Week oGames,3/1:Halo Wars,KOF 98UM, Matt Hazrd, Hawx, Sonic &BK, P.Star PSP, Emp.TWar

slash000

Another week, another 7 days of new game releases!

Welcome to the 53 edition of G&T's newly traditional "Weekly Games Release Thread!" - Week 3/1 - 3/7!

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

MLB 2K9 Fantasy All-Stars




Grey's Anatomy

Monster Band

Littlest Pet Shop: Spring

SpongeBob vs. The Big One: Beach Party Cook-Off

PC

Empire: Total War



Major League Baseball 2K9



Grey's Anatomy

PS2

The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match




Tomb Raider: Underworld





Major League Baseball 2K9




MLB 09: The Show



Spongebob: Happy Squared Pack

PS3

Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard




Tom Clancy's HAWX



Major League Baseball 2K9



MLB 09: The Show

SBK: Superbike World Championship

PSP

Phantasy Star Portable



MLB 09: The Show

Wii

Sonic and the Black Knight



We Ski & Snowboard



Major League Baseball 2K9



Grey's Anatomy

Six Flags Fun Park

Xbox360

Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard



Halo Wars



Major League Baseball 2K9



Tom Clancy's HAWX

WiiWare/VC

dunno yet

XBLA/XNA Community

dunno yet

PSN

dunno yet

First of March and there's already some good stuff available this week:

Every system except the PSP gets the latest MLB 2k9 game.

PC gets Empire Total War, surely to be an excellent strategy game


PS2 gets King of Fighters 98 Ultimate Match, a refined version of arguably one of the best King of Fighters games ever; and thus, one of the best fighting games ever period. PS2 also gets a belated release of Tomb Raider Underworld.


The HD consoles get Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard, which is a third person spoof of just about every other game out there right now. EBstops got it last week but every other retailer gets it in this week.

The HD consoles also get the latest Tom Clancy game, as Hawx is coming out this week. Will it be like Ace Combat? I have no idea.

PSP gets Phantasy Star Portable, which should be a good RPG.


Wii gets Sonic & The Black Knight, which is a new game in the same "side series" as Secret Rings, and so it will hopefully be just as good or perhaps even better. Wii also gets "We Ski & Snowboard," sequel to the original, popular Balance Board skiing game, I believe.



Last but certainly not least, X360 gets the newest Halo game! And it's not an FPS! Halo Wars comes out this week.

slash000

I also forgot to mention that either last or this week, a really cool looking WiiWare First Person Shooter called Onslaught came out. Apparently it's really good and addicting in that arcadey style... Has good controls, too, supposedly. Pretty good reviews as well.

Zombiemambo

you should talk about how awesome Empire: Total War is going to be.

lowlylowlycook

Zombiemambo wrote: »

you should talk about how awesome Empire: Total War is going to be.

Soooooo Awesome.

Arrath

Wait, what is this EVE release all about? Just an up-to-date boxed version?

I'll be getting Halo Wars and Eat Lead at some point.

slash000

Arrath wrote: »

Wait, what is this EVE release all about? Just an up-to-date boxed version?

I'm really not sure. I think it's just a boxed version.

Spoit

Zombiemambo wrote: »

you should talk about how awesome Empire: Total War is going to be.

Seriously, mentioning KoF, or worse, sonic, over it?o_O

Death Cab For Albie

My wallet is going to be hurting after this week.

Empire: Total War
MLB 2k9
HAWX
Halo Wars

slash000

Spoit wrote: »

Zombiemambo wrote: »

you should talk about how awesome Empire: Total War is going to be.

Seriously, mentioning KoF, or worse, sonic, over it?o_O

Whoah, hey now.

King of Fighters 98 UM may actually be the best fighting game of the year. That's right. If it's at all improved over the original KOF 98, which itself is an amazing game, it may well be the best Fighting game of the year. Better than Street Fighter IV. I said it.

OK let me take that back. If SNK manages to put KOF XII out this year (unlikely), then that will be the best fighting game of the year. And KOF 98 UM will be the second best fighting game of the year.


As far as empire, eh, I don't follow PC games as closely. I'll add it onto the title.

UnbreakableVow

Don't feel bad, slash, neither do I.

Anyways, this is my first Week o Games as a DS owner, and figures, it's the first week where there's not something cool. Grey's Anatomy? Really?

slash000

UnbreakableVow wrote: »

Don't feel bad, slash, neither do I.

Anyways, this is my first Week o Games as a DS owner, and figures, it's the first week where there's not something cool. Grey's Anatomy? Really?

Haha :P

As far as the NDS, this week is kind of a break, as some really good titles have come out the past few weeks (Retro Game Challenge, Dragon Quest V, Fire Emblem SD, Ys BI and II, Blue Dragon Plus, Puzzle Quest Galactrix, and some smaller titles like Big Bang Mini and Moon).

But the next 2 weeks the NDS is getting Avalon Code, Valkyrie Profile CP, GTA Chinatown, Henry Hatsworth, Suikoden Tierkres, and Trackmania DS. The next week after that (the third week) is Pokemon Plat, FF:CC Echoes, and Broken Sword.

So really, you should get some of the awesome games already out, but the rest of the month is just as brutal for the NDS.

Dr Mario Kart

I'm not so sure that Brain Challenge Deluxe for PS3 is actually coming out. I know it was printed in Europe, but no stateside retailer knows it exists.

Strange thing for me to point out, its just that I've been keeping tabs on 360/PS3 exclusives for a quarterly comparison (right now PS3's only Q1 exclusive is Killzone 2).

slash000

Also I feel compelled to mention that King of Fighters 98 Ultimate Match is basically

• Based on one of the best King of Fighters games ever (KOF 98)
• Advance and Extra Mode, plus the new Ultimate Mode (Ultimate mode is a customizable style that allows the player to choose between features from Advance or Extra mode)
• 10 new characters to '98, including Geese Howard, Wolfgang Krauser, Mr. Big, Goenitz, and Orochi
• Original or New 3D backgrounds
• Customizeable/Saveable character color configs
• New Soundtracks
• 64 Total characters, the most of any King of Fighters game ever
• $20

This is the definitive version of arguably the best KOF ever, including the most characters ever.

urahonky

Oh sweet Jesus. KOF comes out? Damn it all.

slash000

Dr Mario Kart wrote: »

I'm not so sure that Brain Challenge Deluxe for PS3 is actually coming out. I know it was printed in Europe, but no stateside retailer knows it exists.

*checks*

You're right; deleted

Pharezon

I wonder what I'm buying.

urahonky

Pharezon wrote: »

I wonder what I'm buying.

Hawx?

ManetherenWolf

Eat Lead is already out. Came out friday.

Game is actually pretty fun too. Not amazing from a technical standpoint or anything, but its fairly clever so far, and pretty fun.

Plus for the Achievement/Trophy goers, its fairly easy going on them since there is no online play. Im at 23% trophies after a couple of hours.

joshua1

Is Hawx actually going to be any good? I have heard only vague rumblings, with the biggest being from a issue of Popular Science.

slash000

ManetherenWolf wrote: »

Eat Lead is already out. Came out friday.

I know (I said as much in the OP).

The reason I'm posting it in the Title today is because it only came out at EBstops last week. Most retailers won't get it until this week.

Game is actually pretty fun too. Not amazing from a technical standpoint or anything, but its fairly clever so far, and pretty fun.

Good to hear that it's fairly clever/pretty fun. I'd probably get it if I had a console it's on, at some point.

joshua1 wrote: »

Is Hawx actually going to be any good? I have heard only vague rumblings, with the biggest being from a issue of Popular Science.

All I know about it is what I saw in a cheesy pre-rendered teaser trailer sent out by Ubi . That was it.

I'd like to know more about it. I enjoy arcadey flight games. But I don't know this one's angle.

Unco-ordinated

Oh god, Empire Total War looks so god-damn good.

The Prince of Persia DLC's coming out this week. For realz this time.

Btw, the Hawx demo should be out on the PS3 and 360 so check it out if you're curious. I haven't played it myself but I've heard that it's not much good.

slash000

Uhhhhhhhhhhhh

I think I forgot to mention that Blue Dragon Plus came out for Nintendo DS last week........

Xenogears of Bore

Sigh. Another week of no games. Good thing Pokemon isn't that far off.

slash000

I really want to get KOF 98 UM, and I'm very very interested in Onslaught.

I've been waiting on more reviews and opinions of Sonic & The Black Knight.

The reason being that I loved Sonic & The Secret Rings, which was a truly fun, great game.

I don't know much about it (S&TBK) but I have heard that it's Secret-Rings-esque, but it allows for nunchuck analog stick controls.

If it really is just like Secret Rings plus analog stick controls, It'll be something that I'll need to get at some point.

Bartholamue

What? Why is Eve Online on that list? andif you say I should get KoF '98, then I'll get it at some point.

slash000

Bartholamue wrote: »

What? Why is Eve Online on that list?

I'm not really sure.


edit: I Just checked, this comes out next week

Bartholamue wrote: »

andif you say I should get KoF '98, then I'll get it at some point.

It's great for anyone who is a 2D fighting game fan. And it's especially great for anyone who's a KOF fan.

Bartholamue

Well after KoF XI, I don't know how it can be topped with that one. I played that one a LOT.

Is it the first time Eve gets a retail release?

slash000

Bartholamue wrote: »

Is it the first time Eve gets a retail release?

I don't think so, but here's the description of this:

Game Client: The retail box will include all nine previously released expansions plus the forthcoming tenth expansion entitled EVE Online: Apocrypha which introduces numerous new features including unstable wormholes to explore and modular ships to build to each pilot’s specifications and needs.

But anyway, this comes out next week apparently, so I removed it from the list

slash000

Bartholamue wrote: »

Well after KoF XI, I don't know how it can be topped with that one. I played that one a LOT.

Good point.

KOF 98 is kind of a classic, is the thing. KOF XI is the new (and awesome) style of the KOF games. If you are unfamiliar with the KOF 98/02 slower/technical gameplay than the KOF 03/XI gameplay, then you might give this one a shot to see if you like it. It's pretty distinct gameplay from KOF 03/XI.

In other words, KOF 03 and XI have a new style of gameplay that is incredibly awesome and fun and fantastic. But KOF 98 has a distinct, different style of gameplay that is also awesome and fun in its own way. (subsequently KOF 02 was very much like 98). KOF 98 is often cited as the big "fan favorite" of the series, although KOF XI has had so much (deserved) enthusiasm, it seems to have reached near KOF98 levels of favoritism.


So KOF 98: UM is basically the refined, definitive version of one of the biggest "fan favorite" KOF games; and it's also going to have the largest single-game KOF character roster ever. You might even call it the ultimate "Dream Match" of the series so far.


Ultimately they're both KOF games, and so on a basic level each character will handle similarly to their character in other iterations of the series. However, the general gameplay speed and flow and combat system is pretty different in each type.

Bartholamue

Heh, you sound like a person with a Neo Geo.

brynstar

Oh man, I had no idea there was so much awesome in this week. I'm going to get Halo Wars, less because I'm super-interested in it and more because I thought the demo was okay and I loved everything else Ensemble has done.

Slash, you may be selling me on KOF.

UnbreakableVow

Is it true that the more recent KOF games pretty much feel like Capcom fighting games?

joshua1

someone has played Halo Wars? How are the controls? Im tapped out of bandwidth at the moment, so I haven't been demoing anything.

I *tried* to play c&c 3 on the 360, but i ragequit pretty quickly....... please don't tell me its the same sort of controls.

UnbreakableVow

joshua1 wrote: »

someone has played Halo Wars? How are the controls? Im tapped out of bandwidth at the moment, so I haven't been demoing anything.

I *tried* to play c&c 3 on the 360, but i ragequit pretty quickly....... please don't tell me its the same sort of controls.

I was listening to the newest 1-Up podcast, and he was claiming that despite all bullshit claims of "finally figuring out how to make RTS controls work right on console," it pretty much controlled like C&C3.

joshua1

motherfucker...... well, im glad its my friend, not me, who is going to get it.

slash000

brynstar wrote: »

Slash, you may be selling me on KOF.

I'm really just trying to provide info on the game

I think it's best suited, best targetted at KOF fans. Because, I think if you're just getting into the series for the first time, might as well pick up with KOF XI. Or if you want the most recent type or the general direction the series is going, KOF XI is a good bet.

KOF 98 UM is awesome for KOF fans because, primarily, it's a fan favorite, and secondarily, because it has so many damn characters. Seeing so many of the series' characters in one single dream match is a pretty sweet deal for a KOF fan. For someone just starting the series, it might not mean as much, or might be overwhelming in its quantity of character choices.


But considering what it is, for a KOF fan, it's pretty awesome. Or, for someone who has had a great time with KOF XI, and wants to try the "other" type of KOF gameplay, it might also be a good choice.



Personally I will get it, but not immediately, because I just got the KOF Orochi Saga Collection, which is KOF 94 thru 98. Although the 98 version is just the basic version. KOF 98 UM I feel the need to get eventually.



Also, I heard but do not know if it is true that KOF 98 UM is coming to XBLA or something. Which potentially means online play. I cannot confirm this at all though.

UnbreakableVow wrote: »

Is it true that the more recent KOF games pretty much feel like Capcom fighting games?

I don't really know how to answer this, honestly. The recent KOF formula has been KOF 03 and XI. Is there a Capcom game that feels like these? I don't really think so. I think they feel more fast paced and maybe a little more combocentric than prior games; and I mean that in a good way. But does it feel like CVS2 or MVC2 or SFIII or SFA or SFIV? Personally I don't really think so.

I think it feels like KOF but with an interesting and fun new direction.

UnbreakableVow

slash000 wrote: »

UnbreakableVow wrote: »

Don't feel bad, slash, neither do I.

Anyways, this is my first Week o Games as a DS owner, and figures, it's the first week where there's not something cool. Grey's Anatomy? Really?

Haha :P

As far as the NDS, this week is kind of a break, as some really good titles have come out the past few weeks (Retro Game Challenge, Dragon Quest V, Fire Emblem SD, Ys BI and II, Blue Dragon Plus, Puzzle Quest Galactrix, and some smaller titles like Big Bang Mini and Moon).

But the next 2 weeks the NDS is getting Avalon Code, Valkyrie Profile CP, GTA Chinatown, Henry Hatsworth, Suikoden Tierkres, and Trackmania DS. The next week after that (the third week) is Pokemon Plat, FF:CC Echoes, and Broken Sword.

So really, you should get some of the awesome games already out, but the rest of the month is just as brutal for the NDS.

You forgot Peggle DS. :P

EDIT: Wait, is that already out? Some places are saying February 27, some March 3, some just March.

Kelor

slash000 wrote: »

UnbreakableVow wrote: »

Don't feel bad, slash, neither do I.

Anyways, this is my first Week o Games as a DS owner, and figures, it's the first week where there's not something cool. Grey's Anatomy? Really?

So really, you should get some of the awesome games already out, but the rest of the month is just as brutal for the NDS.

Seriously mate, you should be happy there's nothing coming out. The backlist for the DS is nothing short of horrendous nowadays.

UnbreakableVow

Kelor wrote: »

slash000 wrote: »

UnbreakableVow wrote: »

Don't feel bad, slash, neither do I.

Anyways, this is my first Week o Games as a DS owner, and figures, it's the first week where there's not something cool. Grey's Anatomy? Really?

So really, you should get some of the awesome games already out, but the rest of the month is just as brutal for the NDS.

Seriously mate, you should be happy there's nothing coming out. The backlist for the DS is nothing short of horrendous nowadays.

Well, I lost a bid on a fighting stick yesterday, so I took out my frustration and got a DS with six games. But still, it would have been cool that if like the week I got one we get a new Atlus game or something. :P

Peewi

Watchmen: The End is Nigh is released on Steam on the 4th of March and from what I understand it'll also be released on XBLA and PSN.

ManetherenWolf

I think you picked about the only week that Atlus ISNT releasing something on DS. theyve got about 10 games coming in the next 3 months or so. (an exaggeration... but not by much).

God this has been a rough patch for buying DS games though.

I mean its been an amazing batch of games, but I just cant find time to play all the damn things.