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Konami Announces 2005 Lineup

by Jonathan Metts - January 27, 2005, 5:19 pm EST
Total comments: 17 Source: Konami Press Release

Upcoming releases include a new TMNT fighting game and several titles for Nintendo DS.

KONAMI ANNOUNCES BLOCKBUSTER 2005 LINE-UP

REDWOOD CITY, CA - January 27, 2005 - Konami Digital Entertainment - America, a division of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., today announced new titles and additional details for its 2005 lineup. On the heels off an unprecedented year that featured the release of landmark games such as Metal Gear Solid® 3: Snake Eater™ and Silent Hill 4: The Room™, this year's Konami roster will boast all-new versions of blockbuster franchises Castlevania®, Metal Gear®, Winning Eleven and Frogger. Konami will also establish itself as a leader in the portable gaming space with the most anticipated content for the new portable systems. Several new franchises were announced today including Death, Jr. for the PSP™ handheld entertainment system and Dragon Booster and Lost in Blue for the Nintendo DS™. Overall, Konami's broad 2005 line-up includes titles across all genres, age groups and skill levels. Below is additional information on the titles that will be showcased at Konami's 2005 Gamers' Day:

Castlevania®: Curse of Darkness™

Release date: Fall 2005

Genre: Action/Adventure

Platform: PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system

The latest installment in the Castlevania series brings an all-new story and adventure to the PlayStation 2. Players take on the role of Hector, a new hero in the Castlevania series who has the power of Devil Forgery as well as the ability to cultivate powerful new allies, called Innocent Devils, to help defeat enemies throughout the game. The Curse of Darkness features strong RPG and adventure game elements along with innovative character growth and drastically improved enemy variation. The game's deep storyline unfolds against a backdrop of beautifully rendered and expansive environments.

Castlevania® for DS (working title)

Release date: Fall 2005

Genre: Action

Platform: Nintendo DS™

The first title in Konami's legendary Castlevania™ series to be made for the Nintendo DS, this new title will continue the storyline that first emerged in the critically-acclaimed Castlevania®: Aria of Sorrow™. Taking place a year after Aria of Sorrow ended, Castlevania for DS will take players on a harrowing and challenging journey of selflessness. As the incarnate of Dracula, Soma Cruz finds himself at the center of a cult's plan to resurrect their evil lord and master. In order to save himself and protect the lives of those he loves, he must infiltrate enemy territory, including a towering replica of Dracula's castle that is teaming with monstrous creatures, to foil their elaborate plot.

Coded Arms™

Release date: Summer 2005

Genre: Action

Platform: PSP™ handheld entertainment system

Coded Arms is a visually stunning first-person shooter that places the gamer in the role of a computer hacker who infiltrates an abandoned virtual reality system. Players will fight through six different game worlds against various types of enemies with more than 30 different weapons at their disposal. The game will also utilize the platform's wireless capabilities for intense multiplayer action. Delivering stunning graphics, fast-paced action and a unique storyline, Coded Arms will be one of the PSP handheld system's premiere titles.

Death, Jr.™

Release date: Spring 2005

Genre: Action

Platform: PSP handheld system

Featuring one of the most unique new characters to enter the industry in years, Death, Jr. is among the most anticipated titles for the PSP handheld system. The game stars Death, Jr., the son of the Grim Reaper who is a mischievous youngster armed with a mighty scythe, which serves as both a weapon and unique platforming tool. Boasting some of the best graphics on the PSP handheld system, Death Jr. seamlessly blends first-person shooter elements with third-person platforming action and serves up a large dose of intense gameplay and weapon heavy combat.

Dragon Booster™

Release date: Fall 2005

Genre: Action/Racing

Platform: Nintendo DS

Based on the popular animated series airing on ABC Family and Toon Disney, Dragon Booster is a fast paced 3rd person racing/action game set in a fantastical world where humans and dragons co-exist. When their peaceful way of life is disrupted, Beau, a legendary dragon, chooses Artha Penn, an ordinary 16-year old, to become a mythical hero known as the Dragon Booster. In this classic tale of good versus evil, Artha must use his new-found abilities to defeat his foes and unite humans and dragons once and for all.

Enthusia Professional Racing™

Release date: Spring 2005

Genre: Sports/Racing

Platform: PlayStation 2

Get behind the wheel and experience the sensation of racing actual cars in -- Enthusia Professional Racing. As in the real world, Enthusia emphasizes pure driving skills and ensures that winning is a result of ability rather than how much money has been spent tuning a car. Maintaining a subtle balance between the power of the car and the driver's skill, Enthusia promises to deliver the ultimate driving experience for racing fans of all abilities.

Frogger™

Release date: Fall 2005

Genre: Action/Platformer

Platform: Nintendo DS

One of the most beloved video game icons of all time returns as Frogger makes his debut on the Nintendo DS in a "ribbit-ing" platformer game Frogger Helmet Havoc. In this latest escapade, Frogger finds himself called upon to stop an evil force that threatens his home, Firefly Swamp, and the nearby kingdom of Bunnington Hollow. To stop the insidious Dr. Wani and his destructive mining efforts, Frogger must use all of his hopping and dodging skills, along with many new talents, to infiltrate the mastermind's lair and bring his evil plans crashing down. The game is also being developed for the PSP handheld system, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube™.

Metal Gear Acid™

Release date: 2005

Genre: Strategy

Platform: PSP handheld system

The legendary Metal Gear® series comes to the PSP handheld system in Metal Gear Acid™. Experience a whole new gameplay system that focuses on deep tactical strategy with an entirely new Metal Gear storyline. As the role of top-secret agent, Solid Snake, players will make calculated decisions to plan out their infiltration strategy and accomplish the mission in a turn-based game. Through the use of strategic battle cards, players are given different abilities and stealth tactics to achieve the mission objectives. Metal Gear Acid delivers the trademark stealth-action experience for the portable gaming audience to enjoy.

Rengoku™: The Tower of Purgatory

Release date: Spring 2005

Genre: Action

Platform: PSP handheld system

Rengoku: The Tower of Purgatory is a stunning third-person action game that places players in a dark and distant future. Modeled in a compelling blend of Eastern and Western sci-fi/fantasy, Rengoku puts gamers in the role of a well-armed battle android that must fight its way to the pinnacle of a great tower to confront a mysterious foe. Rengoku also features immense replay value thanks to the PSP handheld system's wireless multiplayer technology. Gamers can trade equipment and items with other players or battle up to three other opponents in the multiplayer mode.

Lost In Blue™

Release date: August 2005

Genre: Survival RPG

Platform: Nintendo DS

This innovative RPG takes players on a journey of survival, adventure and mystery. After a disastrous incident at sea, the young hero of the game awakens to find himself on a seemingly uninhabited island. After meeting another survivor, a 17-year old girl who has also drifted ashore, the two must work together to survive. While planning their escape, they will learn survival skills, such as hunting, searching for food and building tools while uncovering the island's many mysteries.

TMNT™ Mutant Melee™

Release date: Spring 2005

Genre: Fighting

Platform: Xbox® video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube, PC CD-ROM

The perfect game for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle™ fans, TMNT™ Mutant Melee™ is the ultimate TMNT™ party experience. The game offers hours of bashing, crashing and trashing fun with more than 20 playable characters, a competitive Adventure mode and a huge variety of mini games and unlockables. Gamers can play as their favorite Turtle, Casey Jones™, April O'Neil™, Master Splinter™ and even the villainous Shredder™ in one of two different modes - Adventure Story or Melee Match. Players can take on either mode in single player or play with up to three other friends for a four-player free-for-all.

World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International™

Release date: February 1, 2005

Genre: Sports/Soccer

Platform: PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC DVD-ROM

The world's best soccer game returns with World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International (WE8) for the PlayStation 2, PC and, for the first time, Xbox. The Winning Eleven franchise is the closest thing to real soccer on a video game console and WE8 raises the bar once again with in-depth gameplay, improved realism and increased control. With more teams, players and stadiums than ever before, WE8 includes all the teams from the mighty Italian, Spanish and Dutch leagues under the official license. A must-have for soccer fanatics, WE8 brings realism to an all new level for the deepest and most advanced soccer simulation to date.

For more information about Konami games visit: http://www.konami.com/gs

Talkback

Bill AurionJanuary 27, 2005

I was really going "meh" about Castlevania DS, since I'm really not a huge fan of the latest games, but this one looks really good so I might give it a try...I'm also interested in how Lost In Blue will turn out...

Ahaha, 3d Castlevania is HORRIBLE

ruby_onixJanuary 27, 2005

The fact that Igarashi's making another 3D Castlevania for the PS2 is not only bland, ignorable news, but it also makes me lose faith in Castlevania DS. It says to me that he hasn't learned his lesson. He's not going "back to the basics" to try and prove himself. He's still just trying to claim that he never made a mistake in the first place. Castlevania DS is starting to smell like a cheap cash-in to me. Hopefully it'll be good in spite of that.

Dragon Booster - Oh joy! A Disney Sports title! Who would've guessed it?

Lost in Blue - Survival Kids DS. I'm looking forward to this one.

joshnickersonJanuary 27, 2005

Oh goodie! Another crappy TMNT game! We haven't had one of those in MONTHS!

Wake me when they annouce Mario DDR stateside.

DjunknownJanuary 27, 2005

Even if Iga and Co. just stick to their guns (Or whips...) on Castlevania DS with minimal features, (So far drawing symbols seems to be the only feature that uses the touchscreen.) They can't mess up the AoS formula. Though it seems that the P2 version might just try and put AoS in 3d. Will it work?

ThrakkerzogJanuary 27, 2005

Frogger is being released for DS, GCN, PSP and PS2. At least they have 2 gamecube games. :-)

Castlevania DS looks like it will be fun. If there is any game that would convince me to get the DS, it might be Castlevania.

WuTangTurtleJanuary 27, 2005

What is survival kids? Is it a new Rpg or something? Anyone have any insight on this game?

NinGurl69 *hugglesJanuary 27, 2005

Don't consider Iga to be associated with the DS/GBA Castlevernia games. He's responsible for the bad joke that was on PS2; KCEK (Konami Kobe) is responsible for the quality handheld series, who incidentally were the ones who made Castlevernia64.5z

I'm looking forward to Castletazmania DS.

GamefreakJanuary 27, 2005

Actually, Castlevania has this cool new touch screen feature just shown today.

At some parts you will see these light bricks (looks like ice) in big blocks blocking your bath. You can "carve" them by slicing them with your finger or stylus (simulating whipping them). The cool part is you have to actually use this by cutting open paths for you to jump through but you also have to make your own platforms. This one area had a cool part that was a vertical jumping area and you had to carve this big block into a bunch of platforms to let you go up to the high level.

Avinash_TyagiJanuary 28, 2005

Yet again Konami passes over the cubeface-icon-small-disgusted.gif

MaleficentOgreJanuary 28, 2005

real time manipulation of your enviroment! count me in. Lost in blue looks good as well.
as for TMNT it already looks better than the last two combined. I have hope for this.

joshnickersonJanuary 28, 2005

Quote

Originally posted by: ShaolinKilla
What is survival kids? Is it a new Rpg or something? Anyone have any insight on this game?


http://www.dmgice.com/reviews/skidsrev3.txt

RABicleJanuary 29, 2005

Survival Kids was a great game although in that game you were only 11 and paired up with a monkey. Being 17 and pairing up with a female means I can almsot smell the sex. teh mature.

KDR_11kJanuary 29, 2005

Yeah, when you're lost in the wilderness with that girl being the only person within a hundred miles, who cares if she's underage?

WuTangTurtleJanuary 29, 2005

joshnickerson, thank you for the link. I aslo went out and checked out the video clip on Gamespot.com it looks very good.

Teaming up with a monkey, lol.

RABicleJanuary 29, 2005

Underage? pfft. In real countries like Japan and Australia and most of the US, 17 is over the age of consent.
http://www.ageofconsent.com/ageofconsent.htm
Besides if your both under, who cares?

KDR_11kJanuary 29, 2005

You forgot to factor in the tendency of the japanese to make the girls younger than the boys in stories. So you better live somewhere where 15 is legal age...

RABicleJanuary 31, 2005

She's 17 in the game. Maybe your guy is even older.
Even if she was 15 in Western Australia theres the 3 year law so anyway face-icon-small-tongue.gif.

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