BioWare's RPG sequel and Nintendo's twin titles join Torchlight, MLB 11: The Show, and Major League Baseball 2K11 on the release docket.
The first quarter isn't even over yet, but it has already seen a host of high-profile games hit the market. This week's release docket is particularly full, with a variety of high-profile titles for the role-playing gamer, the sports fan, and Pokemon junkies.
The latter title--or titles--are Pokemon Black and White version. Having already sold over 5 million units in record time, the twin games debuted on March 6, in line with Nintendo's Sunday high-profile releases. The two titles introduce a handful of changes to the established gotta-catch-'em-all formula. Developer Game Freak has expanded the games' online functionality through features such as Global Link, where players can access special content by uploading their save files to a website. Black and White also introduce more than 150 new Pokemon that players can add to their Pokedexes, as well as changing seasons. The two titles are exclusive to the DS.
RPG lovers get a big-name release this week in the form of Dragon Age II from celebrated developer BioWare and Electronic Arts. The game--which is already available in demo form--will see the player transform Blight-survivor Hawke from "a destitute refugee to the revered champion of the land," with new combat mechanics for the game's three archetypal classes. Although Hawke gains fame as the Champion of Kirkwall, the game will peer into his mysterious rise to power over a 10-year period. It will be available for the Mac, PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on Tuesday, March 8, which will also see the release of the first two downloadable content packs for the game, The Exiled Prince and The Black Emporium.
Tuesday will also see baseball fans get a choice of two sports sim titles. 2K Sports will release Major League Baseball 2K11--which boasts Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay on the cover--for the Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, Wii, DS, PC, and PlayStation 2. Meanwhile, Sony will release the latest in its acclaimed line of first-party baseballers, MLB 11: The Show, for the PSP, PS3, and PS2. The latter game will see the introduction of pure analog controls and co-op play to the series.
Xbox Live Arcade will see a notable release this week in the form of Torchlight. The action-RPG from Seattle-based developer Runic Games was originally released for the PC in late 2009. The hack & slasher sees players exploring a mine, which leads to a labyrinth of dungeons from ruined civilizations. Players must fight a series of monsters of ever-increasing toughness to discover the source of a magical--but corrupting--mineral called ember.
For further details on the week's games, visit GameSpot's New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later this week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.
SUNDAY, MARCH 6
Pokemon Black Version--DS--Nintendo
Pokemon White Version--DS--Nintendo
MONDAY, MARCH 7
G.G Series: Horizontal Bar--DS--Genterprise
GO Series: Earth Saver--DS--Gamebridge
Heavy Fire: Black Arms--WII---Teyon
TUESDAY, MARCH 8
Atari's Greatest Hits Volume 2--DS--Atari
Beastly Frantic Foto--DS--Storm City Games
Dragon Age II: The Black Emporium--MAC, PC, PS3, X360--Electronic Arts
Dragon Age II: The Exiled Prince--MAC, PC, PS3, X360--Electronic Arts
Dragon Age II--MAC, PC, PS3, X360--Electronic Arts
Major League Baseball 2K11--PS3, PC, PS2, PSP, X360, DS, WII--2K Sports
The $1,000,000 Pyramid--WII--Ubisoft
MLB 11: The Show--PC, PS2, PSP--SCEA
Petz Bunnyz Bunch--DS--Ubisoft
Ship Simulator Extremes: Ferry Pack--PC--Paradox Interactive
The Sims 3: Barnacle Bay--PC--Electronic Arts
Yoostar 2--PS3, X360--Yoostar Entertainment Group
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9
Torchlight--X360--Microsoft Game Studios
@AuronAXE oh ok bro, I thouight it stood for watered down rpg, then just next time just say action RPG and with the ones from Japan just say turn based RPG, but I'll know that for next time and I should've known that anyway I was just tired as hell cause worked nights on mondays and I had to get up early to grab DA2 but after playing the demo I lost interest in the game so I'm gooing to get my money back.
Damn I just bought Mass Effect 2 for PS3 and now Dragon Age II is out. I just don't have this kind of time... Of course, there's no reason to rush to the store and get the game. It's not going anywhere. When I get around to it, there will be plenty of used copies available.
@kennythomas26 No actually, im not insulting the genre. It means Western Role Playing Games. WRPG's are like Mass Effect, Oblivion, etc. JRPG's (Japanese) are like Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, etc.
@AuronAXE hey man I have to ask what does the W in WRPG mean, does it stand for watered down role-playing-games.
@kennythomas26 Bioware made a demo? Well, I'm certainly behind. Mass Effect 2 improved the combat of the first greatly, but I'd say that's as far as it goes. It didn't feel like a WRPG, only like an action game a-la Gears of War. I wasted 10 playthroughs of Mass Effect only to find out barely anything gets transferred, that was the biggest turnoff for me. Seriously, I like Bioware, but if streamlined WRPG's are the way their going I'm going to have to look elsewhere.
my girlfriend took me to a game shop today to buy me dragon age 2 as a present... little did she know it isnt out yet!! women eh?
Dragon Age II plus Torchlight. And I haven't finished with Two Worlds 2 yet. Aww, man. I need more sick days from work.
lololololol look at the release date on Dragon Age its DLCs are listed above it lolololol....sorry but i found it really funny
only think i want is dragon age 2. pokemon black or white is really not my thing but i hope people enjoy it though.
only think i want is pokemon black or white. dragon age 2 is really not my thing but i hope people enjoy it though.
I'll be picking my copy of Dragon age 2 signature edition tomorrow. @AuronAXE hey man I guess you did not play the demo for it, I did and lets say I lost interest in it, but I hope you like it. Oh and I liked Mass Effect 1 and 2, but 2 just a little bit more but they both had their flaws.
@hotdiddykong your whole post just made me laugh. I know Pokemon is a highly addictive game, but wow, how many people know what you know. :)
Pokemon White for me ^_^, I considering Dragon Age 2 in high regards. For those of you who are thinking " Why are people caring so much if its another pokemon like last time" These 2, Black and White, make a Bigger Improvement to the system than any other pokemon game inside battles with a triple and rotation system and outside with seasons and many more, not only that but these games are Literally the sequel we have been waiting for since Red and Blue, a New Region full of New Pokemon and ONLY NEW, no more returning pokemons like geodude and zubat, plus the amount of new pokemon total to a whopping 156, the only ones to be bigger than the original, also Wifi has RANDOM BATTLE, its a huge relief since D/P/P and HG/SS only allowed battling against friends. Now you know.
@bumdude, one of those is free, assuming you don't buy the game used. For anyone getting the PC version with a cranking DX11 video card, you can download a high resolution graphics package right now from the official website. You'll need the absolute latest drivers, too, and your card needs to have at least a gig of memory.
Torchlight on the 9'th, as for DA II I'll grab that when the ultimate Edition comes out....For PC.
I waited until the very last second and pre-ordered my copy of DA2 on Amazon about an hour ago...photo finish!
Already into 5 hours of Pokemon White and I am loving it.:) At this rate it might end up being my favorite pokemon game.
I find it ironic that Major League Baseball 2K11 is being released as well because that sums this week up very well. :) A Major League release of games. ;)
In HiramJ866's defense: He's really not trolling guys, he is merely stating an opinion, and he was much nicer than most about it. He didn't say something stupid like "ZOMG peepl dat play pokeymans is dum!!1!1" like 93% of the internet rats out there. So yeah, if you're offended you need to get out more. I happen to share his opinion, btw. I played Heartgold and it just wasn't for me, so B/W means absolutely nothing for me. Does it make me a troll that I said that? Am I supposed to blindly like *every* game in existence because the masses do, and are offended by differing views? Variety is what makes life great, and opinions are what (sometimes) make us unique and interesting, so get over it.
and wow going by how much people have been talking about it the new pokemon games are gonna sell even more than the last ones did.
@HiramJ866 don't troll. if you don't like a game thats fine but theres no need to troll. people can also say the same about games that you like.
so far in the lead this month for me is Dragon Age 2 & MLB11: The Show I'm gonna wait till the end of the month to decide my top 3 to buy this month. @EctoSpartan: agreed, I stoped playing Pokemon after Pokemon Gold version Why do people even care?
Haven't really looked at DAII despite loving the first one. I'll buy it no matter what but if it's as streamlined as ME2 was compared to ME1 I'll be disappointed.
i think they release pokemon on sundays instead of a usual tuesday is for kids whose parents won't let them or have time to pick up the game on a weekday.
Got both Pokemon games on Sunday. the line was so long. I was early early but still had to wait 30 minutes.
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