Starting this Friday Obscure II will go on sale in most European territories, the remaining territories will follow during the course of September. Stefan Layer, CMSO/VP of Playlogic International N.V: “I am really looking forward to seeing Obscure II available in stores. This game deserves to be a success and the enthusiastic feedback from the press only strengthens me in that opinion. For all territories we are working with experienced distribution partners to secure adequate shelf space.”

All who want to know more about the Horror Game with a twist can also log on to www.obscure2.com. The website contains all information on the storyline, characters and features of Obscure II. Two trailers, a variety of screenshots, artwork and downloadable tracks from the game’s stunning soundtrack are also available.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS:
Obscure II is the sequel to the acclaimed survival horror game Obscure. Two years ago at Leafmore High, a group of young teenagers was trapped inside their school and hunted by monsters that had been released by the maniac headmaster. Some of them survived that terrible night, while others perished.
Now, the survivors have picked up their lives and joined college. But all is not right on Fallcreek University; strange black flowers have suddenly sprung up everywhere on campus. While experimenting with these flowers in class, a dangerous
substance is discovered that induces strange but vivid dreams.
A handful of students finds out that there is more to the flowers than anyone could have expected; when the seeds finally germinate, a bad trip suddenly turns into a horrible reality…

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:

* Adventure and action in a teen horror movie scenario
* - 6 charismatic characters with unique skills
* Unique coop mode: second player can join in at any time
* Highly detailed and rich 3D environment
* Find clues and solve various riddles and mysteries
* Vast variety of weapons and horrifying monsters
* Stunning soundtrack performed by the Boston String Quartet and the Paris Opera children’s choir

There is a difference though in the Australian and North American version. One example is the ability to exchange items in offline mode by entering codes into your Wii for extra items. And although there is no multi-player available, it has been hinted by the games publisher Techmo, that there might be pay-to-play downloadable content.

So lets see if the nine month delay/wait was worth it.

The U.S. release has already happened so here are the confirmed release dates:

• Europe, June 22nd
• Austrailia, July 5th
• Japan, TBA

So it looks like everything is locked down except in Japan, but we all deserve first dibs.  For those that don’t know about the game, it’s something worth checking out.  But for those that want further clarification, here is the fact sheet that Nintendo has provvided us with:

“The world’s enormously popular party video game is getting a lot crazier in Mario Party 8. Whether you’re shaking up cola cans or lassoing barrels, you and your friends will be drawn into the action like never before using the Wii Remote™.

• Play with motion control: Players row their way through a river race, punch a statue to pieces, steer race cars, mopeds and go-karts and handle a balancing pole while walking a tightrope.

• Play using the Wii Remote as a Pointer: Shoot at Boos in a haunted house, drag and drop toppings in a cake-decorating competition, select the correct answers in game show challenges.

• Play using the Wii Remote’s buttons: Players jump and pummel their way through a football brawl, and hop and run across a field of spinning platforms

• Mario Party 8 also includes dozens of new minigames, six new party boards and many new game modes. In a series first, players can transform their characters into many forms, such as player-smashing boulders and coin-sucking vampires.

• Mario Party 8 also includes “extra-large” minigames like Star Carnival Bowling and Table Menace. One to four players can play Mario Party 8, each with a Wii Remote.

Game storyline: In Mario Party 8, a hyperactive emcee has invited Mario™, Peach and the rest of the crew to his carnival, a perfect setting for the dynamic spectacle of the Wii game play. Mario Party 8 keeps the surprises coming with minigames that draw upon the Wii Remote’s motion, pointing and button control in a variety of ways. Players always know how to jump into the action by watching an animated tutorial that shows how to use the Wii Remote.

How to progress through the game: Following tradition, Mario Party 8 takes the social, strategic game play of board games and adds breaks for quick, action-oriented minigames. In the main mode, players travel across six boards in search of Stars, landing on spaces that are helpful (example: giving coins) or a hindrance (example: sending Bowser in to mess with the player). Several variations for these boards tweak the main goals to enhance game play for solo sessions, two-player games and three- to four-player games.

In addition, Mario Party 8 includes four more minigame-infused kinds of special games, such as Tic-Tac Drop, where players earn the right to put the next mark on the board by winning a minigame.

Characters: Mario Party games are a celebration of all things Mario, so you can play as 14 classic characters, the widest selection yet for the series, including newcomers Hammer Bro and Blooper. You’ll also bump into many old friends and foes that span 20+ years of Mario games.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Beyond using the Wii Remote’s motion and pointer control, this eighth game in the Mario Party series goes its own way with two changes:

• Players can transform their character using candy power-ups. Examples: When Peach eats Bowlo Candy, she’ll turn into a Peach-faced ball and bowl over characters to get their coins. When Wario™ eats Vampire Candy, he’ll sprout wings and fly off to suck the coins from all other players.

• A more engaging view of the action puts the player “on the board” with his traveling character, no longer far above the whole board looking down.”

Now go out and play it!!!