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Just in case a television advertising blitz including spots on Monday Night Football weren't evidence enough, Namco Bandai has big expectations for Tekken 6. Today, the company gave an indication of exactly how big, as it confirmed shipments of 2.5 million copies of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game to retailers worldwide.
The game, which launched in North America on Tuesday and arrived in European stores today, is available in multiple retail configurations. It can be purchased on its own, bundled with a wireless arcade-****joystick, and in some territories, packed in with the PlayStation 3 hardware itself.
Source: Gamespot
Tekken 6 has cleared the last hurdle on its long road to release. Having announced the game alongside Sony's PlayStation 3 in 2005, Namco Bandai today said that development has wrapped on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions of Tekken 6, and the fighter has gone gold in advance of its October 27 North American release date.
Namco Bandai's long-awaited competitive arcade fighter will be available in two retail configurations. The standard-edition package will retail for $59.99. Those looking to pick up a new fight stick can opt in to the Tekken 6 Wireless Fight Stick Bundle, which will be available for both the Xbox 360 and PS3 at participating retailers for $149.99. In addition to the game, the limited-edition bundle includes a Hori wireless fight stick, as well as a Tekken 6-themed art book.
Source: Gamespot
We find out what happens when Joe the Condor and Maverick Hunter Zero mix it up with the other fighters in Capcom's upcoming Wii brawler.
"It's no secret that we're looking forward to Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars for the Wii. The game is one of the few fighters coming to the platform, and, more importantly, it's an evolution of the old "vs." games of which we were big fans. While we've been playing the import since last December when it was released in Japan, we've been anxious to see how the US version has come together. The Tokyo Game Show gave us a glimpse of some of the roster tweaks, namely the addition of Dead Rising's Frank West and Tekkaman Blade, but we've been itching to get our hands on the other new folks on the roster. We recently had the chance to play the latest work-in-progress version of the game and do just that with new additions Joe the Condor from Gatchaman and Zero from the Mega Man series. Fans will be pleased to hear that the characters are most certainly not quick-and-dirty palette swaps of existing characters."
Source: Gamespot
Capcom gives us a sneak peek at the next installment in the Street Fighter series.
Now that Street Fighter IV has successfully revived the Street Fighter franchise, Capcom is looking to keep the series going with a new expansion. The new game, Super Street Fighter IV, aims to build on the foundation laid by this year's SFIV by adding new content that includes more playable characters, improved online features, and rebalanced characters. We got a demonstration of the work-in-progress Xbox 360 version from producer Yoshinori Ono and have much to report.
Source: Gamespot
The tale of souls and swords goes portable.
August 28, 2009 - With Namco Bandai's Soulcalibur IV hitting current-gen consoles last year, it was hard to imagine the renowned 3D fighter functioning on a portable console. After all, the Soulcalibur series -- which pits warriors against each other in a world filled with ethereal weapons -- has always been a visual powerhouse. Squeezing all the character detail, lighting effects and lush backgrounds onto a UMD seemed like an awful idea.
Source: IGN
First portable iteration of acclaimed weapons-based fighting series brings new characters and gameplay modes.
September 1, 2009 - SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Leading video games developer and publisher NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., today announced that SOULCALIBUR: Broken Destiny is now available at North American retail stores exclusively for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system. Developed by Project Soul, SOULCALIBUR: Broken Destiny is the first handheld iteration in the series that promises to deliver its signature weapon-based fighting formula on-the-go. New and exciting gameplay modes, a more robust character customization feature, and a diverse roster of warriors make this a must-have for any fighting game fan.Source: IGN
Tidus
Origin: Final Fantasy X
Weapon of Choice: Single Blade and Blitzball
Background: This cheerful young athlete was the star player for the Zanarkand Abes -- a well-known Blitzball team -- before being pulled into a strange world known as Spira. Tidus soon found himself assisting the summoner Yuna in a desperate effort to stop the overwhelming power of the evil monster Sin, while nurturing his own feelings for the summoner.
Source: IGN
The "vs." Capcom series has seen the developer go up against both Marvel and SNK, and now Japanese anime outfit Tatsunoko is next. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom has been released in Japan in both the arcades and on the Wii, but Capcom is set to bring it to Europe and the US with new characters and features. We got to play the game at Capcom's GamesCom booth, as well as talk to producer Ryota Niitsuma.
The headline feature for the Western release is four new characters, two from Capcom and two from Tatsunoko. These characters will be revealed in full at the Tokyo Game Show, and despite how hard we tried, we couldn't get Niitsuma-san to reveal the lineup. He did, however, say that the online matchmaking will be improved over the Japanese release, with better filtering according to skill, and US/European players will be able to play against all other territories around the world.
Source: Gamespot
The next step for Budokai Tenkaichi.
UK, August 25, 2009 - "Dragon Ball: the series that serious anime-heads love to hate, but all secretly watch anyway. Whatever you think of it, it's resulted in some hugely enjoyable fighting games over the years; you'd expect so, with the character variety, explosive special moves and abundance of three-dimensional space.""Raging Blast takes full advantage of all of these things, offering over 70 characters (including transformations) - not as many as Tenkaichi 3's 150, but among them are never-before-seen additions designed by developer Spike in collaboration with artists involved with the manga and anime. We spotted a Super Saiyan Level 3 version of Broley, who's never appeared in the animation or the movies. You can collect costumes for all of them during the Story mode - a small QTE prompt will occasionally appear on the screen, and meeting it grants you access to a new outfit. "
Source: IGN
This role-playing/fighting hybrid is more than just fan service: It is a fun and flashy game that keeps on giving.
"Fan service? Absolutely. Fun? Unquestionably. Dissidia is a Final Fantasy fan's dream come true, the kind of crossover that's sure to make franchise aficionados giddy. Yet it's far more than just a love letter to series fanatics. Dissidia: Final Fantasy is an exuberant and addictive game in which showy one-on-one fighting and role-playing mingle so effortlessly that it's hard to pull yourself away. And the more you play, the more Dissidia keeps giving, showering you with extra features and in-game rewards as if you were in the center of a ticker-tape parade. The visual drama of battles is unfortunately undercut by some camera foibles, and the feeble narrative is out of step for a series renowned for excellent storytelling. Yet this is a generous package that offers untold hours of over-the-top spectacle that almost anyone can appreciate, even if they've never played or cared to play a Final Fantasy game."
Source: Gamespot
Where's Mark Ryan when you need him?
August 20, 2009 - It is very late at night here in Cologne and this Associate Editor of the IGN PlayStation Team is beyond(!) sleepy. However, I wanted to give all you fighting game fans a quick update regarding the hotly anticipated Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars, the next "versus" game featuring renowned publisher/developer Capcom and anime production house Tatsunoko. Taking characters from both brands and putting them into an extremely slick 2D fighter, Ultimate All Stars is sure to follow in along tradition of deep fighting games and give Wii owners something to be happy about.
Source: IGN
Will it be Cosmos or Chaos? Either way, it's the ultimate crossover.
August 14, 2009 - As excited as I was for Dissidia Final Fantasy, I certainly had my reservations. After all, developer Square Enix is quite well-versed in the art of crafting RPGs, but designing a fighting game? I feared that Dissidia would rely too heavily on its inclusion of ****c Final Fantasy characters and fail to deliver a truly engaging gameplay experience. Fortunately, all my fears evaporated when I began playing Dissidia. This is one of the most robust, well-thought-out games on the PSP to date and my favorite game on the platform overall. Even if you're not a tremendous fan of the franchise, you'll be missing out if you leave this game on store shelves.
Source: IGN
Zidane
Origin: Final Fantasy IX
Weapon of Choice: Twin Blades
Background: Zidane, unlike a number of his heroic colleagues, is a fairly laid back, flirtatious character and one full of energy and enthusiasm. In the original Final Fantasy IX, Zidane belonged to a traveling theater group that doubled as a "swashbuckling" band of rouges. This, as you might expect, fits Zidane's personality perfectly and his advances towards Princess Garnet are not gone unnoticed.
Source: IGN
What would you get if Tekken and Streets of Rage ran into each other?
August 20, 2009 - You'd get something like what Namco Bandai showed off at Gamescom 2009, Tekken 6's scenario campaign. In it you control one of any of the fighters in-game and send them through linear stages to battle against wave after wave of grunt enemies and bosses, and on the way earn new equippable items. Within the scenario campaign the items you earn aren't just for cosmetic purposes like in the game's other modes, but actually bestow special effects. You'll get stun and elemental attacks that cause your selected character's fists to glow as well as defensive bonuses.Source: IGN
Squall Leonhart
Origin: Final Fantasy VIII
Weapon of Choice: Gunblade
Background: In the world of Final Fantasy VIII, Squall Leonhart is a student at the Balamb Garden Military Academy, where he -- and other members of the elite SeeD force -- are tasked with participating in global battles as freelance soldiers. Although Squall is a generally introverted young man, his skill with a gunblade is virtually unmatched and his prowess in combat speaks for itself. When the sorceress Ultimecia declares war on the world, it's up to Squall and his companions to fight against her time-bending powers.
Source: IGN
Cloud Strife
Origin: Final Fantasy VII
Weapon of Choice: Buster Sword
Background: The world of Final Fantasy VII is one world not easily forgotten. As the Shinra Company drains the planet's life force in order to harvest Mako energy for its own twisted machinations, a rebellious group called AVALANCHE stands up for the planet's well-being, starting in the iconic cyber-punk city, Midgar.
Cloud, a cold mercenary working with the rebels of AVALANCHE, is slowly swallowed up into a worldwide conflict that not only affects his new companions but reveals his own past. Cloud's often icy exterior hides a genuinely compassionate heart and an indomitable spirit .
Source: IGN
The rerelease of this classic brawler will gladly take you for a ride, but the trip isn't without its share of potholes.
"Marvel vs. Capcom 2 has certainly done the rounds. After debuting at the arcade in the year 2000, it went on to find a home on the original Xbox, Dreamcast, and PlayStation 2. Now almost a decade old, the venerable 2D fighter has been brought kicking and screaming into the present with rereleases on Xbox Live Arcade and (shortly) Sony's PlayStation Network. And while it appears Capcom and developer Backbone Entertainment's are aiming to rekindling the feelings of nostalgia associated with pumping fistfuls of dollars into arcade machines by putting it on a current-gen system and adding online play, the transition hasn't been without its hiccups."
Source: Gamespot
The venerable fighting franchise is coming back home, so we picked up a pad and got to beating some cute animals.
"The most important thing that Tekken fans need to know about Tekken 6 is that it is, indubitably, Tekken. Everything that made all the previous games such great fun has made it through to Tekken 6 intact, and the game is looking as good as you'd expect for the franchise's long-awaited full next-gen debut. "
Source: Gamespot
BlazBlue is a worthy successor to Guilty Gear. It's also a fast-paced, colorful fighting game with a lot to offer.
For many years, Arc System Works quietly earned a fan following with the flashy 2D fighting action and totally over-the-top characters of the Guilty Gear series. The studio has started anew with BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger, a new game with new characters and an evolved fighting system that adds to Guilty Gear's basics. Unfortunately, there are only 12 playable characters in this one--a smaller number than most conventional fighters. Still, they're all very different from each other--and as you might expect from Arc System Works, a few of the characters are completely insane. While you may have trouble wrapping your head around the game's crazy cast and its many different gameplay nuances, which have such esoteric names as "drive attacks" and "guard libra," you'll find plenty to do with the many different offline play modes--plus robust online play that works great. BlazBlue may not be the easiest fighting game to get into, but it still has a lot to offer.
Source: Gamespot
The King of Fighters XII is the latest chapter in 15 years of fighting game history. It's also a disappointment.
The King of Fighters series has offered team-based 2D fighting game competition, in arcades and on multiple console and handheld platforms, for 15 years. But other than the forgettable Maximum Impact series (which used 3D graphics) and a few obscure handheld versions, the series has generally reused the same 2D "sprite" art assets for its characters year after year. Until now. The King of Fighters XII offers a big visual overhaul that introduces huge new character sprites, along with brand-new background stages and music to go with generally solid fighting game action. But in exchange for the new paint job, the console versions of the game come stripped down with limited play modes, a thinner character roster than usual, and serious online problems.
Source: Gamespot
