On Shelves This Week: September 23 to September 29, 2007
It goes without saying that this week is going to be big, and we need not remind you why but we’re going to say it anyway: Halo 3. Yup, Master Chief is blasting to the shelves, but let’s not overlook all the other titles that are charging to the stores alongside our intrepid hero.
This week also marks the release of sports titles like NBA 08 and Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3, while the Wii and DS get their steady doses of assorted titles. The PC gamers will not be finding their side of the shelves in want either so it might be safe to say that we’re all going to be happy with these week’s output of video games. Our wallets have a fight ahead of them, though.
Animal Genius. What’s your animal IQ? For example, do you know the difference between a panther and a leopard? You’ll get to exercise your wildlife knowledge in Animal Genius with its five games: Matchomatic, Maze Munch, Animal Expert, Scratch ‘N See, and Creature Collector.
- DS – September 25, 2007
- US$ 29.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- Scholastic, Inc.
Arctic Tale. Embark on a journey through various arctic environments with this game based on the National Geographic documentary. Do we need to tell you that you’ll be traveling through cold oceans, snow capped mountains and other dangerous frozen places? The animals age as you progress and gameplay evolves with them. Also, Arctic Tale features free-roaming gameplay and several mini-games so we doubt you’d be bored.
- DS – September 28, 2007
- US$ 19.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- DSI Games
Check out the other titles on the shelves this week after the jump!
It goes without saying that this week is going to be big, and we need not remind you why but we’re going to say it anyway: Halo 3. Yup, Master Chief is blasting to the shelves, but let’s not overlook all the other titles that are charging to the stores alongside our intrepid hero.
This week also marks the release of sports titles like NBA 08 and Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3, while the Wii and DS get their steady doses of assorted titles. The PC gamers will not be finding their side of the shelves in want either so it might be safe to say that we’re all going to be happy with these week’s output of video games. Our wallets have a fight ahead of them, though.
Animal Genius. What’s your animal IQ? For example, do you know the difference between a panther and a leopard? You’ll get to exercise your wildlife knowledge in Animal Genius with its five games: Matchomatic, Maze Munch, Animal Expert, Scratch ‘N See, and Creature Collector.
- DS – September 25, 2007
- US$ 29.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- Scholastic, Inc.
Arctic Tale. Embark on a journey through various arctic environments with this game based on the National Geographic documentary. Do we need to tell you that you’ll be traveling through cold oceans, snow capped mountains and other dangerous frozen places? The animals age as you progress and gameplay evolves with them. Also, Arctic Tale features free-roaming gameplay and several mini-games so we doubt you’d be bored.
- DS – September 28, 2007
- US$ 19.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- DSI Games
ArmA: Queen’s Gambit. Fans of the tactical first and third person shooter, Armed Assault rejoice! The expansion, Queen’s Gambit, will be bringing two new campaigns following the original storyline and new multiplayer missions. And did we mention the new weapons, characters and vehicles?
- PC – September 28, 2007
- ESRB M (Mature)
- 505 Games
Backyard Football 2008. The sixth title in the franchise, Backyard Football 2008 is still filled to the brim with kid-oriented fun. This year, it features Tom Brady as the cover athlete with the rest of the NFL superstars shot with the mini-me ray and turned into kids.
- PC – September 26, 2007
- US$ 19.99
- ESRB Everyone (E)
- Atari
Balls of Fury. As you could probably tell, this is based on the comedy movie starring Christopher Walken and Dan Fogler. Table tennis is the name of the game and you’ll have to slug it out with the best in the tournament to get to the ping-pong lord, Feng.
- Wii – September 25, 2007
- US$ 29.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- DSI Games
Billy the Wizard: Rocket Broomstick Racing. Grab your broomsticks and get ready to take to the skies. You get to enter the Broomstick Grand Prix and as a wizard, you also get to blast your opponents out of the sky with spells. There are eight characters to choose from and 40 stages to display your flying skill so make sure you dusted your broomsticks.
- Wii – September 28, 2007
- US$ 29.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- Conspiracy Entertainment
Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII. Time to awaken the flying aces in you, as this flying simulation video game lands on the shelves. In this Blazing Angels iteration, you get to play as an Allied pilot and you need to find where the Nazis are making their weapon of mass destruction and bomb it to oblivion.
- PS3 – September 25, 2007
- US$ 59.99
- ESRB T (Teen)
- Ubisoft
Bratz: The Movie. The Bratz girls have set their eyes on busting into the movies and so they’ll have to do everything they can to reach that dream. In this game, you’ll get to play as any of the Bratz (Cloe, Jade, Sasha and Yasmin), with each character having a unique adventure. And since this is Bratz we’re talking about, players will also get to tweak the character’s hair, clothes, make-up, and accessories.
- Wii – September 24, 2007
- US$ 39.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- THQ
Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2008. Just in case you’re interested in hunting big game like deer and buffalo, but can’t (for a thousand reasons, like wildlife conservation, maybe) then you should probably check this game out.
- PC – September 25, 2007
- Activision
Chocolatier. Do you want to rule the world? Don’t resort to violence, you can invade the world using something everyone can’t resist: chocolate. In this game, you get to build your chocolate empire, piece by scrumptious piece.
- PC – September 27, 2007
- US$ 19.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- Take-Two Interactive
Cocoto Kart Racing. This is Kart Racing, imp style. There are twelve devilish characters to choose from, plus three gameplay modes: Simple Race, Battle, and Championship.
- DS – September 28, 2007
- US$ 19.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- SVG Distribution
Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts. RTS fans will be getting another dose of war action as Company of Heroes’ stand alone expansion. Two new armies are joining the fray in Opposing Fronts, the British 2nd Army and the German Panzer Elite.
- PC – September 24, 2007
- US$ 39.99
- ESRB M (Mature)
- THQ
Crayola Treasure Adventures. As the name suggests, this is something for our little brothers and sisters. More like a digital coloring book than anything else, Crayola Treasure Adventures offers something that’s nearly impossible in real life: indestructible crayons.
- DS – September 25, 2007
- US$ 19.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- Crave Entertainment
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Hard Evidence. (*cue CSI theme music*) Who wouldn’t want to join Grissom and the rest of the Las Vegas team in solving baffling crimes? Well, in the fourth title with the Las Vegas crew, you’re set to solve three new crimes so you better put that thinking cap on.
Dave Mirra BMX Challenge. Not all of us can do air tricks and other stuff on bikes (some people don’t even know HOW to ride a bike), so it may be safer leave those in the hands of the professionals – or compete against them in video games. Travel around the world and try out different terrains in the latest title in the Dave Mirra franchise.
- Wii – September 25, 2007
- US$ 29.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- Crave Entertainment
Dewy’s Adventure. When you’re a droplet of water, you’re pretty flexible. Take Dewy for example, he can turn to steam or ice or just bounce around as a droplet. In Dewy’s Adventure, you’ll have to learn how to use the flexibility to beat Don Hedron and save the world.
- Wii – September 25, 2007
- US$ 49.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- Konami
Dora the Explorer: Candyland. Dora has explored a lot of places and what better place to put on the “go to” than Candyland? Dora is a kid, after all.
- PC – September 25, 2007
- US$ 19.99
- Activision
Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire. You’re on an adventure to gather six pieces of the Dragon Blade from six sealed away dragons and you better be careful, they’ll definitely be cranky once you wake them. The risks are great, but so are the rewards as you get the dragons’ abilities as you go along.
- Wii – September 25, 2007
- US$ 39.99
- ESRB T (Teen)
- D3Publisher
Ghost in the Sheet. You croak and you find yourself trapped in an old warehouse wearing a sheet over your head. Yes, you have become a ghost and have nothing else to do other than explore the mysteries of the afterlife.
- PC – September 25, 2007
- US$ 19.99
- ESRB T (Teen)
- Tri Synergy
Halo 3. We don’t think we need to tell you what this game is about. Master Chief is waiting for you at the store, soldier! Move it, move it, MOVE IT!
- Xbox 360 – September 25, 2007
- US$ 59.99
- ESRB M (Mature)
- Microsoft Game Studios
Hot PXL. Ready your portables for some quirky and maybe even weird gameplay with Hot PXL. This title from Atari and zSlide is promising more than 200 mini-games as you go through the story.
- PSP – September 25, 2007
- US$ 29.99
- ESRB T (Teen)
- Atari
Hour of Victory. In this World War II title, you get to choose how you want to to through the war. You can choose playing as covert operative, Army Ranger, or British Commando – or in shorter terms, as a spy, as a sniper, or as Rambo.
- PC – September 24, 2007
- US$ 59.99
- ESRB T (Teen)
- Midway
Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights. Push the pedal to the metal in Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights. It basically has all you need in a street racing title: pimped cars, fast tracks, speedy opponents, and girls.
- PSP – September 25, 2007, PS3 – September 24, 2007
- US$ 39.99 (PSP), US$ 59.99 (PS3)
- ESRB T (Teen)
- THQ
Kurupoto Cool Cool Stars. The stars have fallen. And it’s up to you, as the Kurupoto to get them back to their celestial places in the sky by reuniting them with their haloes by solving puzzles.
- DS – September 27, 2007
- US$ 19.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- Tommo
Loki: Heroes of Mythology. As the name suggests, you’ll be playing as one of four heroes of different mythologies to defeat the evil Egyptian god Seth. Overthrow a few gods perhaps, and fight several monsters as a Norse fighter, a Greek warrior, an Egyptian magician, or an Aztec shaman.
- PC – September 28, 2007
- US$ 39.99
- ESRB M (Mature)
- Dreamcatcher
Math Path. Need to brush up on your math skills? Maybe you need some help from this flash card game to hone your calculating skills.
- DS – September 24, 2007
- US$ 19.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- Natsume
Mystery of Shark Island. You’re stranded on a deserted island and you find that a lost civilization had inhabited the said island. Well, you won’t be making friends out of volleyballs, but you’ll have to solve the mystery to escape Shark Island.
- PC – September 27, 2007
- US$ 19.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- Take-Two Interactive
NBA 08. Bust out your game, you’ll be needing it for this iteration of SCEA’s basketball title. NBA 08 promises to be bigger, better and with more immersive gameplay for the basketball fans out there.
Ninjabread Man. Like all tough cookies, Ninjabread Man is going to go up against the evil hordes trying to destroy Candy Land. Can he beat the Angry Bees, Jelly Monsters, and the deadly Cup Cakes (among others) to save Candy Land?
- Wii – September 25, 2007
- US$ 29.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- Conspiracy Entertainment
Race Driver: Create & Race. As the name suggests, you’ll get to race around tracks you made yourself, or use the stock tracks. Either way, players will get that fast and furious speed in this custom racer.
- DS – September 25, 2007
- US$ 29.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- Codemasters
Rubik’s Cube Challenge. The Rubik’s Cube is something very frustrating in itself, though it is fun to challenge your mind every once in a while. In Rubik’s Cube Challenge, be ready to beat more than 50 puzzle boards and other brain bending challenges.
- PC – September 24, 2007
- US$ 19.99
- E-Games
Skate. You’ll need to skate your way to fame in this game. It’s set in a fictional town called San Vanelona and you’ve got to move up the rankings by earning sponsors, magazine covers, and videos of your smashing moves.
- PS3 – September 24, 2007
- US$ 59.99
- ESRB T (Teen)
- Electronic Arts
Spelling Challenges and More! As you may have guessed, this game is a portable spelling bee. Words will be flashed on the screen and you have to spell out the word using the touchscreen keyboard.
- DS – September 24, 2007
- US$ 19.99
- ESRB E (Everyone)
- Crave
Stranglehold. John Woo’s video game masterpiece is finally coming to the PS3 after a slight delay. Shoot your way through many confrontations to get to the bottom of a vast conspiracy that entangles Inspector Tequila.
- PS3 – September 25, 2007
- US$ 59.99
- ESRB M (Mature)
- Midway
The Settlers: Rise of an Empire. Yup, they’re out and they’re out to conquer the world again. You’ll have to control your settlers to create a self sufficient city – to become king, or queen of course.
- PC – September 25, 2007
- US$ 49.99
- ESRB T (Teen)
- Ubisoft
World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets. Practice that poker face to be able to face off against the likes of “The Poker Brat” Phil Hellmuth and take home the the championship bracelet.
- PC, DS, PS3, Xbox 360 – September 25, 2007
- US$ 19.99 (PC), US$ 49.99 (Xbox 360), US$ 29.99 (PSP), US$ 49.99 (PS3)
- ESRB T (Teen)
- Activision
Buy: Animal Genius
Buy: Arctic Tale (DS)
Buy: Arctic Tale (Wii)
Buy: Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII
Buy: Balls of Fury
Buy: Bratz: The Movie
Buy: Chocolatier
Buy: Cocoto Kart Racing
Buy: Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
Buy: Dave Mirra BMX Challenge
Buy: Dewy’s Adventure
Buy: Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire
Buy: Halo 3
Buy: Hot PXL
Buy: Hour of Victory
Buy: Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
Buy: NBA 08
Buy: Ninjabread Man
Buy: Skate
Buy: Stranglehold
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