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Release Radar- 15 Games in Q2 2012 You Should Know About

By
Don Parsons
– April 5, 2012Posted in: Editorials, News, Nintendo 3DS/DSi/DS, Nintendo Wii/WiiU, PC/Mac, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable/PSVita, Previews, Xbox 360

It’s that time of year again. One quarter down, and time for another. While we are not cramming big name franchises into the picture this quarter, there are still plenty of quality games on their way. A lot of them are high profile, and some you may have never heard of…until now. A few of us at Vagary.tv have sat down and put together this list of 15 games we think you should be aware of in the coming few months.

Be advised, this list is by no means represents every game coming in the next couple of months. There are still a plethora of other games coming, and some you may want more than any of these. Also, dates are always subject to change, which is why Inversion and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier are not part of this list. Enjoy! ~ Don

Heroes of Ruin
Developer: n-space
Publisher: Square-Enix
Projected Release: April 2012

The lack of quality games on the Nintendo 3DS has been a major issue with the system, but early in 2012 things have picked up with a good variety of quality games. Heroes of Ruin looks to continue that trend in quarter two as Square Enix drops the unique action roleplaying game on gamers. Featuring, what Square Enix calls, a seamless drop-in, drop-out multiplayer experience, a deep customization system and new challenges to download daily via Spot Pass, Heroes of Ruin has the potential to change the handheld landscape.

- Chris Scott

Kinect Star-Wars
Developer: Terminal Reality
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Projected Release: April 2012

The success of the Kinect is certainly debatable but there is one thing I cannot deny and that is that my kids love playing it. You know what else they love? Star Wars. Sure, Kinect Star Wars (or is that Star Wars Kinect) looks like a combination of mini-games but when it comes to motion gaming, those games tend to work best as they can offer quick bursts of fun and not wear out their welcome. As long as Kinect Star Wars allows me to lightsaber fight my son and “use” the force to do cool things on my television, this game will be a winner.

- Chris Scott

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Developer: CD Projekt Red Studios
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Projected Release: April 2012

The Witcher 2 was one of the top RPGs of last year, but its PC only status — and the behemoth that was Skyrim — meant that it did not nearly get the billing it deserved. Thankfully, the console release is nearly upon us. I hope your high fantasy hankerings haven’t been fulfilled by Skyrim and Kingdoms of Amalur, because the Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings provides a much more mature and visceral experience. This offering is the full “Enhanced” treatment, giving you the opportunity to explore the full version of an already widely acclaimed action rpg. Challenging combat, tough decisions (resulting in a plethora of different endings and wildly different play through possibilities) and a true adult experience another fantasy go around that much more satisfying.

- Tony Odett

Mario Tennis Open
Developer: Camelot Software Planning
Publisher: Nintendo of America
Projected Release: May 2012

While the Mario Kart series is the most well-known of the Mario themed sports titles, the Camelot developed Golf and Tennis games are largely regarded as some of the most fun on their respective platforms. Camelot will bring Mario Tennis Open, the first new Mario Tennis title in over six years, to the 3DS, strengthening an already impressive 2012 slate of releases. While support for the 3DS’s gyroscope might be a minor touch, the ability to play online matches could make Mario Tennis the go to game for competitive play.

- Chris Scott

Note: This is what you can do when you pre-order. You know you want to.

Sniper Elite V2
Developer: Rebellion
Publisher: 505 Games
Projected Release: May 2012

One might say a developer would be insane to go back to World War 2 and do another shooter. However, with the proper spin, and a few new details, they might be able to go back to the well once more. Sniper Elite V2 has done just that, adding heavily detail sniping mechanics with a unique co-op system to put a new twist on the greatest war Earth has ever known. Add some visceral, bloody, and jaw dropping sniping cam shots showing bones breaking, lungs puncturing and heads being ripped apart, and you have a game that is definitely worth a solid look. The last Sniper Elite game was a solid title that was sadly overlooked. So, for some solid 3rdperson shooting action, with an extra helping of gore, look no further than Sniper Elite V2.

- Tony Odett

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Release Radar- 15 Games in Q1 2012 You Should Know About

By
VTV Staff
– December 30, 2011Posted in: Nintendo 3DS/DSi/DS, PC/Mac, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable/PSVita, Previews, Xbox 360
The days of the “Fall gaming season” are over. Yes we still get a massive influx of great games in time for the holiday, but it’s been apparent for a few years now that great games can still release during other times of the year and still succeed. This is a good thing for gamers, because it gives us things to look forward to all year-round. So with “Winter gaming season” upon us, a few staff members and I wanted to briefly highlight some of the games we are looking forward to coming out in the next few months. Keep in mind, while these are our top picks, there are still plenty of other great games accompanying them on the calender. Also note, dates can change at any given time. We hope you enjoy!

 

Final Fantasy XIII-2
Developer: Square-Enix & Tri-Ace
Publisher: Square-Enix
Projected Release: January 2012
When Final Fantasy XIII was released to the masses, most fans of the series cried foul. In an effort to extend the story (and no doubt redeem themselves), Square-Enix has listened to the complaints and is giving us something they don’t do often; a sequel. There are far too many changes to XIII-2 for me to list here, but a revamped level-up system, a more open world, a tweaked battle system and time travel are just a few to look forward to. Fans of the game, and even those that didn’t like XIII, should keep open minds and give it a try.

I can’t wait to see how Square-Enix handles this game, and it is easily my most anticipated title personally. I loved XIII. It was one of my favorite games of this generation, and I am very excited to see how the story continues for Lightning and company.

- Don Parsons

NeverDead
Developer: Rebellion
Publisher: Konami
Release Date: January 2012

With the exception of Bayonetta, the character action genre has been feeling extremely tired recently. Rebellion’s NeverDead hopes to breath some life into it. On the surface, NeverDead looks to be nothing special, just another character action game with a moody hero. But NeverDead has a secret weapon in the form of its gameplay mechanic (gimmick), where players can be completely dismembered and continue to fight on. It is an interesting gameplay choice and with the proper aesthetic, NeverDead could be an early surprise of 2012.

- Chris Scott

Resident Evil: Revelations
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: February 2012


The notion that Resident Evil has lost its way is at this point so widely held giving up on the series for good is understandable. However, that might turn out to be a mistake in the near future. Enter Resident Evil: Revelations, a touted return to the slower pace, denser atmosphere and lower focus on action of Resi’s past. Luckily, while the atmospheric elements of classic Resident Evil are resurrected, the infuriating controls and clunky gameplay is left in the grave, as the game uses a tweaked version of the RE4/5 template that allows free camera movement, strafing while shooting and other such modernities. Revelations sports cooperative game modes, wide location variety, a seemingly twist-tastic plot, and most noticeably of all, graphics just inches away from current-gen console-quality. Brush up on your herb-mixing skills and combine SHOTGUN AMMO with SHOTGUN in February exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS.

- Magnus Risebro

Syndicate
Developer: Starbreeze Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: February 2012

Remakes are all the rage, we had quite a few HD remakes we wanted to include in our list even, however complete re-imaginings of a franchise are always a tricky prospect. Electronic Arts is hoping that the name Syndicate still holds some amount of weight in the gaming world and that Starbreeze Studios can capitalize on that and give EA an early year hit. What is most interesting about Syndicate though is that the original game was a strategy game and this rework is a first person shooter. Fans of the original are already in an uproar over the change of focus and that alone warrants some added focus on the title, additionally however Starbreeze has developed some of the most interesting FPS games of the past few years and seeing what they can do inside the world of Syndicate is truly the most interesting thing about it all.

- Chris Scott

SSX
Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: February 2012

At one point in time SSX was one of the biggest franchises on the market but this generation has not been kind to the extreme sports genre, with even the mighty Tony Hawk struggling to maintain a hold in the highly competitive marketplace. Thus this new SSX has a lot of questions surrounding it. Amongst them, can it capture the magic of the original games and do so in a high definition world? But maybe most importantly, can it revitalize a struggling genre that was once a dominant force in the industry. So far everything looks great and provided they can implement a simple to use, yet complicated to master trick system, SSX could be the breath of life this genre needs.

- Chris Scott

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Op-Ed: A 3DS Revision Already? [And What About Those Early Adopters]

By
Christopher Coke
– September 1, 2011Posted in: Nintendo 3DS/DSi/DS

Despite claims to the contrary, there’s been some speculation lately that the 3DS may be in line for a hardware revision. Think “3DS Lite” or “3DS XL.” Given that the system only launched a scant six months ago, this would come as a big surprise. The thing is, the system has pretty much bombed. If Nintendo had an “Oh Poop” button, they’d be hitting it now — and they have, with the huge price cut. The fact that the system priced dropped $80 in those six months also came as a big surprise.

My question is this, though: If Nintendo does surprise us again, how do they compensate early adopters this time? Should they have to?

The hardware is admittedly flawed. The battery life is abysmal. The hinges get loose. The top and bottom screens rub together, prompting some people to remove the feet from their Xbox 360s and stick them between the lids. There are a handful of less disastrous problems with the design too: strange stylus placement that almost always means stabbing your cartridge, oddly positioned d-pad and buttons. I’ve personally taken to not using the d-pad at all because it causes hand cramps.

So a revision would probably be the best thing.

Except that it will piss off everyone who’s already purchased one. I’ve read comments all over the internet where early adopters are decrying even the discussion of new hardware. Inevitably, someone comes along and reminds them that they chose to buy that 3DS and they got what they paid for. This is true, except for the screen, and hinge, and button placement problems, which are only revealed in time. All of that aside, let’s assume for a minute that none of these problems exist. People would still feel cheated out of their money.

When a better designed, more functional, and less expensive version of the same console releases so close to the original hardware they bought on faith, people feel tricked. Given how far out design changes are usually planned, they may even be right — should these rumors be true, of course. So the impetus will be on Nintendo to convince these customers they weren’t shafted; that their $80 more expensive hardware wasn’t a stop-gap money grab version of a beta test. Can they even offer enough to prevent that? Will Mr. Fils-Aime take a salary cut like his counterpart in Japan?

Even though we’re talking about their most dedicated, most faithful fans here, short of an exchange program, I really don’t think so.

Stay tuned to Vagary.TV as we get closer to Tokyo Games Show and we’ll fill you in on the details.

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Gamescom 2011: Super Mario 3D Land Preview

By
Magnus Risebro
– August 19, 2011Posted in: Magnus' Blog, Nintendo 3DS/DSi/DS, Previews

3D Mario titles have not resembled their 2D brethren much in the past. The immediate, twitchy feel of the iconic plumber’s side-scrolling outings is not very present in Super Mario 64, Sunshine, or the Galaxy games. Those games have a far slower, more careful feel, which is natural given the imprecision of 3D games compared to 2D ones. With Super Mario 3D Land, it seems Nintendo are trying to fuse gameplay styles old and new, which ideally would mean a game which is both easy to pick up and play and deep enough to warrant spending precious sofa-time on. Judging from the four-level demo I played here at Gamescom, the game leans heavily on the pick-up-and play angle, with short levels and uncomplicated gameplay.

Though it plays in 3D, it is very dissimilar to the aforementioned 3D Mario’s. For starters, big, open worlds like Bob-Omb Battlefield are replaced by linear paths consisting largely of floating platforms, the closest relation to which would be the more platform-y sections in Sunshine and Galaxy. But where those parts were challenging and fast-paced, what I played was a touch plodding. I never got that edge-of-your seat sense of platforming-peril present in the SNES and NES Mario games. That’s not necessarily an issue, Mario 64 and Galaxy don’t really have that feel either, but they compensate with intricate, explorable worlds chock-full of interesting stuff, and 3D Land, as far as I can see, lacks this.

The four levels I played had no brain-bending platforming concepts, interesting enemies, or other significant thrills. The closest it got was a take on the Airship Fortresses from Bros. 3, and even that required far less platforming and projectile-dodging skill than the originals. Super Mario 3D Land is not fast-paced, satisfyingly challenging or precise like older Mario’s, and neither is it grandiose and clever like the 3D ones. It’s stuck in a rather dry middle ground. Simply put, the demo of the game was not particularly fun or interesting, a severe disappointment for a new “true” Mario game, something we don’t get too often. Sure, it felt nicely polished the way most Nintendo games do, with smooth framerate, colorful environments, and nice animation.

It works, and it works well, but what it does fails to engage much.

It could well be that these levels were intentionally simplistic and plain for demo purposes, and that more interesting stages appear in other parts of the game, but if this demo is anything to judge by, Nintendo fans are in for  an unexpected disappointment.

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E3 Preview: Metal Gear Solid 3D Snake Eater

By
Ryan Kenward
– June 13, 2011Posted in: Nintendo 3DS/DSi/DS, Previews

The Nintendo 3DS continued to show its impressive upcoming software at this years E3; amongst the list of greats was Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater.  As you may imagine, the 3D is a clever play on Metal Gear Solid 3.  This is indeed the same Metal Gear you played years back on the PS2, only now in full 3D along with some other bells and whistles.  A neat feature is the ability to create your own camouflage patterns by taking a picture of a texture with the cameras on your 3DS.  As you will see in the screen shots, the game does look beautiful and it felt very true to the series.  The only problem that we encountered, and the only problem you were probably concerned with were the controls.  Alas, the 3DS – despite being a multi-input system lacks a second analog stick that would have really made MGS3D miles better.  Players will need to use the X, B, A, Y buttons to control their aim.  Unfortunately, this does not feel at all intuitive as we’ve all grown beyond the days of single analog sticks.  It seems bold that Konami went with this control scheme, but knowing the devotion people have to the series and also knowing how beautiful the game looks; we highly doubt that this game will have a hard time flying off of the shelves.  In the few minutes I had my hands on the title, I didn’t really get too accustomed to the controls; but I did make improvements and it is fairly likely that I would have adapted within a few more minutes of play.  One last note to mention is MGS3D will utilize the gyroscopes built into the 3DS when attempting to navigate obstacles that require balance.  With all that said, regardless of the control flaws – we are looking forward to getting our hands on the full version of the game!

You can find Metal Gear Solid 3D on shelves this holiday season!

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E3 Preview: Super Mario 3DS

By
Ryan Kenward
– June 9, 2011Posted in: Nintendo 3DS/DSi/DS, Previews

Years after hanging up his pointy ears and striped tail – Mario takes “Flight” again with the Tanooki suit.  In a game that appears to be a spiritual successor to Super Mario Bros 3 (NES) and Mario 64 (N64) – Mario interacts with both a traditional side scrolling environment A La New Super Mario Bros Wii, combined with 3D environments like Mario 64/Galaxy.  The game manages to feel familiar and new at the same time taking full advantage of all the 3DS has to offer.  You come across different parts of levels that will require to think and play in 3D, like climbing up a winding series of blocks to advance to the next part of the level.  The dynamics of the game feel very “Mario” though the Tanooki suit will not work as you would have expected it to, and probably wanted it to.  With the Tanooki suit you will quickly discover it isn’t a matter of flying, it is more of a “Fluttering slowly towards the ground” – also, it appears that Mario is not able to turn into a statue.  In the end, the game has potential seeping out of it.  With no confirmed launch date as of yet, it is definitely something I personally will be following closely.

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Kid Icarus: Uprising

By
Ryan Kenward
– June 23, 2010Posted in: Nintendo 3DS/DSi/DS, Previews
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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (3DS)

By
Ryan Kenward
– June 21, 2010Posted in: Nintendo 3DS/DSi/DS, Previews

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Nintendo didn’t mention anything about this ace up their sleeve at E3 this year, but in the press kit they handed out to the media we found this gem tucked away. It appears that Ocarina of Time will be getting a new lease on life for the 3DS. Speaking for myself (Ryan) – all I can say is, “Hell yes!”. As many people probably know Ocarina of Time is my all time favorite game, the only 10 ever made in my eyes. I’ve been wanting an OoT revisit for a loooong time.