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D3 Publisher is an L.A.-based video game company that just seems to know what’s up. By refusing to pigeonhole themselves into any particular genre, the developers have projects that range anywhere from cartoon franchise spin offs to sexy heroine hack n’ slashers, all of which cater to any and all gamers alike. Perhaps best known for their intergalactic-themed Puzzle Quest series, D3 is churning out a few fun titles that simply shouldn’t be overshadowed.
Last month news broke about a projected buyout by publisher Namco Bandai, which will inevitably offer both companies more series and licenses to work with. While the gaming world is still getting adjusted to this year’s early premier titles (Halo Wars, Street Fighter IV, and the upcoming Resident Evil 5), 2009 may just be D3’s year of gaming prominence. LAist was recently invited to check out some of the companies’ latest projects; check out a few highlights after the jump.
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix: Puzzle Quest is arguably one of the best of those “in-depth” games that’s masked as a casual title. While games like Bubble Bobble or Bejeweled are fun, Puzzle Quest offers an RPG element where players can upgrade their characters and their fleets based on strategies incurred in battles. While such an element does in fact provide more of an immersive experience, Galactrix is one of those games that can be most enjoyed on a commute or as a work/classroom distraction.
Onechanbara- Bikini Zombie Slayers: What appears to be a title that can only stem from the minds of the sexually creative Japanese, Onechanbara is definitely one for the boys. But that’s not to say that this writer wasn’t entertained. Dressed in skimpy clothing and armed with deadly samurai swords, Suki and Aya traverse their world slashing zombies, which is essentially the long and short of it. Sure the story lacks a bit of depth and the gaming mechanics could be more intuitively developed, but what more can you really ask of a game centered around the innocent, adolescent appeal of sex and violence?
Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard: Have you noticed how celebrities have become more attracted to video games lately? First we had Samuel L. Jackson playing the voice of Afro Samurai, and now a comedic team comprised of Will Arnett and Neil Patrick Harris are on board for Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard. When washed up 80’s video game star Matt Hazard (Arnett) was cast in Marathon Megasoft owner Wally Wellesley’s latest video game project, he went on a mission to prove that he hasn’t lost his super hero flair. Running into spoofed enemies along the way (a surly carpenter/Mario derivative, for example), what Eat Lead lacks in gameplay it makes up with an award-winning comedic story. Self-referential video games are often overlooked in the general sphere of sales, but this is just one of those games that will turn into a cult classic in no time.
Every two years, Desert X presents site-specific outdoor installations throughout the Coachella Valley. Two Los Angeles artists have new work on display.
