New Game Releases: Dec. 29th-Jan. 4th

With only a scant number of new game releases, 2016 is ending with a whimper rather than a bang. That is unless you’re a fan of Virtual Console offerings, which brings the beloved Mario Kart 64 and the contentious Castlevania: Dracula X. At least 2017 looks a bit better with Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone, Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea, and Gravity Rush 2 coming out within the first three weeks of the new year.

PlayStation 4
MX vs. ATV: Supercross Encore – 2017 Official Track Edition (retail, $39.99)

Wii U
Mario Kart 64 (eShop, $9.99)

Xbox One
MX vs. ATV: Supercross Encore – 2017 Official Track Edition (retail, $39.99)

3DS
Castlevania: Dracula X ($7.99)

PC
Atmocopter ($TBA)
Azkend 2: The World Beneath ($TBA)
Metro Nexus ($TBA)
Polywar ($5.99)
Trick and Treat – Visual Novel (Free)
Verdant Skies ($TBA)
Ziggy’s Chase ($10.39)

Robert’s Pick: Akumajō Dracula X: Chi no Rondo aka Castlevania: Rondo of Blood is my second favorite Castlevania entry, following Symphony of the Night. Pick up this week’s eShop release of Castlevania: Dracula X and you’ll get a diluted taste of Rondo of Blood’s greatness. While the plotline hits some of the same beats (this is a side story after all), level design was altered, and many of the branching paths were pruned. On the upside, Dracula X ups the difficulty level and offers aesthetics on par with the original. In my book, even a blemished, 2D Castlevania is worth a playthrough or three.