Voltron: Defender of the Universe Gets October Release Window

67
Richard Walker

THQ has today announced a release window and price for Voltron: Defender of the Universe on the Xbox Live Arcade, which marks a triumphant return for the iconic 80s hero, based upon the classic television series. In fact, Voltron: Defender of the Universe is a new take on the classic animated adventure, featuring clips from the original series weaved into the game's narrative.

Battling the evil forces of King Zarkon across the varied terrain of Planet Arus, you'll get to relive pivotal moments from the TV series, controlling any of the individual Lions or teaming up to form Voltron himself, complete with his blazing sword.

Choosing a Lion to command, you'll be able to play online in 1-5 player co-op or offline with 1-2 player co-op, as you battle Robeasts and other familiar enemies. “We really wanted to create a game that’s exciting, true to the original series and challenging to play,” said Peter Armstrong, Executive Producer. “All of us here are big fans of classic Voltron, and we’re really proud of what we have created.”

Voltron: Defender of the Universe will be coming to the Xbox Live Arcade in October for 800 Microsoft Points.

Comments
67
  • A W E S O M E
  • Childhood dreams = Realized. If only they could make a stellar Godzilla game, I'd be in heaven.
  • If this turns out to be good its a window to other 80s favorites like robotech and mazinger z....i wouldnt mind that~
  • Please excuse me for asking this (for i was born in 1991) but what the hell is voltron?
  • I also just noticed it's XBLA :( I would rather a retail product for a higher rate in longevity but I can hardly complain. Now they need to start looking into what #3 was mentioning: Silverhawks Centurions Bionic Six Thundercats Hell, I'd even settle for a Dinosaucers game!
  • Voltron was one of the best cartoons of the 80's. Think Power Rangers, 5 humans piloting 5 robot lions that combine to make Voltron.
  • @ 4 - Bear with us, it sounds cheesy and probably is if you watch it now but it was the televised champ of it's day! Voltron was the original (animated) precursor to the likes of Power Rangers. 5 Space Explorers wer captured by the intergallactic King Zarkon. They escape and crashland on Planet Arus and are told of an ancient legend of 5 Robotic Lions that could form into a giant robot aptly named Voltron. This will explain it better: "From days of long ago, from uncharted regions comes...a legend..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub5bl2QNHPw
  • Also...even kiddies today should get it - Who's giving that intro? And due to his re"sparked" fame, you think he'll intro the XBLA game?
  • *ren & stimpy style, biting lips and squeezed eyes* joy!
  • Awesome, I always thought I was the only person who remembered this, not even any of my mates of the same age recall this, only thing Im now wishing for is a game based on Mask (changing vehicles, car/plane etc). Roll on the 80's revival :-) .
  • *Looks at developer's game history* *Sadface*
  • That is pretty cool. I have not seen a voltron episode in maybe 23 years? Along with Thundercats it was one of my favorite shows! I hope that the game is fun and not over 800 msp. I am not going to hold my breath though.
  • @4 Voltron is what power rangers of your time copied from.
  • @#6 When I think Power Rangers I think a lame kids show. Voltron deserves a much better comparision. I would say that Voltron is a lot like the show Transformer or Transmorpher with maybe a little GI Joe. And yes Transformers used to be a show that was way better than the movies.
  • @2 Even better.... Thundercats !
  • @12 It says in the article that it will be 800 MSP. I'm looking forward to this and hoping it's good. Surprising you can only so 2-player offline though.
  • @5, hell yeah Silverhawks, Thundercats and Bionic Six would be awesome also. I would also love LoneStar. Ahhhh the good old days lol. Can't wait for Voltron.
  • @8 Peter Cullen has better be on board! Ohhhhhh yes!
  • @ 17 - Fuckin A right!! Centurions would be pretty badass as a MP game I think. I feel It would be similar but more item-based and whatnot to War For Cybertron. Ground, Air and Sea battles would be stellar. @ 18 - Someone got it! He also was the voice of Koran in the show as well. I still have 'em on DVD and after I moved, I didn't unpack anything. Time to break out my 25th Anniversary Die Cast figure. It came in this sweet looking "book" box. I'll see if I can get a pic up soon.
  • How about some love for the 80s animated series Inhumanoids? Remember that giant, zombie T-Rex that could infect people with his talons and had a prison built into his ribcage? Decomposer or something. I used to have the action figure (which was like a square foot in height/width). It used to take on my GI Joes and TMNT in massive battle royales.
  • @ 20 - I could blow you sir!! Nobody and I mean NOBODY remembers the Inhumanoids! They were my second favorite Monster Movie kinda thing since I'm big on Godzilla and Harryhausen stuff. Inhumanoids was a great cartoon and the action figures were kick-frickin-ass! I can't find my Tendril or Metlar and I never wound up getting D'compose. Damn you brought back some primo memories!
  • @2 there's actually a pretty decent Thundercats remake coming to Cartoon Network in two weeks. There's a better chance of a game actually happening since the license will be in the spotlight again. :)
  • Yeah I heard about that. I know that Voltron and Thundercats films were in limbo for the past couple years. Voltron is a legal issue with the parent company TOEI Animation. Don't remember but they kind of pulled the legal card during pre-production. Thundercats has just been "in the dark" as far as I know. Voltron is being rebooted for TV as well and supposedly there are concept pics of Voltron and the Blue lion on the nets. They look awesome but I'm still waiting for direct confirmation. The only other thing that has my undivided attention are the 2 Godzilla reboots - 1. Comics preceeding the new 2. Movie in 2012. They're going back to the roots. No more of this overgrown iguana garbage. It's going to be a Godzillasaurus and rumor is, they're bringing in a badass villain. My money's on Gigan.
  • Here's the concept art I mentioned Blue Lion http://vrempire.com/Image/BlogImg/20100922-VoltronMovie/Voltron-Movie-Concept-Art-03.jpg Robeast and Yellow Lion http://www.joblo.com/newsimages1/voltronexcl2-big.jpg Voltron w/ detatched "arm" http://www.joblo.com/newsimages1/voltronexcl1-big.jpg
  • I still have all my VOLTRON figures and castle(they are worth a s-load! Nobody i know that is my age watched this for some reason! I actually got my 11yr old into the oldie cause the new school...I am definetly getting this game....Does anybody remember SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO? Gosh i feel real old :(
  • How about The VISIONARIES,JEM????? yes i watched JEM
  • Also Ulysses 31, sooo loved this back in the day, and theres so much scope for a game or two as they travelled all over the place, this thread has conjured up so many memories! :-)
  • @ 26 - You might as well ask for Rainbow Bright, My Little Pony or even She-Ra too lol. Why not Pound Puppies or Popples? Yes, I'm a bonafide product of the 80's Visionaries would be a good one I think Defenders of the Earth would be badass due to it's inclusion of The Phantom. The 80's are ripe to hell with ideas and adaptations comapred to the absolute unoriginal garbage out today. Anyone born past 1994 is missing out.
  • @3 Loved the ROBOTECH series and the 2 games released back on original Xbox BATTLECRY and INVID WAR @4 Born in the 90's and youre online? Why didnt you Google it before posting? @5 OMG, I remeber all those shows. I expecially liked Silver Hawks. Talihawk was a beast. @13 Power Rangers is not a copy of Voltron. I grew up in Hawaii with Japaneese influences and there was a Power Ranger esq live action before Voltron. There were 5 characters named after countries. All I remember from it was Ms America and Mr France. @22 I was wondering if anyone else was going to mention the Thunder Cats remake on Cartoon Network July 29th. Also no one else metioned there is a Voltron remake that comes on Nicktoons. @24 I guess Im just reaaaaally old school, I like the original lion all blocky and stuff. @28 Dont mock She-Ra. She was one of the moving forces in the 80's that created the Female Gamer craze... As for other 80's shows that would be OK to remake adding to #5's lists... Captain N (even tho its Nintendo) C.O.P.S Dino Riders Dragon's Lair Dungeons & Dragons (animated) Galtar's Golden Lance He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Inhumanoids M.A.S.K Pirates of Dark Water RoboCop Saber Riders She-Ra, Princess of Power Space Ghost Starblazzers Thundaar the Barbarian Tiger Sharks Tranzor-Z Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light Just to name a few...
  • Inhumanoids is great. I have some on DVD but they are hard to come by. Loved Dino Riders too. Was Dinosaucers the one with talking Dinos that had lasers and faught against each other? I'm not big on propaghanda but I really like Cartoon Allstars the anti-drug movie dealio thing that feature Bugs, Mickey, TMNT, etc. Also both Ghostbusters (Ghostbunglers) and The Real Ghostbusters were some of my fave. Of course GI Joe, Transformers, Silverhawks, and MASK were classic but does anyone remember Jayce and the Wheel Warriors? @#14 It's not that Voltron is being compared to Power Rangers. There is no arguing it's a precursor to that show however. @#17 You mean Bravestarr? Yeah loved that show. Then one day, a lawman appeared. With powers of hawk, wolf, puma and bear. Protecter of peice, mystic man from afar. Champion of justice, Marshall Bravestarr! Cha! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idSfpY4-kmk @#25 I think it was because, at least according to my friends, it had much more of a Japanese Anime feel to it. I loved the snow and have almost completed my DVD collection.
  • @ 29 - Not technically of Voltron but Voltron is also a recreation of the Japanese version "Go Lion", either way, Voltron gained much more popularity before Power Rangers blew up. UGH! I can't believe i forgot Dino Riders!!! I still have my Diplodocus somewhere. That thing was MASSIVE! I will stress this to the day I die, the best shit came from the 80's guaranteed! I'm with you on the old school stuff sir. Captain Planet, James Bond Jr, Food Fighters, Street Sharks, Captain Bucky O'Hare, SuperHuman Samurai Cyber Squad, etc...the list goes on and on. @30 - I have a vhs of the All Star special. Mad nostalgia up in here haha. Also, I loved the Alternate Ghostbusters. I have the theme as a ringtone.
  • @ 4 - Okay, I just noticed that you're getting Thumbed down for being born late. People are morons. The dude didn't know what it was. Seriously, while it bears no real affect on the site and is just a way to say I have an opinion but am too pussy to talk about it, it affects the standing on some members. This dude could be taken as a troll if a bunch of yahoos saw he had multiple negatives and just jumped on the bandwagon. I protest to have the stupid useless feature removed. Let people read and disagree or actually put in some two cents. It would weed out trolls better IMO. Thumbs Up for the uninformed. Sucks bro.
  • Jace And The Wheeled Warriors! Then maybe we could reunite Jace with his Dad. Loved that show. Visionaries and Centurions too as already mentioned :D
  • Rocklords and Gobots have yet to mentioned I believe. @#32 Yeah it's pretty sad. oiI thumbed em up. Also thanks for mentioning Dinosaucers. Been trying to figure out what that show was called forever. Horrible with names. I could never look it up because search engine couldn't find "talking alien dinosaurs with lasers cartoon from 1980s". Thank you so much you have know idea. You're a gentleman and a scholar! @#33 Yeah loved it. The toys were pretty gear.
  • Hmm. I swear I didn't oil thumb him up.
  • Sounds interesting enough. But it all comes down to actual gameplay. Will have to wait and see how this one pans out:-)
  • The thumb police are on patrol. Thumbs up to all.
  • @ 34 - Rocklords! I couldn't remember the name and I was about to mention Go-Bots. ALso, the ONLY time (Bruce Lee) aside when Chuck Norris was anything worth paying attention to - Karate Kommandos. I had a bunch of figures. Then the dude became a joke and well, that's his career now - Jokes. Hulk Hogans Rockin' Wrestlin Mighty Max Plastic Man Saturday Morning Supercade (Donkey Kong, Qbert, Frogger, etc) Sky Commanders Spiderman and his Amazing Friends (Firestar & Iceman post Xmen) My Pet Monster Mighty Mouse Dangermouse
  • M A S K needs to be made!!!
  • @#38 I love Rowdy Roddy Piper on Rockin' Wrestlin' (love anything to do with him though). Karate Kommandos was good and action packed when a kid and a hilarious riot to watch now. Love it. I remember a decent Popeye cartoon from back then with Popeye's and Bluto's sons. Toxic Avenger and Battletoads were okay. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and the Food Fighters were great. Garfield was even pretty good back then. I've watched many of the above mentioned shows recently and I'd say 93%-99% have withstood the test of time. For me though Captain Planet has not. I loved the show, had the figures & rings, and I still have the NES game. I watched quite a few episodes recently and in my thoughts it stinks.
  • @ 40 - It was limited but they did a bunch of holiday and seasonal specials from the Funny Pages - Marvin (red haired baby), Hagar The Horrible, Blondie (LOVED that show - It's Blonnndie and Daaggwooood hahah), Babar and so on but those are more toddler friendly rather than kid friendly. The Popeye and Blutos son show is eluding me. I know they did more Sweet-Pea heavy stuff at a point but you're prolly right. I think DinoRiders has one of the highest probabilities in becoming a game. It could make one helluva RTS. Questar and Krulos FTW! I'm going to Youtube DinoRiders and Dinosaucers first eps now you sonuvagun!
  • DinoRiders would be pretty cool
  • @16 Cant believed I missed that, *facepalm*, I must of been too excited to finish reading. @30 I was probably 12 or 13 when power rangers came out so thats why I think they were lame. But who could blame them for coping such a great cartoon?
  • Back then My Little Pony wasn't even that bad. They were flying around fighting evil and saving the world. Now they throw costume parties and cake parties and slumber parties and... come to think of it they just do a lot of stupid partying (at least in the two or three dvds my daughter has). No wonder Hannah Montana and the like is so popular nowadays.
  • @ 43 - Was the about the same age sir. Curently 28. While I consider SuperHuman Samurai Cyber Squad better, Power Rangers wasn't that bad of a live action show. I mainly watched it for the monster battle stuff. @ 44 - I'll give you that. Even Rainbow Brite fought off some baddies in her day. Today is nothing but drug induced ideas that take themselves WAY too seriously. Education was a mixed bag of fun and learning back in the day (Reading Fucking Rainbow!). Now they have bolivian cocaine mules that travel around with disease infested monkeys that wear boots teaching English-Spanish to the locals. Has nobody checked the contents of Dora's backpack or to see if she has a valid passport???? Spongebob started out okay but then it quickly tried to emulate Ren & Stimpy which will NEVER be reproduced. R&S showed that a kids show can be pretty graphic and semi-violent while still being harmless and funny. How many parents and court cases have been based upon Armpit Croutons, Rubber Nipples and Scary Old Men in Tooth Fairy Costumes. The Canadians never complained either *salutes* lol
  • Edit - Actually, Looney Tunes started with absolute cartoon violence but even then, nobody's ordering giant rockets from ACME, are they? R&S just introduced some nasty graphic stuff. Like when Ren lost his teeth. NERVE ENDINGS!!!
  • @4, yes indeed you were born in 1991 LOL!! Old school cartoon us older blokes grew up in the 80's with, relatively same era as Transformers but given less love and attention over the years. Recently, mostly parodied in Robot Chicken.
  • @#43 Yeah. I mean the acting/writing was bad. A lot of the toys were really cool though. And the Megazord fights reminded me of Godzilla which I loved. @#45 Was Samurai Squad the one where they went into PCs and some characters (or at least one) looked like Ultraman? What about Beetle Borgs or whatever? I tried remembering the Popeye show on my own but needed Wiki to aid me. It was Popeye and Son. I was born in 1984 so things like Rainbow Brite, My Little Pony, Smurfs, Care Bears, and Teddy Ruxpin were very appealing to me. I'm a Looney and Tiny Tune freak! Love all the Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, and Mel Blance as well as current stuff to death. Death with a giant anvil to the and falling off a cliff to make a poof! I like early 90s stuff too. Especially Disney. Shows like Tailspin, Darkwing Duck, The Rescue Rangers, and Ducktales a-woo-hoo! Busy World of Richard Scary & The World of David the Gnome & The Littles. Also Reading Rainbow is a beast. Also Heathcliff. And Beakman's World
  • Most cartoon and kid shows nowaday are crap. It was a slow but steady progression starting in the late 60s then having it's peak in the early to mid to late 80s and declining at the start of the 90s. By the late 90s in my opinion the good ones were almost all gone. Reboot was one of my last favorite cartoons. There are some decent ones today you just have to look. PBS in my area has a lot of decent ones. I usually just watch old-school cartoons with my kids rather then watch Nickelodeon nowadays.
  • I have a question...I dont know if this show was 80's or early 90's,what was the name of the show that was live action,futuristic,alot of flyin,main guy was gold and the toys interacted with the vhs(the were light guns)?this has bothered me forever that i had the toys and cant remember for the life of me!!! Its funny this forum has evolved past talking about Voltron
  • I'm having flashbacks to when I was a kid now, thanks for the great memories. I am looking forward to this game, hopefully it's good.
  • @ Magus - OMG FR incoming hahaha. You're totally rubbing my nostalgia nub to the point of creamage hahaha! To answer, yes, SHSCS was the alternate Ultraman you could say. As I said, I'm a sucker for Monster Movie stuff. I have every original Godzilla VHS marketed and tried to recoup what I could on DVD but procrastinated. I never really liked Beetleborgs or Reboot. Borgs seemed like a cheap Power Rangers ripoff and Reboot...idk I just didn't dig it. Plus it was on before Beast Wars so I had to endure the end of it. Reboot makes me also think of Bobby's World. It was on later in the afternoon before Borgs. Shit, you remember Disney Magazine right? Even though it was like a mini-TV Guide haha. That had some grand memories. Damn right man, they'll never have anything top/take over Looney Tunes. Tiny Toons was good but it was short lived. I still break out my How I Spent My Summer Vacation every so often. Now I'm thinkin of The Elephant Show, Double Dare, Legends of The Lost Temple. Thank you guys for letting me rightfully feel 12 for the day.
  • three words HELL FUCKING YES.please make this into a full game with a collecter's edition that comes with all the lions that can be transformed into voltron and make it die-cast not no cheap plastic. dont forget bravestar, ducktales, inspector gadget, smurfs, heifcliff to add to the list
  • @ 53 -I hope you'll have upwards of $200+ to blow on that. Die Cast? That alone is going to run you the amount of the game and they will NOT make it authentic, nor to scale of the OG figures. Guaranteed. The Anniversary Editions went for around $150. I got mine for $60 through a deal brand spankin' new. eBay sir.
  • @54 i would spend $200 on it they should throw in all the old school characters if they make the other games as well ie thundercats, he-man ect
  • umm wonder how coop is going to work each control a limb when combined
  • Thanks RW!! Best news I've heard in a while!!! Btw- Psycho Zoidberg; Did you ever hang those ghostbusters 2 coveralls on your wall?? ;)
  • @4...Im at a loss for words... Voltron...epic.
  • I was born in the wrong decade (1992) to remember nearly all of these shows. I grew up on shows like Pokémon, Dragonball Z, Rugrats, Freakazoid, and so forth. That said, Voltron sounds like something special.
  • This far down and no one has mentioned Battle of the Planets? It influenced Voltron and Power Rangers among others. http://gatchonline.com/
  • @ 57 - Negative. Recently moved and they are nowhere to be found. Very disappointed. @ 60 - Good call sir. BoP was a tad before my time but I remember advertisements and commercials for it still flying around during the mid 80s.
  • @61- I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully they will re-surface soon. In memory I shall watch Ghostbusters 2 this weekend on DVD(why still no blu-ray?). In effort to cheer u up, remember that the original report in February called for Voltron games(as in plural) so here's to several more!! (hopefully)
  • @ 62 - Grazi!
  • @#59 There are some great cartoons from that era/generation (don't want to feel too old) also. I dig Freakazoid quite a bit. Dragonball Z introduced me to Gundam for which I am forever thankful. And DB:GT + Cowboy Bebop's popularity led to the creation of Adult Swim. I first watched Cowboy Bebop on Midnight Run because of Dragonball GT and to this day it's my favorite anime. I grew up fairly poor though and cable was too expensive so anything Nick was a no-no for me. Especially Rugrats. I cannot to this day stand that show. I ended up liking Ahh! Real Monsters, Ren & stimpy, Hey, Arnold, and others when I was able to catch them at a friends house. I enjoy watching many of them to this day with me wife. even some newer ones like Camp Lazlo have caught my interest but Rugrats just annoys me. I guess it was because I was around 10 and didn't see the appeal of talking babies.
  • I wonder if this is going to be in AUSTRALIA too
  • Hope it's good and fun
  • Wow! This comments section really brought me back. Tranzor Z, Mask, Voltron, all amazing cartoons. I can't wait for this game. Someone should make a fighting game sort of like Marvel vs Capcom with all of the great city destroying monsters and robots battling it out. Ultraman vs Voltron, Godzilla vs Robeast and so on and so forth. Maybe more like the Godzilla King of Monsters game where the arenas are destroyable cities.
  • You need to register before being able to post comments

Game navigation