Legend of Success Joe announced for PS2 and GBA

According to the latest issue of Famitsu magazine, Konami has announced that it will release Ashita no Joe for the PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance. Ashita no Joe is based on a classic manga series abut a boxer named Joe Yabuki who climbs his way from a boxing ring in prison to the world championships--all the while becoming neurologically impaired from punches. The manga made a phenomenal impact in Japan, and it has influenced a number of video game titles, including Punch-Out! on the NES and the Street Fighter 3 series. Ashita no Joe is known as Legend of Success Joe in America.

The PlayStation 2 version of Ashita no Joe will be a 3D sports game that features characters from the manga series. The game includes a story mode that follows the original storyline with alternate scenario routes, as well as exhibition and tournament modes for fighting against another player. The Game Boy Advance version will be a simulation action game in which the player assumes the role of Joe's coach, training him for upcoming fights. In the action scenes, the player will assume the role of Joe and fight in the ring. The GBA version of Ashita no Joe will support head-to-head play with human opponents via cable link.

The PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance versions of Ashita no Joe are both scheduled for release in December in Japan.