Patrician IV
Patrician IV is the newest game in a franchise of economic strategy games, in which players attempt to manage a successful business empire in Hanse-era Europe. Unlike other such games, this one deals only with business, not giving players the option of violence against the other factions at any point. To defeat the rival merchants players must use tools such as espionage and price wars. Piracy is also an option, and the combat inherent in those situations is within the point of view of the game, but the naval combat seems to be only a small portion of the game proper. The detailed economic system takes place mostly at the city level, and allows players to establish trade-routes, set prices, build fleets, and run for local political offices, all in the name of business.
House M.D.
In House M.D., players are presented with a series of bizarre medical cases, similar to those on the television show, which they must solve by using medically oriented video games to unlock the clues. While it seems like the player will not need any true diagnostic skill, and the game does not seem to have any real plot, fans of the show might enjoy seeing the parade of puzzles juxtaposed next to their favorite characters.
Halo: Reach
Halo: Reach is out this week. It’s like Halo:ODST, but more Reach-ey.
Swords
The Icrontic spotlight this week glimmers along the gilded blade of Swords. This game allows the player to use the wildly underutilized WiiMotionPlus attachment to participate in a PunchOut-esque sword-fighting tournament. There will also be a split-screen two-player mode, and a horde mode, in which the player must fight off waves of martial artist zombies. The value of this game will fall entirely on its implementation of the WiiMotionPlus controls. If they feel authentic, the game will be great, if they don’t the game will be awful. If it is successful, expect waves of zombie sword-fighting games to follow. Personally, I’m waiting for the first sword fighting game with a real plot to arrive. Perhaps the next Zelda game will deliver.
Following is a full list of this week’s announced North American Releases:
Windows
- House M.D.
- Painkiller: Pandemonium
- Patrician IV
- Pheon
- Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures
Wii
- Adventure on Lost Island: Hidden Object Game
- Cabela’s North American Adventures
- Deal or No Deal: Special Edition
- Gormiti: The Lords of Nature!
- Horse Life Adventures
- Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole
- Paintball 2
- Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Swamp
- Swords
- The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest
- Truth or Lies
- Samurai Showdown (VC – NEOGEO)
DS
- Alpha and Omega
- Castle Conqueror
- Crazy Pinball
- Dawn of Heroes
- Deer Drive
- Fancy Nancy: Tea Party Time!
- Gormiti: The Lords of Nature!
- Horse Life Adventures
- House M.D.
- Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole
- myNotebook: Tan
- Phineas and Ferb Ride Again
- Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Swamp
- The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest
Xbox360
- Halo: Reach
- Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole
- Sonic Adventure
- Space Invaders Infinity Gene
- Truth or Lies
PS3
- Cabela’s North American Adventures
- Ferrari: The Race Experience
- Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole
- PlayStation 3 320GB Hardware w/ PlayStation Move
- Racquet Sports
- Space Invaders Infinity Gene
- Sports Champions
- Truth or Lies
PSP
- Cabela’s North American Adventures
- Gladiator Begins
- Phantasy Star Portable 2
- The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest
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