Jan-Feb Video Game Preview Thread

RC Cola · Jan 20, 2006

The first of many preview threads, or so I hope!

I'm not really sure how I want to do this, so I'll just try and feel it out. I'll start with a rough list of games and their release dates (according to Gamespot). I may not list all the games, but the list should contain most of them.

PC:
Star Wars: Empire at War (RTS) 2/15
Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach (MMORPG) 2/28
LOTR: Middle-earth II (RTS) 2/28

Xbox 360:
Full Auto (Car Combat) 2/14
Fight Night Round 3 (360 version) (Boxing) 2/14
College Hoops 2K6 (360 version) (College Hoops..duh) 2/21
Some Arcade games like Street Fighter too (not sure if I should include those).

Gamecube:
Yeah, the GC is running out of exclusives

Xbox:
You know...the Xbox is running out of them too.

PS2:
Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition (3rd person action...you know what it's like) 1/24
Tales of Legendia (RPG) 2/1
Drakengard 2 (Action RPG) 2/12
State of Emergency 2 ("Modern Shooter") 2/14
MLB '06: The Show (Baseball) 1/28
24: The Game (Jack Bauer simulator of course ) 2/28

Multi-console (not including handheld versions of games):
Curious George (Adventure) 2/1 [Practically every system except the 360...it is a game based on a movie]
EA Sports Arena Football (Exclusive Arena Football) 2/7 [PS2, Xbox]
World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 (Soccer) 2/7 (PS2, Xbox)
Fight Night Round 3 (current-gen version) (Boxing) 2/14 [PS2, Xbox]
Rugby 06 AKA Football for REAL men 06 2/14 [PS2, Xbox]
Marc Ecko's Getting Up ("Modern Action Adventure") 2/14 [PC, PS2, Xbox]
Teen Titans ("Modern Action Adventure") 2/14 [Gamecube, PS2, Xbox]
Final Fight: Streetwise (Beat-'Em-Up...Final Fight style hopefully) 2/21 [PS2, Xbox]
Sonic Riders (Racing) 2/21 [Gamecube, PS2, Xbox]
FIFA Street 2 (Soccer) 2/28 [Gamecube, PS2, Xbox]
Black AKA Gun p*rn ("Modern First-Person Shooter" or gun p*rn) 2/28 [PS2, Xbox]
Stacked (Poker) 2/28 [PS2, Xbox, and PC about a month later]

DS:
Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop (Strategy...virtual pet to be exact I think) 1/31
Resident Evil: Deadly Silence (RE1 Remake) 2/7
Age of Empires: The Age of Kings (Turn-based strategy...little different than PC AOE IIRC) 2/14
Super Monkey Ball: Touch and Roll (Party game) 2/21
Super Princess Peach (2D Platformer, Princess Peach style) 2/27
Fifa Street 2 (Soccer) 2/28

PSP:
Mega Man Maverick Hunter X (Remake of MM X) 1/31
Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX (Port of SFA3) 2/7
World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 (Soccer) 2/7
Fight Night Round 3 (Boxing) 2/14
Exit (2D Platforming craziness) 2/14
MLB '06: The Show (Baseball) 2/28
Fifa Street 2 (Soccer) 2/28
Generation of Chaos (Nippon Ichi SRPG) 2/28
Stacked (Poker) 2/28

Wow, that's a lot more games then I'd thought there would be, and I didn't even include everything, including some expansion packs for some PC games.

I still have the "previews" to go, where I included some screens and impressions/previews from IGN/GS for each game (if they had them). Since there are WAY more games than images allowed in one post, it might take some time and several posts to have that all put up. Give me a few minutes while I get that posted. I'll post in the same order as this list, so you'll know when I'm done (Stacked PSP will be the last "preview").

RC Cola · Jan 20, 2006

Star Wars: Empire at War:

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/starwarsrts/news.html?sid=6140634&mode=previews&page=1

From what we've seen, Star Wars: Empire at War will have a lot to offer, including plenty of strategic depth with a huge galactic sandbox to play in, as well as lots of very fast-paced, accessible action. And there won't be any wookiee tanks, droids chopping wood, or any of that stuff, either. This promising strategy game is scheduled for release in the early part of 2006.
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IIRC, GS has a demo available for the game. Sounds like fun.

D&D Online

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/ddonline/news.html?sid=6139504&mode=previews

If what we've seen is any indication, Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach should be a highly accessible, fast-paced hack-and-slash game that's great for beginners, veterans, loners, and groups alike. The real-time combat adds a noticeably faster pace to the game, which definitely seems different from a traditional massively multiplayer game. Stay tuned to GameSpot for more details on this intriguing online game as we approach its early 2006 release date.
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IIRC, I thought I read some recent impressions from someone at GAF, and I don't think the impressions were quite as positive as the GS impressions from November. So make sure you read up on this one.

LOTR: Middle-earth II

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/battleformiddleearth2/news.html?sid=6142435

We were only given the chance to play with a fraction of the game in the multiplayer beta, but what we've seen so far is very encouraging, as it appears that EA listened to the feedback from its fans. The original, The Battle for Middle-earth, was a good strategy game, but it left a lot of room for improvement. Fortunately, The Battle for Middle-earth II looks like it will make good on the original's shortcomings. We're still interested in checking out the new, overarching War of the Ring campaign mode, which will let you try to conquer Middle-earth one province at a time (in both single-player and multiplayer modes). If you're a Lord of the Rings fan, this game very well may be the strategy game you've been waiting for.
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Full Auto

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/fullauto/news.html?sid=6142430

Based on what we played, Full Auto is shaping up to be solid entry in the Xbox 360 library. The game's arcade-style base is built up with a good assortment of bells and whistles that gives it a breezy sense of fun. Though the single-player game feels a bit one-dimensional after a while, the ability to unlock content as you go helps keep it rewarding. However, Full Auto's multiplayer mode is likely to be what keeps players coming back, with its engaging array of modes. If you're looking for a fast arcade-style racer with a twist, you'd do well to keep an eye out for Full Auto when it ships next month. For more on the game, check out our video page for the first in a series of video diaries exploring its development.
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Fight Night Round 3 (X360)

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/fightnightround3/news.html?sid=6141856&mode=previews

In short, we're now more excited than ever to get our hands on a finished version of Fight Night Round 3 next month. If you've got an Xbox 360, an Xbox Live account, and enough room on your hard drive, you'd be crazy not to check this out.
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If you want some more screens at insane resolutions, let me know. This games look so amazing...EA leading in next-gen graphics.

College Hoops 2K6 (screen via IGN)

I don't really see any recent impressions for the 360 version. Maybe kind of like NBA 2K6 (PS2, Xbox) versus the 360 version type differences?

DMC3:SE

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/devilmaycry3specialedition/news.html?sid=6142046&mode=recent

All in all, the opportunity to play as Vergil (who controls quite a bit differently from Dante) and in the Bloody Palace both provide a whole new spin to the gameplay, while the easier difficulty settings provide more accessibility. This leads us to believe that players of all competencies will find some value in this version of the game, particularly if they feel in the mood for just a little more Devil May Cry 3 action. We're curious to see what will happen to Vergil's version of the story, since at the moment it seems much less coherent than the Dante campaign, but we hope to get all those answers and more when the final version comes out later this month. Stay tuned for our full review.
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Remember, only $20.

Tales of Legendia

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/talesoflegendia/news.html?sid=6142412&mode=recent

Beyond the good looks, the amusing characters, the mysteries of the storyline and the history of the game world, Tales of Legendia also managed to keep intact the series' cooking minigame, so fans can rest assured--you may (and you will) create large numbers of ham sandwiches. Tales of Legendia looks like it'll have plenty to offer Tales fans and RPG fans in general, and has definitely drawn us in so far. You can expect to see Legendia arrive for the PlayStation2 in early February, so keep your eyes on this gamespace for the latest news and media as it becomes available.
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RC Cola · Jan 20, 2006

Drakengard II

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/drakengard2/news.html?sid=6129517&mode=recent

Drakengard II's graphics are similar to the quality of those in the original, which is understandable when considering the limitations of the PS2 hardware and the volume of enemies that are simultaneously displayed on the screen. However, Drakengard II covers up for that part by massively improving on its drama. When you get dispatched to the war zone in the beginning of the game, you'll find that there are actually soldiers from Nowe's side that are already taking on the monsters in the field. Though the soldiers aren't too strong, they build up on the atmosphere of the game and their existence makes the experience feel more realistic, unlike the original Drakengard where you felt you were taking on the whole empire by yourself. So far, it seems to be a pretty solid sequel to the original installment. If you're sold on importing it, be forewarned that it's heavy on the Japanese text. If you're a regular importer you should be able to get through well enough; you'll just miss out on the story. Square Enix has not announced a release schedule for the game in America yet, so stay tuned.
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Those impressions were before the game was announced for NA obviously.

State of Emergency 2

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/stateofemergency2/news.html?sid=6142697&mode=recent

All in all, it seems that DC Studios is taking the State of Emergency brand into a relatively new direction with State of Emergency 2. While there's still plenty of the customary mob action that players of the first game know and love, the emphasis here seems to have shifted from frenetic, fast-paced action to a more methodical action shooter where you have to be careful not to expose yourself to enemy fire, lest you wind up getting blasted. There's even a lean button to help you lean around corners!
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MLB '06: The Show

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/sports/mlb06theshow/news.html?sid=6141366&mode=recent

There's still more we're curious about in The Show--including exploring the game-time decision feature, which presents you with critical game situations in which a player might be slightly injured, for example, but still able to go. Do you sit him and let him rest, or put him in a crucial game and risk even greater injury? As manager, the choice will be yours. We also are looking forward to checking out the online play, but we'll have to wait for a more complete version of the game before we can explore that in more depth. Spring training may be several months away, but we'll be bringing you more updates on MLB '06: The Show all winter long, so stay tuned.
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24: The Game

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/24thegame/news.html?sid=6128153&mode=recent

Licensed games have traditionally carried a bad reputation, though in recent years some games have certainly counteracted that trend a bit. We think the odds that 24: The Game will join that elite few are pretty good--it looks like it will provide the right mixture of solid, varied action and the series' trademark production elements to please both hardcore fans of 24 and those just looking for a good action experience. The game is due out in November, so stay tuned for more in the coming months.
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Yeah, some more early impressions that aren't completely up-to-date.

Curious George

http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/curiousgeorge/news.html?sid=6135628&mode=recent

The Curious George game will feature a total of 12 levels, and although the museum was the only one we got to explore on this occasion, we were told that other locales will include the jungles and villages of Africa (where the Man with the Yellow Hat first meets George), a cargo ship, and the streets of New York. We were also told about some of the minigames that you'll get to play as you progress, including a firefly-catching rhythm action game and a Frogger-style sequence that sees George jumping on villagers' head baskets.
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EA Sports Arena Football

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/sports/easportsarenafootball/news.html?sid=6141433&mode=recent

Arena Football is due for release in February of next year, just a few weeks after the kickoff of the 2006 AFL schedule. If the final product turns out to be as fun, hard-hitting, and as fast-paced as the real thing, EA will have a winner on its hands. We'll keep you updated on the game's progress over the coming weeks, and we'll have a full review once it hits store shelves.
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World Soccer Winning Eleven 9

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/sports/worldsoccerwinningeleven9/news.html?sid=6141694&mode=recent

Already available in Europe as Pro Evolution Soccer 5 and currently scheduled for North American release in February, World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 is the latest entry in Konami's long-running series of soccer games. One of the strengths of Konami's Winning Eleven series is that every new game manages to improve upon its predecessor quite noticeably, but the games never change so dramatically that they might feel unfamiliar to fans. We recently got our hands on a near-finished North American version of World Soccer Winning Eleven 9, and although we've not yet been able to spend as much time with the game as we'd like, we're pleased to report that Konami's Tokyo-based development team looks to have improved upon its near-perfect soccer game again.
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Fight Night Round 3 (current-gen version)

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/675/675392p1.html (IGN impressions)

Sure, the 360 version of Fight Night Round 3 is getting all the glory, and with the film-quality visuals, who could argue? Thankfully, EA did not forget about the current-gen versions of its boxing franchise and Round 3 is shaping up very nicely.
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RC Cola · Jan 20, 2006

Rugby 06
Uh...yeah that was joke. The game is coming out soon, but I'm not giving out a preview. Sorry Kate, I care more about Arena Football apparently than I do Rugby.

Marc Ecko's Getting Up

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/651/651967p1.html
I can't really quote anything from that...why can't you summarize a preview IGN?

Teen Titans

http://cube.ign.com/articles/664/664651p1.html

Teen Titans is aimed at fans of the series, though it looks like it'll transcend that and be a hit with non-fans as well, at least in the younger gamer market. The game is set for release sometime early next year, so stay tuned as we have more from Teen Titans in the coming months.
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Final Fight: Streetwise

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/finalfightstreetwise/news.html?sid=6142254&mode=recent

Final Fight: Streetwise is a third-person action game that promises to combine the accessible beat-'em-up gameplay for which the Final Fight series is known with a strong narrative and a living, breathing Metro City to explore. You'll assume the role of a young and gifted pit fighter named Kyle, who's the brother of Final Fight lifer Cody. We recently had an opportunity to spend some time with a work-in-progress demo version of the game and, although the code was more than a little rough around the edges, we had some fun with it and are really intrigued to see how the game finishes up.
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Sonic Riders

http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/driving/sonicriders/news.html?sid=6141526&mode=recent

Sonic Riders is the upcoming racing game from Sega starring its spiky blue mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog. The game puts a different spin on the racing formulas Sega has tried with the venerable mascot. You won't find yourself steering a cart as you did in Sonic Drift or racing on foot as you did in Sonic R. This time out, Sega is putting our boy on a futuristic skate/air board that will send you riding the winds as you attempt to make it to the finish. We pinged Sega to see how this is going to work in practice and to get a look at some of the tracks in the game.
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FIFA Street 2

Don't really see many impressions on this one either. Eh...you know what to expect.

Black

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/black/news.html?sid=6142465

Based on what we played, Black is looking like an appealing offering from Criterion that plays to the company's established strengths. We still haven't seen anything completely revolutionary here, but we expect that, much like the Burnout series, Black will offer a polished experience that's big on fun, and more of an evolution of the shooting genre than a completely new take. Given how satisfying the single-player levels we've played so far are, we're disappointed that the game doesn't have a multiplayer component. The only element we're curious to find out about is just how long the game is going to be and what kind of replay value it's going to have. But the inclusion of selectable difficulties and unlockable content is a step in the right direction. Black is currently slated to ship this February for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Look for more on the game in the coming weeks.
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Definitely check out the videos for this game. Who needs next-gen?

Stacked

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/puzzle/stacked/news.html?sid=6128805&mode=recent

While the presentation of the game has some definite rough edges at this point, we've seen some encouraging signs of logical, intelligent play from the AI. We're even more excited that the game will actually include ranked online modes, so even if the AI doesn't end up playing quite up to your speed, you'll be able to take on human opponents. Stacked is currently slated for release in the fall of this year for the PC, Xbox, PlayStation 2, and PSP.
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Semi-early impressions here as well.

Tamagotchi Corner Shop

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/strategy/tamagotchi/news.html?sid=6142556&mode=recent

We certainly found that Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop can be fun in small doses, but its repetitive nature made playing the game for more than 30 minutes or so at a time something of a chore. There aren't many games available that let you wash and iron a ninja's cardigan because it got dirty during a mission, though, and that's got to count for something. Expect a full review of Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop as its February release date approaches.
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RC Cola · Jan 20, 2006

Resident Evil: Deadly Silence

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/action/residentevilds/news.html?sid=6142714&mode=recent

Whether or not the old-school Resident Evil gameplay has stood the test of time is open to debate, but if our memories of 1996 are accurate, Deadly Silence is looking like a very faithful port of the survival horror game that started the whole craze way back when. The extra touch screen gameplay elements and wireless multiplayer should help add variety to the package, and frankly, it's impressive simply that the entire game has been crammed into one tiny DS cart. We'll find out whether or not the game will hold up for its entire duration when Deadly Silence ships on this side of the pond in the first week of February. Stay tuned for a full review then.
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Age of Empires: The Age of Kings

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/strategy/ageofempiresiiageofkings/news.html?sid=6131266&mode=recent

Although Age of Empires: The Age of Kings isn't currently scheduled for release until early 2006, a lot of the visual presentation in the work-in-progress version of the game that we saw was already quite easy on the eyes. The oversized individual units that represent large forces on the isometric map were somewhat problematic, though, not because they didn't look great, but because they became a little too difficult to distinguish from one another when they were grouped together, despite the inclusion of a brightly colored outline around each of them. We were also a little surprised by how little of each map we were able to see on the screen at any one time, and assuming that the maps get significantly larger than those we saw during our presentation, the game would definitely benefit from an option to zoom out for an overview of larger areas of the battlefield.
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Super Monkey Ball: Touch and Roll

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/action/supermonkeyballds/news.html?sid=6139626&mode=recent

Based on this early look, Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll seems to be a promising DS game that could easily retain the charm of its predecessors if its control can be tuned. The core concept is as addictive as ever, and the visuals are solid. If you're a fan of the series or are saddened by the lack of monkeys on your DS, you'll want to keep an eye out for Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll when it ships early next year. Look for more on the game in the coming months.
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Super Princess Peach

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/action/superprincesspeach/news.html?sid=6136313&mode=recent

So far, Super Princess Peach has been exceedingly easy to play through--the puzzles are pretty easy to figure out, the enemies don't present any serious challenge, and the ability to recharge your life with the happiness power makes it kind of hard to actually die. But we'd say based on initial impressions that the joy of this game isn't in besting its challenge so much as it is simply experiencing its lushly rendered worlds and playing through its innovative scenarios. For you would-be importers, the game is surprisingly text-heavy--all of the dialogue, tutorials, and story text are in Japanese--but you can puzzle through everything after some trial and error. You may have to if you're interested in the game, since a US release hasn't currently been announced. In any event, we'll bring you more on this unique and endearing action game as it happens.
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Fifa Street 2 (DS)
I don't see ANY screens or impressions for this game. I can't even really find any confirmation other than GS release list that this will come out in Feb..not even sure if it still exists actually, although knowing EA...probably.

Mega Man Maverick Hunter X

http://www.gamespot.com/psp/action/irregularhunterx/news.html?sid=6133776&mode=recent

Based on what we played, Irregular Hunter X is shaping up to be a solid title for the PSP. Although the game doesn't feature the awesome extra of a level editor as seen in Rockman Rockman (the PSP remake of the original NES Mega Man also on display in Capcom's booth), there is still a nice surprise in the game. In addition to playing Mega Man you'll eventually have the opportunity to play as Vile, a well-known foe in the X series. Irregular Hunter X is slated to ship this fall for the PSP in Japan with a US release to follow.
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Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX

http://www.gamespot.com/psp/action/streetfighteralpha3/news.html?sid=6142284&mode=recent

Based on what we've played so far, Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX is shaping up to be a meaty entry in the fighting genre for the PSP. The control is tight and responsive, and the visuals are top-notch. Though the game's default is a full-screen presentation that stretches the image slightly, you can tweak it to the original 4:3 aspect ratio and even use some nice wallpaper for the borders, if black bars aren't your thing. We're quite pleased by what we've seen and are anxious to spend more time with the game to see how it holds up. Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX is slated to ship next month for the PSP.
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World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 (PSP)

http://www.gamespot.com/psp/sports/worldsoccerwinningeleven/news.html?sid=6131393&mode=recent

On the PSP side, we actually did get to see the game running on the PSP hardware. The basic look seems to have translated extremely well from the console game, with only slightly more pixelated players and a lower overall frame rate. The game ran great though, with no hiccups other than a fairly lengthy load time between matches. Hopefully that's something that'll be cleared up before the game is finished. As far as features go, the PSP version is set to have nearly everything that the console games will. It won't be online, but it will support ad hoc wireless multiplayer for up to two players. The game will also be capable of hooking up with the PS2 version of Winning Eleven 9, and you'll be able to trade saved data between the two games. Got a great master league team on the PS2 and want to use it on the go? Now you can.
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Fight Night Round 3 (PSP)

http://psp.ign.com/articles/675/675484p1.html

One last aspect of note is that the PSP version of Fight Night is quite a looker, and it's smooth as silk to boot. Boxers are replete with detail, fantastic animations and so forth. The console and portable versions look more similar than you might think, at least from first glance. We were only able to check out a few fights in one of the smaller arenas, but the game ran very, very well, never missing a beat, which is utterly important in a title that relies on split-second reflexes.
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RC Cola · Jan 20, 2006

Exit

http://www.gamespot.com/psp/action/exit/news.html?sid=6133797&mode=recent

Based on what we saw today, Exit is a great-looking puzzle game that is somewhat reminiscent of the original Abe's Oddysee PlayStation game. We look forward to bringing you more information on the game as soon as it becomes available.
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MLB '06: The Show (PSP)

http://www.gamespot.com/psp/sports/mlb06theshow/news.html?sid=6141949&mode=recent

Having a portable baseball game like MLB '06: The Show should be a great thing for hardball fans looking to bring their favorite sport with them wherever they go. Certainly few will find issue with the game's graphics--the player models and stadiums are very comparable to those found in the PS2 version of the game, as is the compelling commentary from guys like Matt Vasgersian and Dave Campbell, who did such a fine job in MLB 2006. Though the frame rate and load times could still use some work in the PSP version of MLB '06, we're happy to see the game coming to Sony's portable device and will be bringing you more on the game in the coming weeks.
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FIFA Street 2 (PSP)
Like the other versions, not many impressions/screens for this one. Again, you know what to expect I guess.

Generation of Chaos

http://www.gamespot.com/psp/strategy/generationofchaos/news.html?sid=6142776&mode=recent

If you're a fan of strategy role-playing games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Fire Emblem, or Disgaea, then Generation of Chaos ought to be on your radar. We recently got our hands on an English-language version of this upcoming PSP game, which features both a board game-style strategic layer as well as some near-epic-sized battles between opposing generals and their armies. So, it's quite unlike most of the other strategy RPGs we've seen lately, which is one of the most refreshing things about it. Of course, the highly complex gameplay and the tremendous amount of replay value doesn't hurt, either. In short, we're very hopeful for how this one's going to finally turn out.
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I'm not even sure if the Japan version got good scores; I just know this is a RPG, which the PSP really needs some more of. I also like Nippon Ichi's games, so that doesn't hurt.

Stacked (PSP)

I don't really see much about the PSP version specifically, other than it will be able to share data with the PS2 version or something like that.

OK, that should be it. Sorry to anyone on dialup.

Coach AI · Jan 21, 2006

You forgot (all exclusives):

For Gamecube:

Chibi-Robo

For DS:

True Swing Golf
Rub Rabbits

For XBOX:

Painkiller

Dr of Dunk · Jan 21, 2006

The only 3 I'm waiting for now...

Neverwinter Nights 2
Elder Scrolls 4 : Oblivion
D&D Online

*drool*

Why couldn't they be released right now when I don't have to work??? ARRGG!

RC Cola · Jan 21, 2006

Rokkit said:

You forgot (all exclusives):

For Gamecube:

Chibi-Robo

For DS:

True Swing Golf
Rub Rabbits

For XBOX:

Painkiller
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I actually had some of those up there, but I took them off due to a combination of not knowing if people cared about them and because I was a bit lazy...plus I wanted to make a joke about the XBX and the GC. Although I didn't put True Swing Golf on there since it had already been reviewed by GS, and didn't seem to get a good score either (6.0). However, I'll go ahead and post them here:

GC:
Chibi-Robo ("Fantasy Action Adventure") 2/6

http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/chibirobo/news.html?sid=6139321&mode=recent

Chibi-Robo seems to be a game that will appeal to people who are looking for something a bit different from the usual shooter or action adventure game. It has a distinct Japanese feel to it, but the localization seems to be coming along quite well, so the game should appeal to just about anyone with a bit of an open mind and a fondness for subtle, off-the-wall humor. Chibi-Robo ships in February, so be sure to check back for more details and our full review of this strange little game.
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DS:
True Swing Golf (Golf) 1/23

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/sports/touchgolf/review.html (from GS review)

For a game from a publisher and a developer that have both done some interesting and accomplished things with the game of golf, True Swing comes out surprisingly flat. Last year's Tiger Woods PGA Tour for the DS was admittedly a flawed product, but there's still no one good reason to pick up True Swing Golf instead of, or even in addition to, Tiger.
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Rub The Rabbits! (Puzzle..."sequel" to Feel the Magic) 2/8

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/puzzle/rubrabbits/news.html?sid=6136328&mode=recent

Though Feel the Magic XY/XX 2 is not much more than an amalgamation of quirky minigames, there is so much variety and so many cool little options and hidden features that it ends up being thoroughly entertaining anyway. Although it's not currently slated for a North American release, we expect that we'll be able to properly find out where babies come from (with or without the controversial title) sometime in the future.
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Again, early impressions.

Xbox
Painkiller (FPS) 2/28

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/painkiller/news.html?sid=6136733&mode=recent

So far, Painkiller: Hell Wars is looking like a pretty solid re-creation of the PC original and its expansion pack. Multiplayer was a big part of Painkiller's gameplay, and Hell Wars will be playable on Xbox Live, though specific details on the multiplayer modes aren't available yet. If you've already played the PC games, there won't be much for you to see here, since the gameplay and content are essentially the same. But console-bound gamers looking for a hardcore, pure shooting experience may find some good fodder for their trigger fingers in Hell Wars. The game is due out in late January, and we'll bring you more soon.
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Early impressions again.

Anyone else have some more? I know I'm still missing some, but not sure if anyone is looking forward to the ones not on the list.

Uprising · Jan 21, 2006

I'm looking forward to the starwars game, and the new LOTR game.

Xenochimera · Jan 21, 2006

i am looking forward to that patch for battlefront 2 which is suppose to fix all th bugs/glitches and stuff.

Uprising · Jan 21, 2006

There's a patch for Call of Duty 2 coming out pretty soon. It will finally be compatible and run through PunkBuster. Thankgod. It's badly needed.

Also, Battle Field 2 has a patch coming out farely soon.

I just patched my Age of Empires 3 game.

Man, that Starwars game looks SICK. I'm downloading the demo right now.

Davidoff · Jan 21, 2006

Great way to start out your posts RC.. thanks for the info..

What's the deal with poker being everywhere now?? Internet/TV/Games toooooo much IMO..

FlyerFanatic · Jan 21, 2006

I'm thinking of picking up Battlefield 2, do a lot fo you bbsers play it? A friend of mine has it, looked pretty cool. Worth the $50?

JaWindex · Jan 21, 2006

Do an RF online preview

RC Cola · Jan 21, 2006

FlyerFanatic said:

I'm thinking of picking up Battlefield 2, do a lot fo you bbsers play it? A friend of mine has it, looked pretty cool. Worth the $50?
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I've heard great things about it, although I haven't played it yet. I'd probably get it if I were you. In fact, you might be able to get it for less than $50; seems like you could get it for less than that, especially since it is a PC game.

JaWindex said:

Do an RF online preview
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OK

RF Online (Rising Force Online) (Sci-Fi MMORPG) 2/21

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/rfonline/news.html?sid=6141691&mode=recent

Though the game is already available in Asia (where it reportedly has about a million active subscribers), RF Online will launch in North America and the UK (and likely the rest of Europe) with the first three of the "Giga" content updates that CCR originally produced for the Asian version of the game. These will include vehicles and new areas to explore. In Asia, CCR has released the "Giga Final" content update that will eventually be added to the game, after which content updates will most likely be developed in tandem with Codemasters, with input from Sega Japan (the game's Japanese publisher). From what we've seen, RF Online looks like it will offer a varied sci-fi/fantasy experience and plenty of competitive player-versus-player action when it launches in early 2006.
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FlyerFanatic · Jan 21, 2006

RC Cola said:

I've heard great things about it, although I haven't played it yet. I'd probably get it if I were you. In fact, you might be able to get it for less than $50; seems like you could get it for less than that, especially since it is a PC game.
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I did go pick it up, my friend convinced me, it was $50 at a local store. If anyone else plays it let me know, we can hook up and play

RC Cola · Jan 21, 2006

Good decision. And actually, I was wrong about the <$50 comment. Maybe I was thinking of a one-time deal for BF2, but most places still list it at ~$50 (except maybe eBay of course).

FlyerFanatic · Jan 21, 2006

One more question, since I bought it and installed it today, does that mean it would have d-loaded me the latest patch? How would I know if I have that or not?

RC Cola · Jan 21, 2006

FlyerFanatic said:

One more question, since I bought it and installed it today, does that mean it would have d-loaded me the latest patch? How would I know if I have that or not?
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I haven't installed a new-ish PC game in a while, but I doubt it would have downloaded the latest patch (if there is one out besides the one coming out soon). It probably would have said something like "searching for updates" or something like that during installation (kind of like anti-spyware programs in a way), which would have made it pretty obvious. If it has some sort of "Update" button, then that should be an easy way to check if you have the latest patch (it will either update or say you have the latest patch I would think). If the game doesn't have anything like that, then I'd just download the patch manually and install it. Again, it might say you have the latest version if it was somehow already up-to-date, but if not, the patch will do its thing.

Might need Uprising or someone else who has the game for better information, but I would guess it would be something like that.

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