Namco Bandai Games To Publish 'Saint Seiya: The Hades' For PlayStation 2

LYON, FRANCE - 28 June 2006 - Atari announces the forthcoming release of SAINT SEIYA: THE HADES from NAMCO BANDAI Games for PlayStation®2. Following the release of Saint Seiya: The Sanctuary in 2005, SAINT SEIYA: THE HADES takes the Saint Seiya video game experience to the next level boasting a story from the most widely acclaimed chapter of the saga plus an overdose of innovative features and stunning enhancements designed to bring players closer than ever to the universe of mind-blowing 3D Cosmo battles. Published by NAMCO BANDAI Games and distributed in Europe by Atari, SAINT SEIYA: THE HADES is scheduled for release across Europe in autumn 2006.

The story of SAINT SEIYA: THE HADES is taken directly from the highly respected manga of the same name that have only recently been made into an anime television series and which are hailed by many fans as the greatest in the Saint Seiya saga. For maximum authenticity, the story of the game is based mainly on the original manga with cut scenes taken from the anime. The story takes places as the Specters, thanks to the awakening of Hades, begin to claim back their powers after being restrained for 243 years by Athena's might. It is your destiny to do battle with the supreme commander of Hell and his armies to overcome the impending devastation.

SAINT SEIYA: THE HADES offers something extra special for all fans of anime and fighting games. The development team have put their hearts and souls into developing a fighting system worthy of this seminal manga and anime with spectacular results.

Developers DIMPS has brought a wealth of new elements and enhancements to the fighting systems of SAINT SEIYA: THE HADES, with technically dazzling rapid-fire battles on a massive battle stage which accommodates a greater breadth of range attacks, counter-attacks and blistering combos. The fighting has been tuned throughout to give the player fiercely dynamic battles where one right or wrong move can have catastrophic effects. The enhanced Cosmo system lets players make the most of the all-new special attacks to inflict grave damage on their opponent.

SAINT SEIYA: THE HADES is scheduled for release on PlayStation2 across Europe in autumn 2006. For further information about Atari's entire product line up visit www.atari.com.
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About NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.

NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. is an interactive entertainment software publisher and developer with head offices in Tokyo, Japan.
On March 31, 2006, Bandai Co., Ltd. and NAMCO LIMITED implemented a management integration to form NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. This step was taken to compete more effectively on the global stage in the fast-changing entertainment industry and to deliver further growth.
The resulting NAMCO BANDAI Group is a global entertainment group involved in business fields ranging from toys, amusement facilities, video game software and visual software, to apparel, sundries and network content.
As previous separate entities (Namco Ltd. and Bandai Co., Ltd.) the companies were each known for creating some of the industry's top video game franchises including: Tamagotchi, TEKKEN, SOULCALIBUR, Pac-Man, Digimon, RIDGE RACER, Time Crisis and ACE COMBAT.

About Infogrames Entertainment and Atari
Infogrames Entertainment (IESA), the parent company of the Atari Group, is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (ISIN code: FR-0000052573) and has two principal subsidiaries: Atari Europe, a privately-held company, and Atari, Inc., a United States corporation listed on NASDAQ (ATAR).
The Atari Group is a major international producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market segments and in all existing game formats (Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony) and on CD-ROM for PC. Its games are sold in more than 60 countries.
The Atari Group's extensive catalogue of popular games is based on original franchises (Driver, Alone in the Dark, V-Rally, Test Drive, Roller Coaster Tycoon, etc.) and international licenses (Matrix, Dragon Ball Z, Dungeons & Dragons, etc.).
For more information: http://www.atari.com

® 1986 MASAMI KURUMADA/SHUEISHA, TOEI ANIMATION
® 2006 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.
Published by NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S.

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