Katamari, Ridge Racer roll into PS Vita launch lineup
Namco Bandai readying three titles for new Sony handheld launch next year: Ridge Racer, Touch My Katamari, and Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen.
Just two days after Sony confirmed a February 22, 2012, launch date for the PlayStation Vita, Namco Bandai has announced it will have three titles ready on day one. New installments in the Katamari and Ridge Racer series will arrive alongside the PS Vita hardware, as will previously confirmed launch game Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen.
Namco Bandai's quirky ball-rolling, object-collection series is heralding the PS Vita launch with Touch My Katamari. This new game will utilize the handheld's rear touch panel to allow players to deform the player's ball of accumulated debris to capture hard-to-reach objects. Regular movement is relegated to the analog sticks and touch screen, with more details about PS Vita-specific features coming soon.
The Ridge Racer franchise has never missed a Sony hardware launch, with Namco's racing franchise arriving in time for the first lap on the original PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PSP, and PlayStation 3. That legacy continues with Namco Bandai announcing that Ridge Racer will be a launch title for the PS Vita as well. The game will feature the series' hallmark drifting turns, with Wi-Fi and local multiplayer action supported.
Ninja stealth action game, Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen, was also reconfirmed as a launch title after being officially announced last month. For more on the PS Vita, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.
6341333 32 comments
Katamari games are always good fun, but I cannot wait for Shinobido 2! Its by the people that created the original Tenchu: Stealth Assassin's, the first ever stealth game.
@neemon Uncharted's been confirmed for launch multiple times. That's probably the biggest selling point for the Vita's launch. As for Resistance, thankfully that won't be out for quite some time. It still needs a ton of work from what was shown at tgs a few months back before it's ready for a release.
LOL, Ridge Racer gets release with every new console then fades away. PS4 release announced. Ridge Racer 2013, yep.
Oh no! It's the invasion of the... ZOMBIE FRANCHISES! They're well past their prime, yet they shamble on, devouring the brains of the living... The original PSP had a great launch, as I recall. Lumines and Metal Gear Acid were pretty righteous - Sony actually seemed to understand what portable games were supposed to be like back then. Then they just started doing midget versions of console games and became irrelevant. Hopefully the Vita doesn't suffer the same fate - Nintendo needs a kick in the can.
If Touch My Katamari can be turned into a dirty game title, then Ridge Racer certainly could as well.... wait, what the hell has this thread come to?! *ahem* Well I am certainly looking forward to the Vita with such an awesome game lineup scheduled already.
Vita won't be a first day buy for me because I will wait until there is a massive array of titles (which there eventually will be) but I am glad that vita is getting a pretty solid lineup..for sure an exciting time for those waiting to buy vita first-day.
I can wait. Those 2 games won't make me buy it on launch day, that's for sure. I can wait for a nice PSVita bundle to happen a year after it launches.
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