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So you want to play the Bayonetta demo early, do you?

by Xav de Matos { Nov 6th 2009 at 11:00PM }

Sega just announced that 40,000 lucky Xbox 360 owners will get extremely early access to a demo for the upcoming action game Bayonetta. To be considered for the prize, gamers must register for a free Sega Pass -- essentially the publisher's newsletter -- and enter for a chance to be selected on the official Bayonetta demo site.

Registration for the "contest" will be open from Monday, November 9 to Friday, November 13. Winners will be notified on Monday, November 16. Those not selected will then be referred to as "the group least likely to win a 'boot-gun thing' firing contest" ... or PlayStation 3 players. Should you not get selected, you might want to take advantage of making a Japanese account.

Bayonetta launch continues Platinum's winning streak

by JC Fletcher { Nov 6th 2009 at 3:00PM }

Bayonetta had a strong debut in Japan this week -- on PS3. The PS3 version of Platinum Games' action title sold 135,242 copies in its first week, topping the Media Create sales chart. The Xbox version had a good launch for an Xbox 360 game in Japan, at 64,325 copies. It wasn't a Resident Evil 5-size launch on either console, though the Xbox 360 version came close, and it wasn't a Wii Sports Resort-level sensation, but it should be enough to be considered a successful launch.

This is Platinum Games's second launch in Japan, and it's the second to debut at the top of the charts. Infinite Space on DS took the winning position back in June, with a comparatively modest 38,394 copies. MadWorld, Platinum's other game, has yet to be released in Japan.

The number two and three spots on Media Create's chart are also occupied by new games: Four Warriors of Light: Final Fantasy Gaiden, the new Final Fantasy for DS made by Matrix Software, and Tekken 6.

Bayonetta might need a backpack for all those guns

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 4th 2009 at 2:15PM }

Knowing now that we won't be able to get our hands on a retail copy of Bayonetta on this side of the Pacific until January 5, it's hard not to be frustrated when the game's publisher releases more footage reminding us how much fun the combat is. It might be incredibly silly that she has guns on her feet, sure, but they're guns on her feet. It makes the thought of kicking an enemy all the more enticing!

It's also just plain nice to see a trailer for this game that focuses on how the gameplay works, rather than on its hyper-sexualized main character. Also: she fires a bazooka at a demon wearing a tuba. If that's your kind of thing.

Gallery: Bayonetta

Thor and Captain America games due in 2011

by Justin McElroy { Nov 3rd 2009 at 9:51AM }

It wasn't clear when Sega would be bringing its previously announced Thor and Captain America games to market, though we assumed they'd arrive alongside the films starring the iconic characters. Marvel has confirmed our suspicions in an earnings report this morning, saying that Thor and Cap will come to consoles in May and July of 2011 respectively, the same points they're set to appear on the big screen.

Since we know practically nothing about these games, we decided that, in true internet fashion, this would be the absolute best time to pick which one is better. Excelsior!

VC in Brief: Fighting Street (TG16) and R-TYPE (SMS)

by David Hinkle { Nov 2nd 2009 at 8:15PM }

This week's Virtual Console releases kind of pale in comparison to last week's stellar offerings; Fighting Street is a crummy game that helped spawn one of gaming's best series, whereas R-TYPE is a great game, though the version offered this week is the lousier port. There's been a way more competent version of the game available since 2006!

Fighting Street (TurboGrafx-16 CD-ROM, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
R-TYPE (Sega Master System, 1 player, 500 Wii Points)

Every week, we like to check out what's new on the Virtual Console. We offer these videos as a sort of taste to help you decide whether or not you would want the game in question. We also toss in our own two cents because we're pushy jerks like that.

PS3 Bayonetta pre-orders slightly cheaper at two retailers [update]

by JC Fletcher { Nov 2nd 2009 at 3:30PM }

A couple of retailers are selling the PS3 version of Bayonetta at a slight discount over the Xbox 360 version. GameStop is temporarily knocking five bucks off pre-orders for the PS3 version only, bringing the price down to $54.99. Both come with a set of eight posters. Amazon has discounted both versions, but the PS3 release's $54.99 price tag is a little bit more discounted than the Xbox 360 version's 56.99.

Siliconera speculates that these discounts are a response to the outcry over Bayonetta looking a bit blurrier in its Sega-ported PS3 incarnation than on Xbox 360. Since these are special offers, though, it's a response on retailers' parts, and not Sega's. If it's really the case that it's an extra push for the "inferior" version and not just a semi-random sale, it seems like it could do the trick. After all, the most attractive version of Bayonetta is likely to be the one that comes with a five dollar bill.

Update: The Xbox version is now $54.99 at GameStop as well.

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing around the House of the Dead

by JC Fletcher { Oct 30th 2009 at 8:00PM }

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is slowly absorbing the entire Sega catalog into one mascot racing universe. The latest franchise to be co-opted is The House of the Dead, whose Curien Mansion is revealed as a track in a new, spooky Halloween trailer (after the break). We can't be sure, but we think we also caught glimpses of a zombie appearing both as a driver and a vehicle.

This zombie is the second appearance of the walking dead in All-Stars Racing. The first, of course, is the Shenmue franchise.

Continued →

Bayonetta's nonstop-climax action starts January 5

by JC Fletcher { Oct 29th 2009 at 12:59PM }

If you were just about to place an order for the Japanese PS3 version of Bayonetta, having just learned that it's in English, hold on! Sega has announced Western release dates for Platinum Games' foot-gunnin-action game, and they aren't terribly far off. Bayonetta will arrive in North America on January 5 and in Europe on January 8. Sorry, Darksiders!

In the meantime, you can check out some of the humiliating (and potentially NSFW) extra costumes that are available in the game. Amazingly, the default costume, which is composed entirely of magical human hair, is the most practical and restrained outfit of the lot.

Gallery: Bayonetta

Bayonetta's first dev diary explains protagonist's origins

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 28th 2009 at 4:41PM }

Platinum Games' Hideki Kamiya and Yusuke Hashimoto may not be taking the story super seriously in upcoming third-person action game Bayonetta, but that doesn't mean no effort was exerted in creating the title character's backstory.

As it turns out, she came from the future to kill someone's mother so that ... okay, yeah, we're just making that up. Everyone knows that you couldn't bring back all those fancy guns through time! Duh! It's really that her family was attacked when she was a baby and even though the attacker came after her, she lived and ... alright, it's not that either. Rather than trust ourselves to relay it, we'll just let the developers explain Bayonetta themselves in the video after the break.

Gallery: Bayonetta

Continued →

Japanese Valkyria Chronicles 2 demo coming Nov. 2

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 28th 2009 at 2:15PM }

Sega will release a Japanese Valkyria Chronicles 2 demo November 2, translates Andriasang. It's currently unclear whether the demo will be the same one shown at Tokyo Game Show, but for those who weren't there, now's the time to practice some internet trickery if the language barrier isn't a bother.

Our hands-on time with VC2 at TGS gave us hope that, despite its portable size, the sequel will attempt to deliver the same epic strategy and drama of the PS3 version. We will definitely keep our ears open for a Western demo, but with the overseas release of the game not expected until summer 2010, don't hold your breath. If you haven't played the original, what are you waiting for?

Gallery: Valkyria Chronicles 2

Japanese Bayonetta knows English, is region-free

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 28th 2009 at 11:30AM }

Chances are, you want "non stop climax action" as soon as possible. Thanks to the PS3's region-free gaming, you'll be able to do just that. The game's menus and dialog, as Siliconera discovered, are all in English -- no need to learn Japanese, folks. Considering the game isn't due to arrive in North America until early next year, this import is an easy choice for those who want Hideki Kamiya's latest now.

VC in Brief: Golden Axe (Arcade) and Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES)

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

This week, the Virtual Console receives two new titles: Golden Axe on the VC Arcade and Zombies Ate My Neighbors on the SNES. Both are great times for co-op enthusiasts and, really, just great times.

Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
Golden Axe (Arcade, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points)

Sega lighters set on fire what Nintendon't

by JC Fletcher { Oct 23rd 2009 at 9:42AM }

Now that there's a lighter in the shape of a Sega Saturn, we think Segata Sanshiro would insist that people start smoking. Through November 6, retailer Net-You is accepting pre-orders on these beautiful Sega Hard Memorial Zippo Lighters made by Banpresto, which feature the likenesses of the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Saturn, for ¥10,500 (roughly $115) each.

That's quite a bit more than you'd pay for the real systems in Akihabara, but, then, the real systems can't get your "just light the bag" charcoal started. Now is time to the 68000 cigarette on fire!

[Via Andriasang]

Resonance of Fate destined for Japan on January 28

by JC Fletcher { Oct 22nd 2009 at 11:29AM }

Resonance of Fate was given a North American release window of spring 2010 way back in May, leaving the question of its Japanese release (as End of Eternity) unanswered -- until just now. Sega previously launched a cute "count-up" site to reveal the date, which has finally arrived at January 28, 2010*. The official game site now shows this information, as well.

Earlier this month, producer Mitsuhiro ShimanoIn told Joystiq that, with Resonance of Fate development on schedule, Sega had the freedom to set the Japanese release date "when it's going to be the best time to fully reach the potential." Apparently, the best time is ... a month after Final Fantasy XIII?

*Note: At the time of this posting, our browser still shows that several hours remain, suggesting that the counter is based on one's local time zone.

[Via Andriasang]

Bayonetta is first Xbox 360 game awarded perfect score by Famitsu

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 20th 2009 at 6:00PM }

We bet you didn't know Bayonetta was a (numerically) flawless game. As it turns out, it is ... at least according to Famitsu, which just gave the game a perfect 40/40 review -- the first perfect score given to a game available on Xbox, incidentally. It's no secret that the Japanese mag has been handing out perfect scores at an accelerated rate these days. Of the twelve games to receive a perfect score -- Bayonetta included -- six were awarded in the last two years. There are only so many reasons we can imagine that Bayonetta would receive such high scores.

First, it could be that Bayonetta is just a really good game. Second, it's possible the editors of Famitsu really have a thing for hair witches. Given the involvement of Hideki Kamiya -- one of the principal minds behind Devil May Cry -- it's probably the former. At least, we certainly hope it's the former.