Who wants to hear about Patapon 2? And, specifically, about it’s biggest new addition, multiplayer? Oh, you? Great, take a seat. We spoke with Patapon creator Hiroyuki Kotani today, and got a good look at the sequel’s new multiplayer aspect, which lets up to four players (ad-hoc) take part in a two-stage affair. First stage, it’s standard Patapon stuff, with players taking control of customisable heroes (with masks!) as you kill animals. Second stage you take the animal’s egg, and play what amounts to a Parappa/Bemani section, where you hit buttons as symbols pass a marker. Hit them well enough and the egg breaks, and you get…yes, a mask!
While visiting the Xbox Japan offices, Rare gave a Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts walk through, talking up the game. “It’s good to be back in Japan, because Banjo was inspired by Japan,” studio boss Mark Betteridge. Apparently, the character’s backpack was inspired by backpacks that Japanese children carry around.
We’ll concede that for goomba stomping purposes, some cleated golf shoes would probably get you out of a bind in the Mushroom Kingdom now and then. But in the real world, these Super Mario World shoes, spied at Super Potato in Akihabara, seem to have limited use. They’re certainly fancy and the white still gleams — almost everything in Super Potato has been well cared for — but if we were handed a pair of multi-coloured Mario golf shoes, we’d probably politely decline (or sell them immediately on eBay).
Already released in the US and Europe, the 80GB is getting released in Japan. And soon. The 80GB will be hitting Japan in three colors: Clear Black, Ceramic White and Satin Silver. The street date is October 30th in The Land of the Rising Sun. There are new bundles as well, including a Gran Turismo SpecIII pack and a LittleBigPlanet one, too.
Jury’s still out on Dead Rising Wii. Capcom’s heart is in the right place, but you take away the hordes of zombies and replace them with pairs of zombies and you’re taking away what made the game special. But what do we know. We’re cantankerous, gin-soaked old sods. You lot can make up your own mind on the game, starting with Japan, where – it’s been revealed today (along with the game’s map/scale) – the game will be released in February 2009. Seeing as the original did such good business in the West, US & PAL versions can’t be far behind.
Hi Tsutomu Kouno. As the guy who made LocoRoco, and who is making LocoRoco 2, what do you think about…uh, Tsutomu?
Watching Ninja Blade in action for the first time at Microsoft’s Daitabashi offices, it reminded us of another From Software action classic, Otogi: Myth of Demons. While Ninja Blade and Otogi don’t really have that much in common outside of being hack and slash action games, there’s something to protagonist Ken Ogawa’s three weapons — especially the giant, armor-smashing sword he carries — that makes us think “Hey, these guys made Otogi. Maybe this’ll be good.”
The newest issue of Japanese magazine Dengeki PlayStation has new info about how online works for PS3 exclusive White Knight Chronicles. The Level 5 developed title features a story mode that can “seamlessly” change into online play. Once connected, there’s a meeting place that can accommodate up to 16 players. From that, players break off into parties of four for quests.
“A locked safe, containing secrets that could change the world forever. A global network of arms dealers, terrorists and villains. A mysterious seven digit code… When British Intelligence operative Constance Newlove discovered an international conspiracy to steal the secrets of the code, she became an immediate target. If she is to survive, she needs your help…”
If you’re thinking B-grade action game, you’d be wrong. This is the plot behind Sony Australia’s new and rather exciting promotion which will be running here on Kotaku over the coming days. It’s called the QUANTUM CODE and involves you, a couple of k in Sony prizes and a rather hot little Brit who needs your help to crack the code.
You are looking at last year’s Xbox 360 “booth companions” for the Tokyo Game Show. This year, we’ll not only get new companions, but new companion outfits. And if you thought last year’s was impressive, wait, just wait, until you see this years says Xbox Japan marketing exec Jyoji Sakaguchi:
