New Releases for the Week of July 12th-18th, 2013

Dynasty Warriors 8

Fellow otaku rejoice: this week is offers a bountiful selection of games from the land of the rising sun. There’s Mamorukun Curse!, a G. rev-developed shmup that puts players in charge of scrolling (echoing Kokuga). A double dose of role-playing gratification is poised to stem from Shin Megami Tensei IV and Time and Eternity, which are being published by Atlus and NIS America, respectively. Wrapping things up is Dynasty Warriors 8, a title that’s bound to keep musou-maniacs glued to their console with new mechanics such as storm rushing, and switch counters. For better or worse, Omega Force has listened to the complaints of our countrymen and has purportedly given the AI a boost of brainpower. We may need a similar supplement after one of the busiest reviews weeks of the season.

360
Dynasty Warriors 8
R.I.P.D. The Game
The Serious Sam Collection
Turbo: Super Stunt Squad

PS3
Alien Spidy (PSN, $9.99)
Capcom vs SNK 2: Mark Of The Millennium (PSN, PS2 Classic, $9.99)
Dynasty Warriors 8
Mamorukun Curse! (PSN, $19.99)
R.I.P.D. The Game
Time and Eternity
Turbo: Super Stunt Squad
Voodoo Chronicles: The First Sign (PSN, $5.99)

Wii
Turbo: Super Stunt Squad

Wii U
Donkey Kong (Virtual Console, $4.99)
Metroid (Virtual Console, $4.99)
Star Wars Pinball (eShop, $9.99)
Turbo: Super Stunt Squad

3DS
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Super Mario Bros. 2 (Virtual Console, $4.99)
Turbo: Super Stunt Squad (also in eShop, $29.99)

DS
Turbo: Super Stunt Squad

PSP
Geronimo Stilton in the Kingdom of Fantasy (PSN, $9.99)
Mystic Chronicles (PSN, $14.99)

Vita
Doodle God (PSN, $5.99)
Kung Fu Rabbit (PSN, $4.99)

PC
No releases

Robert’s Pick: This week Atlus is putting out two games: one could be a contender for game of the year, the other a frontrunner for licensed abomination of the decade. Do yourself a favor and skip the game (and film) that looks like a soulless re-contextualization of Men in Black. No, the game you want is Shin Megami Tensei IV, a title which blends Pokémon-like demon collection and raising, immersive dungeon crawling, and some of the best voice-work to emanate from the 3DS’s speakers. And I promise- none of the game’s protagonists look as repellently smug as Ryan Reynolds.

Shin Megami Tensei IV

Sage’s Pick: This week I agree with Robert’s pick (though maybe not his cynicism for all things Hollywood and Ryan Reynolds).  The Shin Megami series recently re-inspired me when we got to play the latest at E3, and while I do not have a 3DS of my own, it’s still the game I pick this week even though I won’t be able to play it.  As a secondary pick, I’d spend less than the price of most of the other options and get some of the options from the WiiU virtual console and eshop collections.  Star Wars Pinball is great (people may recall Robert’s review from earlier this year, viewable here) and I can never say no to either Donkey Kong or Metroid.  All in all, I’d say Nintendo is the console to go with this week. Just do yourself a favor and stay away from R.I.P.D.

Shin Megami Tensei IV (2)

Sean’s Pick: I know it has paper dolls, and I know it’s probably chock-full of Japanese high school melodrama, but the demo I played of Shin Megami Tensei IV at E3 was just plain fun. I feel like I haven’t said that about a JRPG in a while, but this one really stuck out in my mind. The combat was reminiscent of Phantasy Star, but the exploration felt fresh and exciting – I really can’t wait to spend more than 30 minutes with it. It’s another check-mark for the 3DS, and yet another example of how the Handheld Console Wars could be a lot more interesting than the full scale throw-down.

Shin Megami Tensei IV (3)

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.

36 comments

  1. Now, how did I know that there would be a Dynasty Warriors picture this week?

  2. “looks like a soulless re-contextualization of Men in Black.”

    WAT? Explain.

  3. Shin Megami Tensei IV, doods! I can’t wait.

  4. Tense duo of cranky old guy and young, wise-cracking guy sent to clean things up? Check!
    Otherworldly secret HQ filled with gadgets that no one know exists? Check!
    Hideous looking villains that blow up in ways that are just gross enough to earn a PG-13 rating. Check!
    Shapeshifting comedy and a steady stream of CGI action? Check!

    • From now on, you’re not allowed to hang around with SeanNOLA, ok? You should be happy with all these Japanese games coming out this week! haha

      Anyway, people who choose R.I.P.D, over Pacific Rim deserve whats coming to them.

      • The inside word is that R.I.P.D. (the Movie) is a mess. Test screening did poorly, they re-shot a ton of footage.

    • Looks like a big, dumb popcorn movie. Get over it.

    • I don’t know what looks worse, R.I.P.D or Time and Eternity. And I don’t usually mind NIS games.

    • Nailed it. I know it looked familiar.

  5. Now why aren’t people buying a Wii U?

    Oh, here’s your answer–

    Donkey Kong (Virtual Console, $4.99)
    Metroid (Virtual Console, $4.99)
    Star Wars Pinball (eShop, $9.99)
    Turbo: Super Stunt Squad

    • The problem isn’t the game. It’s the price. Getting people to spend $4.99 on a NES game after they’ve just spent $300 on a new system is a stretch.

      Can’t they offer a Wii U discount?

  6. Mamorukun Curse! the second Grace Chen flips that switch of hers.

  7. You played R.I.P.D. The Game, Deagle?

    • Yes, I struggled through one level at E3. It was a challnage not becuase of difficulty but monotony. Shooting the same two enemies in a bland, 3rd person shooter with breaindead AI, just doesn’t do much for me.

    • We played it at E3. It was a multiplayer-focused 3rd Person Shooter. It was sandwiched between SMT4 and Dragon’s Crown. DEagle’s weeaboo gland erupted and he had to be rushed to the hospital.

      • Wait, when your weeaboo gland bursts, you don’t like Japanese games after, right?

        Turbo: Super Stunt Squad wins by default and the possibility of Snoop Dogg voice acting.

        • That’s a common misconception. When your Weeaboo Gland bursts, it disperses its toxins throughout your bloodstream, making you more susceptible to JRPGs and Japanese Pop Culture in general. Luckily, we made it to the hospital in time, and they were able to scrub his blood enough so that he would stop insisting that the dubbed version of “Super Ecchi Marriage GoGo School Fun Rangers HDDVRX: The Most Embarrassed Housewife: The Manga: The Game” was inferior to the subbed version, because it changes any mention of marrying your sister into marrying your *step-sister*. Unfortunately though, the blood transfusion came from Blue, so after he awoke, he was still curious to play “Super Ecchi Marriage GoGo School Fun Rangers HDDVRX: The Most Embarrassed Housewife: The Manga: The Game” (or SEMGGSFRHDDVRX for short), but at least he could still form a somewhat rational opinion about it.

          • I think I got a nosebleed just from reading this.

          • PSA: If you’re reading this, there’s a 95% chance that you or someone you love could be affected by a weak weeaboo gland. If you show signs of liking paper dolls, prinnies, bullet hell shmups, or own more than a dozen ecchi games/anime, do yourself a favor and consult a physician.

            Early diagnosis CAN save lives.

          • There’s so little hope for me…

          • I hope that’s a miniature display box, otherwise you have huge hands.

          • For just pennies a day, you can buy a recovering Weeaboo the DVD copies of Robocop and Die Hard that he or she will desperately need while they are on the road to recovery. Please call now. Every moment you wait could mean another life lost to a Ramen Overdose.

    • Please just call it R.I.P. Game

  8. “though maybe not his cynicism for all things Hollywood and Ryan Reynolds”

    C’mon Sage, blindly follow the internet and hate both! They ruined Deadpool for the love of god.

  9. Looks like a good week for gaming. Wondering if SMT IV will sweep you guys.

  10. Jealous that you’re playing DW8. Living the dream, son!

  11. Sage, how could you overlook the glory that is Super Mario Bros. 2?

  12. I’m so ready for Dynasty Warriors 8.

  13. I might have to pick up Dynasty Warriors 8. Missed the last two games.

  14. Its a otakulicious week. Put down your manga and celebrate.