New Releases for the Week of April 8th, 2012

From the ability for Modern Warfare 3 players to earn supplemental XP by digesting Doritos and Mountain Dew to those god-awful Burger King games- Sneak King, PocketBike Racer and Big Bumpin’, the video game industry is no stranger to the crass cross-promotion. Yet, this week’s intermingling of Sour Patch Kids, Method Mad, and platforming in World Gone Sour would likely leave a rancid in our mouths, if it wasn’t for the title’s near- innocuous price. Of course, a far more nourishing treat can be found is this week’s two-course meal of fighting games, as both Phantom Breaker and Skullgirls deliver enough tantalizing anime-inspired brawling to fill the plate of any aficionado.

360
Phantom Breaker
Fez (XBLA, $10)
Skullgirls (XBLA, $15)
The Splatters (XBLA)
World Gone Sour (XBLA, $5)

PS3
4 in 1 Action Pack
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES (PS2 Classic, $10)
Skullgirls (PSN, $15)
The Pinball Arcade (PSN, $10)
World Gone Sour (PSN, $5)

Wii
No Releases

3DS
Ketzal’s Corridors (eShop)
Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir

DS
Anne’s Doll Studio: Tokyo Collection (DSiWare, $5)

PSP
Defenders of the Mystic Garden (PSP Mini, $3.49, Free for PS+)

Vita
The Pinball Arcade (PSN, $10)

PC
Legend of Grimrock
Men of War: Condemned Heroes
Naval War: Arctic Circle

DesertEagle’s Pick: Typically, inaugural fighting games can be a bit dicey- at least until a few iterations work the kinks out. Yet, when your first fighter draws praise from Yoshinori Ono (Street Fighter IV, Street Fighter X Tekken), something special has clearly been crafted. While Skullgirls‘ gorgeous animation is certainly makes a strong first impression, I’m hoping that the title’s single-player component is substantial enough to maintain my interest.

Samurage’s Pick: With Skullgirls on the horizon, how can I look at anything else? I mean, it’s chaotic, cartoony, a little campy, and unlike some other all-female-fighting games, its not just a cover for T&A.  Plus the characters all seem pretty unique and inventive.  And the soundtrack is by the same person who did the music for Castlevania.  Seems like an all around win for me.

BlueSwim’s Pick: For well over a year, we have heard and seen bits and pieces of the latest “all-girls” fighting game; Skullgirls. Every time a new tidbit of info or some screenshots were released, interest in Skullgirls seemed to increase. It’s not hard to see why the fighting game community is looking forward to it, either. In addition to being an eye-pleaser visually, Skullgirls sports the holy grail of fighting game netcode; GGPO (Good Game, Peace Out), which should help keep online matches running smoothly.

SeanNOLA’s Pick: I got some hands-on time with SkullGirls back at a Konami’s event last year, and I liked what I saw. It isn’t the most original combat system, but it’s very well animated and certainly had a lot of character. Also, there are a lot of panty shots, so I know my co-hosts will love it.

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.

32 comments

  1. I’m a little disappointed that Skullgirls went the DLC character route, instead of having us pay $20 or so outright, but I’ll still give it a try.

  2. After Xeno consensus last week, I’m think we might see the same with Skullgirls. I think the one who might pick something else is SNOLA.

    Oh, and Deagle, you didn’t go with Anne’s Doll Studio: Tokyo Collection? WHY?

  3. Is it “The Pinball Arcade” or just “Pinball Arcade”

    Either way, I’d like a review from you guys. Maybe a double!

  4. Mixing Doritos and Mountain Dew will kill you quicker than a final boss!

    Skullgirls for me.

  5. Ketzal’s Corridors looks kind of cool, like a 3D Tetris. I bet it looks real good with the slider all the way up.

  6. Meth should have held out for a Wu Tang fighting game. That could have been sick. All the members, finishing quotes, and beats. I would have dropped some MS bucks on that.

  7. Pinball Arcade, cross-platform>cross-promotion.

  8. I hear World Gone Sour is hella short. Still, I try the demo.

  9. Phantom Breaker looks like everything Samurage was complaining about.

  10. Defenders of the Mystic Garden proves you can’t beat free.

  11. I’ll try Fez. Dudes been working on it for years.

  12. Pinball Arcade. I love the new pinball games since I can’t seem to find any real tables around anymore.

  13. Skullgirls it is. I hear the online system is supposed to be one of the best, with almost no lag. We’ll see, but I’m optimistic.

  14. Based on the hype here (and elsewhere) Skullgirls seems likely for a purchase.

  15. Sorry, but even at 5 bucks, World Gone Sour looks like a pretty sorry platformer. There’s better stuff that people made with LBP 2.

  16. Looks like the gaming illuminati have brainwashed them all to pick Skullgirls. The 2nd week (for as long as I can remember that they all agreed on one game)

  17. Skullgirls sounds good, but I want to see the DLC prices first.

  18. I still need to get Xenoblade Chronicles.

  19. Half of my wants to try Fez, the other wants to send Phil Fish a lesson for being a total hipster douchebag.

    • I try not to play games from developers that are total dicks. Who knows if they even get the message or just “blame marketing”.

  20. The detached head after Samurage’s pick makes me kind of interested in Skullgirls.

  21. Might have to check out Skullgirls after everyone’s recommendation and SNOLA’s hand-ons with it.

    BTW- Did any of you see the April Fools joke the developer had on their website?

  22. I’ll grab Skullgirls for sure this week. Looks really cool.

  23. Pinball Arcade for me. I have two tables, but I’m addicted to pin.

  24. Skullgirls it is then! 🙂

  25. Anyone brave enough to pick up World Gone Sour? Five bucks for a game is a deal these days,even if it is a big candy commercial.

  26. Actually, I’m kind of interested in Spirit Camera. Any game that can make the real world scary is a cool ideal. I don’t why why more people aren’t talking about it- everyone complains about how games don’t come up with new ideas anymore.