Ahhh spring! I don’t know what it’s been like where you live but up here in Alberta it hasn’t felt anything like the springs I grew up with as a kid. People are trying to make something like spring out of it but when the kid comes by asking to aerate my lawn and I point to the 15cm (or 6” for you Americans) of snow piled up on my front lawn and the flakes falling from the sky he hangs his head and slowly moves away. I do the same but I retreat to the stack of games I still have to play. That’s right...I’m looking at you Bioshock: Infinite!
Luckily (or maybe not depending on your point of view) the crop of weekly new releases is like the grass under that snow on my front lawn...there might be something good under there but you are going to have to dig for it.
Multi Platform
Dead Island: Riptide
The “most” anticipated multi-platform (PC, XBOX, PS3) game, Riptide is the sequel to Dead Island-the game with the awesome trailer but, in the end, the mediocre gameplay. Unfortunately, it seems Dead Island: Riptide follows along in it’s predecessor's footsteps. The original Dead Island and now Dead Island: Riptide capitalize on that tried and true formula of “see zombie - kill zombie.” From what I understand (I never played the original) the idea was solid but the gameplay and other mechanics were a little sketchy at times. The initial batch of reviews suggest that Dead Island: Riptide is much the same. If you enjoyed the original then you will likely enjoy the sequel. If you didn’t then chances are you won’t like this one either. Either way Dead Island: Riptide crashes onto shelves April 23rd.
Poker Night 2
According to the Telltale Games website “Poker Night 2 is the unnecessary sequel to Poker Night at the Inventory!” It may be unnecessary but like that second helping of turkey and mashed potatoes or the bag of fries from Five Guys, when something is that good you must have more! Releasing on XBLA, PS3 and Steam for both PC & Mac Poker Night 2 pits you against characters from Telltale Games arsenal of titles, LucasArts remakes and other AAA titles such as Portal and Borderlands in a game of poker. Hence the title...Poker Night 2. Poker NIght 2 drops on April 26th
Star Trek: The Game
Sorry all you Original Series, The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine fans but this game is set in the JJ Abrams version of the Star Trek Universe. Star Trek: The Game is a third person shooter where you command a young Captain James T. Kirk through various missions spread across the universe. Falling somewhere between the reboot and the upcoming Star Trek Into Darkness, you are accompanied by your BFF Spock either as an AI or a second human (or otherwise) companion. Developed by Digital Extremes (think Bioshock 2, Darkness II) Star Trek: The Game beams onto the PS3, XBOX and the PC April 23rd.
Yeah I know I left out Voyager and Enterprise but who was “really” a fan of those?
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Admittedly I don’t know much about Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen (PS3, XBOX). It seems to be an open world fantasy hack and slash RPGish kind of game developed by Capcom. The game reminds me of a Chicken Mulligatawny soup - a little bit of everything. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen lands on our shores April 23rd.
Oh, and the rating says Partial Nudity so there is always that to look forward to...if..you know...that’s your kind of thing...I’m not judging, just putting it out there!
3DSLego City Undercover: The Chase Begins
It’s a Lego Game and it’s on the 3DS. If you ever played a Lego game or if you ever played a Lego 3DS game then you pretty much know what to expect. Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins is set two years prior to Lego City: Undercover for the WiiU. It is an open world sandbox game where you play as a rookie cop named Chase McCain. As with any growing city, the more it grows the more crime it attracts. It’s up to Chase to be the hero. I would assume that you go around breaking things and beating up bad guys for Studs that you can use to unlock items but given Chase is a rookie cop wouldn’t that be more like Lego City Undercover: Training Day? Now that’s a game I would like to see!
DLC
Assassin's Creed III – The Redemption (XBOX, PS3, PC) also touted as Assassin’s Creed III: The Tyranny of King Washington - The Redemption is the third content pack for The Tyranny of King Washington expansion. This DLC is set in an alternate universe where King George Washington is now a tyrannical dictator and you must overthrow him. The Redemption arrives April 23rd.
WTH?!?!
Sturmwind
I did a double take when I found Sturmwind on one of the release lists. I hadn’t heard of it and the name didn’t grab me but I thought I owed it a shot. The game isn’t particularly amazing unless you factor in the game’s CONSOLE. Sturmwind, developed by Duranik games, has the honor of being the first game published since 2009 for the Sega Dreamcast. The what!?!? Yeah you read that right – The Dreamcast! What shocked me almost as much as finding a “new release” for a Dreamcast game was to find that redspotgames has been publishing Dreamcast games since 2007, six years after it ceased production. I have a couple buddies who may still own theirs so it might be time to knock the dust off the VMU. Sturmwind releases April 24th.
