Like a prairie dog, it seems like Xyanide Resurrection will vanish for awhile only to pop its head up to make sure everyone knows it's still around. After releasing a demo in June, we haven't heard much about Playlogic's new shooter, but the developer has recently announced a distribution deal with Atari Nordic, as well as saying the game should be released in mid-to-late October.
Under the terms of the agreement, Atari Nordic will distribute Xyanide Resurrection, as well as several other games Playlogic has in development, in the Netherlands. "I am very pleased with this agreement. It is important for Playlogic to keep increasing its presence in the Nordic markets and we look forward to a fruitful partnership with Atari Nordic," said Pierre Thiercelin, international sales director of Playlogic.
We didn't realize the Netherlands was such a vital territory like Thiercelin suggests, but it's great to know the game is still heading our way.
Like Galaxy's End and The Black Corsair, No Gravity is a PSP game that's looking for a publisher. Unlike the other two efforts, however, the developers of No Gravity are asking PSP homebrew users to download and try their game. This 3D space shooter comes from a team called Realtech VR. The final version of the game has a planned 55 missions, "with diverse objectives ranging from destroying enemy ships or base, escorting allied ships, clearing the mine field, etc."
To download the homebrew-only demo, and learn more about the game, visit their website.
You may remember that Konami released three shooter compilations in Japan a few weeks ago. These games may never see the light of day outside of Japan, meaning hardcore gamers will have no choice but to import these titles. Of course, one only has so much money to spend. Thankfully, Modojo has reviewed and ranked all three games.
There are three collections: Salamander, Twinbee and Parodius. The relative ease of Twinbee makes it the one that you can avoid out of the three. Also, while Salamander might be the most accessible title, only one of these games has something called "Sexy Parodius."
"Is it worth a purchase? Absolutely. Twinbee and Parodius work on the same wacky level, but Parodius seems to have the pure challenge nailed down that most shooter fans will be frothing at the mouth over. Plus, it's so damn weird that it'll be hard to keep the smile off your face. Just wait until you face the perils of Sexy Parodius. Sexy indeed!"
Konami's upcoming trio of shooter collections is coming with a surprisingly cool bonus: skins for your PSP. The Salamander one (pictured above) is clearly the coolest, but Twinbee and Parodius ain't too shabby either. The games will arrive in Japan on January 25th, and shooter fans may want to import these classics. The remaining skins can be seen, after the cut.
The shooter genre is easily one of my favorites: classics like Ikaruga and Gunstar Heroes, demonstrate how much fun it is to blow up lots of stuff with rapid-fire lasers. The aforementioned games have brilliant simple controls, utilizing just two buttons, but they feature great gameplay mechanics that challenge the gamer considerably. Platypus, however, features none of these attributes.
You know you have to be a little suspicious when the promotional quotes on the packaging don't actually praise the game. Unlike Ikaruga's notorious "frothing" quote, Platypus' box notes that its "graphics are made entirely of clay." Huh? Yes, that's true. But does that say it's good? (No, it doesn't!)
Chris has been posting a lot on Xyanide Resurrection, and like many of you, I was skeptical about this game. Playlogic kept touting its revolutionary video technology, yet all we had to look at was still screens. Now that I had a chance to see the game in motion, I'm kindly requesting that all of you take another look at the game. I love retro shooters, and although this game does share similarities with Iridion and Nanostray, its really much, much prettier. Check out the video, after the cut, or download this hefty Motion JPEG video to your PSP's VIDEO folder:
Gamespot has just released a bunch new screens of Playlogic's upcoming shooter Xyanide Resurrection. And if shooting at giant, half-naked, outer-space prepubescent boys is your idea of having a good time, the game appears to be right up your alley.
Fortunately for us, that's not all it has going for it. The game's developer, Playlogic, is using a new video-streaming technology that combines high-quality interactive video backgrounds withreal-time game sceneries for the first time ever in a handheld game, the company's press release stated.
In the game, you play as Drake, an executioner who must escort the witch Aguira to the Maelstrom all while navigating through tunnels and fighting off enemies.
Former blogger Rafael once said excited about Konami's classic compilation Gradius Collection: "We likey!" Well, it looks like Konami's planning to make Rafael likey for a long, long time, with new compilations of their other classic shooter series. The Salamander Collection and Parodius Collection will contain four titles each (with one bonus *secret* title for each compilation... ooh!). I'm personally psyched for Twinbee Collection, because it's by far the most recognizable of these hardcore shooters (it also has one more game than the other collections, for the budget-conscious).
All three collections are planned to hit Japan in January for 4179 yen (less than $40), so importers should keep an eye out. Until then, educate yourself on these classic series by visiting Wikipedia.
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:
Syphon Filter hasn’t made a striking appearance on a console since, well, the first Syphon Filter came out on the PSOne back in 1999. Fans of the third-person shooter can breathe a sigh of relief then knowing that the newest addition to the franchise, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror for the PSP, has made an equally large splash.
Excellent graphics, effective use of the PSP controls, and great online multiplayer mark Dark Mirror “the game to beat on the PSP” by IGN, and while 1UP has issues with the originality of the story (“The story…isn’t something to pay close attention to”), both they and GameSpot agree that the ability of the game to play well even without the help of a second analog stick is a blessing.
Gee; two great games and news of several landmark peripherals in the span of a week. Suddenly that feeling I had as a neglected PSP owner is feeling somewhat less soul-deadening.
IGN (9.3 / 10) – “Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror packs an uncommon amount of detail, variety and overall quality. It blends intense action sequences with stealth in a way no portable game has before, and it does so with style to spare.”
1UP (8.0 / 10) – “Better than any PSP shooter yet, Dark Mirror functions without a second analog stick. The extraordinary grace of the remaining controls is enough to almost forget how nice dual-stick control would be.”
GameSpot (8.8 / 10) – “With everything Dark Mirror has to offer, including its great controls, varied campaign, and high-caliber presentation, Syphon Filter is easy to recommend to anyone who likes action games.”
Spreads its options! Get it? Get it? Ehh, you're all no fun.
Anyway, it appears that Konami had more up their sleeves during their press event yesterday. They also announced the launch of Gradius Collection this Spring, news that practically made me jump up out of my seat, clap my hands and squeal like a girl. A big, overweight girl with facial stubble.
Chances are if you're still going through puberty you haven't had the chance to play some of the older games in the Gradius series. Fret not; the collection will come with all the games intact. Gradius I to IV are accounted for, as is the formerly Japan-only Gradius Gaiden. The game will also play in a variety of modes, one of which will take full advantage of the PSP's wider screen.
Looks like 2006 just might prove to be the PSP's banner year. About time, we say.
You may remember that Konami released three shooter compilations in Japan 
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