[Shipping Out] March 13, 2008
Size matters when your pinballs are at stake.
Published: March 13, 2008
Welcome to Shipping Out, our weekly notice of all them thar games that ship from publishers to retailers in preparation for their street date a day later. In many cases, these games won't be on store shelves until tomorrow, but in the interest of getting the word out, letting the PR departments have their fancy quotes and saving us sanity as the weekly releases pile up, we're going to be consolidating everything down into one handy little news story at the end of the day, along with this description. Neat, eh? And lazy!
[PlayStation 3]
[Pro Evolution Soccer]
The moniker might seem new, but don't be confused: this is the same soccer game Konami has been making for countless interiations.
Releasing on just about every platform known to man, including PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable, Pro Evolution Soccer comes loaded with features. A new AI system called Teamvision is packed into the disc, as well as an extensive Edit mode.
"Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 marks a major step forward for the most popular soccer video game franchise in the world," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "We pushed the envelope to make a title that captures all the subtleties and nuances of an actual soccer match. Next-gen capabilities such as the TEAMVISION AI system and photo-realistic graphics, along with a ton of licensed teams and leagues, combine to make this the definitive soccer game for fans and newcomers alike."
But how does it control? Konami assures us that the controls are as tight as ever. In fact, Portuguese midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo is giving this game his stamp of approval. Sounds good to me.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 can be yours for the low price of $49.99 for the PS3 version, and $29.99 for the PS2 and PSP versions.
[PlayStation 2]
[Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters]
Do Ratchet & Clank need an introduction? I didn't think so.
Stolen from the PSP library, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters makes its debut on the PS2 with new textures and lighting, a remapped control scheme, and 2-player split-screen gaming that is sure to make PSP owners green with envy.
Ratchet and Clank's much needed vacation is cut short when they find themselves following the trail of a kidnapped girl. They soon discover a lost race of inventors known as the Technomites and uncover a plot more dangerous than anything they'd faced before. Everything players have come to know and love about the series is included, as well as new weapons and customizable armor.
Feeling a little froggy? Then leap into head-to-head split-screen multiplayer gaming, where two players can do battle on one of four different maps in Capture the Flag or the team based Iron Lombax game, where the objective is to collect Martian cows to create meat crates and fill the delivery truck to win.
Even if you got it on PSP before, and who didn't, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters is worth a second purchase. After all, size does matter and a bigger screen is always better.
[Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection]
It's been awhile since pinball was relevant as anything other than a time sink while waiting for your friends to show up at the movies. Crave is hoping to turn that around, by bringing pinball action to the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable.
Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection, which follows on the heels of Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb collection, simulates pinball tables as well as can be simulated on aging hardware. The collection includes some of the most popular tables Williams created during their reign as supreme masters of pinball, including Gorgar, the first talking pinball machine, Black Knight, which introduced Bonus Balls, and Space Shuttle, which was a hit back in 1984. All of the visual indicators, sound effects, and gameplay have been simulated as closely as could be accomplished with the help of Williams.
If you've been really hungering to fill that empty spot in your pinball heart, looks like you finally got your wish. It's lining store shelves today.
[World Heroes Anthology]
SNK knows how to milk a franchise. They also know how to do compilations that are to die for. World Heroes Anthology is one such compilation.
World Heroes follows the storyline of Dr. Brown, a scientist who decided he'd rather find out who the greatest fighter in history with his trusty time machine was instead of finding a cure for some deadly disease.
"We're very excited about bringing out this collection" Ben Herman, President of SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION said about the compilation. “So now, not only do our fans get what they've been waiting for but also new gamers can now experience what makes SNK so great."
Just pick it up. It'll be one of the best fighting games you've played in the last year.
[El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera]
More THQ licensed madness!
The game follows Manny, youngest member of the Rivera family, as he uses his El Tigre powers to save Miracle City from Mikla, Prince of Doom. It's also based on the Nickelodeon animated TV Series.
Players will find fast-paced platforming based on locations from the show. They can also play as El Tigre, Frida, or Black Cuervo. Macho points can be collected by gathering tokens, defeating enemies, or completing levels within the bonus time-limit. Doing this unlocks additional content. At $19.99, it's a nice diversion for someone looking for something new to do or someone's kid.
[Sprint Cars 2: Showdown at Eldora]
THQ is keeping the PS2 afloat, it seems.
As the sequel to Sprint Cars: Road to Knoxville, Spring Cars 2: Showdown at Eldora lets players slide and grind around more than 25 different racing arenas, including real world tracks like Silver Dollar Speedway and Cedar Lake. New vehicle classes like Late Model, Pro Stock, and Wingless Springs have shown up to provide players with a wide variety of options to choose from. There's even new modes to play including six split-screen multiplayer modes, 20 challenge events, and the state fair Tractor Pull.
The game is rated “E” for Everyone and retails for $19.99.
[PlayStation Portable]
[Wild Arms XF]
Wild Arms fans, the wait is over. Your favorite hex-based battle grid system strategy RPG is landing on the PSP in a big way and it'll only cost you $39.99.
The game follows Clarissa Arwin, who is accompanied by her half-brother and stalwart protector, Felius. The pair enter the kingdom of Elesius, a dying land where wars and dwindling resources have destroyed people's way of life, hot on the trail of Rupert Dandridge, the man who murdered their mother. Like any good RPG, what starts out at something small will end up saving the world, and Wild Arms XF is no different.
For those returning to the series, or those just starting out, a number of features have made it into the title that'll make your head spin. There are over 50 stages, all with numerous mission objects and options battles. There are also 20 different job classes to choose from like Elementalist, Grappler, Sacred Slayer, and more.
For the players that like to fiddle with things, there's an extensive material creation system, letting anyone create powerful weapons, armor, and spellbooks with materials obtained during battles. All of this backed by a US-exclusive Music Library that allows players to select 20 different tracks accessible from the game menu at any time of their choosing.
Why am I rambling on? If you're a fan, you've already bought and beaten the game. But if you're just getting started and need something meaty to sink your teeth into, Wild Arms XF is for you.
[FlatOut: Head On]
Apply directly to the forehead... wait, wrong product.
There hasn't been a lot of great racing games for the PSP lately, but Bugbear Entertainment hopes to rectify that. FlatOut: Head On, which is billed as the most destructive handheld racing game of 2008, is on store shelves today, ready to make your PSP explode.
Based on, or as a followed up to FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage, FlatOut: Head On uses real world physics to bring plenty of bone-breaking races to the PSP. It's rated “T” for Teen and retails for $29.99 Pick it up for your destruction derby fix.
Publishers: Want to make sure we've got your games in our weekly Shipping Out blurbs? Just kick over those shipping press releases to Shipping Out and we'll make sure they get tossed into the rotation.
[PlayStation 3]
[Pro Evolution Soccer]
The moniker might seem new, but don't be confused: this is the same soccer game Konami has been making for countless interiations.
Releasing on just about every platform known to man, including PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable, Pro Evolution Soccer comes loaded with features. A new AI system called Teamvision is packed into the disc, as well as an extensive Edit mode.
"Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 marks a major step forward for the most popular soccer video game franchise in the world," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "We pushed the envelope to make a title that captures all the subtleties and nuances of an actual soccer match. Next-gen capabilities such as the TEAMVISION AI system and photo-realistic graphics, along with a ton of licensed teams and leagues, combine to make this the definitive soccer game for fans and newcomers alike."
But how does it control? Konami assures us that the controls are as tight as ever. In fact, Portuguese midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo is giving this game his stamp of approval. Sounds good to me.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 can be yours for the low price of $49.99 for the PS3 version, and $29.99 for the PS2 and PSP versions.
[PlayStation 2]
[Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters]
Do Ratchet & Clank need an introduction? I didn't think so.
Stolen from the PSP library, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters makes its debut on the PS2 with new textures and lighting, a remapped control scheme, and 2-player split-screen gaming that is sure to make PSP owners green with envy.
Ratchet and Clank's much needed vacation is cut short when they find themselves following the trail of a kidnapped girl. They soon discover a lost race of inventors known as the Technomites and uncover a plot more dangerous than anything they'd faced before. Everything players have come to know and love about the series is included, as well as new weapons and customizable armor.
Feeling a little froggy? Then leap into head-to-head split-screen multiplayer gaming, where two players can do battle on one of four different maps in Capture the Flag or the team based Iron Lombax game, where the objective is to collect Martian cows to create meat crates and fill the delivery truck to win.
Even if you got it on PSP before, and who didn't, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters is worth a second purchase. After all, size does matter and a bigger screen is always better.
[Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection]
It's been awhile since pinball was relevant as anything other than a time sink while waiting for your friends to show up at the movies. Crave is hoping to turn that around, by bringing pinball action to the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable.
Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection, which follows on the heels of Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb collection, simulates pinball tables as well as can be simulated on aging hardware. The collection includes some of the most popular tables Williams created during their reign as supreme masters of pinball, including Gorgar, the first talking pinball machine, Black Knight, which introduced Bonus Balls, and Space Shuttle, which was a hit back in 1984. All of the visual indicators, sound effects, and gameplay have been simulated as closely as could be accomplished with the help of Williams.
If you've been really hungering to fill that empty spot in your pinball heart, looks like you finally got your wish. It's lining store shelves today.
[World Heroes Anthology]
SNK knows how to milk a franchise. They also know how to do compilations that are to die for. World Heroes Anthology is one such compilation.
World Heroes follows the storyline of Dr. Brown, a scientist who decided he'd rather find out who the greatest fighter in history with his trusty time machine was instead of finding a cure for some deadly disease.
"We're very excited about bringing out this collection" Ben Herman, President of SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION said about the compilation. “So now, not only do our fans get what they've been waiting for but also new gamers can now experience what makes SNK so great."
Just pick it up. It'll be one of the best fighting games you've played in the last year.
[El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera]
More THQ licensed madness!
The game follows Manny, youngest member of the Rivera family, as he uses his El Tigre powers to save Miracle City from Mikla, Prince of Doom. It's also based on the Nickelodeon animated TV Series.
Players will find fast-paced platforming based on locations from the show. They can also play as El Tigre, Frida, or Black Cuervo. Macho points can be collected by gathering tokens, defeating enemies, or completing levels within the bonus time-limit. Doing this unlocks additional content. At $19.99, it's a nice diversion for someone looking for something new to do or someone's kid.
[Sprint Cars 2: Showdown at Eldora]
THQ is keeping the PS2 afloat, it seems.
As the sequel to Sprint Cars: Road to Knoxville, Spring Cars 2: Showdown at Eldora lets players slide and grind around more than 25 different racing arenas, including real world tracks like Silver Dollar Speedway and Cedar Lake. New vehicle classes like Late Model, Pro Stock, and Wingless Springs have shown up to provide players with a wide variety of options to choose from. There's even new modes to play including six split-screen multiplayer modes, 20 challenge events, and the state fair Tractor Pull.
The game is rated “E” for Everyone and retails for $19.99.
[PlayStation Portable]
[Wild Arms XF]
Wild Arms fans, the wait is over. Your favorite hex-based battle grid system strategy RPG is landing on the PSP in a big way and it'll only cost you $39.99.
The game follows Clarissa Arwin, who is accompanied by her half-brother and stalwart protector, Felius. The pair enter the kingdom of Elesius, a dying land where wars and dwindling resources have destroyed people's way of life, hot on the trail of Rupert Dandridge, the man who murdered their mother. Like any good RPG, what starts out at something small will end up saving the world, and Wild Arms XF is no different.
For those returning to the series, or those just starting out, a number of features have made it into the title that'll make your head spin. There are over 50 stages, all with numerous mission objects and options battles. There are also 20 different job classes to choose from like Elementalist, Grappler, Sacred Slayer, and more.
For the players that like to fiddle with things, there's an extensive material creation system, letting anyone create powerful weapons, armor, and spellbooks with materials obtained during battles. All of this backed by a US-exclusive Music Library that allows players to select 20 different tracks accessible from the game menu at any time of their choosing.
Why am I rambling on? If you're a fan, you've already bought and beaten the game. But if you're just getting started and need something meaty to sink your teeth into, Wild Arms XF is for you.
[FlatOut: Head On]
Apply directly to the forehead... wait, wrong product.
There hasn't been a lot of great racing games for the PSP lately, but Bugbear Entertainment hopes to rectify that. FlatOut: Head On, which is billed as the most destructive handheld racing game of 2008, is on store shelves today, ready to make your PSP explode.
Based on, or as a followed up to FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage, FlatOut: Head On uses real world physics to bring plenty of bone-breaking races to the PSP. It's rated “T” for Teen and retails for $29.99 Pick it up for your destruction derby fix.
Publishers: Want to make sure we've got your games in our weekly Shipping Out blurbs? Just kick over those shipping press releases to Shipping Out and we'll make sure they get tossed into the rotation.