctum of Slime is $9.99 CAD on the PSN and 800 MSP on the Xbox 360. No pricing information is yet available for the PC release.

Impending Resident Evil RE-Releases

Yesterday I commented in my Top 10 article about how Capcom had gone dark as of late when it comes to the Resident Evil franchise. Well, it seems I spoke too soon.

Reports are coming in that Capcom is readying a compilation, entitled Resident Evil: Revival Selection. This collection is so far rumored (but unconfirmed) to include both Resident Evil: CODE: Veronica and Resident Evil 4. RE: RS is also rumored to be appearing on both the Xbox 360 and PS3 home consoles. No word on if there will be bonus features added to the games, or Move support for RE4 on the PS3 similar to recent Wii to PS3 conversion Dead Space: Extraction.

Resident Evil: CODE: Veronica was originally released on the Sega Dreamcast in 2000, only to be ported to both the PS2 and GameCube with added content under the name Resident Evil: CODE: Veronica X. Resident Evil 4 needs little introduction, as it was a major turning point in the series and garnered many a Game of the Year nominations in 2005. It was originally released on the Nintendo GameCube, but eventually made its way to the PS2, PC and Wii with added motion controls.

Until an official confirmation is given by Capcom, this can all be taken as speculation, but given most publishers desire to rerelease last gen games with updated HD visuals, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. The two titles are rather odd to group together in a collection, as other than the fact that they both debuted on other consoles and made there way to Sony platforms, story wise they have little in common. Prior to the release of the RE: Umbrella Chronicles, RE: CODE: Veronica was the last “classic” RE story in the series time line before the focus of the gameplay and story changed in RE4 and 5. Despite being a great game in its own right (easily up there with the likes of chapters 1, 2 and 4 as the best in the series), it does little to lead into 4. Maybe it’s an “out with the old, in with the new” theme.

As a fan of the series, I’m anxious to see what Capcom will add to these titles other than upgraded visuals to incentive long time RE fanatics to pay for this collection. These games have been ported and gathered in collections already, so having them bundled is a little less special. Maybe for CODE: Veronica the Wesker report documentary can be added as a bonus, and for PS3 owners who passed on a Wii, a HD update for RE4 with potential Move support could be enough to warrant a purchase. More as it comes in.

 

Actress To Return As Jill Valentine In Resident Evil Film Sequel

Not to be outdone by all the Silent Hill news as of late, actress Sienna Guillory who played Jill Valentine in Resident Evil: Apocalypse and very briefly in an after the credits scene in last fall’s Resident Evil: Afterlife will return for the yet to be titled fifth installment in the film series.

SPOILER’S FOR RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE

News of the fifth installment came shortly after the last installment claimed the #1 spot at the box-office in the opening weekend. It comes as little surprise that Jill would be back, and portrayed by Sienna no less, as after Alice takes care of Wesker and releases the hostages on the Arcadia, it shows Jill (as played by Sienna) in a VTOL with the Umbrella forces. Personally I don’t think she would’ve done the cameo without some confirmation that the character would be returning in some capacity.

While no details on the sequel have been released, other than Milla Jovovich will return as Alice and that they are accepting fan input via twitter account. The film is expected to be released on September 14th, 2012.

News via ComingSoon.net

My Top 10 Most Anticipated 3DS Games

3DS fever is sweeping gaming culture this week in anticipation of its impending release (I have mine pre-ordered for launch). While the launch titles may not be the “Must Have” system sellers, there are a lot of titles to look forward to in the coming months. Here are 10 of mine:

10 ) Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 3D. Estimated Release: April 10th/2011

Splinter Cell as a series is one I’ve appreciated and that I’ve always wanted to like but could never quite get into. That was, until last year’s Splinter Cell: Conviction introduced new play mechanics that made it easier for the less hardcore sneaking fans to enjoy. Splinter Cell 3D is a conversion of the pre-Conviction fan favorite, Chaos Theory with some Conviction elements added in like the scenery based objective markers. Handhelds have not been kind to Splinter Cell, ports of early versions to the GBA, DS and PSP have not been received well. Here’s hoping that Splinter Cell 3D breaks the curse.

9 ) Kid Icarus: Uprising. Estimated Release: 2011.

Let’s face it, the original Kid Icarus for the NES has not aged well. That being said, that hasn’t stopped everyone from clamoring for a sequel every time E3 rolls around. Nintendo granted fans wishes last year when they debuted Kid Icarus: Uprising, marking the decades long absence of Pitt. A combination of both flying and on ground segments, the initial trailer for KI:U was impressive for both fans and non-fans alike. It will be a interesting to see if Nintendo can match the excitement for the debut trailer.

8 ) Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance. Estimated Release: TBA

Portable’s have become the new home for the Kingdom Hearts series. The last time the series graced a console was the late 2008 release of Kingdom Hearts: RE: Chain of Memories for the PS2. This entry looks to be a the closest thing long time fans will get to a Kingdom Hearts III while Tetsuya Nomura finishes up whatever he’s doing with Final Fantasy Versus XIII. The story is set after Kingdom Hearts II and see the return of both Riku and Sora. If KH: BBS for the PSP is any indication of how close a portable KH can be to the console version, this is one game to keep your eye on if your a fan.

7 ) Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. Estimated Release: June 2011.

Ocarina of Time was THE game that made me hold on to my N64 back in the late 90′s as opposed to jumping ship to PlayStation (I would do that 2 years later, but nevertheless). Hailed as one of the greatest games of all time, Nintendo seeks to improve on the original design by adding touch screen support for easy equipment access (goodbye Iron Boot swapping in the Water Temple). Combine that with a graphical overhaul from the blurred N64 textures of 1998 and you’ve got a must buy 3DS title and a system seller for a lot of people.

6 ) Ace Attorney Vs. Professor Layton. Estimated Release

Answer: OBJECTION!!!

Question: What word has been seen and screamed into my DS over the past three years?

Starting off as a trilogy of games on Nintendo’s GBA system in Japan only, the Ace Attorney series made its way to North American shores in 2005 and spawned one of the greatest franchises on the handheld due to its great writing, compelling stories and quirky characters. Now it’s being paired with Level 5′s equally successful Professor Layton series in a battle of the wits that sees the two universes collide in a case surrounding a witch trial. This will mark a return for the character of Phoenix Wright (he has not been the main character in the series since 2007′s Trials and Tribulations), as well as a series first in the use of both cut scenes and voice on the Ace Attorney side. This game has not been formally announced for North America, but given the rabid fan base of both series, it’s a good chance we’ll get it.

5 ) StarFox 64 3D. Estimated Release: June 2011

Starting off as a tech demo for Nintendo’s Super FX microchip on the SNES, the original StarFox kicked off one of the big N’s must underrated franchises. The series has gone off the rails (no pun intended) as of late with a fun but pointless Zelda-style adventure and a GameCube sequel that while fun only featured less than one third of what makes StarFox great: Flying. StarFox 64 is considered by many to be the best in the five installment series (and one of Shigeru Miyamoto’s favorite games he’s worked on), and is long overdue for an update. If this sells well, it could send a message to Nintendo that a return to the Lylat behind the cockpit might be a good idea.

4 ) Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D. Estimated Release: 2011

A masterpiece. One of the greatest games of all time. The single best Metal Gear Solid. These are some of the phrases I would use to describe 2004′s Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. If it was a simple portable port of the game, that would be enough. The team at Kojima productions is looking to enhance what is already a phenomenal experience. They’ve already proven how great a handheld MGS can be with last year’s Peace Walker on the PSP.A potential use of the touch screen for things like switching items and weapons, and surgery healing is already one feature that is worth picking up this game again. For the Nintendo faithful who never experienced this title, this is a must buy (if your old enough, of course).

3 ) Resident Evil: Revelations. Estimated Release: TBA

One of the most surprising 3DS trailers at last year’s E3 was Capcom’s Resident Evil: Revelations. From the short trailer, which Capcom claims is in-game footage, it looked like the 3DS was capable of producing graphics at the the caliber of the PS3 or 360. The next chapter in the long running Resident Evil franchise is set before the events of RE5 and once again stars Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine. Information on the title is scarce, but the setting is an abandoned ship and the control style appears to be similar to the last two installments. The team is looking to bring back the scares for this title and are bringing back some of the series classic elements. As popular as the series is, it has gone somewhat dark since 2009′s RE5. Those looking for a return to the RE universe will find it on the 3DS only for the time being.

2 ) Assassin’s Creed: Lost Legacy. Estimated Release: TBA

Very little is known about the latest chapter in the AC series, other than it’s coming to the 3DS, it will once again star Ezio Auditoire De Firenze as the main assassin, and will focus on him returning to Altair’s home land to find out more about his ancestry. Why so high on the list then? Easy, because Assassin’s Creed is one of gaming’s best IP’s in this console generation, and each of the installments featuring Ezio have only gotten better. The series is running on a very thin tight rope saturation wise, as publisher Ubisoft has been quite adamant about releasing a new chapter on an annual basis, but it will be interesting to see what they will do with the series on the 3DS.

1 ) MegaMan Legends 3. Estimated Release: 2011.

10 years…10 long years. The last chapter in Capcom’s most underrated section of the MegaMan franchise is FINALLY getting a sequel. After years of battle network’s, star force’s and ill-advised X sequels, the fate of MegaMan Trigger and co. will finally be addressed after the cliff hanger ending of MML2 on the PSOne. MegaMan creator and former employee of Capcom, Keiji Inafune has been trying to get this sequel off the ground since the last chapter, but could never convince Capcom to give him the chance. This is a bit bittersweet, as almost directly after Mr. Inafune announced MML3 to the public, he left the company. It remains to be seen just how the team will continue on with his vision after his departure, but in an unprecedented move for a publisher, Capcom is seeking the help of the public in the development in the game through the use of polls and forums on the Capcom Unity website.

 

Ubisoft Jumps The 3DS Gun Five Days Early

This upcoming Sunday, March 27th, marks the North American release of Nintendo’s much talked about 3DS handheld. It seems that in order to tease consumers, or to perhaps given them a chance to look at their software prior to the flood of launch titles hitting on Sunday, Ubisoft will release Rayman 3DS on this coming Tuesday, March 22nd.

Rayman 3DS is an update of the N64/Dreamcast era platformer Rayman 2: The Great Escape. I never got the chance to experience this title back when it was first released and will be one of the two launch titles I’ll be picking up (the other of course being Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition). Having just come off Beyond Good & Evil HD, it will be nice to experience another title from the mind of Michel Ancel.

Review: Beyond Good & Evil HD

System: Xbox 360 (via XBLA, available for PS3 via PSN in May 2011)

Played on: Xbox 360

Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier (original game)/Ubisoft Shanghai (HD conversion)

Publisher: Ubisoft

Score: A-

In this console generation, publishers have taken the film studio model of rereleasing content with upgraded visuals. The trend started off in 2009 with the release of Sony’s God of War Collection on the PS3. Since then several publishers have begun to look back at the last generation to see what can be resold under the “HD” banner. It can be said that no game is more deserving of this than Ubisoft’s 2003 masterpiece, Beyond Good & Evil. Upon its release, it met with overwhelming critical reception but underwhelming sales. At a price tag of 1200 MSP, there is no reason to pass up this classic a second time.

Hailing from the mind of Michel Ancel, BG&E is about Jade, an intrepid reporter from the planet of Hillys. The planet is under invasion from an alien species know as the Domz. It is up to Jade to capture evidence of their activity, and unravel a vast conspiracy that has the potential to shake the foundation of the planet’s very society.

At its core, BG&E shares a lot of elements and inspiration from classic Nintendo franchises. The majority of the game plays like a classic 3-D Legend of Zelda adventure where your visiting towns for information, gathering sub-quests and exploring dungeons. There is also a collection element similar to gathering stars like the 3-D Mario games and a photo shoot mechanic weaved into the plot reminscent of Pokemon Snap. Even though it burrows elements, BG&E manages to integrate them organically in such a way that it does not feel like these are borrowed play mechanics.

What truly makes BG&E special is its audio presentation. The voice acting is exceptionally done a great job developing Jade her supporting cast as people you not only care about but feel for as well. The score ranges from beautiful, haunting piano melodies to island rhythms. Needless to say, whether your racing a hovercraft, sneaking around an industrial base or bearing witness to an emotional scene, there will be a perfectly fitting melody.

Upon its initial release over seven and a half years ago, BG&E had a uniquely stylized art style that has aged well and benefited greatly from an HD makeover. It is an example of how effective use of art direction is often better than striving for photo realism. Some of the basic mechanics of BG&E have not aged as well as the visuals, however. In the dungeons and in certain side quests there is a hefty amount of sneaking from the “vision-cone” school of guard patrols and some of the fixed camera angles are less than optimal.

At a price of 1200 MSP there is simply no reason to pass up on BG&E. It is an under appreciated classic that has been given the second chance it deserves to reach the success many feel it was denied. BG&E shines in both presentation and gameplay, and is destined to be a classic. For those craving something original in today’s climate of sequel’s and shooters, you owe it to yourself to take a trip to the planet Hillys.

Review: Okamiden

System: Nintendo DS

Developer: Capcom

Publisher: Capcom

Score: B+

Released in 2006, the original Okami was a critical darling that gave Nintendo’s own Legend of Zelda series a run for its money. Despite garnering acclaim from nearly all outlets it was reviewed by, Okami failed to achieve mainstream commercial success. Chances of a sequel seemed unlikely, as original developer Clover Studios broke off from Capcom to form Platinum Studios, but Capcom saw the potential for Okami as a franchise and put a sequel into development. Even though the sequel is appearing on a smaller, less technically advance piece of hardware, Okamiden is by no means any less grander than its predecessor.

Taking place mere months after the conclusion of Okami, the sequel does not involve the continuing adventure of the previous character, Amaterasu. Taking the lead role is her adorable and aptly named offspring, Chibiterasu. Once again Nippon is under siege from demonic forces and its up to Chibi and a variety of partners to find out the source of the evil, and vanquish it once again.

Okamiden shares a lot of DNA with its prequel: That is to say it is a Zelda style adventure set in ancient Japan. The major emphasis of the game is visiting towns to gather information and shop, and then entering a puzzle filled dungeon to defeat a boss. Whereas in Nintendo’s classic franchise the emphasis is on gathering tools to progress further in a world, Okamiden utilizes the Celestial brush. By simply tapping the L or R triggers the gameplay screen turns into a canvas where simply objects can be drawn to affect the environment. Some of the examples include bombs, attack power slashes, elemental attacks and partner path finding.

The Nintendo DS is a perfect fit for the Okami franchise. Controlling the Celestial brush has never been more easier to operate and intuitive. Whether in combat or solving one of the games many puzzles, the mechanic is integrated seamlessly. Chibi is accompanied by a partner through most of the adventure and in order to progress you often have to split up and guide them with the touch screen, creating some interesting puzzle and boss encounters.

Okamiden is easily one of the best looking games on the DS, capturing the painted look of the PS2 classic as best as it can given the drastic reduction in hardware power. Should Capcom decide to keep the franchise running on Nintendo’s upcoming 3DS hardware, it will be astounding to see the excellent touch screen controls combined with the visual fidelity of the new hardware.

Clocking in at around twenty plus hours, Okamiden will certainly give you your money’s worth. The overall quest does start off strong but loses its steam around the halfway point with the focus being placed on smaller chapters that don’t fit into the central story, culminating in a satisfying finale that ties everything together. Be prepared also for some lengthy, unpauseable cut-scenes as well, which is a pain considering the title is designed for a portable console.

With a reasonably sized quest, excellent play mechanics and pleasing visual aesthetic, Okamiden manages to make a place for itself outside of the shadow of its console counterpart. No one ever expected there to be an Okami follow up, let alone one of this quality without the original team. Okamiden is a sequel that stands on its own feet and is deserving of an audience. Here’s hoping that history does not repeat itself, and there will be more entries in this newly established franchise.