Another World (known as Out of This World in North America) is a beautiful piece of storytelling minimalism. Cutscenes are short, and dialogue is practically nonexistent, but it tells the story of a young man caught in a totally alien world, with death awaiting at every possible turn, without resorting to the tactics that are now quite commonplace. There's a lot modern gaming could learn from Another World, but it doesn't seem like many are willing to listen.
On the shooter side, here's a review of Cave's Dangun Feveron, also known as Fever SOS, which is vaguely disco-styled and rumored to be hitting the XBLA next year, assuming the release of Guwange didn't totally flop. (You all bought Guwange, right?) On the other side is the considering more obscure Air Gallet, a game which doesn't seem all that special at first but has a history behind it. See, when shooter developer Toaplan went out of business, several companies formed from its death - Cave, Takumi, Raizing, and Gazelle. Most shooter fans know these names, except for Gazelle, who went on to produce precisely one shooter before going out of business themselves - and that game is Air Gallet.
Ryu Umemoto isn't a name most English speaking gamers know, given that he got his start on several visual novels from the 90s (a few, like Eve burst error, did end up getting small English releases), but he's an extremely talented composer, and he's been working on some Cave games recently, including ESP Galuda II Black Label and the brand new Akai Katana. Audun Sørlie of Original Sound Version interviewed him during a trip to Stockholm last week, where he talks about his background and some of his more recent works.
The Crazy Taxi article as also been updated to commemorate its release on the XBLA and PSN, and includes updated information on some of the ports and mobile games, as well as some brand new pictures. Finally, in the process of getting with the times, we have a Twitter now, so follow us if you want instant alerts when new articles are posted.
I'd love to see some articles on the Raiden series of Shmups. And Battletoads would be nice. BTW, is that series stuck in licensing hell?
ReplyDeleteRaiden is in the works. Battletoads? Probably some day. I do have to wonder about the licensing. Was that Rare's property, or Tradewest's? And what happened to Tradewest, anyway?
ReplyDeletewhy isin't Flashback in the another world article? Also you forgot to mention the various ports of crazy taxi having censoring issues with the music (recently covered in gamesradar)
ReplyDeletebut always love an update, getting my reading glasses on and a mug of hot chocolate for some reading goodness :)
Flashback isn't technically related to Another World - they share the same rotoscoping technique and are from the same developer, but aren't the same series.
ReplyDeleteAnd the music issue in Crazy Taxi, I'm pretty sure is mentioned, assuming that you're referring to the removal of Offspring and Bad Religion songs.
Another world is great indeed. They even made a sequel, but the first game still holds great value to me.
ReplyDeleteactually i was talking about how the offsping tune was censored ( http://www.gamesradar.com/wii/f/michael-jackson-and-5-other-bands-censored-for-video-games/a-20101115122910635051/g-20100614183941269001 just a bit down on this page).
ReplyDeletepointless but there ya go :P
Another World is probably the most overrated game ever.
ReplyDeleteStill waiting for that Action RPG Sum up, mah friend.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if anyone will ever read this, but back in 1984 Data East did an arcade game called Kamikaze Cabbie. It is very much a 2D version of Crazy Taxi, minus the advertising and Offspring.
ReplyDelete