Roller Coaster Rampage is much like your typical roller coaster builder/simulator in a lot of ways. It has one big feature, however, which makes it really stand out. In addition to the ability to build and ride virtual coasters, there is a ‘real-time’ building mode, in which players build the track for the coaster while the coaster is running. It functions essentially like a trick-flying challenge, in which the player is attempting to destroy obstacles and pass through certain goal-markers, while also building a fun coaster with loops, twists, and corkscrews. Players can compete for the best real-time run on the online leader-boards.
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes will be an open world adventure game, departing from the linear button-mashers of the past franchise entries. Clever level design, ease of control, little player punishment, and light dialogue are the hallmarks of the LEGO games, and it looks like this one will continue that trend, with more characters to choose from and additional places to visit. The only thing disappointing aspect is the voice of The Joker, as any animated Joker needs to be Mark Hamill, or it just weirds me out.
Quantum Conundrum is a first-person puzzle game created by one of the original Portal team, Kim Swift. The protagonist’s uncle has been trapped in another dimension, and the only way to save him is to use dimension-shifting goggles to traverse his comically large laboratory. To solve each puzzle, the player shifts around among five different dimensions, each with the same objects, but altered physics. The dimensional options—in addition to the normal world—are decreased gravity world, increased gravity world, reversed gravity world and slow-time world. Puzzles will require cleverly shifting the character and other objects among the dimensions in order to get the uncle’s novelty-sized safe from one area to the next.
The Icrontic Spotlight this week glints among the life counters of Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013. If you played Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012, you know what to expect: Pre-built decks on various themes, with minor customization creates a great, level playing field for casual MTG players. Short of the very rare occasion I get to draft with my friends, this is my favorite way to play MTG. Because of the pre-constructed decks, there is no pay-to-win element, and with new mechanics coming out each year, it’s wonderful to have the game keep track of all the rules. This on top of the best board-mechanics of any online MTG game to date makes it the best way for casual players (and former hard-core players) to get their occasional fix.
The new edition will, of course, come with updated cards for the new season, but will also be fixing some interface issues from last year (like giving players the option to choose which land they tap when casting) and adding a few new features. Most exciting is a new co-op play mode for 2-4 players, called ‘Planechase’ in which the players work together to defeat a string of AI enemies. There is also a new single-player mode, called ‘Experience Encounters’, which challenges the player to beat a perfectly stacked AI deck. All this in addition to upgraded music and graphics. Picking up Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 should be a no-brainer for any MTG player.
Following is a full list of this week’s North American releases:
Windows
- Brave: The Video Game
- Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013
- Oniken
- Quantum Conundrum
- Resonance
- Roller Coaster Rampage
- The Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav
- Tiny & Big: Grandpa’s Leftovers
Wii
- Brave: The Video Game
- LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
- Mega Man X2 (VC)
DS
- Brave: The Video Game
- LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
- Pokemon Conquest
3DS
- Slitherlink
Xbox 360
- Brave: The Video Game
- Clan of Champions
- LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
- Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013
- Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor
PS3
- Brave: The Video Game
- LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
- Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013