Fable II came out yesterday, much to my delight (Yay! ^_^), and after spending somewhere in the realm of five hours playing it after I got of work last night, I’m fairly impressed right off the bat. If the first Fable was immersive, the second Fable is even more so (and at least as addictive). The world is bigger, the side-activities are more robust and plentiful, and the voiceovers… are still kind of corny.

It’s still very early in the game, of course. I have a halfway decent sword, and I managed to upgrade to a slightly better crossbow than what I started out with, but my armor sucks, and I have no money (as usual).

So… things I need to do as a hero just starting out:

1) Get some more money. That would nice.

2) Increase my health bar, since, as per #1, I can’t afford much in the way of potions.

3) Buy a gun. Crossbows suck.

4) Impress this “Abbot” that Theresa keeps insisting I have to get to trust me. I wonder what would happen if I just kill him?

5) Figure out how to get my character laid.

And somewhere in there, I should probably make time to play through the main storyline. I think this game is going to keep me busy for awhile. About time, after the disappointment that came with Infinite Undiscovery.

P.S. - Check out the217’s new forums. There’s a gaming section….

Fable II is out this week. Nothing else on this list is important, but you can read through it anyway.

For Consoles

Fable II | 360 | 360 Limited Edition
It’s here! It’s here! Yay!!! This is probably the game I’ve most been looking forward to all year long, and I don’t think I’m alone. In Fable II, you guide your character from childhood into adulthood, following your choice of the “good” path, the “evil” path, or somewhere in between in an extremely open world. Thank god I’m on vacation next week…

Guitar Hero World Tour | Band Kits: PS3 | 360 | Wii
Guitar Kit: PS3 | 360 | Wii | PS2
Stand-alone: PS3 | 360 |Wii | PS2
So I guess Guitar Hero is steadily morphing into Rockband. Featuring an all new playlist, and the addition of drums and vocals, World Tour ought to keep you busy for awhile. The Band Kit bundle comes with the game, Wireless Guitar Controller, Wireless Drum Controller, and Microphone. What makes the whole thing worth it? Being able to play La Bamba this time around.

Wii Music | Wii
And here we have a game for those who find Guitar Hero too hard. Eliminating pesky things like “winning” and the need to have any amount of “skill”, Wii Music is more a toy than a game. Still, if you like to improv your musical stylings (or you have no real sense of rhythm and just don’t want to feel inadequate at music games anymore), go for it. If nothing else, it should make a cute party game. Failing wildly is always fun.

Dance Dance Revolution Universe | 360
Or, if you’d rather dance instead, the new DDR game is coming to the 360.

Far Cry 2 | 360 | PS3
Roam the jungles and savannahs of Africa, where you are caught between two rival factions at war. This first person shooter gives you access to a 50 km square area to run around in, oodles of weapons, and the ability to use the African wildlife to your advantage (or just blow it up, I suppose…).

Bioshock | PS3
PS3 owners can finally take a trip to Rapture and meet those freaky Little Sisters face to face. I’m not a huge fan of shooters in general, but Bioshock kicks ass. Would you kindly go and pick up a copy?

The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon | PS3 | 360 | Wii | PS2
Also available on: Nintendo DS
In the final installment in the Legend of Spyro trilogy, Spyron and Cinder awaken three years in the future, and must face the Dark Master, Malefor and save the Dragon World.

Legendary | PS3 | 360
When a thief named Deckard is hired to steal an ancient artifact, he unwittingly triggers a war between man and myth. A fantasy shooter title, in Legendary you battle gryphons, werewolves, and all manner of other creatures as they invade the modern world.

Midnight Club: Los Angeles | PS3 | 360
Also available on: PSP
The fifth in the series, Midnight Club: LA boasts the biggest open world of the franchise, and gives players the opportunity to drive, race, and explore to their hearts’ content.

Spiderman: Web of Shadows | PS3 | 360 | Wii | PS2
Also available on: Nintendo DS | PSP
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, the game is set in an apocalyptic vision of New York City. Following a symbiote invasion, you can switch between the red and black Spider-Man suits, choose to ally with Marvel’s heroes or villains and decide what missions to undertake to save the city.

Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 | Wii
Based on the popular Naruto anime, Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 is a fighting game that expands upon the series with an original storyline. While I love Naruto, these games are getting a little repetitive at this point. Call me when they get to Naruto Shippuden

Eternal Sonata | 360
Released for the 360 a long while back, Eternal Sonata is now coming to the PS3. An music-themed RPG centered on the life of the composer Chopin, the story takes place in a world dreamed by Chopin in his last hours.

Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader: Make the Grade | Wii | PS2
Also available on: Nintendo DS
Test you knowledge and see if you can remember any of that useless junk you learned waaaaay back in fifth grade. Based on the TV show, the game features over 6000 questions in 23 categories.

Backyard Football | Wii | PS2
Backyard Football returns for a 7th season with more pro players, exciting new features, and better game play than ever before. Backyard Football 2009 offers 7 on 7 teams with wild arcade style power moves and comes loaded with current NFL Superstars as kids.

SpongeBob SquarePants featuring NickToons: Globs of Doom | Wii | PS2
Also available on: Nintendo DS
In the latest from Nickelodeon, SpongeBob teams up with other NickToon characters to battle the evil space villain Globulous.

Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2009 | Wii
Celebrity fitness trainer? Check. Wii Balance Board support? Check. Attempting to market the Wii as exercise equipment yet again? Check.

Carnival Games: Mini Golf | Wii
Another freaking golf game for Wii. Do we have enough yet? Seriously, do we?

Circus Games | Wii
Well, if we don’t have enough golf games, we certainly don’t have enough mini-game collections yet, either.

Monopoly | PS3 | 360 | Wii | PS2
Just like the board game, only… you know… more digital, ‘n stuff. My question here is does this game actually have an end? I don’t think I have ever managed to finish a game of Monopoly…

Build-A-Bear Workshop: A Friend Fur All Seasons | Wii
Join Bearemy and Pawlette Coufur on a whole new Build-A-Bear Workshop adventure. As you sail around in the FRIEND-SHIP, you can compete in fun mini-games, exciting activities and take side trips. There is fun for the entire family. Play together in the multiplayer mode and compete in the 20 various mini-games.

Barbie Horse Adventures: Riding Camp | Wii
Also available on: Nintendo DS
Play as Barbie in this role-playing game. Head off to Riding Camp and develop riding skills, perform a variety of horse care tasks, explore and go on adventures.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year | Wii
Also available on: Nintendo DS
I refuse to say anything about this game, just on principle.

Rock University Presents: The Naked Brothers Band The Video Game | Wii | PS2
Also available on: Nintendo DS
Band Manager Cooper has secured a nationwide tour for the Naked Brothers Band. Now is your chance to live the rock superstar life of the Naked Brothers Band and perform the band’s greatest hits! You can sing, play instruments, control the stage show and capture the perfect videos to promote the band!

Dancing with the Stars: Get Your Dance On! | Wii
Also available on: Nintendo DS
Seize your moment of glory in the battle of the ballroom with more stars, more dances, and more intense competition. Turn it on and dance as all of your favorite couples from past seasons as you dance your way to King & Queen of the Ballroom.

New on WiiWare

Tetris Party (1200 Wii Points)
A new take on Tetris with both single and multi-player variations. It even has a Balance Board mode.

The Incredible Maze (500 Wii Points)
Use the Wii Remote to navigate a maze, avaoid traps, and make it out alive.

For Handhelds

Star Ocean: First Departure | PSP
Finally, the PSP gets a decent new (well, new-ish… it’s actually a remake) game. For the first time, the original installment of the Star Ocean series is available here in the U.S. First Departure chronicles mankind’s journey into space as the crew of a Terran Federation ship arrives on the planet Roak and must work together to unravel a mystery and halt a galactic war.

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia | Nintendo DS
The Castlevania series is back on the Nintendo DS. This time you play as a member of the Ecclesia, an organization that has sworn to defeat the evil forces of Dracula. Featuring a new Glyph attack system and 20 explorable areas, you must hunt down the evil count and end his reign of terror.

Tornado | Nintendo DS
Join forces with Toki and the other members of the Cosmic Cleaners in Tornado. Help them restore all of Earth’s buildings, vehicles, inhabitants and other obscure objects that have been stolen by the envious Prince using his mischievous “Black Hole Device.”

Mechanic Master | Nintendo DS
In this puzzle game, you must rid the Earth of alien invaders by creating contraptions and keeping mechanical devices in motion.

Master of the Monster Lair | Nintendo DS
An RPG geared toward younger players, the quiet town of South Arc is about to have some monster trouble. As a young lad off in search of your calling, you stumble across a talking shovel. The verbose tool forcibly binds you to the task of digging a dungeon on the outskirts of South Arc, hoping to bait and trap the scrounging monsters.

Candy Factory | Nintendo DS
In this puzzle-action game, players take the role of a factory-manager working for Candace or Colin Kane, two hard working and friendly candy makers. Join Candi and Colin on their quest to fix up the factory in order to make their way to the Candy Cup Championships.

Ener-G Gym Rockets | Nintendo DS
Yet another sim game for DS. This time around, you get to pretend to be a gymnast working her way to the Olympics. I’m not quite sure where the rockets come into the whole thing…

Ener-G Horse Rider | Nintendo DS
You play Sue, a horse rider who has just arrived at her uncle¿s horse farm. Nurture, train, and compete with your horses. Pay special attention to your horse - the stronger your relationship is and the better it is trained, the more chance you have to win races. Live a great adventure where you’ll discover & save wild horses.

Ener-G Dance Squad | Nintendo DS
Play as a passionate girl who is ready to work as hard as it takes to become a world champion of modern dance. With the help of an eccentric coach and his charming son, learn new skills and reveal your full potential as a dancer.

If you’re sitting around bored today, why not head on over to AddictingGames.com and try out a nifty Flash game called Fantastic Contraption? The goal of this puzzle game is it move the pink ball to the pink gold by building your own motorized contraption. It’s addictive.

Yay! More Bioshock!

Apparently, one of the unlockables in Bioshock for PS3 (which comes out next week) is a short teaser trailer for Bioshock 2: Sea of Dreams. The minute and a half video shows what looks to be a Little Sister standing at the shore on the Atlantic Coast, gazing out at the sea and holding a Big Daddy doll as stone obelisks rise out of the ground behind her.

The developer hasn’t commented on the early leak of the trailer, but rumor has it 2K Marin is aiming for a late 2009 release date for the game.

Now… Would you kindly watch the video?

Tons of games this week, but only a handful that actually look worth renting and/or buying. Wii owners, by the way, might be interested in picking up Secret of Mana on the virtual console this week.

For Consoles

Avatar: The Last Airbender - Into the Inferno | Wii | PS2
Based on the final season of the TV series, Aang must finally defeat the Fire Nation and bring order to the world.

Tak: Guardians of Gross | Wii | PS2
A new addition to the Tak series… which is actually a pretty decent platformer series that got its start on the PS2 (and the cartoon isn’t half bad either, for that matter). This time around Tak accidentally frees the four “Grosstrosities” trapped in a shrine and must seek out the help of four Jujus to defeat them.

Saints Row 2 | PS3 | PS3 Collector’s Edition | 360 | 360 Collector’s Edition
From Champaign’s own Volition, Saint’s Row 2’s sandbox gets bigger this time around with more customization options, a larger city, more vehicles, and new gangs. The open-world competitive multiplayer mode is a nice touch, too. Pick up the collector’s edition and get the game, a collectable tin, a money clip, a bullet-shaped thumb drive (with nifty wallpapers), an art book, and a double-sided poster.

Dead Space | PS3 | 360
What would October be without a new survival horror title? In Dead Space, you play as systems engineer Isaac Clarke, who is sent to the aid of a mining space craft after it’s communications suddenly go dead… only to find that the crew has accidentally unearthed something that should never have been set free.

Dokapon Kingdom | Wii | PS2
A board game/RPG crossover, in Dokapon Kingdom, the King of Dokapon has offered you his throne in return for disposing of an invading horde of thieving monsters. Trouble is - you’re not the only one he asked. Contend with up to three friends as you navigate playfields littered with challenges, monsters to defeat, and rare secrets to unlock.

SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs | PS3 | PS3 w/ headset
War games… who doesn’t love them? In the latest SOCOM game, you have the choice of playing as various international Special Forces. Focusing on online play and the global community SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs comes with five new North African themed maps, including a 32-player version of “Crossroads.” Additional content will be made available for download.

Rock Band 2 | PS3
For those of you without a 360, the PS3 version of Rock Band 2 releases this week, featuring local and global online modes, battle of the bands, and all that other sweet, sweet rhythm game goodness we’ve come to know and love. If you’re still waiting on the Wii version… well, keep waiting.

Rock Revolution | PS3 | 360
Also available on: Nintendo DS
… or you could pick this thing up for PS3, 360, or DS. It’s basically a Rock Band clone.

FIFA Soccer 09 | PS3 | 360 | PS2
Also available on: Nintendo DS | PSP
More sports. From Amazon: Play professional soccer your way in EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 09. It features new Custom Team Tactics that gives you all the tools to become a first-team coach. Go inside the game engine to customize the positioning and support play of your teammates and decide exactly how your team will play in any situation. Now you are the player, coach and manager. The matchday experience is now true-to-life with a referee and assistants. Plus, crowds, stadium atmosphere, and commentary have all been regionalized in exacting detail with 15 new stadiums added.

Disney Sing It | PS3 w/ mic | 360 w/ mic | Wii | Wii w/ mic | PS2 | PS2 w/ mic
Featuring 35 songs from such… um… hit shows… as Camp Rock, Hannah Montant, and High School Musical, Disney Sing It is your typical karaoke title complete with multiplayer Duet, Versus, and Team Play modes.

Boogie Superstar | Wii
Well, if Disney makes you cringe, you could always got with Boogie Superstar. Featuring 40 tracks, and the opportunity to “learn the coolest dance moves”, at least it doesn’t have any Hannah Montana.

Littlest Pet Shop | Wii
More freaking mini-games from… shocker… EA. There are so many of these titles out for Wii and DS, I’m beginning to think that EA developers believe “casual gaming” means nothing more than playing dress-up.

Golden Axe: Beast Rider | PS3 | 360
As the famous half-Gladiator/half-Barbarian heroine Tyris Flare, players will engage in combat on foot and atop massive mythical beasts. Rend your enemies with blades and magic as you seek vengeance for your tribe.

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 | PS3
With eight fighting styles to choose from and legends of the ring to defeat, Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 offers wrestling action in several modes of play, including 24/7 Mode which combines the season and general manager modes.

Blitz: The League II | PS3 | 360
From Amazon: Blitz: The League II continues the franchise as the ultimate alternative to other football games. In addition to an all-new story mode penned by Peter Egan, Blitz II features include: Precision-Aim Tackles, player-controlled touchdown celebrations, an enhanced on-the-field Clash Mode, online multiplayer capabilities, expanded rosters with all-new personalities, and the return of a cornerstone of the Blitz franchise … Late Hits!

Jeep Thrills | Wii
Previously released on the PS2, now you can enjoy yet another mediocre driving game… this time on the WIi.

BAJA 1000: Off Road Racing | PS3 | 360 | Wii | PS2
If you haven’t yet gotten you fill of racing titles this week, here’s another one.

Mx Vs ATV Untamed | PS2
And because two clearly aren’t enough, here’s another off-road driving title. In MX vs. ATV Unleashed you can choose from a multitude of rides including ATV’s, monster trucks, and sand rails. Tear through miles of open terrain in the ultimate quest to conquer the off-road.

Nitrobike | PS2
Ok, now this is just getting ridiculous…

The Dog Island | PS2
A pet-themed RPG previously released on Wii and DS, The Dog Island now comes to the PS2. Play as the dog of your choice and explore the island as you search for a legendary flower to save you ailing brother.

Bratz: Gilz Really Rock! | Wii | PS2
Also available on: Nintendo DS
Based on the straight-to-DVD movie, The Bratz are out of Stylesville and attending Camp Starshine, a summer camp for the most talented performing arts students. They meet Anna, a lonely ballerina obsessed with dance, who the girls befriend and help to be a better-rounded individual.

New on WiiWare

World of Goo (1500 Wii Points)
A physics-based puzzle/construction game, you must grab squirming, talking globs of goo to build structures. The millions of Goo Balls that live in the beautiful World of Goo are curious to explore, but they don’t know that they are in a game, or that they are extremely delicious…

Art Style: CUBELLO (600 Wii Points)
A puzzle/shooter, in CUBELLO, as each stage begins, colored cubes form into one large object called a Cubello. Launch additional cubes at it and try to connect four or more of the same color, removing them from the Cubello and eventually leaving only its core.

Secret of Mana (800 Wii Points)
Not a WiiWare title, obviously, but Secret of Mana for the SNES rocks, and they’ve just released it on the Virtual Console.

For Handhelds

Cesar Millan’s Dog Whisperer | Nintendo DS
Ubisoft, you are so on my shit list…

Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2 | Nintendo DS
In this RPG based on the anime series, Naruto must embark on a dramatic new mission with his squad as they discover a mysterious valley and an ancient sealed evil about to put all their lives in danger.

Tak: Mojo Mistake | Nintendo DS
Another new Tak game, in this one Tak finds himself exhausted from trying to help everyone in his village and decides to use his Juju magic to create little helpers called Hackies. But when these they become unruly and then multiply into hundreds, they invade both the Pupununu village and the Juju realm causing havoc and devastation.

My Japanese Coach | Nintendo DS
Learn Japanese in an interactive and fun way. This title teaches vocabulary and pronunciation, as well as hiragana, katakana, and kanji characters though a series of entertaining mini-games.

Littlest Pet Shop: Winter | Nintendo DS
Get ready, because there’s a whole slew of these games this week. The first is Littlest Pet Shop: Winter, wherein you collect and dress your pets, play winter-themed mini-games, and throw parties. Hurray?

Littlest Pet Shop: Jungle | Nintendo DS
If winter’s not your season, maybe you’d prefer to take you tiny pets to the jungle. Sadly, I don’t think you’re allowed to feed them to the hungry anacondas that live there.

Littlest Pet Shop: Garden | Nintendo DS
Of course, if the jungle is just too dangerous for your pets, you can always just let them run around the garden. These are all pretty much the exact same game… just with different themes.

Smart Girl’s Party Game | Nintendo DS
An assortment of party-themed mini-games targeted squarely at young girls and designed to exercise their creativity.

Smart Kid’s Party Fun Pak | Nintendo DS
Pretty much the same as the other Smart Kid’s title releasing this week, but less girly.

Battle of Giants: Dinosaurs | Nintendo DS
Choose your dinosaur from among 25 different species, explore, and battle other dinosaurs for eggs and fossils (fossils of what, I’m not sure, nor do I know why a dinosaur would want one). Conquer the world, then wait for the big, giant space rock to obliterate your species!

So Kotaku posted an interview with Peter Molyneux (you know… the guy responsible for Fable II, releasing Oct. 21…), and in it he chats about the dog your Fable II character gets to have follow him or her around.

There’s nothing like a game that intentionally plays on your emotions. According to Molyneux, there’s really only one way to get rid of your dog if you don’t want it following you around all the time… and that’s to not heal it when it’s injured. Apparently they opted for this over simply allowing players to toggle the dog on or off.

An injured or sick dog will not just abandon you. It will crawl after you, and eventually it will catch up to you… sort of an in-game guilt trip. I like it. It’s a liberating idea that’s slightly disturbing at the same time. Not enough games have significant emotional consequences to your in-game actions… although it would be nice if there’s a less sadistic option at some point for going it alone.

I became fond of the first Fable, very quickly. It’s a fun environment to experiment in. I’ve gone from good to evil and back so many times, I’ve lost track. There aren’t many games out there that give you the choice between beating your wife to death or bring her a rose.. or between buying the local weapons shop or massacring the entire town. If Fable II manages to improve upon it, I’m going to be putting in a lot og hours on this one.

Lionhead Studios and SumthingDigital.com are offering a free sampling of music from Fable and Fable II. The download includes six full tracks… three from the original Fable, and three all new tracks from Fable II… composed by Danny Elfman and Russell Shaw.

The tracklist is as follows:

1) Fable Theme (Fable II)
2) Oakvale (Fable)
3) Witchwood (Fable)
4) Wraith Marsh (Fable II)
5) Summer Fields (Fable)
6) Westcliff (Fable II)

Head on over to SumthingDigital.com and click on the Fable album cover on the right hand side. If the cover doesn’t show up, try entering “FableCollection” as a promotional code.

Enjoy!

Games, games, games, and most of them are new. Here’s your new releases for this week. Things are a little on the slow side, unless you’re a basketball fan.

For Consoles

Microsoft Children’s Miracle Network Games Bundle | 360
Not only do you get three games for the low, low, price of $29.99, but 100% of Microsoft’s net proceeds will go to support local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Games include Viva Piñata: Party Animals, Shrek The Third, and Sonic the Hedgehog.

Fracture | PS3 | 360
In the mid 2100s, the melting of the polar ice caps (I see no agenda here…) has caused the Mississippi River to flood, destroying the Midwest and literally dividing the country in two. In the ensuing civil war, you play as a demolitions expert who must use your training (and your explosives) to fight in a battle between a divided America.

Crash: Mind Over Mutant | 360 | Wii | PS2
Also available on: PSP | Nintendo DS
Crash Bandicoot returns for his… well, I’ve lost track how many Crash games their are at this point. In the new one, Cortex has teamed up with N. Brio and created a devious device to control the minds of all of the bandicoots and mutants on Wumpa Island, and it’s up to Crash to put a stop to their shenanigans (yes, I used the word “shenanigans”).

Guilty Gear 2: Overture | 360
An action-adventure title taking place 5 years after the first Guilty Gear, in the far future, humanity succeeded in developing an endless energy source. But tension among the major powers led to the creation of Gears… biological weapons that were based on that power, which went berserk and declared war on all of humanity.

NBA 2K9 | PS3 | 360 | PS2
Eww… sports. From Amazon: The NBA franchise is back for its 10th season. NBA 2K9 is for gamers and basketball fans everywhere who want to play a fun, stylistic, and feature-rich NBA simulation. With wholesale improvement across the board – from gameplay to graphics, presentation and online features - NBA 2K9 is the complete package.

NBA Live 09 | PS3 | 360 | Wii | PS2
Also available on: PSP
Eww… EA Sports. From Amazon: NBA LIVE 09 is back. It rewrites the book on authenticity and connectivity - but is still accessible enough for new users. Dynamic DNA emulates - with absolute precision - an NBA player in every sense of the word. NBA LIVE 365 takes the statistical data of Dynamic DNA and brings it to life. Just like the real NBA game, players get injured, free agents sign late, great players go cold and no-names break through.

NBA ‘09: The Inside | PS3 | PS2
Also available on: PSP
Dear god, there’s more?? From Amazon: NBA 09 delivers an experience catering to hardcore basketball fans and casual gamers alike. It includes The Life, a unique inside experience of life in the league. It lets you control the paths of 3 different characters while guiding them through challenges and storylines in the quest to go from development league to the NBA. There’s also a full-featured Franchise Mode, letting you experience every facet of running your own NBA team. Earn skill and experience rewards used to thoroughly customize player appearance and play styles. Customize up to 5 different players to take through the progression update.

Game Party 2 | Wii
Yet another collection of mini-games for the Wii, that use the Wii-Remote in creative, real-life-actiony ways. This one’s got 11 games in all, including Bean Bag Toss, Horseshoes, Lawn Darts, Shuffleboard (is it me, or do all these games seem to use the same basic motion?) plus a few more that sound even less interesting.

North American Hunting Extravaganza | Wii
Hunt some more animals on Wii. This hunting title features 20 North American species, 3 regions to hunt in, and a vast arsenal to choose from. And the Bullet Cam. Can’t forget about the Bullet Cam.

Penny Racers Party: Turbo-Q Speedway | Wii
A racing title for Wii in which you can choose from more than 50 customizable vehicles, and race against up to 3 of your friends. It also features multiplayer mini-games, for when you need a break from driving.

New on WiiWare

Midnight Bowling (800 Wii Points)
With a new physics engine that lets you control your throws precisely and make spectacular spins that will impress your opponents, Midnight Bowling lets you face up to three friends in party mode, where your playing abilities will be put to the test. Or launch yourself into career mode, where you will play in the trendiest bowling spots on the planet against charismatic characters that will give you a run for your money.

MadStone (800 Wii Points)
In this dynamic puzzle game, you must clear the path for your elemental MadStones to reach the bottom of the screen. Blocks can be broken by striking them directly or by the force of falling objects. Experience the single-player journey, or challenge a friend in two-player mode.

For Handhelds

The Legend of Kage 2 | Nintendo DS
With the start of the shogun clan Tokugawa’s reign, the long years of bloodshed and strife have come to an end. But holding a grudge towards Tokugawa, Yoshiro Yukikusa kidnaps the priestess Kirihime in order to combine his own demonic powers with the hers and overthrow the shogun’s reign. The story is told through two protagonists, Kage and Chihiro, each on a mission to rescue the priestess.

Prey the Stars | Nintedno DS
The main objective of Prey the Stars is to eat everything in sight and to attack your opponents. Simple, to the point, and classic. You can even play online over Wi-Fi with up to four players.

Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals | Nintendo DS
A sequel to the first Spectrobes anime-inspired action-RPG, Beyond the Portals continues the story of two interplanetary patrol officers who train and use Spectrobes to battle enemies. Battles can be taken online over Nintendo Wi-Fi, and the game can connect to Disney’s DGamer community.

Bleach: Dark Souls | Nintendo DS
Based on the anime series,the latest Bleach game features a newly enhanced battle system, new online multiplayer options, and enhanced battle strategies. Players can fight via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection as one of 44 characters, and can choose to fight on the side of good or evil.

Imagine Fashion Designer: New York | Nintendo DS
Much like the previous Imagine Fashion Designer game, you must design your line and become the trendiest, hippest fashion designer in town. This time in New York.

Imagine Babysitters | Nintendo DS
Someone at Ubisoft needs to be smacked. These “Imagine” games are getting ridiculous. Care for up to eight babies, develop a loving relationship with them as you nurture and feed them and diaper their cute little digital butts. I didn’t even like babysitting when I was a teenager… I won’t be shelling out $30 to pretend to do it now.

Lovely Lisa | Nintendo DS
I’m really getting tired of these “girl games”. Do people actually play them, or do parents just buy them because the covers look cute? This one is yet another fashion/dress up sim.

My Spanish Coach | PSP
Learn Spanish on your PSP with My Spanish Coach. This training title features 8 mini-games to help you learn, and the ability to track your progress.

This will probably be the one and only time I have anything even remotely positive to say about a sports game… or, for that matter, EA… so pay attention.

EA announced yesterday that they will be releasing a Madden 09 Pink edition, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which will be available exclusively at Target starting on October 5th, and will be sold for the duration of the month. The limited pink edition doesn’t have any new features (other than some spiffy pink cover art), but proceeds from the sales will contribute to a donation to the Deanna Favre HOPE Foundation.

Deanna Favre, wife of Madden NFL 09 cover athlete Brett Favre, founded the Deanna Favre HOPE Foundation after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 at the age of 35. The foundation is committed to helping underserved and underinsured women battling breast cancer.

The limited Pink edition of Madden 09 is available for the 360 and for the Wii at both Target.com and NFLshop.com.

Today’s press conference in San Francisco was a plethora of all things Nintendo. Some good news, some awesome news… some ehh news. Here’s a rundown of what they had to say:

1. The DS is breeding again. Nintendo’s mad geneticists got together and and spliced their handheld’s DNA once again. So now, in addition to the Nintendo DS, the Nintendo DS Lite, and their cousin no one talks about, the GBA, we’re going to have the Nintendo DSi.

So what’s new? Well, for one thing, Nintendo is following Sony’s lead and killing backwards compatibility… no more GBA slot on the DSi. Which is also bad news for fans of Guitar Hero: On Tour, since it’s peripheral uses that slot, as well as those who like the rumble cartirdge. But on the plus side (I guess…) you’re getting a camera! A 0.3 megapixel camera. … Yay? Well, actually, two cameras. One on the inside (presumably to be something like a DS EyeToy) and one outside (for… making people wonder why you’re taking their photo with a DS, I suppose).

Nintendo is also adding an SD Card slot for saving all those pics you’ll be taking with you DSi, larger screens, audio enhancements (meaning audio playback from the SD card, as well as recording capabilities), and a built-in web browser. It will be possible to download games (DSiWare) and keep them on the DSi via the DSi Shop, and will be available in two colors: black and white.

If you’re hoping for one for Christmas, though… keep hoping. The DSi won’t be North America-bound until late 2009. Japan, of course, gets it the first of next month.

2. Starting in Spring 2009 (again, that’s in Japan), the Wii will be able to download software directly to your SD Card. It’s still a far cry from the external hard drive many of us Wii fans want, but at least they’re finally doing something about the storage issues.

3. The U.S. is finally getting Club Nintendo! Finally, an announcement I can get excited about. Nintendo’s customer loyalty program is on it’s way, scheduled to debut at some point this holiday season, and soon we’ll be collecting points and spending them on items from the Stars Catalog. Geeky, yes, but I love crap like this. ^_^ About freaking time!

4. Wii Speak will be out in the U.S. next month. November 16th, to be exact. Retailing for $29.99, it will (until the games other than Animal Crossing that support it are released as well, anyway) allow up to four people who’ve exchanged Friend Codes to chat and leave voice messages, and will come with a code for a free download of the Wii Speak Channel.

5. New games! Coming soon to a Wii near you are such titles as Dynasty Warriors, Another Code (DS users may be familiar with this one), Sin & Punishment 2, and… Punch-Out. Yep, Punch-Out. The DS will be getting Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, and Mario & Luigi RPG.

In addition to new Wii titles, Nintendo is also introducing the “Play For Wii” selections… which are basically just repackaged rereleases of popular GameCube titles. The first to be released will be Pikmin.

Info for this post amalgamated from Kotaku, Joystiq, and Destructoid