Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype Official Blog

Söldner-X OSTs now on the PS Store

2011-06-06T14:23:00.000+08:00

Two Söldner-X soundtrack compilations are now available as digital downloads on the PlayStation®Store.

For the first time, all nine tracks from 'The Last Chapter' expansion pack, bundled together with 30 tracks from the main game, are now available as Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype Complete Soundtrack at a low price of just US$4.99 in North America and €4.99/£3.99 in Europe.

Also available at the same time is a digital release of the classic Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer Complete Soundtrack, which contains 25 tracks at a price of just US$3.99 in North America and €3.99/£3.19 in Europe.

Both soundtracks have a combined running time of over 160 minutes and are 100% DRM free. All tracks are composed, arranged and produced by Rafael Dyll and mastered at the Popmusic.dk studio in Copenhagen.

You can read up the full press release right here.

Söldner-X PS+ Full Game Trial (Asia)

2011-04-20T14:39:00.000+08:00

Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer is now available as 30 minutes Full Game Trial for all PlayStation®Plus subscribers in Asia. The promotion lasts for four weeks from April 20, 2011 until May 17, 2011.

And starting from May 18th, 2011 onwards, the Full Game Trial promotion will be extended to Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype.

If you are living in Asia, make sure to check out the following link for more details:
http://asia.playstation.com/hk/en/psn/plus_offer

Söldner-X 1 & 2 50% off in Europe

2011-04-13T19:00:00.000+08:00

US, Asia and now finally Europe. As part of the SCEE Spring Offers 2011 campaign, we are pleased to announce that Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer and Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype are now available at 50% off until the 27th April.

Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer: £3.99/€4.99 (~~£6.29/€7.99~~)
Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype: £5.10/€6.49 (~~£9.99/€12.99~~)

You can find the official SCEE blog post with more details here:
http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2011/04/12/heads-up-game-store-update-scee-spring-offers-2011/

Söldner-X now available at Gamestop

2011-04-10T10:57:00.000+08:00

Just a quick notice that Söldner-X & Söldner-X 2 are now also available for digital download at Gamestop.
Check here for more details:

http://www.gamestop.com/browse?nav=16k-soldner+x

Söldner-X 2 now just $9.99

2011-04-06T10:08:00.001+08:00

Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype is now available on the North American PlayStation®Store at a permanently reduced price of just US$ 9.99. Prices of a number of bundles have also been slashed, offering you even more savings...

Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype: $9.99 ~~$12.99~~
Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype + Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer Bundle: $14.99 ~~$17.99~~
Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype Complete Bundle: $12.99 ~~$14.99~~

The price cut is currently only available on the US storefront. European gamers can look forward to next week for a special European treat!

For more details, check out today's PlayStation®Store update at:
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/05/playstation-store-update-184/

PSN Gamers' Choice Awards Nomination

2011-02-16T09:53:00.002+08:00

We are pleased to announce that Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype has just received another Awards Nomination.

Based on one of the highest user ratings on the US PlayStation Store, Söldner-X 2 has been nominated for the Best PSN Exclusive Game as part of the first-ever PlayStation Network Gamers' Choice Awards.

From February 22 until March 1, PSN users will be given the chance to vote for their favorite game on the PlayStation Store by downloading a free XMB theme. Winners will be announced on March 7.

You can find more details on Sony's PlayStation blog. Make sure to show your support for Söldner-X 2! :)

11 for 2011: Söldner-X 2 at $6.49

2011-01-25T12:26:00.001+08:00

SCEA is kicking off the New Year with a 50% off sale of 11 critically-acclaimed PS3 games. Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype will be part of this sale. From tomorrow's PlayStation Store update onwards, you can purchase Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype for as low as $6.49.

The promotion period is only valid until January 31st (for just one week), so better be quick and don't miss this great opportunity. Please also note that the sales price only applies to the US, Canadian and Mexican PSN stores.

You can find additional information about the 11 for 11 sale on the PlayStation Blog.

Asia X'mas Sale: 50% off Söldner-X 2

2010-12-16T15:00:00.001+08:00

As part of Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong's Christmas Crazy Sale, Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype is now available at half its original price, translating to roughly 50 HK$.

The promotion period lasts from December 16 to January 5 and is only valid to users with access to the Asian PlayStation®Store. For more details, check out SCEH's official press release in English or Chinese.

IGN's Best of 2010 Awards Nominations

2010-11-25T17:21:00.000+08:00

IGN's Best of 2010 Awards are just around the corner and we are more than pleased to be nominated in the following two categories:

Best Retro Design
Best Sci-Fi Game

There are only five nominations in each category and Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype is the only PlayStation®Network title nominated in the Best Sci-Fi Game category. Winners will be revealed December 13. The complete list can be accessed at:

http://pc.ign.com/articles/113/1136656p3.html

Bundles + Asia release

2010-11-11T11:57:00.000+08:00

There's more Söldner-X in store this week. Gamers looking for the complete Söldner-X 2 experience can now download the Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype + The Last Chapter Bundle from the PlayStation®Store. The bundle contains the game as well as the add-on for a discounted set price of $14.99 (US) and €14.99/£11.99 (Europe).

For all avatar loving fans out there, we got two more bundles this week. The Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype Avatar Bundle 2 and Bundle 3 are both available at $1.49/€1.49 only. Each bundle contains five Söldner-X 2 avatars.

Last but not least, Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype - The Last Chapter has finally made its way into the Asian PlayStation®Store, selling at HK$ 39 over here in Hong Kong.

The Last Chapter add-on available now!

2010-11-03T20:53:00.001+08:00

It's probably been one of the latest North American PlayStation®Store updates ever, but we are glad to announce that Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype - The Last Chapter is finally available on the store front for as low as $4.99.

Get the expansion pack right now and enjoy three exciting and really beautiful new stages, 13 diverse new challenges, 11 additional trophies, plus a few more surprises.

If you are among our strong European fan base, don't worry, you won't have to hold out much longer. The Last Chapter is expected to go on sale in a few hours from now with this week's store update. And last but not least, Asia is bound to get the DLC tomorrow, on November 4th.

Once again, we appreciate all the support we have received from our fans during the last couple of months! Hopefully you will enjoy playing The Last Chapter at least as much as we did developing it!

V2.00 patch live this week

2010-10-18T16:38:00.000+08:00

Time to warm up again with the Söldner-X 2 V2.00 patch before The Last Chapter launches in early November. Completely free of charge and available to all Söldner-X 2 gamers, the patch adds the following new functions to your game:

A new Massive Attack difficulty mode (more info below)
A 'skip world' function in replay mode
The Last Chapter DLC support (DLC needs to be purchased separately)
A number of smaller improvements and bug fixes

The biggest addition is certainly the new Massive Attack difficulty mode. Originally planned to be bundled only with the upcoming DLC, it's now becoming available to all Söldner-X 2 gamers.

Massive Attack unlocks simultaneously with the Extra Hard difficulty mode. In other words, all you need to do is complete the full game (stage 1-7) on hard difficulty mode. Credit feeding is allowed and if you have already unlocked Extra Hard before, then Massive Attack will be available once the patch has been installed.

Massive Attack has been designed for players looking for an even more challenging game play experience. Although the play rank system is still in place for scoring reasons, the game constantly runs on the highest possible play rank.

Are you ready for the challenge? Go find it out. V2.00 patch is expected to go live on or before October 20th.

The Last Chapter launching this November

2010-10-14T12:58:00.000+08:00

It's been a little calm here during the past couple of weeks, but we are finally pleased to let you know that Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype - The Last Chapter has gone gold and will be hitting the PlayStation®Store in just a few weeks time.

The expansion pack adds three brand new stages, 13 challenges & 11 trophies to the original game experience. There's also going to be a few extra surprises, including another challenge exclusive bonus stage.

So don't forget to watch out for The Last Chapter during the early November PlayStation®Store updates. The add-on will sell for as little as $4.99 in the US and €4.99/£3.99 in Europe.

Last but not least, take a first look at The Last Chapter's new stages in motion in the official launch trailer.

You can alternatively watch the trailer in better resolution on our YouTube Channel or download it directly from eastasiasoft.com's press section.

The Last Chapter trophy details

2010-08-27T16:28:00.000+08:00

To all those trophy hunters (and of course anyone else that likes to suck up more information about the upcoming Söldner-X 2 DLC add-on) out there, we are pleased to let you know that 'The Last Chapter' will add an additional 11 trophies (9 bronze, 2 silver) to the game, making it a total of not less than 25 trophies that are just waiting to be unlocked.

Here's the full list. You can also look up additional trophies of the base game right here.

Bronze:
01. Speed Gunner: Clear challenge 'Speed Gunner'
02. Stage Keys: Clear challenge 'Stage Keys'
03. Speed Collector: Clear challenge 'Speed Collector'
04. Rank Master: Clear challenge 'Rank Master'
05. Kill Collector: Clear challenge 'Kill Collector 1'
06. Score Collector: Clear challenge 'Score Collector 1'
07. Hellfire: Clear challenge 'Hellfire'
08. The Last Chapter: Complete the tenth stage ('Inner Core') at any difficulty level
09. -hidden-

Silver:
01. King of unlockables: Unlock at least seven specials
02. Key Master: Collect all 15 secret keys in stage eight through ten

Up to 40% discount with PlayStation®Plus

2010-08-25T03:00:00.002+08:00

PlayStation®Plus subscribers can now enjoy a discount of up to 40% on Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype and the Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype + Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer Bundle.

From August 24th until September 21st, 2010 (that's a promotion period of exactly four weeks), the following Söldner-X products will be available at a discount exclusively to PlayStation®Plus subscribers on the North American PlayStation®Store.

Söldner-X2: Final Prototype
Original price: ~~$12.99~~
Discount: 30%
PS Plus price: $9.09

Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype + Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer Bundle
Original price: ~~$17.99~~
Discount: 40%
PS Plus price: $10.79

Once again, please be reminded that in order to take advantage of this special offer, you need to be subscribed to the PlayStation®Plus service (visit http://us.playstation.com/psn/playstation-plus/ for more details). The offer is further only available on the North American PlayStation®Store and lasts until September 21st, 2010.

All products purchased at a discount will not expire, even after termination of the PlayStation®Plus subscription. Don't miss this great opportunity!

The Last Chapter WIP screenshots

2010-08-05T13:19:00.000+08:00

Development of The Last Chapter, the first expansion pack to Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype, is about to enter its final phase and we are pleased to present you with the first batch of work in progress screenshots.

As mentioned earlier, The Last Chapter will bring three brand new and exciting stages to the game, plus additional challenges, trophies, a new story ending and more.

No matter if you are going for the DLC add-on or prefer to stick around with the original game a bit longer, there's also going to be an update for all Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype gamers. Next to a new difficulty mode (which we are still going to talk about later), we have also improved the replay functionality with a "skip to next stage" feature.

'Nuff said, as promised here are twelve work in progress shots. Remember, content is still subject to change before final release in Q4/2010. Feel free to comment!

Yogie84's 107M score run on YouTube

2010-07-28T20:59:00.000+08:00

Honoring the first gamer that broke through the 100M score barrier, we have recorded a complete play-through of Yogie84's 107.610.947 1cc run on extra hard difficulty.

Videos of all seven stages have been uploaded to our YouTube Channel. Don't forget that you can alternatively watch back this (and all other Söldner-X 2 replays!) through your Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype game.

Once again congratulations to Yogie84 for his achievement.

Direct link to the complete playlist:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=2902A4B914485AFA

Individual stages:

Stage 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LimdNlWXFyc

Stage 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVxs1FQ14bo

Stage 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUrBuw0qybE

Stage 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smwv-jovbyA

Stage 5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cjd9L7cTAs

Stage 6:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08pZZnJtLwc

Stage 7:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtombUwy6x4

100M score mark broken by Yogie84

2010-07-25T15:10:00.001+08:00

Congratulations to fellow Soldner-X 2 gamer Yogie84, who has managed to be the first one breaking through the 100M score barrier last night. Yogie84 already came very close on July 13th (scoring a not less impressive 098.300.193 points), but it wasn't meant to be until July 24th when he finally managed to pull through a near perfect run, scoring an amazing 107.610.947 points on "extra hard" difficulty.

Watching back his replay, Yogie84 received an 'S' rating on each stage's victory screen without losing a single life and only dropping down to an 'A' play rank on a few occasions. During his run he achieved 3176 kills, collected 6669 chain rings, successfully completed 104 chains and grabbed a total of 26 keys.

You can find more stats from Yogie (and all other Soldner-X 2 gamers, including yourself) on soldner-x.com. The replay can be watched back through your Soldner-X 2 game, simply select "high scores" in the main menu and browse to the top score on "extra hard" difficulty.

Finally this leaves us with just one question in mind. Who is going to top this (other than Yogie84 himself) before The Last Chapter comes out?

'The Last Chapter' DLC announcement

2010-07-08T17:07:00.000+08:00

We've got pretty exciting news today for all fellow Söldner-X 2 gamers. We are very pleased to share with you that we are currently working on an expansion pack for Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype, titled 'Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype - The Last Chapter'.

'The Last Chapter' is in the making right now and will launch later this year (most likely in the final quarter of 2010). Here's a quick list of what you can expect:

- Three brand new stages
- Lots of new challenges (final number to be confirmed)
- New trophies to unlock
- A new difficulty mode*

The new difficulty mode will also be made available for Söldner-X 2 gamers that do not purchase the expansion pack.

More information, including new screenshots and videos will be released during the next few weeks, so don't forget to check back often! In the meantime, here's an artwork from one of the upcoming bosses in 'Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype - The Last Chapter'. Enjoy!

You can read the full eastasiasoft press release here.

Rate Söldner-X 2 on the PlayStation Store

2010-06-30T13:25:00.000+08:00

With the latest PS3 firmware 3.40 you are now able to rate all purchases you have made on the PlayStation Store. If you have purchased Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype, Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer or any other related product from eastasiasoft in the past, we'd like to encourage you to log on to the PlayStation Store and submit your rating for our products.

Help us to make our products stand out and let other users benefit from it. For more details, visit this official PlayStation blog post.

Still missing secret keys & trophies?

2010-06-24T12:52:00.000+08:00

If you are still missing secret keys to unlock one of the hidden stages, need help with one or another challenge or are looking for an overall trophy guide, then we'd recommend you to visit this guide.

The guide also contains lots of YouTube links, which can be very helpful, especially for locating one of the harder to find secret keys. If you need further assistance, then our forums are the right place to be.

Media recap #2: One sexy looking game

2010-06-14T14:31:00.002+08:00

It's been a real pleasure for us reading through all the positive press that Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype has been receiving during the last couple of weeks. We have stumbled across more than 40 different online reviews. If you are still hesitant whether or not Söldner-X 2 is worth its price, then worry no more. Following our post from earlier this month, here's another quick media recap.

Reviews (English):

Impulsegamer - Score: 9.5/10 (Editor's Choice)
"Mind blowing levels with abundant enemy fire to dodge keeps players on the edge of their seat."
http://www.impulsegamer.com/ps3soldnerx2finalprototype.html

ConsoleCreatures - Score: 9/10
"For a taste of real, old-school nostalgia with all the right modern twists, look no further..."
http://www.consolecreatures.com/reviews/ps3/1372-review-soldner-x-2-final-prototype-ps3.html

Co-Optimus - Score: 4.5/5
"...everything just seems to fit this game perfectly."
http://www.co-optimus.com/review/495/soldner-x-2-final-prototype-co-op-review.html

NZGamer - Score: 8.5/10
"This is every bit worthy of a place in any discerning Shmup gamer's collection."
http://nzgamer.com/ps3/reviews/1104/s-ldner-x-2-final-prototype-psn.html

Rotorob - Score: 4.25/5
"a great value even for those that would normally steer clear of a “shmup.”"
http://www.rotorob.com/2010/06/11/video-game-review-soldner-x-2-final-prototype/

kombo.com - Score: 8/10
"offers an extremely polished (...) experience that can be enjoyed by even casual 2D shooter fans."
http://ps3.kombo.com/article.php?artid=12382

Thunderbolt - Score: 8/10
"it's a brilliant little spitfire of a game, and one of the PSN's best exclusive titles"
http://thunderboltgames.com/reviews/article/sldnerx-2-final-prototype-review-for-ps3.html

GameXplain - Score: 5/5
"SX2 is one sexy looking game and a great HD experience"
http://www.gamexplain.com/article-112-1276125997-soldner-x-2-final-prototype-review.html

Continue reading further reviews, after the break.

eXtremegamer.ca - Score: 8/10
"The fun parts of these games are destroying thing (...) and 'Soldner-X 2' hits on this really well."
http://www.extremegamer.ca/ps3/reviews/psn_soldnerx2.php

Gameing Age Score: B- (Good)
"Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype is very pick-up-and-play friendly."
http://www.gaming-age.com/review/ps3_psn/soldner_x_2

Tech-Gaming - Score: B
http://tech-gaming.com/2010/06/12/soldnerx-2final-prototype.aspx

Gemakei.com
http://www.gemakei.com/reviews.php?articleId=734&page=1

Dealspwn
http://www.dealspwn.com/soldnerx-2-final-prototype-psn-review/

Reviews (other languages):

jeuxvideo.fr (French) - Score: 5/5
http://www.jeuxvideo.fr/jeux/soldner-x-2-final-prototype/article.html

Eurogamer.de (German) - Score: 8/10
http://www.eurogamer.de/articles/soldner-x-2-final-prototype-test

Gamereactor.de (German) - Score: 8/10
http://www.gamereactor.de/Kritiken/2316/S%F6ldner-X+2%3A+Final+Prototype/

PS3insider.de (German User Review) - Score: 9/10
http://www.ps3insider.de/?section=userreview&user=344&game=627

Everyeye.it (Italian) - Score: 8/10
http://www.everyeye.it/ps3/articoli/soldner-x-2-final-prototype_recensione_11618

psmk2 (Japanese) - Score: 81%
http://www.psmk2.net/title.php?title=591

XGL.nl (Dutch) - Score: 8/10
http://www.xgn.nl/ps3/review/21210/sldner-x-2-final-prototype/

PS3Life.nl (Dutch)
http://ps3life.nl/artikelen/5848-review-soldner-x-2-final-prototype/

4players.de (German)
http://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PlayStation3/Test/19073/68573/0/Soeldner_X_2_Final_Prototype.html

Desconsolados - (Spanish video review)
http://www.desconsolados.com/2010/06/06/videoanalisis-soldner-x-2-final-prototype/

Söldner-X 2 out in Korea today!

2010-06-10T21:26:00.001+08:00

If you are living in Korea (South Korea to be more specific), then make sure to log on to your PlayStation®Store and grab Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype today, which is available as of now!

"Söldner-X 2 is an absolute blast"

2010-06-04T12:21:00.007+08:00

It's about 10 days into release, time for us to check out the latest Söldner-X: Final Prototype reviews and media coverage. We've been off to a great start last week, scoring 8.5 points at IGN's review and are amazed to see a lot of further brilliant reviews that came in.

Following is an excerpt of some major reviews we came across so far. We anticipate additional reviews to be up over the next few days. If you found other articles (web or print) or are working for the press and would like to cover Söldner-X 2, then get in touch with us.

Reviews (English):

ZTGD - Score: 9.5/10
"This is truly the HD era for neo-retro games and it never looked better. "
"Soldner X2 to be one of my favorite horizontal shooters ever made."
http://www.ztgd.com/9554/Soldner-X-2-Final-Prototype.html

PlayStation LifeStyle - Scrore: 9/10
"Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype is an absolute blast"
http://playstationlifestyle.net/2010/06/02/psn-review-soldner-x-2-final-prototype/

VideogameUK - Score: 9/10
"good contender for the best downloadable game on the PSN this year."
http://vi.deoga.me.uk/2010/06/review-soldner-x2-final-prototype-ps3/

IGN - Score: 8.5/10
"the most notable aspect of Soldner-X 2 is that it's gorgeous."
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/109/1092496p1.html

PSXExtreme - Score: 8.4/10
"a beautifully composed and ceaselessly entertaining shooter"
http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-reviews/373.html

Continue reading further reviews, after the break.

PS3node - Score: 8/10
"a shining example of what a 2D shooter these days should be."
http://www.ps3node.com/ps3node/2010/5/31/soldner-x-2-final-prototype-review.html

Shogungamer - Score: 8/10
"the game is a must buy if you like shmup games"
http://shogungamer.com/news/reviews/soldner-x-2-review-free-game-giveaway

JustPushStart - Score: 8/10
"a great title that pays homage to the many 2D side scrolling shooters from yesteryear."
http://www.justpushstart.com/2010/05/30/soldner-x-2-final-prototype-review/

PS3Attitude
"This is a great shmup that deserves your support. It's just that awesome."
http://www.ps3attitude.com/new/2010/06/soldner-x-2-final-prototype-review/

Reviews (other languages):

jeuxvideo.com (French) - Score: 17/20
http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00012885-soldner-x-2-final-prototype-test.htm

9lives.be (Dutch) - Score: 85/100
http://www.9lives.be/specials/psn-review-soldner-x-2-final-prototype

all-play3.com (French) - Score: 17/20
http://www.all-play3.com/Soldner-X-2-Final-Prototype-Test.html

Gamezone.de (German) - Score: 8.3/10
http://www.gamezone.de/reviews_detail.asp?gameid=28956

eurogamer.it (Italian)
http://www.eurogamer.it/articles/soldner-x-2-final-prototype-recensione

eurogamer.se (Swedish)
http://www.eurogamer.se/articles/soldner-x-2-final-prototype-recension

Additional coverage:

Gameswelt.de video review (German) - Score: sehr gut (very good)
http://www.gameswelt.de/videos/videoarticles/19284-Soeldner-X_2_Final_Prototype_-_Video-Review.html

Gameswelt.de video interview (German)
http://www.gameswelt.de/videos/videoarticles/19341-Soeldner-X_2_Final_Prototype_-_Video-Interview_Enhanced_Version.html

eurogamer.net first 15 minutes video
http://www.eurogamer.net/videos/soldner-x-2-first-15-minutes?size=hd

Video Game News PSN Game of the month
http://video-games.findtechnews.net/2010/06/01/game-of-the-month-may-2010/

Bytejacker episode 091 video coverage
http://www.bytejacker.com/episodes/091

PS Nation podcast episode 168: The infinite battle
http://www.psnation.org/2010/06/03/episode-168-the-infinite-battle/

Week #1 recap: Who is leading the pack?

2010-06-02T14:36:00.003+08:00

Here's a quick recap of what has happened during the first week (between May 25th until now):

Total scores uploaded:	18,867
Current high score:	075.664.090 (CrushPunch)
Number of space rogues:	3
Highest player level:	21 (BorderDown, Yogie84, netrot)
Most scores uploaded:	101 (AlgoTomar)
Most enemies killed:	78275 (BorderDown)
Total enemies killed:	19,570,185
Total chain rings collected:	41,263,102
Total secret keys collected:	141,598
Total extras collected:	2,377,382
Ship stats:	Mexxus II: 51%, Thor: 45%, Ship 3: 4%

Congratulations to all of you guys. There's currently a great battle at the top of the leaderboards with CrushPunch leading the pack (with a score of 075.664.090), shortly followed by Zafro (071.362.246). Other outstanding performers have been alucard585 (062.522.652), Postmanjr (058.441.515), Hsanrb (057.490.523) and Delci for being most active and helpful on our forums. :)

Don't forget, you can find detailed online high score ranking stats on soldner-x.com. If you have suggestions regarding our online rankings or simply like to chat with fellow Soldner-X gamers, then make sure to visit and join our forums.

Note: All stats are based on uploaded scores only!

SX 1+2 bundle, avatars & SX1 price drop

2010-06-02T13:49:00.000+08:00

Today's US PlayStation Store update brings you more Söldner-X goodies. If you have missed out on the first Söldner-X game, there's good reason to add Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer to your collection now at an permanently discounted price of $7.99 (previously $9.99).

In case you are still completely new to the series, you can make an extra saving and purchase both Söldner-X games as an attractive bundle at a price of $17.99 only.

Also new on the US PSN store front this week are five assorted Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype premium avatars at 49 cents each (also available as a set at $1.49) and another free wallpaper download.

The price reduction and bundle will also become available on the European PlayStation Store in the near future.

Söldner-X 2 now available in Asia

2010-06-01T14:23:00.002+08:00

Just a week after the US & European launch, we are pleased to inform gamers in Asia that Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype is now available on their local PlayStation®Store in the following countries:

Hong Kong
Taiwan
Singapore
Thailand
Malaysia
Indonesia

The game is further expected to launch in South Korea in a few weeks time.

Söldner-X 2 out now! Gameplay Video #4

2010-05-26T13:57:00.001+08:00

Yes, that's right! Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype is finally available for download on the PlayStation®Network -- as long as you are living in North America. Gamers in Europe (and other territories covered by SCEE) will have to be patient for just a few more hours until the European PlayStation®Store update is taking place later this afternoon. (Update: The European release is now live as well!) A release in Asia (apart from Japan) will follow from June 1st onwards.

In case you are just waiting for your download to complete or are still hesitant, here's another fourth (and currently final) gameplay video for your viewing pleasure. To remind you once again, you can watch back all Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype videos on our YouTube channel or on GameTrailers.com.

On behalf of the entire team behind Söldner-X 2, I'd like to say thanks a lot to all gamers around the world for showing their support. We really appreciate every single one of you!

Söldner-X 2 scores 8.5 at IGN.com

2010-05-25T16:36:00.001+08:00

"Perhaps the most notable aspect of Soldner-X 2 is that it's gorgeous." (IGN.com)

The very first Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype review is now live on IGN.com and it's great to see that our baby is off to a brilliant start. Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype has been awarded with the IGN Editor's Choice, scoring an impressive 8.5/10.

You can read up the complete review at IGN.com. Expect more reviews to follow soon... .

Gameplay Video #3

2010-05-25T15:16:00.001+08:00

It's less than 24 hours until Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype is expected to go live on the North American PlayStation®Store (European gamers will need to be patient for a few more hours) and we are happy to bring you more gameplay video footage.

Gameplay Video #3 takes you to stage 3 (Ethia Ruins) and stage 4 (Ellje Woods), plus a look at Ethia Ruins's boss battle. Enjoy!

Don't forget, you can watch back all previously released Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype videos on our YouTube channel or on GameTrailers.com.

Soundtrack CD out now!

2010-05-25T13:02:00.001+08:00

Right on time to coincide with release of the game, the Söldner-X 2: Final Soundtrack is out now. We've spoken about this compilation on a couple of occasions, so what we are giving you today is another third and final preview medley as well as a few actual pictures of the product itself.

The Söldner-X 2: Final Soundtrack contains all 30 tracks from the game, composed, arranged and produced by Rafael Dyll. The CD can currently be purchased right here.

Tune in to all three available preview medleys:

And finally check out the small image gallery after the jump.

Gameplay Video #2

2010-05-24T12:53:00.000+08:00

It's less than 48 hours until the North American Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype product launch, a perfect time for another video release.

Once more, the following gameplay video contains footage based on the first two stages of the game (Zeus Sector & Reef Complex), including a look at Reef Complex's boss battle (one of my personal favorites in the game).

Watch out for more updates, including further gameplay videos later this week.

Söldner-X 2 avatars

2010-05-23T20:52:00.007+08:00

Do you think you have what it takes to be one of the biggest Söldner-X fans? Then we might have just the right (virtual) item for you in the pipeline. Show your commitment to all your PlayStation®3 online buddies and add one of the soon to become available Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype avatars to your PlayStation®Network online ID.

Five different Söldner-X 2 premium avatars will be released during the month of June at a price of 49cents each only. And if you happen to live in parts of Asia (such as Hong Kong, Taiwan or Singapore), you may want to visit your PlayStation®Store right away, the full range of Söldner-X 2 premium avatars has already been published over (t)here.

Adding your new avatar to your PlayStation®Network online ID is easy, but remember that each avatar can only be used in conjunction with the online ID that it was purchased with.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that there's also going to be a bundle containing all five avatars at a discounted price. Release dates for all avatars vary depending on your region, so make sure to follow our blog for updates.

Gameplay Video #1

2010-05-21T21:49:00.003+08:00

Counting the days already? Today we are going to spice up your appetite just a little more with the first of a series of gameplay videos. The following footage shows excerpts taken from the first two stages of Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype, hitting the PlayStation®Store next Tuesday/Wednesday (Oh, I think I've mentioned that before, haven't I?).

'Nuff said, here's gameplay video #1.

You can also watch this and other videos on our YouTube Channel or download it from our press section.

Have a great weekend!

Just one week to go!

2010-05-19T10:37:00.001+08:00

Have you started counting days yet? It's just one week to go until Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype finally touches down on the PlayStation®Store next week (May 25th US / May 26th Europe) and from what we can tell you, we are absolutely excited about the upcoming product launch.

Just in case you've missed out on the official launch trailer or would like to watch it once again, just a small reminder that it's now also available for download on the US PlayStation®Store (and European one as well in a couple of hours).

What's more? If you are residing in parts of South East Asia, Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype is expected to become available on the Asian store front just one week after the US launch, on June 1st, 2010.

Also available on time is the Söldner-X 2: Final Soundtrack, a compilation of all 30 tracks from the game. If you haven't done so already, you can preorder the CD right here.

Last but not least, a few more interesting blog posts are going to follow during the next couple of days, including additional game play videos, yet more details about the soundtrack compilation and another in-depth look at the challenge system. So don't forget to bookmark us and check back frequently for updates!

It's all about scoring...

2010-05-13T13:35:00.012+08:00

It's less than two week to go until the Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype product launch, time for another in-depth article. We've spoken before about how the play rank system has an influence on the game's scoring system and today we will give you a little more insight about how the whole scoring system works.

Score multipliers linked to the play rank & difficulty setting

First and foremost, the best way to increase your overall score will be through the score multiplier, which is linked to your play rank (dynamic difficulty) and the difficulty you have selected in the options menu. There are eight different score multipliers linked to each difficulty setting. The lowest one is linked to the lowest play rank ('G'), the highest one to the highest rank ('S'). Whenever you score, the score you obtain will directly be multiplied.

Difficulty/Rank	G	F	E	D	C	B	A	S
Beginner	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Normal	2	4	6	8	10	12	16	24
Hard	6	8	12	16	20	24	32	48
Extra hard	12	16	24	32	40	48	64	96

Playing for the first time, only the 'beginner' and 'normal' difficulty settings are available. 'Hard' and 'extra hard' can be unlocked by clearing the game in 'normal' and 'hard' mode. Further, the play rank you start with is higher on the more difficult settings, which gives you an extra advantage when playing especially on hard and extra hard mode.

In other words, the biggest key to top scores will be to maintain the highest possible play rank throughout the game on the highest possible difficulty setting. Sounds fun? There's more...

Additional score multipliers & score bonuses

You can collect additional score multiplier extras to further increase your multiplier by up to +16x. Score multiplier extras can be collected by shooting down certain enemies and through the chaining system. Each time you collect a score multiplier extra, it will stay intact for 80 seconds.

There's also one challenge in the game that awards you with the status of a 'treasure hunter', which doubles the chance for score and score multiplier extras to be dropped by enemies by 100%.

Victory screen

Well, you may still remember this part from the original Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer (PS3 edition) and it's back again in Söldner-X 2 with more juice added to it. Upon completion of one stage, your overall summary will be reflected on the victory screen.

The following factors will add another bonus to your score:

Boss time (the faster you beat the boss, the higher the bonus)
Stock bonus (number of player ships left)
Chain ring bonus (number of chain rings collected)
Key bonus (number of secret keys collected)
Enemies killed (an obvious one, no?)
Chain count (number of chains successfully completed)
Extras bonus (number of extras collected)
Rating (You will receive an overall rating for your performance, based on the numbers of enemies shot down as well as your boss time)

Based on your play rank during the time the boss was killed, your victory screen rating, the stage you have played and your difficulty mode, all victory screen bonuses will further be multiplied by up to 20 times. In other words, your victory screen bonus can range from a few thousand to over a million bonus points, depending on your performance.

These are the three major factors that can influence your score. There are still a few more small details, but we will leave that to each one of you to find out (hey we can't spoil everything here right now, right?).

During testing, our scores for a full play-through ranged between just a few millions to over 90 million points. We will be excited to see how the battle for the top places is going to unfold and have prepared a detailed online ranking table for you, which will go live on www.soldner-x.com/sx2/ upon product launch. Oh and don't forget, there's always still the score replay function to check out how others managed to do so well.

Söldner-X 2 launching on May 25th

2010-05-06T11:34:00.002+08:00

We finally got the update that many of you have been waiting for. Today we are very pleased to announce that it's less than three weeks to go until Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype will touch down on the PlayStation®Network.

What's even better is that gamers in North America and Europe (+Australia and other countries that are covered by SCEE) can start battling for high scores on almost the same time as Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype will launch in both territories in the very same week.

Current launch lineup:

North America:	May 25th	$12.99
Europe:	May 26th	€12.99/ £9.99
Asia:	tba	tba

What's more? Starting from one week before product launch, you will find a number of related (free & premium) items in your PlayStation®Store, including videos, avatars and wallpapers. There will also be a set containing both Söldner-X games at a reduced price for those who have missed out on Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer so far. (shame on you ;-))

So don't forget to mark down the last week in May in your calendar and be among one of the first to secure your spot on our leaderboards.

Last but not least, we have released a large variety of new screenshots for your viewing pleasure. All new shots are taken from the final build and no content has been modified (so yes, that's 100% what you are going to get!).

Check out the small excerpt below and visit soldner-x.com for a complete selection.

Extras

2010-04-28T12:15:00.003+08:00

We are pleased to give you another quick update today, explaining you the variety of extras that can be collected in Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype. As you may remember from the first Söldner-X game, extras can be set free by shooting down enemies (enemies that always carry an extra are flashing in a distinct color), via the chaining system or are hidden in secret containers or obstacles that can be shot down.

What's different from Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer however is that there are no longer extras with any negative effects in the game, so everything you collect in Söldner-X 2 will be to your benefit. There's a mixture of old and new extras in Final Prototype as you can see from the chart below.

* Note: There are further weapon extras that can be unlocked during the process of the game which are not included in this chart.

Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype trailer

2010-04-15T15:55:00.036+08:00

We continue today with another exciting update. And what's more exciting than finally watching Söldner-X 2 in action? Check out the official trailer after the break.

Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype will launch on the PlayStation Network during the month of May. Further release details will follow soon.

Alternatively you can also check out the trailer in a better resolution on GameTrailers, YouTube or follow the download link at eastasiasoft.com's press section.

Ships, weapons & weapon system

2010-04-08T17:40:00.002+08:00

Please accept our apologies for the lack of updates during the last three weeks. This is going to change now with a few interesting topics that we'd still like to introduce to you before the Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype product launch.

We are starting today with a pretty big introduction, talking a bit about the different kind of playerships, their weapons and the weapon system in Söldner-X 2 in general.

In Söldner-X 2 you can choose from out of three different playerships. Two of them ('Thor' and 'Mexxus II') can be selected right from the start, while a third playership is hidden and can be unlocked by successfully passing a certain challenge (Note: We talked about the challenge mode before).

Each ship has its own characteristics and primary weapons equipped:

Thor - Heavy Starfighter Shape: streamlined, platy Primary weapons: bounce laser, scatter gun
Mexxus II - Bullfighter Shape: bulky, powerful Primary weapons: bullet gun, magma cannon

Moving on to the weapon system, each ship has three weapon slots and can equip up to three different weapons. The first two weapon slots are always filled with your two primary weapons (as outlined above), while the third slot will be filled with a secondary weapon whenever you pick up a weapon extra.

(Thor using bounce laser)

In the beginning only two different secondary weapon extras are available (wave laser & spread beam), but once you progress through the game, you can unlock a total of nine different secondary weapons. Three of these secondary weapons can be equipped with any of the three ships, while all others only suit a certain ship type.

(Thor using scatter gun)

All your currently available weapons are displayed in the HUD and you can switch between them using the L1/R1 buttons (which can of course be remapped to your liking). Connected to your weapon is your weapon power bar. While this might sound familiar to those acquainted with the original Söldner-X game, it's once again all different in Söldner-X 2.

(Mexxus II using bullet gun)

You start out with an empty power bar and all your weapons set to an initial level. By collecting power up extras (available in two different levels), your weapon power bar increases, effectively increasing the overall range and effectiveness area of your weapons. Whenever you pick up a power up extra, your currently selected weapon gets a big boost, while all other weapons get a slightly smaller one.

(Mexxus II using magma cannon)

To compare this once more to the system used in Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer, your weapon power no longer deflates whenever using your weapon. Further, you also won't lose your weapon power whenever losing a life. The latter is however still applicable whenever using a 'continue', yet depending on your current level plenty of extras will be spawned on screen to regain sufficient power.

Hopefully you have enjoyed reading today's post. Watch out for further updates in the coming week(s), including a more detailed look at Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype in action.

Söldner-X 2 has gone gold!

2010-03-19T13:27:00.002+08:00

After an extensive finishing phase, we are pleased to announce that Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype has reached gold status today. What does that mean? Well, apart from finally getting a good night sleep again, this means that Söldner-X 2 is off to Sony's final quality assurance process and soon... yes really soon... ready for release. :)

An official press announcement with confirmed release details will be made public during the next few weeks, so always make sure to watch this space for updates.

Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype Trophies

2010-03-10T11:33:00.000+08:00

When Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer was released in late 2008, it was still among one of the first third party developed trophy supporting titles. Here we are now in 2010 and approaching the release of Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype (Yes, yes yes, we are really getting close now!).

For all trophy hunters and Söldner-X fans out there, we are pleased to announce trophy pack details right here and right now. So keep on reading... :)

Bronze:
01. Ready for the junkyard: Complete the first stage ('Zeus Sector') at any difficulty level
02. Piece of rock: Complete the third stage ('Ethia Ruins') at any difficulty level
03. System liberated: Complete the fifth stage ('Turady Deep Sea') at any difficulty level
04. -hidden- (Hint: this one's not too hard to guess actually!)
05. Survivor: Clear challenge 'Survivor'
06. Collector: Clear challenge 'Collector'
07. Action Fan: Clear challenge 'Action Fan'
08. Chain Expert: Clear challenge 'Chain Expert'
09. Profiler: Clear challenge 'Profiler'
10. Rating Expert: Clear challenge 'Rating Expert'
11. Lucky Number 7: Collect an accumulated total of 77777 chain rings

Silver:
01. Key Explorer: Collect all 35 secret keys
02. -hidden-

Gold:
01. Challenge Master: Unlock and successfully pass 12 or more challenges

OST update & preview medley #2

2010-03-03T18:03:00.001+08:00

While the whole team behind Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype is currently busy with giving the game its last finishing touches, we are giving you another quick update on the original soundtrack CD, that is going to launch at around the same time the game is coming out.

Mastering has already been completed and we are happy to present you with the final track list. A total of 30 tracks have found their way onto the album at a total running time of 66:44 minutes.

A new second preview medley has also been uploaded, make sure to check it out right here. For your reference, the first one released earlier this year is also still available here.

For more details, visit the Söldner-X 2: Final Soundtrack product page on eastasiasoft.com. The soundtrack can be preordered here.

Full and updated track list:

01. Söldner Rising (Opening)
02. Final Prototype (Title / Main Menu)
03. The Challenge
04. Sector Zeus
05. Mech Alert (Erster Endgegner)
06. All Systems Down (Berzerker Eins)
07. Entering The Complex
08. Death on Rails (Zweiter Endgegner)
09. Complex Situation (Berzerker Zwei)
10. City of the Fallen
11. An Eye for an Eye (Dritter Endgegner)
12. Facing Onslaught (Berzerker Drei)
13. Stage Loading
14. Woods of Ellje
15. The Root of the Problem (Vierter Endgegner)
16. Desperate Measures (Berzerker Vier)
17. Dive!
18. Underwater Carnage (Fünfter Endgegner)
19. Deep Trouble (Berzerker Fünf)
20. Caves of Iya
21. Cold as Hell (Sechster Endgegner)
22. Escape (Berzerker Sechs)
23. Game Over
24. Lurking Evil II
25. Hit Fast, Hit Hard (Siebter Endgegner)
26. Massive Attack Syndrome II (Berzerker Sieben)
27. Victory (System Liberated)
28. Legendary Fighter (High Score)
29. Heroes Reborn - Back to the Roots Reprise (Credits)
30. Storytelling (Opening/End Sequence Instrumental Montage)

Limit attack in action

2010-02-22T16:31:00.012+08:00

Today we are very excited to bring you more details about yet another brand new feature that has been added to Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype. You might already have spotted some devastating attacks from the last batch of screenshots that were released last week. Yes, we are talking about the limit attack.

Next to the shockwave bomb that is once again making its return to Final Prototype, each playership can equip a very strong limit attack.

How does this work?

Your ship is equipped with two standard weapons by default and has one free slot for a bonus weapon (we will talk about this in detail in one of the next blog posts). You collect weapon extras to your free third weapon slot. Each time you collect any weapon extra, a slot of your limit attack bar will be filled. Collect three weapon extras and they will merge into one powerful limit attack.

What are limit attacks good for?

Limit attacks are extremely powerful, much more powerful than the shockwave you might remember from Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer. Once your limit attack is fired off (triggered by the "O" button on default), massive damage will be dealt to all foes on screen (standard enemies will die instantly) and all bullets will be cleared as well.

Show me more

Each playership will have its unique limit attack. Check out the following screenshots and work in progress video footage to see a limit attack in action. (all content is still subject to change prior release!)

Challenge mode & new screenshots

2010-02-17T17:10:00.002+08:00

As you may (or may not) have read in our latest press release from today, Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype adds a new previously unannounced game mode, the challenge mode.

As always, in our blog we give you a bit more inside information what the fuss is all about. One aspect we cared about a lot when creating Söldner-X 2 was to add more replay value to the game. So where we left off in terms of unlockables with Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer is where we started with Final Prototype.

First of all the secret keys are once again back in Söldner-X 2. Out of a total of seven stages, only the first four are accessible in your first play-through. By collecting secret keys, you will be able to unlock the remaining three stages. If this sounds a bit too nasty for you, don't worry though, the unlock conditions are very fair this time and most players will already unlock the fifth stage during their very first attempt.

Some of the most interesting hidden bonus items can however only be unlocked through the new challenge mode. A total of 17 (subject to very final confirmation) challenges become available in Söldner-X 2 through the process of the game. The longer you play, the more challenges you are likely to unlock. By successfully completing challenges, lots of bonus items and other rewards will be yours.

How do you unlock a challenge?

Well, we don't want to spoil every single detail, but most challenges will unlock (become available in the challenge mode screen) by simply playing the game. Unlocking all worlds and boosting ones player level (player levels increase by the numbers of enemies shot down) certainly will help a lot!

So what are those 'challenges'?

Challenges are (ranging from easy to very tough) tasks you need to fulfill under certain conditions. Here are just some examples of what you are going to encounter:

Play the first three stages without losing any ship.
Clear the game on fixed play rank B on difficulty normal or higher.
Play the fourth stage and release at least 16 chain extras.
Play the sixth stage and receive an 'S' rating on the victory screen.

What will I earn when completing those challenges?

With each and every challenge you successfully complete, you will be rewarded with something. This ranges from trophies (a lot of Söldner-X 2's trophies will be linked to the challenge mode) to additional credits, new weapons and some other very prestigious rewards. There are even rewards that will help your chance to gain higher scores in score attack mode.

I've heard enough, when can I finally play?

We are moving closer to project completion and Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype is finally going to become available in Q2/2010. To satisfy your appetite for the time being, we have released more work in progress screenshots today. These are taken from a 95% build and highlight some of the latest additions we have made (including the magma weapon, limit attacks and some background reworks). As you can see, we are moving close to project completion, make sure to watch our blog for more details during the next days and weeks.

How the chaining system works

2010-02-08T13:19:00.000+08:00

Last time we talked about the new play rank system, this time we are going a little in-depth with the chaining system. If you have played the original Söldner-X game, you already know its significance. Chaining helps you to gain extras and power up your ship.

Speaking about the chaining system in Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype, this is very much the same. Successfully complete chains and gain bonus items, such as power ups, health ups, weapon extras, score bonuses, extra lives and so on.

However, the system itself has very much changed in Söldner-X 2. As you may have seen from a number of screenshots, the new chaining gauge consists of the following elements.

Your target is to fill the chain energy bar before the chain clock runs out of time. Do so on time and the chain target extra will automatically release. Run out of time and you will lose some of your chain energy.

So how do you fill the chain energy bar? When enemies are hit or shot down, chain rings are spawned on screen (see following screenshot) and will remain for a limited period of time. Collect these chain rings and your bar fills up. It might sound easy, but can become very challenging on higher play ranks.

Also don't forget, the chain bar needs to be filled on time. There are however possibilities to add time, by:

Collecting chain rings within the time limit
Collecting a supportive extra (such as a chain freeze extra)
Ceasing fire for a moment. This will gradually add time whenever your timer got below 50%.

Just like in Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer, chaining is not absolutely necessary if you are new to the game. However if you want to boost your power and aim for a higher score, it's something that you shouldn't neglect.

Soundtrack details & preview medley

2010-02-01T12:24:00.003+08:00

In our last post we gave you the first insight of the game's unique play rank system. Today we are speaking a little about the music in Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype.

Rafael Dyll, well acknowledged for his works in Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer is once again responsible for all background music tracks in this sequel. There will be a total of 28 tracks in the game, placing symphonic elements amidst wholly new soundscapes and sporadically even returning to the melodies that made the original game's soundtrack so memorable.

A compilation of all those tracks is going to be available in a commercial CD format. Recorded and produced by Rafael Dyll, mastered at Popmusic.dk studio in Copenhagen, the Söldner-X 2: Final Soundtrack is going to launch alongside release of the game later this year.

Detailed product information are available at eastasiasoft.com. If you are interested in placing a preorder, you can do it right here.

Giving you a first taste of Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype's in-game music, check out the first preview medley.

Full track list:

01. Heroes Reborn - Back to the Roots Reprise (Instrumental)
02. Title / Main Menu
03. Select Your Ship!
04. Entering the Reef Complex
05. Death on Rails
06. Complex Situation
07. Sector Zeus
08. Mech Alert
09. All Systems Down
10. Woods of Ellje
11. The Root of the Problem
12. Desperate Measures
13. Caves of Iya
14. Cold as Hell
15. Escape
16. City of the Fallen
17. An Eye for an Eye
18. Facing Onslaught
19. Game Over
20. Lurking Evil II
21. Hit Fast, Hit Hard
22. Massive Attack Syndrome II
23. Dive!
24. Underwater Carnage
25. Deep Trouble
26. System Liberated (Victory)
27. Legendary Fighter (Hi-Score)
28. Final Prototype (Credits Montage)

Play rank system explained

2010-01-22T17:01:00.014+08:00

Today's post gives you the first insight on one of Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype's major new features. In case that you have been following earlier announcements, chances are that you have already heard about it. If not, don't worry, you can find a lot of in-depth details in this blog post.

First of all let's start with some background information. When you play Söldner-X 2 for the first time, you will find two difficulty settings in the options menu, called "Beginner" and "Normal" mode. You can unlock further difficulties during the process of the game but let's now focus on the dynamic difficulty mode, the play rank system.

To make Söldner-X 2 on the one hand fair and attractive to new players, yet on the other hand challenging and rewarding for those who like to invest more time and get the maximum out of the game, the play rank system measures the player's performance and automatically adjusts the game's dynamic difficulty setting, which is then reflected in the play rank.

The play rank gauge (see picture below) contains the following elements:

Play ranks range from G (being the lowest) and increase up the alphabet until A (which is the second highest) and finally S (which is the most superior and highest rank). All play ranks are linked to a score multiplier. The higher the play rank, the bigger the score multiplier (multipliers will go up in excess of 40x). In other words, better ranks can and will eventually lead to (much) higher scores.

Apart from the score multiplier, what will change in terms of game play? Here are some (but not all!) game play changes you can look out for:

The overall number and types of enemies on screen
Density of bullet patterns
Enemy shot frequencies
Overall number of other threats (such as rockets and mines)
Your ship's collision damage
Berserker mode self-healing time
Differences in boss battles

If you are keen to boost your rank (and your score), here are some early tips what you have to keep in mind:

Avoid or minimize collision with any threats on screen (enemies, bullets, objects, et al.). It's the most obvious one, isn't it?
Don't miss too many enemies. The more enemies pass by unharmed, the harder it becomes to increase your rank.
Try to beat larger enemies (such as sub bosses) within a short period of time to give yourself a rank boost.

Last but not least, here's one more work in progress shot of what you can expect on S rank. The shot is a little bit older and doesn't 100% reflect the current development status, but wasn't released so far. Enjoy!

That's it for today. We will still post another update on the exact score multipliers once we are close enough to release. Until then, stay tuned for more coverage in the near future.

Welcome

2010-01-20T12:20:00.011+08:00

Hello fellow Söldner-X gamers and blog readers. In the official Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype blog you will find first hand information about our upcoming video game project, published by eastasiasoft and currently in development at SideQuest Studios.

Edging closer to its release, we will explain you the most interesting features, including the game's dynamic play rank, chaining and scoring system. We will also keep you updated with new screenshots, videos and any other interesting information.

This is also the space where we will update you with confirmed release details, so make sure to bookmark us, check back frequently or subscribe to our RSS feed.

For more product details, also visit www.soldner-x.com.