Indeed, the inevitable has happened. The previously mentioned BlazBlue has been announced for a summer release in North America. Kotaku posted a load of nice screens with their bit on it this morning, so check them out. KOFXII vs BlazBlue this summer for most beautiful 2-d game ever. FIGHT!!!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
The New Year in Games part II (or ROUND 2... FIGHT!!!)
[take 2 because blogger for some reason time stamps something the day the post is made, not the day it is first published...O_o]
Ken and Ryu face off in Steet Fighter IV
As many know by now, Street Fighter IV has taken the world by storm. It has created an unprecedented level of demand for home arcade sticks, leading to sell outs of every stick of measurable quality currently available in the western market. Many have criticized MadCatz for a perceived intentional shortage of product with their Tournament Edition Fightsticks (my facebook friends can see all about my experience with that subject) in order to create demand. While that is an understandable position to take, it doesn't account for the sellouts and aftermarket price gouging also underway on places such as eBay and Amazon Marketplace for Hori's Real Arcade Pro line of sticks. Gamers have spoken and the message is clear: we still love two dimensional fighting games.
Street Fighter IV is a beautiful and complex game that remains accessible to those without the time and inclination to devote themselves to mastery of every character. While Street Fighter III and its revisions incorporated a parry system which could only be utilized if the player knew exact timing and placement of opponents' combos, SFIV uses a focus attack which will block one attack while held and will retaliate with a strong attack when released. Somewhat controversial was the dev team's decision to relinquish the traditional 2D sprites, in favor of 3D character models with textures sporting a hand painted aesthetic complete with ink splashes thrown around when completing certain specials. The effect makes for a wonderfully modern take on the classic genre.
But the fun doesn't end there. Just announced this week are two more console releases which are sure to attract the attention of all fighting fans, both new and old. First in July (previously announced with the vague "summer 'o9" date), we'll be treated to the fifteenth anniversary celebration of the King of Fighters, the seminal team based fighter from SNK in the lovingly crafted King of Fighters XII.
The most beautiful King of Fighters ever
The developers entered into this project with the intention of recreating each character and presenting them in fully hand drawn traditional sprites in high definition. Many were astonished at the look, initially mistaking the sprites for 3D cell shaded models. This is a point of pride for the devs and the publishers here as well. 1up alum and New Business Development Director for Ingintion Entertainment is quoted on Kotaku as saying, "While other fighting games have abandoned the time-consuming process of creating beautiful 2D art, KOFXII fully embraces the refined aesthetic beauty that only human hands can produce." Glove thrown down, folks! Old school fans may be a bit disappointed at the relatively low number of characters on the roster (only twenty - half the number in the previous KOF) but all are sure to find favorites returning while the smaller roster makes for a group of fighters easier to manage for initiates.
BlazBlue - new from Ark System Works (click the pic for a very nice high res version)
And finally, there's BlazBlue. A completely new franchise from Ark Systems Works, the creators of Guilty Gear. Given the game's pedigree, it should surprise no one that the combat system is incredibly complex, perhaps even impenetrable for relative newcomers to the genre. This game will make a wonderful addition to the library of any hardcore fighting game fan, and could make a wonderful transition for newer players who have cut their teeth on SFIV and are seeking something with a little more tooth. For now BlazBlue is only confirmed for release to consoles in Japan, but in the current climate it would be very surprising to not make it's way to North America by the end of the year.
These are exciting times for fighting fans. Hopefully manufacturers will be able to continue filling demand for quality arcade sticks. Games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band have opened consumers wallets to spending large sums for specialized controllers, and arcade sticks are just as important to full appreciation of fighting games as a plastic guitar is to the mock instrument genre.
This post is late and having started the original version WEEKS ago, it has been completely rewritten. Initially it was a description of my on again off again love affair with fighting games, and in particular the role that Street Fighter II played in my youth. Now we take a slightly different, but related turn: the rebirth of the fighting game.
Ken and Ryu face off in Steet Fighter IVAs many know by now, Street Fighter IV has taken the world by storm. It has created an unprecedented level of demand for home arcade sticks, leading to sell outs of every stick of measurable quality currently available in the western market. Many have criticized MadCatz for a perceived intentional shortage of product with their Tournament Edition Fightsticks (my facebook friends can see all about my experience with that subject) in order to create demand. While that is an understandable position to take, it doesn't account for the sellouts and aftermarket price gouging also underway on places such as eBay and Amazon Marketplace for Hori's Real Arcade Pro line of sticks. Gamers have spoken and the message is clear: we still love two dimensional fighting games.
Street Fighter IV is a beautiful and complex game that remains accessible to those without the time and inclination to devote themselves to mastery of every character. While Street Fighter III and its revisions incorporated a parry system which could only be utilized if the player knew exact timing and placement of opponents' combos, SFIV uses a focus attack which will block one attack while held and will retaliate with a strong attack when released. Somewhat controversial was the dev team's decision to relinquish the traditional 2D sprites, in favor of 3D character models with textures sporting a hand painted aesthetic complete with ink splashes thrown around when completing certain specials. The effect makes for a wonderfully modern take on the classic genre.
But the fun doesn't end there. Just announced this week are two more console releases which are sure to attract the attention of all fighting fans, both new and old. First in July (previously announced with the vague "summer 'o9" date), we'll be treated to the fifteenth anniversary celebration of the King of Fighters, the seminal team based fighter from SNK in the lovingly crafted King of Fighters XII.
The most beautiful King of Fighters everThe developers entered into this project with the intention of recreating each character and presenting them in fully hand drawn traditional sprites in high definition. Many were astonished at the look, initially mistaking the sprites for 3D cell shaded models. This is a point of pride for the devs and the publishers here as well. 1up alum and New Business Development Director for Ingintion Entertainment is quoted on Kotaku as saying, "While other fighting games have abandoned the time-consuming process of creating beautiful 2D art, KOFXII fully embraces the refined aesthetic beauty that only human hands can produce." Glove thrown down, folks! Old school fans may be a bit disappointed at the relatively low number of characters on the roster (only twenty - half the number in the previous KOF) but all are sure to find favorites returning while the smaller roster makes for a group of fighters easier to manage for initiates.
BlazBlue - new from Ark System Works (click the pic for a very nice high res version)And finally, there's BlazBlue. A completely new franchise from Ark Systems Works, the creators of Guilty Gear. Given the game's pedigree, it should surprise no one that the combat system is incredibly complex, perhaps even impenetrable for relative newcomers to the genre. This game will make a wonderful addition to the library of any hardcore fighting game fan, and could make a wonderful transition for newer players who have cut their teeth on SFIV and are seeking something with a little more tooth. For now BlazBlue is only confirmed for release to consoles in Japan, but in the current climate it would be very surprising to not make it's way to North America by the end of the year.
These are exciting times for fighting fans. Hopefully manufacturers will be able to continue filling demand for quality arcade sticks. Games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band have opened consumers wallets to spending large sums for specialized controllers, and arcade sticks are just as important to full appreciation of fighting games as a plastic guitar is to the mock instrument genre.
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