Gamers usually get excited for major video game releases in the fall, after the summer expos have struck and buyers have their wallets pumped and primed for the holiday season. So why, in the middle of February, are there so many major releases happening? Who knows, but we’re not complaining. Here’s a short preview of what’s coming.
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (DS) Feb. 16
Originally on the Nintendo Entertainment System, this seminal tactical roleplaying game finally reaches the United States on the Nintendo DS. You control the destiny of one Prince Marth; American gamers might know him from Super Smash Bros. Melee. Players shouldn’t go in expecting a fast paced action game, but the story is one for the ages.
Street Fighter IV (PS3,360) Feb. 17
Nine years after Street Fighter III: Third Strike, Capcom takes Street Fighter to the third dimension with 3-D rendered fighters engaged in 2-D combat. SF IV stars all 12 characters from the classic Street Fighter II, plus seven more from later SF games and a handful of challengers new to the series.
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned (X360) Feb. 17
This expansion to the hit game Grand Theft Auto IV hits Xbox Live Tuesday, thrusting you into a biker gang in the middle of Liberty City. The expansion includes all new missions, weapons, music and vehicles — including a unique bike — all of which significantly serve to lengthen the game experience.
Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? (PSP) Feb. 17
In this spinoff of the cult classic Disgaea, you play as Prinny, a penguin that explodes when thrown. Prinny plays like a classic platformer, with simple controls and an emphasis on timing. Don’t think that simple means easy, though. With 1,000 lives at the start of the game, you might need all of them to survive. Throw in the twisted humor from Disgaea, and you’re looking at a solid game.
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (DS) Feb. 17
Square-Enix loves making DS ports of SNES games from the 1990s. In Dragon Quest V, a young boy grows up, finds love and discovers the truth about his heritage, while stopping an army of demons bent on world domination in this classic, colorful RPG.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II (PC) Feb. 19
Adapted from the tabletop game, Dawn of War II will provide an epic real-time strategy experience, building upon the success of its popular predecessor. The new single-player campaign will have new RPG elements and a nonlinear storyline, while the multiplayer mode sports four playable races and improved mechanics.
Noby Noby Boy (PS3) Feb. 19
From the producer of Katamari Damacy comes a Playstation Network exclusive. In it, you control the front and back end of a caterpillar-like creature that can stretch to enormous lengths. You gain length by eating objects, and practically nothing is safe from this cute but ravenous critter.
Killzone 2 (PS3) Feb. 27
The PS3 tries to find its own signature first-person shooter with Killzone 2, in which Earth special forces do battle with superhuman Helghast on that race’s harsh, dangerous home planet. 3
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