Shippin' Out: Sept. 20-26: Halo 3: ODST, Aion
Microsoft and Bungie's latest sci-fi shooter joins NCsoft's angelic MMOG; Afrika, Katamari Forever roll to PS3, Spyborgs, TMNT Smash-Up brawl on Wii.
It's well into September, and that means big-name games are going to be the norm in the lead-up to the holiday shopping season. Microsoft and Bungie anchor the current week with the release of Halo 3: ODST, the latest Xbox 360-exclusive installment in their acclaimed sci-fi warfare franchise.
Originally billed as a three-to-five hour expansion pack to 2007's smash hit Halo 3, Bungie's latest evolved into a more reaching (and full-priced) venture over the course of development. Swapping out Bungie's iconic Master Chief for a squad of orbital drop shock troopers, ODST tells a darker story set in the city of New Mombasa. Those who purchase ODST will also be offered a multiplayer beta voucher for Bungie's maybe-last Halo project, Halo: Reach, due next year.
A pair of massively multiplayer online role-playing games will accompany Halo 3: ODST to market this week. Korean MMOG maker Aion will launch its angels-and-demons-themed Aion on Tuesday. Last week, the publisher said that the game had already secured nearly 400,000 preorders, making Aion the biggest MMOG launch of 2009 so far. However, Aion will have a bit of competition from Icarus Games' Fallen Earth, a postapocalyptic sci-fi MMORPG.
Sony's PlayStation 3 has a pair of quirky titles on tap this week. Keita Takahashi's latest matter amalgamator Katamari Forever will offer, according to publisher Namco Bandai, the largest selection of stages, modes, and songs of any game in the series. Meanwhile, Natsume will bring over the Sony Japan-developed Afrika, a safari simulator that lets gamers snap photos of wild beasts on the African steppes. Atlus' original Shin Megami Tensei: Persona will be hitting the PSP, as well.
As will happen, the Wii has two kid-friendly titles coming to its library this week. Capcom's Spyborgs has been billed as an interactive version of "your favorite Saturday morning cartoon" and sees players assuming control of one of five bionically enhanced spies in an effort to take down one of their traitorous former compatriots. From Ubisoft comes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up, a multiplayer brawler built in the style of Nintendo's highly popular Super Smash Bros. franchise.
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 the Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later this week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.
Sept. 21, 2009
Fabulous Finds--DS--THQ
Just in Time Translation--DS--THQ
Sept. 22, 2009
Afrika--PS3--Natsume
Aion: Tower of Eternity PC--NCsoft
Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition--Wii--Natsume
Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2010--X360, PS3, Wii
Fallen Earth--PC--Icarus Games
Family Party: 30 Great Games Outdoor Fun--Wii--D3Publisher
Halo 3: ODST--X360--Microsoft Game Studios
Hidden Mysteries: Titanic--Wii, DS--Activision Value
Katamari Forever--PS3--Namco Bandai
Order of War--PC--Square Enix
Scooby-Doo! First Frights--Wii, PS2, DS--WBIE
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona--PSP--Atlus
Spyborgs--Wii--Capcom
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up--Wii--Ubisoft
The Price Is Right 2010 Edition--Wii, DS, PC--Ubisoft
Wacky World of Sports--Wii--Sep 22, 2009 Sega
Where's Waldo? The Fantastic Journey--Wii, DS, PC, MAC--Ubisoft
Women's Murder Club: Games of Passion--DS--THQ
Sept. 23, 2009
No new releases scheduled.
Sept. 24, 2009
Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft--Wii--Dreamcatcher
Sept. 25, 2009
No new releases scheduled.
The Price is Right 2010 seemed to remind me of Wheel of Fortune back when I was still in Primary school. And the point of having a game like this is because...? I'll only get Halo ODST when the price is right. No offence to anyone but a game that lasts a few hours single player at a high price isn't on my books of good value for money. It might be for others if they are into online multiplayer. Also I'm not into online plays at all, since I don't have Xbox live gold and don't play enough online to merit spending for a membership.
@shawise I quite agree with you there.
Oh shiiii cant wait to get back from college and play this game
I'll start by saying i like halo I have 1-3 but if all they added was three new maps and a 6 hour campaign 60 bucks is a bit excessive and since half of you have already purchased the DLC prior to its release it makes little sense to purchase it again. It reminds me of Star Wars The Force Unleashed "I waited till the price dropped to 20 dollars before purchasing it". I refuse to by any game thats only 6 hours long for 60 dollars new or refurbed and as long as you continue to purchase games of this quailty riding only on their name you can exspect to see more of these games in the very near future. From a business stand point the game should've been priced at $39.99. You not only need to speak up but act on it as well.
@slimsammy - I know, it's a lot of fun. I hate how people are knocking it and those same people haven't even bothered to try it. They're stuck up on the notion that this is a mini-expansion at full price and that the multiplayer hasn't changed and this is essentially Halo 3 branded at $60 once again. I shouldn't even bother with those people, their loss anyways.
ODST is WAYYY better than people made it out to be, i love it @lamprey263
forget halo (i want it too though XD) THE BLAST IS ON THE PSP PER-SO-NA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ODST this month, Borderlands the next!
^_^ got last night, I love the FireFight mode, it's lots of fun, I think this is a lot better than people claim about it being an over-glorified expansion
A game that gets above an 80 on Metacritic is worth playing and is a good quality game.
Well ODST is really nothing special. Maybe an 8/10....8.5/10 at best (which is its aggregate score on Metacritic). \ \ Come on Modern Warfare 2 (Man I hate supporting Activision) and Dragon Age.
1) Borderlands looks promising :). ... 2) Uncharted 2 SUCKS it has an average gameplay and a cliche story. Do not believe the hype coming from the mouths of the fanboys
In case anyone is wondering, Katamari Forever is by far the best in the series yet, even better than We Love Katamari. Looks good, plays smooth, tons of stuff = funny fun stuff.
i am really excited about Aion:TOE.....just to think that the crysis engine running an MMORPG....if that is not exciting i dont know what is!!!!!!
Wow... Fanboys are coming out of the woodwork against ODST. Thumbs down for D3A7HJ0K3R not being able to afford a game? Come on now.
All those games suck. I want Uncharted 2 and Borderlands NOW!!!
ODST should be a good release tonight at midnight. It should be a nice new addition to the Halo story.
Good list. I am curious about TMNT but not risking $50 yet.
Only MS can get away with re-releasing a 3 year old game with what essentially boils down to a mod pack and still get people to pay full price for it.
dammit im broke cuz i bought wireless adapter, live, and two games, for my 360 i got on my birthday, which was sunday. AGHHHHHH!!!!! I NEED ODST.
I wonder if I can pick up Katamari Forever while at the midnight launch for Halo ODST.
I all ready have it muhahahaha
I cannot freakin wait to get my ODST collectors edition with the controller tomorrow!!!! Firefight is gonna be awesome, and i really want the new mythic maps also!
um ODST is the 22nd TaintedEnigma... chill. Everyone should look up Zombie Apocalypse. Arcade L4D anyone? Thats out wednesday.
Katamari, ODST and Persona for me this week.
Where's my friggin ODST?!? I've held on long enough! Gimme Gimme!
Screw September.... I just want November 10th to get here!!! MW2!!!!!!!!!!!! > ALL
ODST...how long I've waited. Too bad games get released on tuesdays, I'd love to have more time to play it, but I'll get 6 hours tops (cause of school).
*looks at list* meh. Maybe Katamari... MAYBE. But nothing else for me
imma get Afrika for my nephew, looks like a nice experience.
I hope Fallen Earth turns out to be good, it looks pretty interesting. Oh and ODST, yay.
Persona. 'nuff said.
miss morphine.....dumb rednecks will buy anything cabella.
wheres the "hair club for men": the video game use the ds stylus to place the toupee on baldy..
Women's Murder Club: Games of Passion for the DS!!! At last!!!! I waited for so long and finally I can buy the DSi/Women's Murder Club: Games of Passion bundle......there is obvioulsly a bundle for this monster release, right?
i cant believe they keep making cabela hunter games. those games are horrible.
Man, times flies. It's already time for ODST! I remember when that game was first announced. Sadly, I don't have a 360...yet.
ODST will simply be f**king sweet, fanboys may cry if they like but thats not gonna change the facts.
OMG WHERES WALDO!
Afrika and Katamari are the only two I want. They both look very unique. (Nothing against Halo, but I don't have a 360. And I am not into mmo's.)
i'm getting ODST tommorow... guys! go to toys r us and reserve, you get a 20$ gift card if you buy it from toys r us =P
I can't see Afrika doing well here, there has been no advertisement and is releasing on the second worst day this holiday season first being modern warfare 2's nov 11. This is a PS3 exclusive and an artsy game, come on Sony throw some love to some of those rare exclusive games to your system. It pains me to see potentially good game get overshadow by juggernaut Halo. That being said I went and sound hypocritical but I just bought Halo ODST, sorry Afrika but you'll have to wait until after Christmas but by then it wouldn't really matter if I buy it or not.
The Price is Right FTW!!!
@payne6705 No they announced a while ago that it's now around 8 hours.
@payne there's firefight as well as the stand alone halo 3 map pack disc. it has all the halo maps and you can play live from that disc without having the original halo 3 game. firefight is a lot of fun though, its basically survival mode with 6 lives you share with whoever you are playing with. it took me and a friend who played through halo 3 campaign several times on legendary about 4 hours to complete the campaign. the game is a lot of fun and it brings something new and i think the game will get 9.0+ reviews all around the net.
I'm picking up ODST tommorow and playing as SGT. Johnson hehe. Hopefully this turns out to be a really good game. My expectations have grown a lot for it.
aion, ODST, and fallen earth. i hope fallen earth is good mmofps game.
prob gettin ODST but quick question the game is still only 4-5 hours right? whats changed only fire fight?
Nothing interesting this week.
Afrika, Aion, Fallen Earth, Katamari and ODST are the biggest games out there but my most wanted from that list is Persona :D
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Related Game
Halo 3: ODST
Follow for the latest news, videos, & tips from experts & insiders
- Publisher(s): Microsoft Game Studios
- Developer(s): Bungie Software
- Genre: Action
- Release: Sep 22, 2009 (US) »
- ESRB: M
Related Games
- Aion
- Order of War
- Fallen Earth
- TMNT Smash-Up
- Afrika
- Katamari Forever
- SMT: Persona
- 30 Great Games Outdoor
- Hidden Mysteries Titanic
- Scooby-Doo! First Frights
- Big Game Hunter 2010
- Where's Waldo?
- Animal Kingdom
- Spyborgs
- Just in Time Translation
- The Price Is Right 2010
- Hardy Boys: Hidden Theft
- Wacky World of Sports
- Fabulous Finds
- Games of Passion






