All DS News

Man-Bat to Appear in Lego Batman (LEGO Batman: The Videogame)

Jul 25, 2008

The villain ranks for the Lego Batman game due out later this year continues to swell. Last month 1UP reported on the inclusion of Bane, Clayface, and Nightwing. This month 1UP only has one, but it's a wild one, literally. Man-Bat will be bringing his genetically mashed up bat powers to the bad guys side. Like many villains, Man-Bat is the product of good intentions gone wrong. Dr. Kirk Langstrom in an attempt to cure his deafness creates a serum using bat DNA. While it successfully granted him bat-like sonar, it also turned him into a man-sized bat. He gained wings, allowing him to fly, and superhuman strength, but like a bat lost much of his ability to see in daylight.

Brett Favre to Remain a Packer -- on Madden 09 Cover (Madden NFL 09 )

Jul 25, 2008

With all the talk of Brett Favre coming back to the NFL for a different team, some questioned what would happen to the Madden cover. Well, EA has set the record straight, saying that "Brett Favre [would appear] in a GB jersey, no matter what."

Mad Catz to Produce Rayman Raving Rabbids Branded Console Videogame and PC Accessories (Rayman Raving Rabbids)

Jul 24, 2008

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc., a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, announced today that it has secured a license from Ubisoft to produce branded accessories based on the Rayman Raving Rabbids series of games. The multi-year agreement gives Mad Catz North American rights to a range of accessories for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PC, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance and the Wii home videogame system from Nintendo.

EA's Maddenpalooza Maddetailed (Madden NFL 09 )

Jul 24, 2008

EA has dropped details on this year's celebration for the release of Madden NFL 09, annoyingly titled Maddenpalooza. Mentioned during Leigh's interview with Steve Schnur earlier this month, Maddenpalooza is a music festival featuring bands from current and past Madden soundtracks that will take place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on August 11th. Fans can snag tickets through local radio stations or at the Rose Bowl on event day, which entitle them to a day filled with music, NFL star signings, and various other bits of marketing, all leading up to 9PM when the stadium's pop-up Wal-Mart will sell the first copies of the game.

Artists scheduled to appear include headliners Good Charlotte, Busta Rhymes, Rev Theory, Airbourne, From First to Last and Young Dre The Truth. Sounds like a worthy successor to the traditional Maddenoliday, more than enough to hold us until they add the word Madden to the front of some new festive term.

Rumor: Kingdom Hearts coming out this year in Japan (Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days)

Jul 24, 2008

Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days' teaser website has turned into an actual website now, with menus to click on and everything else you'd come to expect from a Square Enix website. It's still lacking in compelling content, however, aside from a downloadable wallpaper and a beautiful background song. (You can also see the Japanese character profiles for Roxas and Axel, as well as browse through a few screens in the "Story" section.)

The other interesting 358/2 Days news is that in the manual for the DS remake of Dragon Quest V (which released last week in Japan), an ad for the game boasts "Coming 2008." We'll probably find out for sure at Square Enix's DKS3713 event whether this is true or just an advertiser's wishful thinking, although it's important to keep in mind that us non-Japanese gamers will have to wait for localization, anyway.

Metal Slug 7 release date is November 18 in America (Metal Slug 7)

Jul 23, 2008

Metal Slug 7 marks the debut of the franchise on the Nintendo DS and will deliver the run and gun action you know and love in portable form; As the series enjoys it's 10th anniversary. Metal Slug 7 for DS has a release date of November 18th in America and in Europe sometime in September 2008.

Konami Announces US Release of Time Hollow for the DS (Time Hollow)

Jul 23, 2008

Konami has announced today the development of Time Hollow for the Nintendo DS. Set to release this fall in the United States, prepare to bend time and change the past to make the present right. Utilizing the features of the Nintendo DS, venture in time travel by solving puzzles with your stylus and a lot more.

Take control of Ethan Kairos in a quest to find the mystery about the death of his family. With the magical hollow pen he came across, he must use it to go back to the past and solve the mystery surrounding it. From the script writer of Suikoden IV, Time Hollow is sure to have a great storyline.

"A new franchise for Konami, Time Hollow delivers a unique adventure that will challenge and intrigue gamers with the combination of a deep storyline and clever puzzles," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.

Toys R Us midnight Star Wars: Clone Wars event, life-size action figure giveaway (Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy)

Jul 23, 2008

From the article:

"As if fans really need another reason to get psyched about the upcoming animated Star Wars: Clone Wars film, Toys R Us is having an in-store midnight sales event featuring Clone Wars products and also giving away four five-feet tall Clone Wars action figures."

Toys R Us is also offering free shipping on select items including many LucasArts videogames including Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Thrillville and Lego: Indiana Jones. Several videogames include a buy-one-get-one-half-price offer. Also:

"To help promote the event, Toys R Us is also giving away four life-size (as in five feet tall) action figures. Depending on the week, you could win a large-scale Anakin, Captain Rex, Obi-Wan or Ahsoka figure. You can enter once per day via the "Galactic Star Wars Sweepstakes" web site."

Metal Slug 7 dated for Europe (Metal Slug 7)

Jul 22, 2008

Metal Slug 7 will be arriving on European shelves this autumn, courtesy of SNK and Ignition.

Metal Slug 7 marks the debut of the popular franchise on the Nintendo DS and promises "fast paced and frantic 'run and gun action'" that has become synonymous with the series.

Mario & Sonic: AtOG Over 10 Million Worldwide (Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games)

Jul 22, 2008

The president of Sega of America, Simon Jeffery, has announced that Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games has aready sold 10 million copies around the world.

GTA: Chinatown Wars at PAX? (Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars)

Jul 22, 2008

In an interview with Nintendo's Cammie Dunaway [who announced GTA: Chinatown Wars for the DS at Nintendo's E3 press conference], she revealed that Nintendo are pushing on Rockstar for some new stuff on Chinatown Wars for the Penny Arcade Expo.

Rockstar Games have been confirmed to be attending so there is a good chance we will see some new Rockstar Games stuff including GTA for the Nintendo DS.

Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton set to appear in Ubi's Imagine adverts (Imagine Rock Stars)

Jul 21, 2008

DsrkZero: Ubisoft has revealed they have snapped up Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton to promote their Imagine series of games. If you not heard of either celeb, then you must never watch TV at all ever. Memorable games in the series are Imagine Girl Band, Imagine Teacher and Imagine Movie Star, and the always amusing Imagine Babies.

New Game Releases for the Week of July 20, 2008 (Final Fantasy IV (DS))

Jul 19, 2008

Welcome to New Releases for the Week!

The highlight this week is Final Fantasy IV on the Nintendo DS.

Check out the full list of new video game releases (USA) for the week of July 20, 2008 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Sony PS2, PSP, Nintendo DS, and PC! As always, release dates are subject to change.

Tornado European Release Announced and Screens (Tornado)

Jul 19, 2008

Ignition Entertainment today announced that Tornado, a Nintendo DS game developed by Success Corporation, will be available across Europe this Autumn.

First day sales in Japan (7/17) - Dragon Quest V Over 400 K Sold (Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride)

Jul 18, 2008

Ameblo via VGChartz is reporting that the first day sales estimates in Japan on July 17th, 2008 as follow:

First Day Sales : The numbers in () shows the shipments info.

* DQ V (DS): about 420k (about 700k)
* Gundam Battle Universe (PSP): about 98k (about 160~170k)
* Tears to Tiara (PS3): about 20k

Konami Shows Off New Castlevania Titles (Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia)

Jul 17, 2008

"The only details we got on Order of Ecclesia were in trailer form, showing off a hero whipping and slashing hordes of skeletons, zombies, and Frankenstein's Monster. This looks to be a complete return to traditional Castlevania, with side-scrolling monster hunting galore.

More time was spent on Castlevania Judgment, a Wii exclusive that you aren't supposed to call a fighter. The producers are terming the title a "3D versus action" game, which basically means you can fight in all dimensions. Considering there are two characters onscreen replete with health bars, a timer, and special attack meters, this one has all the earmarks of a fighter. But hey, six of one, half-a-dozen of the other."

E3 2008: See how Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise's DS garden grows with new screens (Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise)

Jul 17, 2008

Judging by these new images, the DS's garden looks just as busy and lush as the Xbox 360's. Considering the inherent portability of the handheld console this forthcoming conversion will hopefully lend itself better to the regular maintenance requirements that make for flourishing, piñata-rich vegetation.

E3 2008: Star Wars The Clone Wars DS - create your own Jedi dream teams (Star Wars The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance )

Jul 17, 2008

According to LucasArts, the game features an exclusive DS story which expands the Clone Wars series. It also enables you to create your own personalised Jedi teams by pairing up Jedi Masters and Padawans. So Anakin Skywalker is able to fight alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka Tano wth Mace Windu.

Imagine that.

It's also possible to develop the relationship between your two Jedis and develop more powerful attacks and special abilities. Missions can be replayed with different character combinations for an entirely new experience, as well as the chance to unlock new areas, collectibles and other secrets.

Confirmed: Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Coming 2008 (Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days)

Jul 17, 2008

Looks like Square Enix is staying true to their word to release Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days sometime this year: A new advertisement of the game, found inside Dragon Quest V's case, states the game is "Coming 2008". Perhaps Square Enix will finally reveal the release date during their private event, DKS3713; After all, they did state a demo will be available there.

Star Wars video game bridges gap between films (Star Wars: The Force Unleashed)

Jul 17, 2008

Consider it "Star Wars III and a Half" - complete with a pivotal plot twist. When LucasArts releases "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" on Sept. 16, the video game will serve as George Lucas' official median between 2005's "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" and 1977's "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope." In the game, players become Darth Vader's secret apprentice and use The Force to hunt the remaining Jedi.