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Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow coming to DS in Spring 2010

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Oct 29th 2009 at 2:30PM }

If you've been dying to march Akira Toriyama-designed characters through fantasy landscapes and monster-infested dungeons, you'll be saddened to hear that Dragon Quest IX has yet to be announced for North American release. As if sensing your oddly specific yearning, D3Publisher has stepped in with a US debut for Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow.

Dubbed Blue Dragon: Ikai no Kyojuu in Japan (and published by Namco Bandai, which owns the majority of D3Publisher), the second DS entry in the Mistwalker's role-playing franchise stars a new protagonist, with gender, facial features and clothing determined by your input. Awakened Shadow is set two years after the events of the Xbox 360 game and finds Shu and the gang returning to Blue Dragon's "contemporary" RPG gameplay. Expect to upgrade weaponry, tactically change shadows and skip every scene featuring Marumaro.

Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow is scheduled for release in Spring 2010.

Matt Hazard trailers put out-of-work characters back in the game

by David Hinkle { Oct 23rd 2009 at 7:00PM }

It must be tough being a video game character. They always have to be "on" -- ready to go should we boot up our systems or pump more quarters into the machines. But what happens when we stop turning them on? A two-part trailer for the second-chance Matt Hazard: Blood Bath & Beyond (now a side-scroller!) explores the more desperate side of the digital beings we've so carelessly abused and sold back to GameStop.

Head past the break for the two trailers and see if you can spot all of the cameos! (You know it's hard times when even a certain mustached plumber can't find any work.)

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Astro Boy movie adaptation coming to Wii, DS, PSP, PS2

by Griffin McElroy { May 7th 2009 at 11:45AM }

It appears that High Voltage Software's unannounced non-FPS title has been revealed, and ... it's only wearing underpants. According to a recent press release, the Conduit developer, along with D3Publisher, will be bringing Imagi Studios' upcoming CGI-infused Astro Boy film to the Wii, PSP and PS2 -- but in the form of a video game. How very clever! We'll see how well this bold experiment pans out when the game drops this Fall, probably around the film's October 23 release date.

The title will also be developed for the DS by Art Co. Ltd., who also adapted Coraline for D3Publisher. That doesn't exactly fill us with confidence, but hey -- it's pretty tough to screw up "Finger Lasers, Arm Cannons, and Butt Machine Guns."

Matt Hazard takes on Japanese RPGs in Eat Lead trailer

by Jem Alexander { Jan 28th 2009 at 4:35PM }

Eat Lead: The Return Of Matt Hazard's premise is certainly interesting. It seeks to systematically pick apart video game cliches using as much meta-humor as possible. The gameplay footage after the break shows the eponymous Matt Hazard facing off against a JRPG character, complete with a massive sword, hilarious hair and Final Fantasy style text windows. Their discourse is actually fairly humorous, though the gameplay that takes place afterwards looks about as generic as a 3rd-person shooter can get.

You'll be able to see whether the premise is worth the price of admission (from what we've seen, it's not looking likely) when the game releases this Spring.

Gallery: Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard

[Thanks, Christian!]

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Puzzle Quest: Galactrix warps onto DS Feb. 24

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jan 22nd 2009 at 7:06PM }

D3Publisher announced today that Puzzle Quest: Galactrix will jump into retail on stardate 62402.24 (February 24, 2009). Demos are currently playable on PC in both Flash-based and downloadable form. Versions for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC are planned for "early 2009."

We've sent Bothans to gather more intel on a specific release date for our home systems, because like our obsession with The Real Housewives of Orange County, we prefer to keep our gem-shifting vice behind-closed-doors.

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix PC demo at Big Download

by Christopher Grant { Jan 22nd 2009 at 12:47PM }

Forget that Flash demo. The real demo of D3Publisher's space-ified Puzzle Quest follow-up, Puzzle Quest: Galactrix, is available exclusively at our PC-crazed sister-site, Big Download. The 132MB download excludes fancy features like "saving" and "having more than five levels" but at $0, the price is certainly right. If the taste is to your liking, look to the stars for the full meal in February.

Download Puzzle Quest: Galactrix Demo (132 MB)

Gallery: Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (XBLA/DS/PC)

Puzzle Quest Galactrix boldly going to PSN

by Jem Alexander { Jan 22nd 2009 at 11:15AM }

As hinted by the official Puzzle Quest Galactrix flash demo, the game has been confirmed by D3Publisher (via Eurogamer) to have a planned release on the PSN. Galactrix will be similar to the original Challenge Of The Warlords in terms of gameplay, but will feature a science fiction setting, rather than a fantasy one. If you haven't played Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords yet, be sure to give it a go. You've no excuse really, it's on practically every system available.

Currently price and release date info is a mystery, but Galactrix is supposed to release around March.

Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard is a parody (of itself)

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 28th 2008 at 8:00AM }

Edgar Wright's "Shaun of the Dead" is an example of a great parody that not only pokes fun at genre conventions, but masters them. Although it attempts to genuinely scare the audience, the film never forgets its comedic intent. However, when parodies fail to rise above the farces they make fun of, the result is usually disastrous (look at "Scary Movie" and "Disaster Movie").

So what does any of this have to do with D3Publisher's upcoming shooter, Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard? Unfortunately, this supposed "comedy shooter" is less "Shaun of the Dead" and more "Disaster Movie." Although it attempts to make fun of the shooter genre (and the industry as a whole), uninspired and mediocre gameplay mechanics hinder it from garnering the respect a proper parody needs. The poorly developed story elements also need serious reworking. The game's greatest asset, its unique premise, is stunted by generic game design -- and that's a pity.

Gallery: Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard (PS3, 360)

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Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard announced

by Alan Tsang { Oct 3rd 2008 at 3:00PM }

D3Publisher has announced a shooter known as Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard. The game will parody various video game genres and the industry, as well as pop culture. The title stars Matt Hazard (his fictitious history can be found at this official "unofficial" website), who returns to prove he can still take his old foes from the game publisher Marathon Megasoft. The game seems to be aiming to offer an entertaining third-person shooter experience (complete with a cover system) without taking itself too seriously. Take a look at the screenshots below and look for Eat Lead when it is released Q1 of 2009.

[Via Joystiq]

Gallery: Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard

D3 reveals satirical shooter 'Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard'

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Oct 3rd 2008 at 11:40AM }

Vicious Cycle Software and D3Publisher have decided it's time to poke fun at our beloved (but grizzled!) space marines, revealing the first, scant details of their upcoming Xbox 360 and PS3 shooter, Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard. According to the press release, the award-winning writer behind Dead Head Fred, Dave Ellis, came up with the whole shebang-bang-bang.

As you might expect from a modern third-person shooter -- even a humorous one -- Eat Lead will employ a cover system (dubbed "point and cover") and "different interactive melee moves." Provided the game remembers that taking potshots at the genre doesn't exclude it from being judged as a shooter, The Return of Matt Hazard in Q1 2009 may just be welcomed. In fact, we're just about ready to join Matt's appropriately and believably terrible fansite.

Gallery: Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard (PS3, 360)

Puzzle Quest and expansion puzzling PSN this winter

by Jason Dobson { Oct 2nd 2008 at 4:00PM }

For PS3 owners somehow unacquainted with Puzzle Quest, we suggest stocking up on antibiotics and extra time. D3Publisher has revealed plans to bring not only the original Puzzle Quest but also its recent fan-named expansion, Revenge of the Plague Lord, to the PlayStation Store this winter, a move that according to our calculations will make it scientifically impossible not to have lost sleep playing the puzzle-RPG hybrid.

Both titles will be released as a single purchase and download, though the publisher has not announced how much the time sink combo will cost. We're currently waiting to hear back from our man on the street, who's diligently checking the alleys to see how much a twofer of digital crack goes for these days, anyway.

[Via PS3F]

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords to be bundled with expansion

by Alan Tsang { Oct 2nd 2008 at 2:45PM }

The game that's already on literally every other system is finally headed for the PSN. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords will be bundled with the Revenge of the Plague Lord expansion pack when it is becomes available for download for the PS Store later this winter, D3 Publisher announced.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Puzzle Quest is a role-playing game that uses puzzles in place of tradtional RPG battles. The expansion will include new professions, new spells and new areas to explore. No exact pricing or release date have been announced, but considering how long PS3 owners had to wait for this game, a comparatively lower price point might make this title a bit more enticing.

[Via press release]

Puzzle Quest spreads to iPhone App Store 'this fall'

by Christopher Grant { Sep 29th 2008 at 9:27PM }

Intent on making Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords impossible to avoid regardless of your platform preferences (seriously: DS, PSP, Xbox Live Arcade, Windows, Mac OS X, Wii, PlayStation 2, mobile phones), D3Publisher has announced the puzzle phenomenon will be its very first foray into the wide, wide world of iPhone apps.

Having proven their chops getting things to run on Apple platforms with Cider, the alchemists at TransGaming will be responsible for the iPhone port, bringing all the match-three slash RPG gameplay you know and love to the App Store "this fall."

Gaming to Go: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

by Matthew Madeiro { Sep 15th 2008 at 5:00PM }

The premiere Puzzle Quest title debuted to generally positive reviews, many of which praised the unexpectedly compelling mix of ~~Bejeweled~~ gem-swapping puzzles and standard RPG elements. Any gamer who has given the title a whirl knows the critical claim doesn't come unwarranted, even with a few niggling things like cheating AI and a complete lack of closure. Those minor complaints are more than made up for with the mind-boggling amount of depth the developers crammed into the cartridge, transforming what could have been just another puzzler into an addicting little package still worth playing over a year since its release.

With the space-age sequel rumored to land sometime in October, now is as good a time as any to take a look back at the sword and stone puzzler that started it all. If you never bothered to pick it up, consider yourself thoroughly shamed -- but don't let the weight of your emotional guilt bring you down. Come along with this week's edition of Gaming to Go for one last reminder that sliding colorful stones around a board is a perfectly viable way to wage digital war.

Gallery: Puzzle Quest

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New details drop for Onechanbara port

by David Hinkle { Sep 8th 2008 at 7:20PM }

Ever since it was revealed that D3 would bring Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers to the Wii, we've been pumped to play it. That is mainly due to the game being all about a hot chick killing zombies while barely clothed. It's basically a recipe for success. But what of this Wii port? What features can we look forward to? Some things were hinted at back at E3, but we never got definitive word. That is, until now.

D3 has confirmed that the game will feature co-op play, complete with unique characters with their own individual weapons and combos, so you can feel awkward in front of a friend when you're getting weird sensations from a scantily-clad babe destroying screens full of zombies in showers of blood. Aside from the co-op, the roster of game modes has been expanded to include Free Play Mode, Survival Mode and Quest Mode, in addition to the main Story mode.

With these new features, the game sounds better than ever. Any of you excited for what is sure to be some great mindless slaughter?

Gallery: Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers