Light week. Nothing very good at all really. One game might be pretty cool but that's about it really.
Playstation 3
Xbox 360
Nintendo Wii
•Hail to the Chimp •Guitar Hero: Aerosmith •Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution
•Hail to the Chimp •Gears of War Refresh •Guitar Hero: Aerosmith •Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution
•Guitar Hero: Aerosmith •Purr Pals (if you buy this, you are part of the problem, not the solution)
PSP
Nintendo DS
Playstation 2
...
•1 VS. 100 •AMF Bowling Pinbusters •Ducati Moto •Smart Kids Game Club •Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2
•Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
It's the 4th of July. Go buy some fireworks instead of games. But Civilization Revolution looks cool if you're into that kind of thing. Not sure if it is? Download the demo from the Playstation Store or Xbox Live. I did it, and I must say it was pretty nifty. Didn't get a chance to play much of it, but it I liked what I played. Oh and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith comes out this week for all two people that care. Enjoy your game with effing Aerosmith (uggghhh). For the rest of us, Rock Band 2 has been announced.
*Note: the views of Tony are those of himself and do not represent the views of anyone else. If you have a problem with it, please direct complaints to the OH NOOOO Otter.*
What the hell happened this week? Is it last fall again? Goddamn...
Playstation 3
Xbox 360
Nintendo Wii
•Battlefield: Bad Company •Hail to the Chimp •Hellboy: Science of Evil •Overlord Raising Hell •Top Spin 3 •Wall-E
•Alone in the Dark •Battlefield: Bad Company •Hail to the Chimp •Hellboy: Science of Evil •Operation Darkness •Supreme Commander •Top Spin 3 •Wall-E
•Big Beach Sports •Rock Band (This is actually out already. I think I missed it on last week's list.) •Top Spin 3 •Wall-E
PSP
Nintendo DS
Playstation 2
•Hellboy: Science of Evil •Naruto Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress •Wall-E
•American Girl: Kit Mystery Challenge •Cake Mania 2 •Code Lyoko: Fall of XANA •Final Fantasy Tactics A2 •Gourmet Chef •Guitar Hero: On Tour •Mega Man Star Force 2 Zerker X Ninja •Mega Man Star Force 2 Zerker X Saurian •Midnight Play Pack •My Weight Loss Coach •Smart Kids Game Club •Top Spin 3 •Wall-E
•Wall-E
There's far too many games coming out this week, but what's worth checking out? Alone in the Dark and Overlord Raising Hell look pretty neat. Final Fantasy Tactics A2, Top Spin 3, and Supreme Commander have been getting great reviews, but I would recommend Battlefield: Bad Company above all the other games this week. If you haven't seen anything about the game it's basically a wartime FPS, but unlike most other games of this type (Call of Duty 4 for example) it is actually pretty lighthearted in tone and contains a good amount of humor. The gameplay is like many other FPS games, so it's nothing completely new, but it's still very fun. If you're interested, give the demo a chance on either the Playstation Network or Xbox Live.
Pretty light week for consoles, but a great week for handhelds.
Playstation 3
Xbox 360
Nintendo Wii
... Go buy MGS4 you tool.
•Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm
•Wacky Races: Crash and Dash
PSP
Nintendo DS
Playstation 2
•Secret Agent Clank •Space Invaders Extreme
•Arkanoid •Code Lyoko: Fall of XANA •Imagine: Rock Star •Petz Dogz Fashion •Space Invaders Extreme •Tamagotchi Connection Corner 3 •Wacky Races: Crash and Dash
...
Secret Agent Clank seems good enough based on the demo, but sort of lacking the heart and soul of the Insomniac developed games. However, there is one game that each and every one of you must buy and that is Space Invaders Extreme. I don't care if you hate buying games for full price, this is one that you need to buy. I've played the Japanese demo for the PSP, and it is a STUNNING update of the classic. The game is just like the original but now there's boss stages, bonus stages, colored enemy matching, and a new remixed techno soundtrack. Just go buy it dammit! It's only $20 on your platform of choice.
Quick update: The US edition of Space Invaders Extreme does not have support for the DS rotor controller. If you want to play this game with the rotor controller, import it.
You know, I happen to live in Cincinnati. It’s sort of an advertising / marketing Mecca. That’s bound to happen when Procter and Gamble happens to be based in your city. You know, Ivory Soap, Tide, Pringles, Gillette, Old Spice, Febreeze, etc… that company. Not to mention all of their recent divestures, we are home to the company who spends lots of money on their brands. In fact, they spend the most money of any company. So, certainly, we in Cincinnati have a company who knows how to do things right. God bless P&G. They make Cincinnati proud.
Some companies try very hard to be good at advertising. They try very hard to project an image. They’re so good that they do so at the expense of royally ticking off their old fan base. Nintendo seems to be that brand. It’s sad though, as they try to be just like Apple, but that’s hard when you have people like Laurent Fischer.
Oh and Blast Works for the Wii looks great as well.
There's also Nascar 09 (PS3, 360, PS2), Dragon Ball Z Burst Limit (PS3, 360), Don King Presents Prizefighter (360), Backyard Baseball '09 (Wii), Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles (DS), and more crappy DS shovelware, but who cares? There's only one game that TRULY matters this week.
Yo, sup homies? After outgrowing our previous server and temporarily moving operations to WordPress, we are finally back in action on our home base right here at RFGeneration.com. In celebration of our triumphant return, the game companies have dumped a massive load of (hopefully) great games for you to look at this week.
Playstation 3
Xbox 360
Nintendo Wii
•The Bourne Conspiracy •GRiD •The Incredible Hulk •Kung Fu Panda •Lego Indiana Jones
•The Bourne Conspiracy •GRiD •The Incredible Hulk •Kung Fu Panda •Lego Indiana Jones •Ninja Gaiden 2
•Cabela's Trophy Bucks •The Incredible Hulk •Kung Fu Panda •Lego Indiana Jones
PSP
Nintendo DS
Playstation 2
•Lego Indiana Jones •Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2
•The Incredible Hulk •Kung Fu Panda •Lego Indiana Jones •Paws and Claws Pet: Healing Hands •Summon Night: Twin Age
•The Incredible Hulk •Kung Fu Panda •Lego Indiana Jones
In a week with so many games, it's tough to give out a pick of the week. However, I've got to go with GRiD. The game is made by Codemasters, the same team behind last year's awesome rally racer DiRT, and attempts to bring the style of racing game presented in that game onto the streets. GRiD stands apart from most other racers in that it is neither a simulation like Forza or Gran Turismo nor an arcade style game like Burnout or Project Gotham, but somewhere in the between. It definitely has some great physics, but it isn't too overbearing for casual racing fans. Better yet, it carries over the amazing menu design philosophy as seen in DiRT, which is arguably the greatest interface ever seen in a video game. The game is available now on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC. If you're interested in the game, be sure to download the demo for it on your platform of choice...it's definitely worth your time.
Check back next week where there will undoubtedly be a ton of games for me to cover.
So, believe it or not, but I am actually a gamer. I know, wow! The cynical gamer is a gamer! It may frighten you to know then that I do not own a 360 or PS3. Rather, I own that technologically inferior Wii. I used to think that was a bad deal, but then I realized that when I do play the system I am absolutely enthralled. Who’d a thunk it? Thanks, Okami! (and NMH, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Paper Mario, Metroid Corruption, and Twilight Princess). Truly, in the mounds of shovel ware, there are some winners.
WiiWare – how I am excited for this downloadable medium. Games like Eternity’s Child and World of Goo, in addition to Strongbad’s Game for Cool and Attractive People, certainly have my interest. On launch day (well, the day after actually), I decided to by Lost Winds. It was a gamble for me, for it was developed by Frontier. Ugh. They developed RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, and that game crushed by top of the line laptop. (at least it was 4 years ago) So, I had low, and at the same time high expectations for the game. Turns out that the game is pretty darn good, but then, I noticed something, and it made me rather unhappy.
On the download screen, Lost Winds takes up about 250 blocks on the Wii. It was then I saw how much space I had left on my internal memory, about 500 blocks. Ouch. I guess I can download one or two more games before Nintendo, in their infinite wisdom, decides that I should start deleting things in order to obtain newer releases. I only have a few Virtual Console games on my Wii, and Lost Winds, so, this development has my head scratching.
What the hell, Nintendo? Do you really want to stifle people from spending money on your wares? Do you really wish to not utilize the SD card slot or USB for additional storage? Do you really think 512MB of internal memory is enough? If you did, then you certainly must have a clearer idea of what people like me want. I guess that I don’t actually know what I want. But, thankfully, you do, and you’re limiting me to 512MB of downloads. Bravo, Nintendo! Bravo!
So, Nintendo, is your head so far up your ass that you can’t see that people are willing to spend money to populate more than 512MB worth of space? Do you really think that everyone is going to only by NES games to populate the Wii Channel list that is horizontally expansive? Do you think people are going to want to constantly delete and re-add games whenever they want to play something? I sure hope not.
512MB is a miniscule chunk of space to bestow on a console with downloadable content. Perhaps it’s time for a larger storage solution for the Wii. Certainly, we gamers hope that Nintendo is doing what is necessary to afford us more space. Until that time, we gamers will continue to be frustrated by the prospect that we’ll have to delete something to add something new. On a console that tries to reach out to the elusive “casual gamer”, ease of operation should be paramount. It’s clear though that the ease of dealing with downloadable content is not. It’s time for that to change.
Nintendo seems to be creating a niche market for ultra violent games, or at least games more violent than would have been seen on the GameCube. No More Heroes was amazing, and if you haven't played it you should check it out. Blueberry Cheese Brownie, anyone? What about Manhunt 2? Sure, it's (apparent) crap, but it's still super violent. Other violent games? Well, I can't think of any, except for one more that was just announced.
Turns out Platinum Games has a Wii title coming out called Mad World. Platinum Games, does that ring a bell to anyone? No? How about Clover Studios? In the mighty progression of development houses, it goes Clover -> Seeds -> Platinum Games. So, Platinum Games essentially created amazing games like Okami and Viewtiful Joe. I hope that you've played those games, especially Okami. Okami is everything that Zelda should have been. Too bad the Wii version of Okami doesn't make any references to the original developers, since one should always give credit where it is due, and well, Clover Studios created a masterpiece.
So, yes, I digress. There is a new game coming out from Platinum Games fort the Wii. It's called Mad World. Styled much like Sin City. It looks beautiful, and very violent. I urge you to do yourself a favor and check the game, after the jump. Be Warned, it's very violent.
Not a great release week overall, but again the Wii gets a great game. Wii comeback anyone?
Playstation 3
Xbox 360
Nintendo Wii
•Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
•Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
•Castle of Shikigami III •Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian •Deca Sports •We Ski
PSP
Nintendo DS
Playstation 2
...
•ATV Thunder/Monster Trucks •Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian •Drone Tactics •Myst
•Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
In a week with basically no interesting titles, there are two that really stand out from the pack. One of the being Myst for the Nintendo DS. Sure, Myst originally came out over 14 years ago for the Mac and since has been ported to damn near every operating system and disc based console ever, but this is the first portable edition of Myst (outside of lugging around a laptop). Now, I'm a huge Myst fan, but I wouldn't buy this port unless you have absolutely no other way of playing the game. The reviews have not been very good thus far. However, there are some pretty awesome additions made to this DS version. There's a new notebook you can scribble notes in (extremely handy because you NEEDED a real notebook to play the original one), a camera to take photo (only one at a time) with, some new video clips, and you'll get to explore the Rime Age from the 3D remake of Myst, realMyst. However, if you really want Myst, just go buy the Myst 10th Anniversary Collection from Ubisoft for the PC. This 3 DVD set is cheaper and includes not only Myst, but Riven and Myst III: Exile as well. The set also features some bonus content as well such as interviews with Cyan Worlds and some documentaries that you won't find on the DS version. Don't worry about the system requirements because if you're on this site, chances are you can run the games in that collection (just so long as you have a DVD-ROM drive in your computer). Or maybe wait for the PSP version which could end up being better because of the increased space.
Or just go buy the game of the week, Castle of Shikigami 3 for the Nintendo Wii. For those of you not in the loop, Castle Shikigami is a series of vertically scrolling shmups that are known for their fairly brutal difficulty...and convoluted release scheme in America. The first game came out on the Playstation 2 as Mobile Light Force 2, which is a "sequel" to Mobile Light Force on the PS1 (which is actually an American release of a game by Psikyo called Gunbird). Castle Shikigami 2 was released in America for the PS2 under its proper name, but given one of the most horrible dubs ever heard in a video game. Now, Castle of Shikigami 3 is coming out in America for the Nintendo Wii. It's basically your standard shmup but with a cool grazing system that rewards you for flying in close proximity to the bullets. There's not really much else to say. It's a freaking awesome game! Go get it! Watch some footage of the game here!
Don't forget that Nintendo is launching it's WiiWare service this week as well. RF Generation will have an article detailing the launch (and maybe a review of one of the games) sometime this week. So, keep it here on Channel 4 for all your gaming needs!
GTA IV and Mario Kart Wii came out last week. Knowing that fact, do you expect a great release week? If you said no, then you're correct...unless you're a Wii owner, then you have a FANTASTIC week. In addition, it appears that many games are on this week's release date that were delayed from weeks past. If you tried to buy a game I listed in the past but had no lucking finding it, you might want to check out the release list for this week and see if your game is on it.
Playstation 3
Xbox 360
Nintendo Wii
•Call of Duty 4: Game of the Year Edition (We'll see if it actually comes out this time...)
...
•Blast Works: Build, Fuse, Destroy (I'm getting conflicting release dates on this one, but I'll include it anyways. I'll talk more about the game next week, because it's really important for the Wii.) •Boom Blox •The DOG Island •Speed Racer
•Brain Voyage •Crosswords DS (This one is actually published by Nintendo!) •Speed Racer
...
My game of the week goes to Boom Blox on the Nintendo Wii. Developed by EA and Steven Spielberg, Boom Blox offers a unique twist on the puzzle genre, along with some of the most creative use of the Wii remote ever seen in a game. The basis of Boom Blox is extremely simple, knock a structure of blocks down. You can knock down these stacks of blocks in many different ways, including throwing balls, blowing wind, and shoooting them. In addition, there are some blocks with special properties, such as exploding when hit with something. Perhaps the most exciting feature of the game is in the built-in level editor, which will allow you to build your own block structures for both single and multiplayer modes. Once you build a level, you can send it to friends over the internet and have them play it. However the game features no online multiplayer, only split screen. If this sounds lame, then I urge you to
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/TpMkCF3AdMY&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/TpMkCF3AdMY&rel=1</a>. It explains the concept far better than I ever could. While I do highly recommend checking out this game, I don't know if it's worth the $50 asking price. But if no one buys the game right away, then it could cause EA and other developers to think that no one wants this type of game that makes very creative use of the Wii, causing more shitty shovelware. I'm going to wait until EA lowers the price to around $30 or so, which shouldn't be too long knowing how EA operates, and buy it NEW (not used because they won't know about that sale, and it would be the same as not buying it in the first place).
Other than the two obvious picks of the week (which you should know about, so I won't explain them in any detail), SNK Arcade Classics V.1 looks pretty damn awesome as well. The game is a compilation of 16 Neo Geo classics which include Art of Fighting, Baseball Stars 2, Burning Fight, Fatal Fury, King of Fighters 94, King of the Monsters, Last Resort, Magician Lord, Metal Slug, Neo Turf Masters, Samurai Shodown, Sengoku, Shock Troopers, Super Sidekicks 3, Top Hunter, and World Heroes. The price is definitely great on it too, only $20 for your choice of the PS2 or the PSP version. I'd pick that up if you don't want the big releases this week or want to buy something a little more "retro".
The year was 1987 and the video gaming world was ruled by the Nintendo Famicom, followed by a somewhat strong competitor in the Sega Master System. Atari was still a big player at the time, though their recent releases of their 5200 and 7800 systems could not effectively compete with these newer breeds. A company called Worlds of Wonder decided to enter into the fray with the release of the Action Max. Though they had already established considerable ties to the gaming community during the mid 1980s, this system was already dead on arrival when it hit the store shelves.
Worlds of Wonder was founded by a group of former Atari programmers. Being the original distributor of the Nintendo NES in the United States, they had strong ties to both technological and manufacturing resources. The actions and reasoning behind the development of the Action Max is unknown. Coming off the video game crash of 1984, many hardware manufacturers went bankrupt and new developers shied away from this video game console field (NEC being the main exception). Obviously, this did not deter their efforts in creating a new system built upon possibly the most media formats ever devised – the VHS video cassette tapes.
It is important to first describe how this system works, rather than to describe its physical and technical features as is the norm. The Action Max is one of the few video game consoles that are not able to display graphics on its own – a VCR is required for game play (not included). The system works by attaching directly to a VCR. The VCR in turn transmits the video signal to your television. Sound is delivered through the Action Max system itself – there is no option for external output. The included Light Sensor must be plugged into the console, then 'connected' to the television screen via a suction cup. As mentioned before, games are VCR tapes. Pop in the game into your VCR, power up the Action Max and plug in the controller (light gun) and be prepared to fire away. All games (a total of 5 were released) are the same, whether it is shooting a ghost or a submarine, these are simple point and shoot affairs. What's worse, there is no change/reaction to anything being displayed to you when you score a 'hit' – a small noise is emitted from the console and the score counter increases. There is no way to win or lose at these games – just high score bragging rights among your friends (better right them down since the Action Max doesn’t keep track of them at all for you). Also, remember that this is a dumb VCR tape – replay value is -0-. The tape itself cannot change, and playing a new game repeats the same positions and appearances of all foes. Memorize where they will appear, maximize your score.
Now that the basic concept of the working of the Action Max has been described, let’s look at the console itself. The system itself is rather nondescript. The dark grey exterior casing is shaped and has the size of an aluminum container used for the family sized portion of a Stouffer’s pre-made meatloaf dinner. Come to think about it, the weight is about the same as well (about 2 lbs.). A white elongated "S" shaped plastic wedge breaks up the dull, solid colored top facing. Residing here is a combination of three toggle switches and two dials that control the difficulty level and the number of players (supported two player mode). The player's score was displayed here as well in classic, old-school red LED numbering.
The front of the unit has jacks for a headphone and the controller, along with a toggle switch to mute the volume. The back of the unit is more of the same – a jack for the power (external, not included but the unit can run off of C batteries), two mini-RCA jacks for the light sensors. The controller is a more of the same - a simple dark grey light gun that feels rather fragile and does not have any girth to it, though it does fit OK in one’s hand. 'Shooting' the 'gun' emits a rather satisfying mechanical clicking noise – nothing like cap guns of the era, but still, with this console, it is all about the small pleasures.
Worlds of Wonder entered into bankruptcy in 1988, less than a year after the release of the Action Max. The company is more noted for the development and production of various children’s product, including the Teddy Ruxpin interactive bear. Many of the associates of Worlds of Wonder went on to join Nintendo in various capacities.
The Action Max was a short-lived system, and rightly so. Compared to it's contemporaries, the static game play and poorly acted video VCR games did not stand a chance. Think of the worst Sega CDFMV game released and multiple your disdain for it by 1000% - that would not accurately define an experience with the Action Max, but it would come close.
This system is only recommended for collectors – there is no value here at all for among gamers of any level. The unit is light, but the box is HUGE for this system – the packing alone is around 10" in depth. I am not sure why the packaging was so extensive for this system – perhaps the marketing gurus at Worlds of Wonder thought that 'bigger was better' when seen on a store shelve. It is certainly not needed for what it was designed to protect. Though not seen a great deal for sale, these systems are pretty cheap to acquire through eBay. Expect to pay no more than $50 USD for a complete system. Games are not too rare either – they will run you around $10 USD a piece.
For additional pictures and video, please check out the home page for this review at The Video Game Console Library :
This week is just preparation for next week which has two megaton releases. However, there is still some pretty neat stuff coming out this week. Take a look:
Playstation 3
Xbox 360
Nintendo Wii
•Call of Duty 4: Game of the Year Edition •NBA Ballers: Chosen One
•NBA Ballers: Chosen One
•Battle of the Bands •Heavenly Guardian •Target Terror •Wild Earth: African Safari
PSP
Nintendo DS
Playstation 2
•Chameleon
Dream Pinball 3D •Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness •Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time •River King: Mystic Valley •The World Ends With You
•Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES
Looks like a good week if you're an RPG fan. You have a rerelease of one of the most critically acclaimed (and hard to find) games of last year, two new Pokemon games, and a game from RPG powerhouse Square Enix.
What is my pick of the week? I'll say Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES. I'm not an RPG fan, but this looks like a great rerelease of Persona 3. It will include an additional chapter and additional storyline/gameplay elements for a total of 30 additional hours of gameplay. If you're at all interested in this game, I recommend you get it right away since it is an Atlus game and will probably be impossible to find in 3 months.
Next week will be a huge one because we have both Mario Kart Wii and Grand Theft Auto 4 coming out. So, start saving because next week is going to be a good one! Until then, happy gaming!
Taxes are due Tuesday...did you get them done? If so, it's time to start thinking about how to spend that refund. Maybe this week's release list will help you.
Playstation 3
Xbox 360
Nintendo Wii
•Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (Also available as a download from the Playstation Store)
...
•Okami •Summer Sports: Paradise Island
PSP
Nintendo DS
Playstation 2
...
•Cory in the House •High School Musical 2: Work It Out •MLB 2K8 Fantasy All-Stars •Rondo of Swords
...
Yeah, it's a light week number wise but game wise, it's an extremely heavy hitter.
My pick of the week depends on what category you fall in to. If you have a Wii, but don't own Okami on the Playstation 2, then I demand that you buy Okami for the Wii this week. Okami was a PS2 adventure game in the style of Zelda, but got severely underlooked by most people because of the release of Twilight Princess. Now that the hype of Twilight Princess has settled down, it's time for you to revisit the game that was far superior to the vastly overrated Wii launch game. There, I said it. Okami is better than Twilight Princess. I'm not theonly one to feelthis way either. Zelda fanboy flaming aside, Okami on the Wii looks to be a fantastic port of the PS2 classic. The port will feature the same great game you never played on the PS2, however the team at Ready At Dawn (the same team behind the excellent Daxter and God of War: Chains of Olympus for the PSP) have taken the liberty to do some enhancements to the Wii edition including 16:9 widescreen visuals running at 480p and some wagglan controls (sadly). However, you can paint with the Wii Remote, which is awesome and hopefully inspires Nintendo to make Mario Paint for the Wii.
However, if you're like me, a snobby bastard that's a part of the hip alternative gaming scene, you'll have Okami already and most likely won't be interested in a Wii port of the same game. What do you do then? You buy Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, that's what. Gran Turismo 5: Prologue is a demo of Gran Turismo 5 fully featured racing game that will give you an early glimpse at what to expect from Gran Turismo 5 when it ships next year (or in 2010, knowing Polyphony Digital). This title follows in the footsteps of previous pre-release GT titles Gran Turismo Concept and Gran Turismo 4 Prologue, but what makes this one different is that it is the first one to receive a worldwide release. The game features 76 cars, 6 tracks, 12 track layouts, 16 player online racing, Full HD 1080p graphics, and uncompressed LPCM 7.1 surround sound. New to the Gran Turismo series with 5 is GT-TV, a video on demand service that will be regularly updated with both free and pay content related to the world of racing and automobiles. However, the game does not include in-game voice chat (dumb move, Sony) nor private racing with your PSN friends, but Taku Imasaki, the producer of the North American release of the game, confirmed that they are working on adding that in a future update. Sepaking of updates, the lead director of the Gran Turismo series at Polyphony Digital, Kazunori Yamauchi, has said that vehicle damage will be coming to Gran Turismo 5 Prologue as an update, and that GT5P will eventually reach the full functionality of Gran Turismo 5, but with fewer tracks and cars. So, maybe buyers of Prologue will get a discount on the full game when it comes out, but probably not knowing Sony. Anyways, demo or not, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue looks quite awesome, but it definitely isn't for everyone. Remember, this game will be released as both a retail Blu-ray and as a download from the all-new Playstation Store. Both versions cost $40 and offer the same content, but the PS Store version will be a 2 GB or so download and will make you download the GT TV videos from the internet to view them. The Blu-ray edition will include all of the GT TV videos available at launch on the disc for instant viewing.
And we're back from an extended break. In order to celebrate our triumphant return to the internets, here's a list of games that are out this week!
Wait a minute...
Playstation 3
Xbox 360
Nintendo Wii
...
...
•Baroque •Mini Copter Adventure Flight
PSP
Nintendo DS
Playstation 2
•World Championship Cards
•Fab 5 Soccer (Sorry, this isn't a game with The Beatles, it's a shitty budget title) •Plushees
•Arcana Heart •Baroque
Looks like the release list is taking a break this week too...
HOWEVER! There are two big releases this week that fall outside my realm of coverage. The first is Sony's long-awaited US release of the new DualShock 3 controller. The new controller adds rumble back into the controller and makes your PS3 controller not feel like a cheap piece of plastic. I got mine last night and I must say it's a definite improvement over both the Sixaxis and the DualShock 2. I highly recommend any PS3 owner to get one as soon as you can. Also, here's a list of games that have vibration support at the moment. More will be coming in the future with game patches. In addition, the DS3 supports vibration on all PS2 and PS1 games.
That is not my pick of the week, though. My pick of the week easily goes to Ikaruga on Xbox Live Arcade. That's right, Treasure's classic (and very hard to find) vertical shooter has been ported to Xbox Live Arcade and will be selling for the ultra-low price of $10. If you have an Xbox 360 and don't buy this game, I will be extremely disappointed in you because Ikaruga is one of the greatest games ever created and is something that everyone needs to experience it at least once. Sure, you could be old-fashioned and buy the Dreamcast or Gamecube version, but you'll be paying at least $30 or $40 more for a disc and a case. Not worth it just for that. Come on, you know you want it. Drop your fear of digital distribution and experience one of the greatest games of all time.
It's the 4th of July. Go buy some fireworks instead of games. But Civilization Revolution looks cool if you're into that kind of thing. Not sure if it is? Download the demo from the Playstation Store or Xbox Live. I did it, and I must say it was pretty nifty. Didn't get a chance to play much of it, but it I liked what I played. Oh and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith comes out this week for all two people that care. Enjoy your game with effing Aerosmith (uggghhh). For the rest of us, Rock Band 2 has been announced.
There's far too many games coming out this week, but what's worth checking out? Alone in the Dark and Overlord Raising Hell look pretty neat. Final Fantasy Tactics A2, Top Spin 3, and Supreme Commander have been getting great reviews, but I would recommend Battlefield: Bad Company above all the other games this week. If you haven't seen anything about the game it's basically a wartime FPS, but unlike most other games of this type (Call of Duty 4 for example) it is actually pretty lighthearted in tone and contains a good amount of humor. The gameplay is like many other FPS games, so it's nothing completely new, but it's still very fun. If you're interested, give the demo a chance on either the Playstation Network or Xbox Live.
Secret Agent Clank seems good enough based on the demo, but sort of lacking the heart and soul of the Insomniac developed games. However, there is one game that each and every one of you must buy and that is Space Invaders Extreme. I don't care if you hate buying games for full price, this is one that you need to buy. I've played the Japanese demo for the PSP, and it is a STUNNING update of the classic. The game is just like the original but now there's boss stages, bonus stages, colored enemy matching, and a new remixed techno soundtrack. Just go buy it dammit! It's only $20 on your platform of choice.
METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS
In a week with so many games, it's tough to give out a pick of the week. However, I've got to go with GRiD. The game is made by Codemasters, the same team behind last year's awesome rally racer DiRT, and attempts to bring the style of racing game presented in that game onto the streets. GRiD stands apart from most other racers in that it is neither a simulation like Forza or Gran Turismo nor an arcade style game like Burnout or Project Gotham, but somewhere in the between. It definitely has some great physics, but it isn't too overbearing for casual racing fans. Better yet, it carries over the 
So, believe it or not, but I am actually a gamer. I know, wow! The cynical gamer is a gamer! It may frighten you to know then that I do not own a 360 or PS3. Rather, I own that technologically inferior Wii. I used to think that was a bad deal, but then I realized that when I do play the system I am absolutely enthralled. Who’d a thunk it? Thanks, Okami! (and NMH, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Paper Mario, Metroid Corruption, and Twilight Princess). Truly, in the mounds of shovel ware, there are some winners.
In a week with basically no interesting titles, there are two that really stand out from the pack. One of the being Myst for the Nintendo DS. Sure, Myst originally came out over 14 years ago for the Mac and since has been ported to damn near every operating system and disc based console ever, but this is the first portable edition of Myst (outside of lugging around a laptop). Now, I'm a huge Myst fan, but I wouldn't buy this port unless you have absolutely no other way of playing the game. The reviews have not been very good thus far. However, there are some pretty awesome additions made to this DS version. There's a new notebook you can scribble notes in (extremely handy because you NEEDED a real notebook to play the original one), a camera to take photo (only one at a time) with, some new video clips, and you'll get to explore the Rime Age from the 3D remake of Myst, realMyst. However, if you really want Myst, just go buy the Myst 10th Anniversary Collection from Ubisoft for the PC. This 3 DVD set is cheaper and includes not only Myst, but Riven and Myst III: Exile as well. The set also features some bonus content as well such as interviews with Cyan Worlds and some documentaries that you won't find on the DS version. Don't worry about the system requirements because if you're on this site, chances are you can run the games in that collection (just so long as you have a DVD-ROM drive in your computer). Or maybe wait for the PSP version which could end up being better because of the increased space.
Or just go buy the game of the week, Castle of Shikigami 3 for the Nintendo Wii. For those of you not in the loop, Castle Shikigami is a series of vertically scrolling shmups that are known for their fairly brutal difficulty...and convoluted release scheme in America. The first game came out on the Playstation 2 as Mobile Light Force 2, which is a "sequel" to Mobile Light Force on the PS1 (which is actually an American release of a game by Psikyo called Gunbird). Castle Shikigami 2 was released in America for the PS2 under its proper name, but given 
My game of the week goes to Boom Blox on the Nintendo Wii. Developed by EA and Steven Spielberg, Boom Blox offers a unique twist on the puzzle genre, along with some of the most creative use of the Wii remote ever seen in a game. The basis of Boom Blox is extremely simple, knock a structure of blocks down. You can knock down these stacks of blocks in many different ways, including throwing balls, blowing wind, and shoooting them. In addition, there are some blocks with special properties, such as exploding when hit with something. Perhaps the most exciting feature of the game is in the built-in level editor, which will allow you to build your own block structures for both single and multiplayer modes. Once you build a level, you can send it to friends over the internet and have them play it. However the game features no online multiplayer, only split screen. If this sounds lame, then I urge you to
Other than the two obvious picks of the week (which you should know about, so I won't explain them in any detail), SNK Arcade Classics V.1 looks pretty damn awesome as well. The game is a compilation of 16 Neo Geo classics which include Art of Fighting, Baseball Stars 2, Burning Fight, Fatal Fury, King of Fighters 94, King of the Monsters, Last Resort, Magician Lord, Metal Slug, Neo Turf Masters, Samurai Shodown, Sengoku, Shock Troopers, Super Sidekicks 3, Top Hunter, and World Heroes. The price is definitely great on it too, only $20 for your choice of the PS2 or the PSP version. I'd pick that up if you don't want the big releases this week or want to buy something a little more "retro".
The year was 1987 and the video gaming world was ruled by the Nintendo Famicom, followed by a somewhat strong competitor in the Sega Master System. Atari was still a big player at the time, though their recent releases of their 5200 and 7800 systems could not effectively compete with these newer breeds. A company called Worlds of Wonder decided to enter into the fray with the release of the Action Max. Though they had already established considerable ties to the gaming community during the mid 1980s, this system was already dead on arrival when it hit the store shelves.
Now that the basic concept of the working of the Action Max has been described, let’s look at the console itself. The system itself is rather nondescript. The dark grey exterior casing is shaped and has the size of an aluminum container used for the family sized portion of a Stouffer’s pre-made meatloaf dinner. Come to think about it, the weight is about the same as well (about 2 lbs.). A white elongated "S" shaped plastic wedge breaks up the dull, solid colored top facing. Residing here is a combination of three toggle switches and two dials that control the difficulty level and the number of players (supported two player mode). The player's score was displayed here as well in classic, old-school red LED numbering. 
The Action Max was a short-lived system, and rightly so. Compared to it's contemporaries, the static game play and poorly acted video VCR games did not stand a chance. Think of the worst Sega CD FMV game released and multiple your disdain for it by 1000% - that would not accurately define an experience with the Action Max, but it would come close. 
What is my pick of the week? I'll say Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES. I'm not an RPG fan, but this looks like a great rerelease of Persona 3. It will include an additional chapter and additional storyline/gameplay elements for a total of 30 additional hours of gameplay. If you're at all interested in this game, I recommend you get it right away since it is an Atlus game and will probably be impossible to find in 3 months.
My pick of the week depends on what category you fall in to. If you have a Wii, but don't own Okami on the Playstation 2, then I demand that you buy Okami for the Wii this week. Okami was a PS2 adventure game in the style of Zelda, but got severely underlooked by most people because of the release of Twilight Princess. Now that the hype of Twilight Princess has settled down, it's time for you to revisit the game that was far superior to the vastly overrated Wii launch game. There, I said it. Okami is better than Twilight Princess. 
However, if you're like me, a snobby bastard that's a part of the hip alternative gaming scene, you'll have Okami already and most likely won't be interested in a Wii port of the same game. What do you do then? You buy Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, that's what. Gran Turismo 5: Prologue is a 
That is not my pick of the week, though. My pick of the week easily goes to Ikaruga on Xbox Live Arcade. That's right, Treasure's classic (and very hard to find) vertical shooter has been ported to Xbox Live Arcade and will be selling for the ultra-low price of $10. If you have an Xbox 360 and don't buy this game, I will be extremely disappointed in you because Ikaruga is one of the greatest games ever created and is something that everyone needs to experience it at least once. Sure, you could be old-fashioned and buy the Dreamcast or Gamecube version, but you'll be paying at least $30 or $40 more for a disc and a case. Not worth it just for that. Come on, you know you want it. Drop your fear of digital distribution and experience one of the greatest games of all time. 
