Namco Bandai goes big, hip, and sweet

08.10.2008
Namco Bandai previewed its line-up of games for this year's Tokyo Game Show on Tuesday, with something for everyone.

The hype -- and for some gamers frustration -- around "Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion" is expected to grow as Namco Bandai kept mum about a console version of the game, not even confirming if its heading for home platforms.

Instead we got another chance to see the arcade version of the game, which debuted in the Amusement Machine Show in Tokyo in Sept. and is set to be out in Japanese arcades by December this year. There weren't even any new screens available -- just a couple of logos is all that Namco Bandai wanted to hand out.

There was also an update on Afro Samurai, the cool and artsy game based on the eponymous animation series. It comes with a new combat system that allows Afro to cut any part of the enemy's body, which was skillfully demonstrated by a samurai reenactment during the presentation.

Samuel L. Jackson stars as the voice of Afro Samurai and Ninja Ninja, and it's repeat roles for Ron Pearlman as Justice and Kelly Hu as Okiku. New music by RZA, previously of the Wu Tang Clan, adds to the hip-hop elements in the game. As for visuals, the game makes use of a cross-hatching art style and cut-scene paneling that gives it a rough and comic-book feel.

Romantic Eternal Sonata, which was released in Japan last month, is heading to the U.S. on Oct. 21 and Europe in February 2009. The PlayStation 3 game retains its sweet stoyline but heightens its adventures by adding new dangers to the pot. The aesthetic side is also improved as players can choose a variety of outfits for the characters.