What do fallen gods and iconic ninjas have in common? Bandai Namco, of course! Earlier this week, the publisher held a showcase in San Francisco to exhibit its 2014 lineup. A diverse sampling of games made an appearance — some for the first time since their announcement.
Dark Souls II and Lords of the Fallen won special attention at the event, thanks to their striking art direction and uncompromising combat systems. But there was much more than tales of dark fantasy to entertain and entice attendees. The latest in Naruto’s long-running Ultimate Ninja Storm series was featured, along with a new side-scrolling platformer from developer Suda 51.
If you’re craving a punishing challenge and twisted story, look no further than Sid’s hands-on experience with Dark Souls II. And read on for the highlights from the rest of Bandai Namco’s impressive showing.
Lords of the FallenPS4 — 2014 Thousands of years before the beginning of Lords of the Fallen, the people of the world fought and defeated their god, imprisoning him beneath the soil. In his last moments, he thrust his fingers upwards in an attempt to escape, leaving five unsettling mountains above as a reminder of his reign. But people have largely forgotten this legend, and eye the menacing rocks with indifference.
This ancient conflict sets the stage for the dark fantasy in Lords of the Fallen, by CI Games. In it, players control Harkyn, a man of immense stature bearing strange markings across his face. As the fallen god’s power returns, Harkyn works against the demons that are rising again.
Lords of the Fallen requires a patient and tactical state of mind to play, as Harkyn’s enemies — the Rhogar — can make quick work of the man. Players must study enemy behavior, move in and out of attack range carefully, and dodge often.
Good timing is a foundation of play in Lords of the Fallen, though players will also explore devastated ruins for loot, and wield powerful, class-specific magic. Harkyn can take the role of the Warrior, Cleric, or Rogue, which affects his performance in combat and the types of spells he employs.
PS3 — 2014 The team at Cyberconnect2 has demonstrated its passion for the Naruto universe for years, and continues to do so with Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution. This fast-paced fighting game empowers players with spectacular attacks, highlighting quick thinking and reflexes over elaborate button combinations.
Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution carries new modes into the fray, along with returning favorites. And the dizzying roster has rocketed to more than 100 playable characters, including a few making their Ultimate Ninja Storm debut. One such character is Mecha-Naruto, a mechanical menace designed by Masashi Kishimoto himself exclusively for Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution.
CyberConnect2′s latest Naruto effort also features both the English and Japanese voice-over, as well as new combination jutsu attacks.
Ranko Tsukigime’s Longest DayPS3 — Spring, 2014 High school girl by day, assassin by night. The perfect setup for this frantic side-scroller directed by Suda 51 of Grasshopper fame. This PS3 exclusive follows the story of the titular Ranko Tsukigime as she evades the clutches of a shadowy power that’s clawing at her heels.
Each level is a race to outrun Ranko’s enemies while also dodging obstacles and defeating baddies who get in her way. Fall behind, and Ranko will be swallowed up by darkness before beginning the level anew.
Longest Day is an explosion of movement and color, where players never rest in their mad dash from one side of the stage to the other. Slashing through enemies will unleash debris that in turn can defeat other opponents. Longest Day caters to gamers who obsess over perfecting their run through a level, eliminating every superfluous jump and missed attack.
Clearing missions will eventually unlock new costumes for Ranko, and unlockable art is scattered throughout the campaign.
PS3 — February 25th, 2014 The Tales JRPG series has garnered a massive global following throughout the years, thanks to its colorful characters, unique battle systems, and overall charm. Tales of Symphonia Chronicles brings two Tales adventures to PS3 for the first time: the original Tales of Symphonia, and Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World.
For the first time in the series, Chronicles features both the Japanese and English voice work. The original Japanese openings have also been included, for gaming purists who were disappointed by their absence in previous versions.
The visuals of Chronicles have been enhanced, and the collection comes packed with additional content like new artes, costumes, character titles, events, and monsters. Both games boast 30 to 50 hours of play, so even devoted JRPG enthusiasts will have a lot of questing to do next month.
Ace Combat InfinityPS3 — 2014 The latest in the Ace Combat series is going free-to-play on PS3, and the development team wants gamers to try out the fast-paced arcade combat for themselves in a beta that launches next week.
Ace Combat Infinity celebrates the fun of dog fighting, and chasing down other players through the skies while hunting for that perfect shot. The beta will include a new co-op multiplayer mode that allows teams of four players to face an opposing team of four in aerial combat. Although teammates will be working together to take down the opposing jets, they’ll also be competing for the best score among their own group.
Ace Combat Infinity will also be built with customization in mind, enabling players to create unique looks for their jets. There’s even a climbable tech tree for unlocking useful upgrades to be unleashed during fights.
PS3 — Spring, 2014 Prepare for deafening colors and outrageous poses. All-Star Battle is a stylish, one-on-one fighter launching exclusively on PS3. Developed by the aforementioned ninja experts at CyberConnect2, All-Star Battle follows all eight story arcs from the original JoJo’s manga.
Like the Street Fighter IV series, All-Star Battle uses 3D visuals set to a 2D plane, but employs extreme camera angles to capture the flair of the source material. Characters pummel their enemies, use menacing familiars, and even enter the fight on horseback. Yes, actual horses. With more than 40 fighters on the roster, there’s plenty of bizarreness to satisfy every play style.
All-Star Battle includes all the patches that were applied to the Japanese version, along with a new arcade mode that pits players against eight random opponents.
Enemy FrontPS3 — June, 2014 The team at CI Games has more than just Lords of the Fallen to keep it busy. The Polish studio also had Enemy Front on display at the showcase — a first-person shooter running on CryENGINE 3.
The developers initially wanted to tell a story set in World War II, but with modern shooter design. During this process, they decided to focus on a personal angle and highlight the devastation the war brought to their own Warsaw, Poland. Players control an American journalist named Robert Hawkins who eventually joins the resistance fighters in an effort to drive the Nazi forces away.
Considering CI Games’ history with the Sniper series, Enemy Front allows for a number of different play styles — especially stealth and sniping. As players fight through battlefields in France, Germany, Poland, and Norway, they’ll use signature resistance weapons and varying combat tactics. Players can expect the badass, slow-mo sniper cam to make its triumphant return.
But it’s not all action in Enemy Front. One mission opens in a besieged hospital, its hallways lined with bodies both bleeding and dead. These moments remind players of the unimaginable gravity of war, and the heartbreak it leaves in its wake.
All these games are currently scheduled to launch this year across both PS3 and PS4. We’ll have more details on them in the future, so stay tuned.
