Ghost Blade

Watch "The Ghost Blade Teaser — NEW Shooting Game (Sega Dreamcast) (Alpha) 720p" on YouTube

Sturmwind and Caladrius

A huge week in the world of shmups with the release of Sturmwind on the DC and Caldrius on the 360, both copies of the game have been sent out and will hopefully be with me next week. Videos will be forthcoming....

Sturmwind - Official Release Date!

Finally, 2 years and 2 months later we have a release date!!

The countdown officially begins!

"We are under attack:

Sturmwind pilots, fall in for saving the world in April 2013!

Antritt zur Weltenrettung!

The fierce enemy‘s troops have already reached our world‘s doorsteps and we are running out of time! Our reconnaissance drones have detected 16 promising locations for our search of „Mother“, the planet of our living ancestors.

After several development steps by Duranik and redspotgames the launch date for your mission is clear.
Sturmwind pilots, your all-dominant mission will begin on April 24th 2013. All documents will be sent to you until this very date.

Fight over 20 boss enemies in 16 levels. In addition to the so-called “Award Trophy System”, there will also be an internet highscore list in which your performance can compete against each other worldwide.

Your wings of steel are now our last resort.
Stay ready for further instructions. Over and out.

Shooting Love 10th anniversary - XIIZEAL & ΔZEAL

Confirmation today of yet another upcoming 360 shmup: 

http://www.shopncsx.com/images/products/detail/xiiizeal.jpg

Two editions: Regular Edition and Ltd. Edition - It seems the first print of both versions might have a LTD edition soundtrack but it's all a bit sketchy at the moment.

Preorders open on AMI AMI and NCSX

http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/detail?scode=TVG-X36-1290

http://www.shopncsx.com/shootinglove10thanniversaryxiizealanddeltazeal.aspx

It looks like the legendary shooter G-Stream will be included in the pack which was created by team members that went on to work for Triangle Service. There are also hints that the game will include some bonus shooters like The Shooting Love 200x compilation did - TBC!

Ghost Blade Level 4 Alpha Screenshot

Bloody hell another new screen shot of level 4, this game looks gorgeous!


"We are working on Ghost Blade stage 4 since we don’t have a strict order to develop a stage we went with this one. The screenshot shows an water base and some mechanic crab enemies and turrets installed. Some tanks show up as well. Oh, and a new blasting shot! It’s still all Alpha material though."

Wants List for the Start of 2013

A big long list of games and consoles I'm actively looking for at the moment:

Mega CD
Darius Burst - PSP
Love Hina - Japanese GBA
Hajime No Ippo - Japanese GBA
Tryrush Deppy - Japanese Saturn
Ketsui - Japanese DS
Ghost Pilots - Neo Geo AES
V-V/GrindStorner - Megadrive
Power Drift - Saturn
Instant Brain - Japanese 360
Harmful Park - Japanese PS1
Rule of Rose - PS1
Sega Rally - Japanese GBA
Run Sabre - SNES
Demon's Blazon - SNES
Unirally - SNES
Steam Hearts - Japanese Saturn
Sega Ages 2500 - Japanese PS1, titles I've still not picked up out of this collection.
Capcom Classics Reloaded - PSP
Star Soldier - PSP
SC Gundam X - SNES
The Itsudemo Puzzle - Japanese GBA
Space Invaders - Japanese SNES
Star Communicator - Japanese GBA
Rayxanaber III - PC Engine
Metal Slug 7 - DS
Okami Zekkeiban - PS3
Pocket Station

Favourite Puzzle Games

 

 Another list for 2013, this time my favourite puzzle games. I've been really surprised to see how many of these titles are handheld, I guess the pick up and put down nature of the genre lends itself to portable gaming.

Anyway in no particular order:

Puzzle Quest (XBL) - I love the XBL version of this, the combination of a solid puzzle game with some RPG elements and a fantasy setting works really well. One of the rare puzzle games with an interesting storyline and a character levelling system, much more than just a puzzle game.

Meteos (DS) - Strange Shooter/Puzzle hybrid that's really addictive once you get the hang of it. Works exremely well with the touchscreen. There's a Disney version of the title that's a completely different game and actually tougher because they tweaked the gameplay to stop people mashing the screen to get random lines. 

Bust a Move 2 (PS1) - Everyone knows the series, played through the night pi$$ed on numerous occasions (onemoregoitis) against my mate on the mighty PS1 port. One of the few puzzle games that relies on pure skill when placing bubbles as well as forward planning. There's a great 1 player campaign with a ton of levels but the game comes into it's own in two player.

Puzzle Fighter (PS1) - Classic combination of Street fighter and a Puzzle Game - tbh the puzzle aspect of the game is strong enough to stand on it own two feet without the addition of the franchise. I really like the fact the individual character have strengths and weaknesses. PS1 or Saturn version for me, the xbl version is cool but the control system feels a bit off to me. 

Cleopatra Fortune (PS2) - Firstly I recommend the PS2 version of the game purely because it's on Taito Arcade hits 2 which is really cheap, the Japanese Saturn version is very pricey. Egyption themed puzzle game which is probably the closest game to Tetris out of all the games I've picked. Not only is the game fiendisly difficult later on it's also very accessible initially - there's a nice difficulty curve. One of the most charning puzzle games I've ever played, looks gorgeous too.

Lumines (PSP/Vita) - Short bursts of intense play, damn good fun and a killer soundtrack.