The Release List 01.13.09
Posted by Tommy Coloma on 01.13.2009
A DS adventure game with shooter elements, another MegaTen offshoot, and a snowboarding game that will help people to forget about Shaun White.
If Devil Survivor was coming out over here, I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up on release day. Fortunately, I have Persona 4 and MegaTen: Imagine to keep me busy until Atlus decides to localize it. As far as US releases go, Moon and Stoked might be worth a look...
This week's highlightsNote: Unless otherwise stated, all of the imports that I talk about are in Japanese. Also, if I don't give out a US release date for said imports, it probably means that one hasn't been announced yet.
Moon (DS) Renegade Kid's previous DS game, Dementium: The Ward, got some generally favorable reviews when it was released in 2007. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that more than a few people have been looking forward to the developer's sophomore effort. Moon has been described as an adventure game with shooter elements. You can expect puzzle solving and exploration interspersed with action. Consequently, if you're looking for a Halo-like experience on the DS, this is probably not the game for you.
the good: Renegade Kid listened to the complaints and took care of the save and spawn problems that plagued Dementium. the bad: Some reviewers have been complaining that there is quite a bit of repetition to be found in the game. Quite a bit... of repetition...
The Moon trailer
Megami Ibunroku: Devil Survivor (DS Import)
The MegaTen series and its offshoots are still not as widely covered in the US as I would have thought given the popularity of Persona 3 and 4. As a result, info on this game was hard to come by. Fortunately, RPGFan had a nice article back in November that shed some light on what we can expect:
- "Kazuma Kaneko is serving as the game's demon designer and supervisor ... Art design is handled by Akiko Kotou." Expect demons and character designs to resemble those found in Revelations: Persona, Persona 2, and Nocturne.
- "The game ... is a strategy RPG taking place in modern day Tokyo." The videos on the official site seem indicate that there are SRPG elements that give way to traditional 3-on-3 JRPG battles once a fight has been initiated.
- "Atlus is promising the additions of new demons not seen in previous installments of the Megami Ibunroku series." I am looking forward to something that will top Jack Frost, everyone's favorite bondage angel, and Mara.
- "The development team promises to tell a dark tale in classic Shin Megami Tensei fashion. The scenario will feature multiple branches that can be freely explored." They're going to kill off one, a few, or all of the main characters? Really? It shouldn't be a surprise by now, right?
You can watch some gameplay videos over at the official site here.
The extended story trailer
Planet Pachinko (Wii)
"Frantic destruction. Endearing characters. Silly dialogue. Catchy music." At least, that's how the game's developer describes it.
This game has you hopping around in a giant pachinko machine, destroying the balls that fall from above as well as the monsters that spring from them. It might be worth the 500 Wii points Nintendo is asking for. I just wish that the trailer gave us more to go by...
A poorly done gameplay trailer
Stoked (360)
While a lot of snowboarding fans are excited about this, many are a little hesitant because of the price. $40 out of the gate doesn't exactly scream confidence. It doesn't help that Shaun White scared people away from the genre. If those in the know are to be believed, Stoked is the Skate of snowboarding games. That isn't really much to go on, so let's talk about the two other things that people are talking about:
- the dynamic weather and environments - The weather constantly transforms the landscape, so you will supposedly have a different experience every time you play. Sounds good in theory.
- It's all back country - This could be good or bad depending on your point-of-view. Those who prefer rails all over the place for grinding may be disappointed while those who prefer more realistic terrain finally get the game they've been waiting for.
I'm cautiously optimistic...
The dynamic weather trailer
The other US releases Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall (PC) Deal or No Deal (Wii) Delta Force 10th Anniversary Collection (PC) Inkheart (DS) Jeopardy Super Deluxe (PC, MAC) Jumble Madness (DS) Mirror's Edge (PC) Neighborhood Games (Wii) Personal Trainer: Math (DS) Prince Of Persia Compilation (PC) The Lord of the Rings: Conquest (360, PC, PS3, DS) Wheel of Fortune Super Deluxe (PS, MAC)
The Import Scene Mario Tennis GC (Wii de Asobu) Shinkyouku Soukai Polyphonica: The Black (PS2) DS Uranai Seikatsu (DS) Imi Gawakaru Otona no Jukugo Renshuu: Kadokawa Ruigo Shinjiten Kara 5-Man Mon (DS) Mainichi Shinbunsha Kyouruoku: Saikyou no Kanji Drill 5-Man Mon (DS)
