Wondering how Square Enix's Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is going to be like? Well, today's update reveals four of the main characters that players will be engaged with. Get to know more about Zack Fair, Angeal Hewley, Genesis, and, of course, Sephiroth. Know more about their backgrounds after the jump!

This February 2008, Hudson Entertainment brings to Sony's PlayStation Portable the classic action RPG franchise, Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts. An epic adventure awaits you as you train to become the valiant warrior saving your world from the demons entering your world through the Great Labyrinth. To find out more about the features, as well as for some look-see via the screenshots, do click on the full article.

SCE Studios Liverpool's own and WipEout Pulse producer Paul Tweedle was recently caught in an interview about the upcoming sequel to the legendary futuristic racing series, and we're here to tell you that from what he's revealed about it, it's definitely a must-buy if you're into racing action that takes speed into an entirely new level. Let's check out what he has to say about the latest entry in the series that's headed for the Sony PlayStation Portable.

In the interview, Paul mentioned how the developing team made the decision to keep what was so good (and what was so well-received) about the previous game and carry it on over to WipEout Pulse. Of course, there's also the bit about tweaking and adjusting stuff that needed to be refined with Pure, so while fans may be getting more of the same, it's more streamlined and all the basic complaints from the last game will practically be nonexistent.

He also revealed how they've fixed race progression, in the sense that the player will never be stuck in a particular level or stage. Paul said that a player can opt to breeze through the game by playing only half of the events - there's no need to win, or even score a medal in all of the events you come across to progress. He also noted that they've given each track three different levels of difficulty that's adjustable on the fly, so players can choose to have a harder challenge in one track but an easier time with the next.

He then clued us in on the game's downloadable content. He didn't reveal much, but what he did say was enough to keep us excited. He said: "They're still a little bit secret at the moment but, rest assured, you won't be disappointed. Your game will grow... considerably."

Definitely good news, and a reassurance that downloadable content won't just be an afterthought. Updates as we get them!

 

For those of us still in the dark about the newly-announced Kingdom Hearts game for the Sony PSP, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, then prepare to get enlightened through the scanned pages of Famitsu. Sit back and relax as we get you up to speed on what's new with the video game series that has two legendary franchises teaming up for an entirely new RPG experience.

So, what's Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep really about? The Kingdom Hearts title for the Sony PlayStation Portable will be about the exploits of three new characters - Terra, Ven, and a third that's yet to be named. Each character will have his own scenario that revolves pretty much around them, told in their own perspectives.

What makes this an exciting bit of news is that all three are drastically different from each other, from their appearances and personalities to their abilities - which makes each scenario feeling like an entirely new Kingdom Hearts game altogether. Tai Yasue, co-director of Birth by Sleep, joked that players may think that the game itself was created by three development teams, with the gameplay experience of one scenario totally contrasting from the others.

The other details and scans after the jump!

The rumors have proven true about the development of Secret Agent Clank for the PSP and here are more details on the game. Clank's coming in with a James Bond flair as he goes solo: the little robot gets off Ratchet's back (literally) and sports a debonair tuxedo, on a mission to help Ratchet who is currently imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. It's now up to Clank to clear his name.

Captain Qwark will be a playable character in Secret Agent Clank, and Ratchet himself will be playable in some levels. Mostly though you'll be playing as the little robot and will be making use of his deadly um... pincers to do some martial arts ass whoopin'. Some parts of the game will be needing stealth to progress though.

Of course the game will still be sporting a heavy load of gadgetry, including cuff link bombs and other cool spy gear. High Impact Games' Secret Agent Clank won't be released until 2008, but if you can't wait till then you can always watch the trailer over and over. Check back here for more updates.i

 

If Nippon Ichi's Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness for the Sony PSP doesn't attract you yet as a port with plenty of new goodies, more bonuses in the game might interest you. Not only will Disgaea for Sony's handheld have Geo Cubes and "Fog of War" to make multiplayer fun, but neutral creatures will also be added to the mix.

Naysayers would argue that those aren't exactly new elements to the genre, but fans who spent hundreds of hours squeezing out everything Nippon Ichi's turn-based strategy video game had to offer would know what new surprises await. "Fog of War" limits the player's vision - imagine enemies of Baal's caliber jumping on your characters and killing them before you can say cheese.

Neutral enemies won't be taking any sides, but it's not difficult to expect them being crucial to gaining battlefield superiority. Them Japanese RPGs simply love to punish players with extremely powered critters, especially in ports or remakes.

Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness from Nippon Ichi is shaping up pretty well as it gets ready for the battle of Strategy RPG remakes, going up against Square Enix' Final Fantasy Tactics: The Lion War. One of Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness' main draws though, is its new multiplayer mode which is seasoned with a lot of enhancements such as Geo Cubes, a trading system, and some new battle elements.

The most notable new feature is the use of Geo Cubes when battling other players. Series fans will already be familiar with the Geo Panel system, but Geo Cubes take it a notch higher as you'll need to buy them using Geo Souls to harness the effects. Even when your party is severely out-leveled by an opposing team, these Cubes can be your winning edge.

Geo Cubes have different effects which must be used with some planning to have good effects. Some can alter unit positions, other can randomly destroy units, and some can even blow base panels. This adds a puzzle element that will compel players to be careful with how they play to make for a more cerebral match.

Also added to Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness is a trading mode where items - from the cheap to the legendary - can be sold. What's unique with this system is that even if you sell an item, it remains in your inventory. Given how easy it is to make money in approved glen's "New details on Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness' multiplayer mode" in the endgame, will this mean we'll see Yoshitsunas everywhere? Let's hope not.

A "Fog of War" mode has also been announced where player views are limited within a certain range. This hasn't been introduced in the series before and should alter the tactical field drastically.

Looks like Laharl and the rest of his Netherworld gang are set for another fun time aboard the Sony PSP. We'll keep you updated for more juicy details on Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness that will have you itching for the release.

Homebrew developer Art has just released two sneak previews of the new feature for his Time Baby app: the talking Heart Rate Monitor. Time Baby v7 pretty much does what the name suggests. It monitors your heart rate and recites it at periodic intervals. Although the developer doesn't say when the program will be released, the notes say that it will be out "soon."

The first video features the application for Sony's PSP as it is seen (and heard) on the screen, monitoring and narrating the user's heart rate. The second video features the application in a real life demonstration. The heart monitor is heard as the user jogs, pets a cat and lifts weights. It looks like a pretty nifty app for health buffs.

Watch the real life demonstration in the full article!

For those of us with a PlayStation Portable brimming of on-the-go gaming goodness, here's a special treat that should get your juices flowing: the preview video of Vicious Cycle's upcoming hit, Dead Head Fred. Let's take a look-see at the title that has you ripping off other people's heads and making them your very own.

In this preview video, we get filled in on the game's story, Freud Neumann's plight to find both the mad doctor and his own noggin, as well as some very nifty gameplay footage. While it is a bit violent, yours truly couldn't help but laugh at Fred's two-hit combo - kicking a zombie in the jewels before giving it the what-for with a giant axe. Priceless.

Embed's below, you know what to do. Enjoy!

Totally Games has revealed that adding RPG elements and keeping things a little more logical for Alien Syndrome is proving to be a challenge. On a recent developer diary log from senior designer Jeff Kung, new details have been dropped as to what this new PlayStation Portable and Nintendo Wii title has in store.

Game historians will recall the original Alien Syndrome as an arcade-style run and gun classic by Sega. The resurrection of the franchise sees a change in genre as  a more action-RPG-oriented presentation is utilized. Emphasis on balance, realism, and quirkiness have taken the premium and it's looking good.

Starting with weapons, the devs made it a point that a balance must be struck between melee and ranged weapons to give everyone a playing field level enough to accommodate everyone's style of play.

While melee weapons require you to get close to enemies, they do offer a chaining effect that allows you to pull off devastating combos against foes. Ranged weapons such as fire trees cause immense damage from afar, but they do require lots of ammo which can be challenging to procure.

On the RPG side of things, the guys at Totally Games have realized that towns and stores can't be placed in space realistically, so they included a robot that tags alongside your character and recycles items you don't want to convert them into more useful commodities.

Lastly, about the Wii version, mini games in Alien Syndrome will have a profound effect on how you'll manage uber items. Great items will be dropped when you kill a boss. They'll have tremendous stats which can be harnessed if you can solve a maze puzzle with the Wiimote. If done correctly, the item will reflect its potential and reward you with gear that will help you own the enemies in the game.

That's it for now as far as new details on Alien Syndrome go. We'll give you a heads-up when new reports are forthcoming so keep it locked here.

Buy: [Alien Syndrome (Wii)]
Buy: [Alien Syndrome (PSP)]