What’s New In Games: Prototype 2, Akai Katana Shin

Yet another slim week, but that’s okay if you’re into generic, superhero-ish fare or games in which you’re flying a ship and your enemy is an anime babe. If that’s the case, you’re gonna love this week’s offerings.

Prototype 2
[BoxTitle]Prototype 2[/BoxTitle] [Trailer]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ5xW-Yo720[/Trailer] [BuyNow]http://www.gamestop.com/browse?nav=16k-Prototype+2[/BuyNow]

Remember the first Prototype from a few years back? It was a not too shabby take on the Grand Theft Auto formula, but with super powers tossed into the mix (somewhat similarly to InFamous, but still somewhat different). It actually appealed to fans of The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, since it was essentially the same thing (and also from developer, Radical Entertainment). And here we go again, with yet another brand new protagonist. But what’s important is the cornucopia of content that the game is overflowing with, like the beefy main story mode that can be approached in pretty much any manner as you chose, and as anyone you want, thanks to the ability to take over people’s identities and abilities. You also have oodles of side missions, mini games and a promising online mode. It’s fairly generic sounding, and guess what? Your new lead man is pretty generic looking as well. But when you’re tearing an entire city up, sometimes you can’t sweat the small stuff. PC, PS3, Xbox 360


Akai Katana Shin
[BoxTitle]Akai Katana Shin[/BoxTitle] [Trailer]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=farzs6mYwzY[/Trailer]

We live in a time in which nearly every single esoteric taste when it comes to video games is being catered to. No matter how obscure the sub genre, a few parties at least are out there, taking the risk of publishing a game for a rather narrow audience’s tastes and needs. Yet for whatever reason, shumps (or shoot ’em ups) are hard to come by, at least around here. It’s a totally different story in Japan, where arcades are still commonplace and filled with life. Thank goodness for Rising Star, who is bringing one of the best shumps in recent memory by the folks who are keeping the category of gaming alive and well (Cave, who is considered a God amongst men in their homeland) to American gamers. There’s not a whole lot to say here, other than there’s a ton of bullets to dodge. The heart of every good shmup is an ultra complicated scoring system that is lost on most casuals. This time is no different really, but as for your hardcore players out there, I’ll just say this: it’s a shump in which the options have options. ‘Nuff said. Xbox 360