Archive for the ‘atlus’ Category
3D Dot Game Heroes: IT’S A RAP!
Posted by Aram Jabbari in 3D Dot Game Heroes, atlus, PlayStation Games, PS3 on May 11th, 2010
(and, coincidentally, it’s also a WRAP, too!)
What am I yammering on about? Why, only the fact that 3D Dot Game Heroes, the PS3-exclusive action-adventure game that takes those gosh-darn-awesome gaming classics we all grew up with (you know, _______, ________, and who could forget ______ ___ _______) and renders them with current gen pizzazz!
“I have the power, rawr.”
To celebrate the game’s release, we’re also releasing a fifth video vignette. Not only does it show off the mini-games you’ll be distracted by (dooming the poor citizens of Dotnia to never being rescued from the clutches of Dark Bishop Fuelle), but it also happens to be the most radical video we’ve put out for the game to date.
“No, it is too retro-sexy, señor”
“BUT I MUST!”
So, why should you pick up 3D Dot Game Heroes? Is it safe to assume “because it’s awesome” isn’t quite enough information? Well, how about the following list of things, bulleted for your convenience (and mine):
- An awesome marriage of old-school 8- and 16-bit sprite style art (in beautiful 3D, mind you) with the full power of the PlayStation 3 system.
- A retro-yet-modern soundtrack, filled with addictive tunes that you’ll be annoying people in public spaces with your involuntary humming for quite some time.
- A huge, lush kingdom to explore. Dotnia is filled with secrets, large dungeons, powerful bosses, quests to solve, and hilarious characters. Search every nook and cranny; you’re bound to find something amazing!
- Tons of replayability, whether by means of the mini-games, the new game + modes (yes, there is more than one post-game mode to try), or trying to collect all of the swords (many of which are not easily found).
- Have we mentioned it’s only $39.99?
“Ew, a spider, kill it! Oh wait, that’s us…”
Have we told you about the “Hall of Heroes” yet, PlayStation Blog friends? You know, the handy, dandy repository for all of your awesome custom heroes (assuming they don’t infringe on any rights you don’t own)? The place where you can go to download new designs from Crafty McCraftersons around the world? The place where if you submit a great design in the next month or so, you could be eligible to win some Amazon Video Games credit? Oh, NOW we have your attention. Well, we might as well pimp the link: http://www.3ddotgameheroes.com/hallofheroes
So, in conclusion… Stay the course… A thousand points of light… And remember to pick of 3D Dot Game Heroes for your PlayStation 3 system today. It’s only $39.99!
Persona 3 Portable Pre-order Bonus Revealed
Posted by Aram Jabbari in atlus, persona 3 portable, PlayStation Games, psp on April 28th, 2010
People of the Blog of PlayStation,
The purpose of this post is two-fold:
- We wish to remind you of and/or inform you of the existence of our upcoming RPG epic, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable for the PSP.
- We would like to bring to your attention the below pre-order bonus for Persona 3 Portable (only at participating retailers, only while supplies last)
“What is it?” you ask? Why, it’s a lovely collectible (and wearable, fortunately) cap modeled after the one worn by popular character Junpei Iori, Gekkoukan High School’s bantering, jabbering class clown.
Not familiar with him? Or the game, perhaps? That’s where this post comes in.
SMT: Persona 3 Portable is the handheld version of one of the highest-rated, meatiest RPGs of all time. “What’s so special about it?” you ask as you click around multiple tabs in your web browser. Persona 3’s unique dichotomy of social sim and dungeon crawling elements shakes the genre to its core, offering a constantly refreshing blend of character development, sharp writing, a powerful narrative, and ultra fast-paced turn-based combat in the many varying levels of Tartarus.
Let’s face this enemy! (get it?)
In an interesting twist, the bonds you share with your friends are the source of your strength in battle. As your relationships, called “Social Links,” are increased and ultimately maxed out, you will unlock new abilities and grow much stronger when engaged in combat. The game is full of options in terms of whom you can befriend and/or choose to spend your time with, meaning that maxing out all your social links becomes a very tough, very satisfying challenge. The game is full of contrasts, which is most apparent in the disparity between the action of Tartarus versus the joys of spending time with friends.
The PSP system release of P3P offers the most refined, improved version of the game to date. In addition to new content, functionality and features, like faster load times, one-button menu shortcuts, streamlined team equipment changes, and part-time jobs, P3P also adds a new playable female protagonist.
Pretty in pink.
Playing through the game as this new character, series fans will notice a number of new and different dialogue (and since the original voice cast is intact, they’ll all sound exactly as they should). Other content additions include new social links, special events, and new romantic opportunities.
Look out, ladies/gentlemen! (depending on your choice of character, of course)
Already spent dozens of hours in the world of Persona 3? Now you’ve got reason to dive back in and experience it all over again.
And now you’ve got a reason to pre-order it, too. The Junpei Baseball Cap pre-order bonus promotion is exclusive to GameStop/EB Games (in stores and online in North America and Canada), Amazon.com, and Amazon.ca, and only while supplies last, so reserve your copy (and your collectible hat) today!
For more info, visit atlus.com/p3p, and be sure to look for SMT: Persona 3 Portable to land in stores and on the PlayStation Store on July 6th, 2010, exclusively for the PSP.
3D Dot Game Heroes: Character Creation Exposed!
Posted by Aram Jabbari in 3D Dot Game Heroes, atlus, PlayStation Games, PS3 on April 20th, 2010
Readers of PlayStation.Blog,
Look at me.
Now look at this video.
Now back to me.
Sadly, you probably haven’t looked at the video yet, because you’re still reading this.
If you HAD seen the video, you’d know all about the powerful character creation tool in the upcoming love letter to retro gaming, 3D Dot Game Heroes, coming exclusively to a PS3 near you (preferably yours) on May 11th.
Now look at the video. Seriously, you should probably just stop reading and look at the video.
Now back to me. What’s this I’m holding? Why, it’s a bunch of awards from some of the most awesome game sites and magazines around, like IGN.com, GamePro, and Game Informer. Here are some links:
- IGN — 8.5/10, Editor’s Choice Award
- GamePro — 4.5/5, Editor’s Choice Award
- Game Informer — 8.5/10, Silver Award
- Wired Game|Life — 8/10
- PlayStation Universe — 8/10
- Gamer2.0 — 9/10
- Gaming Union — 9/10, Editor’s Choice Award
- Just Push Start — 4.5/5, Editor’s Choice Award
3D Dot Game Heroes. Coming May 11th, exclusively for PS3. Only $39.99!
What will YOUR hero be?
Two Tales, One RPG: Hexyz Force Coming to PSP
Posted by Clayton Chan in atlus, hexyz force, PlayStation Games, psp on April 7th, 2010
Hey there PlayStation devotees,
I’m swinging by the PlayStation.Blog to talk to you about our upcoming PSP exclusive Hexyz Force. (Also to collect on a bet I made with Kevin Butler a while back. Apparently one of his many job titles is not VP of Clutch Three-Point Shooting.)
Hexyz Force is an engrossing RPG that tells not just one, but two engrossing tales. That’s a lot of engrossing, folks. Either follow Levant von Schweitzer through a tale of political intrigue, war and racial tensions, or play as Cecilia Armaclite as she learns about embracing responsibility, love and friendship. While most people would charge double the price for a value such as this, or possibly even tack on one of the tales as downloadable content, we are pleased to bring this game to you for the recession-friendly price of only $29.99! (A huge theoretical savings!)
While the two tales are playable as their own separate, self-contained games, playing them both will flesh out the main story and the universe more than you’d get out of just playing through the game as one character. So you have all the benefits of getting a different story with different party with different skills, yet you still have the joy of digging further and wringing every last drop of fun out of a game.
One of the nice features Sting put into this game are the 20 minutes of animated cutscenes. Quality 2D animation and sprites are always going to have a place in video games, so it’s nice to see a developer show the care and attention needed to craft things like this.
Despite what certain members of the House of Representatives think, this is not something someone should be nuked over.
So, you know that Hexyz Force is going to have a nice story and some impressive visuals, but what about the gameplay? RPGs hang their hat on their gameplay, so none of this other stuff matters if Hexyz isn’t fun to play as a game, right? Well, I’m happy to say that Hexyz Force has an engaging, complex system for combat.
If you’re an RPG veteran, you’re going to be able to get right into the turn-based gameplay. If you’re trying crank up your effectiveness, you’ll start trying to work the Hexyz Charge into your strategy to pile on the damage.
How about a round of applause for John Tubera, our awesome video guy.
Attacks are generally classified as falling under one of the three Divine Aspects. If you use an attack that is the same Aspect as the previous attack, or use an attack from an Aspect that is stronger than the previous Aspect, the Hexyz Charge will build. When you finally break the Charge, your attack will be boosted depending on how large you got the Charge to grow.
In addition to that, there’s the fun of crafting and fusing your own weapons, and scanning the world to find hidden treasure points. There’s a little wrinkle in pretty much every aspect of Hexyz that you can use to boost your advantage.
Well, that’s pretty much all the time I have for today. If I’ve piqued your interested in this title, swing by the game’s official website and learn more about it, or pre-order Hexyz Force for your PSP today. It’s solid, affordable, and a great value for those long summer months.
Thanks for stopping by and reading,
Clayton S. Chan
3D Dot Game Heroes Trailer!
Posted by Aram Jabbari in 3D Dot Game Heroes, atlus, PlayStation Games, PS3, Trailers on March 25th, 2010
PlayStation.Blog readers,
EPIC TRAILER MUSIC! EPIC TRAILER TEXT! EPIC TRAILER!
EPIC TRAILER IS EPIC!
3D Dot Game Heroes, the PlayStation 3 exclusive that promises to inject retro-saccharin goodness directly into your corneas (those are part of your eyes, whippersnappers), has a full video trailer… And here it is! (Well, it’s actually right above this text. We can see how that could be confusing.)
So why should you be excited? Aside from the retro 3D visuals, ear-gratifying musical score, and extremely addicting, nostalgic action-adventure gameplay, you mean? Well… BECAUSE IT HAS TRAILER MUSIC! Did you hear it? Like, the part with the chorus singing in the background? Who cares if the game is awesome (it is, by the way) when you have trailer music with voices chanting in the background!?
Oh, and to address a couple comments that have been popping up in posts relating to 3D Dot Game Heroes:
- The huge swords evident in some screens/videos do NOT break the game. It is not a design flaw. You’re only that big when you’re at FULL health (intuitive, right?), and you’ll rarely be at full health for long stretches of time. Moreover, only near the end of the game will you have a sword THAT large, not to mention one with the ability to penetrate geometry (i.e. trees, rocks, etc). Many of the swords cannot and will not swing out all the way in those situations, making size… well… irrelevant. Ask anyone who’s played the game: it’s not about how big it is, it’s about… oh, nevermind.
- The game DOES look amazing in person; you’ll just have to trust us on this. Even videos often fail to do the game justice.
- There is no multiplayer component to the game.
- We’re not currently planning any pre-order bonus items. We view the super cool $39.99 price point as a rather nice bonus.
- The game has a number of significant improvements over the original Japanese version, including an OPTIONAL HDD install (approximately 1.2gb in size) to reduce/eliminate load times, dozens of new, North American-exclusive load screens that parody popular game box art, and more!
Thanks for watching the trailer and reading this far down. (And “nords!” to any of you who didn’t…I can make snide comments because you’re not actually reading this.)
Please don’t forget to pre-order your copy of 3D Dot Game Heroes, coming to PlayStation 3 on May 11, 2010 with an MSRP of only $39.99!
3D Dot Game Heroes Walkthrough
Posted by Chris Morell in 3D Dot Game Heroes, atlus, PlayStation Games, PS3 on March 17th, 2010
You’ve heard about natural sword enhancement. Over on the PlayStation.Blog.Europe you can see the most interesting hero in 3D.
Now we know what you REALLY want. An extended in-game walkthrough of 3D Dot Game Heroes. Well, your old pal Aram Jabbari from Atlus was kind enough to swing by our HQ, and prop himself in front of our camera with the game. Now that’s a big-ass sword!
Don’t forget, 3D Dot Game Heroes hits PS3 May 11 for $39.99. But I’m sure you’ll hear from Mr. Jabbari well before then.
3D Dot Game Heroes Aren’t Born; They’re Made…in the Editor
Posted by Aram Jabbari in 3D Dot Game Heroes, atlus, PlayStation Games, PS3 on February 16th, 2010
PlayStation.Blog chums,
Most games ask you to assume the role of a hero. Often, you don’t have any say in who they are or what they look like, and in some cases the customization options you’re given are limited. 3D Dot Game Heroes, while it takes its inspiration and purpose from 8 and 16-bit classics that came out years ago, gives the gamer nearly limitless control over the look (and movement) of their protagonist. The game may be all homage, but it’s certainly not out to limit anyone’s homagination!
*crickets chirp*
Err… Let’s dive into the all-powerful, easy-to-use editor, shall we?
One of the custom characters that comes included on the disc. I’ll call him… Monkey Kong?
Creating a custom character in 3DDGH (my fingers thank me for the abbreviation, so please note it) is more than just figuring out what it will be and look like; you have to animate it, too. Before the self-proclaimed “artistically-challenged” gamers run for the hills, snapping paintbrushes between their thumbs and index fingers, I’ll point out a couple of things. First, the North American release of the game comes with far more custom characters on the disc than the original Japanese release, allowing for even the most character editor averse gamer to experience the thrill of saving the kingdom as a ninja, shark, or heck, even jolly old Saint Nick.
Second, and more importantly, the editor is very easy to use! Copy and paste functions make things super quick, whether you’re copying and pasting one pose (Walk 1) into another animation (Walk 2, for example—above) or designing half of a character and then copying, pasting, and flipping said side to create a complete and awesome custom character.
Four more legs and this thing would creep the heck out of me…
And because the editor is in full 3D, offers a clean, intuitive interface, and doesn’t mess around with things like textures (trust us, when you see your creations lit by the game’s amazing real-time lighting engine, you won’t really care about textures), even the most nervous, inexperienced designer will soon realize they can save the Kingdom of Dotnia with anything they can imagine. A single, floating pixel? Sure. A tank? No problem. A flying jet? Easy. If you can dream it (and yes, if it fits within the size limit—above), you can create it.
Is there anything more satisfying than saving an entire kingdom as a dog?
Yeah, Master Poochi will be ready to save the kingdom… Right after he takes care of that fire hydrant back near the castle.
Or a shark (it comes up when it’s attacking)?
Just imagine that classic music in your head, because we can’t afford the rights to it.
Or some sort of futuristic mechanical… well, whatever the heck it is:
Someone get me a newspap… Oh wait, that’s us?
We think not! And the best part is: You can share your custom creations with the rest of the 3DDGH community online! Just save your character, move it to a USB storage drive, and then upload the file to our character hub site (scheduled to launch at or around the time of the game’s launch) so that others can enjoy your handiwork.
Hey, in the end, you’re hurried into a castle, handed a sword, and asked to save the kingdom. You are a hero, a savior, the chosen one. Everyone’s counting on you. So why not make sure that the “you” you’ve assumed control of for your parody-filled, homage-laden old school retro adventure is your ideal character?
Remember to check out the editor the very first time you startup your copy of 3D Dot Game Heroes, a statement that assumes that you’ve already (or will immediately hereafter) pre-ordered your copy and will be among the first to relive your childhood(s) when the game launches on May 11th. Visit the official website for more details.
3D Dot Game Heroes: Your One-Stop Shop for Natural Sword Enhancement
Posted by Aram Jabbari in 3D Dot Game Heroes, atlus, PlayStation Games, PS3 on February 4th, 2010
PlayStation Blog readers,
No one wants it to be them: the King tasks you with slaying evil and saving the kingdom and suddenly you’re unable to get the job done. You come up short. You can’t perform.
So why sit around wondering if you’ll be up to the challenge of rescuing Dotnia? It’s time to take some action and make sure that when you need to make with the hero-ness, you’re ready for whatever comes your way.
Introducing the Blacksmith, your one-stop shop for natural sword enhancement! You don’t have to be shy about it; every hero wonders at some point: Is that hero in a neighboring kingdom going into battle with better equipment than I am? Do all the land’s denizens look down on me for having a smaller blade in my scabbard?
Worry no longer, adventurers! One trip to the Blacksmith and a few well-spent coins will make you prouder, braver, and more dangerous than ever before. Get yourself a big heaping of good ole’ respect with some upgrades from the man with the metal mallet – the Blacksmith!
This is just one in a series of video vignettes we have planned, PlayStation Blog readers. Stay tuned for more, and don’t forget to pre-order your copy of 3D Dot Game Heroes, coming to PlayStation 3 on May 11, 2010 with an MSRP of only $39.99!
Consider Your Dread Burned: Persona 3 Portable Coming to North America in July
Posted by Aram Jabbari in atlus, persona 3 portable, PlayStation Games, psp on January 20th, 2010
Hello, PlayStation Blog visitors! We bring good news. By “we” we mean Atlus, the publisher with the penchant for bringing edgy, outside-the-box RPGs to North America. The good news?
Persona 3 Portable, the handheld-ization of the award-winning beloved Persona 3, is coming to PSP and the PlayStation Store (for all you PSPgo owners out there) this July.
So aside from being the portable version of one of the highest-rated RPGs of all time, why exactly should you want to play Persona 3 Portable? I’m glad you asked…
For one, P3P takes what was easily already a 100+ hour adventure, one with an innovative day/night structure that mixes satisfying dungeon crawling combat with addicting social sim elements, and expands dramatically upon it. With the new option to play the entire game through with a female protagonist, players will encounter a series of new events, social links, and romantic possibilities, all the while experiencing the acclaimed Persona 3 narrative from a fresh new perspective. Even hardcore fans who finished the original game will find something new to fall in love with in P3P.
The enhancements go beyond added content; one-button menu shortcuts, streamlined team equipment changes, incredibly short load times, and other tweaks create an ideal pace for portable gaming.
One of the most significant changes from the original game is the ability to control one’s entire party in combat. While the party A.I. in Persona 3 was certainly in the upper-echelon of party A.I. systems, fans of the original game seemed to want the option to take full control of their team in battle, and the developers have granted their wishes in P3P.
Not satisfied with the original game’s two difficulty options? P3P introduces FIVE selectable difficulties, ranging from the ultra noob-friendly “Beginner” (would you like us to just play the game for you, instead?) to the ultra hardcore “Maniac” (the force is strong with you), ensuring that what is certainly the most compact, streamlined version of Persona 3 is also the most flexible.
Look at me, going on and on about P3P and it’s so early yet…silly goose. We’ll have tons more assets and inside info for you folks, our dearest friends at the PlayStation Blizzle, in the not-too-distant future. Stay tuned, and be sure to pre-order your copy of Persona 3 Portable, landing in North America on July 6.
Metal Slug XX Hits PSP on February 23 — Win Metal Slug Goodies!
Posted by Aram Jabbari in atlus, metal slug xx, PlayStation Games, psp on January 5th, 2010
Assembled denizens of PlayStation Blog,
Do you spend your days longing for a colorful, fast-paced throwback to the good old days of arcade action games? Do you daydream about grabbing an ally and riddling wave after wave of enemy soldiers with an endless stream of lead? Does your PlayStation Portable whisper to you, asking you to sate its hunger for old school awesome?
If so, seek help, but also, check out Metal Slug XX, coming February 23 to a PSP system near you (preferably yours).
Metal Slug XX explodes with the same winning formula of over-the-top action and cartoon mayhem that’s kept Metal Slug a premier franchise for over a decade. Frantic and fun, serious Metal Slug fans and casual gamers alike can relive the glory and charm of old school cooperative arcade play, teaming with a friend via ad-hoc multiplayer to outrun and outshoot hundreds of enemies and liberate as many prisoners as possible.
And there’s more here than just running and gunning, although as the test of time has proven, the running and gunning in this series can stand alone pretty darn nicely. There’s also a Combat School, which offers Metal Slug veterans a chance to put their cred on the line in over 70 challenging mission-based trials.
Ultimate Metal Slug fans can purchase Leona, a seventh playable character with her own unique abilities, via PlayStation Store for just 99 cents!
To celebrate the game’s announcement and/or upcoming release, we’ve got a small handful of rare collectibles to give away.
First off, FOUR random commenters will get some nifty Metal Slug boxers. They’re not quite for wearing, although we’re sure as long as you’re good about keeping things under control that they’ll last you a nice long time, but they’re certainly the perfect prize for a Metal Slug fan to show off. Guffaw at your friends as they look with envy at your striped blue and white authentic Metal Slug boxers.
We’ve also got NINE Japanese promotional posters to give away. Nothing says hardcore like a poster in a language you and/or your friends may not speak!
All you need to do to be eligible, aside from being a resident of the United States or Canada, is comment under this post in response to the following: what is your favorite aspect of Metal Slug? We’ll randomly choose winners and get in touch with you!
Lock and load, friends: Metal Slug XX is set for release on February 23, 2010! We’ll be back soon with more info about this explosive upcoming retro romp!