Tech-Gaming Technology, Gaming, and Culture
Buried amidst this week’s sturdy selection of new releases is a remarkable harbinger: non-mainstream titles aren’t evaporating, they’re merely going digital. From NISA’s Legasista to XSEED’s Way of the Samuari 4 and possibly even Capcom’s reinvigoration of a twelve-year old Dreamcast fighter, a growing number of downloads seem geared toward smaller audiences. The notable exception to all this is, of course, Nintendo. By offering a digital edition of New Super Mario Bros. 2 alongside their cartridge-based iteration, the publisher looks to be renewing it’s commitment to their eShop, just as its 3DS XL is hitting store shelves.
360
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (XBLA, $15)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure HD (XBLA, $20)
Metal Gear Solid : HD Collection (Games on Demand, TBA)
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
PS3
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (PSN, $15)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure HD (PSN, $19.99)
Legasista (PSN, $29.99)
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty HD Edition (PSN, TBA)
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater HD Edition (PSN, TBA)
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
Retro/Grade (PSN, $9.99)
Way of the Samurai 4 (PSN, $39.99)
3DS
New Super Mario Bros. 2 (also eShop, $39.99)
Vector Racing (eShop, TBA)
DS
No Releases
Vita
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty HD Edition (PSN, TBA)
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater HD Edition (PSN, TBA)
PC
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition
Disciples III Gold
Galaxy On Fire 2 Full HD
Jagged Alliance: Crossfire
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
DesertEagle’s Pick: As a fervent fan of ClaDun‘s (and its sequel- ClaDun X2) Zelda-esque dungeon crawls, I’m eager for System Prisma’s first console foray, Legasista. Featuring the requisite quirky characters common to Nippon Ichi’s titles, randomized levels to keep players attentive, and a robust character creation component, the title’s protracted playtime looks to warrant the thirty-dollar price.
SeanNOLA’s Pick: Having heard so many good things about War For Cybertron, but never having picked it up, I’m curious to see how Fall of Cybertron turns out. I figure it can’t be any worse than the G1 PS2 game (no, not THAT one, the OTHER one) so it might be worth the pick-up. Plus, I need to know whether or not High Moon Studios can make a solid game before I get my hopes up for Deadpool.
BlueSwim’s Pick: The Transformers don’t have a great track record with video games. Heck, I still have nightmares of the about the gameplay (but not the soundtrack) of the original Beast Wars game. Thankfully, the last several years have seen the classic robot franchise pull out of its tailspin with the help of games like War for Cybertron. Now its sequel, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, is here with Dinobot leader, Grimlock, in tow and should be a blast. My admittedly short time with the demo was more than enough to wash the taste of the bad Transformers games of the past from my mouth. Autobots! Transform and roll out!
Jeremy’s Pick: Something to consider: A game played by a single person doesn’t often rely on the fact that one person is playing, but a good multiplayer game will live or die solely on its strength as a group experience. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Valve) is bringing back one of the all-time multiplayer greats when it returns to Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. From its humble beginnings as a Half-Life mod to a competitive experience played professionally, Counter-Strike has proven itself as a lasting experience that many have emulated, but none have replaced. Global Offensive will introduce new modes, characters and weapons, as well as revisiting favorite maps and scenarios like “de_dust”. The PS3 version will feature Move support, so it will be either that or the PC version (or both) for me. The original game is 12 years old and could use some retooling. Based on what we know and see about Global Offensive (including this new cinematic short!), I’d say it’s about time to return to Counter-Strike.
Optimus Prime is a master thief. Every time I see him, my wallet shrinks by $60 or so.
PSA: I heard Retro/Grade is pretty bad. Not trying to hate on it, I was actually looking forward to it.
You have a link, I haven’t seen any reviews!
It’s not bad. It’s a bit simple, but the idea is really cool and the music is really cool. If you have a guitar controller kicking around, use that. It’s how I’ve been playing it and I think it’s more fun that way. 🙂
So worth $10 bucks then?
Doesn’t playing with a guitar controller feel kind of gimmicky?
New Super Mario Bros. 2 for me since I’m picking up a 3DS.
Gotdamn! What’s with the prices of some of these downloadable games? $40, $30?
This wee you could easily spend $100 just on digital. The thing that worries me is these games will never really go on clearance. I bought Way of the Samurai 4 for $5. I doubt it will ever be that price online.
Very interested in Legasista. Deagle, do you know if you can trade characters online with other people or download them?
I want to download New Super Mario Bros. 2 but I also want to send the message to Nintendo that downloads should be cheaper.
What to do?
Counter-Strike, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Mario Bros. It’s like the last 10 years never happened.
I heard New Super Mario Bros. 2 was pretty average. Overloading levels with coins is the hook? C’mon Miyamoto and co. you guys can do better than that!
Are the Metal Gear Solid games buy 1 get for both systems (PS+Vita) If so I’m in.
I’ll probably get Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater HD Edition. Shacknews thinks it’s going to be $15 BTW.
New Super Mario Bros. 2. Woo-hoo!
I have played all the Transformers games for this gen. I don’t know why some people hate on them. The single player is good but the game really kicks ass in MP. Some of the most fun I’ve had with my 360.
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron for me.
I’m interested in Way of the Samurai 4, just not at that price.
Just Metal Gear Solid : HD Collection since that I have some MS points and the disk version never went on sale.
NOLA, I never played that OTHER one. What am I missing in my life?
Agony and frustration.
Robot dinosaurs? Man, who can resist those?
Wow, a couple of picks for Transformers? I am surprised. Deagle’s Legasista pick? Not surprising!
Picked up New Super Mario Bros. 2. So what are critics complaining about. It’s Mario with a lot of coins.
That’s is it just Mario. The same one we’ve been playing since the 80’s with a bit of 3D.
More innovation would be nice.
Innovation. People play and love Mario because it’s familiar. They don’t want innovation.