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Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 10, 2015 in Anime, Videogames 
The first One Piece: Pirate Warriors was a fairly enjoyable game, but certain story arcs from the manga were conspicuously absent. Some of those characters and areas were included in the sequel, but that game had an original story. So now we have One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 for PS3, PS4, and Vita, which adds in a lot of those missing elements, most notably Thriller Bark and the fight against Gekko Moriah. I’m interested in playing a more complete version, and I know there are other improvements, going by this trailer. But seeing as so much of this stuff was in the first game, it’s hard to get as enthusiastic about its release. If I find more interest in it, the game is coming out in Japan in March, in the US sometime this summer, and in Europe before the end of 2015.
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Tags: Namco Bandai, One Piece, Playstation Vita, PS3, PS4
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 5, 2015 in Videogames 
It’s a little ridiculous that Persona 4 is seemingly so popular that it deserves not only rereleases and two anime series, but its own dancing game. But that’s what happening, and considering Shoji Meguro’s music in Persona is always fun to listen to, a game centered around that music seems natural. Persona 4: Dancing All Night is coming out on Vita sometime this year, and Atlus’s latest trailer is a lyric video for the opening theme. Seeing as fans usually get a lot of the English lyrics wrong when a new Persona theme is revealed due to the Japanese accent, this is not a bad idea, but I wouldn’t mind seeing a little more gameplay. Read more…
Tags: Atlus, Persona 4, Playstation Vita
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 23, 2014 in Tech, Videogames 
I’m curious how PlayStation TV will fare outside of Japan. The little device allows you to play almost 700 digital games on your TV, from PS Vita, PSP, and PS1, as well as some Vita game cards that generally don’t require touch controls. In addition, you can use PlayStation Now to rent streaming PS3 games, as well as stream your PS4 console to the device in another room. It’s a neat little device, but I’m wondering how many people will pick one up in the US and Canada for $99.99 on October 14. The standalone system doesn’t come with a DualShock 3, which is required to play, so that price point is mainly appealing to those who own a controller already (likely from their PS3). But if you don’t have a controller, you can get the system, a controller, an 8GB memory card, and The LEGO Movie Videogame for $139.99. (Buy that bundle at Wal-Mart to get Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time added for no extra cost!) In Europe, the box is releasing for £85/€100 on November 14, with OlliOlli, Velocity Ultra, and Worms Revolution Extreme included for free. Read more…
Tags: PlayStation 4, Playstation Vita, Sony
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 18, 2014 in Videogames 
Another World (or Out of This World as it was originally known in the US) is one of those unique, highly creative games that retro gamers look back on fondly. The adventure-platformer has you exploring a strange world that you accidentally teleported to, with many cinematic effects and just a generally high level of craftsmanship, thanks to French designer Eric Chahi. Another World has received various ports and upgrades over the years, but the latest 20th Anniversary Edition is the best looking yet, with a bevy of options depending on how you want it to look. This version is coming to every recent platform this year, but it’s debuting on Sony’s platforms — PS3, PS4, and PS Vita — next week on June 25. I’ll certainly be downloading a copy, and any fan of well-made, atmospheric adventure games should consider doing so as well. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita, PS3, PS4
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 10, 2014 in Videogames 
We close out E3 2014’s “Day 0” with Sony’s press conference. Last year, this was the conference that helped propel the PS4 ahead of the Xbox One in terms of consumer excitement. With Cross-Buy, the ability to buy a game on one platform and get any other version for free (like buying on PS4 and getting the PS3 and Vita versions for free), Sony gives gamers a big incentive to play on all their systems. And this press conference was filled with a ton of game footage — nothing too in-depth, which allowed them to fit in even more game coverage and reveals. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita, PS3, PS4, Sony
Posted by Bob Muir on Mar 26, 2014 in Videogames 
After several years, Sega finally released a Hatsune Miku PS3 game in North America and Europe last year, with a Vita version released just this month. Apparently Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F did well enough that they’re bringing over the sequel — also on PS3 and Vita — to both territories this fall. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd will continue the music series, which has players pressing buttons in time with music made using Vocaloid voice-synth software, specifically the most popular version featuring virtual idol Hatsune Miku. I wouldn’t say that it’s my favorite music game, but I put a decent amount of time into the original Japan-only PSP game, and it’s pretty fun. Whether you enjoy this comes down to whether or not you enjoy the 40 new songs and returning favorites, but it’s worth trying out if you get chance. Read more…
Tags: Hatsune Miku, Playstation Vita, PS3
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 11, 2014 in Tech, Videogames 
It may have few must-play games, but the PlayStation Vita is one sexy handheld. Part of that is thanks to its OLED screen, which provides a vibrancy rarely seen on handhelds. I’m a diehard Nintendo handheld fan, but even I admit that the Vita’s screen blows the 3DS out of the water. Of course, screen makers are still working the kinks out of OLED technology, and they take up lots of energy. It’s not entirely surprising that Sony would consider replacing the OLED screen with a cheaper, more energy-efficient LCD screen. That’s what they’ve done with the new PlayStation Vita slim model, which is so far only available in Japan. But sometime in Spring 2014, the new LCD model will be made available in the US. It will retail for $200, coming bundled with an 8GB memory card and a Vita port of Borderlands 2. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita, Sony
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 12, 2014 in Videogames 
It’s been a while since a skateboarding-themed game has come out, hasn’t it? Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Skate both had their success (the former more than the latter) but then quickly died out. Since then, no one else has really tackled that genre, but I suppose skateboarding isn’t really “in” right now anyway. Still — that’s no hindrance to roll7 Games, who are releasing OlliOlli on the PlayStation Vita later this month. The game takes a unique side-scrolling perspective, but still focuses on tricks and not falling flat on your face. Although that’ll probably still happen a lot. Check out the neat trailer and grab the game itself on January 21st. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 8, 2014 in Videogames 
When showing off the PS4, Sony shared its desire to be able to stream PS3 games from their servers to the PS4 since the PS4 couldn’t play PS3 games due to its different chip architecture. The console launched, but the game streaming wasn’t ready yet, as we had been told from the start. But it seems we’ll have game streaming soon, as Sony has announced PlayStation Now. The streaming service will work not just on PS4, but also on PS3. Streaming is also planned for PS Vita, as well as most 2014 US models of BRAVIA TVs, and in the future tablets and smartphones. Sony is using the Gaikai tech they purchased to help stream across multiple devices, even keeping your save progress in the cloud. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita, PS3, PS4
Posted by Bob Muir on Nov 27, 2013 in Videogames 
While everyone is getting excited about the start of a new console generation, it’s easy for smaller, niche games to get lost in the holiday madness. So allow me to draw your attention to Ys: Memories of Celceta, a JRPG for PlayStation Vita that just launched. Ys is a long-running series from Nihon Falcom that has been on tons of platforms, including many obscure Japanese computer systems. XSEED did everyone a solid and localized several PSP remakes and sequels in recent years, including the wonderful Ys: The Oath in Felghana. Memories of Celceta is a 25th anniversary celebration for the series, and it’s looking great. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita, Ys
Posted by Bob Muir on Oct 29, 2013 in Videogames 
Here’s a weird game that you probably won’t get to play. Akiba’s Trip 2 is set in Akihabara, one of the geekiest places in Tokyo. However, demons have invaded, so what do you do? That’s right, you punch and kick the clothes off of demons to expose them to sunlight. And if some of those demons are girls/are possessing girls (it’s hard to tell) and you see them in their underwear, so much the better, it seems. You can also visit over 130 real shops from the area. Akiba’s Trip 2 will be released in Japan on November 7, with no plans for an international release, which should come as no shock to anyone. Of course, it could still come to America, as stranger things have been released. Just don’t get your hopes up! Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita, PS3
Posted by Bob Muir on Oct 22, 2013 in Videogames 
Were you aware that the first PlayStation console launched in the West in 1995? Yep, besides the December 1994 Japanese release date, it’s been 18 years since Sony fully entered the console market after Nintendo’s tragic betrayal. Sony Europe made this great video that shows several people growing up with PlayStation products throughout the years. While it’s a little unusual that this guy has lived in the same room for 18 years, I guess it’s still plausible now that the economy has forced recent graduates to delay moving out of their parents’ home. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita, PS2, PS3, PS4, PSP, Sony
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 10, 2013 in Tech, Videogames 
If you didn’t get the memo, Sony really, really wants you to buy a PlayStation Vita. The ailing handheld is in desperate need of a good install base. In Japan, they just announced two new products that will hopefully help turn the tide for the system. The first is the PCH-2000, a slightly redesigned Vita that is 20% thinner, 15% lighter, and comes in six colors. The battery now lasts for 6 hours, you can charge it via micro USB, and it comes with 1GB of storage, though you’ll want to consider buying a memory card, like the new 64GB one that costs about $100. A key difference is that this redesign sports a LCD screen instead of an OLED screen, which is sure to help battery life and screen consistency, but is a shame for those of us who love the current OLED screen. This WiFi-only Vita will be out on October 10 and cost the same amount as the current model. But the bigger news is their other big Vita announcement. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita, Sony
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 27, 2013 in Videogames 
It’s been over 25 years since Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished came out in Japan, and since then, the somewhat-unknown series has grown, putting out many action-RPG sequels and spin-offs, as well as tons of ports. To celebrate, publisher XSEED is putting out a premium edition of Ys: Memories of Celceta, a loose remake of Ys IV: Mask of the Sun and Ys IV: The Dawn of Ys (neither of which came to America) that make the entry fit better into the series canon. The PlayStation Vita game will normally retail for $39.99, but this premium version is $59.99 because of all the extra stuff that comes with it. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita, XSEED
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 11, 2013 in Videogames 
Microsoft came out strong today, showcasing 13 console exclusives and even showing off multiplatform games playable on Xbox One. Sony, however, has an advantage in that it doesn’t have a horrible used game/online DRM policy, as far as we know so far. With that said, let’s get into what they announced during tonight’s last conference. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita, PS3, PS4, Sony
Posted by Bob Muir on May 30, 2013 in Videogames 
Do you remember wirelessly connecting your PSP to your PS3 to play PS3 games on your PSP? You probably don’t, because it was used for a scant few games, most of which were PSN games. Maybe that’s because the PSP not only didn’t have L2 and R2 buttons, but more importantly didn’t have a right analog stick. So when Sony started talking up the same feature for the PlayStation Vita and the PS4, seemingly just to compete with the Wii U Gamepad, it made sense to be skeptical. But thankfully, Sony has some good news. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita, PS4, Sony
Posted by Bob Muir on Mar 27, 2013 in Videogames 
Guacamelee! is a Mexican-themed Metroidvania/brawler, which is a weird, yet delightful mix of ideas. The game has been in development for a while on PS3 and PlayStation Vita, but now it is finally coming out next month. Even better, buying the game once gets you a copy on both platforms thanks to Sony’s Cross-Buy system! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games, Playstation Vita, PS3
Posted by Bob Muir on Mar 20, 2013 in Videogames 
You can’t fault gamers for expecting Final Fantasy X HD to be out by now. First announced at TGS 2011, the HD update to the PS2’s first Final Fantasy game seemed like something that wouldn’t take too long to push out. We didn’t know if it would be an extensive retexturing with numerous fine-tuning like with the Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection or a cheap-and-dirty rerelease a la Capcom’s HD reissues, but either way, it should have been out in 2012. However, all we’ve seen so far is a few HD models, with the promise of a 2013 release. Read more…
Tags: Final Fantasy, Playstation Vita, PS3, square enix
Posted by Bob Muir on Feb 20, 2013 in Videogames 
Hotline Miami, an 80s-styled indie game about ultraviolence, pleasantly surprised critics last year, garnering it a place on many year-end lists. For those who don’t really game on their PCs, there was nothing to do but listen in on the praise the game was receiving. But soon, non-PC gamers can get in on the action. Read more…
Tags: Hotline Miami, Playstation Vita, PS3
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 30, 2013 in Videogames 
As I was just saying in my last post, the PlayStation Vita needs more games, so I’m very happy to learn that Aksys will be releasing Muramasa Rebirth in the US. This gorgeous 2D game by Vanillaware is a port of Muramasa: The Demon Blade, which was previously released on Wii in 2009 by Ignition Entertainment. Apparently, the localization was rather bland, and Aksys intends to write a new localization for this version.
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Tags: Playstation Vita
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 30, 2013 in Videogames 
As great a system as the PlayStation Vita is, it’s hard to love it when it has such a small library of worthwhile games. Sony just isn’t pushing the system as hard as they should, getting developers on board with more promising games like Soul Sacrifice. As one of the few bright spots in the Vita’s slim upcoming release calendar, the Keiji Inafune-designed game is finally ready to be released in North America. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita
Posted by Ben Huber on Dec 2, 2012 in Animation, Videogames 
What do Kratos and Nathan Drake do between battles? Jak and Daxter and Ratchet and Clank? Maybe they just eat bagels. Or at least that’s what the guys at Robot Chicken think. They did a cool little commercial for Sony to promote Playstation All-Stars: Battle Royale and I just enjoy the style of their stop-animation. It’s a pretty fun look at the characters, but all this does is make me want a game in this art style. Watch the video below. Read more…
Tags: PlayStation 3, Playstation Vita, Robot Chicken
Posted by Ben Huber on Oct 20, 2012 in Videogames 
I’ve been paying closer attention to Assassin’s Creed III than the previous games in the series, if only because I’m interested in the new twists on the formula the game is receiving. The spin-off game for the Playstation Vita, Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation, looks to be even more unique. The main character is an African-French assassin named Aveline de Grandpré and she’ll be fighting her way through 18th Century New Orleans. To be honest, the main thing I thought when the announcement first came out was: why isn’t this Assassin’s Creed III, not a spin-off? Granted, the Vita looks to be supporting the game perfectly fine and i’m sure it’ll be great, but making it a mainline AC game would’ve been incredibly cool. Watch the trailer below for more details on the story and gameplay. Read more…
Tags: Assassin's Creed, Playstation Vita
Posted by Bob Muir on Oct 10, 2012 in Videogames 
Though it still doesn’t have the broad name recognition of Final Fantasy here in the US, Atlus’s Persona series has risen to prominence among gamers who have been searching for new, meaty games this generation, which has seen a dearth of quality JRPGs. While Persona 3 laid reinvented the series and proved popular, it was Persona 4 that exploded in popularity, leading to an anime and tons of spin-off material. Soon, Persona 4 will get a port for PlayStation Vita with lots of new content. Read more…
Tags: Atlus, Persona 4, Playstation Vita
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