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Amazon's plethora of cheap games

by Candace Savino { May 24th 2008 at 5:00PM }

Amazon's "Deal of the Day" this fine Saturday is Trace Memory, a fun adventure game reminiscent of titles like Hotel Dusk and Phoenix Wright. While not as good as the other two (in this blogger's opinion), it's still a good (albeit short) game that's worth its current $8.99 sale price.

The fine folks at Cheap Ass Gamer also noticed some other low-priced DS software at Amazon, if you're looking for filler. These include:

My Word Coach for $9.99
Lunar Dragon Song for $9.47
Dragon Quest Rocket Slime for $14.99
Magical Starsign for $14.21
Gunpey for $11.99
Wario Master of Disguise for $14.21
Custom Robo Arena for $18.99
SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighters for $14.21
Mega Man ZX Advent for $18.99
Sonic Rush Adventure for $21.99
Dungeon Explorer for $14.21

Those are exactly the kind of games that aren't worth buying at their full price (with perhaps a few exceptions), but are much more tempting when on sale. So, let us know if you see anything here that's worth recommending.

[Via CAG]

Bargain Explorer: Sale Unit

by Eric Caoili { May 5th 2008 at 10:00PM }

If Shiren the Wanderer's turn-based system was too slow-paced to satisfy your dungeon crawling needs, you might want to look into Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts, Hudson's Diablo-esque hack-and-slash follow-up to the original TurboGrafx-16 game. Amazon has Dungeon Explorer discounted to $19.49, a generous price considering the game includes online support for up to four players and even a bit of voice chat.

And if you're neither a fan of dungeon crawling or dungeon exploring -- perhaps you just want to steer clear of dungeons altogether -- Amazon also has LifeSigns: Surgical Unit marked down to $19.49. While the LifeSigns series isn't as popular as that other surgery sim, Trauma Center, apparently a few of our readers are big fans of the game!

Gallery: Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts

[Via CAG]

Read - Dungeon Explorer: Warrior of Ancient Arts
Read - Lifesigns Surgical Unit

Dungeon Explorer downloadable demo

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 20th 2008 at 9:15AM }

Here's an English language version of the Dungeon Explorer demo. Enjoy!

1. Download the demo zip file.
2. Extract the contents of the zip file.
3. Connect your PSP to your computer using a USB cable.
4. Go to the PSP/GAME folder.
5. Copy ULUS10289 folder into the GAME directory. Make sure there are no sub-directories in this folder.

Check out our new demos site:
demos.pspfanboy.com

DS releases for the week of February 18th

by JC Fletcher { Feb 18th 2008 at 12:45PM }

It's a good week to be a DS gamer in pretty much any region. Europe is a possible exception, but we happen to think Paint by DS is a neat-looking product. Outside of Europe and its possibly compelling coloring game, quality abounds this week, with Capcom's Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney as the flagship release in the U.S. Whenever an Ace Attorney game comes out, it's a Big Deal in DS-land, and this one is especially noteworthy!

Japan is flooded with cool games this week, including Space Invaders Extreme, the remake, J.B. Harold Murder ClubPopulous DS, and even a new Harvest Moon. And Australia gets a shot at both Advance Wars and Cooking Mama 2! There's a pretty good chance you'll have something to buy this week.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of the Ancient Arts
FIFA Street 3

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DS releases for the week of February 11th [update]

by JC Fletcher { Feb 11th 2008 at 12:45PM }

Of course the biggest news this week for the U.S. is Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Not only was it a hit in Japan, but it's a Nintendo-published game, and that always means news. Many of you are probably getting your Layt on right now.

In case you aren't into Layton or are just curious about the rest of the North American releases, the list also contains, well, one other game: an interesting dungeon hack-and-slash that recalls Hudson's Turbografx-16 days.

The release list is somewhat more populous in other regions. Europe in particular is getting treated to some worthy releases (found after the break).

Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Barnyard Blast: Swine of the Night

[Update: Amazon says that Barnyard Blast is out this week as well!]

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Dungeon Explorer gets new fighting style on PSP

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 22nd 2008 at 2:30PM }

Hudson's upcoming Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts will arrive on both DS and PSP. Howeverm players on Sony's handheld will have access to a new fighting style exclusive to the platform. Players, trained in weaponry and mystical forces as Warriors of Ancient Arts, will fight countless enemies in this classic dungeon crawler.

According to Hudson, players will have access to "more than 150 different kinds of fighting arts." Among them,Big Bang Arts, is a style unique for the PSP system. Big Bang Arts lets three players to combine their powers via Ad-Hoc multiplayer, essentially allowing all three characters to unleash a threefold attack on an enemy. Akin to Crystal Chronicles on Gamecube, it appears this cooperative effort requires precision timing.

This new Dungeon Explorer is available in February.

Gallery: Dungeon Explorer

Dungeon Explorer Famitsu downloadable demo

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 24th 2007 at 12:20PM }

Christmas is tomorrow. But why wait for a present? Download this Famitsu-flavored edition of this Dungeon Explorer demo.

1. Download the demo zip file.
2. Extract the contents of the zip file.
3. Connect your PSP to your computer using a USB cable.
4. Go to the PSP/GAME folder.
5. Copy NPJG90011 folder into the GAME directory. Make sure there are no sub-directories in this folder.

Check out our demos site:
demos.pspfanboy.com

Hudson bringing Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts to North America

by David Hinkle { Nov 16th 2007 at 12:20PM }

Originally a TurboGrafx16 title, the Dungeon Explorer franchise is receiving a revitalization on the DS and PSP come February. Being developed internally at Hudson, the differences between the PSP and DS versions should be distinct enough, however the DS will only feature 60 different fighting arts to the PSP's 150. On the plus side, the DS game probably won't take 30 minutes to load a dungeon.

Be sure to hit up our gallery below for some shots from the DS version of the game.

Gallery: Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts

[Via press release]

Hudson announces Dungeon Explorer for PSP

by Jem Alexander { Nov 15th 2007 at 2:30PM }

Hudson Entertainment a bringing a classic gaming franchise to the PSP next year in the form of Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts. The game is due out in February and will feature improved graphics and features while still maintaining the same dungeon crawling gameplay of the original. Dugeon Explorer for the PSP will feature a huge selection of different weapons, armour types and equipment. There will also be more than 150 different kinds of fighting arts and the game will be playable with up to two other people in Ad-Hoc mode. There's no mention so far of an infrastructure mode, sadly.

We have a great selection of screenshots of the game in the gallery below. Be sure to check them out and prepare yourself to explore some dungeons shortly after the new year comes around.

Gallery: Dungeon Explorer

Dungeon Explorer downloadable demo

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 28th 2007 at 7:45PM }

Better late than never? Lost in the TGS shuffle was this downloadable demo of Dungeon Explorer. It's in Japanese, but hacking and slashing is something we can understand in any language. Thanks to everyone that sent this in!

1. Download the demo zip file.
2. Extract the contents of the zip file.
3. Connect your PSP to your computer using a USB cable.
4. Go to the PSP/GAME folder.
5. Copy ULJM05164 folder into the GAME directory. Make sure there are no sub-directories in this folder.

Check out our new demos site:
demos.pspfanboy.com

Dungeon Explorer website ready for exploring

by JC Fletcher { Sep 25th 2007 at 3:50PM }

Hudson's Dungeon Explorer: Warrior of the Arts website has been around since late August, but it wasn't until TGS that anyone outside Japan had any reason to care.

The latest updates to the site reveal a "form" system, which gives characters multiple elemental special attacks based on which of eight "schools" you choose to affiliate with. We also get a glance at the status screen, which shows, basically, a ton of upgradeable stats.

It's clear, at least, from the screens that this is going to be much more of a full RPG and less of an action game than the original Dungeon Explorer.

TGS07: An evident U.S. release for Dungeon Explorer

by JC Fletcher { Sep 21st 2007 at 10:40AM }

Dungeon Explorer was a Gauntlet-esque dungeon-crawling RPG that was released on the Turbografx-16 at launch. It's hardly the biggest franchise in the world, but it's one that Hudson has decided to resurrect for the DS and PSP in two different games.

Siliconera's Spencer Yip noticed that some of the demo stations were running an English version of Dungeon Explorer: Warrior of the Arts, which led him to conclude that the game will be released in the U.S. at some point. Being Turbografx-16 nerds, we welcome any future Dungeon Explorer games-- especially if the villain is still named Natas, and if the ending is as satisfying as the original game's secret ending.

We don't actually expect the new game to fulfill either condition. Modern gaming can be so depressing. Gamespot has character art and even a trailer. The trailer mentions Wi-Fi multiplayer and voice chat. Could that be enough to make a big hit of a dungeon crawler?

The VC Advantage: Dungeon Exploiter

by JC Fletcher { Sep 12th 2007 at 5:30PM }

The Internet has made it easy to find cheats for games, but we miss the tips pages from game magazines, when the discovery of a new code could inspire you to go back to an old game. These codes aren't exactly new, but oldness is the essence of the Virtual Console! We're bringing back the classic codes every week on The VC Advantage.

We were inspired to talk about some Turbografx-16 games again this week when we remembered one of our favorite secrets ever: the secret Dungeon Explorer ending. We aren't sure if we ever finished the game the real way; the secret ending is so much funnier and more awesome than any "straight" ending could be. We don't want to spoil it for you, because you should experience it for yourself.

But we couldn't do the whole post about Dungeon Explorer (well, we could), so we decided to throw some codes for a couple more role-playing-esque Turbografx-16 games in, specifically, the Neutopia games, which you were under strict orders from Dave not to download.

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