The Release List 05.19.09: Punch-Out!!, Steal Princess, Puchi Puchi Virus, and Jagged Alliance
Posted by Tommy Coloma on 05.19.2009
Nintendo convinces Little Mac to return to the ring, NISA finally spreads the Puchi Puchi Virus, and Atlus frees the Steal Princess.
I count at least three games that I definitely want to pick up from this week's list. It's just too bad that I have to limit myself for the next few weeks if I want to have enough cash to survive at E3.
This week's highlightsNote: Release dates are subject to change
Steal Princess (DS) Steal Princess can best be described as an isometric puzzle/action platformer. Your goal is to find a key hidden somewhere in each level and use it to open the exit door. It being a puzzle platformer, you can expect to have to do a few things in a specific order before getting access to each key. Your basic tool is a whip that you can use to swing from special orbs that float in the air, pull yourself toward enemies or pull them toward you, stun enemies so that you can easily jump on top of them, and activate switches. In addition, you'll come across weapons like swords, shields, morning stars, and javelins. Some weapons are colored to indicate that they can only damage enemies of that color, requiring you to avoid some of them until you find something of a different color. Other items have multiple uses. Shields, for example, can be used both to beat things to a pulp and to reflect projectiles. Still others like the morning star and javelin require some wind-up time and might only be usable a few times, so you must figure out how to attack several enemies at once.
From what I've played of the Japanese import, Steal Princess is pretty good as far as puzzle platformers are concerned. There's a lot of variety in the levels that require you to use what you've learned earlier to get by. There's also what appears to be a pretty well developed story (at least there's a lot of text to read when you aren't exploring a new dungeon), though I can't confirm that until I get my hands on the localized version. My only gripe is that swinging onto orbs is a little awkward - I kept falling down in certain spots because the whip wouldn't shoot out the way I'd expected. I eventually had to resort to using the stylus in those sections, and even then, there were times when I'd miss an orb for no reason. But overall, I like what I've seen so far.
gameplay footage
Punch-Out!! (Wii)
In the short time that I had to play the game at GDC this year, I found that the motion controls were better than expected - you shake the Nunchuk to throw a left, shake the remote to throw a right, use the analog stick to duck, dodge to the left and right, and switch between hooking and jabbing (neutral for punches to the chest and up to ugly your opponent's face), and press A to activate a star punch. These controls are perfect for those who have never played a Punch-Out!! game or those who insist that a new Punch-Out!! has to be different (or those fools who actually think that Super Punch-Out!! was better than Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! just because it was the newer game). In the middle of one of my fights I pressed pause, removed the Nunchuk attachment, and played the rest of the game old-school style. In my eyes, that made what was just an OK game into a must buy for the Wii. That is how the game should be played. It was like playing an HD Remix version of the NES game. Perfect!
the "Little Mac Confessional" trailer
Puchi Puchi Virus (DS)
In a world much like our own, a virus called the Puchirus has infected everyone, turning them into weird creatures. Like the heroes they are, Dr. Longfellow, Nurse Honeydew, and George the Chicken decided to get together and create the Puchi Buster DS to combat this threat. We follow the good doctor as he uses the Puchi Buster to give his patients doses of "pure awesome" in order to turn them back into regular humans.
Throughout each case, virii take the form of different colored blobs on a hexagonal playfield. They'll often appear at random and tend to move around until you tap on them to lock them down. If you tap on three of the same color, it'll form a triangle. Tapping on any of the three one more time will destroy the triangle along with the virii. If you wait too long after tapping on a virus to burst a triangle, it will congeal and you will not be able to lock it. Fortunately, congealed virii can be restored if you burst a triangle over them. On a related note, if you burst a triangle over virii that are not congealed, they will congeal. The only way to keep enclosed virii from congealing is to form other triangles out of them, thus setting up what the game calls chaining. To me, this little twist is what saves the puzzle element of Puchi Puchi Virus from mediocrity. In fact, I was going to blow the game off until I figured out how to get the most out of the chain system. Now I find it quite satisfying to get 2-3 chain bursts going.
There appear to be 102 case files in all, and each one includes some pretty weird character profiles which are fun to read. Each case either requires you to get a certain number of points or initiate a few chains within three minutes. While this works well for quick pickup games, it would have been nice to have an endless option. Overall, I think that this is a pretty good puzzler thanks in no small part to the fun chaining system and quirky case descriptions.
gameplay footage
Jagged Alliance (DS)
This is a port of a very popular tactical turn-based RPG that first came out on the PC back in 1994. You're in command of a group of mercenaries and much balance out their personalities, strengths, equipment, and fees in order to complete your missions and keep them from stabbing you in the back. I had a friend who swore that this was the best game ever. Now it's time to find out if he knew what he was talking about. If you're short on cash, you can always download the original at Good Old Games for $10 instead.
footage from the DOS version
Takt of Magic (Wii Import)
I wouldn't have bothered to bring this up if it weren't for the fact that Nintendo itself is publishing it in Japan. That doesn't necessarily mean that we'll get the game here, but it must mean SOMETHING if Nintendo is pushing an RPG that doesn't star Mario.
the "Overview" trailer
Happy Star Band (DS Import)
Back in February Aksys announced that it will be releasing this game under the new name Rockin' Pretty. It appears to be a rhythm game in which you take control of four different instruments - drum, bass, guitar, and piano. Performing well helps you to earn cash/points which can then be used to dress your band members up as you see fit. Yes! We'll have more on this game when it gets released in the US later (maybe) this year.
the trailer
The other US releases Bionic Commando (PS3, 360)
Boom Blox Bash Party (Wii)
EA Sports Active (Wii)
Hannah Montana: The Movie (PC)
I Love Beauty: Hollywood Makeover (DS)
Math Blaster in the Prime Adventure (DS)
Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock (PS2, PS3, 360, Wii)
Secret Files: Tunguska (DS)
Terminator: Salvation (PS3, 360, PC)
UFC 2009 Undisputed (PS3, 360)
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Stardust Accelerator World Championship Tournament (DS)
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Wheelie Breakers (Wii)
The Import SceneJapanese localizations of domestic games, "Asia" version of games that do not have English options, and "Best" (greatest hits) versions of already released games are ignored.
