New Game Releases: December 22nd-28th, 2016

With the holiday shopping season quickly coming to any end, this week offers a restrained number of new game releases. Yet, look beyond the typical filler destined for Nintendo’s eShop and several remarkable titles can be found, from a retail release of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero to Mario Party 2’s expedition onto Virtual Console. Also worth noting is the annual Steam’s Winter Sale, poised to tempt PC players with discount prices.

Header image: Heroine Anthem Zero, PC

Wii U
Mario Party 2 (eShop, $9.99)
Radiantflux: Hyperfractal (eShop, $2.99)
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero – Risky Beats Edition (retail, $29.99)

3DS
Geki Yaba Runner Deluxe (eShop, $4.99)
Gourmet Dream (eShop, $5.00)
Hit Ninja (eShop, $1.99)
Mini Golf Resort (eShop, $4.99)

PC
Domino Craft VR ($8.99)
Garden Gnomes 3: The Thief of Castles ($4.99)
Heroine Anthem Zero ($13.49)
Mankind Defender ($2.99)
Pinball Parlor ($TBA)
Redneck Rampage ($TBA)
Remain ($4.24)
Revival Reset ($TBA)
Vertigo ($14.99)

Robert’s Pick: While the full review of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is still forthcoming, the portion I’ve played has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Gone is the pixelated spite-work used across previous Shantae console titles, replaces with high definition sumptuousness that endows Shantae and her transformations with charm. Sure, the title can be a bit difficult as times, putting your platforming skills to the test. But if you’re up for a solid challenge, Half-Genie gets a full recommendation.

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.

4 comments

  1. Well, only the retail release of Half-Genie Hero is coming out this week, the game came out last week. SO you’re kind of bending the rules with your pick.

  2. Redneck Rampage is going to make SOMEONE’s X-mas. I don’t know who, but still….

  3. Steam is down for hours now. Gaben ruined Christmas for all the ‘not so Master Racers’.

  4. I beginning to think the Mario Party series was a mistake. It really hasn’t evolved from a basic blend of board game and arcade mini-games.