The Release List 09.08.09: Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days, Raiden IV, The Beatles: Rock Band Posted by Tommy Coloma on 09.08.2009
NISA brings some SRPG goodness to the PSP with Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days, UFO Interactive lets us witness the Toothpaste Laser once again in Raiden IV, and Electronic Arts makes 09.09.09 a day to remember with the release of The Beatles: Rock Band.
The Beatles: Rock Band is definitely the one to beat this week. I can see a lot of older gamers picking it up along with those remastered Beatles CDs that are being released at the same time. For those that aren't into music rhythm games, there's Disgaea 2 and Raiden IV - worthy choices for SRPG and top-down shooter fans, respectively. As far as imports go, there's only Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver. All the publishers in Japan pretty much took the week off so it looks like they've finally caught on that releasing games during the same week a big title launches isn't such a good idea. Let's see what happens when Final Fantasy XIII finally drops.
This week's highlightsNote: Release dates are subject to change
Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days (PSP) Disgaea 2 is essentially Disgaea with a new cast and a few gameplay tweaks. This time, we follow a human named Adell who is on a mission to exact revenge upon an overlord named Zenon for turning all of the other humans into demons. He is accompanied on his quest by Zenon's daughter, Rozalin, who was accidentally summoned by Adell's mother. This PSP port offers, amongst other things, a new scenario featuring Axel, new characters, and the addition of the Magichange system from Disgaea 3.
the US trailer
Raiden IV (360) Note: GameStop says that this gets released this week. All other retailers say late October.
UFO Interactive has come out of nowhere to become one of my favorite publishers since I started putting this column together, at least when it comes to niche titles. Domino Rally, Ultimate Shooting Collection, Dungeon Maker II - they're not the best games out there, but they are worth trying if you can get them at the right price. Now we have Raiden IV this week and Way of the Samurai 3 next month. I hope the company gets the recognition it deserves some day...
Raiden IV originally came out in the arcades in 2007 and was ported to the 360 in Japan a year later. Improvements over the arcade version include two new stages, eight difficulty levels, a TATE option for the vertical widescreen purists out there, and the ability to select a stage that has already been completed (for practicing, of course!). A worldwide leaderboard system is also in place so that gamers could see how well they stack up to the best players in the world. In addition, "double play" mode makes a return, so those who enjoy controlling two ships at once have another chance to show off their multi-tasking abilities. It's just too bad that scores earned in that mode aren't included in the leaderboards. Overall, this is a solid package that I'm sure hardcore shmup fans will have no problem paying $40 for right now. Everyone else should wait six months for the inevitable bargain bin price drop...
double play action
first stage gameplay
The Beatles: Rock Band (360, PS3, Wii)
This could very well be one of the biggest releases of the year as it is the only band-specific game of its type that has a large number of fans in EVERY age group. I can see it doing very well right now and then again during Christmas. It also helps that newly remastered versions of all of the Beatles' albums are being released this week. Even I, one of the few gamers that I know who has managed to do without owning either Guitar Hero or Rock Band, am interested.
There are over forty tracks in this package and we can expect a lot more via DLC. Here is the track list from the official site:
A Hard Day's Night
And Your Bird Can Sing
Back In The U.S.S.R.
Birthday
Boys
Can't Buy Me Love
Come Together
Day Tripper
Dear Prudence
Dig A Pony
Do You Want To Know A Secret
Don't Let Me Down
Drive My Car
Eight Days A Week
Get Back
Getting Better
Good Morning Good Morning
Hello Goodbye
Helter Skelter
Here Comes The Sun
Hey Bulldog
I Am The Walrus
I Feel Fine
I Me Mine
I Saw Her Standing There
I Wanna Be Your Man
I Want to Hold Your Hand
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
If I Needed Someone
I'm Looking Through You
I've Got A Feeling
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Octopus's Garden
Paperback Writer
Revolution
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Something
Taxman
Ticket To Ride
Twist And Shout
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
With a Little Help from My Friends
Within You Without You / Tomorrow Never Knows
Yellow Submarine
the "music selection" trailer
The other US releases Ant Nation (DS)
Arcade Zone (Wii)
Capcom Platinum Hits Triple Pack - Dead Rising, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, and Devil May Cry 4 (360)
Darkest of Days (360, PC)
Dirt 2 (360, DS, PSP, PS3, Wii)
Fallen Earth: Welcome to Apocalypse (PC)
Go Play: City Sports (Wii)
IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey (DS, PSP)
Imagine: Detective (DS)
Jump Start: Pet Rescue (Wii)
LittleBigPlanet - Game of the Year Edition (PS3)
Mini Ninjas (360, PS3, PC, Wii, DS)
My Virtual Tutor Reading: 1st - 2nd (DS)
My Virtual Tutor Reading: K - 1st (DS)
My Virtual Tutor Reading: Pre K - K (DS)
Qubed - Lumines Live!, Rez HD, Every Extend Extra Extreme (360)
Time of Shadows (PC)
War Leaders: Clash of Nations (PC)
The Import SceneJapanese localizations of domestic games, "Asia" versions of games that do not have English options, and "Best" (greatest hits) versions of already released games are ignored.
