New Releases for the Week of February 6th-13th, 2013

Aliens Colonial MarinesFrom battling xenomorphs in Aliens: Colonial Marines and Alien Breed, Pookas and Fygars in Dig Dug, or even rival mobsters in Omerta: City of Gangsters, this week’s new releases feature a multitude of merciless monsters. For PS3 owners who would rather make peace with the beasts, the release of the Dragonborn DLC allows adventurers to tame and even ride dragons. As consolation for arriving several months after the same content was made available for the Xbox 360, Bethesda president Pete Hines stated that both Dragonborn as well as the upcoming releases of Dawnguard and Hearthfire, will be sold at 50% off during release week.

360
Aliens: Colonial Marines
Omerta: City of Gangsters

PS3
Alien Breed (PSN, $9.99, $7.99 PS+, Cross-Buy)
Aliens: Colonial Marines
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Dragonborn (PSN, DLC, $9.99)
Rebel Raiders: Operation Nighthawk (PSN, PlayStation 2 Classic, $9.99)
Twisted Metal (PSN, PSOne Classic, $4.99)
Twisted Metal 2 (PSN, PSOne Classic, $4.99)
Twisted Metal: Black (PSN, PlayStation 2 Classic, $7.99)

Wii U
No releases

3DS
Brain Age: Concentration Training (also in eShop, $29.99)
Dig Dug (Virtual Console, $3.99)
Mega Man 2 (Virtual Console, $4.99)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 3D (eShop, $TBA)
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

DS
Ah! Heaven (DSiWare, $1.99)

Vita
Alien Breed (PSN, $9.99, $7.99 PS+, Cross-Buy)
Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken

PC
Aliens: Colonial Marines
Impire
The Plan

Robert’s Pick: To say I’m a fan of Aliens is an abhorrent understatement. I didn’t talk to my mom for a week after she knocked my beloved Warrior Alien action figure off of a shelf, snapping that menacing tail clean off. Over the years, my fascination with the films and creature have spurred me to purchase every Alien-based game ever released- even the 2600 title which was far closer to Pac-Man than a trip aboard the USCSS Nostromo. Naturally, I’m can’t wait for Aliens: Colonial Marines. If Gearbox’s unrelentingly bleak trailer is any indication of the final product, I’m going to gripping my controller tighter than a facehugger’s clench around a new-found host.

Aliens Colonial Marines (1)

Jeremy’s Pick: No no no, not THAT space-marines-defend-a-derelict-spaceship-colony-beset-by-rapidly-multiplying-xeno-beasties game! The OTHER one! The Alien Breed series dates back to 1991, and is most often associated with studio Team 17, the makers of Worms. Alien Breed is a top-down dual-stick shooter (though it has been described as “Gauntlet-like“) that pits space marine players against multiple stages of aliens, environmental puzzles, weapon choices, and resource scarcity. The series has carved out a respectable niche in its genre, most recently producing multiple new HD entries on current-gen platforms and PC. The new PS3/Vita cross-play Alien Breed game is a remake of the original, with an optional graphical overhaul (the “90s retro” look has received a new coat of paint), along with some neat cross-play, cross-buy, and cross-save functionality between the console and handheld. They keep SAYING the game is over, man… but this series has legs. And a freakishly elongated (but non-licensed) cranium.

Alien Breed

Eric’s Pick: If, somehow, you have yet to cross paths with Mega Man 2 after all these years, you might as well grab it off of the 3DS’ Virtual Console eShop. Depending on who you talk to, Mega Man 2 is either the best of the NES Mega Man games or the second best. It’s also known for having one of the most memorable video game intro sequences of all time. Like many other games in the series, the Blue Bomber must lay waste to eight more of Dr, Wily’s Robot Masters. Defeating one of these bots grants Mega Man a new weapon based on the one used by the boss. It’s a time-tested formula that works magnificently to this day. While a copy of the Mega Man Anniversary Collection would be a better value, $5 for Mega Man 2 on-the-go is still a fine deal.

Mega Man 2

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.

15 comments

  1. Is Dig Dug for 3DS the original arcade version?

  2. I’m worried that no Aliens: CM reviews have showed up yet. I really want this game to kick ass.

  3. Looks like it’s “game over” for the guy in the pic.

    I’d like to play Sonic & All-Stars Racing on the go, but only if it’s a good port.

  4. I can’t wait for Aliens. Please be good. Aliens vs. Predator wasn’t bad but wasn’t that memorable either. Playing as Aliens just wasn’t that fun.

  5. Slightly interested in Aliens. Like Adam Jensen said, we’ll see how this turns out.

  6. Alien Breed looks OK. Maybe not $8 good tho.

  7. Was Skyrim for PS3 ever patched to make it playable?

  8. The combat of Omerta: City of Gangsters looks kind of cool, but all the other activities (taking over territories, etc) looks kind of boring.

  9. The Aliens: Colonial Marines trailer was cool but didn’t show a single second of gameplay.

  10. So I guess I have to get Dig Dug, don’t I? I have it on GC, 360, and DS, but not the NES version (which this is).

  11. I’m hearing Aliens is repetitive by a couple of reviewers on Twitter.

  12. Word is that Aliens: Colonial Marines sucks bad. People are saying a 65 on Metacritic might be high.

  13. Sean and Sage recommend buying everything that’s coming out for the Wii U this week. They told me directly.