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Ignition: Muramasa sales 'in line with expectations'

by JC Fletcher { Oct 23rd 2009 at 1:00PM }

Muramasa: The Demon Blade publisher Ignition revealed to Gamer Investments a rough estimate of the NPD sales total for its Wii sidescroller, describing the game's September performance as "in the ball park of 35K," with a margin of "15-20%."

It might sound low to us, but marketing director Melody Frieda said that the total was "in line with expectations and we're happy with how it's performing to date." She said that positive reviews should help keep sales up through the holidays. The company sees even better potential for the title in the long term: according to Frieda, Ignition is "quite confident that Muramasa will be a revered cult classic like its sister property Odin Sphere," which went on to be released under the PS2's "Greatest Hits" line.

Gallery: Muramasa: Demon Blade

Ignition now publishing Arc Rise Fantasia

by JC Fletcher { Oct 22nd 2009 at 1:45PM }

Ignition Entertainment has somehow done it again: snagged a Marvelous game out of XSEED's announced lineup. Arc Rise Fantasia, which XSEED announced plans to localize in late 2008, and which was still in XSEED's slate as of E3, has been picked up by Ignition Entertainment for release in summer 2010. The turn-based RPG is developed by Sands of Destruction's imageepoch. New screens (in our gallery) accompany the announcement.

When Ignition picked up another previously-announced XSEED Wii title, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, XSEED told Joystiq that Marvelous was taking proposals from publishers and made the final decision to go with Ignition well after XSEED began promoting the title. At the time, we thought that was an anomaly.

Gallery: Arc Rise Fantasia (10/22/09)

Hands-on: Nostalgia (DS)

by JC Fletcher { Oct 16th 2009 at 7:00PM }

There's only one word I can use to describe the tone of Tecmo and Red Entertainment's Nostalgia, but that one word describes it perfectly: jaunty. I don't think I've ever played a jauntier game in my life, one that's so upbeat about the abstract notion of adventure. This enthusiasm for getting out and seeing the (fake) world is aided by a simplistic, familiar RPG gameplay system that keeps the mechanics of the game out of the way of your adventurin'. If Dragon Quest were set in a fake version of early 20th century Earth, it would be Nostalgia.

Gallery: Nostalgia (10/16/09)

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Ignition trademarks 'Dragon's Crown,' 'Figland'

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 30th 2009 at 12:50AM }

Siliconera has been digging around in trademark fillings again, finding Ignition Entertainment's recent application for the rights to Dragon's Crown. The site also found Figland, which appears to have been filed for last year. The trademarks cover the usual stuff around video games, including possible paper publications.

Siliconera notes that Ignition president Ajay Chadha told the site at E3 that the company had several new IPs in development -- apparently, we now know two of their names.

Review: Muramasa: The Demon Blade

by JC Fletcher { Sep 14th 2009 at 7:01PM }

I was honestly a bit worried about being able to review Muramasa: The Demon Blade objectively, because this game was, from the outset, completely up my alley. Making a fully 2D sidescrolling action game with lots of combo-based swordfighting and a Japanese mythological setting is like titling the game JC Will Buy This, as there is no component of that game description for which I am not a sucker.

What keeps me honest? ~~Professionalism~~ the other side of that coin -- if the game worked I may be more likely than most to love it, sure, but if there was anything wrong with it, my disappointment would come out pretty harshly. Luckily, I don't have to worry about my personal biases getting in the way, as I'm quite certain this is a great action game.

Gallery: Muramasa: Demon Blade

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Check out more of Muramasa's lovely gameplay in this new trailer

by Xav de Matos { Aug 31st 2009 at 10:00PM }

Muramasa: The Demon Blade's US release is so anticipated around Joystiq HQ, our staff can constantly be spotted exchanging fist-pumps whenever it's mentioned. Today, a new gameplay trailer has found its way online, showcasing more of the game's beautiful action. Hopefully, when it hits stores Stateside on September 8, it will live up to our lofty expectations. If not, the only arm movement we'll be making is when we throw elbows during our daily "abuse the intern" training exercises.

Video: The pretty, violent locations of Muramasa

by Richard Mitchell { Aug 20th 2009 at 6:15PM }

Ignition has released a new video of Muramasa: The Demon Blade. The video highlights the game's locations, all set in beautiful feudal Japanese backdrops. Of course, the problem with beautiful feudal Japanese backdrops is they're always being ransacked by ninjas, demons and evil snow witches. You're just walking along, admiring the cherry blossoms, and then it's like, bam: Snow witch. Happens every time. Watch the trailer and see for yourself.

Muramasa hits shelves next month.

Ignition opens sharp Muramasa: The Demon Blade site

by JC Fletcher { Aug 11th 2009 at 7:15PM }

Ignition opened the official North American Muramasa: The Demon Blade website today, confrming two important facts for us:

Ignition is still planning to release the game this year (we need constant reassurance that not every game is being pushed to 2010)
The art is still bangin'.

In fact, the website allows you to take some of that art for your very own in the form of desktop wallpapers. You can also check out screenshots, video, and character profiles while you're there, and offer Ignition your own Muramasa art in a fan art contest.

Review: King of Fighters XII

by David Hinkle { Jul 31st 2009 at 2:45PM }

SNK sticks to the KOF series' roots with King of Fighters XII, the latest 2D installment in its popular fighting franchise. It's been years since we've seen a King of Fighters game and you'd think SNK had some cards hidden up its sleeve but, to be honest, King of Fighters XII is short on the surprises.

[Editor's note: This review also features a video walkthrough.]

Gallery: King of Fighters XII

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King of Fighters XII uppercuts retail July 28

by David Hinkle { Jul 14th 2009 at 12:40PM }

The official Twitter account for King of Fighters XII has revealed the final date for retail release: July 28. KOFXII features 22 characters to choose from and the series' tried-and-true, three-on-three gameplay. The game does bring some new gameplay elements to the table, though, such as air guards and guard attacks; so it's not just the same old King of Fighters in HD. Not that that would totally be a bad thing ...

King of Fighters XII punches through with a new video

by David Hinkle { Jul 10th 2009 at 8:45PM }

If you had told us five years ago that 2009 would be a year to remember for 2D fighters, we would've called you a crazy person and erased you from our buddy list. Sure enough, with solid releases Street Fighter IV and BlazBlue already dropping this year, and Marvel vs Capcom 2, Tatsunoko vs Capcom and, as the above video shows, King of Fighters XII awaiting release, we would've been the crazy one. If you're a fan of the occasional bout of two-dimensional fisticuffs, then you've got a lot to choose from this year.

It's as if millions of piggy banks suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced ... by giant hammers.

King of Fighters XII trailer shows us combos are king

by David Hinkle { Jul 7th 2009 at 11:00PM }

Another brief snippet of gameplay arrived on our digital doorstep today, showing off some super combos and other asskickery in the upcoming King of Fighters XII. In the above trailer, we're presented with some beatdowns courtesy of Joe Higashi, Kim Kaphwan, and fan-favorite Kyo Kusanagi. Sadly, there's no Iori, but we'll have all of the time in the world to watch him mess folks up when the game releases later this month.

New Muramasa trailer makes with the slicing and dicing

by David Hinkle { Jul 2nd 2009 at 6:15PM }

There's no better way to fully appreciate the wonderful artistic style and furious action of Muramasa: The Demon Blade than to see it in motion. And, thankfully, that's just what we got for you right now. Above, you'll find a near-minute of fabulous Muramasa gameplay footage for your eyes to drool over, and if you're wondering what all of the fuss is about, you really should be keeping up.

Gallery: Muramasa: Demon Blade

Muramasa: the GameStop preorder bonus

by JC Fletcher { Jun 29th 2009 at 1:25PM }

Click to Marvelous-sizeWe didn't dare think it could happen, but when we saw the pre-order bonus for Japanese copies of Muramasa: The Demon Blade, we secretly wished for Ignition (well, XSEED at the time) to bring something half as awesome to us here. The bonus is a five-foot-long scroll featuring a series of amazing pieces of character art from the game.

GameStop has just revealed the North American pre-order bonus, and it's exactly that! We couldn't be more thrilled. Well, we could be more thrilled if two things happened:

We confirmed that the back of the scroll had the same enemy and stage artwork as the Japanese version
We found out that GameStop's September 1 release date (a Tuesday!) was the real release date for the game.

We've contacted Ignition about those two points. In the meantime, we can all enjoy the prospect of getting a really nice-looking free thing by buying another thing.

Gallery: Muramasa: Demon Blade

King of Fighters XII trailer explores the triumph of combat

by David Hinkle { Jun 26th 2009 at 9:15PM }

This latest trailer for King of Fighters XII makes with the pummeling, as trailers for fighting games are wont to do. We've said it once, and we'll say it again: Pretty sprites these be. The game just looks great, plain and simple. And on top of that, the gameplay is something we know we'll enjoy, because, well, it's King of Fighters, and King of Fighters doesn't really change.

Oh, and we totally love watching Kim Kaphwan get the business. He's such a goody-two-shoes jerk.