After several weeks of gaming drought, this week is absolutely ramped up with releases! This week features the return of the Lord of Terror and a troubled DEA agent, a travel into the Seven Kingdoms, bullet hell with katanas, and some arcade music creativity.
And now, let’s get into the releases for this week!
Pulse’s Pick of the Week!
Diablo III (PC and Mac) - After twelve long years, the action RPG Diablo is back!!! The story of Diablo III occurs twenty years after the events from Diablo II. There will be five available classes to play and two completely new classes, the Demon Hunter and Witch Doctor. Game includes a new quest system, a random level and encounter generator in an attempt to make each replay different. Four player co-op will be available at launch, and PvP will be available in a patch at a later date. Real-money auction house will allow players to sell items for cold hard cash. [$59.99]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m55lUCKGDKA&feature=related
Multiplatform Releases
Game of Thrones (PC, PS3, XBOX360) - Role Playing Game based on the first book of George R.R. Martin’s series “A Song of Fire and Ice”. Game includes two separate quests, Mors and Alester. These quests are new stories, but follow along with the events in Game of Thrones. Game includes over 30 hours of gameplay. Unfortunately, there is no multiplayer. [$59.99]
Max Payne 3 (PS3, XBOX360) - It has been eight years, but Max Payne is back! The story of this third person shooter continues eight years later in Brazil as he tries to overcome his troubled past. Game includes new shooting mechanics and for the first time a full multiplayer mode. [$59.99]
PC Releases
Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City - PC finally gets the game this third person shooter that 360 and PS3 users have been playing since the end of March. If you have not gotten it yet, I’ll fill you in- it is about a City of Raccoons. No, not really, but there are ZOMBIES!!!! [$44.99]
XBOX360 Releases
Akai Katana - Japanese “bullet hell” shoot-em up game follows an uprising of swordsmen freedom fighters against the empire. Not sure why these swordsmen are flying planes, but when was the last time a Japanese shoot-em up made sense? [$39.99]
Arcade and DLC Releases
Asura’s Wrath: Lost Episode 2: The Strongest vs. The Angriest (DLC for PS3, XBOX360) - More DLC for Asura’s Wrath. This is the second installment of Street Fighter content featuring Akuma. [Approx. $2.00]
Dragon’s Lair (XBOX Live Arcade) - The 1983 arcade classic of Dirk the Daring is now available on XBOX Live Arcade. This new version is also Kinect enabled. I remember playing this game at the arcade as a kid, pushing a couple buttons and watching Dirk do whatever he wanted, which always led to death. The result of the encounter left me being confused and walking away with several less quarters to waste. [Price TBD]
Dungeon Defenders: Quest for the Lost Eternity Shards: Part 3 Aquanos (DLC for PS3) - Latest DLC of Dungeon Defenders contains the world of Aquanos, an underwater world in search of the yellow Eternity Shards. Includes two new missions, new PvP arena, new weapons, new boss, and a new pet. [Approx. $3.99]
JAM Live Music Arcade (PS Network, XBOX Live Arcade) - Music sandbox game where you can use a guitar controller as a DJ mix machine. Game includes 30+ licensed songs to jam and remix. A competitive Arcade Challenge Mode is also included. [Price TBD]
Pixeljunk 4am (PS Network) - Another remix exploration game, but this one involves the PS Move controller. Game uses full motion controls to make your own music with the sounds and beats included.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGTTVo_6S8M
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II (PC, PS3, XBOX360) - This new downloadable episode brings back sidekick Tails and the evil Dr. Eggman and three new worlds. Does the world really need another Sonic game? [$15.99]
What Were They Smoking?!
For the first time, this award is given to not just a game, but a movie. This week it goes to Battleship for PC, PS3, XBOX360, Wii, Nintendo3DS and anything else that plays video games. This game is based off of the movie Battleship which is based off of the board game Battleship. A quick recap on the board game for those of you stuck under a rock- each player places plastic ships on clear blue plastic, and the other player has to guess where your ships are and sink them. Never once when I was a kid playing this game did I mutter the phase, “You sunk my battleship, and here come the aliens!”. Yes, both the movie and the video game involve an attack by aliens. The game does include sea battles which I have no problem with. But then you storm the shores and attack aliens in a first person shooter. Really? If you could not come up with enough material to make something based on a simple board game.... DON’T DO IT! Thanks for ruining a childhood game that I was terrible at playing. And for this, you both get the award. And I hate you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO9zODBijN8
