Games On Net :: New Releases: Coming Attractions

Coming Attractions - 02/11/2009

By Matt Keller - Mon Nov 2, 2009 1:01pm

November is upon us. As the year draws to a close, the big hitters make their way onto store shelves, ready to consume your hard earned dollars and free time. This week's new release highlights include Tekken 6 for the PS3 and 360, Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time, the simply titled Cricket for the Wii and BioWare's long awaited Dragon Age: Origins for the PC and Xbox 360.

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

04/11/2009

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
Platform: Nintendo DS, PSP
Developer: Rebellion
Publisher: LucasArts
RRP: $AU59.95

While we sit around and wonder where the heck Star Wars Battlefront III is, LucasArts has invested in the services of Rebellion to produce a second handheld exclusive incarnation of the series in Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron. Like 2007's Renegade Squadron, this one puts a little extra emphasis on the single player story of the game (which involves two force sensitive clone troopers who end up on opposite sides of the Galactic Civil War), without compromising the multiplayer aspects. I wasn't big on Rebellion's last Star Wars effort, so hopefully this one is a little more refined.

05/11/2009

*Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders* Platform: Nintendo DS Developer: *AWE Games* Publisher: *Dreamcatcher* RRP: $AU49.95 Another video game based on the novels from the Queen of Crime hits the DS this week. This one is based on her 1936 novel The ABC Murders, which has Hercule Poirot on the trail of a serial killer whose victims' names are in the sequence of the alphabet. These games based on Agatha Christie's work aren't bad, but nothing about them really stands out.
*Buzz! Quiz World* Platform: PlayStation 3, PSP Developer: *Relentless Software* Publisher: *Sony Computer Entertainment* RRP: $AU49.95 (PSP), $AU59.95 (PS3) Everybody's favourite former Neighbours heartthrob Jason Donovan returns to voice wannabe Muppet quiz show host Buzz in his latest collection of multiple choice quizzes. Frankly, if you've played a Buzz game before, you know what to expect.
*Cricket* Platform: Wii Developer: *Transmission Games* Publisher: *Codemasters* RRP: $AU79.95 Remember *Ashes Cricket 2009*, the remarkably average cricket game that launched back in August? Well, there was a Wii version, but rather than releasing it here for the Ashes series like they did in the UK, Codemasters decided to sit on it until the start of the summer cricket season down here. Apparently the motion controls make it a great deal more accessible, but the polish just isn't there.
*Dragon Age: Origins* Platform: PC, Xbox 360 (Coming November 19 to PS3) Developer: *BioWare* Publisher: *Electronic Arts* RRP: $AU109.95 (Standard), $AU114.95 (JB Limited Edition), $AU119.95 (GAME Limited Edition), $AU129.95 (EB Limited Edition) It seems like forever and a day since BioWare first spoke of *Dragon Age, but the long awaited spiritual successor to the Baldur's Gate* series is finally out this week. BioWare's going back to their roots for this release after almost a decade worth of more linear, console-oriented RPG productions. The big question is whether or not the game stacks up to BioWare's considerable PC RPG back catalogue – you'll have to wait until Thursday to find out. Confused about which version to get? Check out *our article*, which details each version of the game and what neat extras you'll get.
*FIFA Manager 10* Platform: PC Developer: *Bright Future* Publisher: *EA Sports* RRP: $AU89.95 While they're not exactly known for producing good sports management sims, EA Sports is keen to carve out their own slice of the football management pie with *FIFA Manager 10. New to this year's iteration is an online play component, a superior animation system and customizable manager desktop. Still, even though this has the neat ability to play as a player/manager, stats junkies are best going with Football Manager*.
*Hasbro Family Game Night 2* Platform: Nintendo DS, Wii Developer: *Electronic Arts* Publisher: *Electronic Arts* RRP: $AU49.95 (DS), $AU79.95 (Wii) EA's bringing out a second helping of Hasbro board games this week for the Wii and DS in *Hasbro Family Game Night 2. New games include Operation, Battleship* and Connect 4. No word on whether you can play against the Grim Reaper ala Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey.
*Rabbids Go Home* Platform: Nintendo DS, Wii Developer: *Ubisoft* Publisher: *Ubisoft* RRP: $AU59.95 (DS), $AU69.95 (Wii) The Rabbids have abandoned Rayman to go own their own adventure this year. The stupid bunnies have decided that the Moon is their home, and are building a giant pile of rubbish so they can reach it from earth. Cute as they were the first time around, I think these bunnies are starting to wear out their welcome.
*Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time* Platform: PlayStation 3 Developer: *Insomniac* Publisher: *Sony Computer Entertainment* RRP: $AU109.95 After becoming separated in the events of Tools of Destruction, Ratchet has been conducting a galaxy-wide search for his faithful robotic buddy Clank, who was kidnapped by a mysterious bunch of robots called the Zoni. The result is another gun-toting, planet trotting adventure. *A Crack in Time* doesn't mess with the series successful formula, but introduces some cool new weapons and a cooperative play mode. Definitely worth a look if you miss 3D platformers.
*Singstar: Take That* Platform: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 Developer: *Sony Computer Entertainment* Publisher: *Sony Computer Entertainment* RRP: $AU49.95 I find the decision to base a Singstar game entirely around Take That to be a little surprising, given that most of their success came in the early 90s when Robbie Williams was a part of the band, and none of their tracks are particularly memorable – but hey, if you like the band and want to sing along, go for it.
*Tekken 6* Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Developer: *Namco Bandai* Publisher: *Namco Bandai* RRP: $AU99.95 (Standard), $AU149.95 (Special Edition), $AU269.95 (Hardcore Edition) The King of Iron Fist Tournament 6 makes its long awaited trip home this week. I've always loved Tekken's complete lack of coherence in its plot – in what other game does a devil gene laden family fight against pandas, dinosaurs and kangaroos in a quest for control over their mega corporation. The home version also features a fully fleshed out rendition of Tekken Force mode (featured previously in the third and fourth games) as its main single player mode. Worth a look for fighting fans.
*Women's Murder Club: Games of Passion* Platform: Nintendo DS Developer: *THQ* Publisher: *THQ* RRP: $AU59.95 I know nothing of these Women's Murder Club books, other than that the name sounds entirely dubious, as though the women involved commit murders, rather than catch murderers. I guess that if you like murder mystery adventure games, you'll probably dig this too.
*World of Zoo* Platform: Nintendo DS, PC, Wii Developer: *THQ* Publisher: *THQ* RRP: $AU29.95 (PC), $AU59.95 (DS), $AU69.95 (Wii) Always wanted to run a zoo, but don't want to feed the lions or handle elephant feces? Then you'll probably want to take a look at *World of Zoo*, which lets you build your own zoo, take care of animals and build up long lasting bonds. After all, who wouldn't want to be friends with a giraffe?

Next week, we have a showdown between a video game icon and one of the most successful first person shooter brands in the modern era. New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Modern Warfare 2 will take up most of your time, but there's a few little gems worthy of attention too, like A Boy and His Blob for the Wii, the new Jak & Daxter for the PS2 and PSP, and Space Invaders Extreme 2 for the DS.