On Shelves This Week: March 8 to March 14, 2009
Spearheading this week’s edition of On Shelves are a pair of mature-rated games featuring characters with arms so huge I don’t think they can even see their armpits anymore. I’m talking about Resident Evil 5 and MadWorld. For the less mature-inclined, we have M&M’s Beach Party and Totally Spies! Totally Party. Um, yay, I guess?
Before we begin this week’s On Shelves, let’s have a quick look-see at the main character of the week’s biggest game release. Here is the illustrious Mr. Chris Redfield, STARS Alpha team member and the star of Capcom’s Resident Evil 5. The pic on the left is of the regular old Chris while the pic on the right is of the new and improved, RE5-ified version.
Damn, RE5 Chris’ biceps look like they’re both bigger than his whole head! I feel like I’m looking at a before-and-after picture for a Charles Atlas bodybuilding ad. I guess one side-effect of having to kill innumerable hordes of the undead is getting arms that look like weapons of mass destruction. I better start finding me some zombies to shoot at. While I go look for a town to zombify, check out this week’s list of new video game releases.
Resident Evil 5 – Chris Redfield makes a comeback in the latest title in the RE franchise, and he’s gonna be packing more weapons than last time. Annihilate masses of zombies as you work to uncover Umbrella’s latest project. Plus we finally get to see for ourselves what exactly happened to Jill – that alone is a huge buying draw.
- Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360 – March 13, 2009
- ESRB: Mature
- PS3: US$ 59.99, Xbox 360: US$ 59.99
- Capcom
Resident Evil 5 Collector’s Edition – The RE5 Collector’s Edition includes a bonus disc, a digital art gallery, and a Resident Evil: Degeneration trailer – all of which is packed into a custom-made steel case along with the game disc. It also comes with a Tricell messenger bag, a Chris Redfield figurine, a BSAA patch, and a Kijuju-inspired pendant.
- Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360 – March 13, 2009
- ESRB: Mature
- PS3: US$ 89.99, Xbox 360: US$ 89.99
- Capcom
MadWorld – Chris isn’t the only one who’s got huge guns – mechanic and former marine, Jack, also has arms bigger than his thighs, and on top of that, he’s got a chainsaw attached to one of them! Although it’s tempting to get a lot of mileage from that chainsaw, you also have the option to make use of items found in the environment to pwn the enemy, like impaling their heads with a stop sign.
New Play Control! Pikmin – You have 30 Pikmin days to save the world while soaking up on all the cute-and-cuddlies you’ll find across 3D environments. This new version will allow you to backtrack to previous points in a save file, so you can go back to old saves without having to save multiple files. Pity they didn’t have this in some RPGs.
- Nintendo Wii – March 9, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 29.99
- Nintendo
New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis – Tennis games are always fun for some reason. The other title in the Wii’s New Play Control line is the comeback of Mario Power Tennis, complete with the cartooney Mario graphics, fun Tennis gameplay, and all the characters from the Mario world.
- Nintendo Wii – March 9, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 27.99
- Nintendo
Mana Khemia: Student Alliance – Enroll yourself into the Al-Revis Academy in the PSP debut of Mana Khemia. New gameplay systems have been added into this title, including multiplayer co-op, so you and your new classmates can band together and show those baddies what you’ve learned in class.
- Sony PSP – March 10, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone 10+
- US$ 27.99
- NIS America
Samurai Shodown Anthology – Slash your way solo through this 6-game compilation for the PSP or play against a friend via 2-player wireless Ad-hoc. This collection also marks the first time Samurai Shodown 6 gets an American release.
Avalon Code – From the masterminds behind Rune Factory and Harvest Moon comes this unique RPG experience. The world is coming to and end and your job is to hit everything with a book as if you’re a librarian with anger management problems. Hitting something adds its code to the book, giving you the power to edit it out to give you a fighting advantage.
- Nintendo DS – March 10, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 34.99
- Xseed
Boing! Docomodake – Bounce, jump, and roll your way as you navigate through puzzle-based levels in this game. Play as a mushroom on a mission and help him find his mushroom family.
- Nintendo DS – March 10, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 19.99
- Ignition Entertainment
My Pet Shop – Squeenix take a different direction this time around with My Pet Shop. True enough, you’re gonna be running your own pet shop, where you’ll have to play babysitter to up to 40 different animals.
- Nintendo DS – March 10, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 29.99
- Square Enix
NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition – Hit the hoops for some March Madness this week from the ballers of the NCAA. Play as your favorite NCAA teams and school the opposition with well-simulated post-ups, penetrations, and the sickest dunks from the college cagers. You can download this via Xbox Live.
- Microsoft Xbox 360 – March 11, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 15
- Electronic Arts
MySims Party – EA adds yet another spinoff to its successful MySims life-simulator. Take your little Sims and go crazy over all the mini-games that you can play.
- Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS – March 10, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- Nintendo Wii: US$ 39.99, Nintendo DS: US$ 29.99
- Electronic Arts
SkiDoo Snowmobile Challenge – Up for a little snowsport challenge? SkiDoo might be the title you’re looking for. For this release, however, it’s only a light update that focuses on add-on content and video support.
- Sony PS3 – March 10, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 29.99
- Valcon
M&M’s Beach Party – Hang out at the beach with your favorite candy-coated characters and choose from any of the six fun games in this title. There’s the usual beach volleyball, kayak racing, and the occasional ring toss. Soak up the sun and see for yourself that these guys melt in your mouth, not under the sun.
- Nintendo Wii – March 11, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 19.99
- Zoo Games
Totally Spies! Totally Party – This is, like, a totally awesome game, y’know. And it’s gonna be, like, the best game ever on the Wii,. *shakes head with a facepalm* Anyway, the Beverly Hills trio of Alex, Clover, and Sam are infiltrating the Wii and you can help them balance their secret spy careers and their social lives. *more facepalming*
- Nintendo Wii – March 10, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- US$ 19.99
- Valcon
Trivial Pursuit – The Q&A board game makes its way to the consoles, still carrying its Trivial Pursuit name. Up to four players can play and quiz their brains silly with new questions and exciting game modes.Earn extra points by guessing whether or not your friends know the answer, or find out which category you’re best in through the Trivial Pursuit profile.
- Sony PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii – March 10, 2009
- ESRB: Everyone
- Sony PS3: US$ 39.99, Microsoft Xbox 360: US$ 39.99, Nintendo Wii: US$ 39.99
- Electronic Arts
World Championship Games: A Track & Field Event – Create and customize your own athlete so you could show off your Olympic mad skills on your DS. Compete in 14 different events, including hurdle jumps, sprints, and even archery.
- Nintendo DS – March 10, 2009
- ESRB Everyone
- US$ 29.99
- Game Factory
Dream Day Wedding Destination – Tie the knot and go on a would-be romantic adventure with this simulator. Will it be a romantic walk down the isle? Or will there be shotgun weddings and runaway brides? It’s all in your hands.
- Nintendo DS – March 9, 2009
- ESRB Everyone
- US$ 19.99
- THQ
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