Onechanbara Z Kagura Coming to Xbox 360 (In Japan): Hey D3PA, Don't Leave Us Hanging!

Thanks to YouTube user shinshaobaka for posting this video!

Yeah, yeah, this game isn't for every taste, but I happen to love the cheesy, bloody zombie killing by the boatload goodness of the Onechanbara series. I actually own all of them except for the PSP import and while they're not the best action games out there, there's just something to be said about scantily clad zombie killing gals with attitude, ridiculously challenging bosses and tricky to complete side quests. Well, we'll have to see what D3Publisher's US arm thinks about all this. I'd love to see this one hit the 360 here as a budget release on a disc and not JUST a quickie XBLA download. Granted, it probably won't get a manual (like the 360 version of Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon), but hey, at least more people will get to enjoy the crazy ride. Actually, it WOULD be nice to see the series head back to a Sony home console, as that's where the first four games appeared...

PSP E-1000 Specs: Cheaper, But Still A Hot Ticket For Some...

While the uber-techies are grumping over this new model's lack of certain features, personally, I think the E-1000 is a pretty great entry level handheld for new users looking to get into the PSP and its rather huge games library. I still have my original 1000, 1001 and Slim 3000 models here at the home office, so I'm not sure I'll import this one yet.

Import as in there's been no North American release announced, which in my opinion, is a bit strange. Is SCEA afraid that the system will be blasted on message boards for being "cheap" and lacking features found on past and current models or are they implying (or is it inferring) that European gamers aren't all that sophisticated and this budget model will find a niche amongst those who don't have high-speed connections and want to get some handheld gaming in. I can see a modestly to moderately successful market for the E-1000 here provided it's packed in with a few PSP Greatest Hits (or a compilation UMD with assorted PSN titles and minis), but we'll see what SCEA decides down the road.

Specs below the jump, by the way...

EL Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron Gets Japanese Launch Date, New Screens

One of the more intriguing games I've had my eye on, UTV Ignition's El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron, is finally getting a Japanese release for the PS3 and Xbox 360 this April with a US and European launch dates to be announced (he typed, with fingers crossed). Here's a look at some of the latest screens from the visually striking action/adventure game. I'll run a gallery later featuring a few of the beautiful (and nicely offbeat) wallpapers from the official site. I may as well stick the press release below the jump so you folks can find out what the game is all about (sorry for the cut 'n paste job - I'm tinkering away on some reviews and such, so I'm cutting back on my word count in today's posts)...

Crytek Looks To Shoot Up Asian Markets With Warface

This news actually popped up in my inbox on Thanksgving, but I just peeked at it now. In what's possibly some of the worst timing ever that might turn out to be profitable (if there's no REAL war and things cool down between the regions), It looks as it Crytek is tapping into the HUGE free-to-play online games market in Asian and (maybe not so amusingly enough) Korean markets with a great-looking online only shooter, Warface. Press release below the jump, two screens below.

Now, I'd imagine no one here is planning to move that far east anytime soon, but if you do, you'll have one more game to choose from in an Asian games market that's ridiculously competitive. Hell, I'd rather have all those real-life soldiers around the globe spend time shooting up each other virtually than on any real battlefield...