New Game Releases: October 29th-November 4th, 2015

With the holiday shopping season rapidly approaching, it’s time for publishers to ramp up the number of ‘Game of the Year’ editions. With reissues of Evolve, Lords of the Fallen, and Shovel Knight, there’s an undeniable amount of familiarity with this week’s selection of new game releases. Fortunately, there’s also a bit of freshness to be found, whether it’s the long-awaited second chapter in the The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky series or even a charming indie platformer like Poncho.

Header image: The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC, PC

PlayStation 3
Barbie and Her Sisters: Puppy Rescue ($39.99)
Dragon Fin Soup (PSN, $19.99, 3 way cross-buy)
The Jackbox Party Pack ($29.99)
Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return (PSN, $5.99, English language version)

PlayStation 4
Air Conflicts Pacific Carriers ($39.99)
Arcade Archives: Ikki (PSN, $7.99)
Dragon Fin Soup (PSN, $19.99, 3 way cross-buy)
Evolve Ultimate Edition (retail, $59.99)
Lords of the Fallen Complete Edition (retail, $29.99)
Poncho (PSN, $14.99)
Need for Speed (also on PSN, $59.99)
Need for Speed – Deluxe Edition (also on PSN, $69.99)
Snoopy’s Grand Adventure (also on PSN, $39.99, retail $49.99)
The Jackbox Party Pack ($29.99)

Wii
Barbie and Her Sisters: Puppy Rescue (also on eShop, $29.99)

Wii U
Barbie and Her Sisters: Puppy Rescue (also on eShop, $39.99)
Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town (eShop, $6.99)
Human Resource Machine (eShop, $9.99)
Octodad: Dadliest Catch (eShop, $11.99)
PictoParty ($7.99)

Xbox 360
Barbie and Her Sisters: Puppy Rescue ($39.99)
Snoopy’s Grand Adventure ($39.99)
The Jackbox Party Pack ($29.99)

Xbox One
Evolve Ultimate Edition (retail, $59.99)
Lords of the Fallen Complete Edition (retail, $29.99)
Need for Speed (also on XGS, $59.99)
Need for Speed – Deluxe Edition (also on XGS, $69.99)
Snoopy’s Grand Adventure ($49.99)
The Jackbox Party Pack ($29.99)

3DS
Barbie and Her Sisters: Puppy Rescue ($29.99)
Shovel Knight ($24.99)
Snoopy’s Grand Adventure ($29.99)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Master Splinter’s Training Pack ($29.99)

PSP
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC (PSN, $39.99)

PS Vita
Dragon Fin Soup (PSN, $19.99, 3 way cross-buy)
Norn9: Var Commons (also on PSN, $39.99)
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC (PSN, $39.99)
Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return (PSN, $5.99, English language version)

PC
Aion (free to play)
Anno 2205 (also via retail, $59.99)
Anno 2205 Gold Edition (retail, $79.99)
Bit Shifter ($TBA)
Bloodwood Reload (free to play)
Cloudrift  ($TBA)
Dream Factory ($TBA)
Era: The Fantasy Settlement Sim ($TBA)
Farming Simulator 15 Gold Edition (retail, $29.99)
Galak-Z: The Dimensional ($15.99)
Game Tycoon 2 ($TBA)
Getsuei Gakuen -kou- ($TBA)
Hard West ($15.99)
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth3 V Generation ($TBA)
Lighthockey  ($TBA)
Need for Speed (also at retail, $59.99)
Nightmare on Azathoth  ($TBA)
Pathologic Classic HD ($9.74)
Pink Heaven ($TBA)
Poncho ($TBA)
Sonic Lost World ($29.99)
Sound of Drop – fall into poison – ($TBA)
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth (DLC, $6.66)
The Extinction ($TBA)
The Last NightMary – A Lenda do Cabeça de Cuia ($TBA)
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC ($29.99)
The Living Dungeon ($TBA)
The Seven Years War (1756-1763) ($TBA)
UmiharaKawase ($TBA)
Vertigo Void ($TBA)
Wicked Witches ($TBA)

Robert’s Pick: By most accounts, stateside games shouldn’t be playing The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC this week. After all, JRPGs are niche games, and it probably isn’t economically feasible to have two teams (XSEED and Carpe Fulgur) take four years and presumably, a large sum of money to localize the game. But amazingly, they did it, giving us access to a wonderfully rich role-playing experience that’s without peer. If you’ve ever felt frustration when our industry values profit over artistry, here’s a chance to send a message and give thank all those involved with the project.