Capcom’s early 2009 release calendar a star studded affair

By Stephen Munn | January 5, 2009

Cry sequelitis all you like, but Capcom’s got something in each of a number of their key franchises rolling out in the next six months. There’s some Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Dead Rising, and Bionic Commando action coming your way, and some of that’s even coming to Wii, even if it may not be the one we really wanted.

Street Fighter 4 is coming February 17th to PS3 and 360. As disappointed as I was that the whole game doesn’t look like Okami as the original trailer seemed to imply, I still think there’s a lot of potential for some great fighting here. Unfortunately, I can’t help but wonder if there’s anything that can be done with the Street Fighter format to give it legs beyond what it was already doing 15 years ago. As interesting as it is, I’ll be waiting and trying before I consider a buy.

February 27th will bring the Wii edition of Dead Rising, subtitled Chop Till You Drop, which is still adorable. The game was expected last year, so I’m hoping the delays mean we’ll see more zombies in the game than the screens out there are showing *cough 6 killed cough*. Dead Rising on 360 was legendary for its swarms of zombies, and the idea that there might be so many fewer on Wii makes me think I’d be better off waiting for a PS3 version.

Resident Evil 5 is something of a legend at this point. In addition to being perhaps the game with the biggest shoes to fill of this lot after the incredible Resident Evil 4, it’s brought out a great deal of ongoing discussion on one of our older articles here at Aeropause. And for the record, I have the opposite opinion of whatever yours might be. Look for this one on PS3 and 360 on (dun dun dun!) Friday the 13th… of March! I’m glad to hear this, because the people at work keep asking me when it’s coming out. Now I have an answer.

Other games mentioned without release dates are the amusingly named FLOCK!, a download-only animal herding puzzle game with UFOs for PSN and XBLA and a bike-racing MotoGP game for Wii in March. They talk about Bionic Commando as well, but they keep the date on that one wide open. Like, six months wide, so we’ll see if it hits in that timeframe or not. It’s due for PS3 and 360 and I think it looks pretty slick.

Windows versions of the PS3 and 360 games are expected at a later date. Press release follows.

CAPCOM TO DELIVER STELLAR LINE UP IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2009

Resident Evil^® 5, Street Fighter^® IV, Bionic Commando^®, Dead Rising^TM: Chop Till You Drop, FLOCK! and MotoGP^TM for Wii^TM Ready to Dominate the Console World

Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, has today confirmed that six of its upcoming titles will be released within the first half of 2009. The line-up demonstrates Capcom’s commitment to pursuing a multi-platform strategy while growing its portfolio of titles and includes the latest installments of some of gaming’s most cherished franchises.

Throughout 2008, Capcom was at the forefront of digital download titles and is set to continue this trend into 2009 and beyond. Capcom’s first downloadable game of the year, FLOCK!, is scheduled for release in early 2009 and will be available for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®Network and Windows PC platforms. FLOCK! sees players take control of a UFO that is tasked with herding animals to its mothership through a variety of interactive levels utilizing physics-based gameplay. With over 50 levels in single player and co-op modes and a simple yet powerful level editor to extend the experience, FLOCK!’s unique theme, clever humor and easy pick-up-and-play controls will ensure a new twist on the puzzle genre.

The Street Fighter® series makes a very welcome return with Street Fighter® IV, which comes to the Xbox 360 and Sony Computer Entertainment’s PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system on February 17, 2009, followed by a Windows PC version set for release at a later date. The series which has amassed combined global sales of over 25 million units aims to put the fun back into the fighting genre and reignite the passion of the Street Fighter II era. Everything that made the legendary Street Fighter II a global hit is back in Street Fighter IV, with the addition of new characters (including fighters added just for the console version of the game), special moves and gameplay elements, providing challenges for even the most seasoned Street Fighter pro.

Infecting gamers and completing Capcom’s list of releases for February is Dead Rising™: Chop Till You Drop for the Wii, scheduled for release on February 27. Based on the smash Xbox 360 game (over one million copies sold to date), the humor and challenge that made the original a hit with gamers remains, while many core elements have been totally redesigned for the Wii platform and audience, taking zombie bashing to a whole new level. With the added functionality of the Wii Remote™, players will be able to shake off zombie attacks and swing and throw dozens of makeshift weapons (everything from chainsaws to baseball bats, soccer balls to café umbrellas) in order to survive.

Gamers around the globe have already written Friday the 13th, March 2009 on their calendars in blood red ink in order to mark the release of Resident Evil® 5. One of the industry’s most successful franchises brings the next generation of fear to Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 systems. Resident Evil 5 promises to set a new standard in action gaming with amazing graphics and both online and split-screen co-operative gameplay on a single console.
Also scheduled for release in March is MotoGP™ for the Wii. Due to hit retail in the middle of March to coincide with the pre-season activity for the 2009 MotoGP™ season, the title turns the Wii Remote into a set of virtual handlebars as players compete across the three race classes in single races, a full championship or a series of challenge stages. Different handling models and AI rider characteristics allow ease of entry for riders of all skills whether a seasoned bike racing fan or new to the genre.

Completing this impressive line up is Bionic Commando, the true sequel to the retro classic with an injection of next gen power, coming within the first half of the year. The title will be initially available for gamers on Xbox 360 and Sony Computer Entertainment’s PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, with the Windows PC version following shortly afterwards. Bionic Commando harnesses the power of the latest generation of hardware to fully exploit the swing mechanic that made the original title so unique. Using the powers of the bionic arm to swing between towering skyscrapers, punch cars, pummel opponents and grab distant enemies, players can gain a tactical advantage to progress through the compelling single player campaign and take on all comers in online multiplayer modes.