Sorry about missing last month, it was just a busy one for me. But regardless, Games of the Month returns, no April Fools here!
If I missed a game you really want coverage on then simply send your write up to me (via PM). If it's good enough and follows proper formatting I'll add it here with credit to you! Check the "Other Releases" section at the bottom to see what games I would want write ups for but am not all too qualified to do myself. You can also do write-ups for games I didn't even list. Sometimes things slip my eye.
Some rules and stuff.
- This is mainly North American releases, sorry. I'll, on occasion, do a European or Japanese release if it's big enough and not already out in America.
- If a game is already released in English and is being released again for another region, I won't bother adding it. Like say if Half Life 2: Episode 3 was out in America in April (it won't) and it came out in May in Europe, I won't list it for May. I'll also do the same if a game was released in English (aka Europe or America) and is being released in Japan.
- I get my dates from GameFaqs, Wikipedia, and IGN, so if a date is wrong don't blame me. You can, of course, point it out and ask me to fix it if you have the right date.
Rhythm Thief and the Emperor's Treasure
Platform: 3DS
Developed by: Sega
Published by: Sega
Release date: April 5th (Europe), April 12th (Australia)
Genre: Rhythm
My Hype Level: I don't get the hype
GBAtemp Hype Level: Some people are going nuts
Okay, can someone explain why some people are going crazy over this? Like it doesn't look bad, but it doesn't look like some game changer or anything. I could see the hype for your Super Mario 3D Land, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Mario Kart 7, whatever, since they're all Nintendo franchises and most anything Nintendo branded gets hype. But this is a new IP by Sega and from what I saw it just kinda looks like... a rhythm game. But it didn't appear to have like any music licensing behind it (unlike Rock Band, Guitar Hero, even Elite Beat Agents) or have a big enough franchise to propel it (like Theatrhythm Final Fantasy). It's just... a rhythm game. I mean it doesn't look bad or anything, but why people are saying this is the greatest 3DS game since... whatever. Just kinda puzzles me.
Devil May Cry HD Collection
Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3
Developed by: Capcom
Published by: Capcom
Release date: April 3rd (Europe, North America, Japan), April 5th (Australia),
Genre: Action
My Hype Level: Only DMC3 is really necessary to play
GBAtemp Hype Level: Yet another HD collection
Really, if you wanted the greatest DMC experience, all you need to play is 3. The other two are passable but none of them are on the level of DMC3. Still, it's $40 for 3 games. However, I haven't heard the greatest things about this HD collection, especially compared to the really good ones, so if you already have a good copy of DMC3, there's really not too much of a reason to give for this.
Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention
Platform: Playstation Vita
Developed by: NIS
Published by: NIS
Release date: April 17th (North America), April 20th (Europe)
Genre: SRPG
My Hype Level: Not my killer app
GBAtemp Hype Level: Weaboos are probably interested
If you know me well enough, you should know of my complete avoidance of SRPGs. I can't stand them any more. The market was absolutely overpopulated with them last generation. Both the PSP and the DS just had such a massive flood from the genre that I really couldn't stand any more of it. And I blame Nippon Ichi in part for it. All they seemed to due was push out SRPGs, particularly for the PSP. Between Disgaea, ZHP, all this other stuff, it just made me think "can they do anything else?" Yeah, they did Disgaea Infinite, but it was still just for Disgaea fans only, and then there was the Prinny games but, again, appeals to Disgaea fans. The whole company feels like a one trick pony, stuck on a single genre and if they're not, they're stuck on the same art style. Regardless of all this, the game will probably take up a chunk of your time if you like this sort of thing, but I'll be waiting for something much better to waste my time on. Or I could just get Lumines, that would work.
Kinect Star Wars
Platform: Xbox 360
Developed by: Terminal Reality/LucasArts
Published by: Microsoft
Release date: April 3rd (North America, Europe), April 5th (Japan, Australia)
Genre: Shit
My Hype Level: KILL IT WITH FIRE
GBAtemp Hype Level: I AGREE
God, just look at this shit heap. Remember that Star Wars demo for the Kinect when it was first announced? It kinda gave us the feel of "Hey, maybe the Kinect would be absolutely awesome for Star Wars!" I mean think of it. You can do your lightsaber battles, throw Stormtroopers with the Force, and actually do it instead of pressing buttons! How awesome! But it devolved into this lump of turds. Its existence just angers me. Everything about it looks terrible. From that shit-eating cover to all these awful "family fun" ads. I mean we get shit like this but we can't get a proper Battlefront sequel? Eat my ball sack LucasArts, eat it hard.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (Enhanced Edition)
Platform: Xbox 360
Developed by: CD Projekt/Metropolis Software House
Published by: Warner Bros. Interactive
Release date: April 17th (North America, Europe, Australia)
Genre: RPG
My Hype Level: Mildly interested, would definitely buy when it goes on sale.
GBAtemp's Hype Level: Probably played it on the PC if they were already interested
I've heard some really positive things about The Witcher series as a whole and I'm glad to see it coming to consoles... Unfortunately, it's The Witcher 2, with the original left high and dry. This is really what offsets me about it. I'd really want to know the whole story and stuff of the previous game before jumping into the sequel. It's why I criticized Mass Effect 2 for the PS3 so much. On the plus side, the developers have been making a big deal about this "Enhanced Edition", showing that they're taking a lot of care and effort into making a good Xbox 360 port, which I can't say for a bunch of other WRPGs (like Divinity II or Two Worlds). Still, I'm definitely interested in it, and if it goes on sale for like $30, then I'll bite.
Prototype 2
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Developed by: Radical Entertainment
Published by: Activision
Release date: April 24th (North America, Europe, Australia)
Genre: Action
My Hype Level: Was never interested in trying the first game
GBAtemp's Hype Level: Doesn't feel like anyone cares
It's the sequel to the game no one really cared about or wanted, Prototype 2! It kinda fits into that whole "open world playground" thing if I understand this right, kinda like the emo cousin of Crackdown. The original was apparently pretty average, not bad enough to die but not good enough to get a good fanbase. But hey, sequels can be promising for games like that. We all remember Assassin's Creed, right? It was not bad enough to die but not good enough to actually be worth a lot, and it pooped out an excellent sequel and, hell, I really liked Brotherhood and Revelations too. Maybe Prototype 2 will save the franchise from mediocrity. Or it could just fall into the same place as the first game it'll just rot in a ditch.
Other Releases
Most of these are titles I really don't know much about so write-ups are much appreciated
- Xenoblade Chronicles: 4/6 (North America)*
- Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir: 4/13 (North America)
- House of the Dead 4: 4/17 (North America)
- Trials Evolution: 4/18 (North America, Europe)
- Bloodforge: 4/25 (North America, Europe)
Downloadable Content
- Asura's Wrath: Episode 15.5 - Defiance: 4/3 (North America), 4/4 (Europe)
Notes to Readers
I'm still looking for...
- A banner graphic. Make it say "Games of the Month" and have it themed with GBAtemp and stuff (include the logo, color scheme, etc). It's probably best to leave the month blank so it can easily be inserted every month. I may occasionally call on you for the holidays to make it more holiday themed. Could also use a front page graphic for the front page post on this.
