NeoGAF

Alrighty, technically, this was already some what covered in last week's Famitsu/JP Mag info topic. But since nobody actually went on to actually post scans or,furthermore, give more info about this game, I guess it's on me to help spread the word more...

http://www.s-f.co.jp/soft/ps2/kikikaikai/index.htm

Official JP site for the game. Make sure you view this in IE, because it ain't optimized for Firefox, and other browsers...

And from Insert-credit...

Famitsu Magazine has really demanded our scrutiny after this highly anticipated news. After all, Kiki Kaikai 2 could be the very first game using the classic formula from Senjou no Ookami ['Commando'] for a proper system (that is non-handheld and non-Windows-based) after... Shock Troopers 2? That's too many years, indeed. And it even would take the form of a direct Kiki Kaikai sequel, no less. Since Taito developed Kiki Kaikai back in 1986 for the arcades, the series has had more than a few episodes where the company didn't put lay a finger on them (the SFC iterations from Natsume are among the best 16-bit action games ever made, for instance), so it's not surprising at all that Kiki Kaikai 2 happens to be a Star Fish production where Taito just licensed the name. It has an official site for the game now, revealing, quite amazingly, full hi-res 2D graphics. The character design is odd for a Kiki Kaikai game, we believe, but hey. We're more worried about what they say of the mechanics, though. According to the site, you need to use both analogue sticks from the Dual Shock to play the game. That implies you can't use an arcade stick for such an 'arcadish' game, sadly. Awesome news, in any case, which may not end here - Famitsu also wrote about 'Shin Chuuka Taisen' for the PS2, another episode for another classic Taito series which started in the arcades.


So, my opinions? The game looks great...well, besides me having to get used to the new art style, especially for my fave character, Manuke/Rocky. But in all other schools of thought, this looks to be a new 2D-tastic game for me to sink my teeth into. :D

Now, let's just hope that this will wash away any and all bad karma the series garnered after that piece of crap game for the GBA...

I'm not opening IE to look at the site, but sweet :)

System?

I'm assuming PS2, given that the description mentions the Dual Shock

Originally Posted by Hero

System?

Yes, it is on the PS2. Sorry, neglected to include that...

Originally Posted by drohne

edit 2: moreover, pocky's clothes have fallen off in one of those screens. wtfwtfwtfwtf

If you remember/played P&R2 for the SNES, this shouldn't be too off base. Parts of her outfit fell when she got hit in that game too, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if this was also the case here.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaawt

OMG! OMG OMG OMG!

Pocky & Rocky! YES!

awesome!

Holy shit.

Yes and PS2 too.

Aw Yeah.
Looks ****ING HOT.

I'm a little concerned about the developer. Has Starfish done anything good?

Originally Posted by HyperZone&lt

Aw Yeah.
Looks ****ING HOT.

I'm a little concerned about the developer. Has Starfish done anything good?

Well, admitting, looking at their track record may not get that much mileage for a number of us present. Well, not unless you've been a stoic follower of the various Wizardry or Black Bass games that have been around since like 1992.

But hey, if Taito thinks they have promise, then I guess it's just a matter of waiting to see what they can do. After all, P&R for the SNES was actually made by Natsume and not Taito themselves, either...

damn, they should have made it a DS game. The first P&R OWNED. :)

Pocky & Rocky for SNES was the best co-op game ever made.

Originally Posted by Dragona Akehi

Pocky & Rocky for SNES was the best co-op game ever made.

QFTMFT

I've always heard about the SNES Pocky and Rocky being really good. Anyway this will make it onto the VC?

Originally Posted by Dragona Akehi

Pocky & Rocky for SNES was the best co-op game ever made.

This is correct.

Lord, this page isn't optimized for jack shit. Can somebody like... take screencaps of what it looks like? Or something?

I got a free Natsume sweatshirt for sending in a card or something with Pocky and Rocky. It was black with "Game Master" written all huge across the back in a field of static inside a purple box, very Trapper Keeper-looking. The game was much better than the sweatshirt.

Ho ho. Nice. The concept art feels kind of weird but the game itself looks classic.

Ooohhh... megaton!
And it's on PS2!!!1!

looks awesome
but what are the chances of this coming out here? probably 0.01% :(

Originally Posted by Dragona Akehi

Pocky & Rocky for SNES was the best co-op game ever made.

If I ever doubt you in the future, direct me to this post, for it is the truest truth ever written

It's for the PS2 :( That means it so isn't seeing the light of day outside of Japan.

buying day one! Loved this game to bits on the SNES.

Awesome!!!

It looks like they kept SNES graphics from the screens (not a bad thing). Too bad it'll never come here :(

New screens

Pocky and Rocky!! OMG!! *faints*

Originally Posted by jaundicejuice

It's for the PS2 :( That means it so isn't seeing the light of day outside of Japan.

yeah because nobody outside of japan owns ps2 amirite

Edit: By the way, pardon me if I don't get too excited until this thing is actually out and we know whether or not it's good. Just because it's based on a fun classic game doesn't mean shit.

hi-res 2d ftw. love the style as well, pocky design notwithstanding. goty 2007.

Originally Posted by Kobun Heat

Edit: By the way, pardon me if I don't get too excited until this thing is actually out and we know whether or not it's good. Just because it's based on a fun classic game doesn't mean shit.

Yeah, exactly. The GBA version of Pocky & Rocky was total garbage.

I now want this more then every currently available PS3/Wii/360 game.

Gawsh, that looks purty.

A high-res 2D PS2 action game with no trickery or sloppiness visible! Amazing.

This is by Starfish, not Altron like that shitty GBA remake, so there's at least a little hope. Starfish made the very nice GBA remake of Steel Empire, which was admittedly an average game to begin with. Kikikaikai 2 already looks way better than I expected, so I'm excited. The art style is right on. Environments look great and enemies are suitably goofy and well-drawn. This already looks to be more in the spirit of the Natsume games than the arcade original. I think I'll be preordering.

There's a dash and a dash-jump move, and there's a combo system that relies on timing:



And of course, it has a 2P cooperative mode.

Those images just made me soil myself. Man I can't wait. Bring it west!!

Looks great!

I know what I'm doing this March in 2p co-op!

phew.. PS2. Yes, please.

that would be awesome on the ds.

Originally Posted by sonikokaruto

that would be awesome on the ds.

No, it would be awesome on the PS2, which is why it's there.

WOOHOO HIGH-RES SPRITES != DS. Sorry.

Originally Posted by sonikokaruto

that would be awesome on the ds.

No. Go away. You're not wanted here. High-res 2D says YOU LOSE.

Btw, does anyone know the origin of the stone wall people? Between Okami and this I guess they are a traditional Japanese folklore thing?

Either that or Starfish is now doing Okami cameos ;P

I see Pocky, but no Rocky. :(

Still looks a hell of a good from the screen shots.

i think the wee flying thing with the blue tail is rocky. looks like they're going with the partner system from the second snes game.

Originally Posted by muttyeah416

QFTMFT

QFT Again because the game just owned that much.

I must buy this! Bring back Wild Guns next!

Originally Posted by Bebpo

Btw, does anyone know the origin of the stone wall people? Between Okami and this I guess they are a traditional Japanese folklore thing?

Yes they are, the ancient Japanese had to strike their weak points for massive damage.

If Natsume somehow brings this to America I will shit bricks of happiness.

Originally Posted by drohne

i think the wee flying thing with the blue tail is rocky. looks like they're going with the partner system from the second snes game.

It looks like Pocky and Pikachu.

Originally Posted by sonikokaruto

that would be awesome on the ds.

I've got your back... I'd love to see it on the DS as well.

Ok let me guess... this will never ever come out in the freaking US. :(

At this point, you never know. My gut instinct would be to say no, but in the "end days" of consoles, titles come out that you would never, ever have expected.