#namco system 12

[arcadebroke]

[posthumanwanderings]

Yoshihito Yano: Aqua Rush - Crystal

[randomisedgaming]

Well it wouldn’t be Halloween if we didn’t do something. So join us as we look at Namco’s rather fun ghostly spin off of the Point Blank series with added cats.

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[arcade-gsts]

Techno Drive

hey this is cool.

very shiny and tech-feeling. 

im not a fan of the voice synths (like in “Select”) but everything else has a beautiful vibe that could fit on a dancefloor.

check out “Footwork Technique” oh yeah bb thats some techno

this hits my bias. rec.

[arcadebroke]

[arcade-gsts]

Tekken 3

this has a very strong rock flavor. it reminds me of some bigbeat tunes from the era (mid-to-late 90s), artists like hardknox....but a bit less hard. 

you gotta dig the bass on “Nina Williams”

[arcade-gsts]

Tekken Tag Tournament

this has a hard, electronic sound, which makes sense for a late 90s arcade fighting game

my only complaint is that few of the tracks really progress much. I can’t complain too much since that’s kind of par for the course. par for the “each course has its own music”. 

anyway check out “Yoshimitsu Stage BGM” that’s some good shit. 

[goandgame-blog]

SoulCalibur for iOS Review

Pros

+ Impressive Retina display graphics 

+ Animation just as fluid as console versions

+ Quick gameplay, perfect for on-the-go

+ Game Center support, Achievements and Leaderboards

Cons

- Far too pricy for a port of a port

- No PvP or Mission Mode from original.

- Menus not built for touch.

- Touch screens still don't work for fighting games

SoulCalibur, originally released for the Dreamcast in 1999, and previously in arcades running on Namco System 12, is considered by many to be one of the greatest games of all time (http://goo.gl/322dT).

Namco Bandai has now brought SoulCalibur to iOS with integrated Game Center achievement and leaderboard support and in some ways, the rapid rounds and pure nature of combat is perfect for a mobile platform. SoulCalibur for iOS is based on the XBLA port released back in 2008 and it’s clear to see that little effort has been taken in making the menus, as well as the entirety of the interface play-nicely with touch screens.

In places, menus are so fiddly that you’ll find yourself deftly tapping with your finger nail to select a mode or navigate the pause menu. There are similar issues with the control scheme, though more greatly pronounced. SoulCalibur continues to show that over-layed controls, especially on a small iPhone screen - causing much of the action to be hidden beneath your fingers - does not make for precise and accurate execution. Eight directional run is still here, though some of the combos that you knew well, and loved (if you’ve played previous versions) are almost impossible to pull off on a touch screen. The two default control schemes (one of which forces your hand to uncomfortably contort into a claw, similar to that acquired from hours of arcade play) makes it impossible to jump between guard and offensive moves.You’ll find that stabbing at the screen with your index finger becomes the most effective alternative.

Although onscreen controls on iOS games are a necessary evil, Namco could have appeased players with iCade support ( http://goo.gl/bMLSS), currently you’ll have to jail-break your device and install Blutrol to get that functionality.

Multiplayer and mission modes (absent from the XBLA release) are nowhere to be found, a key component of what gave the original SoulCalibur such a long lasting appeal. After launch Namco does promise extra modes, hopefully PvP multiplayer is one such addition.

Graphically, character models and environments look just as polished - and on a Retina display, arguably better - than the XBLA version. Animation is smooth, and the pacing synonymous with SoulCalibur holds up well without any framerate issues. When combined with audio that sounds just as crisp as the original, you'll find every blow and block feels weighty and character monologues are just as flamboyant as ever.

Like all fighting games SoulCalibur requires tight controls, as being able to guard and immediately throw back an attack is the essence of the genre. If you absolutely must have a fighting game in your pocket or on your iPad then in many ways this is one of the best bets. Personally for the $11.99/£9.99 you’re going to be spending, I’d recommend grabbing another 20 bucks; browsing eBay for a copy of the original SoulCalibur and a Dreamcast, gathering around a couple of friends and some beer, and playing multiplayer, on what is still the best version of this game.