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Flower is to be released on Vita, according to a list of titles set to be shown at this year’s E3 IndieCade showcase, Joystiq reports. First released on PSN for PS3 in 2009, thatgamecompany’s Flower was the second title in a three-game partnership the studio had with Sony. The first was 2007’s Flow and the third was last year’s Journey.
Sony has yet to respond to our request for comment regarding Flower’s release on Vita, but IndieCade’s description of the portable version reads: “Playing as the wind, the player guides and grows a swarm of petals by interacting with other flowers and the surrounding environment. The goals and journey in each level vary, but all involve flight, exploration and interaction with the level. Using simple touch or motion controls, the player guides the lead petal and accumulates a swarm of flower petals as he moves at his own pace within the environment, causing the on-screen world to change.”
We said in our Flower review: “Flower is likely to inspire the sort of purple prose that always appears whenever games skirt the periphery of ‘art’; but to bury the game under a load of pretentious hyperbole is to do it a disservice… This is a beautiful, immediately enjoyable experience in its own right and you shouldn’t let the seeming pretension of the concept put you off… It may barely qualify as a game in the traditional sense but Flower’s evocative world deserves to be experienced by all.”
Speaking last week as Sony confirmed a June 18 US release date for the Vita version of Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, Don Mesa, director of product planning and platform software innovation at Sony Computer Entertainment America, said the company is “continually searching for the best games – whether brand new titles or ones existing already on PS3 – to bring to PS Vita gamers everywhere”.
Earlier this month, the platform holder also announced that SCE Japan Studio is developing a new Vita exclusive action game called Freedom Wars. And yesterday the company confirmed that it has made the inclusion of Vita Remote Play a necessary requirement for all PS4 games barring those that support specific hardware like PS4 Eye.
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How can the Vita be saved? You’ve got to start with its most obvious flaw: the price. When Sony announced the $250/$300 price tag at E3 2011, the price drew applause for matching the 3DS’s. But by the time the Vita came to the US, the cheapest Vita was $80 more than the 3DS, and that price disparity has hurt it ever since.
The “charge less to sell more” strategy will work–and we’ve already seen it happen with the Vita. On November 22, many retailers cut a normally $250 Vita bundle down to $200, while Amazon slashed the price to $180. Though Sony didn’t exactly laud the move, the company did call out the promotion (opens in new tab) as a major source of Vita sales that week. Hopefully this was a sign of Sony testing some future, permanent price points for the portable, but the company needs to stop dilly-dallying.
The price cut needs to extend to games, too. $40 for a top of the line Vita game is a fair price, but $20-$30 would be a far better for the majority of its library. In a world with $1 apps and great mobile games under $10, $40 for almost any portable title is a stretch. The price on storage also needs to come down, given that a $60 16GB memory card is only good for about six or seven games.
And lowering the price of storage drops will make it even easier to download the free games offered on PlayStation Plus. The free games so far have been great, but Sony needs to keep that ball rolling, and it doesn’t even need to offer Vita games. In this day and age it’s hard to imagine there are many who would pay full price for PSP titles like Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny, Riviera: The Promised Land, or Secret Agent Clank, but all would be quickly embraced as freebies. The same goes for the huge backlog of PSOne games on PSN. Throw Klonoa, Destruction Derby, or Crash Team Racing to Vita owners gratis and it’ll feel like manna from heaven instead of dusty leftovers.
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Today’s North American Nintendo Direct stayed on mostly familiar territory with a few surprises, including a release date for the next Fire Emblem. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime guided us through the proceedings with a little help from various versions of Nintendo president Satoru Iwata.
Fire Emblem: Awakening, the first 3DS entry in the long-running tactical RPG series, will hit the U.S. on February 4, 2013. Players will customize their gear, improve relationships for battle bonuses, and meet up with some dude who looks an awful lot like Marth in their battle against the Risen undead.
LEGO City: Undercover, landing in “the first part of next year,” will let players the Wii U GamePad to scan the open-world city for collectible items. Protagonist Chase McCain will swap between several costumes to perform different tasks, and kick brick in a combat system that looks to be inspired by Batman: Arkham City.
Wii Fit U will also arrive in the first part of 2013 (how many “parts” does a year have?) with balance board support and a gaggle of new fitness-centric minigames. It comes bundled with a Fit Meter, a small pedometer-type gadget which keeps track of activity in your day away from the balance board. Tape it to your Pokewalker for twice the strolling fun!
Those are just a few of the highlights from the half-hour-long Direct presentation–check out the archived stream for more on the games, and our previous coverage from the Japanese presentation on Pikmin 3 and Wii U’s spiffy Google Street View features.
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December 4
Far Cry 3
Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
EU: Out
The month’s most notable release is also one of the year’s most anticipated shooters, as Far Cry 3 delivers something quite different from the average military murder-fest. We’ve already put the game through its paces, and we came away in awe of the ample single-player quest, which lets you tear up a pair of open islands as a twentysomething bro in search of his kidnapped pals. As he finds purpose in killing and battling the intense antagonist, Vaas, the campaign hits a fever pitch that’s only amplified by crazed wildlife and enemy gangs. Multiplayer and co-op may not hit nearly the same heights, but unlike many modern FPS favorites, this is a shooter that thrives because of its killer campaign. Get lost in it.
Guardians of Middle-Earth
Platform: PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade (12/5)
EU: December 4 (XBLA: 12/5)
Before ducking into a theater later this month for Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, revisit the universe via Guardians of Middle-Earth, a downloadable console take on the MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) genre. Monolith’s second XBLA/PSN release this year (following Gotham City Impostors), Guardians takes after genre hits like League of Legends and DotA, letting players team up for five-on-five arena battles using a wide array of fighters from the Middle-Earth universe. We thought it likely to be “an inexpensive game whose complexity far overshadows many full-retail titles on the market,” which bodes well for keeping players entertained throughout the long winter.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Dragonborn
Platform: Xbox 360
EU: December 4
By all accounts, the third add-on for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – titled Dragonborn – will be the largest to date, delivering what fans hope will be a vast addition on par with that of Shivering Isles from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Priced at 1600 Microsoft Points ($20) and initially exclusive to Xbox 360, Dragonborn takes players back to Solstheim, the island seen in the Bloodmoon expansion for Morrowind, letting them explore that familiar terrain as they tame dragons, learn dark powers, and wield new armor and weapons against fresh foes. We suspect a PC release will follow early next year, with a PlayStation 3 debut… sometime, maybe.
Mass Effect Trilogy
Platform: PlayStation 3
EU: December 7
Last month, the Xbox 360 and PC versions of Mass Effect Trilogy launched, delivering a fantastic value to anyone who hadn’t kept up with the series over the past few years. But it’s this month’s PlayStation 3 version that’s most notable, as it marks the debut of the 2007 original on the platform, finally allowing Sony die-hards to experience the trilogy from the beginning. And if you don’t want to shell out for the whole set, the original Mass Effect will also be sold separately for just $14.99 on PlayStation Network on the same date.
Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth
Platform: Wii U
EU: TBD
Now here’s an interesting transition. Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth launched a few weeks back on Xbox 360, using Kinect to let you unleash super-powered moves in a framework carried over from last year’s PowerUp Heroes. Now, the Wii U release essentially adapts the Kinect commands for the GamePad touchscreen, allowing you to draw gestures with your finger or stylus to execute the same moves. Aside from the input change – which includes the option to use a Wii Remote and Nunchuk – the overall experience looks very similar, serving up a comic-inspired tag-team fighter that emphasizes those flashy maneuvers over simple attacks.
Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2013
Platform: Wii U
EU: TBD
Hot on the heels of its release on other platforms comes a Wii U version of Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2013, the latest entry in the hunting brand’s amped-up series – but we haven’t seen or heard anything about what this specific release has to offer. What we do know is that Dangerous Hunts 2013 is not sold with the optional Top Shot Fearmaster peripheral on other platforms, which reads your heart rate and feeds that information into the game. We’re curious to see whether the Wii U release puts the GamePad screen to great use, or if it’ll be a pretty straight port from the Wii. Guess we’ll have to wait and see when it drops, though.
Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade
Platform: Wii U
EU: Out
Every new platform needs a mini-game collection, right? The Wii U has Nintendo Land–and Rabbids Land. Need another? D3Publisher’s Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade looks to fill that spot, and if the series’ history is any indication, it’ll be another quantity-over-quality proposition that’s hardly in line with the boastful title. Serving up 1-on-3 experiences with one player on the GamePad and all others using Wii Remotes, Obstacle Arcade collects an array of bite-sized play experiences that include skydiving and soccer-themed activities, as well as taunting alligators on dangling ropes. Hey, it’s $30. Set expectations accordingly.
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]]>Both Future Shop (opens in new tab) and Best Buy Canada (opens in new tab) are listing Yoshi’s Land as a real, bona fide thing you’ll soon be able to buy and stick in a Wii U. Well we say ‘soon’. Both retailers are listing an estimated release date of New Year’s Eve 2013. Though that’s probably very much a placeholder date, actually translating to ‘some time in 2013’.
As for the game’s description? Future Shop are listing the game as thus:
‘Join everyone’s favourite dinosaur in his first big starring role on Nintendo Wii U – Yoshi’s Land. Utilise the power of the Wii U Touchscreen GamePad to enjoy dual-screen fun in this epic adventure with stunning HD graphics and connectivity with the MiiVerse’
Hmmm. ‘everyone’s favourite dinosaur’. Jurassic Park T-Rex is going to be sad. No official word from Nintendo on this one yet, but we’ll let you know as soon as there is any.
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]]>Rabbids Lands’ gameplay stays pretty close to the formula Mario Party pioneered years ago. The game pits up to four players against each other as they take turns rolling dice to move around the board. Players compete in a number of random minigames along the way, and once a player has collected enough of a certain item–trophies, in this case–they’re declared the winner. The structure is hardly revolutionary, but the board game format is so well established that it’s hard to knock it.
As is the case with games in this genre, the real measure of quality are the minigames, and Rabbids Land’s are all over the place. The game might technically accomodate four players, but the actual challenges are one-on-one in nature. One player holds the GamePad while another uses a Wii Remote, leaving the remaining players to just sit and watch the action. Most challenges are short enough that it doesn’t get too boring for those left out, but it’s hardly the best way to design a four-player game.
Although the two-player nature of the attractions in Rabbids Lands’ virtual theme park isn’t ideal for bigger groups, it does provide some extra focus for the minigames, making for better gameplay overall. Only a few attractions really stand out among the twenty-plus that are included. The best of the bunch is a clever mix of surfing and rhythm game elements, and another winner involves hurling penguins at a rickety pirate ship using wind powers. Even with the weaker attractions, like the unwieldy rolling boulder attraction straight out of Indiana Jones, personality goes a long way in keeping things light and fun.
Outside of the attractions, the remainder of each board is mostly filler. There are some goofy trivia questions, random events that shake up the score considerably, and power-ups that lack any real impact on the outcome. The game subscribes to the Mario Party tradition of random, unbalanced punishments/rewards, but that unpredictability is part of the allure of party games like these, and you know early on that you aren’t playing on the most level of playing fields.
For early adopters of the Wii U, Rabbids Land offers up some dependable thrills for your bucks, and the maniacal creatures that star in these games are still a hoot. But with all the choices available at launch, particularly in the party genre, Rabbids Land is too predictable to be a must-buy, unless you’re the type of person that wishes Nintendo Land (opens in new tab)was more like Mario Party. Otherwise, wait for this one to hit the bargain bin.
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For sixteen years, Capcom has been unleashing hordes of zombies upon us in the form of Resident Evil. With close to two-dozen games in the franchise, it’s easy to get lost in the lore. It’s even more complicated for newcomers to the series who haven’t been following all the twists, turns, back-stabbings, deaths, revivals, and variations on viruses that have permeated Resident Evils narrative.
With Resident Evil 6 (opens in new tab) about to drop like a bomb on Raccoon City, we decided to put together this Cliff Notes version of Resident Evil to make sure you’re ready for the next installment. It goes without saying, but if you’ve somehow managed not to play a Resident Evil game in the last decade-and-a-half, beware of spoilers.
The Umbrella Corp is the root of all evil (also the root of all zombies)
Everything in Resident Evil (opens in new tab) starts with the Umbrella Corporation. A major pharmaceutical and medical research company, Umbrella was constantly working on consumer grade products like food and cosmetics. Meanwhile, they were also elbow-deep in the manufacturing of biological weapons.
Those very same weapons would ultimately be the downfall of the company. (Note to all future pharmaceutical CEOs, don’t fire the guy who has access to the virus that will turn your secret underground research facility into ground zero for a zombie outbreak.) After a few other instances of bad luck with a batch of biological terrorism, Umbrella crumbled, but the company’s legacy would impact the world for the foreseeable future.
Raccoon City is where it all started
Remember that secret underground research facility we mentioned? Well it happened to be located beneath a mansion on the outskirts of Raccoon City. Though the initial outbreak was limited to the facility in the Arklay Mountains, some of the virus happened to find its way into the sewer system, which in turn led to a vast majority of Raccoon City turning into mindless monsters with a very particular palette.
Raccoon City’s outbreak was contained a few days after it had begun, but it took a lot of hard work, diligence, square cranks, green herbs, and a few nuclear warheads. Though Umbrella was able to cover up this first small incident, many more would soon follow. Mostly because the company was interested in wiping out the population, but also so Capcom could make another sequel.
The outbreaks have always been contained
For the most part, the zombie outbreaks in Resident Evil have been fairly self-contained. Though each new game in the Resident Evil franchise saw its characters exploring new corners of the world, the catastrophe had yet to reach a global scale like it has in Resident Evil 6. Previous games saw the occurrences happen in a single city, a mansion, a cargo ship, or a secluded island.
Of course, not counting the Outbreak spin-offs (which no one does), Resident Evil 6 is the first game in the franchise with so many lead protagonists. It makes sense then the conflict at the heart of the game would have to be bigger than anything that came before. Ultimately, you’re still battling hordes of zombies, still searching for ammunition, and still trying to find the door the rooster key opens.
Chris Redfield has been battling Umbrella from the start
Chris Redfield is the only returning protagonist from the first Resident Evil. He was there at the mansion when Umbrella first unleashed hell, and he’s still chasing the undead to this very day. Of course, he’s started using HGH as a performance enhancer to keep up with all the advances in modern day zombie outbreaks, but hes still the same old Chris Redfield at heart.
Chris has lost a partner or two over the years, but somehow he’s still managed to push on in his quest to rid the world of bio organic weapons. Umbrella may no longer be a thorn in his side, but the amount of damage they caused while in business has created plenty of problems for Chris and the BSAA to solve. It’d be nice for the poor guy to get a break, but as the star or co-star of four games in the franchise, it doesn’t look like Chris will be ending his crusade any time soon.
Chris and Albert Wesker used to be partners
Chris was once a member of an elite special forces detachment in the Raccoon City Police Department called the Special Tactics and Rescue Service. Also on S.T.A.R.S. was a man by the name of Albert Wesker. Both he and Chris were both on the scene at the mansion outbreak, though their motives may have been a bit different.
Despite his penchant for sunglasses, menacing voice, and general creepy disposition, Chris didn’t think anything was wrong with Wesker.
Until Wesker was revealed to be a superhuman evil mastermind
Wesker set the S.T.A.R.S. team up to die in the mansion that night, yet Chris foiled his plans. Rather than being caught, Wesker injected himself with a prototype virus that only made it appear as if he had died. Instead, he was resurrected with newfound strength, speed, and the ability to regenerate, which is always what happens to people who inject themselves with mysterious liquids.
Albert tried to continue the work of Umbrella for the next few years. He also continued to star as one of the main antagonists of the franchise. In Resident Evil 5 (opens in new tab) though, Chris finally managed to track Wesker down in Kijuju, and put an end to all the misery he’d caused countless millions of people.
And then Chris had to kill him
Holding a grudge as long as Chris had was bound to end badly for Albert once Chris finally caught up to him. Even though Wesker had all the heightened senses and abilities one would expect from a science experiment, and he injected himself with another deadly strain known as the Uroboros virus, that still wasnt enough to stop Chris from kicking him into a volcano.
We know what youre thinking. If Wesker is dead, why did we need to know all of that information about him? Well it just so happens Wesker had a kid named Jake, who believe it or not, is one of the protagonists in Resident Evil 6. Will Jake go all Inigo Montoya on Chris? Will Chris proudly show off the boot with which he kicked Jake’s fathers posterior? We cant wait to find out.
Before working for the US government, Leon Kennedy was an ordinary cop in Raccoon City
During the outbreak in Raccoon City, the new cop in town Leon Kennedy was basically left to fight off Umbrella all on his own. Maybe he had a little bit of help from Chris sister Claire Redfield, but Leon definitely did most of the heavy lifting. During his time in the city, Leon befriended a young girl name Sherry Birkin, whose father Leon had to kill after he infected himself with the G-virus. Were sensing a theme here.
Leon managed to destroy Umbrellas underground facility and escape the city by train before it was blown to smithereens by the U.S. government. Funnily enough, that same government then hired Leon for his expertise, and turned him from an everyman rookie cop into one of the most able special agents in history.
Leon saved the last US President’s daughter from Los Zombies
As a special agent, one of Leon’s missions was recovering the then-President’s daughter, Ashley, from the hands of a Spanish cult known as Los Illuminados. There’s no such thing as routine in the world of Resident Evil, so what should have been an easy recovery mission soon turned into another one-man battle against a zombie outbreak.
This time though, the outbreak was even more dangerous because the infected werent undead. They were merely hosts to a parasite known as the Plaga, which allowed the people to be controlled by a master, and gain strength, speed, and an ability to resist pain. Leon was able to overcome the odds stacked against him once more, and saved Ashley (despite her best efforts to get herself killed), forever ensuring his place at the President’s side.
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]]>Talking of Ms. Perry, Showtime’s released today in two separate editions: the regular $39 disc, or the $49 Katy Perry Edition, including a poster and exclusive Perry-themed content. At time of writing, no one in the office has earned enough Simoleans to unlock the “scallywag British ex” accessory, but it’s early days.
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March 6
Mass Effect 3
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
EU: March 9
What, you expected something else to lead this piece? Arguably the biggest release of the month, if not the quarter – and for many, no doubt, the year – Mass Effect 3 touches down on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in just a few short days, finally bringing Commander Shepard’s action/role-playing trilogy to a close. After months spent bickering about additions like multiplayer and Kinect controls, not to mention the recent playable demo and discs-in-space PR stunt, we can’t wait for everyone to dive in and simply experience this long-awaited conclusion, which will quite hopefully have been worth the wait. Not fully up to speed on what to expect from this sci-fi blockbuster? Be sure to consult our various hands-on previews for in-depth impressions.
Street Fighter X Tekken
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3
EU: March 9
Perhaps the most surprising fighting crossover game to date drops next week, bringing together the casts of Street Fighter and Tekken in a tag-team entry based on the fighting style of the former. The Xbox 360 version features nearly 40 fighters, with half pulled from each series, while the PlayStation 3 release adds a few extras, like Cole from Infamous, Pac-Man, and Mega Man in his hilarious NES box art incarnation. A PC version is set to follow in May, while a Vita release is due this fall with all the PS3 extras plus 12 more fighters (six each from the two series). Whatever system you want it on, Street Fighter X Tekken looks to be an exciting blend of two very different genre leaders.
Unit 13
Platform: PlayStation Vita
EU: March 7
The Vita’s second wave of releases starts next week, headlined by Unit 13, the original shooter developed by SOCOM creator Zipper Interactive. While visually quite similar to its long-running counterpart, Unit 13 focuses on solo operatives, of which the game includes six differentiated by unique strengths (like stealth or explosives). Moreover, Unit 13 is defined in large part by its emphasis on quick-hit missions, with some that can be completed in as little as three minutes. It’s that handheld-friendly approach that Zipper hopes makes this a standout Vita shooter, plus a random daily challenge gives you something new to check out with each sunrise. Be sure to scope out our latest hands-on preview for more on this military-themed affair.
MLB 12: The Show
Platform: PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
EU: N/A
The other big early Vita release this month spawns from the most consistent sports franchise on the market: Sony’s MLB: The Show. Replacing the flat-lining PSP side of the series, the Vita entry will hopefully bring much of the beloved PlayStation 3 baseball experience to the small screen – but it’s certainly not alone this year. On PS3, MLB 12: The Show looks to introduce some new additions and enhancements, such as full PlayStation Move integration and totally redone “TruBroadcast” presentation that looks to better emulate TV broadcasts. The Show hasn’t let us down on the console side in years; with luck, MLB 12 can kick-start a similar baseball dynasty on the Vita as well.
Major League Baseball 2K12
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, PSP, DS, PS2
EU: N/A
2K Sports’ own hardball series continues the trend of being the sim available for the widest array of platforms, even reaching as far back as PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS this time around; though Vita and 3DS are curiously missing. Major League Baseball 2K12 looks to build upon the same core formula it’s been trying to perfect for years – with last year’s being a pretty good effort – while adding the new MLB Today Season mode, wherein you can play that day’s real-life game for your team of choice throughout the season. And in a cool twist for Xbox 360 owners, 2K will make available a bundle pack with MLB 2K12 and NBA 2K12 for $69.99 – $10 more than buying MLB 2K12 alone – to give baseball fans an affordable way to check out the fantastic b-ball sim on the side.
MotorStorm RC
Platform: PSN (PS3/Vita)
EU: Out
MotorStorm RC squeezes the first couple entries’ style of multi-vehicle off-road mayhem into a much smaller package in two ways: not only does it feature tiny remote-controlled cars tearing it up in the desert and jungle, but it’s a PlayStation Network download. And on top of that, it’s a single release that works near-identically on both PlayStation 3 and Vita for a surely tiny price point. We have to wait ’til next week to play on either platform, but our European counterparts got MotorStorm RC at the Vita launch and we’ve been hearing some very strong things about the racer. It looks like an updated take on the classic Micro Machines formula, overhead perspective and all.
Crush 3D
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
EU: Out
Fans of the original PSP version of Crush – released nearly five years ago – can anxiously tell you why Crush 3D should be on the horizon of any Nintendo 3DS puzzle fan, but actually finding many might be tough. Crush earned itself a loyal following with its cerebral, perspective-based take on puzzling platform scenarios, but was dead on arrival at retail. Luckily, the idea of “crushing” 3D stages to into 2D versions works beautifully with the 3DS’ visual effect, so Sega saw fit to spawn this remake, which outfits the original content with a brand new art style and additional features to round out the package. Hopefully, Sega finds the 3DS install base large enough this time around, after delaying the game from fall due to slow system sales.
The Sims 3: Showtime
Platform: PC
EU: March 9
The Sims 3 train keeps chugging along on PC after nearly three years, with the next big expansion pack – The Sims 3: Showtime – due out next week. With a focus on crafting big-time entertainers, Showtime lets you create a singer, magician, acrobat, or DJ and work your way to stardom via interactive performances. Additionally, the pack introduces a new SimPort feature, which lets you share one Sim with a friend and likewise host one in your Sims world. For super fans, EA is releasing a Katy Perry-themed Special Edition, which features the likeness and songs of the pop star, while the standard version is inexplicably called a Limited Edition. And if you’re starting fresh, there’s a pack with both The Sims 3 and Showtime in one.
Top Gun: Hard Lock
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3
EU: April 5
It’s been more than 25 years since Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer traversed the highway to the danger zone, as it were, but the popular ’80s film continues to spawn new combat flight titles – like the latest, Top Gun: Hard Lock. A single-player campaign mode promises 15 missions based on a fresh wave of Top Gun Academy graduates, along with three online multiplayer modes designed for 16 players. With numerous licensed aircraft onboard, Hard Lock should appease flight fans looking for something a little more modern on the console side; even if the name doesn’t deliver the same kind of fresh feeling it did back when.
Nicktoons MLB 3D
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
EU: N/A
Rather than release Major League Baseball 2K12 on the Nintendo 3DS, 2K Sports will instead drop an enhanced version of last fall’s cartoonish, arcade-style option, titled Nicktoons MLB 3D. The earlier console release essentially added the likes of Ren & Stimpy and SpongeBob SquarePants to The Bigs, and from what we’ve seen, the 3DS version looks to be a fairly faithful handheld translation. Nicktoons MLB 3D includes 27 cartoon players and 175 pros with updated rosters (and the new Miami Marlins uniforms), along with a new Frosty Freeze Toss augmented reality mode.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
Platform: PlayStation Vita
EU: March 9
For PlayStation Vita owners, next week’s release of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 offers an opportunity to catch up on one of the better family-friendly titles of the holiday season. From what we can surmise, the Vita version of the game – which spans the content from the last three books/four movies of the popular franchise – looks to add new locations, challenges, spells, and more, along with both front and rear touch controls. You’ll be able to aim spells and lock onto foes with the back touch panel, while snagging items and assembling objects (and participating in duels) with the front screen.
March 7
I Am Alive
Platform: Xbox Live Arcade
EU: March 7
Ubisoft’s I Am Alive has been on the horizon for longer than most of the big retail releases hitting stores this month, but it’s finally set to launch on Xbox Live Arcade next week as the last title in the XBLA House Party (a PSN release will follow later). Set in a large city one year following the apocalyptic “Event,” you’ll play as a man forced to survive in a wasteland dominated by crumbling buildings and aggressive rival survivors, all while battling the toxic elements and managing resources. Third-person pairings of navigation and combat aren’t unfamiliar, but the unique setting of a trashed, scalable urban metropolis looks to give I Am Alive a fresh slant. Scope out our last hands-on preview for much more on what to expect come next week.
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]]>You might be thinking “This is undoubtedly great news but could you inform me of what a Boom Street is please?” Boom Street is a board game simulator. It’s Mario and Dragon Quest themed. The object of the game is to make loads of money by buying and investing in property. ‘Mario Monopoly’ would have been a better name, but that would probably have been a bit of a headache for licensing to get sorted so Boom Street it is.
In the US, Boom Street is called Fortune Street and has already been released. We reviewed Fortune Street and gave it a 7. On the GamesRadar review score scale, a 7 = ‘Good’. Here’s a trailer for Boom Street:
So like Monopoly but loads better because it’s on the telly and your brother can’t cheat by hiding money under the board and none of the bits are missing and you can play as Mario. The chances of Christmas actually being happy this year have just increased by at least 14%.
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