On Shelves This Week: May 10 to May 16, 2009
Nothing major is really happening console-side this week. The console versions of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel are finally seeing a release after a few delays and the subsequent bankruptcy of game developer Ascaron. Wii owners, meanwhile, get Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus and Help Wanted. On the handheld side of things, the Sony PSP gets no love at all. The DS gets some, at least, but it’s aimed mostly towards the 12 and under set. Strategy gamers on a budget should check out the PC releases, though. There are a couple of good games in there.
Nothing major is really happening console-side this week. The console versions of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel are finally seeing a release after a few delays and the subsequent bankruptcy of game developer Ascaron. Wii owners, meanwhile, get Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus and Help Wanted.
On the handheld side of things, the Sony PSP gets no love at all this week. The DS gets some, at least, but it’s aimed mostly towards the 12 and under set. Budget-conscious PC strategy gamers also get two cheap games this week: Civilization IV‘4 Complete Edition (the original game and three expansions for US$ 40 sounds like a good deal to me) and the budget title Hinterland: Orc Lords.
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel – Originally released for PC, Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is an action RPG where the paths players choose and the decisions they make along the way determine not only the destinies of their character, but also that of their chosen race as a whole, members of the other five in-game races, and perhaps the game world of Ancaria itself. Whoo. The console versions of this game are also notable for driving developer Ascaron Entertainment to bankruptcy.- PS3, Xbox 360 – May 12, 2009
- ESRB Mature
- PS3 – US$ 49.97, Xbox 360 – US$ 49.97
- CDV Software Entertainment
Battlestations: Pacific – Relive history, or rewrite it as you go inside the cockpit of over 100 authentic war machines, including fighters, carriers, destroyers, submarines, and kamikaze planes. You can choose to battling through 28 stages in the single-player campaign or play along with 7 other people and make your way through 96 online multiplayer battles.
Raiden Fighters Aces – This souped-up compilation contains three old-school arcade shooters: Raiden Fighters, Raiden Fighters 2, and Raiden Fighters Jet. Players can now practice any stage of any game in the incredibly configurable Training Mode. You can also rotate the gameplay, or rotate your entire display to play full screen.
- Xbox 360 – May 12, 2009
- ESRB Everyone 10+
- US$ 19.99
- Valcon Games
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus – Follow the stories of 25 of your favorite Guilty gear characters who have returned with new fighting moves, as well as their unlockable original moves. In addition, the Wii “Plus” version makes the experience even better with new modes and other playable features.
- Wii – May 12, 2009
- ESRB Teen
- US$ 27.99
- Aksys
Help Wanted – Help Wanted allows you to choose from over fifty odd jobs, including Haunted House Monster, Pinch Hitter, and Sumo Referee. It also features multiple difficulty levels that change up the game play elements and a multiplayer feature that allows for head-to-head play on up to fifteen different jobs. Oh, it’s also a “fun, slap-stick game” with “light-hearted humor”.
Puzzle Kingdoms – Puzzle Kingdoms challenges players to plan out strategic attacks in order to defeat their opponents. By matching corresponding gems on the game board, players will both inflict damage on enemy forces while building mana that can be used to perform devastating attacks that will cripple their opponents.
- Wii – May 12, 2009
- ESRB Everyone
- US$ 19.99
- Zoo Games
Desktop Tower Defense – Players are tasked with eliminating a hordes of invading enemies known as ‘Creeps.’ To do this they construct a combination of turrets to fight from, which surround the Creeps’ invasion path and place mazes in Creeps’ paths to keep them in range of the weapon-mounted turrets. Oddly enough, the Amazon page for this game contains a Choking Hazard warning about balloons. LOLwut?
- DS – May 11, 2009
- ESRB Everyone
- US$ 19.99
- THQ
Girl Time – The box says this is “everything you need for a hip, happening life”. Do girls these days even use the words “hip” and “happening”? And just like THQ’s other DS release this week, this one also carries a Choking Hazard warning about balloons. What, is THQ bundling balloons with these games or something?
- DS – May 11, 2009
- ESRB Everyone
- US$ 19.99
- THQ
My Farm: Around the World – Become a virtual farmer and create farms all over the world where you can raise animals — even decidedly non-farm types like peacocks and tigers. Seems kinda Harvest Moon-ish, although I don’t think this game has any love interests. Unless you really love sheep or whatever. I don’t know. What happens between you and your virtual livestock is strictly your business. Again, Choking Hazard warning.
- DS – May 11, 2009
- ESRB Everyone
- US$ 19.99
- THQ
Dreamer Series: Shop Owner – Water and cut the flowers as a florist and take care of the special needs of your customers by preparing exquisite bouquets for them. As a grocer you have to get your store organized. Finally, the baker has to ensure all recipes are followed to bake the best cookies in town.
- DS – May 12, 2009
- ESRB Everyone
- US$ 29.99
- Dreamcatcher
Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: The Complete Edition – The final and ultimate installment of the classic Sid Meier’s Civilization IV series, offering the pinnacle of value. This compilation contains the original game and the following expansions: Warlords, Beyond the Sword, and Colonization.
- PC – May 12, 2009
- ESRB Everyone 10+
- US$ 36.99
- 2K Games
Hinterland: Orc Lords – Hinterland: Orc Lords is a single-player adventure that challenges budget-minded PC gamers to ‘loot, level and build.’ Utilizing fast-paced RPG combat and strategic base building gameplay, players must tame the wildest territory of the realm by building a prosperous town and conquering all enemies that stand against them.
- PC – May 13, 2009
- ESRB Teen
- US$ 19.99
- Got Game Entertainment