I'll be pre-ordering the 3DS version of Rodea: The Sky Soldier, too--as soon as somebody allows it

How's this for a blast from the past? A game that first made noise all the way back in 2011, but has barely been heard from since, is roaring back onto the scene courtesy of the latest issue of Japan's Famitsu magazine.

The game in question is Rodea: The Sky Soldier, a unique-looking action game that, a couple of years ago, was being prepped by former Sonic Team-er Yuji Naka and his team at Prope for an eventual release--courtesy of Kadokawa Games--on both 3DS and Wii.

Unsurprisingly, the Wii iteration has been moved to the Wii U. Aside from that, though, it appears that little else has changed in regard to the "NiGHTS into Dreams meets Shadow of the Colossus meets Sonic the Hedgehog" action that was showcased in this old trailer:



The only thing that doesn't thrill me about all of this: I'm still not the biggest fan of the design of Rodea's protagonist.

Still, I'm all set to put some money down on the 3DS title--as soon as somebody allows me to do so. Considering Rodea doesn't yet have a specific release date (it's supposed to be released "next spring"), I have a feeling my pre-ordering is going to have to wait at least a few months.

In the meantime, I'll save up a few bucks, as the 3DS version is set to be released with a 5,800-yen (about $50) price tag attached to it. (The Wii U game will cost 7,200 yen.)

(Via neogaf.com)

My PS3 'to buy' list just grew a bit longer

In a way, I think it's funny that I bought an Xbox 360 instead of a PS3 just over a month ago, as there are many more PS3 games--including 3D Dot Game Heroes, Afrika, Disgaea 3 and 4, Siren: Blood Curse and Valkyria Chronicles--on my "to buy" list than there are Xbox 360 ones.

That situation was made even funnier last week thanks to a few rather scrumptious PS3 game announcements and releases.

Case in point: The PSN release of Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls. Full disclosure: I've never played a Wizardry game before. Hell, it's worse than that: I know next to nothing about this hallowed series of dungeon-crawling RPGs.

That said, I want to play Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls. Badly. Desperately. Why? Well, although I know it's a bit superficial of me, but I really like how it looks. Also, it reminds me of Etrian Odyssey--although I realize this game is quite different from that DS release.

Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls isn't the only recently released or soon-to-be-released game that has me jonesing for a PS3. Another is Sony's ICO/ Shadow of the Colossus Collection. (Check out andriasang.com for a pic of the Japanese "Limited Box" version of this release as well as a trailer.)

As for the Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill and Zone of the Enders "HD Collections" that the folks from Konami will soon be bringing to the PS3--I have to admit the only one I'm even somewhat interested in is the Silent Hill compilation. (I'd be much more interested if it included the series' first and fourth entries, too.)

Really, all of the above is just my long-winded way of saying I (still) want a PS3. Of course, I also want a Master System (or maybe a Mark III), a PC Engine LT, a Saturn and a Sega CDX. I guess I'd better win the lottery soon if any of that's going to become a reality, eh?

PS3s will drop in price eventually, right?

I certainly hope so, as I want one more than ever after seeing the latest trailer for Team Ico's The Last Guardian.



Unfortunately for folks who already own a PS3, this long-awaited PS3 title won't be released until late next year.

In the meantime, fans of Fumito Ueda can look forward to HD updates of the masterful designer's Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. In Japan, the re-framed and re-textured titles will be sold separately this coming spring, while in Europe and North America they will be combined onto a single Blu-ray disc.

Here's a trailer that shows off the games' updated graphics:



Buy: PS3

I'd like to say this means I (finally) have to get a PS3 ...

... but I already own the PS2 versions of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus and, well, I usually don't "double dip" when it comes to games.

Still, I'm sure many Team Ico fans will do just that if, as is rumored, both titles are slapped onto a blu-ray disk and released for the PS3 early next year.

Unfortunately for those same fans, this suggests that team's latest effort, The Last Guardian, won't hit store shelves until sometime next spring or summer.

(Via thesixthaxis.com)