What’s New In Games This Week

The 3DS just came out, and with it, a bunch of new games to consider, though there’s only one you should care about at the moment. And for those who don’t have one, no worries, cuz you’re still covered…

Nintendo’s new 3D-riffic handheld just came out, and along with it, a slew of a new titles meant to make that shiny new toy of yours do something. Though far as launch line-ups go, the 3DS’s is a tad limp, which both new or prospective owners might have noticed. But it’s not all doom and gloom cuz there’s at least one of the best fighting experiences ever on a handheld. Unlike most arcade brawlers that are crammed into a portable package, it actually offers the entire package, along with a slew of actually neat and useful additions. For once, head to head fighting on a handheld seems doesn’t appear to be a pain in the ass. Sure the controls can’t match up to an actual arcade controls, but there’s definitely enough extras to even things out. 3DS

If you’re like me, you’re a wrestling fan, yet have never been able to get into any of the interactive versions found on consoles for the past X number of years. Everyone has their own reasons, but for me, I just can’t get into how seemingly complex the controls are, plus the visuals have always strived to be as realistic as possible… too realistic. There’s also the issue of who’s who; the roaster for whatever edition is mostly contingent upon the talent at the time, which makes certain ideal match-ups only possible via the customer creation mode. Well, I guess I wasn’t in the minority after-all because All Stars represents a new direction, with more arcade-like (i.e. accessible) controls, more cartoony-like visuals (along with more cartoony movies… hey, this is wrestling after-all), and most importantly, a cast that brings together the old and new, to make those dream matches possible at long last (finally, Ricky The Dragon Steamboat vs the Undertaker). Wii, PS3, PS2, Xbox 360

Of all the games coming out this week, this one’s gotten the least amount of buzz leading up, yet deserves it the most. It’s a XBLA/PSN exclusive title that harken backs to the days of old school gaming, which is hardly surprising cuz it’s by the dude who created arcade classic Strider! So basically, it’s tried and true running, slashing and jumping, except times four. Plus there’s a few modern flourishes here and there, such as the utilization of combos, both solo and in tandem with your cohorts, plus the ability to level up your futuristic ninja dude or gal. Be sure to check out what’s almost guaranteed to be the sleeper hit/next big thing in all its downloadable goodness. PS3 Xbox 360