Capcom’s Street Fighter series was a first in gaming, particularly in the one-on-one fighting game genre. While it didn’t create the genre, it helped launch it into mainstream. It introduced the popular 6-button attack scheme, multiple selectable characters, and combo attacks that made use of joystick motions. Unfortunately, it was also one of the first games to receive multiple revisions, particular with Street Fighter 2. By 1995, we had no less than 5 different versions of the game. Players were begging for more, and Capcom’s inability to count to three became somewhat of a running gag in video games. Thankfully Capcom finally gave us something new. Street Fighter Alpha, with a storyline that took place between Street Fighter 1 and 2, gave the series a much needed update with new characters (including many from the original Street Fighter and Final Fight), attacks, and a new fighting system. It wasn’t exactly Street Fighter 3, but fans ate it up all the same.
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Quick post before the day is out. A new trailer for Devil May Cry 4 has been released, featuring some rather awesome gameplay and cutscenes staring everyone’s favorite Devil Hunter, Dante – as well as newcomer Nero. From what can be gathered, this is a shorter version of a full trailer to be released at a later date. If this is just a smidgen of what we’re going to be seeing in the future, it can’t come soon enough.

In 1999, Capcom’s Flagship Studios was still riding high off the success of Resident Evil. They were gearing up to release not only the third game in the franchise, but also Dino Crisis, a survival horror game in a similar vein. The game was good, but it’s slow pacing and control scheme basically regulated it to being Resident Evil with Dinosaurs. Taking the criticisms to heart, Capcom released this sequel the following year which not only gave the series its own identity, but made it into a fast paced enjoyable action game for Playstation 1 games not yet ready to make the jump to the next generation. In fact, this game was a lot better than most of the Playstation 2’s launch lineup. After this game, no one would confuse Dino Crisis with Resident Evil again.
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Hey, wasn’t this series supposed to end with the third installment? I guess Capcom either forgot, or wasn’t done milking it yet. Either way, I’m not complaining. This is one of the greatest franchises of last generation, and it’s always great to see another installment of Capcom’s demon-killing samurai saga rather than another Street Fighter 2 remake. It also takes the formula and makes some nice changes to it, while still keeping what makes the series so enjoyable to begin with.
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Here is 26 minutes of Hideo Kojima, Shinji Mikami, and Suda 51 talking. Why is that important? Because they’re the creators of Metal Gear, Resident Evil, and Killer 7; respectively. Arguably the most influential minds of the playstation generation. Next year’s biggest games will no doubt be Metal Gear Solid 4, Resident Evil 5, and No More Heroes, so these guys will only get more influential.

With Nintendo’s Wii and DS, the features that make them standout (the stylus and motion sensing control) also turn out to be their biggest liabilities. Developers often feel obligated to make use of them regardless of how well it can be implemented. As a result, we end up with games with mediocre playability due to the fact that the developers shoehorned Wiimote/stylus functionality into what would have worked just as fine (if not better) without it. This is why we should be thankful for games such as Mega Man DX, as it proves that DS and Wii games don’t necessarily have to make extensive use of fancy new features to be good.
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As I reported on earlier this week with Umbrella Chronicles, the head honchos from Capcom have seen fit to tease us all a little more with a new trailer for the long anticipated Resident Evil 5 game, which has yet to have a confirmed release date. A smaller trailer had been seen before which depicts a unidentified male protagonist roaming about a deserted 3rd-world village (ala: RE4), only to be swarmed upon by fast-moving unseen figures.

This new trailer gives a bit more insight to the environment that RE5 will take place in, and some hints as to what may be affecting people. It also gives a bit more exposure to the protagonist. (who was “spoiled” a few weeks ago to supposedly be Billy Coen from RE0)

More info will be shared as it becomes available. Here’s hoping this isn’t the last we’ve seen from E3 of the famous survival horror goodness that is Resident Evil.

The Japanese Resident Evil site had updated a little while ago with a full-length trailer to it’s upcoming “Umbrella Chronicles” game for the Wii – a House of the Dead-esque first person shooter game which is said will tie the stories of the first series of games together, as well as give some insight to what happens before Resident Evil 4.
Now a pre-E3 trailer has come out to best that. The first part features what was on the Japanese RE site, and the second part seems straight gameplay footage with some pretty extras.

This seems to be Capcom’s answer to the gnawing craving fans have whilst waiting for more definite info releases on Resident Evil 5. Although no official release date has been announced for Umbrella Chronicles, it would appear it aims for a release later this year. E3 very well could be the place that’s fully revealed.