E3: Konami Details Fall 2008 Lineup

Publisher and developer Konami has announced its fall 2008 lineup and featured games appearing at E3, including its Elebits sequel, which moves the franchise from the Wii to the Nintendo DS, and multiplatform singing game Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2. - Helmed by producer Koji Igarashi, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia for the Nintendo DS continues the Metroid-esque action platforming traditions seen in previous DS installments Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin with several interesting additions: a new Glyph attack system with 100 different combinations, 20 explorable areas, and, for the first time in the series, a female protagonist. Players take on the role of heroine Shanoa, a member of the Ecclesia organization, completing side quests and collecting items while fighting their way to Dracula. - Konami’s vampire-slaying series will also make its debut on the Wii with Castlevania: Judgment (pictured), a fighting game pitting Dracula’s allies against the series’ heroes, including the Belmont Clan. A total of 14 characters will be available for these battles which will “span the depths of time.” - In Silent Hill: Homecoming, players follow protagonist Alex Shepherd as he returns to his hometown of Shepherd’s Glen to investigate the disappearance of his brother. Alex will struggle with his grip on on reality as he unravels the mystery behind his brother’s and father’s disappearances, confronting “the evil that has taken hold of his own flesh and blood.” The sixth installment in the Silent Hill series, Homecoming will be released for both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. - New International Track & Field celebrates the original Track & Field game’s 25th anniversary. The sports game, which offers options for jumping into single events or taking on a sporting career mode, takes advantage of the Nintendo DS’s features with controls heavily relying on the touchscreen and online support for multiplayer events, worldwide rankings, and tournaments. - Originally released in Japan in March 2008, Time Hollow is an adventure game for the Nintendo DS which follows Ethan Kairos as he investigates the disappearance of his entire family. Using a Hollow Pen, Ethan is able to go back in time and solve problems in the past which will affect the present. Key scenes are presented in full animation sequences designed by AIC, with the producer from anime series Blood+ and the director of Gundam SEED. - Konami’s American Idol-licensed series returns with Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 for the Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions will allow players to download new songs join their friends online for a new co-op head-to-head mode. All editions will include customizable characters and an opportunity to sing in front of American Idol’s three judges. - Lost in Blue Shipwrecked carries the Lost in Blue series from the Nintendo DS to the Wii, picking up controls attuned for the Wii Remote along the way. Players will be accompanied by a “trusty pet and a new island” as they explore an island filled with forests, ancient ruins, a sunken ship, and an active volcano. - Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero brings the “first-person adventure” Wii game to the Nintendo DS as a touchscreen-focused title with a top-down perspective. In this direct sequel, players find, capture, and befriend Elebits creatures, using them as energy sources to complete puzzles and quests. The Adventures of Kai and Zero will include online support for four-player competitions. - In development for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Nintendo DS, Rock Revolution provides 40 rock and roll tracks for players to enjoy. The game also offers a Jam Mode in which players can create their own music in a multi-track studio. - Konami is celebrating DanceDanceRevolution’s 1th anniversary with a new game for the Wii, DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 2. The title features new game modes, four-player multiplayer, Wii Remote and Nunchuk support, and a new soundtrack with music hits taken from the last 4 decades. Konami is also showcasing DanceDanceRevolution Universe 3 for the Xbox 360 and DanceDanceRevolution X for the PlayStation 2 at the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit.