News by: Fennec Fox
07-MAY-03
This week's issue of Japanese games magazine Famitsu contains the first information on two sequels Tecmo's got on the oven for later this year: a new Fatal Frame title, and an Xbox Live-compatible compilation of the first two games in the Dead or Alive series.
Dead or Alive Online will contain full ports of the first two DOA titles, which have so far seen release on the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast and PS2. Dead or Alive 1 will be a straight port of the Saturn version, which was in turn a straight port of the original arcade game, but DOA2 is a bit of a different story. The second game be a complete remake, featuring Xbox-caliber audiovisuals and (we presume) the "attention to detail" on the female fighters you've come to expect from Tomonobu Itagaki and his staff at Team Ninja. Both titles will be fully Xbox Live compatible, so you'll be able to duke it out with friends from all over the country (world, even). No release date or price was announced, and Tecmo was quick to mention that this project is not the DOA Code: Cronus game they announced at last fall's Tokyo Game Show.
The new Fatal Frame, on the other hand, is a fairly orthodox sequel to last year's PS2/Xbox sleeper hit. Called Zero: The Crimson Butterfly in Japanese, the new game will star Mayu and Mio Amakura, two young twin sisters who are busy exploring the village of Minakami for reasons we're sure Tecmo will make clear once the fall release date draws nearer. It's a PS2-only title for now, and the game's only 30 percent complete, but Tecmo's confirmed that Fatal Frame's loopy attack system—featuring an eerie camera that sucks the life force out of monsters caught in its shutter—will make an encore appearance in the sequel.
Both games are expected to make their U.S. debut at the Electronic Entertainment Expo next week, so stay tuned for more information.
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In the latest issue of Famitsu magazine, Tecmo has revealed Dead or Alive Online for the Microsoft Xbox. Dead or Alive Online will be a compilation of the original Dead or Alive and Dead or Alive 2, with online play possible through Xbox Live. The original Dead or Alive will have the graphics quality of the saturn version of the game, while Dead or Alive 2 will have enhanced graphics aimed for the Xbox. The compilation will reportedly be playable at E3.
Kitsune413: Dead Or Alive to Xbox Live
At last, 3D fighting heads Online. Details inside.
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May 07, 2003 - Reports out of Japan indicate that Tecmo will be bringing remakes of the first two Dead or Alive games to the Xbox with full Xbox Live compatibility. The games will be released as one package. Details such as pricing and release dates have yet to be revealed.
Xbox Live compatibility seems to be the big click with the remakes, but Tecmo is apparently planning for a bit more. While the remake of the original will faithfully reproduce the graphics featured in the Saturn version of the game, DOA2's visuals will apparently be improved a good deal.
Expect to hear more in the coming weeks.
