New Game Releases: March 5th-11th, 2015

Atelier Shallie Alchemists of the Dusk Sea

Whether gamers feel that the Vita is the holy grail of portables or a missed opportunity, they have to credit Sony for popularizing the cross-buy system. In an environment where hardware manufactures tussle for even a minor advantage, the “buy once, get it for multiple systems” approach seems to have resonated with players. This week finds Nintendo following suit, offering a similar promotion for both Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars and OlliOlli. Now, if they could just link content to an account instead of a specific piece of hardware, players might have a reason to make a Mario-sized jump for joy.

Image: Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea, PlayStation 3

PlayStation 3
Alter Echo (PSN, PS2 Classic,  $9.99)
Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea (also on PSN, $49.99)
Battle Hunter (PSN, PSone Classic, $5.99)
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (PSN, $14.99, cross-buy)
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Episode 3 (PSN, $5.99)
Sparkle 2 (PSN, $7.99, 3-Way Cross Buy)
Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters (also on PSN, $39.99)

PlayStation 4
DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition (also on PSN, $39.99)
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (PSN, $14.99, cross-buy)
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Episode 3 (PSN, $5.99)
Scram Kitty DX (PSN, $9.99, Cross Buy with PS Vita)

Wii U
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (eShop, $19.99, 3DS version included free)
OlliOlli (eShop, $8.49, 3DS version included free)
SkyKid (eShop $4.99)

Xbox 360
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Episode 3 (XGS, $5.99)

Xbox One
DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition (also on XGS, $39.99)
Ori And The Blind Forest (XGS, $19.99)
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Episode 3 (XGS, $5.99)

3DS
Best of Casual Games (eShop, $24.99)
Hollywood Fame : Hidden Object Adventure (eShop, $24.99)
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (eShop, $19.99, Wii U version included free)
OlliOlli (eShop, $8.49, Wii U version included free)
Proun+ (eShop, $5.99)
Zombie Incident (eShop, $1.99)

PS Vita
Flame Over (PSN, $9.99)
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (PSN, $14.99, cross-buy)
Scram Kitty DX (PSN, $9.99, Cross Buy with PS4 version)
Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters (also on PSN, $39.99)

PC
Assassin’s Creed: Rogue (Steam, $49.99)
Cities: Skylines (Steam, $29.99)
Corona MotorSport
CroNix (Steam, $TBA)
Executive Assault (Steam, $TBA)
Frankenstein: Master of Death
Grapple (Steam, $TBA)
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (Steam, $13.49)
Ori And The Blind Forest (Steam, $19.99)
Parallax (Steam, $TBA)
Reign of Kings (Steam, $TBA)
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Episode 3 (Steam, $5.99)
Shelter 2 (Steam, $13.49)
Zombie Army Trilogy (Steam, $44.99, discounts for owners of previous titles)

Robert’s Pick: This week I’m having a very difficult time choosing a single selection. OlliOlli deserves praise for transporting Tony Hawk-like skate tricks to two-dimensional parks; it’s demanding but also completely addictive. Flame Over might sound like a bad pun, but the game is quite clever, offering a Rogue-like where players put out fires using twin-stick controls. Unsurprisingly, the title I’m most looking forward to is Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea. Building on Escha & Logy’s solid foundations, the latest entry in the consistently pleasing Atelier franchise eschews the typical time limits for the “life task system”, with goals affected by play styles rather than linear storytelling. While a seemingly insignificant change, it shows JRPGs gradually increasing the level of player autonomy. Expect to read how the alteration turns out when we review the title this week.

Atelier Shallie Alchemists of the Dusk Sea (1)

 

Gonçalo’s Pick: Sometimes we have slow weeks where there’s really nothing interesting out there. Then there’s weeks like this one when suddenly, two or more games you’ve been looking forward to for months launch back-to-back. I’ve been eager to play Ori and the Blind Forest since I’ve seen it at last year’s E3. However, much like Robert, my pick this week goes to Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea. It’s a series with a proven track record, and produced some of the best JRPGs we’ve seen in the past few years. A shame it has yet to receive the recognition it deserves.

atelier shallie

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.

14 comments

  1. You should have your own awards. Maybe give one to best anime breasts. Girl at the top is a contender.

  2. Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is hogging the new release list. Just finish the damn thing already.

  3. I was going to buy a New 3DS this week (not for the cross buy promotion just to have one) and now I can’t find one anywhere. Seriously, WTF?

    If I find one, I’ll be Tipping Stars.

  4. Ori And The Blind Forest looks really cool, almost like a Ghibli film.

    Robert, I hope you review it.

  5. Mark of the Wolves

    I can vouch for OlliOlli. Really cool

  6. Flame Over does look pretty cool.

    Here’s a let’s play from the devs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux27i1qJqSI

    Might be a Day one buy for me.

  7. I got into the “play, die, repeat cycle” of the first Miami Hotline, so if I see a deal on the sequel, I’m in.

  8. King Chickenwing

    I’m really hoping that the closing of Club Nintendo means that are working on a new system that will use accounts. I have 3 3DS now (3*3D=9), and I just buy carts so I can play games on each. With Sony and MS, I always buy digital.

  9. Is Nintendo’s promotion timed? I’d like to get Tipping Stars, but I want to wait and see if they actually transition to accounts. This is Nintendo we are talking about here.

  10. Ori And The Blind Forest looks really cool. If it reviews well, I’ll get it for PC.

  11. Really looking forward to Atelier Shallie this week.