Week o Games 11/16: MetalSlug7, Left4Dead, MK v DC, Skate It, AnmlCross, Tomb Raider

slash000

Another week, another 7 days of new game releases!

Welcome to the 40 edition of G&T's newly traditional "Weekly Games Release Thread!" - Week 11/16 - 11/22!

Where we discuss what we're looking forward to, what we're going to buy, and what we're just now realizing is being released this week that we had forgotten about!

NDS

note: Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff release may have been pushed back to this week, not sure. Ditto for Trackmania

Luminous Arc 2
Metal Slug 7

Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades
Skate It
Shaun White Snowboarding
Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon
Need for Speed Undercover

Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party
Tomb Raider Underworld


Robocalypse
Bolt
Cradle of Rome
Imagine Movie Star
Imagine: Ballet Star
Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine
Petz Catz Clan
Petz Monkeyz House
Petz Rescue Endangered Paradise
Tony Hawk's Motion/Hue Pixel Painter
Ultimate Band
Winter Sports 2: The Next Challenge
Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams

PC

Left 4 Dead
Need for Speed Undercover
Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
Tomb Raider Underworld
Spore Creepy & Cute Parts Pack
Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Episode 4: Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective
The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Complete Edition
The Sims 2 Mansion & Garden Stuff
Dynasty Warriors 6
EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey
Bolt
CSI: NY
Gothic 3 - Forsaken Gods
Legendary
Beyond Protocol

PS2

Shaun White Snowboarding
NCAA Basketball 09
Need for Speed Undercover
Rock Band Track Pack Volume 2
Bolt
Dynasty Warriors 6
NPPL Championship Paintball 2009
Rock Band 2 (Special Edition Bundle)
Ski & Shoot
Sonic Unleashed
Winter Sports 2: The Next Challenge
Burnout Anthology

PS3

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
Shaun White Snowboarding
NCAA Basketball 09
Need for Speed Undercover
Tomb Raider Underworld
Rock Band Track Pack Volume 2
Alone in the Dark: Inferno
Bolt
Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2
NPPL Championship Paintball 2009
Rock Revolution (w/Drumkit)
Ski Doo: Snowmobile Challenge

PSP

Shaun White Snowboarding
Need for Speed Undercover

Wii

Skate It
Shaun White Snowboarding
AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack
Animal Crossing: City Folk
Sonic Unleashed
Tomb Raider Underworld
Need for Speed Undercover
Rock Band Track Pack Volume 2
Castlevania Judgment
Cooking Mama World Kitchen
Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party

Gallop and Ride
Merv Griffin's Crosswords
3: The Criminal Projective
Target Toss Pro: Bags
Agatha Christie: Evil Under the Sun
AMF Bowling World Lanes
Bolt
Championship Foosball
Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2
Monkey Mischief: Party Time
Mortimer Beckett and the Secrets of Spooky Manor
NPPL Championship Paintball 2009
Petz Crazy Monkeyz
Skate City Heroes
Ultimate Band

Xbox360

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
Shaun White Snowboarding
Left 4 Dead
Tomb Raider Underworld
Lips
Naruto: The Broken Bond
NCAA Basketball 09
Need for Speed Undercover
Rock Band Track Pack Volume 2
You're in the Movies (w/Camera)
Bolt
Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2
NPPL Championship Paintball 2009
Rock Revolution (w/Drumkit)
Ski Doo: Snowmobile Challenge
Winter Sports 2: The Next Challenge
You're in the Movies
The Last Remnant

WiiWare/VC

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People Episode 4: Dangeresque
dunno yet

XBLA

A Kingdom for Keflings
XBox Live Community games also comes online this Wednesday. Not sure what games will show up at launch but there will probably be a few winners (if nothing else, some of the Dream-Build-Play entries should show up).
dunno yet

PSN

dunno yet

The onslaught continues!


The NDS version of TecmoBowl may have been pushed to this week; I'm not sure.Ditto for Trackmania

The NDs also gets Metal Slug 7, the newest iteration of the classic arcade sidescrolling shooter series. NDS also gets Luminous Arc 2, which is an Atlus SRPG iirc. The newest Guitar Hero for the NDs comes out, GH Decades. Another Rune Factory as well.


the PC and 360 see a release of the much anticipated Left 4 Dead, the zombie 28 weeks later-esque team based multiplayer game by the Counterstrike guys. Also gets another Strongbad.


PS2 gets Rock Band 2 it seems. Also Sonic Unleashed.


PS3 and 360 get Mortal Kombat vs. DC universe, the crossover fighting game.


Wii gets it's version of Skate It, as well as Shaun White's Snowboarding. Both of these games can optionally use the Balance board. Both are supposed to have awesome controls. I've heard good things about SWS, but not much about Skate it. Either one or both could be great games. Wii also gets the "core game" known as Animal Crossing CityFolk, for those AC fans out there. Wii also gets Castlevania Judgment, for some practically guaranteed lols. I'm so going to rent it. The new Raving Rabbids arrives for Wii as well. Finally, the Wii version of Sonic Unleashed apparently comes out this week while the HD versions come out next week. (PS2 vns also arrives this week). Also a new Strongbad should come out on Wiiware.


The 360 gets Left 4 Dead and also Lips.


Just about everything gets Shaun White, Need for Speed UC, and Tomb Raider Underworld.


When will the wallet rape end?!?!?!

Dodge Aspen

I lot of these game intrigue me, but the one I'm most interested in is MK vs DC. So curious as to how it turns out. Also I'd like another use for my Balance Board, so it's good to finally see some love for that. Other than that, the only games I'm still waiting for this year are Chrono Trigger for DS, and Prince of Persia for 360.

Trus

can Skate It only be played using the balance board?

DeathPrawn

Augh! I've been waiting for metal slug 7 FOREVER, but it could not have come at a worse time.

slash000

I'll certainly be getting Metal Slug 7. Otherwise, not sure. I might get Left 4 Dead for PC, maybe. I would definitely get either Skate it or Shaun White for Wii if I had a balance board; but without one, I haven't decided. I'm going to rent Castlevania Judgment for kicks to see how it actually turned out.

I'm also seriously considering Sonic Unleashed.. but I'm not completley sold on it yet...

I've never been much of an Animal Crossing fan. So that's a no from me.

MK vs. DC is probably a no from me as well, since I haven't really enjoyed the recent iterations of the MK games and MK v DC looks to be sort of similar gameplay but with some fancy air-combat additions. I guess I just prefer my fighting games to focus on the underlying fighting mechanics rather than simpler/easier and arguably more shallow mechanics.

slash000

Trus wrote: »

can Skate It only be played using the balance board?

I'm sure that both Skate it and Shaun White can be played without the balance board. And just with standard wiimote+nunchuck.

But for at least with Shaun White, I've read that the Balance Board makes the game a lot more fun.

I haven't heard much about Skate It in general though, but I've only had passing interest in either of these games.

RainbowDespair

A Kingdom for Keflings is coming to XBLA this week. Don't know if there are any other XBLA games.

XBox Live Community games also comes online this Wednesday. Not sure what games will show up at launch but there will probably be a few winners (if nothing else, some of the Dream-Build-Play entries should show up).

Personally, I'm not buying anything this week since I'm broke, but I do look forward to getting back to Burnout Revenge & Earth Defense Force under the expectation that the hard drive copying feature will reduce those two games' excessive load times to something much more reasonable. If I had money, I'd be picking up Left 4 Dead (probably 360 version since my PC is nothing special), and some downloadable games. Metal Slug 7 I'll wait for the XBLA version since it'll probably be better (no multiplayer & downgraded graphics on the DS version) and cheaper, and I'll wait for bargain prices on Tomb Raider Underworld, Naruto: Broken Bond, and The Last Remnant since there's other stuff I haven't bought yet that I want more.

Bartholamue

You should mention that the New Xbox Experience is out on Thursday as well.

fragglefart

NO MORE GAMES FOR A MONTH OR SO PLEEEASE!!!

Ahem.

I quite fancy getting that "You're in the Movies" game for a drunken night in with friends before Christmas. Would like to have a go with "A Kingdom For Keflings" just to make use of my new NXE Avatar, but man, so swamped with games right now.

brynstar

I'm buying Lips because I love iNiS and Left4Dead because I love Valve.

I'm also considering Shaun White, because I'm in dire need of a new SSX game and EA just doesn't seem to want to make one.

Nabob

I really hope Need for Speed is at least decent, it's been too long since Most Wanted. I really want to rice out a Porsche and never use my brakes!

slash000

Oh yeah, the Wii microphone thing is coming out this week, too, since Animal crossing uses it.

mystic_knight

Metal Slug 7?! Why did no one tell me this was happening?

slash000

mystic_knight wrote: »

Metal Slug 7?! Why did no one tell me this was happening?

Now you know! So you can buy it ASAP! at least, you can get the portable DS version now, or wait for the nonportable version for XBLA whenever that hits.


I'm getting it soon-ish. I have damn final exams and such so I haven't been playing any games at all and won't be until December 20 or so, but I'll definitely get MS7 when I get the chance.

lowlylowlycook

The amazon sale on Atlus games has already build up my backlog to unacceptable levels. Wallet rape doesn't even come into it.



help

Marth

Does Metal Slug have wi-fi multiplayer? There would be no reason to buy it if it didn't.

Also, doesn't Trackmania DS come out this week?

slash000

Marth wrote: »

Does Metal Slug have wi-fi multiplayer? There would be no reason to buy it if it didn't.

Also, doesn't Trackmania DS come out this week?

Trackmania was supposed to come out Last week... but I think it got pushed back to this week...


So hopefully it'll be on shelves this week. It's been getting great reviews.



Unfortunately for Metal Slug 7, it's a Single Player experience. I think the XBLA version will have multiplayer though.

That's a pretty big oversight in my opinion. Lack of multiplayer in a Metal Slug game!? It's metal slug blasphemy.

That said, I'm buying it because I mostly play portable games in single player while killing time. Rarely play 'em multi anyway.

Which means I would probably buy the game twice if I had a 360.

Marth

slash000 wrote: »

Marth wrote: »

Does Metal Slug have wi-fi multiplayer? There would be no reason to buy it if it didn't.

Also, doesn't Trackmania DS come out this week?

Trackmania was supposed to come out Last week... but I think it got pushed back to this week...


So hopefully it'll be on shelves this week. It's been getting great reviews.

I checked the game's website. It came out in Europe this week, and it'll come out in America in... March 2009.

mastrius

I wanted to check out The Last Remnant...I wonder how itll be. With L4D though I cant keep up with the rape. Itll have to be L4D. As much as I want to try that.

BTP

Marth wrote: »

slash000 wrote: »

Marth wrote: »

Does Metal Slug have wi-fi multiplayer? There would be no reason to buy it if it didn't.

Also, doesn't Trackmania DS come out this week?

Trackmania was supposed to come out Last week... but I think it got pushed back to this week...


So hopefully it'll be on shelves this week. It's been getting great reviews.

I checked the game's website. It came out in Europe this week, and it'll come out in America in... March 2009.

I KNEW it was only the Europe date! But holy shit, March 2009? I hope when they say "US", they mean "NA".

If possible, I'd like to hear Metal Slug 7 vs. Contra 4 comparisons, please.

Ranced

Lips is out this coming week? Huh

So much for marketing.

slash000

BTP wrote: »

If possible, I'd like to hear Metal Slug 7 vs. Contra 4 comparisons, please.

Hahah, I'll almost certainly be able to compare the two once I get Metal Slug 7.

brynstar

Ranced wrote: »

Lips is out this coming week? Huh

So much for marketing.

Yeah seriously. All I've seen are a couple of magazine ads.

DeathPrawn

Trus wrote: »

can Skate It only be played using the balance board?

No. You can play with Wiimote+Nunchuk, Wiimote only, or some sort of balance board setup.

Ah_Pook

Tony Hawk's Motion/Hue Pixel Painter

what

darleysam

brynstar wrote: »

I'm buying Lips because I love iNiS and Left4Dead because I love Valve.

I'm also considering Shaun White, because I'm in dire need of a new SSX game and EA just doesn't seem to want to make one.

Check the reviews first. Eurogamer's made it sound really bad, and I decided I'd rather just go play Amped instead if I feel a snowboarding craving.

As for me.. what's Skate It like on the DS? THPS was good fun on that, and skate was just the best thing to happen to skateboarding games for a long time. If the DS version is in anyway fun, that'll be a purchase. Also I wasn't sure if my PC would like Left 4 Dead, but unless the demo is spectacularly optimised in a way the full game ain't, then I might well have to get that too, since both my brothers are seemingly hooked on it too.

Well played, Valve.

edit: damnit, also Lips.. well I found myself enjoying Rock Band's singing but I only achieve anything when I actually know the song inside out. Lips sounds like it's better, allowing you to perform the song a little more rather than just imitate it. Also the stories about being able to use your own stuff, rather than just what's with the game? Damn son, that's pretty special if so.
Could tip my hand in the next few weeks.

slash000

Ah_Pook wrote: »

Tony Hawk's Motion/Hue Pixel Painter

what

Tony Hawk's Motion/Hue Pixel Painter utilizes the DS Motion Pack and will have you twisting, tilting and turning through various skateboard and snowboard challenges

no idea

slash000

darleysam wrote: »

Also I wasn't sure if my PC would like Left 4 Dead, but unless the demo is spectacularly optimised in a way the full game ain't, then I might well have to get that too, since both my brothers are seemingly hooked on it too.
.

Isn't L4D based on the Source engine? If so, doesn't the Source engine run well on a broad spectrum of PC specs?

darleysam

It does, but with each new game they add more effects and turn things up further. Whereas I can run HL2, Episode 1, 2 and TF2 at varying degrees of high settings (with things turned down as you get more recent), the L4D minimum specs are basically equal to my PC. I'm having to run it in 1024x768 with a bunch of things turned down.

DeathPrawn

darleysam wrote: »

As for me.. what's Skate It like on the DS? THPS was good fun on that, and skate was just the best thing to happen to skateboarding games for a long time. If the DS version is in anyway fun, that'll be a purchase.

When I played it at E3, it was very solid. It's a lot like skate for the 360 in that it's very different from THPS and it feels very clunky at first, but once the controls click they're awesome.

If you played the 360 version of skate, they basically mapped the right stick to the touch screen. You push forward and turn with the face buttons, but you do tricks by drawing on the bottom screen. There's a picture of a diagonal skateboard and what you draw is a vague approximation of foot movement. To do an ollie, for example, you draw from the back of the board to the front (because you're shifting weight backwards and then forwards). If I remember correctly, you grab onto your board for grab tricks by holding down L or R, which felt really good. I didn't play it for very long, but I really liked it.

slash000

DeathPrawn wrote: »

darleysam wrote: »

As for me.. what's Skate It like on the DS? THPS was good fun on that, and skate was just the best thing to happen to skateboarding games for a long time. If the DS version is in anyway fun, that'll be a purchase.

When I played it at E3, it was very solid. It's a lot like skate for the 360 in that it's very different from THPS and it feels very clunky at first, but once the controls click they're awesome.

If you played the 360 version of skate, they basically mapped the right stick to the touch screen. You push forward and turn with the face buttons, but you do tricks by drawing on the bottom screen. There's a picture of a diagonal skateboard and what you draw is a vague approximation of foot movement. To do an ollie, for example, you draw from the back of the board to the front (because you're shifting weight backwards and then forwards). If I remember correctly, you grab onto your board for grab tricks by holding down L or R, which felt really good. I didn't play it for very long, but I really liked it.

That actually sounds pretty awesome. Thanks for the info.

darleysam

Sounds pretty interesting/good.. but also like something I'd want to try first to see if I can get the hang of it, or if it'll just punt me in the stomach and leave with my wallet.

Dang.

slash000

Maybe if we're lucky they'll put a demo up on The Nintendo Channel.

darleysam

As the only person who doesn't own a Wii, that might not help me. Since I can't really go buying any more games at the moment, I shall have to mark it as "one to get in the future" and wait for the price to drop.

DeathPrawn

darleysam wrote: »

As the only person who doesn't own a Wii, that might not help me. Since I can't really go buying any more games at the moment, I shall have to mark it as "one to get in the future" and wait for the price to drop.

If you enjoyed the 360 skate, and the reviews aren't universally inflammatory, I wouldn't say it's a huge gamble. It definitely had the same feel.

darleysam

Yeah, it's more that in the last few weeks, I've bought Dead Space, Fable II, Gears of War 2, Fallout 3 and Mirror's Edge. I will see how the reviews go, but I should put down the wallet for a little while.

DeathPrawn

Fair enough, I'm right there with you :P

AbsoluteZero

Hm... Castlevania Judgement comes out this week, huh? I'll be interested to see reviews.

mastrius

darleysam wrote: »

Yeah, it's more that in the last few weeks, I've bought Dead Space, Fable II, Gears of War 2, Fallout 3 and Mirror's Edge. I will see how the reviews go, but I should put down the wallet for a little while.

Same for me....Its rough. After L4D Im done. I cant keep up and I cant keep spending. The EVIL!

slash000

AbsoluteZero wrote: »

Hm... Castlevania Judgement comes out this week, huh? I'll be interested to see reviews.

reviews are going to rip it apart, I just know it.

I'm going to hopefully rent the game and try to decide for myself without going in with a preconceived bias. I think the game has had a problem with bias against it by virtue of being a castlevania fighiting game.

PikaPuff

what's everyone so excited about lips for?