On Shelves This Week: March 22 to March 28, 2009
This week is like multiplatform game week. Pretty much everything that drops this week for both the handhelds and the home consoles are multiplatform: Wanted: Weapons of Fate, The Wheelman, Legends of WrestleMania… Looks like the only console to get some exclusives this week is the DS. But enough chitchat. Let’s get right on to the release schedules!
This week is like multiplatform game week. Pretty much everything that drops this week for both the handhelds and the home consoles are multiplatform: Wanted: Weapons of Fate, The Wheelman, Legends of WrestleMania… Looks like the only console to get some exclusives this week is the DS.
Speaking of the DS, after last week’s haul of RPG goodness, this time we’re inundated by a wave of games with titles like Kitten Corner and Dreamer Series: Pop Star. Not exactly what you’d call “great exclusives”. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time and Lux-Pain bring the DS crop up a level though, along with Pokémon Platinum.
But enough chitchat. Let’s get right on to the release schedules!
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 – The desperate leadership of a doomed Soviet Union travels back in time to change history and restore the glory of Mother Russia but they screw up. An alternate timeline where technology has followed an entirely different evolution, a new superpower has been thrust on to the world stage, and World War III is raging. And somewhere in there, Ric Flair is looking for some bears.- Sony PS3 – March 23, 2009
- ESRB: Teen
- US$ 56.99
- Electronic Arts
Stormrise – Stormrise puts you on the frontlines of battle as the heroic leader of your troops, allowing you to lead from the front in the world’s most immersive RTS. Earth’s protective atmosphere has been stripped away by a catastrophic event centuries ago. The planet’s inhabitants have had to adapt radically in order to survive, resulting in the creation of two distinctly different races: the Echelon and the Sai, both of whom are locked in a constant battle for supremacy.
Wanted: Weapons of Fate – Continuing where the hit film left off, Wanted: Weapons of Fate lets you play the role of super-assassin Wesley Gibson, the heir to The Fraternity’s legacy of power. Your position has made you a target for a renegade faction of The Fraternity. In order to survive you must master an arsenal of deadly skills to protect the secrets of The Fraternity and turn the tables on those who want you dead. Expect lots of dakka.
- Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360 – March 24, 2009
- ESRB: Mature
- Xbox 360: US$ 56.99, PS3: US$ 56.99
- Warner Bros
The Wheelman – You are Milo Burik (a digitized Vin Diesel), an undercover agent and highly skilled driver who must infiltrate the Barcelona underworld to gather intelligence surrounding a covert heist. Car chases, car stunts, car melee combat, shooting at people in cars while you’re driving a car, jumping from car to car to commandeer another car… Suffice to say, it has a lot of cars and a lot of action in it.
- Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360 – March 24, 2009
- ESRB: Teen
- Xbox 360: US$ 59.79, PS3: US$ 59.79
- Midway Games, Tigon Studios
WWE Legends of WrestleMania – Relive the WrestleMania events of the 80s and 90s by replaying historic matches and battling more recent rivalries. The roster features and impressive 42 wrestlers. In addition, you can also import the entire WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 roster into the game for some custom match mayhem.
Monsters vs. Aliens – Based on the animated movie of the same name, Monsters vs. Aliens lets players choose to play as any of the following characters: The Missing Link, the half-ape and half-fish; B.O.B., the gelatinous and indestructible mass; Ginormica, the gigantic woman; and Insectosaurus, the giant insect. Gameplay changes depending on which character you choose to play as, but the main objective’s the same: fight alien robots. Co-op play is supported.
- Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS – March 24, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone 10
- Xbox 360: US$ 49.99, PS3: US$ 49.99, Wii: US$ 49.99, DS: US$ 29.99
- Activision
Tenchu: Shadow Assassins – Continue the saga of Rikimaru and Ayame, elite ninjas who must use their lethal skills to keep the peace in feudal Japan. With much bloodshed throughout their master’s land, Rikimaru and Ayame must unmask the face of the enemy behind the kidnapping of Princess Kiku.
- Sony PSP – March 24, 2009
- ESRB: Mature
- US$ 39.99
- Ubisoft
Major League Baseball 2K9 – The latest iteration of 2K Games’ Major League Baseball franchise. Features include a Minor League Farm system that allows scouting and playing of AAA teams, automatic tracking of your playing style to create a unique profile, and better player control through True to Form Fielding.
- Sony PSP – March 23, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 29.99
- 2K Games
PopCap Arcade Hits Volume 2 – A collection bringing together three of PopCap’s popular casual games: Peggle, Feeding Frenzy 2, and Heavy Weapon. Supports online multiplayer – both competitive and co-op – over Xbox Live.
- Microsoft Xbox 360 – March 26, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 19.99
- PopCap Games
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time – More than just the latest chapter in the Final Fantasy saga, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time lets Wii and DS users to play side by side for the first time.
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars Director’s Cut – The classic adventure game series is brought up to date with a new narrative loosely based on the original and with game play mechanics that take advantage of the unique aspects of Nintendo’s Wii and DS consoles.
Cate West: The Vanishing Files – A series of unexplained cases dubbed The Vanishing Files have the police baffled. That is, until novelist and psychic Cate West arrives on the scene. This is a Wii port of the PC Cate West game, one of the more popular titles in the hidden objects puzzle game genre.
- Nintendo Wii – March 24, 2009
- ESRB: Rating Pending
- US$ 29.99
- Destineer
MotoGP 08 – Race as one of the legends or race as yourself in the only official game of the MotoGP series. MotoGP 08 is packed with all the tracks, riders and motorcycles from the 2008 racing season.
- Nintendo Wii – March 24, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 39.99
- Capcom
Lux-Pain – In Kisaragi City, “Silent”, a worm born through hate and sadness, has infected humans and forced them to commit atrocious crimes. To avenge his parents, Atsuki goes through a dangerous operation to acquire Lux-Pain in his left arm, a power so strong that his left eye turns golden when using it to seek and destroy Silent for good. Kinda reminds me of Trauma Center, really.
- Nintendo DS – March 24, 2009
- ESRB: Teen
- US$ 29.99
- Ignition Entertainment
Pokémon Platinum – Team Galactic is up to its old tricks. This time, they’ve set their sights on the three Legendary titans of Sinnoh: Dialga, Palkia and Giratina. Players will encounter new characters, new schemes and new locations as they try to thwart Team Galactic’s sinister plot.
- Nintendo DS – March 24, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 34.99
- Nintendo
Discovery Kids: Dolphin Discovery – Dolphin Discovery tasks gamers with raising and nurturing their very own water-bound buddy. Gain the trust of your new pet dolphin, master a huge selection of tricks and routines, then take your show in front of a live audience! Oh yay and yippee!
- Nintendo DS – March 27, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 29.99
- 505 Games
Discovery Kids: Kitten Corner – Kitten Corner lets you raise your very own kitten on the Nintendo DS. Choose your favorite breeds and coloring, give them a name and begin playing with them right away. You can buy accessories, toys, and furniture for your new friend… you can even enter your kitten into competitions and train for a life as a cat lady prove that your kitten is the best around. Why the hell would a cat need furniture, anyway?
- Nintendo DS – March 27, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 29.99
- 505 Games
Discovery Kids: Pony Paradise – Pony Paradise gives you the chance to care for your very own pony from birth to adulthood. Become best friends as you groom, feed and take your pony for rides. I really really hope that there’s a secret option in this game that lets you turn your pony into an APOCALYPSE PONY. That’d be super.
- Nintendo DS – March 27, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 29.99
- 505 Games
Discovery Kids: Puppy Playtime – Choose from three different breeds and train them in over 30 missions to eventually work alongside teams from the Police Force, Fire Department and Lifeguards. Train your puppies from two months old to one year old and watch them develop into fully-grown rescue dogs. Now this actually sounds like something that I’d spend five to ten minutes on. Seriously. I’m not being sarcastic here.
- Nintendo DS – March 27, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 29.99
- 505 Games
Pimp My Ride: Street Racing – This game’s an arcade-style racer that rewards players with new vehicles and customizations for participating in and winning street races around the world. Before races players can customize their vehicles to ensure that their personalized whip has what it takes to beat out the competition. I wanted to do a “SUP DAWG” joke here but I couldn’t think of any so just feel free to make up your own.
- Nintendo DS – March 24, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 19.99
- Activision Blizzard
Touch Mechanic – Touch Mechanic uses the unique touchscreen controls of the Nintendo DS to let you “get your hands dirty” while repairing and upgrading cars. You take control of a young mechanic, and as you work through the game’s 75 episodes, you’ll change oil, spray paint, replace engines and air filters, and learn to overcharge your customers by as much as 125%. Haha, I’m just kidding about that last part.
- Nintendo DS – March 23, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 29.99
- Aspyr
Dreamer Series: Pop Star – Become a sensational pop star and travel the globe with your spectacular performances. Sing, play guitar, drums and keyboard as you take your band to the top of the charts. Go solo or jam with your friends – the choice is yours! It’s your band, you do what you want! Pass out drunk at parties, get arrested for DUI and possession, get caught in compromising situations and have your pics leaked all over the ‘net – the choice is yours! IT’S YOUR BAND, YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT ARRGH! Just kidding. This is clean, wholesome fun. I think.
- Nintendo DS – March 24, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 19.99
- Dreamcatcher