Good… uh, early MORNING everyone, and welcome to yet another edition of Hey! Look! Listen! As per always, I’m your host Oliver “Riddles” Motok, and I’m here with a smattering of news stories and oddities that managed to catch my eye.
In case you haven’t guessed already, I’ve failed at playing any Wind Waker this week. However, the week is far from over, so there is time. That game happens to be my second favorite Zelda, hot on the heels of the immortal Ocarina of Time. So naturally, I’m pretty excited about re-visiting it.
Shall we?
Ubisoft Announces New Prince of Persia Game
I don’t think I’ve ever been so simultaneously thrilled and terrified by a game revelation in my life. Ubisoft has recently announced that Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will be released for both consoles and handhelds in May, coinciding with the upcoming film. Reportedly, the game will feature “fan-favorite elements from the original series,” as well as “new gameplay innovations.”
Why is this awesome? Because it’s a) Prince of Persia and b) a return to the Sands of Time universe, which is INFINITELY preferable to the cel-shaded universe of the recent series reboot.
Why is it terrifying? Well… because it’s a movie tie-in. While I can’t imagine that Ubisoft would mar the integrity of one of their most respected franchises, it’s still an unpleasant thought, given the quality of most film tie-ins. Secondly, Ubisoft DID NOT announce if this was a return to the Sands of Time videogame universe, or a game based on the film itself. (i.e, featuring the likenesses of the actors and such). If that turns out to be the case, no corner of the internet will be safe from my wrath. Let’s just say I’m tentatively both stoked and enraged. (Kotaku, 1UP).
Final Fantasy XIII Boxart, Length Revealed
The fact that Final Fantasy XIII will be mine in four months still hasn’t quite hit me yet. Not sure why, but regardless, the internet isn’t going to rest until my anticipation has reached the breaking point. Have a look at the game’s recently-revealed boxart:
My verdict: not bad, though extremely simplistic, and the Xbox 360 version wins for showing more leg.
While I’m on the subject: Final Fantasy XIII director Motomu Toriyama has gone on the record stating the the game will be a whopping 50-60 hours long. “For XIII, the size of the entire game is considerable,” said Toriyama. ”Just running through the main story takes experienced players over 50 hours. For the first time, I think it’s possible to play through in full in about 60 hours or so.”
Good to know some things never change, I guess. Lord knows I’ll be punching in every hour and then some. (Kotaku, 1UP).
Assassin’s Creed II DLC Forthcoming
I rarely give a shit about downloadable content, but Ubisoft might change my mind with what they have planned for Assassin’s Creed II. Two different DLC packs have been announced, scheduled for release in January and February of 2010. They are entitled Battle of Forli and The Bonfire of the Vanities, respectively.
Those who have played and finished Assassin’s Creed II know that late in the game, the story skips a rather large chunk of time. (11 years, to be precise – it jumps from 1488 to 1499). Also, it skips two chapters – jumping from “Memory Sequence 11″ to “Memory Sequence 14.”
Perhaps you’re picking up on something here? If you need further proof, the Bonfire of the Vanities is an actual historical event that took place in Florence during the year 1497. Fits right in the aforementioned 11 year gap.
Oh, and Ubisoft is telling gamers to keep 1 GB of space available for each DLC, meaning these additional chapters will be quite lengthy indeed. (Kotaku).
Check Out Mass Effect 2’s New Asari Babe
I’m sorry, but Liara will not be making the cut as long as this chick’s around. All I can say at this point is damn.
Yakuza 3 Listing Found on Amazon Germany
It’s easy to forget that Yakuza 3 isn’t ACTUALLY confirmed for release outside of Japan. However, Sega’s persistent “no comments” and now this Amazon listing act as a sort of de facto announcement if you ask me. Apparently the game is set for a March release. I’d give you the link, but it’s apparently (and unsurprisingly) been taken down. Yakuza fans rejoice; I know you’re out there. I’m not one of them, though… seeing that I’ve, uh, never tried the series out. (1UP).
Nintendo Scales Back Wii Production
A report from Nikkei states that two Japanese companies, Mitsumi and Hosiden, are facing staggering losses in profit due to “declining fortunes” of Nintendo’s Wii. In case you’re slow on the uptake, Mitsumi and Hosiden are companies that assemble, among other things, Wii systems. Fewer Wiis being sold means fewer Wiis being assembled. All said, both companies are reportedly looking at net profit losses of over 50 percent. Ouch.
I find it rather humorous that, after years of keeping Wii production low, (likely for the sole purpose of stirring hype) Nintendo ramps it up, only to cut it back again with startling quickness. Or… maybe it’s all part of their evil plan. I don’t know. They’re devious little bastards like that. (Kotaku).
And that, as they say, is that! My goodness it’s late. Early. Whatever. Good thing I have to work for 10-11 hours tomorrow! Time to grab my four hours of sleep. Catch you on the flip side.
Tags: Assassin's Creed II, Final Fantasy XIII, Hey! Look! Listen!, Mass Effect 2, Nintendo, Prince of Persia, Prince of Persia Movie, Wii, Yakuza 3
- I haven’t really felt the hype-train for FFXIII, either. It seems like lately I get most of my hype through podcasts and hearing people talk about what they’ve been playing recently, so I imagine a few weeks before it comes out, I’ll be bombarded with so much praise for the game it’ll more than make up for my lack of excitement now.
- Yakuza would have been a good game to play during Backlog Week. It’s one of those series that’s always seemed like my type of thing, but I’ve never played any of them. I should really pick those up while they’re still cheap on Amazon.
- I’m currently riding a Bioware high because of Dragon Age, and now I really want to go back and play ME1 again before ME2 comes out to get a refresher course on the plot. Maybe I’ll finally finish up my “hard” playthrough early next year :D.
I’m going to do a SN style live comment update.
-Prince of Persia. I’m more terrified than anything. It’s too close to the release date. And the Sands of Time series is better, yes, but not infinitely better. The new Sands of Time had a far more appealing art style, and way better character and enemy design. Far, far from perfect yes, but not exhausted and full of more potential.
-I approve of the boxart. I’m a Lightning pervert, so solo Lightning is good in my books.
-I’m not as excited as I “should” be either. Probably because I’m so used to FFXIII being so far away that I probably don’t believe it.
-Re: Assassin’s Creed. …Sounds like planning ahead for that DLC. Ugh.
-That chick’s hot. Too scary. Liara is safe, and still wants me. I’ll take the easy route plz.
-What’s Yakuza?
-I’m sick of arguing about the Wii. Cow and I end up hating each other.
-Nah, the series reboot of was just a shadow of Assassin’s Creed overlaid with a cel-shaded art style. Assassin’s Creed II has solidified this fact.
Not to say that I didn’t enjoy it, but I’d much rather see more of the Sands of Time universe/gameplay style.
-I agree with everything you said.
-It’s definitely planning ahead, which kinda miffs me, but I’ll be happy to see these new chapters nonetheless.
-I like danger. As you well know.
-What’s what, now?
-You guys are cute when you argue.
You can put that flippant tone in front of anything! You love cel shading! I can’t be flippant to that art style. It’s one of the better looking games I’ve played this generation.
-Square-Enix hours are like dog years, when they say 60 hours, they probably mean half of that.
-Normally I’d be super pumped for the next four months to have a new FF, but like so many others I suspect in my heart of hearts that it doesn’t infact exist … (this in spite of owning the Demo XD).
-Damn it! I hate DLC! I think it’s despicable to just leave a chunk of the game’s story out! To bad I’ve already ordered this, I’d likely have been better served waiting for the GOTY edition of AC2. FUCK DLC! D:<
-LOL @ the declining fortunes of the Wii.
@Ethos: I DID love the art style. It was the single aspect of the game that was better conceived than the original trilogy.
@Noob: Yeah, you’re probably right… If Final Fantasy XIII really takes me 60 hours to beat, I’ll be surprised.
And the more I think about the AC2 DLC, the more bitter I become. Initially, I was so excited at the thought of playing the content that I didn’t even think about how shitty it was for Ubisoft to leave it out in the first place.
Regardless, I’m going to be a sucker and buy it. Like always. God damn me and my kind.
They did not choose to omit the most interesting episode of the era by sheer coincidence.
Truth. Money-grubbing bastards.
I’m with you guys on FFXIII length. But I’m okay with it not being 60 hours. That’s what ToV was, and it was definitely too much.
@Riddles – Y’know, I think I agree. I still think the new series has a ton of potential, and I’d rather see an attempt at that than a return to an old formula.
I’d love it to run in excess of 60 hours (as all FFs should), but I feel that advances in technology may have beaten them.
How long were previous FF playthroughs? I didn’t check my playclock on the recent FFVII playthrough, but it would probably be horribly skewed because of the amount of grinding I do in that game. I seem to remember FFX taking somewhere around 50 hours, but it’s been a while. No idea how long I spent on FFXII.
Oh, that’s too bad.
@Darth – Yeah, my numbers would be skewed too. FF games continue to be the most satisfying to grind in.