PixlBit

I didn’t even know The House of the Dead 4 Special was a thing that existed.

Despite the rest of The House of the Dead series making its way to consoles, The House of the Dead 4 has been left in the arcades – and perhaps rightfully so. With the introduction of the machine gun as the standard weapon, the once requisite precision aiming for this light gun series has been all but removed. That’s not to say that there’s no challenge or fun to be had with the latest arcade iteration of the series, but the experience pales in comparison to earlier editions.

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Quick pick-up-and-play fun.

If you were to set Art Style: Orbient, Pinball, and a side-scrolling shoot-‘em-up on a collision course, the result would be StarDrone Extreme. It's an odd combination, yes, but one that frequently provides some quick thrills. However, like Plants vs. Zombies, StarDrone Extreme seems to suffer from being on the wrong platform. While fun in short bursts, the experience fails to engage for more than a level or two at a time.

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The fan favorite publisher steps in to help Vanillaware finish their dream project.

Vanillaware is a company that’s synonymous with lush, 2D graphics and classic gameplay. Best known in the West for Odin Sphere and Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Vanillaware has been hard at work on their next big title: Dragon’s Crown. This side-scrolling action game—a spiritual successor to the Japan-only Princess Crown for Sega Saturn—has been an idea that director George Kamitani has been shopping around for thirteen years. Rumors began to surface recently that the PS3 and PS Vita title had ceased development and was set to be canceled. Enter Atlus, who will support Vanillaware in their ongoing development, as well as publish the game in North America.

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