Monday, March 01, 2004
Weekly Releases
RELEASES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 31, 2004
ESPN NHL 2K5
Dev. Visual Concepts Pub. Sega of America MSRP: $19.99 Systems: PS2, XBX
If you're a hockey fan, this game will surely sate your appetite like no other. If not, you could find worse ways to spend $20 (yes, the entire ESPN line is on the cheap this year). With more game options and online play than you could ever possibly explore (table hockey or skybox design, anyone?), this game doesn't just need your support, it deserves it.
Pikmin 2
Dev. Nintendo Pub. Nintendo of America MSRP: $49.99 Systems: GC
Despite getting a lot of critical lovin', the first Pikmin game was somewhat overlooked during the Gamecube launch (apparently people prefer vacuuming ghosts as a plumber). However, it's not that surprising when you learn that Shigeru Miyamoto came up with the critter-commanding game while gardening. The sequel packs a number of upgrades, such as a couple new colors of Pikmin (a purple one and a creepy white one) and an always-welcome co-operative mode. Pickings are slim for Nintendo fans at the moment, but you can't go wrong with managing tiny gardening spacemen.
Phantom Brave
Dev. Nippon Ichi Pub. Atlus MSRP: $49.99 Systems: PS2
If you've got the time and a thing for strategy RPGs, they don't get much better than this. Following in the footsteps of it's spiritual prequels Disgaea: Hour of Darkness and La Pucelle: Tactics, you can certainly expect gratuitously deep battle tactics, seriously lengthy fights, and a legitimately funny script. Nippon Ichi also spruced up the game's look quite a bite more than their other two previously mentioned titles, which makes it as easy to watch as it is complicated to play. If this is your thing, by all means dive right in, but if you're new to the genre, you'll most likely drown in the details.
Spy Fiction
Dev. Access Games Pub. Sammy Studios MSRP: $39.99 Systems: PS2
If Metal Gear Solid, Mission Impossible, and an anime haircut spent the night together, this would no doubt be the illegitimate result. I applaud Sammy Studios for bringing it over from Japan and fixing it up, but the result seems to steal every possible MGS game mechanic, short of sneaking around in a box. Features like optical camouflage look interesting, but when a game is so unflinchingly derivative, it's tough to appreciate any semi-original ideas.
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Dev. tri-Ace Pub. Square-Enix MSRP: $49.99 Systems: PS2
Determined to live up to it's title (and eons-long development period), you apparently scour the very expanses of time and the universe by the end of this epic, if not inspired, game. The actual fighting and exploring doesn't look to stray too far from it's roots (and fellow Square-Enix stalwart Final Fantasy's, for that matter), but I'm sure any RPG fan will find plenty to geek out over. Between quantity and quality, you'll almost definitely have gotten your money's worth when it's all over. If you want something a little different (and own an X-Box), wait a couple of weeks for Fable, but if you've got some time to kill now, I'm sure Star Ocean will fill it nicely.
Street Fighter Anniversary Collection
Dev. Capcom Pub. Capcom MSRP: $29.99 Systems: PS2 (XBX soon)
Exactly what you'd imagine, with one very nice addition. SF:AC is basically every Street Fighter II game mashed into one, with a bevy of characters, backgrounds and moves from every era, as well as multiple eras for many of the characters. While this may throw off the balance that some of the original games executed so carefully, it's certainly a wonderful treat for any fighting game enthusiast. Also in the box is a pixel-perfect port of Street Fighter 3: Third Strike, a tragically underappreciated brawler. While the combat is more or less Street Fighter II, the stunningly fluid animation makes playing the game a whole different experience. You can wait for the X-Box version if you want online play, assuming that you can deal with the shadier controls; either way, at $30, there are few reasons I can think of not to buy this.
The Guy Game
Dev. Top Heavy Studios Pub. Gathering MSRP: $39.99 Systems: PS2, XBX
Notable in that it's the first game this generation (that I know of) to push the ratings envelope with actual Girls Gone Wild-style nudity, incorporated into a quiz show and some mini-games. The game basically awards right answers with video boobs. I'm sure there will be lots of controversy after it's release, which is pretty ridiculous when you think of how many ultra-violent games go unnoticed. I'm not saying either are bad, but the standards in this country are all askew. Anyhow, if you're a male ages 18-35, there's almost no way you won't enjoy this game, especially with some pals and libations (if you're over 21, of course).
ESPN NHL 2K5
Dev. Visual Concepts Pub. Sega of America MSRP: $19.99 Systems: PS2, XBX
If you're a hockey fan, this game will surely sate your appetite like no other. If not, you could find worse ways to spend $20 (yes, the entire ESPN line is on the cheap this year). With more game options and online play than you could ever possibly explore (table hockey or skybox design, anyone?), this game doesn't just need your support, it deserves it.
Pikmin 2
Dev. Nintendo Pub. Nintendo of America MSRP: $49.99 Systems: GC
Despite getting a lot of critical lovin', the first Pikmin game was somewhat overlooked during the Gamecube launch (apparently people prefer vacuuming ghosts as a plumber). However, it's not that surprising when you learn that Shigeru Miyamoto came up with the critter-commanding game while gardening. The sequel packs a number of upgrades, such as a couple new colors of Pikmin (a purple one and a creepy white one) and an always-welcome co-operative mode. Pickings are slim for Nintendo fans at the moment, but you can't go wrong with managing tiny gardening spacemen.
Phantom Brave
Dev. Nippon Ichi Pub. Atlus MSRP: $49.99 Systems: PS2
If you've got the time and a thing for strategy RPGs, they don't get much better than this. Following in the footsteps of it's spiritual prequels Disgaea: Hour of Darkness and La Pucelle: Tactics, you can certainly expect gratuitously deep battle tactics, seriously lengthy fights, and a legitimately funny script. Nippon Ichi also spruced up the game's look quite a bite more than their other two previously mentioned titles, which makes it as easy to watch as it is complicated to play. If this is your thing, by all means dive right in, but if you're new to the genre, you'll most likely drown in the details.
Spy Fiction
Dev. Access Games Pub. Sammy Studios MSRP: $39.99 Systems: PS2
If Metal Gear Solid, Mission Impossible, and an anime haircut spent the night together, this would no doubt be the illegitimate result. I applaud Sammy Studios for bringing it over from Japan and fixing it up, but the result seems to steal every possible MGS game mechanic, short of sneaking around in a box. Features like optical camouflage look interesting, but when a game is so unflinchingly derivative, it's tough to appreciate any semi-original ideas.
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Dev. tri-Ace Pub. Square-Enix MSRP: $49.99 Systems: PS2
Determined to live up to it's title (and eons-long development period), you apparently scour the very expanses of time and the universe by the end of this epic, if not inspired, game. The actual fighting and exploring doesn't look to stray too far from it's roots (and fellow Square-Enix stalwart Final Fantasy's, for that matter), but I'm sure any RPG fan will find plenty to geek out over. Between quantity and quality, you'll almost definitely have gotten your money's worth when it's all over. If you want something a little different (and own an X-Box), wait a couple of weeks for Fable, but if you've got some time to kill now, I'm sure Star Ocean will fill it nicely.
Street Fighter Anniversary Collection
Dev. Capcom Pub. Capcom MSRP: $29.99 Systems: PS2 (XBX soon)
Exactly what you'd imagine, with one very nice addition. SF:AC is basically every Street Fighter II game mashed into one, with a bevy of characters, backgrounds and moves from every era, as well as multiple eras for many of the characters. While this may throw off the balance that some of the original games executed so carefully, it's certainly a wonderful treat for any fighting game enthusiast. Also in the box is a pixel-perfect port of Street Fighter 3: Third Strike, a tragically underappreciated brawler. While the combat is more or less Street Fighter II, the stunningly fluid animation makes playing the game a whole different experience. You can wait for the X-Box version if you want online play, assuming that you can deal with the shadier controls; either way, at $30, there are few reasons I can think of not to buy this.
The Guy Game
Dev. Top Heavy Studios Pub. Gathering MSRP: $39.99 Systems: PS2, XBX
Notable in that it's the first game this generation (that I know of) to push the ratings envelope with actual Girls Gone Wild-style nudity, incorporated into a quiz show and some mini-games. The game basically awards right answers with video boobs. I'm sure there will be lots of controversy after it's release, which is pretty ridiculous when you think of how many ultra-violent games go unnoticed. I'm not saying either are bad, but the standards in this country are all askew. Anyhow, if you're a male ages 18-35, there's almost no way you won't enjoy this game, especially with some pals and libations (if you're over 21, of course).
// posted by Nick @ 11:00 PM 
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