Games of the Month: January 2011

Guild McCommunist · Jan 1, 2011

Well, it's been a full year of doing these. Outside of skipping the December issue (because honestly, there was NOTHING there), I've been doing 'em every month. It's been a pleasure and I hope to be doing these more throughout the year.

A few notices...

- Come March-ish, DS Games of the Month will be discontinued in favor of 3DS Games of the Month. I'll still post DS releases in the threads but odds are there will be a larger emphasis on 3DS releases.
- Odds are I'll be compiling, until Wii releases pick up, the Games of the Month threads into a single thread. Simply put, there is not enough content to make separate threads.
- If the threads split again, I will not be listing Xbox 360 releases any more. FAST does a run through of dumps and the like which basically cover what I would do for 360 releases, although they're also a bit more on the technical side (release info and such).

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 and see the bolded games to see what games I would want write ups for but am not all too qualified to do myself

Some rules and stuff.

- No flaming. If I list a game you don't like, too bad. If I don't, too bad.
- 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 Duke Nukem Forever 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.

The Last Story

Platform: Wii
Developed by: Mistwalker/AQ Interactive
Published by: Nintendo
Release date: January 27th (Japan)
Genre: RPG
My Hype Level: Not until it's in English
GBAtemp Hype Level: Will probably try it, hate the language barrier, and pray for an English release

<img src="http://media.ign.com/games/image/object/059/059789/Last-Story_Wii_JPboxart_160w.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

On the RPG-scarce Wii, it's rare to see a treat like this. A big name studio, a high profile game, and Nintendo's publishing. Although there's been a lot of news on it from western media, there's still been no announcement of an English release, which is a big bummer. We can hope at least it'll come out in English pretty soon or at least get a fan translation.


Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

Platform: DS
Developed by: Capcom
Published by: Capcom
Release date: January 11th (North America), January 13th (Australia), January 14th (Europe),
Genre: Adventure
My Hype Level: A game I won't even bother with
GBAtemp Hype Level: OMG IT HAS PHOENIX WRIGHT IN IT FOR 5 SECONDS

<img src="http://xboxlivemedia.ign.com/xboxlive/image/object/030/030264/Ghost-Trick_NDS_US_ESRBboxart_160w.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Not only is it a genre I'm not too fond of, it's in the same vein as a series I've never disliked for a while. Phoenix Wright always felt like a mediocre series in my eyes, and this has the same vibe: a bunch of wacky characters with trial-and-error point-and-click aspects. Not my thing, personally.


Plants vs. Zombies

Platform: DS
Developed by: PopCap Games
Published by: PopCap Games
Release date: January 18th (North America)
Genre: Strategy
My Hype Level: Already have the iPhone version, I could probably live without it
GBAtemp Hype Level: Do want.

<img src="http://wirelessmedia.ign.com/wireless/image/object/084/084432/Plants-vs-Zombies_DS_US_ESRBboxart_160w.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Plants vs. Zombies is a good game, so I can't really complain. But odds are if you don't have some version of it yet, then you're a little lost. There's the Xbox 360 version, iPhone version, and PC version. PC specs are low so if you own neither an iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad/Xbox 360, then you can pick it up on the PC (especially since it was like $4 on a Steam sale a while ago). But if you want a portable version and lack an iDevice, then odds are the DS version will be just dandy.


Mindjack

Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3
Developed by: Feel Plus
Published by: Square Enix
Release date: January 18th (North America), January 27th (Japan)
Genre: Shooter
My Hype Level: Probably will never play it
GBAtemp Hype Level: Probably forgot about it/don't care


Appropriately sized box art much appreciated.

I guess I can be iffy on this game. Looking at Feel Plus, its developer, they don't have a huge library. On the good side there's Lost Odyssey (which, legitimate shocker, I actually do like a lot and own a copy of), and Blue Dragon Plus. On the bad side there's Ninety-Nine Nights II and Ju-On: The Grudge (that shitty Wii horror game). They also did the PS3 and Xbox 360 ports of No More Heroes which look pretty good (graphics wise and keeping to the original). Since I don't pirate Xbox 360 games I probably won't even bother, but if it's really cheap in a year or two, I may pick up a copy.


Dead Space 2

Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC
Developed by: Visceral Games
Published by: Electronic Arts
Release date: January 25th (America), January 27th (Australia), Janaury 28th (Europe)
Genre: Survival horror
My Hype Level: Still need to play the first
GBAtemp Hype Level: HD console game so I haven't heard much.

<img src="http://media.ign.com/games/image/object/142/14293266/dead-space-2_X360_US_RPboxart_160w.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

I guess it's criminal of me to not get the first game. It's like $20 new, $10 used. Apparently the first game is pretty good and the second one has positive impressions, so survival horror/sci-fi fans may want to pick this one up whenever they can. If you don't have a HD console though, at least pick up Dead Space: Extraction (the Wii rail shooter Dead Space game), since the game sold like shit and is actually quite good.


Lord of Arcana

Platform: PSP
Developed by: Square Enix
Published by: Square Enix
Release date: January 25th (North America)
Genre: Action RPG
My Hype Level: Hopefully better than Monster Hunter
GBAtemp Hype Level: Square Enix Monster Hunter game. Will probably want.

<img src="http://media.ign.com/games/image/object/079/079628/Lord-of-Arcana_PSP_US_ESRBboxart_160w.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

As much as I find Monster Hunter boring, the third one (Tri for the Wii) was somehow oddly fascinating. It kinda played off that primitive urge to collect stuff. And that's the only thing that kept me playing. I felt the combat was boring, the missions dull, and for it to overall be a series that's just bland. For some reason though, it sells millions in Japan so Capcom goes by the "if it's not broke, don't fix it" philosophy. Hopefully Square Enix's take on the niche genre may provide enough change to make it a good competitor. I guess I'm eager to try it out.


LittleBigPlanet 2

Platform: Playstation 3
Developed by: Media Molecule
Published by: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release date: January 18th (North America), January 20th (Australia), January 21st (Europe)
Genre: Platformer
My Hype Level: If I had a PS3...
GBAtemp Hype Level: PS3 owners will probably see this as must buy

<img src="http://media.ign.com/games/image/object/019/019675/LittleBigPlanet-2_STANDARD_PS3_US_ESRBboxart_160w.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Since I don't exactly own a PS3 I'm probably not all-too-qualified to comment on PS3 games. If you want to write the PS3 sections of these monthly and are level-headed and can write relatively well, then send me a message.

Playing the PSP LBP, I didn't find it all too exciting. Yet again, it was just the PSP version. Seeing some trailers and stuff of this, it does seem to have a rather impressive set of creation tools though.

Still, it's called Garry's Mod kids. $15 on the PC at most ($5 for Half Life 2: Deathmatch, $10 for Garry's Mod itself).


Mass Effect 2

Platform: Playstation 3
Developed by: BioWare
Published by: Electronic Arts
Release date: January 18th (North America), January 20th (Australia), Janaury 21st (Europe)
Genre: Action RPG
My Hype Level: Not worth it
GBAtemp Hype Level: No clue

<img src="http://media.ign.com/games/image/object/142/14235018/masseffect2ps31boxart_160w.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Don't get me wrong, Mass Effect 2 is awesome. I made it my game of the year for last year. But fact is, it's not worth playing unless you have beaten the first game. Sure, this lets you get the story of the first game and make all the key decisions, but it's just not the same as playing the first game and bringing your character over to the second. And odds are people interested in Mass Effect 2 will be people who played/have the first game, aka own a good PC or a Xbox 360. There's not much of a point of getting this port over the PC or 360 versions, so don't bother.


Other titles

- Lost in Shadow: 1/4 (North America) (write-up done on European version) [Wii]
- Rabbids Party: Time Travel: 1/27 (Japan) (write-up done on American version) [Wii]
- Kingdom Hearts: Recoded: 1/11 (North America), 1/14 (Europe) (write-up done on Japanese version) [DS]
- Bejeweled Twist: 1/28 (Europe) [DS]
- Bookworm: 1/28 (Europe) [DS]
- Arcana Heart 3: 1/13 (Japan) [Xbox 360] [PS3]
- Mass Effect 2: 1/13 (Japan) [Xbox 360]
- Dragon Age: Origins: 1/27 (Japan) [Xbox 360] [PS3]
- Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood!: 1/11 (North America) [PSP]
- Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep (Final Mix): 1/20 (Japan) [PSP]
- DC Universe Online: 1/11 (North America), 1/14 (Europe), 1/20 (Australia) [PS3]

naglaro00 · Jan 1, 2011

I tried the Dead Space 2 demo
Stomping on the alien things = nice and disturbing

I have yet to try to the LBP2 demo

I haven't even tried the first LBP

And Skeenix + shooters = :S

Gullwing · Jan 1, 2011

Actually Ghost Trick rocks.. I played the game (demo) and I must say that the idea of being able to posses things and use them to change the fates of people is amazing... Can't undrestand why someone would not want it :/

Juanmatron · Jan 1, 2011

Only The Last Story, Ghost Trick and Plants Vs Zombies deserves.

Goli · Jan 1, 2011

naglaro00 said:
I tried the Dead Space 2 demo
Stomping on the alien things = nice and disturbing

I have yet to try to the LBP2 demo

I haven't even tried the first LBP

And Skeenix + shooters = :S
T3B says hi. Because it's godly.
If Mindjack is half as good as T3B I'll buy it when i get a PS3. Body snatching mechanics = Mmmmm... ?!
I'm really excited for The Last Story, hopefully it doesn't come on a DL DVD though >:.
And two small FYIs, Prinny 2 is already out in the EU PSN and if someone REALLY wants to try out Lord of Arcana in English there's a demo availiable. I played a bit of the Japanese version and found it pretty crappy, but I played the English demo and loved it. Weird, huh?

EDIT:

QUOTE(Juanmatron @ Jan 1 2011, 03:32 PM) Only The Last Story, Ghost Trick and Plants Vs Zombies deserves.

Plants Vs Zombies deserves... deserves what?
PS: If you didn't mean PVsZ only and also meant the other two it's "deserve" and not "deserves".

naglaro00 · Jan 1, 2011

Goli said:
naglaro00 said:

I tried the Dead Space 2 demo
And Skeenix + shooters = :S

Click to expand...

T3B says hi. Because it's godly.
If Mindjack is half as good as T3B I'll buy it when i get a PS3. Body snatching mechanics = Mmmmm... ?!

I might ~~beg~~/~~pirate~~saveup for MindJack though if it catches my eye... Brand Loyalty FTW

Only time will tell if it's good tough

Arithmatics · Jan 1, 2011

would there be a new 3DS section replacing the GBA section?

Or can we immortalise the epic handheld?

Guild McCommunist · Jan 1, 2011

Arithmatics said:
would there be a new 3DS section replacing the GBA section?

Or can we immortalise the epic handheld?

Odds are we'll make a separate set of 3DS forums once it's globally launched and the DS forum will become much like the GBA forum was for a while. Once the DS forum becomes dead it'll join the sub-forum status of the GBA section currently.

And I'll keep up-to-date on important DS releases until the system dies (odds are the last big name release will be Pokemon Black/White and if there's a third version).

imshortandrad · Jan 1, 2011

Dead Space was pretty good, so I'll probably check out the second one. Haha, even though it kind of freaked me out sometimes. d:

Arithmatics · Jan 1, 2011

Guild McCommunist said:
Arithmatics said:

would there be a new 3DS section replacing the GBA section?

Or can we immortalise the epic handheld?

Click to expand...

Odds are we'll make a separate set of 3DS forums once it's globally launched and the DS forum will become much like the GBA forum was for a while. Once the DS forum becomes dead it'll join the sub-forum status of the GBA section currently.

And I'll keep up-to-date on important DS releases until the system dies (odds are the last big name release will be Pokemon Black/White and if there's a third version).

That seems like a sad outcome. C'est la vie.

For some reason now I'm not too hyped for the 3DS anymore.

KuRensan · Jan 1, 2011

Can't wait for Plants VS Zombies ^^

Hells Malice · Jan 1, 2011

The Last Story looks amazing. Needs moar english release.
I recall seeing a Lord of Arcana trailer and liking how it looks.

Prinny 2...hell yeah. Definitely getting that. You can't go wrong with prinnies.

DC universe online sucked. It tried its little heart out, but it just wasn't very fun. I commend 'em for trying something different though.

Satangel · Jan 1, 2011

Dead Space 2 sweet, the first one was like the only horror game I could get into. Just a terrific game, superb graphics, atmosphere and that GUI was so well-made. Excellent game, you really should play it Guild

Deleted_171835 · Jan 1, 2011

I'll wait for the English release of The Last Story.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is a game I will get, though. I was watching some gameplay videos and am loving the style of the game. Plus, it's made by the same people who made the Phoenix Wright series!

Kamiyama · Jan 1, 2011

I tried Lord of Arcana's demo and must say... It's not worth it. Only one fun thing was make psycho sounded female character who kicks crap out from monsters and pick up some "Monster Lard" from the ground after that. And that fun lasted about two minutes. I will stick with Monster Hunter. Lets see what God Eater got when it gets western release.

Uncle FEFL · Jan 4, 2011

Juanmatron said:
Only The Last Story, Ghost Trick and Plants Vs Zombies deserves.

LittleBigPlanet 2 says he wants to hit you.

Like Okamiden, I'm telling myself that Ghost Trick will suck because I can't afford it. I guess I'll have to eBay far after its release date...

gifi4 · Jan 4, 2011

Plants vs zombies, dead space 2, ghost trick, little big planet 2. These are the games that I plan to get (ds ones= download, ps3 ones = $$)

Uncle FEFL said:
Juanmatron said:

Only The Last Story, Ghost Trick and Plants Vs Zombies deserves.

Click to expand...

LittleBigPlanet 2 says he wants to hit you.

Like Okamiden, I'm telling myself that Ghost Trick will suck because I can't afford it. I guess I'll have to eBay far after its release date...

Get a flashcart...

ChuckBartowski · Jan 4, 2011

Mass effect 2 is completely worth playing if you havent played the first. i got it, played it first (after brushing up on ME1s story), and then loved it. It was already my GOTY. then i played ME1 and saw how much lesser of a game it was compared to ME2.

Guild McCommunist · Jan 5, 2011

ChuckBartowski said:
Mass effect 2 is completely worth playing if you havent played the first. i got it, played it first (after brushing up on ME1s story), and then loved it. It was already my GOTY. then i played ME1 and saw how much lesser of a game it was compared to ME2.

ME2 is a superior game but the experience of playing the first beforehand and being able to continue the story of your character is what made ME2 work so well. Being able to see the relationships and decisions you made in the first game impact a lot of the second game was fantastic. And the first Mass Effect was still a damn fine game, if hampered by a few glitches and load times.

Empoleom · Jan 6, 2011

I'm planning to play kingdon hearts re:coded and ghost trick, I need to play the first little big planet before playing the second

Games of the Month: January 2011

(not on boat)

Mildly disturbed

homo

Slater Color

RPG

Mildly disturbed

I'll be holding on to you. ;}

(not on boat)

Well-Known Member

I'll be holding on to you. ;}

aka Pearbook

Are you a bully?

BEAST

Deleted_171835

Guest

Well-Known Member

OBJECTION!

How am I a 'New Member'?

GBATemp Nerd Herd Specialist

(not on boat)

Well-Known Member

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