Dreamkiller
On the PC and XBox 360 this week, we’ll be getting Dreamkiller. This FPS has a plot reminiscent of the under-appreciated Psychonauts, with visual style more along the lines of Hexen or Doom. The protagonist is a psychologist with the power to insert herself in her patients’ dreams. To save their sanity, she’ll have to use weapons like electric shocks and happy thoughts to destroy the fantastic creatures within. Since each zone is a different patient, the levels are left to be wildly different from one another, with each one featuring different weapons and monsters.
A Boy and His Blob
As a young gamer, my favorite console game was A Boy and His Blob for the NES. Solving platformer puzzles with jellybeans and a pet blob appealed to some inner instinct which is difficult to really understand. A new generation will get the chance to feel as we did then, with the release of a new version for the Wii. If you’re not familiar, the player in this game takes on the role of a young boy who befreinds a white blob from space. The blob enlists the boy’s help to save his home planet, but the only way they have to communicate is with jellybeans. Each flavor represents a different command for the blob: Licorice tells him to become a ladder, Tangerine becomes a trampoline, Honey makes a humming bird. This new edition will include most of the original jellybean flavors, as well as a few new ones. Unfortunately, the game makes no use of the WiiMote’s motion or IR controls.
Where The Wild Things Are
To coincide with the release of the new movie, our major cross-platform release this week is Where the Wild Things Are. This game is based loosely on the plot of the movie, which is based loosely on the plot of the 60’s children’s book. Max has been crowned the king of the Wild Things, in a wilderness of imagination, but the home of the Wild Things is threatened, and it’s up to Max to help them find a new place to live and play. The gameplay is that of an action/platformer with a focus on exploration. Max will need to run, climb, and glide across the island, fighting monsters with his royal scepter, and teaming up with the various Wild Things in his quest to get them out of the path of destruction.
Half-minute Hero
Our Spotlight Release this week is Half-Minute Hero for the PSP. This RPG is actually an amalgam of four different games, each with 30 levels. The twist here is that each level only lasts 30 seconds, requiring the player to complete all of their objectives under a strict time limit. Each mode represents a different character in the overarching story. Hero 30 is the straight RPG mode: the young Hero must venture out to defeat Evil Lord. In each level there are only 30 seconds remaining until the world is destroyed. Hero has only that time to defeat monsters, find cool weapons and armor, level-up, and defeat Evil Lord. Evil Lord 30 is the tactics mode: In each of these levels there is only 30 seconds until the sun comes up, and Evil Lord must get home before then. To get there, he must use his power to summon creatures to fight in epic battles against armies of monsters, each with their strengths and weaknesses. Princess 30 is essentially a top-down shooter: In each level, Princess has 30 seconds until curfew, and in that time she must find the one item that will cure her father’s illness. She defeats monsters by shooting them with her giant crossbow, from atop a litter carried by her devoted guardsmen. Knight 30 is a defense game: Sage needs 30 seconds to cast the spell that will destroy all the monsters in the area, and it’s Knight’s job to protect him until then, by whatever means necessary. Finally, The multiplayer mode, Hero Ad-hoc, is based on Hero 30, and is essentially a race to see who can defeat Evil Lord the fastest. All of the modes feature classic 8-bit graphics, and little to no actual plot.
Following is a list of this week’s announced releases for North America:
PC
- Cabela’s Outdoor Adventures(2009)
- Dreamkiller
- Fate: The Traitor Soul
- Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
- Nancy Drew: Warnings at Waverly Academy
- NBA 2K10
- Rappelz Epic VI: Solus Aurum
- The Mystery of the Mary Celeste
- Tropic
o 3
PS3
- Afrika
- Blitz: The League II
- Brutal Legend
- Cars Race-O-Rama
- Midnight Club: Los Angeles (Complete Edition)
- SingStar Motown
- Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
- Way of the Samurai 3
- Where the Wild Things Are
PSP
- Cars Race-O-Rama
- Half-Minute Hero
- Obscure: The Aftermath
Wii
- A Boy and His Blob
- Cars Race-O-Rama
- Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter
- Dream Dance & Cheer
- Gravitronix
- Horse Life Adventures
- Islands of Dr. Frankenstein
- Ju-on: The Grudge
- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
- Shimano Xtreme Fishing
- Ski-Doo: Snowmobile Challenge
- Squeeballs Party
- Sudoku Ball Detective
- Where the Wild Things Are
- Final Fight 2 (VC – SNES)
DS
- Cake Mania 3
- Cars Race-O-Rama
- Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter
- Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
- Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics
- Imagine Sweet 16
- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
- Petz Pony: Beauty Pageant
- Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon (DSi)
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
- Squeeballs Party
- Where the Wild Things Are
XBox360
- Blitz: The League II
- Brutal Legend
- Cars Race-O-Rama
- MagnaCarta 2
- Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space
- Tropico 3
- Way of the Samurai 3
- Where the Wild Things Are
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