section by: Justin
Clark and SCOTT!
STARCRAFT II
Blizzard
PC, Mac
7/27
MSRP: $59.99
This release means absolutely nothing to me whatsoever, considering my utter apathy towards real-time strategy, but for those who give the requisite damns, Tuesday is Christmas coated in a thin layer of springtime, smothered in rich creamery 4th of July, and considering the wait (what is it, 11 years?), and the amount of tender loving care Blizzard pours into their passion projects like this, you have every right to be elated.
That said, if I were Kim Jong Il, Tuesday would be the perfect day to roll up on South Korea and plant a flag. Possibly while yelling “I’m in your DMZ, killin ur joint security force” into a megaphone.
BLAZBLUE: CONTINUUM SHIFT
Aksys Games
360, PS3
7/27
MSRP: $39.99
CLICK TO BUY FROM AMAZON!
I really wished I could understand why BlazBlue didn’t do anything for me when it came out. Gorgeous hand drawn sprites, complex 2D fighting engine, insane hair metal soundtrack. Then I remember I already played this game in years prior, when it was called Guilty Gear, and that I hit the wall fairly early in that series where the game simply ceased to be fun. This is what Aksys doesn’t seem to get. It’s wonderful they’re making games for the hardcore, but the beauty of a game like, say, Super Street Fighter IV, is that it’s deep without sacrificing the ease of use that makes someone want to go back. If I’m going to need to spend a month learning a multi hit combo/dodge/cancel routine I can’t apply in real life situations, your game has already crossed the line into obsessive territory where I cannot follow. And those that do are those I am afraid of. And probably smell better than.
OTHER GAMES OF INTEREST
Arc Rise Fantasia (Ignition; Wii; MSRP: $39.99)
Clash of the Titans: The Video Game (Namco Bandai; 360, PS3; MSRP: $59.99)
OOOHHHHH: ON THE DLC TIP
HYDRO THUNDER HURRICANE
Vector Unit/Microsoft
XBox Live Arcade
7/28
1,200 MS points
Week 2 of the Summer of Arcade series, and just reading the title just brings back memories of random bowling alleys and movie theater lobbies I’ve seen in my time. Something was always lost for this series when I wasn’t sitting in that giant cabinet, pumping quarter after quarter into that thing just trying to place first so I can sit in for free, but the gameplay footage so far remains faithful to the wild, theme park fun that made this series a blast to begin with. 1,200 points for a lifetime pass to one of the great pick-up-and-play games of recent years is a small price, I think.
ROCK BAND TUESDAY
Avenged Sevenfold Pack 01 ($5.49/440 MS pts)
- Nightmare
- Scream
- Seize The Day
Juanes Pack 01 ($9.99/800 MS pts)
- A Dios le Pido
- Fijate Bien
- Gotas de Agua Dulce
- La Camisa Negra
- Mala Gente
- Yerbatero
$1.99/160 MS pts each
Avenged Sevenfold is pretty much the winner and still champion of the Band I Can’t Stand That I Can’t Stop Playing In This Game competition. They’re consistent proof of that Harmonix ability to find the fun in music, no matter how annoying they may be as stand alone tunes. Leave ’em off my IPod, but I begrudge no one being excited for this pack.
I have a conspiracy theory that Juanes is really John Mayer’s twin, created in a lab to conquer the hearts and groupies of Latin America while John takes the North. They both have this “waste of good talent” thing going on where they should be cranking out truly outstanding guitar tunes, but too often settle for considerably less. Juanes isn’t BAD guitar-pop in the least, but can just imagine his report cards being riddled with “If only he applied himself” as a kid.
Although, he hasn’t told anyone in the press he has a negro pass, so, advantage Juanes, I suppose.