July is here for PlayStation Plus and that means new free games available for PlayStation Vita, PS3 and PS4.

On the PlayStation 4 front, there’s Don’t Die, Mr. Robot. However, the biggest names are Game of Thrones, Telltale’s episodic adventure based on the hit TV (which is based off of the hit novel series), and Until Dawn. The latter is Supermassive’s interactive adventure where players must survive all sorts of horrors with each decision affecting the characters’ fates.

For PS3 users, there’s Darkstalkers Resurrection and Tokyo Jungle. PlayStation Vita owners get Don’t Die, Mr. Robot and Element4l. Clearly the PS4 owners win out this month though Darkstalkers Resurrection and Tokyo Jungle can be pretty fun.

What are your thoughts on this month’s free PlayStation Plus and which will you be playing? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more information as usual on future free PlayStation Plus title.

Capcom employee replied back to fan questions on Capcom Unity. Senior vice president Christian Svensson wrote:  “New development in the form of updated versions of SF2, SF3, MvC2, MvC1, Marvel Super Heroes, Darkstalkers, Puzzle Fighter etc. Sadly, I think we’ve probably run the course of feasible titles here given the droppoff we’ve seen in sales with each new introduction.

“It seems the novelty of such projects is wearing off even within just the fighting game community based upon the sales data of our last two launches. That said, we have been quite prolific in these areas (despite the assertion above that we haven’t) and it’s probably time for us to slow down anyway.”

Darkstalkers Ressurction was the most recent HD release back in March. The game included Night Warriors: Darkstalkers Revenge and Darkstalkers 3. The game featured GGPO-enabled online game play and HD Graphical filtering.

For more news regarding Capcom and its future, stay tuned on GamingBolt. Post your comments below if you are interested in expressing your opinion regarding this matter.

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I’m saddened by how late I am to the party though, as Darkstalkers is easily one of Capcom’s most accomplished series, and this remastered collection brings two of its best entries to a wider audience that deserves this kind of technical fighting mastery.

Though this is my first time with the Darkstalkers series, that’s not to say the characters are new to me, or new to anyone who has spent time with Capcom’s Marvel vs. Capcom games or the Super Puzzle Fighter Series. Morganna, Felicia and Hsien Ko have popped up in a variety of guises in other Capcom franchises, and they look no less appealing here. The characters are always the most important part of a fighting game, and Darkstalker’s visual designs pass with flying colours. Whether it’s the anthropomorphic Felicia, the human torch-esque Pyron or the succubus combo of Lilith and Morrigan, Darkstalkers has a charming roster that stays consistently true to its tongue-in-cheek gothic themes.

What’s even more surprising is how balanced all the characters manage to be. I may even go as far as saying that Darkstalkers is more balanced than some of the Street Fighter games! The projectile attacks in particular are impressively considered, with each character possessing a ranged attack that has its own unique properties and throwing arc.

The sheer amount of special attacks for each character is also greater than most other fighting games but, rather than confusing the experience, tutorials guide you through mastering each character’s varied move set. The tutorials are by no means foolproof though, rushing over plenty of basic concepts. Even if you’re fairly proficient with the 2D fighting genre, Darkstalkers uses a lot of non-standard terminology, so expect an awkward teething period before you become entirely accustomed to which move is an EX special or an ES special.

Once you get into the swing of things though, the gameplay of Darkstalkers becomes magical. The pacing captures that perfect balance; speedy and intense combat that gives you just enough time to get technical when you need to. The AI in the single-player arcade mode perfectly pushes this style of gameplay, readily adapting to how you use your favourite combos and special moves. It certainly kept me on my toes, forcing me out of my cheap soul fist zoning strategy quickly. It was brutal, but I loved it.

What was meant to be a quick half-hour review session before dinner left me shivering with hunger a number of hours later. Such was the pull of Darkstalkers, a game that reels you in with its speed and flashy combos, but keeps you yearning to master its myriad secrets. By the time I worked out how ES specials and guard cancels worked, I was in 2D fighting game heaven.

The game somewhat stumbles on its presentation though. Despite the art being fantastic, the port to XBLA never feels truly HD, with the sprites seeming just a little bit on the grainy side in comparison to other titles. They certainly posses a nostalgic charm and, after your throwing out supers and mid-air specials left, right and centre, you’re unlikely to keep noticing a low pixel count. Even so, it may be enough to put some people off when they first load the game up. Digging into the options menu presents you with a lot of display options though, levels of customisation that ought to remove the sting of this first impression somewhat.

Whether you opt for an over-the-shoulder view or an arcade cabinet screen, there are plenty of visual options that let you revel in arcade nostalgia. The default view is a more modern affair though, featuring side bars squashing the screen in. Far from a frustrating aspect ratio gimmick though, the side bars present you with a variety of challenges that, when completed, earn you experience points. The levelling up is cosmetic only, but it is suspiciously addictive seeing those numbers tally up as you play.

The only time the levelling system has any tangible effect is online, where your level is displayed proudly by your username. It’s unlikely to be a concern for you though, as getting into a decent game is quick enough to prevent you from staring at the match menu for too long. The same netcode used in the awesome Street Fighter 3: Third Strike Online Edition is back, and it’s just as good as always. It provides the only properly lag-free online experience in a 2D fighting game, making every match a good one. Add in powerful lobby options and tools (tournaments FTW!) and you have an awesome online option to show off your skills.

I vividly remember devouring Street Fighter 4’s initial UK release 2009 and, though the technical innovations were there, the online play was never the silky smooth experience that the game deserved. Darkstalkers provides this incredible online play, even if the lobbies are already becoming sparsely populated. It also shows where so many fighting game mechanics began, featuring some of the most brilliantly complex combat out there. If you love fighting games, you owe it to yourself to get it and, even if you don’t, you should at least try the demo out.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox 360.

To celebrate the release of the much awaited release of Darkstalkers Resurrection which will be arriving on PSN and XBLA tomorrow, Capcom has released a launch trailer which tells us what the game’s all about. If you weren’t excited already, then this trailer is sure to convince you. Check it out after the break.

After lurking in the shadows for over a decade, the Darkstalkers franchise is finally ready to make its mark on the next generation of gamers. Darkstalkers: Resurrection is a remastered compilation of two of the series’ most notable installments, namely : Night Warriors: Darkstalker’s Revenge and Darkstalkers 3. Following in the footsteps of Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition, the game features support for HD resolutions and also integrated online play, a first in the series history.

Fans of the series have clamored for a series return for far too long. And while this isn’t exactly a sequel, it shows that Capcom hasn’t completely abandoned the franchise. And who knows, if Resurrection manages to garner enough attention, we might see Capcom consider delivering a true followup.

About Darkstalkers Resurrection

Game Overview

The two-for-one priced combo breathes new life into each game with a slew of features including robust GGPO-enabled online game play, HD graphical filtering with multiple viewing options, replay sharing, Spectator Mode, in-game achievements, Challenge/Tutorial Mode and an un-lockable vault filled with concept artwork, videos and more.
Publisher: Capcom

Platforms: PS3, X360

Release Date: TBA

Stay tuned to Gamingbolt.com formore news and updates.

Capcom has announced that Darkstalkers Resurrection will be coming out early next year for the Xbox 360 and the PS3 via Xbox Live and PSN respectively, priced at $14.99 and 1200 Microsoft Points.

The game will be compiling two of the previously released Darkstalkers games, namely Night Warriors: Darkstalkers Revenge and Darkstalkers 3.

The games will feature Achievements and Trophies, HD filtering, GGPO-enabled online play, all the modes included in the original releases, replay sharing, and unlockables such as concept arts and videos.

Capcom promises that, when played online, it will be “a virtually lag-free fighting game experience”. The game will use the same online framework of previous Capcom games like Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition and Marvel vs. Capcom Origins and will include enhancements to matchmaking with features like region matching, ping lock and ping display..

While Capcom has not released any specific release date so far, we know it is scheduled for early 2013. Stay tuned and we will keep you updated.

Capcom has announced Darkstalkers Resurrection at a New York event today. It contains two games Night Warriors: Darkstalkers Revenge and Darkstalkers 2 which you can download next year on PSN and Xbox Live.

They feature updated graphics and a robust online mode and the graphics are really proficient with the ability of multiple viewing options, replay sharing, spectator mode and in-game achievements.

There will also be challenge and tutorial for players new to the series. It is priced at $20 on PSN and 1600 points on Xbox Live.

While taking a break from competition, players have replay sharing and Challenge Mode at their disposal to help them hone their fighting game skills. Replays can be uploaded to the game’s match server or directly to YouTube. The Challenge/Tutorial Mode contains trials to help players deepen their knowledge of the characters and their specific strategies.

For those that prefer to learn from watching other people play, Spectator Mode and “Watch With Friends” allows players to watch games either live online or saved from previous matches. Players can discuss both live and saved games in real time.

They have also released a trailer to celebrate the announcement.