Oct 18th - 24th

Section: 

Welcome to a freshly grown Monday, ripe with possibilities yet dripping with despair. We have a fairly quiet week for releases with only a couple noteworthy titles hitting stores. Next week will be much busier so save your pennies if youÂ're on a budget! TodayÂ's Game of the Week is Otogi 2 for the Xbox. Shipping Oct 19th for $39.99 this follow-up to the original Xbox title is said to be more of the same with some solid improvements throughout.

On DVD this week weÂ've got Arrested Development: Season 1, Cinderella Story, Garfield: The Movie, Greg The Bunny, HellBoy DirectorÂ's Cut, Van Helsing and more!

Hidden & Dangerous 2: Sabre Squadron Expansion

Platform: PC
Ships: Oct 19th
Price: $9.99

Outlaw Golf 2
Platform: Xbox
Ships: Oct 19th
Price: $19.99

Law & Order 3
Platform: PC
Ships: Oct 19th
Price: $29.99

Alien Hominid
Platform: GC, PS2
Ships: Oct 19th
Price: $29.99

The Buzz: I donÂ't know anything about this game but it looks like crazy cel-shaded madness.

Teenage Mutant Turtles 2: Battle Nexus
Platform: PS2, GC, Xbox
Ships: Oct 19th
Price: $39.99

Neo Contra
Platform: Ps2
Ships: Oct 19th
Price: $39.99

Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed
Platform: PS2
Ships: Oct 19th
Price: $39.99

NHL Eastside Hockey Manager
Platform: PC
Ships: Oct 19th
Price: $39.99

Men of Valor
Platform: Xbox
Ships: Oct 19th
Price: $49.99

The Buzz: I just canÂ't get me enough of them WW2 shooters!

Time Crisis: Crisis Zone
Platform: PS2
Ships: Oct 19th
Price: $59.99

Scaler
Platform: PS2, Xbox
Ships: Oct 20th
Price: $19.99

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly – DirectorÂ's Cut
Platform: Xbox
Ships: Oct 20th
Price: $49.99

- Certis

Comments

Sweet. Another empty week for me. I get to keep money in the bank and in my wallet all at the same time. Will wonders never cease?

Thankfully, another week where nothing interests me. My wallet needs the rest.

Turtles!

So, is Van Helsing worth a rent? I am wanting to see it kinda.

Fatal Frame 2 for me... but not before I finish the first one.

Alien Hominid looks pretty cool and I definately plan on picking it up. If you're into the old-skool console 2d side-scroller shoot'em ups like Gunstar Heroes or Contra then you might want to check it out. It might not be an A list title but it looks like a fun multiplayer diversion that won't hit the wallet too hard.

Actually, some quick history on it so people don't pass it up... The first incarnation of AH was a playable Flash game over at New Grounds (www.newgrounds.com). The guys that made it used all of their own cash to develop a console version with better graphics, sounds and level design. If I remember right there's a couple hundred mini-games and a level editor included.

Also, Van Helsing was... okay I guess. Definately a renter and don't expect a scary horror movie. It could have been so much better than it was. Frankenstein in all his freakish glory steals the show when it comes to the special effects.

Men of Valor is a Vietnam shooter, not a WW2 thank god. Although I guess its just like a WW2 shooter except in Vietnam!

Neo Contra and Otogi 2!

optimistic wrote:

Men of Valor is a Vietnam shooter, not a WW2 thank god. Although I guess its just like a WW2 shooter except in Vietnam!

I was thinking the same thing. I was curious why Certis called it a WW2 shooter.

So, is Van Helsing worth a rent? I am wanting to see it kinda.

I checked it out last week... it's ok, I mean, your 4.23 could be worse spent...

I was thinking the same thing. I was curious why Certis called it a WW2 shooter. :)

Because Certis didn't care eough about the game to really look into it too deeply. Screen shots looked pretty WW2ish to me!

Did anyone finish Otogi... I think i got to somewhere around 50-75% complete, but could not go on... takes the sequal of the list.

Lester_King wrote:
So, is Van Helsing worth a rent? I am wanting to see it kinda.

I checked it out last week... it's ok, I mean, your 4.23 could be worse spent...

Ugh, Van Helsing is terrible. Your time could be much better spent, regardless of the cost.

simpilot wrote:

Thankfully, another week where nothing interests me. My wallet needs the rest.

Roger that! Good thing there is a severe lack of PC games this week, or I'd be in deep trouble with the missus.

Ah, well, more time to finish Call of Duty.

So, is Van Helsing worth a rent? I am wanting to see it kinda.

I'll put it this way. I walked into a theater last summer during a heatwave, just to get somewhere cool. The Theater server beer and pizza. and was refreshingly cool. I had no
expectations of seeing a good movie, just wanted some mindless entertainment.

After one hr I walked out because I couldn't take VH anymore.

An absolutetly dreadfull movie

Nei wrote:

Did anyone finish Otogi... I think i got to somewhere around 50-75% complete, but could not go on... takes the sequal of the list. :(

Yeah, I did. Don't think I need the sequel. I had to push to finish the last few levels as it was. Pretty does not equal fun, I suppose.

Because Certis didn't care eough about the game to really look into it too deeply

Yeah its a Xbox FPS to boot so I really don't care about it either. The only Xbox shooters I could stand were Halo 1 and Timesplitters 2.

Come on now. Where's the love for Van Helsing?

Sure, it isn't an Oscar contender (or any kind of contender for that matter), but there are some great characters in the movie and for a vegging-out-on-the-couch, don't-think-too-deeply evening at home, it's an action flick worth renting.

Go on Flux, do it. Kate Beckinsale is calling to you.

It's actually the first movie I've seen where I thought Kate Beckinsdale looked good. Never cared for her until then. Seemed like a good movie, it was just too...damn...long...

TMNT: Battle Nexus is already getting some bad reviews. Looks like bargain bin fodder already. Even if the game isn't as bad as they say, why pay full price?

Well woth renting Van Helsing is - just for the vamps (literally)... Also check out The Day After Tomorrow - any movie that demolishes NYC and LA in the same few minutes is worth it :).

Woo, nothing on Certis' list that I must have! Scrolled down through the comments, expecting someone to say "Hey what about ?", but nothing. Woo, my wallet may actually survive this month. Cept, I have to go spend a few dollars for the GuildWars pre-order box.

SpyNavy wrote:

Also check out The Day After Tomorrow - any movie that demolishes NYC and LA in the same few minutes is worth it :).

Agreed. I saw it Friday night and did my share of Ooo's and Ahhh's over the complete and total devastation. The story isn't much but the dramatic weather effects make it well worth watching.

Nothing interesting to me, except Neo Contra. But not something I gotta get this week.

"Van Helsing" had some great moments; I loved the opening sequence. Second, third, etc. the Kate Beckinsale comments.

Best 4 things: 1) the opening; 2) the homage to "The Fearless Vampire Slayers"; 3) the defense of the village; and 4) the coach chase.

Just go with the flow.....