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!
Nikki Blight: is still trying to find that damn princess... when she's not writing fresh code for the217.com.
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Nikki Blight
is still trying to find that damn princess... when she's not writing fresh code for the217.com.