Texcap

Given Sega’s recent announcement that Valkyria Chronicles 2 (PSP) would indeed be coming to U.S. shores in Summer 2010 I figured I’d best take a moment to voice my appreciation to everyone involved for the original game (which I’ll still be playing years from now) and for all of the fans out there that got [...]

“I’m Batman.”
I had some time to spare last night and was finally was able to download the PSN demo for Batman: Arkham Asylum, something I’d been itching to do since it was released last week, and dang was that fun! I put out all the lights and spent about 20-minutes taking in the game and [...]

Nintendo has teamed up with the remains of Tecmo's Team Ninja to bring us an all-new Metroid title for the Wii: Metroid Other M. Due in 2010.
Credit: Nintendo/Team Ninja

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Never thought I’d see the day that Ratchet & Clank would be immortalized as action figures, saying nothing of the fact that Dr. Nefarious, Captain Quark…and Mr. Zirkon (!) will see the light of day as well in these sculpts distributed by DC Direct.  But whatever the case, this is awesome, and while I’m trying to really limit the amount of collectibles in my house these days, I may have to make an exception for at least a couple of these (at $19.99 for each set of 2, I’ll have to keep an eye on some online discounts for the rest). Here’s the solicitation:
Based on the best-selling, action-adventure series of video games available exclusively on the PlayStation® computer entertainment systems! One of the best-selling video game series of all time and a worldwide favorite with consumers, the Ratchet and Clank franchise is best known for overpowered weapons, ingenious gadgets, interstellar exploration and outrageous humor. At the heart of this multimillion unit selling action-adventure saga are its two main characters: Ratchet, an impulsive, wrench-wielding intergalactic tinkerer who is the last Lombax in the galaxy, and Clank, his logical and witty robotic partner. With the help of self-proclaimed ‘hero,’ Captain Qwark, Ratchet and Clank have defeated most of the universe’s most vile villains. Yet they face an old nemesis, the diabolical Dr. Nefarious, who seeks to control time itself in their latest caper - Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time. Each figure features multiple points of articulation. 4-color clamshell packaging. Advance-solicited; on sale December 2, 2009

And on a related note, I can’t wait for Dr. Nefarious’ return later this year in Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (PS3).  He’s easily one of the greatest villains ever!

Look for Astro Boy in theaters on October 23rd, and be sure to visit the Official Astro Boy Movie Site for all kinds of fun stuff.
“The Greatest Robot on Earth”
Also, if you have the means and you’ve never had the chance to really jump into the world of Osamu Tezuka’s Tetsuwan Atomu (”Mighty Atom“), there’s never been a better time to do so thanks to the recent manga compilation reprinting Astro Boy Volumes 1 & 2, available at retailers like amazon.com for ~ $10.  My own monthly comic reading list has plummeted dramatically as cover prices have increased sharply on what are now $3.99 32-pagers, and my focus has turned almost exclusively towards collections such as this.  Weighing in at 424-pages, wholly translated into English and featuring Tezuka’s timeless character and art in B&W — it’s not difficult to see why.

Valkyria Chronicles (PS3) released quietly amidst the 2008 holiday rush (where every company and their dog releases the Triple-A titles they’ve hyped all year), and while it was largely overshadowed and under appreciated, it proved a critical success due to its unique strategy game play, storyline, and unique visuals - solidifying its reputation as one of the best, if overlooked, games yet released this generation - and one not to be missed.  Come April 16th, Sega will be releasing 3-content DLC packs via the PlayStation Store to extend your enjoyment, and/or to entice you to give it a second look:


First up will be the long awaited Hard EX Mode. If you feel like a challenge, you can step it up in this mode and try playing through the game without the support of your main tank, Edelweiss.


Second is called Edy’s mission. Six of the Squad Seven members get separated, and while trying to reunite they come across a village under attack by the Imperial Army. Outnumbered, it’s up to you to perfect your strategy, defeat the Imperalists, and save the village!


Third is “Behind Her Blue Flame“, the previously unannounced (for the US/UK) mission set with Selvaria - this time you’re on the opposite side of the field, playing as an engineer in Selvaria’s troop. Besides the inclusion of Selvaria, one of the coolest aspects of this mission is that you get to see things unfolding from the perspective of the Imperial Army, instead of Gallia.


I’m probably going to skip the Hard EX Mode for the time being as the games existing difficulty levels are working just fine for me, but I can’t wait to play “Edy’s mission” and “Behind Her Blue Flame” particularly the latter (where the player will purportedly be able to control the Valkyrie Selvaria!)  That, and apparently the DLC holds a few surprises that weren’t specified so there’s all the more reason!  You can pick up the title at just under retail at several spots online (e.g. amazon.com), but rep