Sorry about the delay in getting this to you, folks. I’m still getting used to this whole new-fangled site. Fantastic week for games, though. Hope you’ve finished up all your presents from last year.
Advance Wars: Days of Ruin (DS)
Buy it from Amazon here!
We’re excited about this title (evidence) mostly because it’s the best damn strategy game on the DS. Just another set of missions would have been good enough for fans of the series, but they’re adding a darker storyline and online play. If you’ve ever played local multiplayer, you know how great it is, and with you able to play against people anytime you want, this one’s going to be stuck in your DS for a long, long time.
One Piece: Unlimited Adventure (Wii)
Release Date: Jan 22, 2008
Buy it from Amazon here!
Never heard of this show (or the Manga it’s based on), but One Piece is focused on one Captain Monkey D. Luffy who sails around with his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates to search for treasure. The game looks pretty enough, but you know how those anime games are…
Iridium Runners (PS2)
Release Date: Jan 22, 2008
Buy it from Amazon here!
A 15 buck PS2 racing game, in which you race using the titular characters. Yes, you’re running around a track. You can mess with your opponents with various powerups. Yeah… that’s exciting.
Pirates of the Burning Sea (PC)
Buy it from Amazon here!
A new massively multiplayer online RPG that’s all about pirates. I’m not one for these kind of games (that’s putting it lightly) but if you want to swashbuckle (is that a word?) against people online instead of fighting fantasy creatures, this is your game. There’s obviously your choice of career and choice of nation, plus you can be a pirate, collect different ships, conquer player-controlled ports, and create your own flag. Because everyone knows you can’t claim land without a flag (No flag, no country!)
No More Heroes (Wii)
Buy it from Amazon here!
Yep, this game was supposed to be released in February but it’s been pushed up! From the director of the bizarre Killer 7, this game looks equally weird, but hopefully will control a bit better. It sure looks great. Read more about this here.
Burnout Paradise (PS3, Xbox 360)
Buy it from Amazon here!
I absolutely couldn’t wait for this game. The demo was amazing (impressions here) and showed how they’re taking Burnout to the next level, with a completely open world, minimal load times, and an amazing online experience. But you know what? The actual game is a hundred times better. There’s just so much to see and do here, with a great online experience. Expect a full review shortly, but as of right now it’s a must-buy. Don’t pass this one up- I want to smash a whole bunch of you up online.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (DS)
Buy it from Amazon here!
Most gamers were disappointed by the Wii version of this. Seriously, we waited how many years for Mario and Sonic to appear in a game together, and all we get is a lame minigame collection? Besides the insanity of having Mario and Sonic compete in a relay race. This is pretty much the same game, except you’ll be wagging around a stylus instead of the Wii remote, of course.
Rainbow Islands Evolution (PSP)
Buy it from Amazon here!
This is a sequel of sorts to Bubble Bobble, with the same two main characters, Bub and Bob. I feel silly just typing that out. Anyway, it plays the same as the original game, with a lot of new features, of course. There’s even a story this time, as the two little guys fight an evil record company that’s putting out nothing but noise. Go, guys, go! It already came out for the DS (under the title of Revolution) but of course that version had different controls.
Super Street Fighter II (Super Nintendo – 800 Points – $8)
Yep, this was the best version of Street Fighter for the 16 bit generation. You’re probably owned a copy (or two, or three) of it over the years and if you’re anything like me, dumped literally tons of quarters in their machines, so there’s probably no need to get this. Especially since you can play it online with the Xbox.
Adventures of Lolo 2 (NES – 500 Points – $5)
This is a puzzle game of the popular series that disappeared off the planet. The game was damn fun, although I remember not getting too far in it with my little child brain. Maybe now I’ll do better.
Don’t forget that this week you’re free to download Undertow, courtesy of Xbox Live’s constant connection problems. What can you do if you’ve already bought the 10 buck game? Call Xbox support and ask for compensation… they should give you points to get another game. I’m interested in trying it out, although the demo didn’t do much for me. I wonder if they check if we really own it…
And that’s all for releases this week on Xbox Live Arcade. Damn it. Rez HD is next week, though!
PixelJunk Monsters (Original – $7.99)
Very cutesy real time strategy game that’s apparently addictive as hell. Instead of using a cursor to select items or buildings you use a character. Along with a 20-level single player mode and online multiplayer, there’s a co-op mode. Interesting… and it’s good to see the Playstation Network’s getting new kinds of games like this. This hits on Thursday.