Games On Net :: New Releases: Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions - 22/04/2009

By Matt Keller - Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:28pm

The quiet weeks continue in the world of new releases. This week is a little different from last week though, with some new retail releases that are actually worth checking out. My personal favourite so far is the simulation/strategy title Little King’s Story for the Wii, which although sickeningly cute houses a fairly deep and satisfying game. Also of interest is Koei’s second trip to the GUNDAM universe in its battlefield brawler Dynasty Warriors: GUNDAM 2

Don’t forget to check out the full release schedule for the latest changes and information on upcoming games.

22/04/2009

Lode Runner
Platform: Xbox Live Arcade
Developer: Tozai Games/SouthEnd Interactive
Publisher: Microsoft
RRP: 1200 Microsoft Points ($AU19.80)

And so the Days of Arcade promotion comes to an end with a remake of Broderbund’s 1983 classic Lode Runner for the not-so-friendly price of 1200 Microsoft Points. It looks nice and supports four players, but it’s still just Lode Runner, and that’s hardly worth twenty bucks. It also seems stupid to end the Days of Arcade promotion this week when Microsoft has two big name arcade titles like Banjo-Tooie and Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram hitting the service next week.

23/04/2009

*Blast Works: Build, Fuse & Destroy* Platform: Wii Developer: *Budcat Creations* Publisher: *Majesco* RRP: $AU69.95 After some 9 months in the lurch, *Blast Works* finally makes it to PAL Wiis this week. The game is based off the freeware shooter Tumiki Fighters crafted by renowned doujin-game developer Kenta Cho. *Blast Works* seems like a regular horizontal shooter at first, but the portions of the environment you destroy can be fused with your ship to alter or enhance its abilities. It also comes with a rather in-depth level editor, and a few other games created by Kenta Cho, including rRootrage, Gunroar, Torus Trooper and the original Tumiki Fighters. Not bad for someone looking for a bit of an old school shooting experience.
*Dynasty Warriors: GUNDAM 2* Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Developer: *Koei* Publisher: *Namco Bandai* RRP: $AU89.95 *Dynasty Warriors: GUNDAM 2* is sort of like a Japanese nerd’s idea of heaven, mixing the beat ‘em up style battlefield gameplay of the Dynasty Warriors series with the mechs, stories and combat of the GUNDAM universe. While most people will write it off as the game where players press X/Square non-stop for about an hour at a time, the reality is that it’s a really good beat ‘em up with a whole lot of GUNDAM fanservice thrown in. It won’t appeal to everyone, but if you’re interested in either component of the game, then it’s worth a look.
*Moto GP 08* Platform: Wii Developer: *Capcom* Publisher: *Capcom* RRP: $AU79.95 Capcom’s a bit late to the party with the Wii version of *Moto GP 08, which has arrived some 6 months after the release of every other version. Our review wasn’t particularly kind to that version, and I can’t imagine the Wii version being any better. Does anyone else long for the days of the Climax/THQ developed Moto GP Ultimate Racing Technology* games?

24/04/2009

*Little King’s Story* Platform: Wii Developer: *Marvelous Interactive* Publisher: *Rising Star Games* RRP: $AU79.95 I was initially sceptical of *Little King’s Story, expecting it to be all about the cutesy stuff, with little substance underneath. After playing the game for a couple of hours last night, I’m glad to say that’s not the case. It’s one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played this year, mixing the kingdom management of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King* with the strategy gameplay of *Pikmin. Take control of a kingdom in its infancy, expand your territory, keep the people happy, healthy and employed, and free the world of evil. A must buy. (Want to know more? Check out our video interview* about *Little King's Story*!)
*Puzzle Quest: Galactrix* Platform: Nintendo DS, PC Developer: *Infinite Interactive* Publisher: *D3 Publishing* RRP: $AU39.95 (PC), $AU49.95 (DS) It’s take 2 for AFA Interactive on the retail release of *Puzzle Quest Galactrix* after last month’s seemingly aborted release attempt. As you’ll read in our upcoming review, the game is still pretty good, but the new hexagonal based puzzle system makes the game seem even more luck-based than before, and the jump-gate hacking mini-games grow tiresome almost immediately. Should make a good travel companion, though.

April is set to end on a slightly higher note with the release of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, the remake and sequel to one of the best first person shooters of the last generation. On the digitally distributed front, Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade service will no doubt benefit from the release of Rare’s classic platformer Banjo-Tooie and Sega’s mech fighter Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram. Finally, Activision will be unsheathing its claws with the movie tie-in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.