Sept 13th - 19th

Section: 

Put down your pitch forks and douse your torches, The Sims 2 is the Game of the Week and youÂ're just going to have to deal with it. Thanks to positive views at E3 and very encouraging early reviews Maxis managed to edge Fable out of the top spot. I was expecting Fable to make it but reports of the game being too easy and not quite reaching the heights Peter Molyneux claimed (as usual) drops it down a peg. Aside from these games, the Call of Duty expansion ships for the PC amongst a ton of console titles. The Sims 2 ships on Tuesday for $49.99.

First you get the money...

On DVD this week we have Man on Fire, Law & Order DVDs, the first season of DiffÂ'rent Strokes and more!
Fable

Platform: Xbox
Ships: September 14th
Price: $49.99

The Buzz: It's is all over the place on this one. The running theme seems to be that itÂ's an interesting game that doesnÂ't quite manage the level of greatness many expected from it. We should all be used to it by now though, Molyneux has it down to an art form. This may not be an opening day purchase unless youÂ're burning with curiosity.

Syberia II: Kate WalkerÂ's Adventure Continues
Platform: Xbox
Ships: September 14th
Price: $19.99

The Buzz: If you played the first game this PC port of the sequel is pretty tempting for $20 bucks.

Gradius V
Platform: PS2
Ships: September 14th
Price: $29.99

The Buzz: I know IÂ'm flushing my old skool gamer street cred here but I just donÂ't enjoy the side-scrolling shooters any more. IÂ'm sure this is a fine one for you masochists though!

Call of Duty: United Offensive
Platform: PC
Ships: September 14th
Price: $29.99

The Buzz: The kind of heavily scripted WW2 FPS action is at it again with this expansion.

Madden NFL 2005
Platform: PC
Ships: September 14th
Price: $39.99

The Buzz: ItÂ's MaddenÂ"… on the PC! LetÂ's hope itÂ's not a buggy mess like some of the previous releases.

Sid MeierÂ's Civilization III Complete
Platform: PC
Ships: September 14th
Price: $39.99

The Buzz: The original as well as the Play the World and Conquests expansions. If youÂ've been waiting, now might be a good time to take the plunge!

Sly 2: Band of Thieves
Platform: PS2
Ships: September 14th
Price: $39.99

The Buzz: The original platformer was great and the new one looks just as good, very solid reviews.

NHL 2005
Platform: PC
Ships: September 14th
Price: $39.99

The Buzz: The only hockey youÂ're likely to get on the PC this year, too bad this version of the game doesnÂ't fare too well.

Demon Stone
Platform: PS2
Ships: September 14th
Price: $49.95

The Buzz: A BaldurÂ's Gate: Dark Alliance style hack nÂ' slash title based in the Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms campaigns. No reviews although theyÂ've been pushing the game pretty hard. Wait and see.

- Certis

Comments

Now, the world don't move to the beat of just one drum,
What might be right for you, may not be right for some.
A man is born, he's a man of means.
Then along come two, they got nothing but their jeans.

But they got, Diff'rent Strokes.
It takes, Diff'rent Strokes.
It takes, Diff'rent Strokes to move the world.

Hey, think you can recreate the fun in The Sims 2?

Whoa, Sims 2 is this week?!?! I guess I will wait for some GWJ reviews before I decide but it might just be a purchase.

Ooo, Demon Stone and Fable this week. I hadn't realized Demon Stone was so close to release. Must find some reviews to see if the gameplay matches those nifty graphics.

Shame on my eyes, Demon Stone is coming out on the PS2. Guess I get to wait until November for the XBox version. Woo.

Man and they were playing the Chappelle episode with him singing the DS theme song this week. Coincidence? I think not.

And, you know, since Certis the über-twit didn't mention those, I'd like to point out that Port Royale 2 and Arena Wars also ship this week. Both being games that were covered here at GWJ...

I'm picking Fable this week... I really don't mind it being a bit short. With my time avalible, i'll be playing for a month or so...

I already have Civ III, so maybe the stand-alone version of Conquests will get marked down to $20 or so. I've been looking at it for a while but wasn't willing to shell out $30-40 for it.......

Fable is on my list for this week. I also don't mind it being short, and I don't mind it being less grand in scope than originally envisioned. I just want to get some wicked scars and beat some kids.

I'm going to pick up Fable, its just my kind of game. Sims 2 is good, but the gameplay is pretty much just like the first one. I was expecting something different. Still a good pickup if your a fan of the first.

I'm going for the Call of Duty expansion. That's about it. Maybe pick up Ground Control II as well.

BTW, Warhammer this week or next?

Sims 2 and Fable are must haves for me. I'll trade in some games not played much anymore to soften the $100 blow. I'll pick up the Call of Duty add-on at some point, but not this week.

Weird.. I cant find a single Demon Stone review...

Either thats really bad news and the game is a stinker or everyone fell asleep on this since its a PS2 release first..

Fable is my only buy...perhaps Sims 2.

And, you know, since Certis the über-twit didn't mention those, I'd like to point out that Port Royale 2 and Arena Wars also ship this week. Both being games that were covered here at GWJ...

Sorry Spun, they show up in the EBGames search but not in the main release list that I could/can see. Nice being called a twit though, good way to kick off my week

So, Sims 2 doesn't have any major interesting changes to the gameplay? It is pretty much a graphical upgrade? If so, booo!!!

I heard it's supposed to be a lot more temporal based, like your Sim can grow old, have grand kids, etc...

Plus a lot more options on actions, not just a graphical update.

Go check out Dave Kosak's Sims 2 stuff at Gamespy. It's got me even considering trying it out when the wife's not playing.

Lots of neat "emergent" AI, a definite refocusing of the gameplay away from controlling when your sims urinate, bathe, wash, etc.

Nice being called a twit though, good way to kick off my week

Glad to be of service. I'm around all week.

Spunior wrote:
Nice being called a twit though, good way to kick off my week

Glad to be of service. I'm around all week.

We going to have to seperate you two? Don't make us stop the car!

I preordered Fable with the Gift Certificate you guys got me - I cant wait - it looks great and I like the open ended concept and world impact.

open ended concept

Except it's not really open-ended.

In the character development department it is but not in story.

I'll be picking up The Sims 2 and Fable. This is the first in a string of expensive weeks.