It came from retail: what’s in stores this week
Tuesday is release day and there are plenty of new games to choose from including shooters, games based on movies heavy weight sports titles, games for girls, games about apocalyptic wastelands, ports of games that should have sold better than they did, games involving dudes in spandex and more.
Come and take a tour of this week’s best and worst releases after the break - you probably won’t regret it, but if you do i’ll give you a refund (let’s see, 0 - 0 = ?).
D3Publisher’s ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME is out today for Wii, PS2, and PSP (the movie on which it is based will be in theaters nationwide via Summit Entertainment on October 23, 2009). Featuring the voice talents of Freddie Highmore (Astro Boy) and Kristen Bell (Cora), ASTRO BOY: THE VIDEO GAME will allow players to become Astro Boy, a young boy robot with incredible powers as they embark on an adventure to save Metro City from the clutches of evil.
For the tween girls out there is EA’s CHARM GIRLS CLUB games for Wii and DS. The games include CHARM GIRLS CLUB Pajama Party for the Wii, CHARM GIRLS CLUB My Fashion Mall, CHARM GIRLS CLUB My Perfect Prom and CHARM GIRLS CLUB My Fashion Show for the Nintendo DS. Sassy.
Rock Band fans can download the new Abbey Road album for The Beatles Rock Band today on Wii and Xbox 360 and later in the week for PS3. And if that’s not to your liking, then you can buy the new Rock Band app for iPhone and iPod Touch. This allows players to enjoy a full-band multiplayer experience on iPhone and iPod touch with 20 full-length songs, along with additional songs available for purchase via the In App Purchase feature.
From THQ comes WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2010 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, Wii and Nintendo DS AND Marvel Super Hero Squad for PS2, PSP, DS and Wii. The new wrestling title from THQ promises an enhanced Create-a-Superstar Mode and WWE Story Designer, key franchise improvements and a more comprehensive roster of today’s most prominent WWE Superstars and Divas than previous versions. Marvel Super Hero Squad takes the stars of the new Marvel kids’ show and brings them to life on the Wii and PS2. The game offers a total of more than 20 playable Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains in a world and in adventures based on the decidedly adolescent plot lines of the show.
Lips: Number One Hits is now available for Xbox 360, bringing a brand new set of tunes to Microsoft’s popular Xbox sing-along game. Lips: Number One Hits contains 40 songs on disc from artists like James Blunt, Robbie Williams, Jewel, 30 Seconds to Mars, Coldplay, Janet Jackson and more.
The first expansion to Paradox Interactive’s Elven Legacy trilogy is released with Elven Legacy: Ranger, available today for download from all major digital distribution platforms. Elven Legacy: Ranger lets players take on the role of Cornelius, a ranger who is sent on a top secret mission by the Grand Master of the Order of Marcus to prepare their return to the continent from exile. The most skilled of the rangers, Cornelius is tasked with finding the perfect site for their imminent landing.
TAITO’s SPACE INVADERS EXTREME 2 is in stores today for Nintendo DS. This game is the follow-up to SPACE INVADERS EXTREME released last year and offers more space, lots of invaders and a bunch of extreme situations. Seriously though, the new game offers new single (Score Attack and Time Attack) and multiplayer modes, along with colorful stages and frenetic planet saving action.
Electronic Arts’ FIFA Soccer 10 is in stores throughout North America for the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC, PlayStation 2, PSP, Nintendo DS and mobile. Naturally you can expect some sort of refinement and more teams available than last year’s edition of the game.
Next up is 2K Games and Gearbox Software’s Borderlands, the post apocalyptic, third-person RPG shooter from the guys that brought you Brothers in Arms. The game is available in North America for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, and will be available starting October 23 internationally. The Windows PC version will ship in North America and internationally on October 26 and October 30, respectively. Borderlands promises a combination of elements from the world of first-person shooters and role-playing game wrapped up in a game world where you humanity ekes out an awful existence in a barren wasteland. Sounds like fun for the whole family.
Last but not least, Rockstar Games has released Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars in North America for PSP. Developed by Rockstar Leeds in conjunction with Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is a PSP port of the highly acclaimed Ds game .. that didn’t sell very well oddly enough. The game is now at retail stores on UMD and available digitally from the PlayStation Network. The game will also be released in Europe for both formats on October 23, 2009.
