LAZY DAY TRAILERS: NINJA GAIDEN 2
The big news coming out of Microsoft’s pre-show press conference for the Tokyo Game Show was the confirmation that Ninja Gaiden 2 is indeed in the works for the Xbox 360. While we don’t have any gameplay footage to show you yet (though apparently there was a gameplay demonstration by Tomonobu Itagaki) we do have the first teaser trailer for the game ready for your perusal. Check it out.
According to Gamespot, Microsoft will be both financing and publishing Ninja Gaiden 2 with Tecmo, meaning that it’s highly doubtful that the game will appear in any form on another system other than the Xbox 360.
“Currently, Ninja Gaiden 2 is set for a worldwide release on the Xbox 360 sometime in 2008. However, unlike its predecessors, it won’t be ported to other consoles down the line. Instead of being published by Tecmo, holder of the Ninja Gaiden license, the game is being bankrolled and distributed directly by Microsoft Game Studios.” - Gamespot
As stated above, there is no specific release date for the game at this time. Let the drooling begin.
- Ninja Gaiden 2 – Product page at Xbox.com
- Ninja Gaiden 2 official, Rez and Ikaruga XBLA-bound – Gamespot
- Ninja Gaiden 2 Teaser Trailer – GameTrailers.com
XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS – SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2
Looks like we’re getting quite a few Sega Genesis titles these days, doesn’t it? While it still remains to be seen if this will be a rare one-title week, Microsoft has confirmed that Sega’s Genesis classic Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will be making it’s Xbox Live Arcade debut today.
Sonic 2 introduced the world to Sonic’s sidekick Tails, a fox who, oddly enough, had two tails and could use them to hover like a helicopter. The game also saw the introduction of Sonic’s now famous Spin Dash attack – a move that allowed Sonic to spin quickly in place and then release all that energy in a massive burst of speed. By default, the player will play the game as Sonic with a AI driven Tails tagging along, however players did also have the option to either play as Sonic or Tails by themselves.
This one is probably my favorite of the Sonic series for reasons of nostalgia, and while Sega has certainly not been treating the Sonic franchise well in recent years, this one harkens back to the days when Sonic truly was an “A list” character. So long as the game doesn’t somehow get ruined in the translation to the Xbox 360, 2D platformer fans will certainly be pleased with this one.
Title: Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Developer: Backbone Entertainment
Publisher: Sega of America
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 9/12/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone)
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
“With his new Super Spin Dash and “Tails” the Fox, Sonic is back and better than ever in Sonic The Hedgehog 2! Defy gravity in hair-raising loop-de-loops, bounce like a pinball and race like lightning. Play against friends at home or against others over Xbox LIVE® in this classic game.
- Classic Sonic action: One of the world’s most famous video game characters comes to Xbox LIVE in one of his fans’ favorite titles. Experience the thrill of the fastest hedgehog in the universe.
- Enhanced graphics and sound: The game stays true to the original, but takes full advantage of high-definition graphics, with enhanced sound effects.
- Achievements and leaderboards: Take on the challenge of new achievements to conquer, and use the leaderboards to compare scores among friends and the rest of the Xbox LIVE world.
- Multiplayer: Play with a friend at home, or go online and play Sonic and Tails with the world at large.” - Xbox.com
As for last week’s two Live Arcade releases, it really was a disappointing set of titles. As I mentioned, I was never a Fatal Fury fan, so I wasn’t expecting much from Fatal Fury Special at all, but I did have high expectations for Cyberball 2072 – and those expectations were crushed by the lack of a 2 player versus mode. Why Midway chose to go the cheap and easy route and only emulate half of the experience is mind-boggling – though I’m willing to bet it has something to do with the rather unique setup of the arcade machine. (Those of you who never saw Cyberball 2072 in the arcades should note that 2 player versus mode was accomplished by having what was essentially two arcade machines back to back built into one. Each player had their own screen and didn’t have to worry about their opponent being able to look at their play selection.)
