Best of Tests DS (NDS)
Logic, observation, memory, speed of perception and analysis: these are the qualities that define the famous Intelligence Quotient Test and these same skills will be challenged in Best of Tests for the Nintendo DS. Not only will the game challenge the skills of the player, it also aims to help the player improve them. By taking advantage of the unique features of the DS to challenge players, Best of Tests DS will calculate the player's IQ and adapt itself to offer a personalized challenge that is always fresh and fun.
"We're very excited to release Best of Tests DS, as it is the type of game that lets you increase your knowledge in a fast-paced, friendly and fun puzzle format," said Sirus Ahmadi, CEO of Conspiracy Entertainment. "This is the type of game we think will appeal to anyone who enjoys puzzle games, or is hoping to challenge their acumen in a fun way on the DS."
Bully: Scholarship Edition (Wii/X360)
"With all the love and care that we put into Bully, we are excited that two new audiences can experience this game," said Sam Houser, President and co-founder of Rockstar Games. "It's really difficult to make a compelling comedy-action game about anything, let alone about the experiences of being at high school, and we think we achieved something unique with Bully. I hope people new to the game love it as much as we do."
Originally developed by Rockstar Vancouver, the critically acclaimed fan favorite finally makes its debut on the Wii and Xbox 360. "With new single-player missions and multiplayer games, as well as updated graphics, dialogue, and music, Bully: Scholarship Edition looks like it could attract a new audience with hours of next-generation juvenile mayhem...," says GameSpot, and Official Xbox Magazine writes "…there's so much gameplay richness and black humor in here that we'd jam a dunce cap on anyone who passes it up."
Bully: Scholarship Edition, rated "T" for Teen, for the Wii and the X360 is now available at North American retail stores for the suggested retail price of $49.99. Bully: Scholarship Edition will be available in Europe on March 7.
Disney Friends (NDS)
Disney Friends is a brand new adventure simulation game that allows children to interact with their favorite characters from popular Disney films including "The Lion King," "Winnie the Pooh," "Lilo & Stitch," and Disney/Pixar's "Finding Nemo."
"Disney Friends gives players the chance to interact with and befriend some of their favorite Disney characters and embark on new and exciting adventures," said Craig Relyea, senior vice president, global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. "With Disney Friends, players can take their new friends wherever they go, explore their worlds and build lasting friendships along the way."
Disney Friends is a simulation video game that teaches players the virtues of caring and nurturing friendships, all while creating a unique adventure in the worlds of their favorite Disney characters. The game features helpful tips and guidance from the feisty, fun-loving fairy, Tinker Bell. Players use the Nintendo DS touch screen and microphone to explore the worlds of Stitch, Dory, Simba, and Winnie the Pooh. In addition, players can use voice recognition features on the DS to influence their character's actions and behaviors. Players can obtain unique tradable "pins" and earn valuable gold through a multitude of adventures in the various character worlds. The gold allows players to purchase new objects such as food, clothing and toys for their friends to keep them happy.
This unique video game allows players to interact with their friends in day or night exploration mode through the Nintendo DS' real-time clock. It even allows players to celebrate special events and holidays in the virtual world. Fans can also capture special moments with the in-game camera and save them to browse for years to come.
Disney Friends. rated "E" for Everyone, is published by Disney Interactive Studios and developed by Amaze Entertainment, and now available in stores nationwide for for $29.99.
Eco-Creatures: Save the Forest (NDS)
Eco-Creatures promotes environmental awareness by tasking players to defend and rebuild the Mana Woods being threatened by over-industrialization.
"Public awareness of man's effect on the natural environment and the life within it increases everyday, and Eco-Creatures is the perfect game to help impart environmental consciousness on the younger generation," said Gui Karyo, Executive Vice President of Operations, Majesco. "While the overall message is significant, the gameplay also has a great deal of depth; real time strategy fans will enjoy the robust single player game, challenging multi-player modes and Land Make feature that lets friends trade creations online."
Eco-Creatures: Save the Forest is a real-time strategy game that challenges players to protect the natural beauty of the Mana Woods and recover land polluted by industrial encroachment. Using the Touch Screen, gamers must command and nurture units of woodland creatures that possess unique abilities. Strategic management enables each of the three creature types to learn new skills that help the player complete 40 environmental missions. As players grow their woodland army, they must plant new trees to revitalize the woodlands and prevent deforestation.
Eco-Creatures also includes a creative Land Make feature that lets players build, play and trade their own game maps online. In addition to the lengthy single-player experience, the game also supports two-player play via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and up to four players via Wireless Single Card download play or Multi-Card play.
Eco-Creatures: Save the Forest, rated E for Everyone, is now available for a suggested retail price of $29.99.
God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)
God of War: Chains of Olympus combines stunning graphics, intense action and an intricate new storyline that delivers yet another tale of epic proportions from the dark and brutal world of Greek Mythology. Following in the footsteps of its predecessors, God of War: Chains of Olympus is set to deliver everything that fans have come to expect from the God of War franchise.
"God of War: Chains of Olympus is a stellar achievement that truly shows off the capabilities of PSP and fully demonstrates our efforts to bring highly-innovative and unique content to PSP," said Jeff Reese, director, software marketing, SCEA. "If you're a fan of the God of War universe or even just the action-adventure genre, God of War: Chains of Olympus delivers an epic gameplay experience and is a-must-own title."
God of War: Chains of Olympus is a prequel to the first installment of the franchise, and begins with Kratos embarking on a journey across mysterious new environments that are engulfed in darkness and completely untouched by mortals. The Gods have been rendered powerless from the state of their world, leaving Kratos with only one choice -- he must square off against the most vicious of demonic creatures from Greek Mythology and choose between saving his soul or the ancient world from imminent and total destruction. Armed with a set of brand new combat moves, magics and weapons that compliment existing favorites, players must lead the Spartan Warrior through foreboding environments, while unraveling story-driven puzzles and battling creatures from the dark underworld. Packed with intense action, epic backdrops and set pieces, and a new captivating storyline, God of War: Chains of Olympus delivers an engaging gameplay experience from start to finish, emblematic to that which fans have come to expect and love of the franchise.
MLB 08 The Show (PSP/PS2/PS3)
MLB 08 The Show looks to build on its critical acclaim and its history as the longest-running officially licensed baseball title on PlayStation platforms. To provide the closest experience possible, next to actually trying to make it in the Majors, MLB 08 The Show introduces a more immersive Road to The Show mode. As gamers attempt to make a starting line-up in the Big Leagues, playing on both offense and defense from a custom-created player's perspective, a more robust dynamic goal system and a new career advancement system will determine when a player is eligible for a promotion. Additionally, the custom-created players are more interactive, with pitchers now experiencing mound visits, catchers enduring more defense situations, and with gamers being able to further adjust a player's positioning -- all making Road to The Show mode even more realistic.
"Baseball fans know that the MLB franchise has a long-standing winning tradition and that we strive to create highly-innovative and intuitive features in order to deliver the best baseball title on the market," said Jeff Reese, director, software marketing, SCEA. "With the advancements made to the feature set, along with the lighting, textures and the added little nuances in the game, MLB 08 The Show sets a new bar for authentic play and unsurpassed realism."
Providing players with some additional performance incentives, the MLB franchise introduces the new Progressive Batting Performance feature, which will both reward players for superior performance and penalize them for hitting slumps. Specific to each individual batter, players will be rewarded or punished, based on how that batter that performs beyond his "natural ability" while under user control. Adding to the online feature set, which includes customizable Online League Play, scrolling MLB Score Ticker and more, MLB 08 The Show introduces SCOUT (SportsConnect Online User Tracking), which allows gamers to set and store their game preferences on the MLB server, and then enables the system to look for a Quick Match with opponents that fit similar competitive criteria.
As the only first party franchise officially licensed by Major League Baseball Properties Inc. (MLBP), Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), MLB 08 The Show features more than 3,000 individual player animations, including personalized stances, pitching animations, individual swings, batting rituals and motion captures from MLB players. Additionally, the franchise adds to the realism by including Umpire Personalities combined with Interactive Hot and Cold Zones and Player-scaled Strike Zones, Release, and comprehensive commentary, featuring the three-man booth of Rex Huddler, Matt Vasgerian and Dave Campbell.
Joining an elite group of MLB All-Stars that have graced the cover of the MLB franchise, such as New York Mets third baseman David Wright, Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, and Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, this year's cover athlete and spokesman, Philadelphia Phillies All-Star first basemen Ryan Howard, is known for his personality and work ethic, which exemplifies the MLB franchise. Howard is just the second player in Major League Baseball history to win the Rookie of the Year honors and a Most Valuable Player award in successive seasons. Marketing efforts for MLB 08 The Show include a marketing campaign across TV, radio, print and online, that will run nationally throughout the entire Major League Baseball season. Additionally, MLB 08 The Show will receive full public relations and promotional support, as well as dedicated point-of-purchase displays and merchandising support.
Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (NDS)
From Chun Soft, the creators of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, comes a handheld role-playing game starring a fearless hero named Shiren the Wanderer and his trusty weasel companion, Koppa. On a quest for the legendary Lair of the Golden Condor, thought to grant one wish to the person who finds it, players venture through treacherous lands and discover the mystery surrounding this mythical realm. Many warriors have set out on this grand adventure but none have survived the perilous journey through deep caverns, vast forests and dangerous mountain passes. The path is filled with ferocious monsters, hidden traps and thieves that Shiren and Koppa must battle through and survive in order to reach their goal and claim their prize.
Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer features a turn-based control scheme and inventory system that harkens to the days of classic role-playing games. This epic adventure will challenge gamers with limitless randomly generated dungeons, advanced tactics to use and puzzles to solve. With new areas to explore, updated graphics and sounds and a new tutorial mode, this dungeon adventure will thrill players with countless hours of gameplay.
A special new feature in the game is the ability to call for online help via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection when players find themselves in peril. If another player is in the area, they have the option to assist the player in trouble and if they prove to be successful, they will be awarded with a special item.
Ninja Reflex (NDS/Wii)
Ninja Reflex uses a series of martial arts challenges to test players' reflexes, hand-eye coordination and measure their reaction times with millisecond precision. Easy to learn, but hard to master, players can develop their ninja skills alone, rising from white belt all the way to 3rd degree black belt, or they can compete for ninja supremacy against their friends in fierce multiplayer battles with up to four players.
"Nunchuck Games was founded on our desire as gamers to see fresh gameplay in the market, and Ninja Reflex represents that vision," said David Luntz, President and CEO of Nunchuck Games. "Together with EA Partners and Sanzaru Games, we have created a martial arts game that focuses on skill and speed rather than button-mashing, on self-improvement rather than violence. EAP's publishing expertise was invaluable to us on our first project and we could not be happier with the result."
Ninja Reflex has been rated E10+ by the ESRB and 7+ by PEGI. The title features training activities focused on challenging the player's core motor skills, Ninja Reflex takes full advantage of the innovative control systems of both the Wii and Nintendo DS to create a fun experience that also sharpens the mind and body.
Puzzle Guzzle (PSP)
In Puzzle Guzzle players try to create complete shapes, but at diagonal angles and with either a human or computer player always trying to foil you.
"Puzzle Guzzle is a game that's sure to challenge even the most experienced puzzle players," said Mark Johnson, producer for Agetec, Inc. "It has a classically simple concept, but makes you think in ways that no other game does. On top of all that, it's just plain fun."
The premise of Puzzle Guzzle is simple: players attempt to turn different shaped pieces into shapes with 90 degree angles on each side. However, as the pieces appear faster and faster, and your opponents get more devious, this simple challenge soon becomes a maddeningly fun experience. As players defeat opponents, they steal their character's appearance, features and special abilities, so the more you play, the more the game changes!
Puzzle Guzzle features hundreds of challenges that will tie players' brains in knots, and it also features a wealth of downloadable puzzles to keep things fresh. Over 50 challenges are now available for free download. Puzzle Guzzle owners simply need to select "Launch Website" from the game's title screen to access these new puzzles.
Puzzle Guzzle is rated E for Everyone, and is available now for only $19.99.
Rhem 3 (PC)
From the master mind of developer Knut Mueller, the critically acclaimed "Prince of Modern Puzzles", "RHEM 3" is a mind-bending trip into a labyrinthine world of hidden rooms and secret passages, strange vehicles and odd machines. The game continues the puzzle-filled adventures of brothers Kales and Zetais in the mysterious land of RHEM. Like its predecessors, "RHEM 3" features non-linear gameplay and non-violent story.
Opening the door to a new journey of mystery and adventure, "RHEM 3" finds you in the strange land of RHEM. In search of an unusual gem, and surrounded by atmospheric stereo-environment sound, your quest is assisted by hints hidden in a secret library and clues offered by the peculiar inhabitants of RHEM. With an adventurous spirit, logical thinking, and keen puzzle-solving, you will slowly but surely divine the location of this curious treasure and unveil the secret it holds.
"The hallmark of this game is, as one critic put it, its sophisticated, complex, and logical puzzles," said Got Game Entertainment President Howard Horowitz. "If you're the type who loses yourself in puzzles and loves challenging your mind, 'RHEM 3' is the game for you."
RHEM 3, rated "E" for Everyone, makes its retail debut at $29.99 (USD) and also available for direct download purchase.
Saga (PC)
The Saga begins… From now on it's a persistent world. With over 1000 online quests at launch, SAGA boasts many of the features that made MMOs successful: auction house, guilds, raiding, looted treasure, gear upgrades, collaborative party questing… Combined with the RTS features of city-building, resource management and grand-scale massive warfare, SAGA has changed the landscape of RTS gaming.
Originally built by industry veteran Dallan Christensen (Lead Programmer of Starcraft: Brood War), the SAGA world is a traditional fantasy setting: Elves, Orcs, Dragons, Dwarves, and Giants are the characters in a story that develops through the quest threads and will lead to new expansions and new features as SAGA grows.
"Players are ready for massive online warfare where every battle really counts, because your empire is fully persistent; it doesn't vanish after every battle." says SAGA creator Jason Faller
Since Silverlode opened Beta to the public in July of 2007, SAGA has been balanced and rebalanced to suit both casual and hardcore gamers, who can fairly compete head-to-head in this highly tactical strategy game.
SAGA has no subscription fee; the purchase price is $19.95, which includes a persistent account with up to five nations (characters).
Sign up to play SAGA now.
Silent Hill Origins (PS2)
"Silent Hill Origins for the PS2 gives console game lovers the same chilling, suspenseful and fear-filled experience that handheld gamers encountered with the release of Silent Hill Origins on the PSP system," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "PS2 gamers will get the chance to learn more about the mystery and mythos hinted at in earlier Silent Hill games."
Featuring enhanced visuals for the PlayStation 2 system, Silent Hill Origins tells the tale of Travis Grady, a lone truck driver making a routine delivery when he makes an unfortunate detour to the mysterious town of Silent Hill. Players must help Travis escape the city's horrific inhabitants and unravel the mystery of the strange hallucinations from Travis' past, visions that have plagued him since childhood.
Throughout the game, Travis can use his fists, his wits and an array of weapons including a meat cleaver, pool cue and sledgehammer to fight his way through the nightmarish world of Silent Hill and face more than one possible ending.
The PSP game was one of the highest reviewed titles for the platform, receiving high praise from media outlets such as GamePro, GameZone.com, Hardcore Gamer Magazine and PLAY Magazine.
Silent Hill Origins, rated "M" for Mature, is now available for an SRP of $29.99.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm (PC)
Featuring an intense interplanetary campaign along with the debut of air units, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm delivers an immersive strategic experience with two new armies for an unprecedented total of nine playable factions.
"As one of the best-selling RTS series, the Dawn of War franchise is renowned for its intense action oriented gameplay," said Brad Carraway, director, global brand management, THQ. "As the next Dawn of War chapter, Soulstorm takes it to next level, offering RTS gamers an unprecedented depth of gameplay with nine playable armies and air units, and the ability to play Soulstorm by itself, or extend their multiplayer experience if played with any of the other games in the Dawn of War series."
"In Dawn of War – Soulstorm, we're giving fans an incredible amount of new content with two all-new races and an extensive campaign across an entire star system," said Tarrnie Williams, general manager, Relic Entertainment. "With the debut of air units across all the armies and multiplayer achievements, we've given players of all levels a tremendous amount of strategic options to experience."
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm is set in Games Workshop's (LSE:GAW - News) Warhammer 40,000 universe – a dark, futuristic, fantasy setting where armies of technologically advanced warriors, fighting machines and hordes of implacable aliens wage constant war – and is played by millions worldwide. Executive produced and co-developed by Relic Entertainment in association with Iron Lore Entertainment, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm is a hybrid standalone expansion – enabling gamers to play Soulstorm by itself or expand their multiplayer experience when playing the game with any of the other titles in the Dawn of War series. Featuring two all-new armies – the malicious Dark Eldar and the fierce Sisters of Battle – Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm offers an unprecedented total of nine playable races through the single player experience or expanded multiplayer experience. In addition to new units across each of the seven existing races, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm will incorporate air units for the first time and introduce multiplayer medals, adding a whole new level of depth to online battles. The revolutionary meta-game introduced in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Dark Crusade is further expanded to an interplanetary scale in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm, allowing players to battle across an entire star system.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm is now available for a suggested retail price of $39.99.