NewsSpots: PS Store, Halo 3, ArchLord, Shinobi III, and LandStalker
By
Tom Magrino
Demo duo hits Sony's network, Bungie shows new multiplayer map, fantasy MMOG now free, Genesis adds two more to Wii's downloadable game service.
NCAA Football 08 demo kicks up DiRT on PS3
Sony has been stepping up in a big way with its release of game demos for the PlayStation 3 in recent weeks. Kicking off with trials of GRAW2 and The Darkness at the beginning of this month, the console maker added two more to the list as part of its weekly Thursday update, this time for sports fans. PS3 users can get a sneak peek at Codemasters' rally-racer DiRT in anticipation of its September 11 release date. Also available is a demo for EA's collegiate pigskin franchise NCAA Football 08, which arrived on the console in July.
Halo 3 squares off in Narrows
With preorders for Halo 3 having already put up record-setting numbers, it's shocking that Bungie feels the need to further tantalize players with teasers of its surefire-hit shooter. But that it did at its most recent Halo 3 party, where a brand-new multiplayer map was unveiled. Titled Narrows, the map squares two teams off on opposite sides of a cramped bridge, offering limited room to navigate and ensuring plenty of crossfire. Rated M for Mature, Halo 3 will fly off retail shelves come September 25.
ArchLord gives away keys to castle
Codemasters announced today that its massively multiplayer online game ArchLord is now free to download and play. The free download comes packed in with the game's latest expansion, Episode 2: Season of Siege. For those needing more than just free play to convince them to defy better judgment, Codemasters also announced that it would be awarding a bona fide, real-world suit of plate mail to the first player that attains the game's highest status marker. Attaining this rank entails undertaking a series of quests to earn realm-wide status. Released last October, ArchLord is rated T for Teen.
Shinobi III, LandStalker planned for Virtual Console
While Sega's 16-bit Genesis isn't the most represented platform on the Wii's Virtual Console, it has maintained a steady stream of updates for the service. Today, the publisher unveiled two more of its gems from days gone by that will make their way to the Wii's VC. Both originally released in 1993, Sega's action adventure Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master and Climax Entertainment's role-playing game LandStalker will arrive sometime in the near future. No release date was pegged for either game. As is standard for Sega Genesis ports to the VC, Shinobi III and LandStalker will run for 800 Wii points ($8) each.
By
Tom Magrino
Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.
88 comments
Landstalker? Definitely one of my favorite games ever. I might buy it even though I still have the Genesis cartrage sitting at home.
o man the shinobi trilogy was is and always b 1 of my most treasured sega games of all time
o man the shinobi trilogy was is and always b 1 of my most treasured sega games of all time
I really love Shinobi III, and I still use my Mega Drive 2 to play it. I wish they'd make a version for the current batch of consoles.
OnlyTbone, "thekungfool...equal....true sony fanboy....how can anyone bash on a game like Halo. Halo 2 a huge disappointment huh... then why so many Halo 3 preorders?!?! Because halo 2 was awesome as well. Sure the campaign wasnt as indepth, but i think multiplayer greatly made up for that. And with 4PLAYER ONLINE CO-OP. and awesome multiplayer in H3 i think its safe to say there combining the two and tis going to RAWK YOUR SOCKS OFF!!" People might take what you say serious if you didn't go out of your way to destroy the English language. Halo 2 was an ok game, but it was essentially Halo, nothing new was added to the gameplay except 'dual wielding' which was in Goldeneye for N64. My MAJOR beef with the Halo series is that they do NOTHING innovative, and they also don't do anything THE BEST, there is always another shooter out there that beats them on something. Don't get me wrong Halo is a great game, but Halo fans make everyone else hate it because they over rate it SOO much, and they also seem to think that everyone who doesn't think it is the best game is in denial or something, a nice chunk of the fanbase is made up of obnoxious, arrogant, douche bag, a-holes... everyone else is cool though! Remember popular and good aren't always synonomous, just look at Okami. Halo has great online multiplayer though, that is one thing you can rejoice about. Regardless Halo doesn't measure up to some other really good PC shooters, which is why I don't give it the credit that you guys probably think it deserves. Again though, it is a great game, don't get me wrong, but I'll take HL or UT anyday.
got the 2 demos downloading atm ....they forgot about the heavenly sword anime part 2 also.
"boblighte LANDSTALKER IS AMAZING. Seriously one of the best games I've ever played. Ever. I'd kill for a sequel. " I'll kill too! Landstalker should be dipped in gold it's so damn good!
Hopefully Sony will be able to continue putting out game demos...Maybe in the future they will put them out before or close to the game's release?
Shinobi III is a fantastic old sega game. Back in 7 year old nintendo-land, I used to rent sega genesis at the local video store and rent this game with it. If you're looking to try something new, this game is awesome, give it a shot if you're thinking about getting another VC game.
Chaudziff, I just DL Archlord last night. It is not that bad at all. I have never played a MMORPG (or whatever there called) but I am into it. Has some potential.
Screw all those other games where's my tekken 5 dr patch for online what the F%%K. Why is it the sony blesses Asians with showers of demos and games yet us Americans and Europeans wait while pounding sand!
Right, I want Halo 3 I have a cool plan whereby we storm the Bungie offices in disguise, then we absail into the dev room and steal it (we'll leave them RRP for it) and then escape in a cloud of smoke. I need volounteers, a map to bungie studios, a plane ticket to America, a disguise and some rope. Who's with me?
To PSdual_wielder How would you know Campaign sucks? The game isn't even out yet! Narrows reminds me of Gephyrophobia (Halo PC).
Its a shame that the PS store doesn't have as many demos as Xbox Live marketplace does. I guess that can change in the future though.
is the halo multiplayer so exciting that debuting a new map will feed fanboys hunger that much? maybe if i ever get a chance I'll try it out, but I know the single-player isn't great at all
thekungfool...equal....true sony fanboy....how can anyone bash on a game like Halo. Halo 2 a huge disappointment huh... then why so many Halo 3 preorders?!?! Because halo 2 was awesome as well. Sure the campaign wasnt as indepth, but i think multiplayer greatly made up for that. And with 4PLAYER ONLINE CO-OP. and awesome multiplayer in H3 i think its safe to say there combining the two and tis going to RAWK YOUR SOCKS OFF!!
Summary: 360 demos of cross platform games are finally coming to the PS3, better late then never. It sucks that it's late, but it's good that it's going to happen one way or another, no doubting that. Halo 3's got a new map, kinda cool. Nobody cares about ArchLord. And more crappy, over priced VC games are coming, which include no bonus content or playability beyond that fact that you can boot them up from your Wii.
I wonder if the map named "Narrows" has any comparison to the Narrows Bridge in Tacoma, Washington, near where Bungie is based. Hence, the Bridge. Also, in the 60's, the bridge broke, so it would be cool to see a similiarity between the bridges so it can swing from side to side.
LANDSTALKER IS AMAZING. Seriously one of the best games I've ever played. Ever. I'd kill for a sequel.
Landstalker made it on EGM's top 100 games of all time list a few years ago, if I'm not mistaken. Sounds like something for me to save my Wii points for!
TheKungFool, I wouldn't expect you to get it, considering your very weak opinion on Halo 3. Now, if you were to state that it was your opinion instead of talking out your ass, I'd be fine with it. But, negative comments about a video game that has had such success is quite redundant. Maybe Halo 3 isn't tame and bland, you just have bad taste in games.
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Halo 3
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- Publisher(s): Microsoft Game Studios
- Developer(s): Bungie Software
- Genre: Action
- Release:
- Classification Board: M
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