This Week in Games: April 19 – 25

dynwargund2 We have seen a winter and spring release season that has been unrelenting – perhaps not like the Fall season, but much busier than usual. However, recent weeks have shown signs that it was slowing – two weeks agi we just had DS and PC, and last week the same. This week, not too much at all. The big release is the multi-platform Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 on X360, PS3 and PS2, and the early looks for that one are pretty awful according to a couple of ‘official’ XBOX magazine reviews. Aside from that, we have little other than the over-the-top Stalin vs. Martians for the PC. There isn’t much more this week, so check out the list!

  • Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2

  • Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2

  • Jelly Belly: Ballistic Beans
  • Excitebots: Trick Racing
  • Pennzoil Build-N-Race: Speed Demons

  • Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
  • Jelly Belly: Ballistic Beans

  • No New Releases

  • 101-in-1 Explosive Megamix
  • Hands On! Tangrams
  • I Love Horses

  • Cryostasis: The Sleep of Reason
  • Stalin vs. Martians
  • Zeno Clash
  • Dream Day Wedding: Viva Las Vegas
  • Adventure: Collector’s Edition (Volume 1)

As for last week … well, not so great once again. The big PC release DemiGod is a tale worth telling, as GameStop broke street date which completely messed up Stardock’s multiplayer servers, and then the company reported that their no-DRM stance was rewarded with a mere 18,000 out of 120,000 connections being from paid copies of the game. Pretty sad stuff and a sad statement about the ethics of gamers (I won’t say PC gamers since we know the same is true for the PSP and would be for consoles if it was as easy). For the DS, The Dark Spire is a solid but niche dungeon crawler taht includes the music CD with purchase – if you liked Etrian Odyssey you’ll love this. Two DS releases – C.O.R.E and Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled – were pushed out into mid-May, so we’ll have to wait for those. I have had some time with the PSP game Air Conflicts: Aces of World War II and have found it to be really, really awful – not worth buying, not worth renting, not worth getting when it drops to $5 in a few months.

What I’m Currently Playing:

  • PC: Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor – after loving the original and first expansion I’m rather disappointed, as the new content adds little and is over too fast.
  • PC: Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate – after my big play session, I have been playing a little here and there trying to get out the review in time for the April 29th now official release date!
  • PC: The Last Remnant – pretty typical jRPG experience, nice looking game, too many cutscenes. It feels like a huge game and I’ve put in tons of time and barely scratched the surface!
  • DS: Dark Spire – I really like this game, it is kicking my butt at times, but the music and style and old-school RPG feel are wonderful.
  • DS: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars – I finally ‘finished’ it but had to go back again because I want 100% completion!
  • DS: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time – I’ve been f=having to force myself to play this – not bad, just not loving it and hard when there are the other two games I actually *want* to play.
  • PSP: Air Conflicts: Aces of World War II – I really want to like this game, but it is so poorly done that I just can’t manage to forgive it all the issues.

Enjoy gaming!

No Responses to “This Week in Games: April 19 – 25”

  1. Zeno Clash actually looks pretty good. I saw a trailer for it and it’s sort of a surreal first person fighter and shooter at times.

  2. Wow. A Jelly-Belly game? That might’ve turned Reagan around on video games had it come in the 80’s. Bad joke. Apologies all around.

    Okay, I’m playing:

    PC
    Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor
    – I have some things to say about this one. Mean things, but also some praise. I’ll get to it soon.

    Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway
    – I reviewed this last year for 360. I’m rethinking my stance but only a little bit.

    Xbox 360
    – Nothing lately. Which is odd because I have a few games to finish.

    PS3 – Nothing

    Wii
    – Henry and I have been tearing it up in Excite Truck and Mario Tennis Wii Control

    DS & PSP
    – Wario Ware Touched

    iPhone
    We Love Katamari
    Ms. Pac Man
    Cooking Mama (all apps highly recommended)

  3. Zeno Clash does look good, I just don’t have the cash to splash. And a Jelly Belly game makes me think of Zool, which was sponsered by Chupa Chups (at least the Amiga original was). And now I really, really want Chupa Chups.

    What am I playing? A lot of 360:

    Fallout 3 – picked it back up again after a while off due to SFIV, but I’m having some trouble again. So I’m taking a break and exploring / helping out Moira.

    Street Fighter IV – took a break because I haven’t had the time, and now my game is completely off. Oops.

    Pinball FX – this is the best digital pinball ever, and I played a lot of Pinball Dreams / Fantasies back in the day.

    Outrun – This is neo-retro arcade racing loveliness. My only real criticism is that the multiplayer lobby has no “ready” feature, so if the host starts and you haven’t switched your car from Automatic to Manual transmission, you’re going to get smoked. Too bad.

  4. Yeah, I’m working on a review for Tales of Valor as well …not so thrilled.

  5. playin some RB2 and world of goo.

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