Hard Reset
Hard Reset is a new FPS intended to have the feel of a classic. The developers are going for a game that will appeal to those who miss Doom and Quake—a move away from the twitchy, over-gimmicked modern FPSes, and a return to simple weapons and hordes of exploding enemies. The levels are designed to be less railsy, and more explorable. The plot will be a Cyberpunk story with Blade Runner influences. Unlike a classic game, there will be no multi-player, but the game updates the classic gaming with experience-based upgrades and a physics engine… So, it’s not really a classic experience after all. I guess if you want to play a classic game, you ‘ll just have to go play a classic game.
MotoHeroz
The guys who made Trials have returned with MotoHeroz. At its core this game is Trials multi-play, but the game has recived an overhaul, especially in the visuals—the graphics this time are yet more cartoony than the first game. Players still ride goofy-physics vehicles over loops and ramps and whatnot, Excite Bike-style. Players can play through the single-player “story mode”” or join up with three friends for multi-player racing. In addition, players can race against the ghosts of any entry on the global leaderboards.
Sengoku
Sengoku is like Hearts of Iron and those other similar Paradox games, except it takes place only in Feudal Japan. The unique features seem to be the ability to make deals with outsiders, and to hire Ninjas to supplement your Samurai. Of course, the game is visually styled in a feudal Japanese motif. If you like these games, you’ll like this one too.
The Gunstringer
The Icrontic Spotlight this week glistens along the strings of The Gunstringer. This Kinect shooter is the first game which utilizes the Kinect for real gameplay. The story is of a marionette cowboy with a six-shooter who has been wronged by his criminal crew and left for dead in the desert. Now undead, he crosses the vast sandy planes in search of revenge. To control the gunstringer, the player holds her left hand out like holding the strings of a puppet, moving this hand left, right, and up, makes the puppet side-step or jump. The player’s right hand is held out in a finger-gun. Aiming is done by pointing at the screen, the same way menus are navigated in the Kinect interface. The puppet fires when the player lifts her arm quickly, as if reacting to the recoil of the six-shooter. The theme might not be much to speak of, and the style is a bit silly, but it’s a real game, not just a tech demo, simulator, or agility test—like most other releases for the Kinect have been so far. Pick up the demo, at least, and see the roots of the future of immersion gaming.
Following is a full list of this week’s announced North American releases:
Windows
- Casino Chaos with Las Vegas Players Collection
- Hard Reset
- Sengoku
Wii
- Nicktoons MLB
- MotoHeroz
DS
- Bridge
- Camping Mama: Outdoor Adventures
- Challenge Me: Word Puzzles
- Defense of the Middle Kingdom
- Nicktoons MLB
- Pucca Power Up
- The Penguins of Madagascar: Dr Blowhole Returns – Again!
3DS
- Arcade 3D
- Bit.Trip Saga
- Deca Sports Extreme
- Puzzler Mind Gym 3D
- The Penguins of Madagascar: Dr Blowhole Returns – Again!
Xbox 360
- NHL 12
- Nicktoons MLB
- The Gunstringer
- The Penguins of Madagascar: Dr Blowhole Returns – Again!
PS3
- NHL 12
- The Penguins of Madagascar: Dr Blowhole Returns – Again!
- White Knight Chronicles II
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