Earlier today we learned that the PS3 and PlayStation Vita versions of Street Fighter X Tekken will include five exclusive characters: Mega Man, Pac-Man, Cole McGrath and Japanese PlayStation mascots Toro and Kuro.

It got me thinking about cameos and guest appearances in games – an increasingly frequent occurrence, it seems, particularly in beat ‘em ups. And it’s not just other game characters popping up in other pixels’ playgrounds: the NBA Jam series has a long tradition of including Presidential ‘ballers and the mighty Phil Collins popped up in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.

This week’s Weekend Debate poser is:

What would be your dream gaming crossovers or cameos and why?

The 15 most original and entertaining ideas as decided by our independent judge will bag their authors a voucher code for the LittleBigPlanet 2 Move Pack to help you make your dream mash-ups for yourselves. Do bear in mind that you will need a copy of LittleBigPlanet 2 (not included) to use this DLC.

Can’t wait to read what you come up with!

Score:

• 50 Comments
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

If you could reach out and touch this week’s episode of Access TV it would feel small, sleek and curiously curvy. That’s right, episode 18 of Access is on YouTube now, and it’s decidedly PlayStation Vita-shaped, with our headline spot devoted to showing off the tricks, tech and awesome launch titles of the glorious new handheld. Check out the likes of Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Little Deviants and Reality Fighters right now.

And it doesn’t end there. We’ve also got a report from the first PS Vita Rooms event in Manchester, where gamer crowds joined a packed line-up of celebs and performers in checking out the machine (and if you like what you see, make a date in your diary for the last PS Vita Rooms in London next month).

It’s hard to top Manchester for glamour locations, but the team managed it this week with a visit to Rome, where we caught up with Vigil Games honcho and comic book star Joe Madureira about his work on Darksiders II.

As ever we’ve also got a round-up of the biggest PlayStation news and a guide to the best of the Store, which this week include a chat with the guys behind PS Vita’s WipEout 2048 and the long-awaited assassinate-’em-up Hitman: Absolution.

Access TV is available every Friday on YouTube – head to youtube.com/playstationaccess to subscribe and never miss an episode.

To sign up for future Access events or to hang out and chat with other members of the Access community, then visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/PlaystationAccess, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/PSAccess.

Score:

• 23 Comments 6 Replies
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

Two of videogaming’s most iconic characters are entering the ring and going toe to toe. Exclusive to the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions of Street Fighter X Tekken, Capcom’s very own Mega Man will be joined by Namco’s mascot, Pac-Man.

For the first time, the version of Mega Man featured on the original Mega Man 1 box art will make the jump from the cover to be a playable character, with Pac-Man taking on all challengers as he rides atop Mokujin.

To see how these two characters inject their own unique and light-hearted fighting styles check out the brand new trailer.

Mega Man and Pac-Man join the previously announced PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita exclusive characters, Cole from Infamous plus Toro and Kuro.

Street Fighter X Tekken will release for PlayStation 3 on March 6 in North America and March 9 across Europe with PlayStation Vita and PC versions to follow.

Score:

• 16 Comments
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

FromSoftware, developer of last fall’s critically acclaimed Action-RPG Dark Souls, has been spreading bullets from mech-to-mech for nearly 15 years since the very first Armored Core premiered on the PSone back in 1997. So needless to say, when it comes to intense metal-shredding action and hardcore strategy, the team at FromSoftware knows what they’re doing…but will you?

Armored Core V hits consoles across Europe on 23rd March, and when it does, we at Namco Bandai Games want everyone up to be up to speed on all of the ins and outs on what it will take to survive while piloting the Armored Cores (or “ACs”) in the dusty, shrapnel-laden world full of limitless online gameplay possibilities.

(more…)

Score:

• 10 Comments
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

Last year, Rayman Origins was released on PS3 to critical acclaim. On February 22, Rayman and his friends return to PS Vita! Even better, the beauty and frantic gameplay of the PS3 will make the transition to PS Vita fully intact.

You’ll play as Rayman, Globox or the Teensies as they speed through stages on a mission to free the Glade of Dreams from the Darktoons. Rayman Origins offers a playful hand-drawn art style and accessible platforming gameplay, and completionists will find a challenge in gathering all the Electoons and skull teeth. In short, Rayman Origins will deliver entertainment to the new comers and veterans of the platforming genre.
(more…)

Score:

• 24 Comments
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook