XBOX 360 CULDCEPT SAGA DEMO NOW AVAILABLE

A demo of Namco Bandai’s Culdcept SAGA for the Xbox 360 is now available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace in The United States and Canada. Approximate download size is 620.21MB.

Please note: As of yesterday, it appears that Microsoft is re-instituting the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo won't be available until sometime next week.Culdcept SAGA – Official product page

• Culdcept SAGA – Official product page
• FYI: Free Xbox Live Marketplace content and Silver accounts – Major Nelson

PLAYSTATION STORE: TEKKEN 5 DARK RESURRECTION ONLINE PACK

Namco Bandai has released an online multiplayer expansion pack for it’s downloadable PlayStation 3 fighter Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection. The pack, priced at $9.99 for the expansion alone or bundled with the full game for $29.99, naturally adds online versus multiplayer via the PlayStation Network and is available for purchase via the PlayStation Store.

"The hugely popular arcade and console fighting game, Tekken®5 Dark Resurrection™ is now available with an all-new ONLINE BATTLE feature! Take on other players from around the country, in full HD running at a smooth 60 frames per second! Prove who the real King of the Iron Fist Tournament is by checking the online rankings. Experience the pinnacle of fighting games as Tekken reaches into the “Online Vs.” world for the first time ever!

The online features of Tekken®5 Dark Resurrection™ ONLINE make use of the PLAYSTATION®Network. All terms of use of the PLAYSTATION®Network apply. Online game play of Tekken®5 Dark Resurrection™ may be adversely affected by network conditions. As such, instances in which the game may not be playable online or the game play conditions suffer may occur." – PlayStation Store

While some may gripe that Namco is nickle and diming gamers to death for an expansion that should be free, it is worth mentioning that Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection was not priced as a full release – even as a downloadable title – so the option of adding multiplayer if you wish for a small price isn’t completely unreasonable in my opinion.

XBOX 360 BEAUTIFUL KATAMARI DEMO NOW AVAILABLE

A demo of Namco Bandai’s Beautiful Katamari for the Xbox 360 is now available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace in The United States, Canada and Mexico. Approximate download size is 432.37MB – Roll on!

• Beautiful Katamari – Wikipedia entry

XBOX 360 ETERNAL SONATA DEMO NOW AVAILABLE

A demo of Namco Bandai’s Eternal Sonata for the Xbox 360 is now available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace in the United States and Canada. Approximate download size is 584.12MB.

Eternal Sonata will be released in North America on September 17th, 2007.

• Eternal Sonata – Official U.S. website

XBOX 360 DYNASTY WARRIORS: GUNDAM DEMO NOW AVAILABLE

A demo of Dynasty Warriors: Gundam for the Xbox 360 is now available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace in The United States, Mexico and Canada. Approximate file size is 484.62MB.

• Dynasty Warriors: Gundam – Official website

XBOX 360 ACE COMBAT 6 DEMO NOW AVAILABLE

A demo of Namco’s Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 309MB.

PLAYSTATION 3 TEKKEN 5 ONLINE MULTIPLAYER COMPONENT PRICED

Just a quick note here – Kotaku is reporting that Sony has announced that there will be an online multiplayer mode for the downloadable PlayStation 3 version of Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection. The online multiplayer component will be an additional downloadable item and will cost $9.99 on top of Dark Resurrection’s normal cost of $19.99. While that may strike some as unreasonable, $30 isn’t an all-together outrageous price to ask for an online fighter.

That said, I still won’t be picking up this pack, because the fun of playing an online fighter is trash-talking your friends as you play it. Seeing how I’m still pretty much one of the only people I know who actually has bought a PlayStation 3, the add-on just doesn’t hold much interest for me.

• Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection – Product page at PlayStation.com
• Tekken 5 Online Confirmed, Priced For US – Kotaku

LAZY DAY TRAILERS: SOUL CALIBUR IV

Namco Bandai has announced that Soul Calibur IV, the latest installment of the Soul Edge/Blade/Calibur series is now in production and will be appearing on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. While details are sketchy at the moment, they did release a teaser trailer for the game… which you’re about to watch.

No further official information on Soul Calibur IV is available at this time.

• Namco Bandai Games – Company website
• Soul Edge series – Wikipedia entry
• Soul Calibur IV video page – GameTrailers.com

FIRST IMPRESSIONS : PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION

Normally I wait until the following week to talk about an Xbox Live Arcade, but this week I’ve decided to break with tradition as there are a few things I feel need to be said about Pac-Man Championship Edition for the Xbox 360.

First and foremost, let me say that I love what they’ve done with the gameplay – specifically the “Championship” game mode. If you like Pac-Man, I can just about guarantee you’re going to find something to like in this game. It’s got all the charm of the original Pac-Man with enough twists and enhancements to make it feel “new”. This is one of those rare Live Arcade games that I feel is actually worth the 800 point ($10) price tag. Simply put, unlike so many other recent attempts by Namco to cash in on the Pac-Man name, this one actually does the original justice.

That’s not to say that there aren’t some problems here though. As can be expected, the Xbox 360 controller’s d-pad once again proves that it’s ill suited to being used as a 4-way arcade controller. While Namco seems to have managed to improved it’s response somewhat, when the game is moving hyper-fast and you need to make sharp turns, it’s going to let you down.

While that’s the same thing we’ve come to expect from any of the Pac-Man titles on Xbox Live Arcade, the second problem I’ve encountered is one that I really didn’t expect to find. Every single game mode in Pac-Man Championship Edition uses a 5 or 10 minute timer to control the pace of the action. Unfortunately, when you’re not playing in a competition, what this often does is cut you off just as you were beginning to really get into the groove of the game. Let me tell you, nothing is more annoying than when an arcade game cuts you off while you still have 5 lives left. At the very least, Namco should have included a version of the Championship Mode that wasn’t dependent on a timer. It’s an omission that takes a bit of fun away from what is otherwise a must-buy title.

In closing, I can only hope that at some point we’ll see some kind of (hopefully free) downloadable content that will add this missing mode and make this otherwise excellent game feel complete. Bottom line? I’d call this one a “Buy” for most Pac-Man fans and a “Try first” for everyone else.

• Pac-Man Championship Edition – Xbox.com

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS – PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION

Yup, it’s a new Pac-Man game from Toru Iwatani himself… and his last. In addition to announcing Pac-Man Championship Edition for Xbox Live Arcade yesterday, Iwatani also announced that he’s retiring from Namco.
Don’t feel bad for Iwatani though – he’ll most likely focus on his other passion – teaching budding game developers the art of the game.

Getting back to the subject at hand, Pac-Man Championship Edition is Pac-Man with multiple twists – new maps, new graphics, new features and more. Unfortunately, you’ll probably still have to play it using the standard Xbox 360 controller, so there are some downsides here too.

The other thing to note? The game comes in at 800 points ($10), so you may want to check out the demo before you commit to buying anything.

Title: Pac-Man Championship Edition
Developer: Namco Bandai Games, Inc
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games, Inc
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 6/06/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E (Everyone)
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

“PAC-MAN returns in this enhanced version of the all time classic videogame! PAC-MAN Championship Edition™ has many new and unique gameplay features, but still spotlights the big yellow PAC-MAN we all know and love. Experience the evolution of PAC-MAN and play it now!

• New and unique features: The enhanced version now features constantly evolving mazes, a time limit, and six different game modes.
• Enhanced environments: Graphics and sound have been fully enhanced in this new version of the classic game.
• Fun challenges: You’ll have to practice hard and play well to conquer the increased gameplay speed! Remember, this is the Championship Edition so you know it will provide a good challenge.” – Xbox.com

As for last week’s Live Arcade title, Mad Tracks, I didn’t even bother downloading the demo. I’ve heard nothing but bad things about the game and with gaming time being as limited as it is, I just don’t have time to waste on garbage.

TEKKEN 5: DARK RESURRECTION NOW AVAILABLE FOR PLAYSTATION 3

At long last, the PlayStation 3 version of Namco Bandai’s Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection is available for purchase in the PlayStation Store. The download weighs in at approximately 555mb and the price of admission to the fight is $19.99.

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS – GALAGA

Namco’s classic shooter Galaga makes it’s scheduled appearance on the Xbox 360 today. As promised by Microsoft, Galaga is now available in the Xbox Live Marketplace for 400 points ($5). Here are the details;

Title: Galaga

Developer: Namco Bandai

Publisher: Namco Bandai

Genre: Action

Release Date: 7/26/06

Console: Xbox 360

Multiplayer: No

Xbox Live: Xbox Live Aware

HDTV Support: 720p

Full Game: 400 points ($5)

Demo?: YES

Description as per Xbox.com

“Galaga was released in the arcades in 1981 and became an instant classic. This exciting title soon became know for its innovative fighter combination system and the varied enemy attack patterns. Take control of a fighter space craft and shoot down the invading aliens. Watch out for the swooping motherships, which will try to steal your fighter! Rescue captured fighters to double your firepower!. Earn Perfect Bonuses as you battle your way through wave after wave in different challenging stages.” – Xbox.com Galaga game description

This is one I’ll definitely be picking up in the next day or two as Galaga is one of those games that never seems to get old. I could play this one all day.

GAMESPOT RAINS ON MY SOUL

Gamespot has cast some doubt on the GameDaily report that Soul Calibur IV is now in production. According to Gamespot, they feel that there may have been some errors in translation as far as the comments regarding Soul Calibur IV went;

” Because it’s a paraphrased response in an almost certainly translated interview, it’s impossible to parse words here and see if there might have been some misunderstanding on either Uchiyama’s part or the writer’s. In any case, it just says that a new Soul Calibur was taking up the development team’s time when the Bandai-Namco merger was finalized. Uchiyama doesn’t appear to mention Soul Calibur IV by name, so the new game could be a PSP version of an existing Soul Calibur game, or maybe even a project that was already known about.

The Bandai-Namco merger was finalized in September. Soul Calibur III was released in October, so there’s even a slight chance Uchiyama was referring to that game as the incomplete Soul Calibur project in question. However, that seems unlikely, given how close to completion the game already was. ” – Gamespot

It certainly would be a bit of a downer if it turned out just to be an error in translation. Hopefully Namco Bandai will give some type of official word either way in the coming days in response to the story. You can check out the Gamespot article here and the original GameDaily story here.

THE SOUL STILL BURNS: SOUL CALIBUR IV CONFIRMED

GameDaily recently scored an exclusive interview with Namco Bandai Chief Producer Daisuke Uchiyama. In the course of the interview, Uchiyama let slip that Soul Calibur IV is already in production. GameDaily also added some speculation that the title may go direct to home consoles and may be the rumored Xbox 360 Soul Calibur game that was hinted at back when Soul Calibur III was released exclusively on the Playstation 2. It should be noted that Uchiyama did not give any further details regarding the general release window for the game or what consoles it would be appearing on.

As one of my all time favorite games, and certainly my all time favorite fighting game series, I for one could not be more stoked. Find out more by heading over to GameDaily at this link.

NAMCO BANDAI CANCELS FRAME CITY KILLER

Gamespot is reporting that Namco Bandai has cancelled their upcoming Xbox 360 game Frame City Killer. The game, which had been delayed several times already, was an action game where you took the part of a secret agent battling a terrorist organization in the year 2047 and was slated to use the much heralded Unreal Engine 3. According to Gamespot, Namco Bandai made the following statement;

“We are sorry to say that we have decided that Frame City–the Xbox 360 game which our company had planned for a spring 2006 release–will not be released, Our apologies to everyone who was looking forward to the game’s release.” – Namco Bandai Press Release (As per Gamespot)

Namco Bandai did follow up the statement with a reassurance that they would still develop for the Xbox 360 and that they currently have a RPG in the works for the Platform. Check out the Gamespot article here.