New Releases 2/10-2/16

Xbox 360
Conflict: Denied Ops
Dark Messiah: Might and Magic Elements
Jumper: Griffin’s Story
Lost Odyssey

Playstation 3
Conflict: Denied Ops

Wii
Balloon Pop
Jumper: Griffin’s Story
Go Diego Go! Safari Rescue
Winter Sports: The Ultimate Challenge

PSP
Chessmaster: The Art of Learning
Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts
Wipeout Pulse

DS
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts

PS2
Dora The Explorer: Dora Saves the Mermaids
Jumper: Griffin’s Story
Go Diego Go!: Safari Rescue

Our Pick of the Week: Move with caution this week, as retail outlets are filled with the equivalent of gaming land mines. Some, like Dora and her cousin Diego, will easily be identified by their bright colors and affinity for speaking Spanglish. Others will resemble attempts to cash-in on movie tie-ins. Still, others are more complex, such as Conflict: Denied Ops.

While we fought our way through two Desert Storms, Vietnam, and the current ‘War on Terror’ with the series, the latest demo has us worried. Gone are the four-man units, replaced by a two-man teams, the engine is prone to fits of slowdown, and looks worse that older titles Rainbow Six: Vegas. Steer clear until a sequel or huge price drop.

Instead, we recommend Professor Layton and the Curious Village. It’s Brain Age with a purpose and a narrative. Developed by RPG masters Level-5, the game includes full-motion video, spoken dialog (with an English accent), and downloadable puzzles.  As the professor and his sidekick, you travel around St. Mystere, a city known for it’s puzzles, and riddles. After this game, maybe Level-5 will get the recognition they truly deserve.