Tokyo Jungle is one of the more unique games lurking around the Playstation Network. It’s weird and sometimes repetitive, but how many games have you played that let you play as a Pomeranian? Well, this title not only lets you take control of a Pomeranian, but you also get to play as dozens of other animals. Tokyo Jungle was released as a retail disc in Japan. However, it came over here as a downloadable title, and is better off for it. While it is a good package, it’s not something most gamers would pay full price for.
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Welcome to the Powet Top 5, where we explore the top (and bottom) 5 items we think are relevant to any of a variety of topics that span the imagination. Sit back, read, and respond.

Screenshot from the forthcoming Rise of the Triad remake, rebuilt from the ground up using Unreal Engine 3.

It’s quite easy to remake something, be it a tv show, movie, or video game. Maybe that’s why there are so many of them. At worst, a remake can be nothing more than a simple cash grab aimed at nostalgic fans. At best however, it can bring back what fans loved about the original work while introducing it to a whole new generation of fans. It’s not hard to make a good remake either, especially in gaming. There are 4 simple steps to making one:

1. Preserve (and enhance when and where necessary) what worked the first time around
2. Fix (or get rid of) what didn’t work
3. Add in new features that enhance the original experience without diluting it
4. Give it a graphical makeover. It doesn’t have to use today’s cutting edge graphics (and in some cases, it probably shouldn’t, just so as long as it looks better than it did the first time.

Here are 5 of the best remakes in video games. They’ve gone above and beyond simply reskinning and re-releasing the original game, they’ve added to it, and in some cases changing it completely while preserving what players loved about it so many years ago. Check them out, and sound off below if there is a remake that you enjoyed or that you want to see.
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THQ is bringing retro flavor to Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network this November with “Voltron: King Zarkon Returns” video game.

Interspersed with footage from the original series, gamers will find themselves able to play either online in seamless 1- to 5-player co-op or offline in 1- or 2-player co-op. Players will select a Lion based on a number of strengths, resistances and elemental attacks, and will battle it out on Planet Arus against familiar Robeasts.

Voltron: Defender of the Universe will be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade (800 Microsoft Points) and PlayStation Network ($9.99).

According to a BBC article, Sony has changed the terms and conditions to their PlayStation Network (PSN). The change adds a new clause called “Binding Individual Arbitration” and states

“any Dispute Resolution Proceedings, whether in arbitration or court, will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class or representative action or as a named or unnamed member in a class, consolidated, representative or private attorney general action”

Users are apparently notified of the changes upon logging in to the network. If you do not agree, you will not be allowed to use the service. A user may opt out of the agreement within the next 30 days by sending a letter to Sony’s Los Angeles office.

Looks like we’ll be getting a new game based on the Batman franchise, albeit without Batman. Gotham City Impostors will be a downloadable game for Playstation Network and XBox Live Arcade.

Make no mistake, this is the latest entry in Konami’s Contra franchise. For real, check the main menu theme and game over theme. Despite it’s anime look (courtesy of developer Arc Systems) and sci-fi setting, this entry contains all the hyperactive shoot-em-up action that you expect from the series. The story is pretty generic, with the typical evil government and you as a former soldier out to stop them, but who plays a Contra game for the story? You (and a buddy if playing co-op) grab your guns, and blast everything that moves, picking up weapon upgrades you find en route. You can play in traditional arcade mode, or an all new ‘Rising’ mode where you can earn new moves and weapon upgrades. Extra characters are available for download. Uprising is part of Konami’s attempt to start a spin-off franchise with Hard Corps (originally released on the Genesis during the 90s), and if future titles are as good as this, Hard Corps will represent a new direction for the Contra franchise just as it did all those years ago. Weather you’re a fan of Contra, or just like old school 2D action, you’ll want to download this title.

Playstation Network users continue their vigil as Sony has announced that the current outage of their free on-line service will be indefinite and that only some features of the service will be available in about a week’s time. The outage has been in effect since April 21st. Further, they also announced that the initial cause of the outage was due to a malicious intrusion by outside hackers and that there was a large security breach of personally identifiable information including name, address, email, birthdate, login name and password. They are not certain if credit card information was breached, but suggest that it should be accounted for by detailing numerous credit fraud protective actions.

Meanwhile, Sony will keep the service down while they make security enhancements and ‘rebuild [the] system to provide you with greater protection of your personal information.’ As a member of the IT community, I am distressed that they will rebuild a system in a matter of weeks, that took them years to get up and running. Moreover, during this outage, anyone that uses a service that relies on the PSN user account will seemingly not work. This includes Netflix and any online multiplayer functionality. It seems that Sony is beginning to learn a lot about what is needed to be a services company and not just an electronics company.

I have included the full press release after the jump. Please read it carefully, change your passwords and protect your data. This is serious stuff.

Massachusetts residents should be aware that there are specific laws that deal with identity theft and that Sony has released a separate consumer alert specifically for those in the Bay State. That can be seen here.

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Our coverage of PAX East is still trickling in as I take a look at the Independent Shooter-Racer game, DYAD for the Playstation Network.

Check our other PAX East 2011 coverage HERE.