JC Fletcher
- http://www.dsfanboy.com
THE ERA AND TIME OF THIS STORY IS UNKNOWN. AFTER THE MOTHERSHIP "ARKANOID" WAS DESTROYED, A SPACECRAFT "JC Fletcher" SCRAMBLED AWAY FROM IT. BUT ONLY TO BE TRAPPED IN SPACE WARPED BY SOMEONE......
Gonk! New Dragon Ball DS screens arrive
Courtesy of Famitsu, we're treated to new screens of Namco Bandai's Zelda-like Dragon Ball DS game, and they're GONK-heavy. It seems that every time Goku strikes an enemy, a GONK sound effect appears. Is that just one GONK per combo, or does each hit meet with its own GONK? Dragon Ball DS has two GONKing combat modes: hand-to-hand, in which Goku can carry out five-hit combos and activate the Kamehameha wave by rubbing the screen with the stylus; and staff, in which Goku can manage multiple enemies with his magical extending staff. Both combat modes are controlled with the stylus.
Friday Video: Alternate history
This week, everybody freaked out (justifiably) about a port of a thirteen-year-old game. Since we can't manage to think about anything else, we thought we would all sit back together for some Chrono Trigger content today, and celebrate our independence from having to keep another system hooked up.
This animated scene was added to the last enhanced port of Chrono Trigger, made for the PlayStation. Square Enix doesn't seem to have a problem putting FMV on the DS, so we'll probably see it in the new version as well. Hopefully the other new feature from that version -- interminable loading times -- won't also be implemented.
Go back in time to five minutes ago so your popcorn will be ready right now!
Delay: Shuffle Dungeon
AQ Interactive announced the final (probably) release date for Japan yesterday: October 16, right in the middle of the "fall" release window Virgin PLAY planned for Europe. Unless AQ Interactive is planning a simultaneous worldwide release, we expect the late release will cause the European version to get bumped into next year. The U.S. version still has yet to be officially unveiled.
The fireworks start early with this Big Bang Mini trailer
As it turns out, the game would look brilliant on any day of the year. This trailer cycles through completely dissonant visual styles, from retrogaming to winter to aquatic to a cityscape to ... a place of some kind with some flying clowns. If you haven't been paying attention to Big Bang Mini until now, we hope that all the explosions and flashy stuff got your attention!
Create Lulz of the Unemployed Ninja, win stuff
Do you enjoy the Izuna character portrait comics on the official website? If not, you probably haven't read them, because they're delightful. Atlus is now offering a chance for the fans to share their own Izuna comics, and get a shot at some free stuff for doing so! All you have to do is pick one of four templates (each one featuring interactions between different Izuna characters), add text to a form, and submit your hilarity to Atlus for judging. The winner gets a copy of Izuna 2 and all the posters -- even the one that they didn't pick for Amazon copies!
Gallery: Izuna 2
Namco Bandai serves up weird Dragon Ball DS screens
While it's pretty easy to translate Dragon Ball Z into video games in which nothing happens but spikey-haired glowing dudes fighting and growling at each other in the air, its predecessor, Dragon Ball, featured all kinds of weird stuff. For example, the big noodle-serving/fighting guy here is actually a shape-shifting pig who saves the world later by wishing for panties.A stylus-controlled adventure in the wacky Dragon Ball universe sounds infinitely more appealing than playing another game about Goku floating in the air and "powering up." Dragon Ball DS will be out in Japan on September 18; no announcements have been made elsewhere.
Oxygen Interactive opens U.S. branch, announces assortment of DS games
Publisher Oxygen Interactive announced plans to start a new U.S. branch of their company, called O-Games. Their planned 2008 releases feature DS games heavily; whether or not any of those DS games are of interest is somewhat of a matter of debate. Their lineup includes Oxygen's three "young girl games:" My Make-Up, My Secret Diary, and My Dress-Up. Also coming is 8Ball All Stars, a pool game, Pirates: Duels on the High Seas, and the amusingly-named board game Hurry Up Hedgehog! The nautical-battle-based Pirates looked pretty neat, and the new company may decide to localize the decent-looking Chronos Twins, so we're relatively happy to see the news.
Chrono Trigger DS: For real!
That is, we'd be more likely to believe it was a joke if not for this. Seriously, click that link. You will say "wow." Now all we need to know is if this is a port, a remake, a sequel, or a card-based spinoff!
[Thanks, Jason!]
Surprise! Elebits: The Adventures of Kai & Zero revealed
We knew this was coming, thanks to retail databases, but we had no idea what the actual game was going to look like or how it was going to play. Konami has officially unveiled the sequel to the Wii launch window game Elebits, this time on the DS. The Adventures of Kai & Zero trades the original's first-person perspective for a top-down Zelda-style 2D look. The gameplay still revolves around finding Elebits, but this time the environments are more varied, as are the Elebits: the "Omega Elebits" you hunt have more environmental abilities beyond electricity.The new game features a Wi-Fi multiplayer mode for two players and local multiplayer for four. IGN has the first screens. We wonder why Konami decided to reveal this now? They'd almost made it all the way to E3.
Gamefly: Japanese and Chinese Coaches, Princess Debut this fall
In addition, Gamefly lists two unannounced titles from Natsume. Cave's Princess Debut is apparently being released on September 26, and on August 28, Natsume will release Hi! Hamtaro Ham-Ham Challenge, recently announced for Europe by 505 Games. These releases are unconfirmed, of course, but likely.
Mushroom Men: Rise of the Screens
Mushroom Men: Rise of the Fungi is on the way in October, and we've got a few new screens in our gallery that show how the game is coming along. The 2.5D platformer uses somewhat simple polygons (a smart decision) but gives off the same kind of atmosphere as the rocking concept art due to very interesting lighting effects!Mushroom Men on the DS is planned as a prequel to the Wii game -- another smart decision, we think. It helps position the DS game as less of a spinoff item and more a part of the real game series. It would be a shame if a cool sidescroller like this got overlooked because of the 3D game. That is, of course, assuming that the Wii game isn't also overlooked.
[Via press release]
Ol' Master Ninja's ol' magic
One special ability allows the player to refill ninjas' health by humming into the mic while they are on screen. Another gives Ol' Master Ninja a magnifying glass that can be directed onto enemies with the stylus. Ninjas aren't helpless on their own, of course: Forest Ninjas shoot barrages of arrows, and Business Ninjas can ... smack dudes in the head with cell phones.
Bother the Final Fantasy IV team
If you're curious about changes made to the Final Fantasy IV story or gameplay for the remake, or about the development of a DS game in general, this is a good opportunity! Just try not to submit five thousand questions (or one, even) about a Final Fantasy VII remake. They know.
Gallery: Final Fantasy IV
[Via Square Enix Members Blog]
Rhapsody release date announced, Disgaea date confirmed
The American boxarts for both games have also been revealed. While the Rhapsody art (found after the break) is a simplified version of the original, Disgaea uses a different piece of artwork and a baffling "CAUTION: PLAYERS XING" road sign.
Continue reading Rhapsody release date announced, Disgaea date confirmed
Mega Man Card Force 2
Looking to extend your Mega Man Star Force 2 experience? You're relatively in luck! In Japan, a series of 279 Battle Cards was released in packs, and also collected into a "Perfect Guide" book. The cards, meant to fit over the DS touchscreen, feature patterns of holes that, when pressed, unlock items, characters, bosses, and other content. The book contains pictures of these cards, allowing players to see and use the patterns.Strategy guide publisher Prima got the license for this book in North America, publishing it as the Mega Man Star Force 2 Wave Command Card Kit. Stuff like this rarely comes out stateside, and never for $10.19 (Amazon's current price)!
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
[Via Capcom-Unity]
_thumbnail.jpg "Prince of Persia: The Fallen King")
