The missing features of Shiren the Wanderer

Atlus U.S.A. has released new details on Shiren the Wanderer, the upcoming “rogue-like” RPG for Wii - including three online features from the Japanese version of the game will not be included in the North American release. According to Atlus U.S.A. public relations manager Aram Jabbari, “the North American version of Shiren will not include the Rescue, Versus, or Item Transfer.” He did note that the downloadable dungeon content from the Japanese version will be included on the disc.

While Jabbari understands that these omissions may upset some North American players, he points out that he still thinks the game is a fantastic RPG experience without them. What he does not explain is why these features are being omitted in the first place.

For those not familiar with the game, Shiren the Wanderer is an action RPG that lets you play as a wandering samurai named Shiren, who explores different time periods in a colorful and historic Japan. The North American version of the game offers variable difficulties including a new easy mode that lets new players ease into the game and a normal mode for more seasoned players. Post-game activities will offer additional quests, super dungeons, a tournament, and the ultimate challenge of the Millennium Dungeon, a 1,000 floor dungeon crawl. Players can take control of their party directly or let the game’s A.I do the heavy lifting by setting “attitude and tendency.” Players can also modify equipment through the new Dragon Orb system, giving them with special abilities via more than 100 Seals and use new spells that allow for targeted effects on enemies and more.

Shiren the Wanderer is currently scheduled for release on February 9, 2010. For more details on the game, check out the very first blog entry about it over at www.atlus.com. Check out some nifty screenshots after the break.

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No More Heroes coming to Xbox 360 in Japan

While we’re not sure when or if it will make its way to North America, we do know that an Xbox 360 of No More Heroes is in development for Japan. Developed by Marvelous Entertainment, the Xbox 360 version, roughly translated as “No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise,” will be released on Xbox 360 February 25, 2010 in Japan.

We do not know whether or not the game is a straight port of the original Wii game, nor if it will offer more than just the cursory graphics overall, Xbox 360 refined control scheme and achievements. You can see some screenshots from the game at the Japanese Xbox 360 game page.

One thing we do know from the game page is that it is still a single player game and will feature more cut scenes and voice acting to enhance the bizarre storyline of the original as concieved by Suda51. More information when we have it.

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage heads to retail

Ubisoft’s Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage is now available in stores across North America. Developed by Ubisoft Montréal in collaboration with Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White, the game is available exclusively for the Wii. Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage allows players to live the life of a professional snowboarder vicariously through a video game.

The game features various modes of extreme sports play in such locales as New York’s Times Square and competitions in France, Canada, Japan and more. The game promises lots of new events 75 new challenges, seamless co-op multiplayer options, compatibility with Wii MotionPlus and Wii Balance Board, the ability to create and name your own snowboarding tricks, customizable charcters and more.

For more information, visit www.shaunwhitegame.com. Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage is rated “E” for Everyone and available for an MSRP of $49.99

Your Shape Featuring Jenny McCarthy coming to PC this week

Ubisoft announced will be shipping a PC version of its upcoming fitness game Your Shape featuring Jenny McCarthy in North America. Your Shape featuring Jenny McCarthy comes packaged with a camera peripheral that features Ubisoft’s proprietary motion tracking technology, which promises a completely personalized and interactive work-out by scanning players’ bodies, assessing their current fitness level and then projecting their images onto the TV.

As an added bonus, the camera that comes bundled with the Windows PC version of the game is a fully functioning webcam.

For more information on Your Shape Featuring Jenny McCarthy check out www.yourshapegame.com. The game is also available for the Wii.

Rabbids Go Home heads to retail

Rabbids Go Home heads to retail this week for Wii, DS and Nintendo DSi. In Rabbids Go Home the crazy bunnies introduced in Rayman Raving Rabbids just want to go home so they try to build stairway to the moon. But in order to make it tall enough they need to collect lots and lots of things of all shapes and sizes.

Promising a “wacky storyline,” new game play, cooperative play, 40 Missions and 15 Environments, controls that take advantage the Wii Remote, a special support for the camera on the DSi version of the game..

Rabbids Go Home for the Wii is rated “E10+” and has an MSRP of $49.99. Rabbids Go Home for the DS and DSi is rated “E” and has an MSRP of $29.99.

101-in-1 Party Megamix released

Atlus U.S.A. has released 101-in-1 Party Megamix in North America today for the Wii. 101-in-1 Party Megamix sounds like a collection of bad dance songs sold “only on TV.” But in reality it is a collection of one hundred and one family-friendly all set in a variety of themes catering to racing fans, sports nuts, old school arcade gamers, action addicts, casual gamers, and fans of brain-teasing puzzles.

The games are broken down into three different modes TV Guide, Zapping, and Marathon. Featuring eight channels, TV Guide mode challenges players to beat high scores to unlock more games and earn bonus prizes to decorate their player profiles with. Zapping mode provides instant access to any currently unlocked game. Up to four players can join the party in Marathon mode where everyone plays five randomly selected games in a row and competes for the highest score.

The game is also available for the DS. Find out more at www.atlus.com/101party.

Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil Zero Dated

Capcom today announced the official ship date for Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil Zero. A Wii exclusive, Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil Zero will ship on December 1 and will carry an MSRP of $29.99.

Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil Zero retells the back story and internal tyranny of the Umbrella Corporation and lets players discover the origins of the T-Virus in a storyline that reveals the horrors leading up to the infamous mansion incident. Only available on the Nintendo GameCube until now, Resident Evil Zero brings Rebecca Chambers – rookie member of S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team – to Raccoon City , where she must investigate a series of gruesome murders. Almost immediately she stumbles upon a military transport truck filled with corpses and her journey of horror begins.

Look for it before the holiday shopping season.