Coming Soon! June 22, 2009

Missed me?  Sorry about the last 2 weeks.  I was a little too busy having fun in Japan.  Enough about me, onwards to the releases.  This week, the Wii is stepping up to the plate with… a first person shooter?  That’s right!  The Wii’s curious little first person shooter since probably Metroid Prime 3, The Conduit is coming out this week.  Curious?  You bet I am.  Along with a Japanese sensation, a horde of little beastly minions invading almost every system, and transforming robots that people just can’t seem to get enough of, this week is looking pretty good.

Remember.  Release dates are quite literally made at the whims of the publisher.  The following are subject to change without any warning by the publishers.

Monday June 22, 2009

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (PSP)

Speaking of Japan, do you know what series is really, really big over there in Japan right now, but barely makes a blip over here?  That’s right, Monster Hunter.  This game is THE reason that people over there even bother buying a PSP.  Over here, it’s a totally different story.  Monster Hunter is all about hunting monsters (Duh).  You have an enormous amount of weapons and armor to make, buy, or possibly pick up from the slain monsters.  This being the third in the series, you’re able to transfer your old characters from the second Monster Hunter and use it here.  One of the new feature in this one is an AI partner that will tag along on your solo quest.  The most addictive part is the part where you and up to three friends can join together to take down some of the tougher monsters in the game.  Probably the number one reason that this game haven’t caught on here is that the multiplayer is only local multiplayer.  You cannot play this online.  The Japanese are fine with that, but as it turns out it’s a deal breaker over here for most.  Is it for you?

Tuesday June 23, 2009

Dawn of Discovery (Wii, DS)

Attention Civilization fans!  Do you only own a Wii or a DS?  Here’s your chance to get your Civilization fix.  Set in the 1400s, King George sends you on a mission to colonize new lands in order to bring in new resources for the ailing kingdom.  Once you settle on colonizing an island, the game turns into Sim City where you have to make roads, houses, and building that generate resources to meet the settler’s needs like lumber, food, and religion.  Other factions are in the area as well, and you can go to war against them, although the combat never involve any individual units.  Instead, you build encampments and such which has troop units inside.  From there, you send said units to attack the opposing buildings.  The enemy forces than sends their units to the same building to defend it.  It’s an interesting approach to a building game that never produces any individual units.  Whether any of this makes a for a compelling Wii or DS game rest entirely up to you to try it.

Dynasty Warrior 6: Empires (Xbox 360, PS3)

The last time I wrote about Dynasty Warriors, it was the one with elements from Power Rangers.  This time, it seems to be dipping its toes a little bit more into the realistic side.  From the looks of the trailer, on top of the usual one guy against the entire opposing army beat’em up, there’s also a strategy side to it now.  When opposing factions invade your territory, you get to choose how to respond to it.  You can choose diplomacy to settle it or just stick to the usual and beat the crap out of everyone who dare step foot on your land.  After that, go ahead and invade them back just because you probably can.  At least it sounds like there’s going to be more to this formula than just the mindless hack and slash, but then again, how many times have the same thing been said about the previous Dynasty Warriors games?

Yellow turbans sure was popular back then.

Fight Night Round 4 (Xbox 360, PS3)

Fight Night Round 3 was lauded for pulling in new players based solely on the graphics fidelity.  Now that’s done with, what will Round 4 do to keep them?  First, Round 4 will include some of the legends of boxing like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.  Second, the fighting engine actually knows how a punch lands on the opponent.  Meaning, now there’s such a thing as a glancing blow or missed punch.  In fact it is possible to knock the opponent out with the first punch if it lands on the opponent that happens to be moving towards the punch.  Finally, Round 4 will, from the trailers I’ve seen, uphold the lofty graphical standards that Fight Night has imposed unto itself.  Overall, Round 4 looks like it’ll be a pretty decent package when it comes out.

NO!  MY TATTOO’S COOLER!!!

Little League World Series Baseball 2009 (Wii, DS)

Can’t get enough baseball but big league baseball just too much for ya?  Here’s your cure.  Little League is like a Little League baseball simulator just without any realism as you can tell by the aesthetics, power ups, flaming baseballs in the fist of the pitcher, and what have you.  You get real Little League baseball stadiums with some real Little League teams, don’t expect any names though, but that’s about as realistic as you’re going to get.  A 4 player offline, multiplayer mode, mini-games, full team customization, a whole slew of unlockable stuff, and full use of the two systems’ interfaces rounds out the package of this fairly complete Little League Baseball experience.

Overlord II (Xbox 360, PS3)

Being good is so passe.  Evil is where it’s at.  The first Overlord left the players with a slightly unpleasant aftertaste mainly because of some niggling issue, but the underlying experience, think Pikmin with 2 gajillion percent more evil, was laudable.  Early previews of this one seems to point towards a giant improvement over the first one.  For example, your minions can now be resurected just in case you become attached to them.  Also, they’ve learn the art of riding monsters to make them even more formidable.  Don’t take the whole “being evil” bit too seriously though.  Hell the minions certainly don’t.  They’re almost always a laugh a minute with all the crazy little things they do with the environments.  Future evil overlords, we have a simulation game just for you!

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (ECKM*)

Can’t get enough Transformers?  The last movie tie in game was a bit…underwhelming.  This one seems to be a little bit more thought out than the last one.  Revenge of the Fallen gives you two different campaign modes.  One is the Autobots storyline while the other is the Decepticon.  If that’s not enough to whet a Transformer fan’s appetite, Revenge of the Fallen has a multiplayer mode where they get to choose as their favorite Transformer and go up against other people in various modes.  The ability to transform between the two different modes seems to put this brawler/shooter on a different level from most other brawlers.  Most of the trailers available seems to only showcase the game’s multiplayer modes.  It kinda brings into question the quality of the single player game.  That’s probably not going to stop the rabid Transformer fans out there though.

Quick side notes about the non next-gen, non-PSP versions.  The DS one comes in two versions: Autobots and Decepticons.  Depending on which one you buy, you get that side’s single player campaign and not the other, so choose carefully.  The Wii one has a co-op mode but not a versus mode.

The Conduit (Wii)

So far, Nintendo is the only that’s been able to pull off a good FPS game on the Wii with Metroid Prime 3.  If the early trailers and videos of The Conduit is any indication, that might soon change.  The Conduit puts you into the role of ex-Secret Service Agent, Michael Ford.  Aliens have invaded Washington D.C., and you must unravel the mystery behind it and the involvement of the government in said invasion.  If the single player doesn’t sound compelling, consider the fully online, voice chat capable (with Wii Speak support or a mic) multiplayer modes.  With 13 modes and 18 different weapons to wield, The multiplayer mode stands a reasonable chance of standing out amongst all the other Wii games’ online mode which has ranged from OK to unplayable.  So far, the feature sets sounds pretty complete for a decent FPS.  The next step is implementation.  That remains to be seen.

Dude!  You gotta check out this bathroom!  It’s all glowy and swirly in there!

Overlord: Dark Legend (Wii)

It looks like the next gen consoles aren’t the only ones getting a taste of Overlord.  The Wii will be getting this prequel to the first.  Thanks to the Wiimote’s pointer, you’re able to direct your minions to whatever it is that you probably want destroyed/killed.  Also, you can turn any one of your minions into a kamikaze minion by picking one up and shaking them until they start smoking, you can probably guess how you’ll be shaking them.  In Overlord fashion, you’ll be going up against the normally-nice-but-twisted-for-Overlord-purposes denizens of medieval times.  In this case, they’ll be fairy tale themed like Lil Red Riding Hood with her little wolf problem, some evil looking gingerbread men, and others like them.  It’s good to know that the Wii’s library will have some liberal dark sense of humor instead of the usual family friendly fares.

Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil (Wii)

Did you miss Resident Evil when it came out for the Gamecube?  Well, here’s your second chance!  This is a full on port of the Gamecube version of Resident Evil complete with the graphical makeover and the additional storyline not found in the original PS1 version.  Aside from being adapted for the Wiimote controller, although you can opt to use any of the other control schemes available like the Classic controller or the Gamecube controller, this version does include some Wii specific content like some new rooms and new defensive weapons.  Or you could look for the actual Gamecube version of this game, buy it, and play it on the Wii with a Gamecube controller for at least 10 bucks cheaper.  It’s all up to you.

Ultimate Duck Hunting (Wii)

I swear this game came out in 2007.  And I was right.  I can’t tell if this is a sequel or a port or a re-imagining.  All I know is that there’s another game coming out with the same name and different box art.  Thanks to the internet’s absolute lack of info on this game, I’m not going to be able to tell you much more than that.  Sorry.

C.O.R.E. (DS)

I thought this game is out already by now.  Take a look at my original article for the lowdown on this game.

Classic Word Games (DS)

Word games are some of the most popular Iphone apps if my mother is any indication, and this certainly isn’t the first one to show up on the DS.  It is the first one to have some DSi specific functions.  Supposedly, you’ll be able to download as many crossword puzzles as you can save them.  If you get sick of the crossword puzzles, there’s always the 14 other word games you can play like Hangman, identifying quotes and idioms, and much more.  The game can also tell how well you’re doing and adjust its difficulty level to match your skill level.  It also has a single-card multiplayer mode so others can join in on the fun and show off their vocabulary prowess.  Did I just say vocabulary prowess?  I thought I’d never say that combination of words.

Fashion Week: Junior Designer (DS)

Now this is more like it.  DS games where I can’t find a single piece of information.  Looks like I’ll have to do some more deduction than.  Judging by the name, it’s another clothes designing game where the players get to customize their avatar with whatever clothes and design that you want them to wear (I’m sure birthday suits won’t be an option).  You’ll get to walk them down the catwalk as photographers on the side snap away.  The second part seems to suggest that all the clothes will be designed for kids instead of the twenty something, or late tens, year old models.  If this game turns out to also have an intergalactic war involving hundreds of alien species all vying for planet Earth, well I might just buy it.

Hot and Cold (DS)

You know that game where you hide something and you make your friends find it, and the only way they’ll know if they’re getting close is by telling them that they’re getting warmer or colder depending on how close they are to it?  I’ve just described this game for you.  You are the leader of the Hot and Cold club, a group of people with the innate ability to find stuff, who helps people find find their lost stuff — hopefully for a nominal fee.  You get to use your stylus to move stuff around the level, of which there are 50, in hopes of finding the lost item underneath said stuff.  As simple, and boring, as all this sounds, it’s the feature set that’s most impressive.  On top of playing some multiplayer modes with friends online, you can make your own level with whatever hidden object you want and share it with friends or to hotandcoldhome.com where other players could potentially download it and play it.  I rarely see this kind of treatment for an idea that doesn’t seem to deserve it.  It’s usually the other way around.

My Healthy Cooking Coach (DS)

Cookbooks are a good way of adding to your repertoire of stuff that you can cook besides scrambled eggs.  These kinds of games do that, and then some.  First off, My Healthy Cooking Coach, as the name implies, only has a selection of food that’s a little bit more on the healthy side, so don’t buy it expecting to have the best recipe for nacho fries topped with whipped cream and lard.  Second, you can tell the game what recipes you do have on hand.  From there it’ll show you all the things you can make given those ingredients.  It’s these little things that makes these cookbook “games” superior than just buying a good old fashion cookbook.

Overlord: Minions (DS)

Man!  These Overlord guys are serious in expanding their franchise.  Unlike the other Overlord games coming out this week, this one focuses on 4, and only 4, of the minions.  Each one has their own special powers and weaknesses.  You’ll have to maneuver each of your minions individually or as a group through different environments and solve some environmental puzzles.  All this will be done with only the touch screen just like The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.  The minions are tasked by their overlord to take down a cult bent on resurrecting a race of dragon human hybrids who could easily challenge the overlord’s power.  If done right, this game looks to be at the very least a decent Phantom Hourglass clone.

Rockin’ Pretty (DS)

Now that Legos are joining the rhythm game genre, it’s time for the the anime aesthetic to join it as well.  This rhythm game will have you mastering four instruments — Guitar, Bass, Keyboard, and drums.  You have to use the stylus to tap or strum the screen in time with the approaching colored jewels like every other rhythm game out there.  If you play well, you’ll accumulate stars which you can then use to unlock outfits, hairstyles, and instruments.  As if that wasn’t enough, there’s even a bit of story where the stars of the game has to choose between love and their music.  At least that part is new to the genre.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor (DS)

Leave it to the Japanese to turn devil summoning into a good thing.  The signature trademark of a Shin Megami Tensei game is summoning devils.  In Devil Survivor, the players summons a demon that they’ve previously “made a contract with” to fight alongside them, kinda like Pokemon except the humans join in on the fight.  You’ll come across more demons from which to choose from or to fuse together to make new demons.  The big difference in Devil Survivor, compared to the other Shin Megami Tensei games, is that the game is played out on a board SRPG style whle the actual battles are turn-based RPG affairs.  I’m surprised that religious zealots haven’t come out to protest this kind of stuff.  Could be because being such a niche title, people other than japanophiles barely noticed the Shin Megami Tensei series existence.  Which is a shame if you ask me.

Wedding Dash (DS)

You know that movie with J-Lo The Wedding Planner?  This could’ve been the licensed game for that movie minus Matthew McConaughey.  You play as Quinn who must helps her clients plan their weddings from helping to choose the cake and flowers, making sure the wedding goes as planned, help keep the wedding reception drama free by dealing with tipsy guests and loud guests, and a bunch of other things that might ruin a perfect wedding.  Is there any aspect of life that won’t be turned into a video game these days?

Pangya: Fantasy Golf (PSP)

Did you know that there’s a Korean golf MMO?  Just to see those two words put together simply blows my mind to smithereens.  And that’s before I heard the “backstory” of golf!  A long time ago in Pangya, the game of golf was actually how a warrior was able to stop the island of Pangya from being engulfed by evil.  Eeeeyah.  This is basically just the golf game found in the Pangya MMO.  Like the MMO, you’ll be able to customize your golfer, one of eighteen to choose from, with equipment, gear, and other items to improve their swing.  Just in case you happen to have 7 other friends who own this game, you can play local multiplayer with up to 7 other players in tournaments.  If you’ll excuse me, I need to get a new brain after it exploded from reading the “origin of golf.”

I knew those polar bears do more than sleep when they hibernate!

I just checked my word count.  3000 words!  There’s more coming out this week than I anticipated.  At a glance, The Conduit peaks my interest just for being possibly the first FPS franchise for the Wii, Metroid Prime 3 doesn’t count for various reasons.  All these Overlord games are also starting to peak my interest, and then there’s Devil Survivor which looks kinda interesting.  What about you?  Anything on this list interest you?

* = Every Console Known to Man