Dragon Quest Wars
One of the first truly appealing DSi-exclusive titles is the DSiWare release of Dragon Quest Wars. Players build small armies of Dragon Quest monsters, and battle it out on a tactical grid. The game has several battle modes including an interesting “survival mode” in which the player must set out all of their monster’s moves before the battle begins. Unfortunately, the game only has six monsters to choose from, but rest assured that slimes and drackies will be among them. There is multi-player support for up to four players over DS wireless or Nintendo WiFi.
Risen
For the PC crowd this week, we’re getting Risen. This action RPG in the Elder Scrolls style starts players as the survivor of a shipwreck which washes them up onto a dangerous and magical island. Fight monsters and learn new skills as you attempt to discover the mystery of the island and its active volcano. According to the game’s blog this is only the first chapter in a longer story.
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
The confusingly named Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days will arrive on the DS this week. The action RPG is an expanded chapter that takes place between Kingdom Hearts I & II, and explains what happened with Roxas and Organization XIII while Sora was asleep. Revisit all of the colorful Disney kingdoms, and unravel the story behind the mysterious Organization XIII, and its surprising fourteenth member. The gameplay and combat are similar to past Kingdom Hearts games with the exception of a new “panel system” that allows for more customization of the characters’ abilities. For the first time in the franchise, a multi-player mode will also be included.
The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road
In an interesting use of the Warner Bros. IP, the DS will be getting The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road, which is this week’s Spotlight release. This adaptation of the story, just in time for the 70th anniversary of the film, is a JRPG with a classic look. Stylized versions of the movie’s protagonists, led by Dorothy, serve as the player’s party; ordered by OZ to seek out and defeat three witch sisters who are attempting to usurp his control over the Emerald City. All control of the game is handled with the stylus, a risky move if we take into account the reaction to past stylus-only games. Additional features include high graphical production values and a sliding scale of complexity which allows beginning RPGers to run battles almost on auto-pilot, while more experienced players take a more active role. From the available descriptions, it doesn’t look like any of the lost plot elements from the original Baum novel will be making an appearance, but fans of the film will find a lot to love in the characters and story, despite the anime-esque presentation.
Following is a list of announced releases for North America this week:
PC
- Adam’s Venture
- Bass Pro Shops: The Strike
- Fallen Earth
- Family Feud
- RACE On
- Red War: Edem’s Curse
- Risen
- Shutter Island
- Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 3: Lair of the Leviathan
PS3
Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2010- Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2
- Tornado Outbreak
PSP
- Beaterator
- Gran Turismo
- MotorStorm Arctic Edge
- Obscure: The Aftermath
- PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe
- Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
- Undead Knights
Wii
- Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition
- Arkanoid Plus!
- Baseball Blast
- Bass Pro Shops: The Strike
- Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2010
- Dead Space: Extraction
- Deca Sports 2
- DRiiFT Mania
- Family Feud
- Family Fun: Football
- Family Party: 30 Great Games Outdoor Fun
- Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft
- Hidden Mysteries: Titanic
- MySims Agents
- Rapala: We Fish
- Tornado Outbreak
- Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga
- Altered Beast (VC – Arcade)
DS
- 7 Wonders II
- Art Academy: Second Semester (DSi)
- Battle of Giants – Dragons
- Dragon Quest Wars (DSi)
- Dream Dancer
- Dreamer: Top Model
- Family Feud
- Hidden Mysteries: Titanic
- Imagine Salon Stylist
- Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
- MySims Agents
- Sideswiped
- Smart Boy’s Gameroom 2
- Smart Girls Playhouse 2
- Smart Kids: Mega Game Mix
- The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road
XBox360
- Axel & Pixel
- Bass Pro Shops: The Strike
- Black College Football Experience – The Doug Williams Edition
- Bust-A-Move Live!
- Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2010
- Criminals Under Arrest
- Football Genius – The Ultimate Quiz
- Junkyard Battle
- Lander Mania
- Midnight Club: Los Angeles (Complete Edition)
- Military Madness: Nectaris
- Picture Slider
- Tornado Outbreak
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