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Metareview - Bounty Hounds

Metareview - Bounty HoundsI was extremely excited to play Bounty Hounds, but when the demo was released and I finally got my hands on it, I must say I was a bit disappointed. You see, the camera was every bit as bad as previously reported. Unfortunately, most of the reviewers agreed with me, as the game didn't exactly get the kind of reviews many of us thought it would before playing it. However, I'm sure that didn't dissuade many of my fellow fanboys from picking it up, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.

  • IGN (70/100) - "Bounty Hounds is a classic example of shoddy execution derailing a slew of great ideas. With a better camera and improved controls, it could have been a real contender."
  • Got Next (60/100) - "It seems that no matter which way you look at it, Bounty Hounds is the kind of game that did everything right to turn out great except the first thing it was meant to do – create an addictive online interaction with players."
  • Games Radar (30/100) - "Nearly every element of Bounty Hounds falls flat. Graphics? Utterly mediocre and heavily fogged (the comic-like cinematics are drawn nicely, though.) Level design? Non-existent: expect a sleep-inducing never-ending sequence of open fog fields and blocky square corridors."
As you can see, the game just didn't seem to deliver, and that's a real shame because it seemed like it was coming together to make a really great game. Hopefully, Namco can go back to the drawing board and fix these problems when and if they release a sequel.

Bounty Hounds downloadable demo


Done with your Ape Escape demo? No worries! Have fun with Bounty Hounds, the arcade shooter from Namco Bandai. This demo requires firmware 2.80 and above. Once you're done playing, give us your opinion. Is it different from what the critics think? The game is now available in stores.

1. Download the demo ZIP file.
2. Extract the contents of the ZIP file.
3. Connect your PSP to your computer using a USB cable.
4. Go to the PSP/GAME folder.
5. Copy ULJS00021 folder into the GAME directory.

Check out our new demos site:
demos.pspfanboy.com

NPD releases top 20 U.S. games for August

NPD releases U.S. top 20 selling games for AugustWhile the DS has been killing just about everything in Japan, it doesn't appear to be as dominant according to NPD's August sales chart. And with news that the PSP's Tales of Phantasia Full Voice Edition taking the top spot in Japan, could the tide of war be changing?

1. Madden NFL 07 (PS2)
2.
Madden NFL 07 (360)
3. Dead Rising (360)
4.
Madden NFL 07 (Xbox)
5. Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus (PS2)
6. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
7. NCAA Football 07 (PS2)
8. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PS2)
9. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day (DS)
10. Ninety-Nine Nights (360)
11.
NCAA Football 07 (360)
12. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja (PS2)
13. Big Brain Academy (DS)
14. Guitar Hero bundle (PS2)
15.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)
16. Star Wars: Battlefront II (PS2)
17. Madden NFL 07 (PSP)
18. God of War (PS2)
19. Mario Kart (DS)
20. NCAA Football 07 (Xbox)

(* NPD does not release sales numbers)

Okay, so the PSP only has Madden in the top 20. The PSP is going to enjoy an extremely strong surge in the quality of its library in the coming months with the pending releases of Bounty Hounds, Killzone: Liberation,
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Lumines II and Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, just to name a few. Stand strong, my fellow fanboys because the future is bright.

(Via PSP Advanced)

Sony unveils its PSP Tokyo Game Show lineup

Sony unveils its PSP TGS 2006 lineupWith E3 seemingly now a shadow of its former self, the gaming industry's focus may shift to the Tokyo Game Show, which just so happens to be only a mere seven days away. TGS 2006 goes from Sept. 22 through 24 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. And to whet your appetite, Sony has released a preliminary list of the PSP lineup that should be in playable form at the event.
  • Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception (Namco Bandai Games)
  • Bounty Hounds (Namco Bandai Games)
  • Boxers Road 2: The Real (Ertain)
  • Gundam Battle Royale (Namco Bandai Games)
  • Homestar Portable* (Sega)
  • Jan-Sangokumusou (Koei)
  • Jeanne D'Arc (Sony Computer Entertainment)
  • Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel (Konami)
  • Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops* (Konami)
  • Minna no Golf-jou* (Sony Computer Entertainment)
  • Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (Capcom)
  • Navigation Software* (working title) (Edia)
  • Ratchet and Clank Portable (working title) (Sony Computer Entertainment)
  • Sarugettchu Piposaru Racer (Sony Computer Entertainment)
  • Tales of the World Radiant Mythology (Namco Bandai Games)
  • Tenchi no Mon 2: Busouden (Sony Computer Entertainment)
(* – supports GPS)

In addition the already mentioned games, Sony will show new video of 35 more titles. I believe the big story here is how effectively the GPS games use the add-on. If Sony can get software that show the peripheral is more than a gimmick, the PSP may be able to gain some ground on the DS.

(Via Gamespot)

New Bounty Hounds screens revealed, ships Sept. 12

New Bounty Hounds screens revealed
IGN has just posted nearly 40 new screens of Namco's upcoming Bounty Hounds. The screens show some nice levels and more mouth-watering battles that we've come to expect from this game.

From these screens, Bounty Hounds is shaping up to the best-looking PSP game to date, with maybe the exception of Killzone. And with the recent news of infrastructure multi-player support, this game just keeps getting better and better.

What makes this all even better is the game comes out in a few days come Sept. 12, and you can bet I'll be there picking up my copy first thing in the morning.

(Via IGN)

Everything you want to know about Bounty Hounds answered

Everything you want to know about Bounty Hounds answered
IGN's Juan Castro recently sat down with a member of Namco or XPEC (I don't really know for sure since Juan never bothered to mention it in his article) to blow the lid off everything we ever wanted to know about Bounty Hounds.

"IGN: Now for something a little a different. What's one thing about Bounty Hounds you're certain that gamers don't know yet?

If you look at the game closely, you will find certain references to classic Namco games throughout the game. I know there are speculations that a couple of weapons from a famous Namco title are usable in the game; see if you can find some others."

And in the next response, the interviewee said members of the Soul Calibur team are developing the game. So, using my super-awesome detective skills acquired from reading lots of Encylopedia Brown, I can only assume we'll be wielding the Soul Edge, Astaroth's giant axe or possibly Kilik's bo staff and other badass weapons found in Soul Calibur. Pretty friggin' awesome.

In the game, players will be able to wield more than 500 distinct weapons and do battle against 40 unique alien races. Also, XPEC has developed a graphics engine specifically designed to maximize for viewing on the PSP, and players will be able to go back and view all in-game cutscenes when they travel back to the ship, the Quicksilver.

After reading the interview, I'm just all the more excited about getting my paws on Bounty Hounds. There are so many great games on the horizon; just hold out a little more, my fellow fanboys!

[Via IGN]

Bounty Hounds lets you blow up aliens

From the developers of Hello Kitty: Rescue Mission (hey, developers gotta pay the bills somehow, right?) comes the PSP-exclusive shooter Bounty Hounds. It's been a long time since we last heard about this game, but Namco Bandai has blown the covers off this game big time. The main gameplay involves you dual-wielding Halo 2-style, and you'll obviously have to choose the right weapons for the right occassion. In a feat of technical marvel, the developers have managed to squeeze a feature that we thought only the PlayStation 3 could do: real-time weapons swapping. With 500 weapons and items you can equip, and a unique energy field mode, this game is looking up to not be just a good shooter, but an original one as well. Span the mighty Internets to get your hands on multiple videos and perspectives:

Gamespot:
Preview
Interview

IGN:
Progress Report
Screens
Movies

GameVideos:
Combat Gameplay
Choices Gameplay
Attacks Gameplay
Melee Gameplay
Ranged Gameplay

G.A.M.E.: PSP presence merely okay


GameSpot held their much publicized event, called the Games and Music Experience, over the weekend in San Francisco. Billed as a mini-E3 by some, the three-day show featured not just the usual game kiosks and random smattering of tight-shirted promo girls (and one cosplayer sighting on Saturday night), but also DJs, bands, hip-hop acts, and an appearance by the site's editors, who entertained attendees with B-list celebrity interviews and Guitar Hero matches.

As expected, Sony's PSP was present at the event's Games On The Go section to show off a range of titles, although the games on display were less spectacular than anticipated. But while most have already been widely available in the market for some time now, a few titles set for release in 2006 did make an appearance, namely SOE's Field Commander, Untold Legends: The Warrior's Code, and Namco's Bounty Hounds.

Just across the way was a rather large booth from Nokia for their N-Gage, which was surprising considering they had already admitted they would stop creating new versions of the gaming phone and redirect their attention from mobile gaming to music and television. Can't say we blame them for trying to eke out one last hurrah, though.

[UPDATE:] Joystiq has a report from a disgruntled gamer about the event here.

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