With the summer doldrums already starting to take effect (and it’s not even summer yet, dammit!), Microsoft has today announced plans to bring two Japanese-developed Xbox 360 titles to North America for releases this summer, including Project Sylpheed and Vampire Rain.
Developed by Game Arts and Seta Corporation, Project Sylpheed is a 3D remake of the classic scrolling shooter Silpheed previously released in Japan by Square Enix. In typical Square Enix form, the game features an epic storyline with over 50 minutes of spectacular CG animation sequences and gorgeous graphics. Combine the high production values with intense 3D space combat and Microsoft should have a winner on its hands.
On the somewhat odd game front, Vampire Rain is a hybrid-style title from developer Artoon that brings together elements of stealth action, survival horror and shooters, putting players in the role of a black-ops unit tasked with eliminating a race of supernatural beings (or vampires) known as the Nightwalkers. Xbox Live play for up to eight players will also be supported in some form. Sounds interesting, but I’ve seen some video footage and the game looks like it could be nothing more than an extreme Splinter Cell knock-off, with the whole survival horror stuff thrown in to give it a sense of originality. Hopefully it turns out to be more than that.
Matt Litten is the full-time editor and owner of VGBlogger.com. He is responsible for maintaining the day to day operation of the site, editing all staff content before it is published, and contributing regular news, reviews, previews and other articles.
Matt landed his first gig in the video game review business writing for the now-defunct website BonusStage.com. After the sad and untimely close of BonusStage, the former staff went on to found VGBlogger.com. After a short stint as US Site Manager for AceGamez, Matt assumed full ownership over VGBlogger, and to this day he is dedicated to making it one of the top video game blogs in all the blogosphere.
Matt is a fair-minded reviewer and lover of games of all platforms and types, big or small, hyped or niche, big-budget or indie. But that doesn't mean he will let poor games slide without a good thrashing when necessary! 
