Sparkster's coming back, bitches:

http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3176349

An all-new 2.5D platformer sequel for XBLA, PSN, and Steam.  Being developed by Climax Group (Silent Hill Origins and Shattered Memories), with Tomm Hulett (Contra 4) at the helm, and slated for an early 2010 release.

Let's hope they nail that gameplay down, but judging by the screenshots, it's giving off a pretty good Klonoa-looking vibe.

Wiiware that sumbitch, and we have a deal...otherwise, XBLA / PSN are gonna hafta wait awhile.

Is it going to be available on the PSP Go?

You're picking up a 360 soon, correct?

Sounds like it's only planned for the 360, PS3, and PC.  Technically, you could play the game on the PSP via Remote Play -- but you'd still require to be in range of your PS3 and a wireless connection.

Sounds cool. I remember seeing a glowing review in a game magazine somewhere (Gamepro, maybe? I don't know) and it looked bright, colorful and imaginative. I really wanted to play it, but could never find a copy.

Yeeeaaahhh, I keep saying that, but then I keep remembering about Final Fantasy XIII, and worry about where it's going to fall, especially with respects to Final Fantasy Versus XIII, which some say is going to be a PS3 exclusive...and when the PS3 has become affordable, S-E might end up just sticking with that plan.

I'm trying to get only one of either the PS3 or 360, so I'm waiting for all my most anticipated games to fall onto one of those two consoles.

Even if I have the $$$ for both, I couldn't stand having an extra console around that I'd hardly use.

...

Was the original Rocket Knight ever released on virtual console?

That....is AWESOME!
Sparkster for the SNES is still one of my favorite platform games EVER, and it deserves a sequel.

On the other hand, looking at Konami's recent track record, I am extremely cautious of this.

So very torn. The original Rocket Knight Adventures is the best game in the history of the Sega Genesis (this is categorically NOT up for debate), and I've always hoped for a revival, but...polygonal 2.5D has never been really FAST, has it? I'll hold back judgement until I see it in motion (hopefully they won't hold that back very long), but at this point I'm pretty concerned about the pace.
See, despite Mr. Hulett's claim that the jetpack became dangerous after the opening level, I used that sumbitch as much as I could. The rush of constantly spamming the rocket and keeping up the pace is its own reward, just like going through Sonic levels without having to slow down because you know the layout that well is rewarding. The larger environs mixed with the zoomed-out camera seem to suggest there'll be more zooming around in open space than ricocheting off of walls, and that (as well as the idea of having to manage the rocket in shooter levels...really?) seems to me at least to miss the point.

This could just be the blithering of a crotchety old man stabbing the air with his cane, of course. I was pretty ambivalent about MM9 if I remember right, and that turned out more than OK. Fingers crossed, then.

The debut trailer is up:

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/debut … ight/57908

The retro look at the older games reminded me how absolutely terrific those 2D sprites really were -- almost to the point of distraction when they launch into the new game proper.  The new game's graphical look is rather bleh by comparison.

The gameplay looks like it has its heart in the right place, but SonicPanda may have pegged it with their decision to use larger environments with a zoomed out camera.  Let's hope a happy compromise will be met with these new design choices.