Bandai Namco revel first titles for Games @ Expo

Namco Bandai have announced their first titles for Octobers MCM Expo. These will include new IPs Enslaved and Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom, and then Dragonball Raging Blast 2, Naruto Storm 2, DBZ Tenkaichi Tag Team with more to be announced.

NAMCO BANDAI GAMES, ENSLAVED

NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe Enslaved™ for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Developed by Ninja Theory Ltd., Enslaved takes players on a gripping, surprise-filled journey as two dissimilar characters form an uneasy union in order to survive their way through a perilous, post-apocalyptic America. A tactical action-adventure game, Enslaved centers on the complex relationship between the two main characters and challenges players to employ a mix of combat, strategy and environment traversal. With influences and contributions from top music and film industry talent, Enslaved combines beautifully rendered graphics and captivating music with seamless animation and engrossing gameplay. Enslaved is planned for release in 2010.

More than 150 years in the future, the world has transformed into an unrecognizable state where all that remains are a dwindling human population and merciless robots left over from wars long past. In Enslaved, players take on the role of Monkey, a strong and brutish loner, and his AI partner Trip, a technologically savvy but sheltered young woman from a peaceful community. Both become captured by a mysterious slave ship, which are rumored to harvest people and take them out west never to return. As they each attempt to escape, Trip realizes quickly that Monkey, with his raw strength and power, is the only hope she has of making the perilous journey back home. She hacks into a slave headband to enslave Monkey and link them together – if she dies, he dies. Her journey has now become his.

Players must make sure both Monkey and Trip work together as they skillfully navigate through the world and survive against the dangerous enemy obstacles that lie in wait. Monkey will deftly wield his trusty staff weapon to attack and defend against enemies, using a combination of melee attacks, blocks and counters. He will also be able to perform spectacular takedown moves, allowing him to rip an enemy apart piece by piece, take its weapon for his own use or destroy it in one final blow.

Ninja Theory has raised the standards for video game development by enlisting highly talented professionals from other entertainment industries. Emmy, Golden Globe and Bafta nominee actor and director Andy Serkis, renowned for his roles in film as “Gollum” in The Lord of the Rings and the title role “Kong” in King Kong, and villain King Bohan in Heavenly Sword has been tapped to not only direct, but portray the lead character of Monkey. Considered to be the “go-to” talent for performance capture acting, Serkis continues his work with Ninja Theory for Enslaved. As with Heavenly Sword, Serkis is a major contributor to the character and script development, casting and directing for the title. Likewise, world-class musician and composer Nitin Sawhney, whose versatility and talent have helped him score more than 40 films and release eight studio albums, has returned to create the riveting score for Enslaved. Adding to the cavalcade of talented professionals is Alex Garland, novelist and screenwriter who has penned works including the novel The Beach and the movie screenplay for 28 Days Later. Enslaved is Garland’s first video game specific project. He serves as a co-writer and has been heavily involved with creating the script and in-game dialogue.

For more information about Enslaved, please visit www.namcobandaigames.eu

NAMCO BANDAI GAMES, MAJIN AND THE FORSAKEN KINGDOM

NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe to release of Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom, the ground-breaking new fantasy action adventure title from renowned Japanese development studio Game Republic. Coming to Europe in 2010 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and PLAYSTATION®3, Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom pushes the boundaries of cooperative AI gameplay to deliver a new kind of experience set in an exotic and mysterious wide open fantasy universe.

With a compelling original story based on the theme of battle against darkness that revolves around the lost kingdom, Majin creates a new fusion of stealth and action adventure as the player takes the role of the game's hero to fight alongside the AI-controlled monster Majin and overcome the obstacles and adversaries in their path. They pursue their individual objectives while fighting against darkness which brings them strong friendship, and the secrets around the lost kingdom and Majin unfold as the story continues.

“Majin is an extremely important title for us, and one we believe will pioneer a new genre of advanced artificially intelligent cooperative gameplay,” said Daisuke Uchiyama, the chief producer at NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. “We're very proud to be working with the legendary Yoshiki Okamoto and the extremely talented team at Game Republic, and we're equally pleased to have Majin on our side in a fight.”

The unique AI makes the player’s partner Majin autonomous and creates perfectly refined stress-free gameplay. It also invites players to confront the major obstacles, spilt the roles and overcome increasingly complex conundrums and fierce foes. Over thirty hours of gameplay will take the player seamlessly through the vast, open world of Majin and its many rich character interactions, with the constantly evolving gameplay and absorbing storyline designed to keep the experience gripping throughout.

Majin is developed by the Game Republic team behind acclaimed titles Folklore, while Executive Director on the project is Yoshiki Okamoto, the man responsible for Street Fighter II and Resident Evil, and one of video gaming's most respected and talented creative forces.

Majin is scheduled for launch in Europe in 2010 for XBOX 360 and PLAYSTATION®3.
For more information, please visit www.namcobandaigames.eu

NAMCO BANDAI REVEALS A NEW CHALLENGER IN NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM

NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe announced that Lars Alexandersson, of TEKKEN 6 fame, will appear in NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. As an unlockable guest character, Lars brings his explosive signature moves to the game’s versus mode which will add new depth and dimension to the overall experience. He will also appear in his TEKKEN 6 costume designed by Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto. Based on the popular NARUTO SHIPPUDEN animated series, the game delivers a brand new online mode, a first for the Ultimate Ninja series, as well as an improved support character system and gripping storyline. NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 is scheduled to be released throughout in PAL territories this autumn.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 faithfully recreates the anime series and envelops players into the mythical world of ninja with new expansive environments, missions, battle systems and gameplay modes. While there are two sides to every story, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 has three. Encompassing the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN story arc, the game has a deep three-part story mode that have players living different as well as daring ninja lives through the eyes of Naruto, Sasuke and Jiraya.

With more than 40 characters to choose from, engaging in bigger and more epic cinematic boss battles has never been this explosive. The game will also deliver a new and improved Support Character system which allows players to link jutsus for wild ninja punishment and awards compatibility bonuses according to the strategic selection of ally recruits. To provide a true ultimate experience, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 will also offer various online features where players can sharpen their skills or flex their fighting muscle to defeat rival ninja from around the world.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 is developed by CyberConnect2 and will be available this autumn. For more information on the game, please visit www.namcobandaigames.eu

About NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe
NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S. is a leading software publisher producing a broad catalogue of high quality interactive entertainment for console and PC gaming platforms and online which is marketed and sold in 50 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia. The company is a part of the NAMCO BANDAI group of companies known for creating and publishing many of the industry's top video game franchises including TekkenTM, Dragon Ball®, NarutoTM, SOULCALIBURTM, One PieceTM, RidgeRacerTM, Ace CombatTM and TamagotchiTM.

TEKKENTM6&©1994-2009 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.

© 2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO / 2007 SHIPPUDEN All Rights Reserved.
Game © 2010 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.
Published by NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe SAS

“PlayStation”, the “PS” Family logo and “PSP” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Memory Stick DuoTM may be required (sold separately).
Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox Live are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

Press Release © 2010 NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S.