Namco Bandai uses 2D to lure gamers into Kekkaishi and Gegege no Kitarou

By Spencer . January 4, 2008 . 10:46am

While I thoroughly enjoyed Super Mario Galaxy sometimes I want one less dimension in a platforming game. The glory days of 2D platformers are long over, but not for handhelds. Next year Namco Bandai has a Kekkaishi: Kokubourou Shuurai and Gegege no Kitarou: Youkai Daigekisen games scheduled for the Nintendo DS in Japan. Both games are based on anime licenses (read: not coming to North America) and both tackle jumping in different ways.

The Kekkashi game has players freeze enemies in cubes, which can be used as makeshift platforms. In the Gegege no Kitarou game you glide around using Gegege’s jacket. Out of the two platform exploration mechanisms Kekkaishi: Kokubourou Shuurai, which comes out on February 28, sounds more interesting. But you get to run around and shock stuff as Gegege’s game, which comes out in April. Neither game sounds revolutionary, but with the sparse selection of 2D platformers Namco Bandai’s games deserve some attention. Now, which one should I choose…

TAGS: Anime, Gegege no Kitarou, Kekkaishi, Namco Bandai, Nintendo DS

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ChrisUlt

Gegege's game. It looks more like a action-platforming game. It looks like Bandai (Namco) is making 2D anime sidescroller, also using the Keroro anime license for a anime sidescroller on the DS. Anyway, what anime would be good for 2D sidescrollers. Powerpuff Girls Z would make a good 2D sidescroller....

Spencer

@ChrisUlt - Yeah, I'm surprised Namco Bandai didn't make a Powerpuff Girls Z side scroller! It's a more fitting genre than a party game and flight mechanics would be fantastic for it.

Icupnimpn2

I can't help but feel a little but underwhelmed by most new anime these days. However, I have really enjoyed watching Kekkaishi. I like it better than Naruto and Bleach. I think what makes it special is its focus on a smaller number of characters and a fairly novel and well-defined system of powers for the main characters. The DS game could be interesting if you actually have to draw the boxes around your enemies or tap them to surround them with a kekkai. If that were the case, the game would probably come pretty close to replicating what it felt like to use the main characters' powers. In the cartoon, the main characters point at their enemie to surround eliminate them. What is the DS good at if not pointing? Could be interesting if the controls aren't reduced to just "press A to fire."