Pre-TGS '07: Xbox Live Arcade gets hardcore

  • By Hirohiko Niizumi, GameSpot
  • Posted Sep 13, 2007 4:40 am AEST

Ikaruga, Rez, Exit, and more making their way to Microsoft's online arcade service.

TOKYO--The Xbox 360 has a reputation within Japan as a console generally favored only by hardcore gamers. Microsoft is apparently embracing this characterization, and is bringing a lineup of new downloadable titles that caters to hardcore tastes.

All the trippy fun of Rez, now in HD.

At the Xbox 360 Briefing 2007 held today in Tokyo, Takashi Sensui, general manager of Microsoft's Japanese Xbox operation, unveiled six new titles that will be released for Xbox Live Arcade:

Rez HD (Q Entertainment, Winter)
Every Extend Extra Extreme (Q Entertainment, release TBA)
Ikaruga (Treasure, release TBA)
Trigger Heart Exelica (Warashi, release TBA)
Exit (Taito, release TBA)
Omega Five (Hudson, November)

Rez HD is a revamped version of the cult hit shooting game with musical elements that debuted on the Sega Dreamcast in 2001. Aside from graphical enhancements to high-definition, Rez HD also features 5.1 channel surround sound.

Rez makes more sense when you're actually playing it.

Although Every Extend Extra Extreme is typically classified as a shooter, the player doesn't actually shoot anything. Based on the 2004 Japanese homebrew game Every Extend, the game has players maneuvering a ship around a playfield swarming with enemies before blowing it up in an attempt to trigger the most spectacular chain reactions possible. This is the second time that Q Entertainment has adapted the original PC game; the company also released Every Extend Extra for the PlayStation Portable in 2006.

Treasure's notoriously difficult shoot-'em-up Ikaruga debuted in Japanese arcades in 2001 before appearing on the Dreamcast in that country and finally making it overseas with a GameCube version. Continuing Treasure's experiments with color-based gameplay (see Silhouette Mirage), the player's ship could flip like an Othello piece and change its color to black or white, allowing it to absorb enemy beams of the same color.

Taito's 2005 PlayStation Portable puzzle action game Exit is also headed to Xbox Live Arcade. In the game, the player takes the role of Mr. ESC, whose objective is to help out trapped people and escape from burning buildings within the given time limit.

Not all of the games announced will be familiar to Western audiences. Trigger Heart Exelica is an arcade shooter originally released in 2006 and then ported to the Japanese Dreamcast earlier this year by Warashi. The game features a system where the player can shoot an anchor at enemies, capturing them and using them as a weapon. Finally, Omega Five is a 3D side-scrolling shooter game, and a collaborative project between Hudson Soft and Natsume for release on the Xbox Live Arcade.

142 Comments

  • 18752d

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 7:00 pm PT

    Rez was one of the games I really wanted before my second ps2 died(RIP), I can't wait to finally play this one.

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 6:59 pm PT

    Ikaruga! Whoo!

    That game and Rez is crazy!

  • mjwickstrom1

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 2:50 pm PT

    All these games sound cool. They should add a fun, different twist to the current list of XBLA games out there.

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Sep 18, 2007 2:44 pm PT

    Many interesting titles there. Will certainly provoke me to probably buy some more Microsoft Points.

  • Wakey652

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 3:01 am PT

    Ikaruga is great news!Xbla needs even more schmups, Mars matrix please

  • buttons2010

    Posted Sep 16, 2007 11:31 am PT

    I want Radient Silvergun! Xbla arcade is perfect for Treasure games!

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Sep 15, 2007 12:07 pm PT

    That's what I am all about.

  • wakko19991

    Posted Sep 14, 2007 7:18 pm PT

    cool deal...xbla turning into more than parlor type games..i love it

  • BlueYonderBoy

    Posted Sep 14, 2007 4:58 pm PT

    They should hurry up and release Space Chanel 5 on XBLA.

  • metroid_dragon

    Posted Sep 14, 2007 3:08 pm PT

    Ikaruga!?

    That is going on the "to-buy" list.

  • Lev_Arris

    Posted Sep 14, 2007 12:47 pm PT

    Very interested in what Rez is all about

  • geldonyetich

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 11:17 pm PT

    Cool, I didn't catch Rez when it was on the PS2 but I wanted to. Now you can only find second hand copies the game for ridiculous prices on eBay. The XBox Arcade option provides a better way.

  • andymacdonald27

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 4:01 pm PT

    Awesome. Was going to get Trigger heart etc on import. This could be a good way for Microsoft to win over Japan. They should sign up Cave & Milestone to port some more shooters. DoDonpachi, ESPgaluda, Karous and Radiguy would kick ass.

    Although what I really want is......RADIANT SILVERGUN!!!!!!

  • danpc

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 2:40 pm PT

    ikaragu is amazing.... and definately hardcore...

  • Slayer420

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 1:53 pm PT

    I have wanted to try Rez and Ikaruga for years now. Now I may actually get to. Be curious to see what pricing is.

  • HALCONAZUL

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 1:23 pm PT

    Dreamcast foreverer!!!

    well now... where is Psypchic force?? ;D

  • Zonic505

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 1:08 pm PT

    Dude, Rez (fails for not having the JPN-only Trance Vibrator, though), Ikagura, E4, AND Trigger Heart Exelica (a JPN only Dreamcast game)?!? Now I actually might consider getting a 360, or wait till XBLA comes to PC (somewhere around winter)

  • bubnux

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 12:59 pm PT

    Ikaruga... I'm actually impressed.

  • Anhmeister

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 12:53 pm PT

    Must. Get. Rez

  • hscream13

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 11:43 am PT

    Rez would be better on PS3 cause then you can control with the sixaxis

  • lamprey263

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 11:19 am PT

    I finally saw some gameplay videos for Rez, actually looks pretty cool.

  • willripyouanew1

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 10:37 am PT

    Ikaruga baby!

  • JamMessiahJC

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 9:57 am PT

    Long live the Dreamcast.

  • Sir-Marth

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 9:39 am PT

    Hail the Dreamcast!

  • Agermemnon

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 9:36 am PT

    Ikaruga is the one for me , that blasted game is a little on the hard side but kept me coming back for more , ended up being the only reason i would set the GC up for in the end , good job Microsoft for getting this lot .

  • rikhan_z

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 9:19 am PT

    Rez has got to be the biggest news, It would be nice playing in HD. I'm not going to get the pre owned version for 40 pounds.

  • blackace

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 9:16 am PT

    I want REZ, since it's almost impossible to get a copy for the Dreamcast now. This is more great news for the XBox 360 in Japan. They should see if they can get some older SquareEnix RPG titles like Secret of Mana, DQ1-IV, Brave Fencer Musashi, FF Tactics, etc.. I'm still waiting for Major Havoc, Mappy, I Robot, Simpson Arcade game, and a bunch of other classics.

  • BigDaveyDogz

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 8:26 am PT

    I'm sold on Rez...always wanted to play it but never got the game. For Dreamcast or PS2

  • edhc44

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 8:23 am PT

    Sounds great, the games I know from the list are awesome and I'm really excited about some of those I don't know

  • fabio_21

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 7:52 am PT

    Meh??
    MEH??

    IT'S FRIGGIN REZ AND IKARUGA!
    Now all we need is Mars Matrix, MvC and SensibleSoccer

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 7:12 am PT

    Meh

  • WormyTheWorm

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 6:31 am PT

    yeah thats good news.... i really hope they bring lots more Dreamcast games to xbox live.... LOTS

    Daytona USA 2001, F355Challenge, Crazy Taxi, Quake3Arena, WormsWorldParty, AlienFrontOnline, DieHardArcade, SoulCaliber, god i could list dozens that would be perfect for XboxLiveArcade.

    Ill definately be getting those 6 games that are already listed as coming to XBLA as i never got a chance to play them on my Dreamcast.

    Speaking of XBOX LIVE ARCADE..... where the heck is SensibleSoccer and Speedball2!!!!!

  • slim-jim69

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 6:02 am PT

    Taegre has the right idea. The Dreamcast shall live on.

  • Taegre

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 4:54 am PT

    Ok people we now have a duty! We all need to forget whatever game we're saving up for and buy MS points for Rez and Ikaruga, and tell all your friends, family, and grandparents to get those games too. If they sell like they deserve to, then maybe Microsoft will realize the Dreamcast library is a goldmine and then we'll get loads of long lost DC games on the Arcade or remade for DVD. The original Soul Calibur, Jet Set Radio, Ready 2 Rumble, Power Stone 2, Crazy Taxi (original instead of a 3rd-party remake), Star Lancer, Virtual On, Virtua Fighter 3 (featuring the long-lost Sumo fighter!), San-Francisco Rush 2049, and so much more!

  • malmeid2

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 4:16 am PT

    sweet

  • RufustheSage

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 3:52 am PT

    Ikaruga, that's all I need. Been trying to buy this on the Cube for years!!

    -Rufus

  • lemonlime4917

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 3:46 am PT

    best xbla games ever.

  • kenerhai

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 3:36 am PT

    REZ!!!!!! YES FINALLY THAT IS SO FREAKING AWESOME! GREAT GAME! AND NOW I GET ACHEIVEMENTS 4 IT?!?! AWESOME!!!!

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 3:29 am PT

    um, there is NEVER a time to put the Dreamcast away. thats just hyperbole. how would you then play stuff like Soul Calibur (no2 game of all time on gamerankings.com)? please!

  • cosmothehound

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 3:17 am PT

    these games sound cool. i hope we get them all.

  • Conanfan1

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 1:21 am PT

    Wow. I'm going to have to buy one of those 4000 points cards just for XBLA games. When will we get more info on Puzzle Quest? I've held off on buying the PSP version because I want to play it on the 360, but I'm starting to think I won't be able to wait any longer.

  • ibanezdropd

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 12:20 am PT

    i am psyched for this. i already had rez and ikaruga for dreamcast, but i hope the improve them.. the other games sound cool too.

  • ognen

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 12:17 am PT

    Xbox is tha best

  • niteowl74

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 12:05 am PT

    WOW! I might actually get to play Rez?

  • gta11

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 11:52 pm PT

    lol, Xbox is awesome

  • therejectx

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 11:27 pm PT

    you heard them, xbox is hardcore.

  • CyruzDraxs

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 11:05 pm PT

    Wow, Microsoft. Wow. These is how it's done. Rez, Ikaruga, Every Extent and Exit...all massive success in Japan. Clearly Microsoft has done their homework on this one!

  • NnyCW

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 10:04 pm PT

    "Everything else is just meh junk."

    Yes, Rez and Ikaruga are notoriously dispised by those that have played them as being trash...

  • HALOISTHEBEST26

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 9:48 pm PT

    i wana see metal slug i would buy that for anything under 1000 points

  • ctg867

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 9:45 pm PT

    Eh, only thing I could really consider buying is Exit, because it was such a fun PSP game. Everything else is just meh junk.

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