Trailers: Loco Roco 2 and Patapon 2

You've waited patiently enough! Here are the trailers for Patapon 2 and Loco Roco 2 from Tokyo Game Show 2008. This should bring a smile to your face!



There are actually 2 trailers for Patapon 2 but I've only embedded one. You can watch the other one here (slight spoilers for Patapon!).



Some more information on Patapon 2. It will (according to Joystiq) have double the levels, almost triple the items and it will include a multiplayer mode which can be done either using ad-hoc or using the PSP's game sharing feature! So you only need to own one copy of the game!

Trailers for Level 5's Ninokuni, Ushiro and Cardboard Senki

Level 5 were at TGS 2008 to show off their newly announced handheld RPG's and the press received a DVD with trailers for each game (and more) as well as a look back at the last 10 years, including Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Jeanne d'Arc and Dark Chronicle. Obviously it wasn't long before those trailers got onto the net so here are the trailers for the 3 new games.

Ninokuni:



Ushiro (user movie):



Cardboard (or Danbol) Senki (user movie):



Source: Joystiq

LocoRoco 2 delight Europe this year, Patapon 2 do the same next year

From no information, to huge blow outs at the Tokyo Game Show 2008, we got a release window for Europe for both games.

The sequel to the original game for the PSP will be released in Europe in November. That's (wait for it) at least a week before Japan! The new game features slightly fewer levels than the original game, but our bouncing multicoloured friends can now swim and meet more strange creatures. There will also be a few more mini-games, including a multiplayer game where the object is to force your opponents onto the spikes, separating them and eating them. Meanies!

It was slightly less good news for Patapon 2, but the confirmation is still there. Patapon 2: Donchaka will be released early next year (possibly February as a guess). The new game continues in the same fashion as the original and also includes a multiplayer aspect. It looks to revolve around the players teaming up to kill a monster and then to open an egg to claim the prize. Japan will be getting this on November 27th for those keeping up. You can visit the new website - complete with new music - right now which also includes 2 new trailers under the "Special" section.

Update: MCV UK has detailed the release list for Sony in Q4 and LocoRoco 2 will be released on 21st November 2008.

Source: SCEE PressCentre (Loco Roco 2), SCEE PressCentre (Patapon 2), MCV UK

Star Ocean first departing for America and Europe

Square-Enix's remake of the first Star Ocean, Star Ocean: First Departure, has been given official release dates for the US and Europe. The US version of the game will be released on 21st October while the Europeans will have to wait just 3 more days to get their copies on the 24th October. The remake of Star Ocean 2, called Star Ocean: Second Evolution, will be released in 2009.

Source: PSP Fanboy

Level 5 celebrates 10 years with handheld heaven

I should have covered this the day it broke. Ah whatever. The point is that Level 5 held their Vision 2008 conference on 29/09/2008 and showed a lot of things - that Famitsu showed a few days earlier. However, they covered it in more detail and since the conference, there have been a small smattering of screenshots. Some of the games announced were Inazuma Eleven 2 for the DS, Inazuma Eleven Break for an unnamed console (99% chance it's going to be their first Wii game) and the final part of the Professor Layton series. They also announced 2 other DS games, namely Sloane and McHale's Mysterious Story and *deep breath* Akira Tago's Brain Exercise Vol.1 Travel Around the World Solving Puzzles.

However, there were 3 other games buried in this pile of games that you should be keeping an eye on. Not much detail is available for these games but visually, they look stunning.

Ninokuni: The Another World (yes it did have that subtitle)



Ever heard of Studio Ghibli? They made Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and other animated film classics. In what was the most surprising and wonderful joint ventures, Level 5, with their 10th year under way announced that Studio Ghibli would be creating the animations for Ninokuni. The game is to include a magic book which you use in game. Ninokuni is due for release on the DS and an unnamed console (probably the Wii again). With Studio Ghibli's reputation, this game is the most likely to arrive in Europe.

Cardboard Senki



I'm not as informed about this one as the others but it is apparently a "new" type of RPG where you play as a small robot playing in a world made of cardboard. The early images look like they come from Dragon Quest VIII on the PS2. I'm not confident about this title getting out of Japan but let's hope for the best. This title is due for release on the PSP.

Ushiro



As soon as I heard about this game, I thought it was interesting. Then I saw the screenshots for it and it suddenly shot to the top of my most wanted list. The game casts you as a Shinigami (like a Grim Reaper if you're frantically searching) and you attach yourself to people who are about to die and try to fulfil their last wishes. The game sounds quirky but a quick look at the screenshots will tell you that it could potentially be on for great things. This is due for release on the PSP and let's hope it comes to Europe or the US at least.

Prinnies invade the PSP

Now here's something unexpected. the lovable prinnies from Disgaea have done enough to spawn their own game called "Prinny - Is it OK for me to be the main character, dood?"

The game will be getting a Japanese release in Japan on November 20th 2008 and a Playstation Store demo will be released on the 29th September 2008. No confirmation of a US or UK release but let's just keep an eye on it for now and see how it fares. You can watch the first trailer in the meantime on the official website.

Yggdra Union hits the US in September

Riviera: The Promised Land (as I learned to my surprise) was part of a series of games. Guess what? Yggdra Union is part 2 of that series, and the US will see it's release for the PSP on September 16th 2008. The game will boast a few extra features from the original GBA game including new characters, missions and a dual-language voiceover track so those who hate American voice acting can listen to the Japanese instead.

The game has not been confirmed for Europe.

Crisis Core gets a definitive release date in Europe

At last, European non-import gamers can rejoice as Square-Enix finally announced that Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 will be out here on 20th June 2008. The PSP game sees you playing as Zack from the main FF7 storyline and going through his history. The RPG sees materia return in a new form and a slot machine game used to settle the outcome of battles.

The UK version of the game will boast challenges not seen in the Japanese version and will also be available with a slipcase cover and hardback art book for those who pre-order the game online in the UK.

Source: Pocket Gamer

Echochrome demo released

A Japanese demo of the upcoming headache making puzzle game Echochrome was released today which consists of 3 full levels and 5 tutorial sessions. The demo can be picked up on the PSP Demo Center or the official Japanese Echochrome website. The game sees you manipulating the level to try and get your character to retrieve all of the shadows. The level can be rotated to block out obstacles, or use them to your advantage, for example, blocking a gap with a pillar.

Patapon demo out today!

All of a sudden, SCEE have decided that Valentines Day is the perfect day to release a demo for Patapon which can now be downloaded on the PC Playstation Store! The demo allows you to play the first 3 levels of the game and also allows you to save your progress at the end which you can bring forward to your full game, including a rare Spear of Protection, which will be unavailable in the full game without the special save file.

The demo was brought forward a week to coincide with the release of the same demo on the US version of the store.

Source: Eurogamer

Patapon confirmed for Europe - and with the special demo too

Well, after a lot of bitterness and anger over the demo fiasco, all those worries have fizzed away, along with the news of Patapon's release in Europe. Patapon will be released in Europe on the 22nd February 2008 (that's just a few days before the US gets it) and SCEE gave us an extra surprise by telling us that the demo of the game, featuring a rare weapon that can be brought to the full game, will be released on the PSP Store the day before!

So, the only gripe is that we're getting charged over the top for it, and it's not available to pre-order in many places. Don't let that stop you getting the free demo at least though!

Source: Eurogamer (demo), Eurogamer (release date)

Last Week (21st to 27th January)

Two major stories brushed the news this week with the first "hint" of the 3rd game from Team ICO finally revealed. Hopefully there will be more information next month. Also, it was announced that my most anticipated release for the year, Patapon, will be retailing for $19.99 on release. Sadly, it looks like that Europeans will be charged the full price for the game as well as missing out on an exclusive item in the UMD demo.

Update: Sony confirms that the demo of Patapon will be on the PSP Store - and will include the same demo save to full game feature!

Patapenny for Patapon

My most anticipated game of 2008 is coming soon to your PSP and SCEA have decided to give the Patapon buying nation a treat - by cutting the price of the game to $19.99 (About £10). If you're serious about buying this game, the US has suddenly become the first port of call!

Source: Kotaku

FFCC:RoF dated while Crisis Core gets vague release "season" in Europe

Things are never fun for gamers in Europe. We suffer delays, overcharges, less downloadable content, did I mention delays? Square-Enix have made 2 announcements in the past 2 days with a very vague "Spring" release date for Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7. The game is already out in Japan and helped boost PSP sales.

Also announced was an official, concrete, release date for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates on the DS on 21st March 2008.

Sources: Eurogamer (CC: FF7), Eurogamer (FFCC: RoF)

The hidden game guide 2008

It's that time of year. Stockings are filled, presents are opened, special nativity plays are run and it's freezing cold. So, what better time than now to look at the games you should be looking at next year! Here are some of the "less famous" games that you can look forward to next year!

Patapon - PSP - Early 2008

Okami - Wii - 2008

Odin Sphere - PS2 - First half 2008

Everybody's Golf 5 - PS3 - First half 2008

Zack & Wiki - Wii - January 2008

Little Big Planet - PS3 - Late 2008

The World Ends With You - DS - Spring 2008

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings - DS - February 2008

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker - DS - First half 2008

Echochrome - PS3/PSP - 2008

Also, we hope to hear more about:

ICO 3 - PS3 - 2009
Final Fantasy XIII - PS3 - 2009/2010
White Knight Story - PS3 - 2010
Steambot Chronicles 2 - PS3 - 2009
Galactrix - No known formats - 2008/2009
Nobi Nobi Boy - PS3 - 2009
Operation: Darkness - XBox360 - 2009
Valkyrie of the Battlefield - PS3 - 2009
The Last Remnant - PS3/XBox360 - 2009/2010
Infinite Undiscovery - XBox360 - 2009/2010

Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core arrives in March for the US

A quick post to announce that for the importers among you, Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core will be released in the US on 25th March 2008. The game, when coincided with the release of a special edition PSP Lite and the release of the PSP Lite itself, sold quite a lot of copies in it's first 2 weeks.

Also announced for the US were the following:

Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors - Wii - 26th February 2008
Final Fantasy Crystal Cronicles: Ring of Fates - DS - 11th March 2008
The World Ends With You - DS - Spring 2008

Source: Kotaku

Trailers: Patapon blow out

There's no denying it. I absolutely can't wait for Patapon. At all. I've been waiting too long. Have I made that clear yet? It's getting so hard waiting for this that I'm going to link to IGN! Have some short fun videos from me! If you only watch one, make it the last one. Tree dancing wins!

Kill the beast!



Game Introduction



The Dancing Tree!

Jealousy ensues as Patapon is up for US release in February [Update: Europe too]

The American people can celebrate hard as Patapon was given a release (month) date of February 2008. The game, from the makers of LocoRoco, sees the little Patapon characters fighting all sorts of things based on the sounds of drums. It's up to you to direct them on how to fight or advance.

Annoyingly, there's no confirmation of a European release yet (hence the jealousy) but you certainly shouldn't be worried. This news story did come after SCEE went home for the night. Surely it'll be announced tomorrow. Please?!

[Update: The game has been confirmed for Europe in "a similar time-frame" to the US version. It is fully confirmed for Europe, delayed or not]

Source: Joystiq, Eurogamer

Trailer: Official Patapon trailer [Updated]

The official Patapon website had a huge update recently, and includes a new video of the game. Unfortunately, it took me a few attempts to finally watch it all from the site (thank goodness for VideoLAN). From what I could see though, there was a lot to do and a lot to think about. The game is released in Japan on 20th December 2007. A February release is rumoured for Europe.

To get to the trailer, go to the website, click "Enter", then click the special menu (hover over the bottom part of the pop-up to see the menu) and click Movie. Good luck loading it!

[Update: Gametrailers video embedded below!]

Trailer: Yggdra Union Introduction

This game from the makers that brought you Riviera: The Promised Land finally came out of hiding (again) to show off a new, stunning intro of the game, along with some small video clips of gameplay. They are all scattered around the official website while the intro can be found in the section marked "Movies". The trailer can also be seen below but the movie on the website is much better. The game is released in Japan in the back-end of January 2008.

Oh, and don't buy the game just because the intro looks cool. I do tend to fall for it a lot but I don't expect this game to have anime cut-scenes throughout! The music on the other hand...