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Soldner-X: A 2D Shooter for an HD World coming to PlayStation Network

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We’ve seen lots of 2D shooters slapped with a fresh coat of graphics and shoved back into retail (by way of digital download), but what does a true HD side scrolling shooter look like nowadays? We’ll find out in October with the just-announced release of Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer on the PlayStation Network for PlayStation 3. And before you ask, no, it has nothing to do with that odd PC MMOShooter from 2004.

The game comes from Hong Kong’s eastasiasoft and SideQuest Studios and has been available on PC since last year through Play-Asia, but this PlayStation 3 update includes plenty of new stuff like:

  • Visual improvements including y-scrolling, new background animations, newly added effects and more
  • Contains new enemies, including newly crafted standard foes and larger sub boss battles
  • Additional boss battle and berserker mode background music (seven brand new tracks in total!)
  • New sound effects added for an enhanced gaming experience
  • Rebalanced game play with an easier default difficulty
  • Rebalanced high score system, including new victory screens
  • DUALSHOCK®3 and optional SIXAXIS™ support
  • Trophies support

But if you’re like me and have never heard of Soldner-X, let alone played it, you may also be interested in these fine features:

  • 12 stages of beautiful parallax graphics and animations, staged across 4 fantastic world/space settings
  • High definition graphics in up to 1080p
  • Beautiful weather effects (such as rain, fog and lightning)
  • Classic design, yet state-of-the-art shooter technology
  • Unique upgrade weapon system with five standard weapon types
  • Never before seen tactical elements such as chaining, effectiveness system, ‘berserker’ mode and more
  • Plenty of hidden bonus features
  • More than 20 extras (with both positive and negative effects!)
  • Addictive collection quests
  • Over-the-top boss fights
  • Features a superb soundtrack and sound effects
  • Up to six modes of difficulty
  • Easy to learn, yet tough to master
  • Online high score ranking

The game looks outstandingly crisp in these work-in-progress PS3 screenshots but be sure to check out plenty more BigMcLargeHuge images at Soldner-X’s home page. It’s got the throwback that reminds me of Einhander or Panzer Dragoon Zwei but the sensibilities of a modern game with its multiple scoring systems and HD graphics. Here’s hoping SideQuest Studios’ first offering holds my interest better than the glut of similarly-spastic dual stick shooters of recent years.