Perfect Dark" HD 17th March 2010
Today marks the release of XBLA title Perfect Dark - this is special for a few reasons. Firstly, PD was/is a massively polished, premium bit of N64 software - at the time it was a FPS fan's wet dream - and from a technical point of view, is almost certainly Rare's crowning achievement. Don't get it twisted - this still pisses over 99% of modern-day FPS's for scope and depth, let alone it's incredible neo-futuristic design.
The only downside was that even with the requisite 4-Meg RAM expansion, it pushed the N64 to an inch of its life, and sometimes visibly struggled. With high-resolution graphics, smooth 60-FPS and even an online mode in addition to the standard multiplayer options, it's finally been "fixed" for the Xbox 360, almost 10 years later.
I'm not sure how well the controls will translate, but doesn't it look nice? These in-game videos show you what it's all about.
2009 and beyond for Wii and NDS 27th November 2009
You have to wade through an awful lot of rubbish (or head east) to turn up gems on Nintendo hardware these days, sadly. Now that the latest EAD titles are out, including the intriguing New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and the promising Spirit Tracks to follow shortly, I'm going to point out a few titles that will appear over the coming months that might get missed.
Actually, one that might've already been overlooked is sequel to seminal N64 shooter Sin & Punishment, which dropped in Japan at the end of last month, due over here sometime next year, I suppose. Excellent. At the start of 2010, Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces will be released in Japan, which is a WWII-themed flight simulation from the Ace Combat team. It's based on the 2008 anime of the same name, and directed by Mamoru Oshii, who is said to have overseen the videogame adaptation.
For the DS before the end of the year, there is Kaijuu Busters, which is a wandering, co-operative, hack-and-slasher from Bandai, which, as the title suggests, involves killing a lot of massive monsters.
