Microsoft Secures Classic Japanese Titles: Ikaruga and Rez Heading to XBLA

At its pre-Tokyo Game Show briefing, Microsoft today revealed several new Japanese titles on the way to its Xbox Live Arcade platform in the coming months. Chief among the announcements is that of Tetsuya Mizuguchi's trippy rail-shooter Rez (PS2, DC). According to Microsoft, the game will be rendered in high definition for maximum stimulation--although sadly, no vibrator peripheral was announced. Treasure Co's classic vertically-scrolling 2D shooter Ikaruga (GC, DC) was listed as "available soon" for download. The challenging title will feature the standard two-player cooperative mode of the original. Rounding out the list of confirmed Japanese shooters are Mizuguchi's Every Extend Extra Extreme, developer Warashi's Triggerheart Exelica (DC), and Hudson Entertainment's Omega Five. Taito's PSP action-puzzler EXIT will join the scroller-heavy lineup.