God of War II (PS2)
In God of War II, developed by SCEA's Santa Monica Studios, players rejoin Kratos and continue his epic adventure through the dark, violent world of Greek mythology as he journeys to the far reaches of the earth, defeating untold horrors. Armed with a new set of combat moves and magic, in addition to some of the weapons and skills from the original God of War, players will lead Kratos in battle against Colossus, Cyclops, Cerberus, the Flying Gryphon and many more great beasts of Greek mythology.
"God of War II demonstrates our continued commitment to provide compelling content for the PlayStation 2 and sets the stage for the God of War franchise to become a staple across the PlayStation family of products," said Jeff Reese, director, software marketing, SCEA. "There is so much more of the God of War story left to tell and we are excited to bring the franchise to PSP -- fans may even see their esteemed God of War in full 1080p HD in the not-too-distant future."
God of War II brings players back to the violent world of Greek mythology where they last left the vicious ex-Spartan warrior Kratos atop his godly throne as the new God of War. In God of War II, Kratos must journey to the far reaches of the earth and defeat untold horrors and alter that which no mortal, or god has ever changed, his fate.
God of War II sets an epic stage for a devastating mythological war to end all wars. Armed with the deadly blades and blistering rage, players will be aided by new breath-taking magic and new brutal combat moves. The journey will take them through vividly striking environments where they will be faced with a labyrinth of challenging puzzles and mini-games intricately woven into the story. The violence will come to life in gory detail as Kratos encounters new mythical characters, and competes in epic boss battles in his quest.
Available at retail outlets, Sony Connect and on iTunes for $9.99, the soundtrack features an eclectic mix of orchestral, electronica and hard rock music, which is accented in the game by sound effects recorded at Foley Studios on the Warner Brothers Studios lot. The God of War II soundtrack features Shadows Fall, Junkie XL, and MySpace contest winner TraGic, aka George Doman, along with orchestral pieces by the London Sessions Brass Players and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra String Players and Choir. The in-game sound effects were recorded at the Foley Stage on the Warner Brothers Studios lot.
God of War II, rated M for Mature 17+, is now available for $49.99.
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 (Wii)
In Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 the power and control of every swing are literally in your hands. Whether you tilt the Wii Remote to hook and slice the ball or swing away for a long straight drive, the Wii's innovative game controller provides a realistic golfing experience. The Nunchuk can also be attached for the traditional analog swing.
"Tiger Wood PGA TOUR 07 fits perfectly with the Wii and its innovative controller, so we're very excited to bring our game to the platform," said Todd Arnold, Executive Producer at EA Redwood Shores.
The top-selling golf video game franchise is packed with content, including 18 championship courses and 35 pro and fantasy golfers, so take your aim and swing to the top. Use the Wii Remote's point and click interface to move the new golf glove, grab the True-Aiming circle to position your shots with Grab and Drag True-Aiming, then hit away for true-to-life accuracy.
Developed by EA Redwood Shores, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 is rated "E" for Everyone by the ESRB and has an MSRP of $49.95 for Nintendo Wii.
Spectrobes (NDS)
Utilizing all the features of the Nintendo DS, Spectrobes includes a compelling story that takes players to planets throughout the galaxy. Using the stylus, button controls and microphone, players will experience gameplay that includes exploration, excavation, awakening and battle. Extending beyond the single-player experience are a Wi-Fi feature that allows the player to download new content and access results online; and a local wireless feature that offers the opportunity to trade with or battle other Spectrobes players.
"The anticipation for Spectrobes has been overwhelming. The game's innovative features, compelling fiction and addictive gameplay have generated a tremendous amount of excitement among consumers of all ages," said Craig Relyea, vice president of marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. "Like KINGDOM HEARTS, we expect Spectrobes to be an important game franchise for the company for many years to come."
Spectrobes follows the story of two planetary patrol officers, Rallen and Jeena, who embark on missions as they travel throughout the Nanairo planetary system collecting mysterious fossilized creatures known as Spectrobes. The Spectrobes hold the key to defeating the merciless Krawl from achieving their goal of galactic domination. Players will search seven planets to find and acquire fossils and minerals. Once a fossil has been located, the player will delicately excavate the fossil from the ground using the stylus on the touch screen to access a variety of tools from different-sized drills to an acidic solvent that melts away debris. When dust particles cloud the specimen, players can clear the surface by blowing on the microphone.
Once fossils are obtained, they are awakened in Rallen's spaceship laboratory using an instrument that relies on the player's voice. Maintaining the correct volume and pitch will awaken fossils to become Spectrobes. (If players prefer to remain silent, they can carefully blow on the microphone, creating varying sounds that result in a more challenging but equally rewarding result.) As creatures are obtained and awakened, they'll be nurtured with minerals in an incubation room to evolve into stronger creatures. The player will then need to select two powerful Spectrobes to accompany Rallen in epic battles against the enemy Krawl.
Included in each Spectrobes game is a pack of four translucent lenticular code input cards, perfect for collecting and trading. Once players unlock the special ability in the game, they can fit a code input card over the Nintendo DS touch screen and use the stylus to consecutively tap numerical holes in the cards, unlocking new content, which includes creatures and minerals. Along with inclusion in game packages, additional trading cards will be available through various promotions.
Once awakened and trained, Spectrobes are powerful creatures that can be used by Rallen to not only battle against the Krawl, but also take on other players and their creatures locally via wireless gameplay. Players can trade content with others, enter a one-on-one battle with a friend or participate in an organized tournament. Tournaments include three to 16 players with one player serving as the "matchmaker." The "matchmaker" determines how many rounds of battle will be required; pairs combatants; and determines final rankings based on reviewing each participant's results.
Players can also earn the ability to download content such as creatures, custom parts, minerals and videos through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. By logging on each week, players will obtain and accrue points that can be traded in for content. Also, once connected to the Internet, the Nintendo DS will generate a personal Planetary Patrol badge number that can be synchronized to each player's profile page on the Spectrobes web site. Once connected to their game results, players' profiles will include information about their Spectrobes creatures, armor and weapons. In addition, a leader board on the web site will track the top scores from several special sequence battles in the game, allowing players to show their success to a global audience. Players can also view their friends' profiles by accessing their created names. By completing specific accomplishments in the game, players can also earn "badges" to showcase on their online profile.
Developed by Kyoto, Japan-based Jupiter Corporation, Spectrobes is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) and has a suggested retail price of $29.99.
Drake & Josh (GBA)
Based on the hit Nickelodeon show of the same name, the video game features humorous adventure-style gameplay with all the outlandish mischief and action from the successful TV series.
Drake & Josh is currently one of the most-watched live-action TV series among boys ages six to 11, according to Nielsen. The new video game provides fans of the show an exciting way to further connect with their favorite characters.
The Drake & Josh video game follows the lives of two very different stepbrothers from the show and their crazy adventures with school, girls and their crafty little sister, Megan. In the game, players can interact with all of their favorite characters from the show including Drake and Josh, in a variety of modes featuring problem solving, stealth, strategy and action-style gameplay.
Players will be able to utilize the current Game Boy Advance title to unlock secrets and bonuses in the upcoming Nintendo DS(TM) version, which is scheduled for release this summer.
Drake & Josh is rated "E" for everyone and is now available for a suggested retail price of $19.99.