February 22 - February 25

Section: 

Gamers, the pure-breeds whose genetic memory is not that of the dusty wind skirting a fertile Serengeti plain but Grues and the relative dangers of being eaten by one, have long desired a more homogenized gaming cycle where the best games were not back loaded exclusively into September, October and November. As far as I can tell, 2010 is the pilot for this long desired retail model.

It's the end of February and we have seen no shortage of top-shelf games hitting our wallets week after week, and if you think it's been bad so far then I highly recommend you avoid looking at March's release list. This week is no exception to the rule as the long awaited Pony Friends 2 and Lovely Lisa and Friends come to my trembling saccharine-starved hands. Squeee!

Also, some previously unknown title called Heavy Rain launches on the PS3. While there is nary a friendly barn animal nor precocious preteen to be found in the game's description, it does seem to have some inventive storytelling elements that someone might consider interesting, I suppose. Ah, heck, let's give it Game of the Week on a lark.

PC
- Napoleon: Total War
- WarBirds Dogfights

PS3
- Heavy Rain
- Last Rebellion
- Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing

Xbox 360
- Deadly Premonition
- Risen
- Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing

Wii
- Endless Ocean: Blue World
- Pony Friends 2
- Sled Shred
- Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing

DS
- Hello Kitty: Birthday Adventures
- Lovely Lisa and Friends
- Pony Friends 2
- Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing
- Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's World Championship 2010: Reverse of Arcadia

PSP
- Metal Slug XX


Coming Soon
-
- Battlefield: Bad Company 2 : March 2
- Final Fantasy XIII - PS3 version - Xbox 360 version : March 9
- God of War III : March 16
- Alan Wake: May 18

Comments

Pony Friends 2 is finally here? ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod!

I like how you take waste the time to actually link to games like Pony Friends 2 and Lovely Lisa.

This week I plan to finish ME2, then get to work on my pile from late 2009.

I suspect the unpleasant revelation for those of us who play enough games to have complained about the backloaded schedule in the past (obviously the folks who only play Halo and Madden have never cared) will be that once we're confronted with it as an actual possibility, we don't want to play every single good game that comes out in a year. There are simply too many of them now, and you could dedicate every minute of spare time to them for the whole year and still probably not get through everything.

When so many of them were dumped into the Holiday season, it was easier to justify skipping ones that you weren't sure about, saving yourself time and money while blaming it on duress; there's just so much to play right now, how could anyone blame you for skipping something?

With the same number of games spread out across the whole year, I expect a lot more of us to get burned out actually trying to play all of them - finance-wise, endurance-wise, or both.

Truly, my only complaint now is lack of money and time to play them all. What a great Q1!

And I have got to get myself a PS3.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Heavy Rain demo. Looking forward to a price drop, unfortunately. That's just my financial situation.

I like how you waste the time to actually link to games like Pony Friends 2 and Lovely Lisa.

Someone out there is buying these games, even if they aren't shouting it from the rooftops.

Maybe it's ...

YOU!

Elysium wrote:
I like how you waste the time to actually link to games like Pony Friends 2 and Lovely Lisa.

Someone out there is buying these games, even if they aren't shouting it from the rooftops.

Maybe it's ...

YOU!

This comment was delivered with such force, I actually looked around my workspace to see if I had subconsciously purchased Pony Friends 2. I had not. And it's until now unknown absence...stings a bit.

Pwny Freends Tew!

Yippay!

Heavy Rain looks too interesting to pass up and I've been waiting on Napoleon for so long. Sadly I know they are just going to get added to the top of the pile.

Heavy Rain is a definite buy for sheer curiosity stakes (so long as The Internet doesn't try to kill me at the end I'll be happy ). Also probably going to grab Shattered Memories - I think that's out this week in the UK finally.

Pony Friends 2! Brought to you by JELLO brand gelatin.

No 'Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing' on PSP?

Nei wrote:

No 'Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing' on PSP? :shock:

Your avatar pic pretty much makes that smiley unnecessary.

Geez, another Total War game already? The series is starting to look like it would fit right in as an EA Sports franchise.

I would probably play John Madden: Total War.

I don't remotely disagree with the pick, but it is interesting to see Heavy Rain (which I'm not sure whether to count as a "game" at all) as game of the week. It's certainly the interactive experience I most look forward to, though.

I am curious about Deadly Premonition, which had piqued my interest back when it was being called Rainy Woods. A Twin Peaks inspired mystery action RPG sounds inspired, although the budget price worries me that it will be underwhelming.

The incredibly strong first quarter has been intriguing. I think it is working because I am spending a lot more money on games since they are spread out. I'm still skipping some, but I would probably be skipping more if Mass Effect 2, Bioshock 2, Heavy Rain, and Final Fantasy XIII had all come out the same month... I don't think I can maintain this level of spending though!

Geez, another Total War game already?

Actually, I think I'm done with TW games. They were fun for a while, but that's enough for me.

Played the demo, it was just a big quick time event no thanks.

Elysium wrote:
Geez, another Total War game already?

Actually, I think I'm done with TW games. They were fun for a while, but that's enough for me.

Same here. I think the last one was well done, but when tricks to "game" battles from previous Total War versions still work in the latest ones, I think they're just re-skinning things and adding some new features. The A.I needs to be addressed so battle feel more dynamic and varied.

I tuned out of Empire Total War when I was underwhelmed with the demo (despite having loved Medival and Rome). But with the most recent Steam sale, a friend and I bought it to satisfy our board/war game cravings when we couldn't hook up in person.

I've gotten pretty good at holding off on release-date game purchases, favoring waiting for good price drops instead.

Heavy Rain will be one of the few titles I buy this year on Day One. In addition to wanting the game anyway, I feel like this title really needs/deserves a vote with my dollars. I'm not voting for more QTE titles (though this bothers me far less than some), but rather voting for more games with genuinely plausible characters in genuinely plausible situations...a rarity in the industry.

Elysium wrote:
I like how you waste the time to actually link to games like Pony Friends 2 and Lovely Lisa.

Someone out there is buying these games, even if they aren't shouting it from the rooftops.

Maybe it's ...

YOU!

Must... resist... Elysium's... mind control...

I can't decide if Heavy Rain is a slightly better or worse title than Chubby Rain. It's close.

Heavy Rain made me cross the street the other day.

I liked the Sonic All-star racing demo on the Xbox. It's Mario Kart on the 360, and that's all I need. I'll probably wait for a price drop though.

I am tempted to buy Heavy Rain just because if I don't and it bombs I may not be able to find it anywhere when I finally get a PS3.

Nevin73 wrote:

Pony Friends 2! Brought to you by JELLO brand gelatin.

also That Glue Company

One of the reasons I even bought a PS3 last month was Heavy Rain (another reason is 'March 2010'). Going to wait for the price to go down a bit before getting it however. Just too many games I want currently.

March looks brutal though. More loaded than your average November.

March is looking a little mad. GOW III, Heavy Rain, BF:BC2. It's going to be a mad, mad month. One might even call it a month filled with madness. I should trademark that--March, a month of madness.

dejanzie wrote:

I liked the Sonic All-star racing demo on the Xbox. It's Mario Kart on the 360, and that's all I need. I'll probably wait for a price drop though.

I'll echo this. My roommate and I have logged 4 hours racing splitscreen.

4 hours. demo. sonic. kart racing.

That must mean something right? We're going to get it......after a price drop as well.

Am I the only one who thinks of "Chubby Rain" (from the movie "Bowfinger") every time someone mentions Heavy Rain?

Speedhuntr wrote:
dejanzie wrote:

I liked the Sonic All-star racing demo on the Xbox. It's Mario Kart on the 360, and that's all I need. I'll probably wait for a price drop though.

I'll echo this. My roommate and I have logged 4 hours racing splitscreen.

4 hours. demo. sonic. kart racing.

That must mean something right? We're going to get it......after a price drop as well. :)

Thirded. Played the demo last night and it was a darn near copy of Mario Kart in all of the good ways. Nintendo should sue it is so close.

But it did have on big advantage over Mario Kart, it was fast, as in Sonic fast.

I also agree that a price drop is going to be needed to move copies. If this was $30 on DLC, I'd have it right now. But MLB 2K10 and BF:BC2 drop next week.

FeralMonkey wrote:

Am I the only one who thinks of "Chubby Rain" (from the movie "Bowfinger") every time someone mentions Heavy Rain?

Actually, I always think of this guy.