Gamertell

According to a report at 1up.com, highly anticipated fighter Soul Calibur IV has just received a street date: July 29, 2008. Also announced were the contents of the $79.99 limited edition pack, which include an art book, a t-shirt, and some “exclusive downloadable content”. Exactly what that content will entail is still up in the air (new characters? arenas?).

Xbox 360 and PS3 owners will be able to brawl with the extended roster of fighters (including Yoda and Darth Vader from Star Wars) this summer. I haven’t personally gotten into a Soul Calibur game since the series’ second installment (which famously featured a different special character in each edition), but I’m more than a little curious to see what the addition of fighters from a galaxy far away will do for the title.

Read [1up]

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On January 10, 2008, Tomy and D3Publisher of America announced another Naruto DS game. Naruto: Ninja Destiny will be released in February 2008. However, Gamefaqs and GameStop state it will be released on March 18, 2008, so prepare to be patient. Admittedly it will be forging into new territory on the system, despite the fact that two Naruto games are already there. Naruto: Ninja Destiny will be the first 3D fighter in the series on the handheld. The game has been rated Teen and will cost $29.99 when it is finally released.

Naruto: Ninja Destiny is a North American release of Naruto: Shinobi Retsuden. The name wasn’t the only change to the game, as Jiraya, Tsunade and Orochimaru are now playable fighters and the game’s engine has been improved to allow for smoother play and faster frame rates. It has also been confirmed that Naruto: Ninja Destiny will have 16 characters, cover the story up until episode 140 in the anime and have local wireless multiplayer.

Of course if you’re a gamer who enjoys fighting as a female character, you’ll be unlucky in Naruto: Ninja Destiny. Sakura, Tsunade and Temari are the only ones available. Since Temari has to be unlocked, I’m sure Tsunade will as well. You could always play as Itachi - he’s pretty like a girl.

Read [Siliconera] Site [Naruto Nintendo Games]

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1up has just posted a selection of new screens from upcoming fighter Soul Calibur IV - starring characters from Star Wars. The screens show Yoda and Darth Vader mixing it up with other Soul Calibur combatants. Both wield lightsabers (of course, Yoda’s is green while Vader’s is red), and both are looking pretty fierce. No other details or characters from the galaxy far away have been revealed, but the text hints at other surprises as the game nears completion.

So what do you think? Is this the most outlandish character inclusion since Link in the GC version of Soul Calibur 2, or are you already preparing to bust out choice movie quotes (“All too easy”) while you own as Darth Vader? One thing’s for sure - this will have to be a better Star Wars hand to hand fighting experience than that terrible Star Wars: Masters of Teras Kasi game on the PS1.

Read [1up]

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Gamecock Media hopes to show with Hail to the Chimp that the political world can literally be a jungle. This upcoming Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 title looks at the wilder side of politics by pitting various animal contestants against each other in an effort to be king of the jungle. The $39.99 game will be released simultaneously on both the PS3 and Xbox 360 in the second quarter of 2008.

Hail to the Chimp features anthropomorphic animals battling against one another in a fighting/party game. Players pick a candidate and set out to be the last one standing in either the single player career mode or in the multiplayer battles. An interesting aspect of gameplay allows players to temporarily team up in order to eliminate weaker candidates, and then later turn against one another. In short, its like real politics, only a lot fluffier. Unlike real politics, Hail to the Chimp seems like it could be humorous and entertaining.

If anything, the Hail to the Chimp website is worth a look. You can visit the candidate profile page to view the eleven different political contenders, see screen shots taken while on “the campaign trail,“ or watch a video of gameplay footage. The gameplay footage video is definitely the best attraction, as it has been set up to mimic a CNN or Fox News broadcast.

Read [The Huffington Post] Site [Hail to the Chimp]

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Yesterday, Capcom followed up on their October surprise with the first screenshot and details of Street Fighter IV.

As you have probably gawked at from the above picture, SFIV will mark the main series’ first entry into three dimensions.  However, Capcom has stated that the gameplay will remain 2D-styled with controls being done through the familiar six-button (weak-medium-fierce punch/kick) layout.  Also, in addition to Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and Dhalsim will all be returning.

But that seems to be as much as Capcom is willing to let on about for the time being.  The platform(s) of choice are still a mystery, as well as any other new features or characters. 

Still, the Ryu model looks excellent and the background makes me hopeful that Capcom has finally found out how to break down the last hindrance of 3D fighting games.  Rather than some bitmap or loose geographical layout surrounding a basic square, you see people either doing things or watching the ensuing fight.  It feels more active and just makes the experience more memorable.  I couldn’t have been the only one who liked being able to spot all of the Capcom cameos in Ken’s stage in Street Fighter Alpha 2.

So now the only gray area is how exactly the game will play.  The Street Fighter EX games were also technically 2D gameplay done in three dimensions, but it amounted to little more than Tekken with fireballs.  However, The King of Fighters 2006 has single-handed proven that a fast, 2D-styled fighter can be elegantly done in 3D.  Which path will Capcom follow for SFIV though?

Read [1UP]  Also Read [Destructoid]

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Sony has unleashed the Tekken 5 update today (August 30, 2007) along with Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (which came out on the Xbox 360 only yesterday) through the PS3’s Playstation Store.

The add-on pack for Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection is now available for $9.99, and features survival mode, a practice mode, and the real kicker – online mode. Tekken fans can finally kick the crap out of one another from across the country, rejoice! Of course, this is only the update, the full game (plus add-on) can also be purchased for $29.99.

Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is the enhanced version of the popular puzzle title, and if you weren’t interested in the Xbox 360 version, it can be downloaded off the PSN for $9.99 (the same price as it’s 360 twin).

Also on hand are assorted demos, videos and game/film trailers. Here’s the complete list…

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Tekken 5 players will finally be able to take their game online later this year with a $9.99 update allowing full online play on the PS3 network. According to the press release, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection Online will include Opti Match, Quick Match, Custom Match and Friend Match. Also on the list of updates is a lobby mode for viewing other players’ matches, voice chat, and two new ...

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