New Releases for the Week of June 3rd, 2012

Bang Bang Racing? Katy Perry’s Sweet “Treats”? With E3 in full swing this week, it seems marketers are using euphemisms to draw attention to this weeks titles. Keeping it clean across nearly every platform is the obligatory summer movie tie-in: Madagascar 3: The Video Game, which looks to keep its demographic occupied with a collection of circus mini-games.

Two addenda: Although a Namco-Bandai press representative has confirmed that the U.S. release of Inversion will not be delayed, the title is due to launch “sometime in July” in European territories. Also, Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown has promised day one character customization DLC packs. Players may purchase an individual pack for each of the nineteen characters for $4.99 or two additional customization packs, which are comprised of DLC items for nine and ten charcters, respectively for $14.99. While this piece meal approach might be preferable to players looking for a cheap and quick fight, we almost miss the ease of buying a single boxed product.

360
Bang Bang Racing (XBLA)
Inversion
Madagascar 3: The Video Game
Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown (XBLA, $15)

PS3
Bang Bang Racing (XBLA)
Inversion
Madagascar 3: The Video Game
Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown (PSN, $15)

Wii
Madagascar 3: The Video Game

3DS
Art of Balance Touch! (eShop)
Madagascar 3: The Video Game
Rayman Origins

DS
Cat Frenzy (DSiWare)
Madagascar 3: The Video Game

Vita
Madagascar 3: The Video Game

PC
Bang Bang Racing (XBLA)
Inversion
The Sims 3 Katy Perry’s Sweet Treats

DesertEagle’s Pick: Veterans of the last console generation might remember Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, a Midway title which let players use telekinesis to toss enemies and environmental objects around. Early previews of Inversion exhibited these same type of playful antics as exploding barrels were flung at foes and gravity fields were reversed, eradicating enemies in all sorts of creative ways. As long as Inversion delivers an open-ended experience, Saber Interactive’s new title Will Rock.


Jeremy’s Pick:
You know what? At least have a look at the trailer for Cat Frenzy on DSiWare before you discount it. Who among us did NOT like Planet Puzzle League or Puyo Puyo puzzle games? An inteesting row- and column-sliding mechanic changes up the familiar “match 3” formula enough that even dog people should sit up and take notice. If you’re feline like taking a chance on a downloadable DS game, put a few DSi points in the kitty and curl up with Cat Frenzy. $1.99 (200 points) http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/-5ixXrd5UgtpzHXE2mwhsYCiTQwh9hqT

BlueSwim’s Pick: Even though I’m not a fan of Sega’s DLC strategy, Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown is the highlight of the week for me. With any luck, the $15/1200MSP price point and the improved Dojo (training) mode will bring in the more casual fighting game fans that may have been intimidated by the series’ elitist reputation. Veterans of the vanilla version of Virtua Fighter 5 will be treated to new moves, re-balanced gameplay, two new fighters (including the returning sumo wrestler, Taka-Arashi), revamped arenas, and music from throughout the entire series. Sadly, VF5‘s excellent single player Quest mode is nowhere to be found and the closest thing to it (the Special Sparring mode) is apparently locked out for those who don’t buy all $30 worth of Final Showdown‘s DLC. Although, considering how much a disc release would have been, $45 for the game and DLC is a pretty good deal.

SeanNOLA’s Pick: Let’s be honest: We’ll be far too busy this week playing video games to play any new video games. So I guess my cop-out pick is E3. Especially since I’m predicting Sony to say “PSOne Classics compatibility will be available on the Vita….RIGHT NOW!” on Tuesday, so any game-shopping-time will be spent uploading all my PSOne games onto the ol’ portable super-computer.

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.

37 comments

  1. I’m curious about Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, but I’ll wait for some reviews.

  2. I doubt Inversion will come out this week. It was delayed in Euro do to “quality issues”. Why would it come out here?

  3. I’m interested in Katy Perry’s Sweet Teats.

    • Not after they’ve been handled by Russel Brand. That guy always looks like he needs a shower.

  4. Inversion looks fun. But yeah, I’ll wait for a few reviews.

  5. I wonder how the Rayman Origins port turned out? I have this on 360, but I’d love to play it on 3D on the go.

  6. VF 5 will get a demo and Inversion might get a purchase if it looks good. (and it comes out)

  7. Cat Frenzy?

  8. Damn, Deagle with the bad, bad, so bad it’s almost good pun.

    Nothing for me this week.

  9. Cat Frenzy: Bejeweled + Cats = BeKittied.

    • Your sense of humor is just purrfect. But calling the Vita “ol’ portable super-computer” just isn’t funny.

  10. I wish Inversion had a demo. That would be even better than a review for me.

  11. Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown and MAYBE Cat Frenzy.

  12. Can’t believe I’m really playing Gex for the PS4! #E3TweetFromTheFuture

    • pixel shading on his tongue or I won’t buy it.

    • That’s the best the Square-Enix is showing? I though at least Blasto 2, Lifeforce Tenka and Speed Freaks would be shown.

      Megaton epic failure.

      • Listen, I’m not going to say whether or not Blasto is a playable character in “Bushido Blade 3: Remorseless” for the XBox 1080, because I signed a confidentiality agreement when I did/did-not see that, but I won’t say that he ISN’T in that game either #E3CommentResponseFromTheFuture

  13. So Seano, how was Sonic 4 Part Two?

  14. Inversion looks pretty good. I might rent it.

  15. PS1 compatibility on the Vita should have been ready at launch. When will business realize you have to have your shit together before the product ships. Don’t use your best customers as beta testers.

  16. purpleprincess

    Inversion looks kind of fun. Not sure if it’s a $60 purchase though.

  17. i think I might go with Bang Bang Racing, something about the title intrigues me.

  18. Did any of you play the new Joyride game on XBLA? I’m curious how that is.

  19. Nothing for me this week. I’ll be watching E3 from home.

  20. How’s E3? How come no tweets?

  21. Note to all: Madagascar 3: The Video Game is in most Red Boxes.