It's that time of year again. Time to pass judgement on the fall/winter release schedule and decide where to put my gaming dollars.
Oh yeah:
Ratchet & Clank Future (10/23) PS3
Yes, I know I was uncharacteristically hard on the third R&C game. The summary of that is, if you're going to spit out a new game every year, you have to work even harder to ramp it up or people are going to get bored. Nevertheless, it's been three years since I've played Ratchet & Clank, and I'm ready for it again. There's a demo coming next month that could make or break this purchase, but I'm betting R&CF will be worthwhile, gorgeous, and one of the top PS3 games to date.
Super Mario Galaxy (11/12) Wii
I loved Sunshine. I'm going to love Galaxy. I'm really interested in the two-player mode. (By the way, is anybody else hoping for the next step to be a Mario Universe MMORPG where, in addition to loads of missions in the 64 style, you can easily pick up multiplayer matches of Kart, Tennis, Golf, Strikers and Party, all in one game?)
Harvey Birdman (11/13) Wii
Gah, why is this landing on the day after Galaxy? I really want it (and it's sort of bargain priced at $40) but I may be too occupied to seek it out.
Rock Band (11/20) PS3
I need to go pre-order the $200 bundle box. Like, right away. If EB's pricing is to be believed, the bundle effectively nets you the microphone for free... although the $30 price tag for a goddamn USB mic is a losing proposition anyway. I hope the separately-packaged guitar looks different from the bundled one, so that when I do hire a bassman, the groupies know who to ignore.
Smash Bros Brawl (12/03) Wii
The Wii Game of the Year.
The Stragglers:
Rule of Rose PS2
Lately I've been trying to grab one of these for cheap on eBay, but I keep losing out.
Drawn to Life DS
This may be the game I get with the $5 coupon I'm going to receive as part of this Saturday's Pokemon Manaphy Download Day at Toys R Us. I know you're dying to see that weblog write-up come to pass.
Ouendan 2 DS
I still haven't ordered this from Play-Asia. Here's why: whenever you order from them, you get a $5 coupon off your next order of $50. At the moment, there's nothing else I want to get, so I don't want to buy Ouendan 2 and than have a $5 coupon that I won't use. Is that crazy? (Maybe I'll go for that nutty witch-touching game...)
Would Consider:
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (10/01) DS
I'm going to end up with this at some point, I just doubt I'll rush out on day one. I have not bought a DS game since Pokemon Pearl came out in April and I've barely played anything on the DS besides Pokemon Pearl. And I'm still playing Pokemon Pearl. It makes me not want to play anything else.
Chibo-Robo: Park Patrol (10/02) DS
Waiting for reviews. Last I heard, this poor misbegotten GameCube refugee was becoming a Wal-Mart exclusive... which cannot be a good thing.
Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck (10/09) DS
Is there any hope of this game being as good as I want it to be? Using the stylus, you're the jerkball animator screwing with Daffy Duck! This could be so cool, but I have a feeling it's just going to be a complicated way to trigger crappy mini-games.
Zack & Wiki (10/16) Wii
Probably right up my alley, but there it sits in the Shadow of Galaxy. Shift this one to November; no one is going to see it here.
The Eye of Judgement (10/23) PS3
Definitely right up my alley, but I think I have to avoid it for as long as I can.
Namco Museum Remix (10/23) Wii
Mappy. But I'll wait for the sale bin.
The Simpsons Game (10/30) PS3
The release date makes me think there's another stupid Treehouse of Horror thing going on.
Ontamarama (10/30) DS
Another cool-sounding rhythm game... I need to get Ouendan 2 first.
Manhunt 2 (10/31) Wii
After all the nonsense, I want it just to prove a point. Seems more like a February kind of game though.
Dementium: The Ward (10/31) DS
I'm interested, but not convinced yet.
Half-Life 2: Orange Box (11/13) PS3
I really like the look of Team Fortress 2.
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (11/20) PS3
The preview trailer looked good, but right now it still feels like another Good Because Sony Says So game, like Heavenly Sword and Lair.
Trauma Center: New Blood (11/30) Wii
I really want to see how the two player stuff works. I wonder if one doctor can use the Remote to mop the brow of the other one.
So that's my picks for the rest of 2007. I haven't ventured much beyond that, except to dream about GTA4 and MGS4... and you can bet those will be day one grabs.
