The Penny Arcade game is, surprisingly, pretty great. What we’ve played so far could certainly have been easier, but the game’s mid-90s-Lucasarts-adventure-game charm certainly carried it through any niggles we had over the combat’s difficulty. With the first episode behind us, though, it’s time to turn to episode two. It’ll be on show at this year’s PAX, but as a sneak peek, Penny Arcade have posted up one of the characters/adversaries from the game: the Hat Spider. Official description: “The vicious Hat Spider is a deadly new foe. As ferocious as he is fashionable. Just because you’re an eight-legged nightmare doesn’t mean you can’t accessorise”.
Episode 2 [Penny Arcade]
Sorry for being curt there, but really, that’s about all there is to these latest Soul Calibur IV shots. Tits. Oh, and that subtle crotch shot. Good to see Namco Bandai are remembering it’s not all about Star Wars, and that there’s a church full of the converted who still enjoy being preached to every now and again.
An online survey that may have spilled the beans on the artist line-up for Rock Band 2 may have also given us a peek at what’s coming to Guitar Hero World Tour. According to details from an online survey forwarded to us by a second reader, Guitar Hero World Tour will feature playable digital versions of Sting, Ozzy Osbourne, Ted Nugent, Billy Corgan, Jimi Hendrix, Travis Barker, Hayley Williams, and Zak Wylde. We had previously caught wind of Corgan’s appearance in the next Guitar Hero after photos of the Smashing Pumpkins frontman in a motion capture suit were passed on.
The survey also lists a number of artists that have yet to be confirmed, but were revealed in a leak from market research firm Intellisponse. Those artists, still unconfirmed, include Korn, The Doors, Interpol and System of a Down. One additional artist, Tool, is now also rumoured to join the stable of Guitar Hero World Tour music acts.
The full survey description is after the break.
Japanese readers, circle it on your calendars in your reddest pen. Anyone outside Japan with a few grand to blow, you’ve got a date to book your flights to Narita International. Because Capcom has announced that Street Fighter IV will be rolling out to Japanese arcades on July 18. That’s less than a month! If you’re not Japanese, hey, chin up, kid. Don’t let it get you down. Because for Americans, it’ll also be available to play at Comic-Con on July 24-27 (Europeans, you’re already taken care of)
「稼働日発表！」 プロジェクトマネージャー：塩沢夏希 [SFIV Blog]
Oft-requested Aussie rockers AC/DC may be one of the artists coming to Rock Band 2, according to details from an online survey forwarded to us by a reader. The survey boasted of “120 of the biggest rock anthems from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s” including “songs from gods of rock like AC/DC and many, many others”.
Other details provided by the survey promised improved “instruments, character creation, and online play” noting that drums would see some sort of undisclosed improvement.
Descriptions of the sequel to the original Rock Band also note that players will have the option to “develop and personalise artwork and apparel in the game, which you can then order as actual merchandise to be mailed to you”. Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos talked up some of those features something we’ve seen little of in reality.
Welcome back, Smash Bros. Dojo! We were wondering if you were going to do anything to commemorate the European launch of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. We absolutely love it when you do these “Snapshots Galore” posts, because we need more images of Donkey Kong in a spotted diaper floating around our brains.
Sadly, we think the “return” of the Smash Bros. Dojo will be very short lived and that it will be some time before we see another update to the site. Our European friends who have expertly avoided spoilers up until this point will want to steer clear of this latest update, as unlockable characters abound.
Snapshots Galore #3 [Smash Bros. Dojo - thanks, Kiriphii!]
Why do the civil engineers in the Sonic universe feel the need to construct boost pads, spring loaded bumpers and twisting rails that connect to nothing? They’re everywhere! And who’s putting those gold rings all over the place? I realise we’re discussing a game in which a giant blue hedgehog who wears shoes battles robots at high speeds and occasionally gets freaky with human beings, but c’mon. Sure, Sonic Unleashed looks good — better than any Sonic the Hedgehog effort we’ve seen in a long time — but when Sega’s mascot gets all real world on us, we have to question this stuff.
This much crisper look at the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version is also available in impressive high definition.
Sonic Unleashed Trailer [GameTrailers]
We’ve been inundated with tips today pointing us to an image that, in some people’s eyes, proves that Blizzard is on the cusp of announcing Diablo III. They may very well be, but that image is sadly no proof at all. Work that was attributed by some to “hackers” who weaseled their way into the well-secured depths of Blizzard’s web site is more than likely just a ruse, just clever Photoshop work designed to toy with your emotions.
Oh yes, we’ve known about the existence of Metal Slug 7 for some time now, but today, Ignition and SNK Playmore make an honest game of the Nintendo DS title. You know the drill with this Metal Slug stuff. Walk right, occasionally left, you might possibly move vertically, and while you do, shoot everything. It should be on store shelves some time this fall.
This was in the press release and attributed to the President of Ignition Entertainment Ajay Chadha: “Truth be told, I have a pink DS and was embarrassed to play it in public. Now with Metal Slug 7 loaded, I have no qualms”. Excellent.
A Week In Comments (Can’t Wait For Next Monday!)
Connecticut Senator Searching For “Rape Scene” In GTA IV Comment by: Nobuyuki Nominated by: Kokatu
Oh man, you guys totally missed the rape scene. You get like a million points for it too.