• Gaming

Submitted by Nfamous on 03.13.11

Well, it looks like gamers will have a few choices this week in deciding what games they want to buy. We have one new entrant to the shooter genre, a new sequel to a decent crime game, a few handheld games that are sure to garner attention, some indie games for download to your consoles, and a couple of games that will take advantage of some of the newer features to all three consoles. So let’s take a look at what is coming out this week, shall we?

Dance on Broadway - Ubisoft - March 15th - PlayStation 3

Part of the Just Dance franchise, Dance on Broadway challenges players to dance and sing to choreographed moves from 20 of Broadway's most recognizable musical stage performances using the PlayStation Move peripheral. Among the available choreographed songs players can choose are “All That Jazz” from Chicago, “Luck Be A Lady” from Guys and Dolls, “The Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show and “Just Can’t Wait to be King” from The Lion King. All in all there are 25 songs to choose from. This game is definitely not for everyone, but if you are a fan of the Just Dance series or wanted an updated version of the game since its release on the Wii last June, well, here you go.

Fit in Six - Ubisoft - March 15 - PlayStation 3, Wii

And here we go again with another exercise game that will use new motion controls on the PS3 and Wii. I don’t see the point of so many workout games (much like I don’t see the point of so many gyms), but Fit in Six is trying something new by not only utilizing the PlayStation Move but also a peripheral camera for the Wii which is meant to track the players motions on both systems. Speaking honestly here, this just seems like more of the same to me.

Top Spin 4 - 2K Sports - March 15 - PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360

Top Spin 3 garnered mixed reviews mostly due to poor controls but well tuned game physics. Top Spin 4 looks to change all that by attempting to correct some of the control issues on the Wii and introducing the motion control options on the PS3 with Move and the 360 with Kinect. Generally speaking, when playing TS3 last year, if you just used the basic controller with either the 360 of the PS3, the game seemed to play quite well and was definitely meriting the praise it received. How this version will do not that all three consoles will utilize the motion control options… well, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Full House Poker - Microsoft Game Studios - March 16 - Xbox Live, Windows Phone 7

Being touted a spiritual successor to 1 vs. 100, Full House Poker will feature the poker variant of Texas Hold Em’ and will feature scheduled tournaments for players to take part in as it is presented in a television game show type format. If it is even just half as fun to play and addicting as 1 vs. 100 was, then this game should be on your must play list if you are even remotely interested in casual multiplayer games.

Slam Bolt Scrappers - Fire Hose Games - March 15 - PlayStation Network

Developed by indie game developer Fire Hose Games, Slam Bolt Scrapper is a puzzle action type game that has the players control their characters in a beat em’ up style game while building defense towers to eliminate the other characters. With the ability to challenge up to four friends online via PSN, from what the trailers show this game could be pretty fun. Think of the gameplay as Tetris meets Tower Defense meets Double Dragon. It sure seems pretty ambitious, but if it plays well and pays off, this one could just be a hit.

Okamiden - Capcom - March 15 - Nintendo DS

Already well received in Japan after it was released last September, Okamiden takes the fun and original gameplay from Okami and brings it to the DS so players can take little Chibiterasu (the cute protagonist of the game) on the go with them. While the gameplay and features won’t be anything new to anyone who has played Okami, the game should still be a fun play as you once again must control your hero as he (that’s right, he) battles the returning demons to the land of Nippon. Early word from across the sea has this game to be just as remarkable as the previous game. Again, a little less original than Okami, Okamiden does introduce a few new features that are sure to surprise the player.

Jikandia: The Timeless Land - Aksys Games - March 15 - PlayStation Portable

Another game touted as a spiritual successor to a previously popular game (this time Half Minute Hero), Jikandia: The Timeless Land is a side-scrolling action RPG that is set for a release on the PSP. While certain time elements of the gameplay from Half Minute Hero are abound in Jikandia, it certainly looks like an all new game as your character is transported from the real world (where time flies by) to (you guessed it) Jikandia (which is timeless). Okay, it certainly has me intrigued, but so far I have been less than impressed with what I have seen from the trailer. Of course, never judge a book by its cover as I wasn’t impressed with Half Minute Hero’s trailer either. So we will wait and see on this one…

God Eater Burst - D3 Publisher - March 15 - PlayStation Portable

Originally released as God Eater in Japan in February of last year, the game went through a major overhaul and was released again last October as Gods Eater Burst in Japan. Now, the Burst version of the game (minus the pluralized version of the word God) is heading to our region and hitting the PSP. Said to play a bit like Capcom’s Monster Hunter, Burst is more mission driven than the MH franchise and boast more than 100 missions in the single player campaign. The ability to play multiplayer online with friends or with 3 AI controlled teammates lets the player go out and attempt some of the larger scale missions with some probable much needed aid.

Yakuza 4 - Sega - March 15 - PlayStation 3

Finally making its way to North American stores after being released in Japan last March, Yakuza 4 continues the story from previous games in the Yakuza franchise with the return of Yakuza’s protagonist Kazuma Kiryu. Introducing three new protagonist whose stories will intertwine with Kazuma’s as the game progresses, the game will once again being open world with lots of mini games for the player to take part in as they interact with other characters in an RPG style manner. In Japan, the game has been generally praised for its gameplay and story. Will that success translate over stateside? If previous installments are any indication, then yes, and I know that I am personally looking forward to playing it for myself.

Homefront - THQ - March 15 - OnLive, PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360

A new entry in the seemingly overpopulated shooter genre, Homefront changes things up a bit as it is set in 2027 where the nuclear powered North Korean army invades the United States. With a rich plot written by John Milius (writer of Red Dawn and co-writer of Apocalypse Now), the games sets up the story in which North Korea becomes a nuclear power while the US is in an economic decline. You take up the role of a new recruit into the American Resistance trying to fight off the occupation and are allowed to use guerrilla style warfare tactics to take back the US. Already mired in controversy overseas (the overly censored Japanese version of the game makes no reference to North Korea at all), and garnering some pretty impressive early reviews from Metacritic and Gameranking, this one looks like it could give some shooters out there some pretty good competition.