Tech-Gaming Technology, Gaming, and Culture
From Minecraft’s journey from sandbox to story-form and Dragon’s Quest’s shift from role-playing game to musou-mechanics, this week’s schedule of new game release shows old dogs learning even older tricks. Luckily, there’s a few mutts out there refusing change, from Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection high-definition port of last gene’s titles to Pocky & Rocky with Becky’s return after a thirteen-year exodus. Even Marty McFly and Doc Brown have arrived “in time” to resell a four-fear old game in connection with the original movie’s thirtieth anniversary.
Header Image: Pocky & Rocky with Becky, Wii U (retouched)
PlayStation 3
Goosebumps: The Games (PSN, $14.99)
Minecraft: Story Mode – Episode 1 (also on PSN, $4.99)
The Jackbox Party Pack 2 (PSN, $24.99)
WRC 5 FIA World Rally Championship (PSN, $39.99)
PlayStation 4
Arcade Archives Crazy Climber 2 (PSN, $7.99)
Back to the Future 30th Anniversary Edition (also on PSN, $19.99)
Bedlam: The Game By Christopher Brookmyre (PSN, $19.99)
Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below (also on PSN, $59.99)
Goosebumps: The Games (PSN, $14.99)
Grand Ages: Medieval (also on PSN, $59.99)
Minecraft: Story Mode – Episode 1 (also on PSN, $4.99)
One Upon Light (PSN, $11.99)
The Jackbox Party Pack 2 (PSN, $24.99)
The Talos Principle: Deluxe Edition (also on PSN, $39.99)
Three Fourths Home: Extended Edition (PSN, $4.99, cross-buy)
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection (also on PSN, $59.99)
Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut (also on PSN, $39.99)
WRC 5 FIA World Rally Championship (PSN, $49.99)
Wii U
Perpetual Blast (eShop, $3.99)
Pocky & Rocky with Becky (eShop, Virtual Console, $6.99)
Race The Sun (eShop, $10.00)
Whispering Willows (eShop, $9.99)
Xbox 360
Back to the Future 30th Anniversary Edition (also on XGS, $19.99)
Minecraft: Story Mode – Episode 1 (also on XGS, $4.99)
Xbox One
Back to the Future 30th Anniversary Edition (also on XGS, $19.99)
Battle Islands (XGS, free to play)
Minecraft: Story Mode – Episode 1 (also on XGS, $4.99)
The Jackbox Party Pack 2 (XGS, $24.99)
Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut (also on XGS, $39.99)
WRC 5 FIA World Rally Championship (XGS, $59.99)
3DS
3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (eShop, $5.99)
Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash (also on eShop, $29.99)
Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash Amiibo Bundle ($39.99)
Goosebumps: The Game (also on eShop, $29.99)
The Legend of Legacy (also on eShop, $39.99)
The Smurfs (also on eShop, $29.99)
PS Vita
Corpse Party: Blood Drive (PSN, $39.99)
Corpse Party: Blood Drive – Everafter Edition ($49.99)
Farming Simulator 16 (also on PSN, $34.99)
Super Blackout (PSN, $4.99)
Three Fourths Home: Extended Edition (PSN, $4.99, cross-buy)
WRC 5 FIA World Rally Championship (PSN, $29.99)
PC (Available via Steam unless otherwise noted)
Age of Decadence (Early access, $29.99)
Ancestory ($13.49)
Animal Gods ($7.99)
Assetto Corsa – Dream Pack 2 (DLC, $7.99)
Bedlam ($16.99)
Decromancer (Early access, $9.99)
Escape from Puzzlegate ($TBA)
Fairy Tale Mysteries 2: The Beanstalk ($5.99)
Hyperdrive Massacre ($7.49)
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes ($13.49)
Luck Rabbit Reflex! ($13.99)
Minecraft: Story Mode – A Telltale Games Series ($22.49)
Nubs’ Adventure ($5.94)
Orion Trail ($6.99)
Paint it Black ($TBA)
Paint the Town Red (Early Access, $8.49)
Secret Ponchos ($11.24)
Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth – Rising Tide (DLC, $29.99)
Slipstream 5000 ($TBA)
Sublevel Zero ($12.74)
The Jackbox Party Pack 2 ($24.99)
The Secret of Tremendous Corporation ($TBA)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Hearts of Stone (DLC, $8.49)
Trap Them – Sniper Edition ($3.99)
WRC 5 FIA World Rally Championship ($35.99)
Zombasite ($14.99)
Robert’s Pick: Largely overlooked by the gaming collective, I’ve always been a fan of the Chibi-Robo franchise. Ever since the lanky automaton with a power socket for a tail first captured my heart in 2006’s Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure! I’ve appreciated developer skip Ltd’s comical simulations of mechanized housekeeping. This week’s release of Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash offers a bit on compromise, with play that’s closer to a 2D platformer than a suburban scrub-down. Hopefully the title hasn’t been completely cleaned of its quirky fundamentals, and we’ll still emphasize with the peppy, ever-dutiful little protagonist.
Gonçalo’s Pick: It’s interesting to see how turn-based isometric western RPGs have been growing in popularity due to concentrated efforts from smaller developers. This week, old-school role-playing fans are treated to Age of Decadence, a Fallout-inspired title set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world featuring low magic themes, and tactical turn-based combat. Anyone fond of the classic Black Isle Studios formula would do well to check this one out.
Ok, I remember Pocky & Rocky. But what was the girls name? Was she Pocky or Rocky?
Rocky was the raccoon, that much I remember.
The original names were Sayo, Manuke, and Miki. Miki was changed to Becky for the US release.
Natsume probably thought that Kiki Kaikai Advance or even Sayo, Manuke, with Miki wouldn’t bring the sales.
The game that best describes my sex life: Nubs’ Adventure
Is that better or worse than Perpetual Blast?
Turning Minecraft into a story is the worst idea in gaming since the Virtual Boy.
I’m curious how Dragon Quest Heroes turned out. Seems like a challenge to duplicate a franchise that has been able to refine itself over 15 years.
Picking Chibi-Robo over Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection is pure blasphemy. What’s wrong with you man?
That’s what I’ll be doing. Already have the Uncharted games on PS3.
Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth – Rising Tide is cool, but not $30 cool.
What day does Uncharted come out? I might have to grab it.
My pick would be 3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2. I must have put 30 hours into the Genesis version as a kid. I probably still know every path and secret in the game.
I’m calling a 87 on Dragon Quest Heroes right now. Looks like a Deagle game.
I hope you review Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash soon. I’m debating whether to buy it and I trust your tastes.
Animal Gods look kind of Zelda-ish. If they can polish it like Nintendo, they’ve earned a sale.