Street Fighter X Tekken DLC... Already on Disc

So I'm guessing Capcom has finally gotten the hint that gamers are sick of buying updated versions of their fighting games. Only took 'em about 20 years to figure it out, but hey, better to learn the lesson than go through life as an uneducated idiot.

There will only be one physical version of Street Fighter X Tekken so you won't have to buy an Ultimate, Super, Hyper Turbo Max Plus whatever edition later in the year. Huzzah! The kick to the crotch on that? The Downloadable Content is already on the disc. Let me repeat that: The downloadable content is already. On. The. Disc. The reasoning behind this? Well, how about we look at the official statement from Capcom, shall we?

Capcom has confirmed that 12 new fan-favorite characters will be available as Downloadable Content (DLC) on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC versions of Street Fighter X Tekken later this year. The playable characters will make their debut on the PS Vita system when the game is released this fall, with the console and PC versions receiving them as DLC soon after. The character information and files were intentionally included on retail versions of the PS3 and Xbox 360 game to save hard drive space and to ensure for a smooth transition when the DLC is available, allowing players who choose not to purchase the content the ability to play against players that do. More specifics regarding pricing, dates and other additional exciting DLC plans for Street Fighter X Tekken will be shared at a later date. As a reminder, the retail version of the game will be the only disc-based version consumers will need to own and all future upgrades will come from post-launch DLC. The new characters fighting their way onto Street Fighter X Tekken are... from the Street Fighter side... Blanka, Cody, Dudley, Elena, Guy and Sakura will be playable and from Tekken... Alisa Bosconovitch, Bryan Fury, Christie Monteiro, Jack, Lars Alexandersson and Lei Wulong will all be available."

I take it back, Capcom hasn't learned anything. It seems Capcom is doomed to eternal stupidity.

"Ensure for a smooth transition"? My bull crap sense is tingling!

The is DLC already on the disc. On the disc! Capcom is gonna make us pay for something that we already own! That line about smooth transition is about as real as silicon! What Capcom is really saying is, "We're just a bunch of greedy cash whores that want your money." It's that simple, people. But some players are perfectly fine with it, which I have to say, is bewildering.

Some are already speculating that in a year or so, Capcom will release a complete disc version of Street Fighter X Tekken at a budget price. Since this is Capcom, I'd say that isn't out of the realm of possibilities. And if that does happen, anyone that shelled out the cash for the first version and all the DLC will really feel like a chump.

Last week I was having a conversation with my friends on facebook about Street Fighter X Tekken. It went like this.

Me: I'd hold off on buying Street Fighter X Tekken. Capcom will probably release Ultimate Street Fighter x Tekken Hyper Alpha Attack Strike for the Future HD Remix+ later this year. Yes, that joke is old. Deal with it.

Brandon: It cant be a joke if its actually the truth. A sad truth really.

Charles:  Street fighter X Tekken Vs. Marvel & Capcom Vs. SNK hyper 3D HD EVO......part 1
Only 2 Characters will be playable on 1stage.
The moves and other characters will be DLC.
You can't play the game unless you download the start up screen
Lol

Brandon: Of course that will all be after you buy the external quarter slot machine to actually be able to play the game. You will need to ship the coins to CAPCOM every week, and you'll not be able to play again until they get the money.

Charles: Lol.
Yea
But you have to get it converted to "Cap-coins" that only work for THAT game and you can only play Vs. Mode with some one that has the same ammount of coins and you have to pay per game.

Me: There's probably a Capcom employee reading this and thinking: GENIUS!!

Source: Capcom Unity

Review: Kirby Super Star Ultra

System: DS
Genre: Compilation
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Publisher: Nintendo
Release: USA September 22, 2008 / EUR Sept 18, 2009 / JPN Nov 6, 2008 / S. Korea Nov 13, 2008 / AUS Nov 27, 2008
Players: 1-2

In late 1996, the Nintendo 64 was set to make waves and Nintendo was understandably, focusing a great deal of attention on it's then up and coming new platform. SNES owners were not forgotten as some it's last games proved to be some of the best. Released the same month as the N64 in the USA, Kirby Super Star (or Kirby's Fun Pack if you live in Europe) was one of the last great games for Nintendo's 16-bit baby. It contained seven full games and two mini games, making for a grand total of nine games. While many of the more fleshed out titles could be played through rather quickly, this did not detract from Kirby Super Star in the least. It was a huge hit and for many fans, Kirby Super Star is hailed as the greatest entry in the Kirby series. Kirby Super Star Ultra is an enhanced port of the SNES game, housing all nine games from the original and then some.

Behold, the many games of Kirby
Super Star Ultra.

The returning games from Super Star are Spring Breeze, a remake of the original Kirby's Dream Land. Dyna Blade, which sends Kirby on a quest to find out why the giant bird is on a rampage. The Great Cave Offensive, one of the more longer games of the lot has Kirby hunting for treasure in a massive cave. Gourmet Race pits Kirby against King Dedede in a race to eat the most food. Revenge of Meta Knight involves the title character trying to end Dream Land's laid back lifestyle but Kirby isn't having that so he assaults the Halberd, dismantling it piece by piece and then has a face off with the honorable knight. Yeah, it's just as unfathomably awesome as it sounds and is worth the price of admission alone. In Milky Way Wishes, the Sun and Moon are fighting and Kirby must summon Nova to make the feuding end. The Arena is one big boss rush mode, pitting you against all of the game's bosses. Samurai Kirby, one of the mini games has you pressing the A button at the right time to defeat your opponent. Basically, it's quick draw but with samurais so it's infinitely cooler. Megaton Punch, another mini game is a contest of strength to see who can make the biggest crack in Pop Star. If you're really good, you can split the planet in half. Unless the residents of Pop Star of have concocted a way to survive with their world in such dire straits, such a show of brute force can't be good for the planet, but as long as you're the toughest guy around, who cares? When you initially begin playing Kirby Super Star Ultra, only Spring Breeze, Dyna Blade, the Great Cave Offensive and Gourmet Race will be available. By completing the various sub-games, more become accessible.

As pretty as it was on the SNES, it looks even  better
on the DS.

Games new to Kirby Super Star Ultra are Revenge of the King, a harder, slightly altered version of Spring Breeze. Meta Knightmare Ultra lets you play almost all of Ultra as Meta Knight and he's so absurdly overpowered that it makes you wonder how he ever lost to Kirby. Helper to Hero is an endurance mode, enabling you to play as any of Kirby's various helpers to face off against 13 bosses. The True Arena is The Arena on steroids, with some Nintendo Hard bosses. As for the new mini games, Kirby Card Swipe is a test of the reflexes to see if you can tap the matching card on the touch screen first. Kirby on the Draw has you using the stylus as a gun to shoot as many targets as you can against AI opponents. Snack Tracks sits Kirby on a conveyor belt to eat as much as he can. With all of the old games from Kirby Super Star, plus the new ones in Ultra, that's a whopping 16 games to play.

$5 says Dedede loses to Kirby. Again. 

The bulk of the games presented here play like the typical Kirby platforming fare. Run, slide, float, inhale enemies and Copy their abilities. Not much new here if you're familiar with Kirby and if you're a newcomer, it's easy stuff to grasp. If you want an extra set of hands, you can turn any copied power into a Helper. The Helper AI is actually rather adept and you never have to worry about it getting stuck on an object because if you get too far ahead, your partner will simply shoot back to you as a star. A second player can also take control of the Helper but he/she will need their own copy of the game.

Kill cute critters alone or with help.

Outside of the touch-based mini games, the touch screen is generally used to display your health, what game you're playing and the stage you're in, but it's especially useful in The Great Cave Offensive. Here it tells you to what area you're currently in, how close you are to the exit and if you've found all the treasure in a particular section. It's not a full blown map like what you'd find in a Metriod game, but it still a welcome addition since it can be quiet easy to get lost in that game.

Kirby Super Star was a fine-looking game on the SNES and it looks even better on the DS. The sprites and backgrounds have a much brighter, sharper look to them and all of the game's cut scenes now have full 3D animation. The music is just as cheerful and catchy as ever and you'll be humming along as you play but it doesn't sound quite as good as it's SNES counterpart, though only the most hardcore Kirby fan will probably notice.

Huh. I was under the impression that
everyone called him that.

With the added games and improved visuals, one could argue that Kirby Super Star Ultra is superior to the SNES original. It may be a port, but it's an amazingly good one and one of the best games you play on your DS. Many of the games are short, but these are still some of Kirby's most memorable adventures. One of the finest Kirby games can now be carried around in your pocket and be accessed at anytime. What's not to like about that?

Favorite Tunes: First Level Themes

No one can really forget the very first level of a video game. It is the staring point after all. But one of the main reasons the starting level from a game stands out is not only due to it's design, but the music that accompanies the stages. So here's a look, or rather, listen to some of my favorite first level themes from some of my favorite games. Click on the title to hear the tune.

Ground Theme - Super Mario Bros. (NES)

Oh come on, you knew this one was gonna be here. We can't have a list like this and not have the granddaddy of all starting tunes not present. Composed by Koji Kondo, the classic Ground Theme is the longest track in Super Mario Bros. It was also the most difficult to come up with for the veteran music writer. The Ground Theme is actually the very first song you hear in the game because the original Super Mario Bros. has no title theme. And unlike a lot of game's, the tune doesn't even play during the demo mode. If you want to hear this theme, you have to press start. Ground Theme a is just as famous as Mario himself. It's also known as The Super Mario Bros. Theme, showing up in nearly very Mario game in some form or another. It's such an infectious tune that even those that don't play video games can recognize it. Heck, it can be identified by just the first 7 notes. Now that's a powerful piece of music.

Green Hill Zone - Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis)

This could be considered Sonic's Ground Theme. It's hard not to see screens of Green Hill Zone, and not hear this tune playing in your head. For many people, Sonic the Hedgehog was the reason the picked up a Genesis so this game was their first exposure to the unit's audio processor. Sonic the Hedgehog showed that, in the right hands, Genesis music could sound just as lovely and harmonic as the SNES. So why hasn't Green Hill Zone been in as many games as Mario's classic Ground Theme. Well, the composer, Masasto Nakamura, actually owns the rights to his own music, meaning every time Sega wanted to use this tune, they had to give the guy some cash. So while we may not hear this track often, it's a delight whenever it does show up. You cannot say you weren't grinning like a school girl when you sped through Green Hill Zone in Sonic Generations.

Fly to the Leaden Sky (Stage 1 - Valley), Battle Garegga (Arcade / Saturn)

You say you've never played Battle Garegga? You poor, depraved soul. MAME this sucker to see what it's all about. Battle Garegga's soundtrack is still one of Manabu Namiki's finest works (I'll be dropping more material from him later in this feature.) The opening stage theme is so insanely energetic that it almost makes you wanna get up and dance, but since you need every ounce of concentration to survive in this game, it's probably not recommended. It's kind of hard to really appreciate the game's music because they stages are pretty brief even by SHMUP standards and there's a lot of noise that can drown out the audio. Nevertheless, Battle Garegga's first stage music is pretty boss.

Mute City - F-Zero (SNES)

No matter which cup you choose to start your racing experience in F-Zero, Mute City is always the starting course, which treats you to one of the series most endearing selections of music. Mute City, like other themes on this list has been arranged and remixed in the F-Zero sequels and the Super Smash Bros. series and those have all been well and good but the original still sounds triumphant as ever. Captain Falcon, the poster boy for the F-Zero series hails from Mute City so it's hard not to hear this theme when you see a picture of him. That and his numerous taunts.

Vampire Killer - Castlevania (NES)

Castlevania Chronicles

What could be more awesome than entering Dracula's castle and hearing this theme play? Arguably the one that's next on the list, but Vampire Killer is still amazing in sound and in title. Just mentioning this tune makes gamers swoon, transporting them back to the start of Dracula's castle, whipping bats, Medusa Heads and Mermen.

Simon Belmont's Theme - Super Castlevania IV (SNES)

Once you reach the inside of Dracula's Domain, the door closes and this theme kicks in. OH. SNAP. Simon Belmont is here and he's going to whip you good. There are plenty of reasons gamers remember Super Castlevania IV with such fondness, chief among them is the music, which even by the SNES's beautiful standards, is still some of the very best the system had to offer. Kinda sucks that once you finish the first stage, you don't get to hear these theme anymore. That is, until about midway through the fight with Dracula's second form. Simon Belmont is so awesome that he can turn on his theme music during a final boss fight. Dracula heard that theme knew he was screwed.

Ragnarok Canyon - Battletoads in Battlemaniacs (SNES)

The Battletoads games are stupidly hard but if you gotta suffer, you may as well suffer to some awesome beats. Ragnarok Canyon, the start of the Toads journey in Battlemaniacs serves up some one of the best rock beats you'll hear on the SNES. The use of guitars and drums in this tune are absolutely SICK! David Wise is primarily known for his work on the Donkey Kong Country games, but he's also the man responsible for the music in the Battletoads series. Needless to say, David Wise is freaking awesome.

Opening Stage - Mega Man X (SNES)

You press start at the title screen and expect to go to a stage select screen just as you would in the classic Mega Man series. Instead, you're teleported to a green highway, with a background that looks like the aftermath of a robot rebellion having it's way. This is not your father's Mega Man game. The music in Mega Man X has a heavy feel of rock going on and what better way to introduce you to a new style of Mega Man music than the first stage? Said stage also shows you a good chunk of the new gameplay mechanics.

The Shinobi - Revenge of Shinobi (Genesis)

Name one tune that Yuzo Koshiro wrote that was bad. Yeah, that's what I thought. You can't! There are no such things as bad Yuzo Koshiro tunes. Just songs that are more fantastic than others. If you need further proof how cool it is to be a ninja, just listen to The Shinobi. It's the perfect embodiment of what it means to be a ninja. Calm, collected, and stealthy. That and silting people's throats with Japanese swords.

Lakeside - Sparkster (SNES)

In 1994 two different teams developed two Sparkster games. One for the Genesis, the other for the SNES. The Genesis version was a direct sequel to the 1993 Genesis original, while the SNES game was a completely different beast. Both games use the same songs but like most Genesis and SNES games, the audio differences between the two is quite noticeable. While I like to steer clear of arguments of what games had better sound that were released on both platforms, I really do have to side with the SNES versions of Lakeside. It's a very heroic theme and in my personal opinion, I think it should be made the official theme of Sparkster.
.

Over 100,000 Views

As of this writing, Gaming Rocks On has reached over 100,750 views. I'm still amazed that this humble blog of mine has generated that many views. Just the start of the 2012 alone saw a sizable increase in views. So once again, I'd like to to thank everyone who has stopped by, longtime readers, first time reader, or even those that just gave the place a quick glance. Really, it's all very much appreciated.

Downloads #11

I've got plenty to keep me occupied on my 3DS with Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7, but that hasn't stopped me from exploring the eShop and downloading some Virtual Console games. Take a look at my first batch of 3DS Virtual Console purchases.

Link's Awakening DX
(Game Boy Color)

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a game I have very fond memories of. I bought a copy for the Game Boy back in the early 1990s and have adored it ever since. I later picked up the colored DX version sometime after I acquired my Game Boy Advance SP. I never really got around to playing it. I never even finished Link's Awakening for that matter. Well, I'm hoping to rectify that now. I love Link's Awakening for all the weirdness it incorporates, like a Yoshi doll, Wart's cameo and Bowwow, a dog that's basically a Chain Chomp. The music is also ranks among some of my favorite. I'm getting a nostalgia rush just typing this.

Super Mario Land
(Game Boy)

Being one of the first generation Game Boy titles, Super Mario Land looks primitive, even by Game Boy standards. It's also ridiculously short at just four worlds. But you know what? I still had a blast playing this game my my 3DS all over again. The music is still some of the best you'll hear on the Game Boy and is easily hum-worthy. This is another game I never got around to beating. I think I got stuck somewhere on world 3. Maybe now that I'm older and wiser (?) I can finish Super Mario Land.

Donkey Kong (Game Boy)

The 1994 Game Boy Donkey is not only one of my favorite portable games, but one of my favorite Mario games. I firmly believe this is the best version of Donkey Kong that doesn't involve Kremlings or konga drums. I still own a physical copy of this but for $3.99, well, that's a very small price to pay to play this on the go again. This is one of the few games that delivers on the promise of 100 levels.

Gargoyle's Quest
(Game Boy)

I own Demon's Crest (SNES) and Gargoyle's Quest II (NES). I had a chance to pick up a physical copy of Gargoyle's Quest for ultra cheap but I passed on it for some stupid reason. In any case, I finally have all the games staring Firebrand. I never played this one but I heard it was good. Maybe I'll start with this game and finish off the whole trilogy of Firebrand's adventures, something I've yet to do.

Latest Game Purchases #24

Is that a 3DS? Why, yes. Yes it is. After getting myself some new specs (glasses for those of you that are unhip), I had some cash left so I made a purchase that was long overdue. Along with my Aqua Blue 3DS, I picked up Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. As you can guess, I'm ecstatic to play these.

My first PS3 game purchase ends up being a retro compilation. Go figure. I had planned to get Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection somewhere down the line but for $12.99 brand new, I'd have to be a fool to wait, especially since it was K-Mart's last copy.

Lastly, I got a black Sonic hoody. I wanted to get one of these months ago since I saw them in fye but when I had the money, they were gone. The original price was $39.99 and then $24.99 and finally $12.44. The only one they had left was in XL and for that price, how could I pass it up?

New Super Mario Bros. Wii Yoshi Plushies

(Insert cute comments here.)

It seems like it's been eons since I picked up a plush toy. I've seen the line of New Super Mario Bros. Wii plushies and have been meaning to get around to picking them up. There's eight total plushies in this set. Mario, Luigi, Blue Toad, Yellow Toad, Green Yoshi, Blue Yoshi, Pink Yoshi and Yellow Yoshi. I really like all the them except Mario & Luigi. I just don't like how those two were made and it bugs me to no end. They aren't the worst plush toys I've ever seen but they aren't the best either.

Anyway, I ended up picking out Green Yoshi and Blue Yoshi. Yoshi has long been a favorite character of mine in the Super Mario series and I especially love the way these Yoshis look. I honestly like them better than the first Yoshi I bought from the Global Holdings Super Mario plush series. Blue is my favorite color so I had to get Blue Yoshi first.

I'll more than likely pick up another Yoshi and Blue Toad next. Blue Toad reminds me of Toad from Super Mario Bros. 2, who was all kinds of awesome.