****
MadWorld (Wii)
Release Date: 2009
Clover are back! The studio behind the awesome Okami, the energetic Viewtiful Joe and the one of the most punishing modern beat-em-ups, God Hand, disbanded in March 2007, but have now reformed along with Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami and Devil May Cry creator Hideki Kamiya to form PlatinumGames (these guys really don't like space bars), with Sega taking publishing duties from Capcom.
Anything from a triple-A bunch like that is going to warrant attention, and PlatinumGames have started off by announcing four projects: the PS3 and Xbox 360 "stylish action game" Bayonetta, the DS Arthur C. Clarke-inspired RPG full of "very high-level, philosophical science fiction stuff.", Infinite Line, an as-yet-unannounced mystery project, and finally MadWorld, which shows all the classics hallmarks of a Clover game: humour, action and an eye-catching visual style of black, white and red.
Early days yet, of course, but it looks like PlatinumGames is taking the opportunity to shine, if you'll pardon the pun.
****
Resident Evil 5 (PS3, Xbox 360)
Release Date: 2009
After initial controversy about the setting of the new entry in the Resident Evil universe, you can almost picture Capcom sticking two fingers up to anyone with a racial complaint when the newly revealed female character says "Welcome to Africa" after saving Chris Redfield from a chainsaw-wielding maniac.
Resident Evil 5 is looking very much like Resident Evil 4 with better graphics, physics and enemy numbers. Since Resident Evil 4 was such a blast, a bit more of the same doesn't look like it's going to offend too many players or sales.
There is at the time of writing, no confirmation on whether The Merchant will be returning.
****
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations (DS)
Release Date: TBC
Good news, European Ace Attorney fans! After a brief scare where the release of the third and final Phoenix Wright game was called in to question, Capcom have confirmed that translation is around halfway complete, with the German ratings board listing it as on schedule for a multi-language release. Still no word on an actual date, but you take what you can get, especially when it's good news like this.
It's still a ridiculous delay, one that's seen the fourth game in the series released before the third, but at least non-English speaking, non-importing, non-ROMMING Ace Attorney fans can get their hands on this brilliant game at last.
****
Project Zero 4: The Mask of the Lunar Eclipse (Wii)
Release Date: TBC
The Project Zero (or Fatal Frame in the US) series started off strongly, with a story of a Japanese girl in an abandoned mansion with only an old camera to fight off the many tortured spirits that haunt its surroundings. After two sequels, it was clear that the series was stagnating, relying far too much on the same bloody-ancient-ritual-gone-wrong plotline, never coming anywhere close to fixing its clunky controls, with acting that only barely ranks higher than the original Resident Evil.
So far, very few details on the new Project Zero game have been confirmed, simply that the game's development is a joint effort between the game's original developers, Tecmo, publishers Nintendo, and, most interestingly, Grasshopper Manufacture.
Nintendo is taking an active interest in the development of the game, which is the first good sign about its development. And although the few screens shown so far don't stray too far from the established Project Zero template (young Japanese girl in elaborate, skimpy clothes, old camera, hideous spirits, flashlights in an abandoned mansion, etc, etc), the inclusion of Suda51, whose No More Heroes showed how action games can be done on the Wii, gives signs that this franchise might get the kick up the arse that it has sorely needed for two games.
****
Siren: Blood Curse / New Translation (PS3)
Release Date: TBC
Like Project Zero, the Siren series has existed in the niche periphery of the survival horror genre, never really coming out of the shadows of the big boys like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Unlike Project Zero, Siren's sequel learned from its mistakes to deliver a far more streamlined user-friendly experience. The latest installment in the franchise looks to continue the slightly more mainstream trend, aiming to bring its unique experience to a wider audience. The publishers are even letting players choose whether they wish to play it through downloadable episodic content or buying the full game in retail version.
The premise for the third game in the series sees an American film crew going to the scene of the first game, Hanuda village in rural Japan. Naturally, they find that the village is teeming with the bleeding-eyed undead (called 'shibito') and have to get the hell out of there.
Siren's main strength is its stressful gameplay. You control various characters in a horrific situation, with events unfolding through a splintered narrative, often having to navigate through enemy-infested areas with nothing more than a psychic ability to see through nearby enemy's eyes (a technique called 'sightjacking') and maybe an umbrella for a weapon if you're lucky. Even if you do knock out an enemy, they're back on their feet and on patrol in a matter of minutes, so most of the game is spent hiding and working out the best time to make a run for it.
With the experience of the the past two Siren games behind it, and a boost in graphical presentation, Blood Curse (its Japanese subtitle) / New Translation (the American, and possibly European name) should hopefully deliver another intriguing entry in to the survival-horror canon.
****
Prince of Persia (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Release Date: Q4 2008
The Prince of Persia franchise is getting a reboot after the conclusion of Ubisoft's original trilogy, a series of games that started with lush Arabian Nights designs, but ended on a disappointing death metal and emo-styled note.
Using the ultra-flexible Assassin's Creed engine for what promises to be a more traditional action-adventure romp, it's hard to tell at this stage whether this game is going to stick with the ultra-cartoony, cel-shaded look from the screenshot above, or go with the slightly more bland presentation of the trailer. Time will tell, but Ubisoft have proven they can do action-adventure with a great deal of panache, though hopefully they'll leave the navel-gazing in the back burner this time.
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Where do you begin with the history of Parliament / Funkadelic? The history of both bands sprawls through over five decades of interchanging band members, copious drugs, swaps in musical styles, spin-off bands, recurring characters, and many, many costume changes. It's an overwhelming introduction to the world of funk. Just the mentioning the career path of one of the band's many musicians can lead you down a funk version of six degrees of Kevin Bacon, with George Clinton or James Brown as the gravitational centre.
I'm going to avoid the full-on lecture (although there are links below for the discerning funk historian masochist) and give a brief synopsis of the early years to put My New Favourite Song in context.
The history begins with Parliament / Funkadelic's creator, George Clinton, starting a doo-wop group called The Parliaments with three school friends in 1950's Nebraska. By the 1960's, the three friends were replaced by four new members, who practiced in the barbershop where George was working, and scored a few minor soul and R&B hits until traditional doo-wop fell out of fashion in the late 60's.
The essential Parliament / Funkadelic elements of tight vocal and instrumental harmonies, an almost nursery-rhyme approach to songwriting, and a gritty sense of what sounds good are present and correct in The Parliaments' recordings. Parliament and Funkadelic later covered a number of songs from this period, including drastically different versions of 'All Your Goodies Are Gone' and 'The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg', among others.
'A New Day Begins' isn't a major entry in the band's history, but it's a good example of Clinton's emerging talents, as he manages to take what could be a perfectly anodyne love song and crams in yearning, dramatic, hopeful lyrics (with delivery to match), accompanied by a fuzzy, bouncy bassline and testifyin' backing harmonies. All in just over 3 minutes.
That's why it's My New Favourite Song - at least for now.
****
Buy Testify! - The Best of the Early Years for an extortionate used & new price off Amazon
A concise history of Parliament / Funkadelic
The official George Clinton website
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( 0 / 0 )Full-time work is over, and the site's been neglected for too long now. It's time for Update Tuesday!
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( 0 / 0 )More Ace Attorney is always a good thing, except for Europe, where the final part of the Phoenix Wright trilogy, Trials and Tribulations, still hasn't received a release date. Even more worrying is that the company that handled the localisation of Apollo Justice doesn't have Trials and Tribulations on their project schedule.
This reminds me of the bad old days of the SNES, where Europe was frequently overlooked on the release schedule of some classic games. We didn't get a Final Fantasy until VII was released on the Playstation, and Dragon Quest finally came to us 20 years after the series began with VIII (or Journey of the Cursed King).
There are obviously many reasons why porting games for Europe can be time-consuming (translation into 5 languages or more being a huge one), but if companies like Capcom keep dragging their feet over the release of popular games, then why should they complain if people import or download fan-subbed ROMs? The internet provides what companies are too slow or unwilling to give to people who just want to play / watch something that takes their interest without having to wait for months or years for an official release in their region.
Sort it, Capcom!
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...but I doubt there's going to be much complaint about a new Ace Attorney game. Especially one starring Phoenix's occasional rival, Miles Edgeworth.
**On a side note, I have a personal objection with the fact the site was frozen and I was sitting on this update for over a week, sorry if this is old news to some people.**
Taking place after the events of Gyakuten Saiban 3 (or Trials and Tribulations in the the US and, eventually, Europe), Gyakuten Kenji (Turnabout Prosecutor) will see Edgeworth and Detective Dick Gumshoe investigating crime scenes, searching for clues and working to argue the case in court. Makes a nice change to see the prosecutors getting a few people put away for once.
The major difference gameplay-wise is a shift to a more point-and-click interface, with both Edgeowrth and Gumshoe on screen at the same time. Capcom are also promising new investigation techniques and ways to reach the final conclusion.
As yet, there has been no confirmation of a US or European release date, but it's pretty much a given that there will be one. Previous Japanese releases of Gyakuten Saiban have also included an English translation, so importers should keep an eye out for a similar feature with Gyakuten Kenji.
In the meantime, check out these scans from esteemed Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu showing how the game is looking so far (thanks to ace-attorney.net and whoever they got the scans from). Click on the pics for a bigger scan.
On a side note, aren't Japanese gaming magazines great? Not only do they have a load of screenshots, but there's space for concept art and sprite animation sheets as well! Take that, you po-faced gits at Edge.
Official Japanese website
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( 0 / 0 )Wondering why this playlist took so darn long to be posted? Well, I've gone and got myself a time-consuming job that means this is going to be the last Diversion in a while. Oh yeah, and there was a whole bunch of technical nonsense behind the scenes. On with the show - I've put together a bunch of awesome songs for this one, so enjoy!
(01. The "In" Crowd - Quincy Jones - The Many Faces of Quincy Jones)
02. Come in Out of the Rain - Parliament - Osmium
03. Ape Is High - Mandrill - Mandrill Is
04. Black is Black - Sounds Orchestral - Sounds From the Lounge: Pop Covers, Lounge Style
05. Be My Friend - Darkel - Darkel
06. Less Talk More Rokk - Freezepop - Guitar Hero 2
07. Underwater BGM - June 'Chiki' Chikuma - Super Bomberman 3 OST
08. Every Day I Have the Blues - Count Basie - Count Basie: Verve Jazz Masters 2
09. Shout About Pepsi - Denny Wright and the Hustlers - The Sound Gallery vol. 1
10. Stingray - The Barry Gray Orchestra - No Strings Attatched
11. It Had Better Be Tonight - Lena Horne - Wild, Cool & Swingin' Too (Ultra-Lounge vol.15)
12. Shadrack - Louis Prima - The Best Of Louis Prima & Keely Smith
13. Camel Walk - The Latinaires - The NuYorican Funk Experience
14. Fire - Arthur Brown - The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
15. Remember Then - The Earls - The Doo Wop Box: The Birth of Doo Wop (1948-1955)
16. Pense À Moi - J.J. Johnson - Goodies
17. Dan Is The Man (In The Van) - The Mighty Sparrow - Explodes Into Calypso Time
18. Finders Keepers - Chairmen Of The Board - Skin I'm In
19. Dyambo - Hugh Masekela & The Union Of South Africa - Club Africa 2
20. You Are My Sunshine - Andy Williams - In The Lounge With...
21. Gerdundula - Status Quo - Down the Dustpipe
22. Mountain A Go Go Two - Captain Straydum
23. SOUL Kyuumeitai - Yasushi Ishii - Hellsing OST 2: Ruins
24. Cause I'm A Man - Peter Reno / Pretty Things - Unreleased Soundtrack Music from George A. Romero's...Dawn of the Dead
25. Black Rite - Mandingo - The Sound Gallery vol. 1
26. Hair / Aquarius - Hugo Montenegro - Moog Power
27. The Earthmen - Paddy Kingsland - The Sound Gallery vol. 1
28. Kelly Watch the Stars (Live at BBC Shepherd's Bush) - Air
29. E.V.A. - Jean Jacques Perrey - Moog Indigo
30. DND (Do Not Destroy) - Masafumi Takada - No More Heroes Original Sound Tracks
31. Neville Thumbcatch - Peter Wyngarde - When Sex Leers its Inquisitive Head
32. Brown Eyed Handsome Man - Chuck Berry
33. Pent Up In A Penthouse - Fats Waller - I Got Rhythm - Jazz Greats
34. Oh Happy Day - Ray McVay & His Orchestra - Showcase Ray McVay and His Orchestra
35. Theme Of Nakama - One Piece
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Get your cocktail kits out and put on your one-piece nylon speed suits. Sit back in a retro-style pad and let the sound of lounge take you on a mid-tempo trip. Perfect for 60s spies, the apres-ski set and the retro jet set crowd.
01. The Griots - Andrew Hill - The Blues Series Sampler
02. Blues Oriental - Cannonball Adderley - Things Are Getting Better (with Milt Jackson)
03. Bossa Nova (In The Restaurant) - Ken Thorne - The Bossa Nova Exciting Jazz Samba Rhythms - Film Bossa Vol. 6
04. So Nice - Roy Budd - Sounds From the Lounge: Latin Lounge
05. Route 66 - Laurindo Almeida And The Bossa Nova Allstars - The Bossa Nova Exciting Jazz Samba Rhythms - Film Bossa Vol. 6
06. Bewitched - Peggy Lee - TV Town (Ultra-Lounge vol.13)
07. Darth Vader's "Imperial March" Theme (Live at The Derby) - Richard Cheese - Dick At Night
08. Couleur Cafe - Serge Gainsbourg - Espresso Espresso
09. Blind Man, Blind Man - Donald Byrd
10. Que Sera Sera - Asuka Sakai, Charlie Kosei - Katamari Damacy OST
11. Samba Saravah - Francis Lai - The Bossa Nova Exciting Jazz Samba Rhythms - Film Bossa Vol. 6
12. The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. - Teddy Randazzo - Espresso Espresso
13. Berimbau - Os Cincos-Pados - The Bossa Nova Exciting Jazz Samba Rhythms
14. That Lucky Old Sun - Grant Green
15. So Nice - Wanda Sá, Sergio Mendes - Bossa Novaville (Ultra-Lounge vol.14)
16. Fork in the Wall - Masafumi Takada - No More Heroes Original Sound Tracks
****
COMPETITION TIME!!!
17. ????
Last competition's sample was the chest-opening theme from Zelda, congrats to Mike, whose prize is on its way as I type!
If you know which video game this week's music is from contact me.
**This competition is now closed**
****
18. La Bamba - Dave Pike - The Best Of Latin Jazz
19. Spooky - Andy Williams - In The Lounge With...
20. Like Young - David Rose - Cocktail Capers (Ultra-Lounge vol.8)
21. Wave - Alan Haven - Sounds From the Lounge: Latin Lounge
22. Amy's Theme - Martin Denny - Bossa Novaville (Ultra-Lounge vol.14)
23. Light My Fire - The Tony Hatch Orchestra - Sounds From the Lounge: Pop Covers, Lounge Style
24. Nem Vem Que Nao Tem - Wilson Simonal - Espresso Espresso
25. The Bomberman Lounge - June 'Chiki' Chikuma - Saturn Bomberman OST
26. Groovin' High - Cannonball Adderley - Things Are Getting Better (with Milt Jackson)
27. Spider-Man Theme - Richard Cheese - Dick At Night
28. Modesty Blaise Theme - Cal Tjader & Eddie Palmieri - Espresso Espresso
29. Os Grilos - Os Catedraticos - The Bossa Nova Exciting Jazz Samba Rhythms
30. Finita - Tony Hatch - Sounds From the Lounge: Latin Lounge
31. Wave - Paul Desmond - CTI Master Series Sampler
32. Ya-Ya - Ed Lincoln - Ed Lincoln
33. A Man and a Woman - The Tony Hatch Sound - Sounds From the Lounge: Essential Loungecore
34. Ending: Pala Paya...Lounge Musique - Dr.Pris & Dr.Rachel - Space Channel 5 OST
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( 0 / 0 )Welcome to a new feature of Diversion. The title should explain it all, really.
First up is a track from the excellent Wii slash-em-up No More Heroes. I recently spent a solid couple of days playing this game, getting immersed in the rather odd world of Travis Touchdown, whose sole mission in life (or this game at least) is to defeat the top ten ranking assassins in the town of Santa Destroy to become #1.
Masafumi Takada and Jun Fukuda's soundtrack is nicely eclectic (it's definitely more listener-friendly than their previous work on Killer 7), from all-out rock battle music to 8-bit retro game ditties, but the one that's made an impression and become my new favourite song is DND (Do Not Destroy), the background music of Travis' motel room, the place where you can change clothes, go to the toilet (save), and play with his cat, Jeane.
DND's laid-back groove is the perfect music for the anime-obsessed hitman at home, taking in a bit of downtime before the cartoon bloodshed (or black pixelshed in Europe and Japan) begins again. As a part of the game's design, it adds to the contrast between Travis' life as an uber-cool hitman and the rather sad reality of his life in a motel room in a crappy town, with just his collection of anime tat and porn videos to pass the time with.
I could possibly write an essay on this game, so I'll summarise for now; It's a great game, and DND is a great tune - enjoy!
Buy the 3-Disc(!) No More Heroes soundtrack.
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On the 20th of April in Tokyo's Shinjuku Culture Centre, the Tokyo Philharmonic (the orchestra behind the excellent early 90's Orchestral Game Concerts) will be playing tunes from the Gyakuten Saiban (or Ace Attorney) series.
The series' producer, Minae Matsukawa has a development blog here, and stated that there will be a 'special announcement' at the concert. Initial speculation was that it was the inevitable Gyakuten Saiban 5 that would be shown off, but rumours have been spreading that it may not be a game that is announced, but something else involving 'video products' instead.
Either way, more Gyakuten Saiban news is always good news.
Watch this space...
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