New Releases for the Week of April 1st, 2012

Although this Sunday marks that mischievous event known as April Fool’s Day, we assure that reports of the Devil May Cry HD Collection on store shelves at Best Buy and Gamestop are no prank- both retailers were notified that they could start selling the title early. Contrarily, there’s little substantiation for Skullgirls‘ release this week beyond an inadvertent reveal from the official Xbox Live Marketplace page. Both developer Revenge Labs and publishers Autumn Games and Konami have yet to confirm the date. (Edit: Skullgirls has now been confirmed for April 11, 2012)

360
Anomaly Warzone Earth (XBLA, $10)
Devil May Cry HD Collection
Diabolical Pitch (XBLA, Kinect)
Fallout 3 & Oblivion Double Pack
Kinect Star Wars
Pinball Arcade (XBLA, $10)
Skullgirls (XBLA) Pushed to 4/11
Tropico 4: Modern Times (DLC)

PS3
Devil May Cry HD Collection
I Am Alive (PSN, $15)
Pro Angler Moves

Wii
Titanic Mystery
Xenoblade Chronicles

3DS
New eShop releases announced 4/5

DS
Titanic Mystery

PSP
I Kill Zombies (PSP Mini)
Farm Frenzy 2 (PSP Mini)

Vita
New PSN releases announced 4/3

PC
Binary Domain
Blacklight: Retribution
Fallout 3 & Oblivion Double Pack
Shoot Many Robots
Tropico 4: Modern Times (DLC)

DesertEagle’s Pick: Having just completed the role-playing Tour of Duty (with stops in Gameindustri, Ephinea, Amalur, and Gran Pulse), you’d think that I’d have the urge to level grind completely Ludovico-ed right out of me. But like A Clockwork Orange‘s Alex, the attempt at aversion therapy appears to have failed, as I long top play Xenoblade Chronicles all week while occasionally yelling, “I was cured, all right!”

BlueSwim’s Pick: Thanks to some influence from GameStop, Nintendo has brought Xenoblade Chronicles to the States. To say it’s arriving with a huge amount of anticipation in its sails might be an understatement. Gamers desperate to play Xenoblade Chronicles started online petitions and social media campaigns to get it released here. Some even broke down, modded their Wiis, and imported the Japanese version out of the belief that it would never see the light of day here. But, seemingly against all odds, it is finally here. Grab a copy at either GameStop or on Nintendo’s website and experience one of the Wii’s best.

Samurage’s Pick: I cant stay away.  Like Deagle, I’ve got an urge to get into some Xenoblade Chronicles.  Though I had told myself I was off Japanese games for a while, the environment looks gorgeous, the open world freedom is supposedly set to maximum, and you get to wield an energy blade against a bad guy named Mechon.  Count me in! Plus, it’s already been out for two years in Japan, so the kid in me can’t help thinking, “Hey, c’mon, it’s my turn to play!”


SeanNOLA’s Pick: I’ve heard nothing but good things about Xenoblade – and not in a Hunger Games “okay, I get it, a lot of people like this, jeez, shut up already” sort of way, but to a degree where I’m surprised by the identities of specific supporters. My eyes have just about rolled out of their sockets from the number of derivative JRPGs this generation, but if the opinions of my fellow naysayers are anything to go on, Xenoblade might just be the kick in the pants that genre needs.

About Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

33 comments

  1. Someone give DesertEagle a medal for reviewing all that. A purple heart with pigtails.

  2. HighPriestPepper

    Xenoblade Chronicles. Now, is that a GS exclusive? Because I hate GS with every fiber of my existence. Well, at least the local one run by incompetent idiots.

  3. Blankas Electric Anus

    I’m going to guess I Kill Zombies is just as bad as it’s title sounds.

  4. Xenoblade Chronicles will be my next to last Wii purchase ever. The Last Story will truly live up to its name unless my console breaks by summer.

  5. For any Vita owners thinking about picking up Pinball Arcade. Wait for the Sony version, it will be available for play on both PS3 and Vita for one low price of $9.99.

    Thanks for the info, guys.

  6. I have yet to meet a 360 owner who didn’t own either Fallout 3 or Oblivion. Who’s going to buy the double pack?

  7. I’ve heard nothing but bad things about Kinect Star Wars, which makes me really sad.

  8. Pro Angler Moves must be an April Fool’s joke. I can feel it.

  9. I’m getting Devil May Cry HD Collection this week. Any differences in the two versions?

  10. I’ll grab the Devil May Cry HD Collection when it hits the $20 mark.

  11. Except for Skullgirls there’s nothing of interest this week. A fighting game from a new developer worries me.

  12. Three picks for Xenoblade Chronicles? You guys are turning into that SNL skit! haha

  13. I guess Xenoblade Chronicles means I have to hook my Wii back up. Shit!

  14. wait, so Xenoblade Chronicles is ONLY available through Nintendo mail order or through Gamestop? That sucks, I have $170 in Best Buy and $30 in Wal-Mart credit.

  15. Binary Domain on PC might be worth a go.

  16. I really want to play Xenoblade, but not in a pay $50 dollars and hook the Wii back up kind of way.

    • I paid the equivalent of 90 US dollars for the game, and didn’t regret it one second out of the 180+ hours I’ve spent on Bionis. I still have 3 unique monsters left to defeat, which is gonna take som serious grinding.

      A Classic Controller is essential, though.

      • Man, I’m so ready for Xenoblade! I plan to put at least 60 hours in for my Spring Break.

        BTW- When was the last time all four picked the same game.

  17. Did someone just watch Clockwork Orange or something?

  18. Actually the girl on Weekend Confirmed said it was pretty weak for a Xeno game.. I might have to wait a bit.

  19. I was supposed to get Xeno today. No love, what a crappy day.

    • If it doesn’t come tomorrow (What’s going on Nintendo?) Here’s what I’m doing– buying a copy at Gamestop. Once my Nintendo order comes in. I’ll take that back to GS and get my money back.