Wow and double wow. First we get the spectacular news that Pandora’s Tower is headed to North America and now Xseed is setting out to make 2013 even better for their fans (and possibly their best year to date) by announcing a VERY cool selection of new titles plus yet another classic Nihon Falcom JRPG set heading to PC gamers via Steam. Even better, everything but the Steam download is getting a retail release! Yes, I’m typing this post with a big fat grin on my face, as I want everything here that’s coming.
Apparently, that rather large launch lineup wasn’t enough for some gamers (and overpaid industry analysts who don’t game, but LOVE to over-speculate), so here you go, news of new Wii U releases coming in 2013. Sure, some stuff here is delayed from its initial announcements, but that’s no big deal as it SHOULD get some Wii U owners to try a game or three they may have ignored because they don’t play title in a particular genre. That said, what’s coming is definitely worth waiting for, as there are some nice games for every niche from casual, family-friendly stuff to more mature content (ah, Bayonetta 2 – and exclusive to the system at that!). It’s going to be a pretty big year for the new console, but 3DS owners aren’t being left out of the fun at all as you’ll see above.
Excellent news and even better, there’s a demo dropping on the eShop on February 21. Of course, you’re SOL if your Wii U isn’t being used online, so let’s hope Capcom cooks up some actual demo DISCS for those gamers who want to try this out. They did this with Monster Hunter 3 on the Wii (which was one of a very few Wii games that actually got a demo disc). Given that this series has gotten a few titles yet to be released in the US, the most dedicated US fans of Capcom’s long-running Monster Hunter franchise who can’t afford to buy all those consoles (or are willing to learn Japanese) are probably some of the most frustrated gamers out there. Granted, the game may be huge in Japan (they’ve gotten custom MH-themed consoles), but it’s still more of a niche title here thanks to the somewhat complex control scheme that’s guaranteed to fluster newbies right out of diving in for extended play sessions.
Me, I love the game world and humor and art direction, but I’m old (*creak*, *groan*)and like my action games a bit less timed and a bit more free roaming. Still, MH3U has that gravity pull thing going for it where once you’re hooked, you’ll keep forging ahead until you get it done. I’d LOVE to see Capcom actually bring Dragon’s Dogma to the Wii U at some point (even though it looks as if that won’t happen) simply because that game had the feel of a Monster Hunter game with a lot more going for it in terms of openness and overall setting. That and outdoor areas aren’t broken up into separate “rooms” with load screens between them…
Ahhhh… Smell that, kids? It’s the scent of ADVENTURE! Well, adventure gaming to be exact. Wait, you don’t have a “Sniff” key on that keyboard? Hey, it’s 2013 – where have you been? OK, I’ll try and describe what adventure games smell like. It’s sort of a rainy weekend, hot cocoa, graham crackers and recently laundered blankets. A touch of pet hair (*achoo!*) and if you’re really lucky, the lingering scent of tomato soup (not from a can) and a grilled cheese sandwich can be detected. You may only get a hint of that overall aroma, but it’s all in there if you close your eyes and lean back…
Borderlands 2 was a very huge hit in 2012 for Gearbox, but yeah, I’ve been keeping an eyeball on you too, new game. It’s pretty clear that Randy Pitchford and company love the James Cameron film to the utmost degree and this looks to bring fans of the franchise that sequel they didn’t quite get with Alien 3 (I actually like David Fincher’s debut, warts and all, especially the longer Assembly Cut). I’ll be playing this primarily for the campaign mode, as I’m not a huge multiplayer guy and yes, I’m looking forward to seeing how well Gearbox translated the assorted sets and gear into game form. I’ve only seen Aliens a few dozen times, so I can be as picky and precise as a developer head over heels for the source material. So far, I’m not complaining at all.
February 12 is sneaking up fairly quickly… now, I just need to decide what I want to play this on. I’m leaning towards the Wii U just to see how that GamePad gets used, but I want the PS3 version as well…
TT Games is back at work on another new licensed LEGO game, but this time it’s an all Marvel title set to hit no fewer than seven consoles (PC, PS3, Vita, Xbox 360, Wii U, Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS) by the end of the year. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes will be set initially in a stylized Lego New York City before spreading out into other locations familiar to comics fans and according to the press release, “offers an original storyline in which Nick Fury calls upon Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Wolverine and other heroes spanning the Marvel Universe to save Earth from such threats as the vengeance of Loki and the hunger of Galactus, Devourer of the Worlds.”
Right now, that’s the sole image for the game above, but that’s going to change soon enough, folks. Expect this family-friendly superhero fun blast sometime in Fall 2013.
Sega of America’s got the great good fortune to have the publishing rights to Double Fine Studios and Ron Gilbert’s upcoming download only multiplatform adventure game which just so happens to be pretty unique on a few fronts. The genre itself has been kicked around as “dead”, “dying”, and other not so positive things, but the actual truth is it never really went away thanks to a combination of older gamers still playing the classics, new players discovering them again thanks to sites like gog.com (they’re having a GREAT sale on tons of stuff that ends in about 24 hours, by the way) and plenty of indie games popping up on just about every platform with a screen these days. The whimsical art style here is only the tip of the iceberg, however – The Cave looks to change things up with multiple playable characters with their own motivations for stepping into the titular location for a bit of survival-based spelunking. It’s also a Double Fine game, so you WILL laugh a lot, replay it a few times and think some deep thoughts as you’re doing that laughing and replaying, guaranteed.
Capcom’s fan favorite dino-hunting series with its learn it or suffer control scheme and spectacular prehistoric beasts of assorted sizes is coming to the Wii U soon enough, so they’re rolling out videos to show off their baby. I have a bunch of MH games here, but have never gotten around to completing one because I only play them solo and just can’t muster up the patience to deal with the quirks some fans adore. I think it’s the timed missions that tick me off the most, as I want an open world and enough breathing room to muck around and learn stuff with zero pressure. The superb Dragon’s Dogma was and is PERFECT for this style of play and I hope Capcom sees fit to get Wii U owners that game (or its upcoming sequel), as it’s one of those memorable experiences that gets better the longer you play it.
Granted, I’m used to games with plenty of learning curves, but there’s just something about the Monster Hunter series that hasn’t clicked with my old self. That said, I’ll definitely buy this, no doubt and you should to if you’re a fan of the franchise or are looking for a great game to kick your butt around the room and make you laugh when it offers up its comic relief moments. Just don’t expect it to be a cakewalk and realize once you’re in, you’re in for the long haul and you’re golden.
Nope, it’s not a sign of a new console’s premature apocalypse when the budget-priced releases start popping up. In Japan, D3 Publisher is well-known as a producer and publisher of a lower-priced games lineup for a few consoles called THE SIMPLE series, so it was only a matter of time before they started getting games done and shipped for Nintendo’s new system. This one’s a compilation of 35 family friendly mini-games and I’m gathering will do well because D3 has figured out that sticking a ton of content onto a disc and getting it out during the holidays (December 20) at an affordable price point (about $30) will net them a decent profit no matter what reviewers will say. The chances of this coming out here are pretty slim, but it would be a nice surprise if it did in some form or another.
As a launch title for the Wii U, Namco Bandai’s TANK! TANK! TANK! may not look like a system seller, but look past its colorful arcade visuals and initially simple gameplay and you’ll find a fast-paced (and 100% tank focused) party game shooter that owes more than a little credit to Sandlot’s always fun Earth Defense Force series of games. In fact, the game manages to play almost exactly like an arcade version of EDF would, streamlining the experience down to timed stages, random weapon pickups that you can use instantly and a mix of assorted enemies from giant robotic spiders and wasps to some pretty wild bosses that need to be taken down as quickly as possible. Granted, blowing monsters into scrap metal over and over is all you do here in the main game whether playing in solo or co-op, so those seeking something deeper should look elsewhere. On the other hand, given that this is a rather enhanced port of an arcade game that offers much more than the original version, you SHOULD expect and respect the repetitive nature of the game to the fullest by diving in and shooting up the scenery as much as possible. Continue reading →
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