Guardian Heroes is coming to Xbox 360 later this year on XBLA Live Arcade

Sega has announced that Guardian Heroes is coming out for the Xbox 360 courtesy of Xbox Live Arcade. It will feature updated HD Graphics as well as Online Multi Player. There will be co operative mode as well as up to 12 player versus mode.

Super Street Fighter IV heading to PC later this year

Super Street Fighter IV will be coming to the PC later this year. The ESRB released a rating aside the previously released Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 Versions. Expect some extras or DLC content for the Arcade Edition of Super Street Fighter IV. Release dates for both the DLC and PC edition will occur after the Capcom Captivate embargo ends at 12pm Eastern April 12th.

Strania – The Stella Machina Xbox 360 / XBLA media blowout screenshots , details and a English trailer leading up to March 30th release

Strania – The Stella Machina is due on Xbox Live Arcade worldwide March 30th 2011. Below you can find more in depth info on the game title. The game will cost 800MSP ($10). It is scheduled for release also for the NesicaXLive Arcade system.


Official press release

Reminiscent of nostalgic arcade games from the 1980s, G.rev delivers an authentic robot shoot’em up to XBox LIVE Arcade with Strania. Incorporating strategic decision-making with the exhilarating action that defines the genre, Strania offers a dynamic game system and features dramatic effects plus a catchy soundtrack. Get ready for some hot arcade action as we’re bringing back true hardcore arcade gameplay!


Background Story

"The paths of two advanced civilizations cross as Strania attempts to defend its planet from the approaching Vower army. Armed in powerful mecha able to carry a variety of weapons, the Stranian special task force, the Stella Machina, set out on a preemptive strike against the artificial beings. In order to give their home planet a chance to overcome the oppressors, the Stella Machina must destroy Vower’s massive particle weapon “Gunrock” and create an opening for the fleet to attack the Vower base settling on the frontline"



Key Features

KEY FEATURES
* Inspired by classic arcade shooters from the 1980s: Noted shoot’em up developer G.rev’s newest project is a tribute to old school action shooters from the days when arcades still ruled the gaming scene. A 3D-graphics based 2D vertical shooter, gamers will face curtains of enemies and bullets flying from every direction, infiltrate towering defensive structures and duel with monolithic robots. Fast paced with frantic action set above a backdrop of retro graphics, Strania will take you back to the good ole days.

* Guns and swords do mix: As a member of the elite Stella Machina, gamers pilot a high-powered mecha able to equip a lethal arsenal of weapons. Choose from a long range, destructive laser, explosive rockets, a reflective shot and more. Or, take the battle up close and pick up a couple of swords to slash your way through the robotic wave of invaders.

* 2 > 1: Going solo on Strania is great, but taking a wingman with you is better. Play Strania with a friend locally or online via LIVE!



Info on the DLC side mission SIDE VOWER.

A tale does not become an epic without multiple twists and storylines, and the epic of Strania is not limited to the chapters detailing the Stranian forces’ attempt to defend the planet they call home. In the DLC package SIDE VOWER, gamers assume the role of the intergalactic travelers who have come to Strania with a mission – to recapture the land that they hold sacred.

Work your way into the heart of the planet as you fight through newly arranged stages each capped with a Stranian boss. New music tracks accompany you as you duel with the elite Stella Machina. Break through Stranian defenses and lead the Vower army to fulfill their destiny.

Game Info

Game Title Strania – The Stella Machina –
Platform XBox LIVE Arcade
Publisher & developer G.rev
Game Genre Shoot’em Up (2D shooter)
Release Date March 30, 2011

Number of Players 1 or 2 (multiplayer available locally or via LIVE)
Online Features Online coop multiplayer (maximum 2 players)
Languages Japanese, English


Official Strania Website

Official English Trailer




Screenshots

NesicaXlive game list of what is announced currently at the Amusement show in Japan

This is a List of the NesicaXlive games confirmed for the system. The games already released are noted on parentheses.

Nesica X Live games List

Exclusive games
Aquapazza
Strania
Blazblue CS2 (released)
Exception

Type X games
Battle Fantasia
King Of Fighters 98 (released)
King Of Fighters 2002 (released)
Power Instinct 5
Raiden IV
Senko No Ronde DUO(released)
Spica Adventure (released)
Trouble Witches AC

Neo Geo
Art Of Fighting
Brikinger / Iron Clad
Fatal Fury
King Of Fighters 94
Metal Slug
Samurai Shodown
World Heroes

Taito Classics
Elevator Action
Puzzle Bobble
Rainbow islands Extra
Rastan
Space Invaders

Neo Geo games coming to Taito Type X NesicaXlive Arcade System. Brikinger / Iron Clad finally released to Arcades!

SNK Playmore announced at the amusement show that several Neo Geo Classic games and a few of their Type X2 games will be released on the NesicaXlive Arcade System in Japan. Neo Geo titles confirmed include Iron Clad / Brikinger which was originally supposed to be released in 1996. Also Metal Slug , Samurai Shodown, World Heroes , Art of Fighting and more are scheduled. Also updated versions of Type X2 releases of King of Fighters 98 Final Match and King Of Fighters 2002 Unlimited are due for release. This could signal a second coming of the Neo Geo if this system proves to be successful. There was no world of a USA release.

Scantily Clad 2D Fighter Shin Koihime Dream Musou Arcade Edition coming out later this year!

Developer RCI will be releasing Shin Koihime Musou Dream Arcade Edition later this year in Japanese Arcades. The game features a all female cast. The game is displayed in 16:9 widescreen and have high resolution sprite animation.

Video

Aquapazza a new 2d fighter from Examu and Aquaplus! Coming to arcades later this year on NesicaXLive

Aquapazza is coming to arcades later this year for the Taito Type X2 NesicaXlive arcade system. Aquapazza is new 2d fighter from Examu and Aquaplus! You should remember Examu for their work on the Arcana Heart series.

Video

Sega is bringing FK Digital's 2d Fighter Chaos Code to Arcades this summer!

Sega showed off a new build of Chaos Code at the amusement show last month. The game will be released on Ringedge hardware in Japan this summer. The game was first put on location test in 2009. It features a 4 button fighting system and has easy combo input to allow players to better enjoy its fighting system.

Video from AOU

5pb's original Shmup Bullet Soul Tama Tamashii is coming home April 7th 2011 for Xbox 360

5pb will be releasing Bullet Soul Tama Tamashii a original Xbox 360 shmup April 7th 2011 in Japan. It may be released as a region-free title.The game features vertical scrolling gameplay on a 2d plane. Character designs are from Akio Watanabe. Music composition is from Kenji Ito, with arrangement work from Kouta Takahashi.





Video

G.rev Shmup Seisou Kouki Strania is being released March 30th 2011 on Xbox Live Arcade

G.Rev announced that Seisou Kouki No Strania will be released on Xbox Live Arcade March 30th 2011 worldwide. The price will be 800MSP. They also announced that it will also be released on the Taito Type X as a NesicaXlive title. The game will feature online co op as well as leaderboards.

Video

Qute releasing Xbox 360 shmup Eschatos March 24th 2011

Game developer Qute will be releasing their first next generation shmup Eschatos on the Xbox 360 March 24th in Japan. The game features vertical shmup gameplay in high definition. The game also includes as a bonus ports of the Wonderswan games Judgement Silversword and Cardinal Sins. The game producer also mentioned that Eschatos will be region free release as well.

Video

Otomedius Excellent is being released March 24th 2011 in Japan for Xbox 360

Konami will be releasing Otomedius Excellent March 24th 2011 in Japan for the Xbox 360. The game is a sequel to Otomedius G which was released on Xbox 360 in 2008. The game features horizontial gameplay reminiscent of Gradius and includes many selectable characters including guest appearance from Castlevania / Dracula X series. Some features include online play featuring 3 players at once. There is also a offline mode which you and a few friends can play together as well.

Gameplay Video below from TGS

Cave has a adventure game coming out called Instant Brain

Cave will be releasing a Adventure game for presumably for Xbox 360 (Kinect Maybe) later this year titled Instant Brain.The game is centered around a camera which you use to progress through the story. The game is set in the near future. You can view the official site here.

Video below


here

Akai Katana Shin! coming to Xbox 360 May 26th 2011

Cave announced that Akai Katana Shin! coming to Xbox 360 May 26th 2011. The game will have 16:9 widescreen support as well as new gameplay systems and extra stages. There will be a LE and Standard edition releases.Visuals are updated for high resolution with redrawn sprites. The first print will include DLC for add on for newly recorded voices.

Video below

Cave has announced Nin Nin -Jump for Xbox 360 Live Arcade / XBLA due out in 2011

Cave has announced Nin Nin Jump for Xbox 360 Live Arcade / XBLA due out in 2011. It is a Ninja Scroller with Vertical and Horizontial stages. There will be 50 stages in adventure mode. Score attack will have some specific stages. The game will also have online score boards.

Video Below

Deathsmiles coming to Iphone / Ipad / Ipod touch Spring 2011

Cave announced that Deathsmiles will be coming to Iphone / Ipad / Ipod touch Spring 2011. The game will be released Internationally. It will feature Arcade mode as well as Iphone mode.

Video Below

The Japhei Xmas / Christmas 2010 Video Game Buying Guide

By now you are reading this and Christmas is one week away. You are saying to yourself it is a little late to be buying something for that someone special who happens to love Japanese Arcade games. Well fear not because it is never to late!

I am going to be covering some of the games that are released this year and the consoles which they are sold.

NOTE this does contain some games that were published in the USA and are not Arcade related but are worth picking up.

Dreamcast
Fast Striker

Idevice
Capcom Arcade
Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu
Espgaluda 2
Mushihimesama Bug Panic


PS3
Blazblue Continuum Shift
NBA Jam
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit
Super Street Fighter IV
Time Crisis Razing Storm

PSN
Afterburner Climax
Sodner X2
Xmen

PSP
Blazblue
Metal Slug XX
Tekken 6

Wii
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Golden Eye 007
NBA Jam
Mario Sports MIX (Due in USA Next Year)

Xbox 360
Blazblue Continuum Shift
Deathsmiles
Deathsmiles 2X
Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu
Espgaluda 2 Black Label
Ketsui
Mushihimesama Futari 1.5 (BEST)
NBA Jam
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit
Super Street Fighter IV

XBLA
Afterburner Climax
Earthworm Jim HD
Guwange
King Of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
King Of Fighters Sky Stage
Metal Slug XX
Neo Geo Battle Colisieum
Xmen

Any of these games make a great gift and are a excellent purchase in my opinion. Do yourself a favor and play any of the awesome titles above.

Sturmwind a new Shmup announced for Dreamcast due 2011 by Redspotgames

Redspot games has announced a new horizontial shmup for Dreamcast called Sturmwind. The game features 16 levels as well as unlockable trophies and a hybrid 2/3d game engine. Sturmwind is planned for release sometime in 2011. More info can be found on Redspotgames website.

Along with Fast Striker we now have 2 Dreamcast releases to look forward to. Some gameplay video can be seen below.

Video

Mile-Stone Shooting Collection 2 with 5 games 1 disc for Wii December 30th 2010

Mile-Stone Shooting Collection 2 was announced for Wii. It features 5 ports from the Sega Naomi Arcade system on 1 disc. Chaos Field, Illvelo, Karous ,Radirgy , and Radirgy Noah. The planned release is December 30th 2010 for 4,800 Yen. This will probally get a USA release sometime next year as I would find it hard for a publisher to pass up. If you like Mile-Stone shmups this is the definitive collection of their catalogue.

Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu 1.5 Xbox 360 review Hyper Edition!

Cave keeps churning out AAA quality shmups and we keep buying them , nearly two and a half years have passed since the original Arcade release and finally Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu has come home to consoles for the Japanese Xbox 360. If you are a shmup fan and have been against the fence about picking up a Import 360 there is no better time then now. This may be Cave's best release so far for the System and that is saying something as half their back catalogue is playable for 360.

The graphics are the same high quality 2d sprites Cave is known for and the soundtrack is classic Mananbu Namiki with a thumping Trance beat. The game features Novice mode (for beginners) , Xbox 360 mode (Arcade Mode) , and a few Arrange modes A + B that mix up the gameplay a great deal and extend the replay value of the package. The Xbox 360 mode is a the basic Arcade mode with enhanced graphics and the same gameplay as the 1.5 Arcade version which features a 4 button setup with a dedicated button for Hyper. The chaining in the game is easier to maintain then prior games in the series and makes for more enjoyable experience.

My favorite mode so far has to be the 1.51 version that is included only in the 1rst run Regular edition and the Limited Edition. It features a more conventional 3 button setup reminiscent to Dodonpachi Dai Ou Jou and a less demanding Extend system that any decent Cave player should be able clear 1CC. The hyper is tied to the same button as the bomb in this mode similar to DOJ and the difficulty seems tweaked to a point that it is almost as if it is a ARRANGE mode in itself. If you have a chance make sure to pick up the 1.51 version as this is a important part of the game and really fun to play.

The game options are very deep with a easy to access menu. The video options have support for both 16:9 and 4:3 televisions and monitors with a wide arrange of zoom options as well make fitting to your viewing window easy and painless. This is a welcome addition as the last 2 Cave ports (Deathsmiles 2X + Guwange) omitted a option for 4:3. Not only has Cave crafted a worthy addition to the Dodonpachi franchise they are adding to it by releasing Dodonpachi Black Label February 3rd 2011 as DLC and a retail release.

With so many games modes and deep scoring systems added with the welcoming change to the chaining system this game is easy to pick up and play and is rewarding for both intermediate and hardcore gamers. I highly recommend it's purchase immediately. You would be crazy not to. I score this game a 10/10