We are back after taking off a couple weeks to celebrate 10 years with the missus down in the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. By the looks of things, the relative strength of rated titles has continued, with an average of over 50 rated per week (152 total) since our last article. Included within the lists are more of the highly-anticipated titles, but it was hard to find them while wading through all the DS and Wii games that dominated the last few weeks. There was also real strong showing for the Sony PSP, which has been making gains in Japan, yet has struggled with third-party game availability. The PS3 and 360 also had a strong three-week period, with several high profile titles on the list. My intriguing title of the week is also one of the most anticipated (at least in my opinion), so check it out below….
There were several articles that ran in the last few weeks about the PSP and its lack of third party support. While this is true (UMD = worst format…ever) the last three weeks has seen the PSP have 12 titles rated, with most coming from the third-parties. In fact, SCEA only published two of the 12 (Buzz! Master Quiz and Street Fighter Alpha 3) while the other titles were published by Square Enix, Yukes, Gameloft, EA, Konami, Activision-Blizzard, D3 and Warner Brothers. Granted, many of the games are movie tie-ins or specially developed “ports”, but this is the most rated titles for the PSP we have seen in some time.
Because there are three weeks and a combined 138 titles that were rated for the Wii, DS and PC, I wont even go into detail about how much junk came sown the pipeline. There are some good games in there, but it is difficult to sift through and find them. Feel free to look through the chart below to see if your favorite title is included. Otherwise, I will get back to the analysis next week.
The 360 and PS3 have been showing steady improvement as games are getting cranked out by the ESRB on a regular basis. The last three weeks has seen a lot of the titles announced at E3 and over the summer getting prepped for the fall and Holiday selling seasons. On the lists from the last three weeks are games such as LEGO Batman: The Videogame, Tom Clancy's EndWar, Far Cry 2, Ghostbusters, SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Confrontation, Dance Dance Revolution Universe 3, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Portal: Still Alive, Scene It? Box Office Smash! and Midnight Club Los Angeles. That is a pretty impressive group that contains quite a few must-haves titles. Some other titles dropped for both consoles as well, including Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode 2, 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures 2, Walt Disney Pictures Bolt, FIFA Soccer 09, and Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. It looks like we may be past the days of one or two games getting rated for the 360 or PS3 (at least until next spring.)
The Intriguing Title of the Week is Ghostbusters from Vivendi Games. This is the ultimate “late bloomer” when it comes to movie tie-in games as the Movie was released in June of 1984. Being from that generation, I was immediately attracted to it when I saw the first four “leaked” screens, but I wonder just how the younger generation will handle a game that ties to a 24 year old movie that most have never seen in a theater. Regardless, if the game I good, offers great gameplay and some sort of multiplayer that keeps players attention, it should do well. Otherwise, I fear it will suffer the same results that most movie tie in games do…
| Title |
Publisher |
Rating |
Platforms |
| Castlevania Judgment |
Konami Digital Entertainment |
Teen |
Wii |
| Family Party: 30 Great Games |
D3Publisher of America |
Everyone 10+ |
Wii |
| METEOS™ WARS |
Q Entertainment, Inc. |
Everyone |
Xbox 360 |
| Miriel the Magical Merchant |
RealNetworks |
Everyone |
Mac, PC |
| My Horse and Me 2 |
Atari |
Everyone |
PC, PS 2, Xbox 360, Wii |
| Need For Speed™ Undercover |
Electronic Arts |
Teen |
PS 2, Wii |
| Oval Office |
Digital Brandplay LLC |
Everyone 10+ |
PC |
| Super Jigsaw Safari |
RealNetworks |
Everyone |
Mac, PC |
| Things on Wheels |
Southpeak Games |
Everyone |
Xbox 360 |
| Tom Clancy's EndWar |
Ubisoft |
Teen |
PC, Xbox 360, PS 3 |
| Totally Spies! Totally Party |
Valcon Games LLC |
Everyone |
PS 2, Wii |
| Zoo Vet: Endangered Animals |
Legacy Interactive |
Everyone 10+ |
DS |
| UNO RUSH |
Microsoft |
Everyone |
Xbox 360 |
| Sudoku Challenge! |
Digital Leisure Inc. |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Sudoku For Dummies |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone |
PC |
| NPPL: Championship Paintball 2009 |
Activision Value |
Everyone 10+ |
PS 2, Wii |
| PUZZLE KINGDOMS |
Zoo Games, Inc. |
Everyone |
PC, Wii |
| Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone 10+ |
Mac, PC, PS 2, Xbox 360, Wii, PS 3 |
| Hasbro Family Game Night |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone |
PS 2, Wii |
| Deer Hunter Tournament |
Atari |
Teen |
PC, Xbox 360 |
| Elebits, The Adventures of Kai and Zero |
Konami Digital Entertainment |
Everyone |
DS |
| Disney Th!nk Fast |
Disney Interactive Studios |
Everyone |
PS 2, Wii |
| DanceDanceRevolution Universe 3 |
Konami Digital Entertainment |
Everyone |
Xbox 360 |
| Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts |
Microsoft |
Everyone 10+ |
Xbox 360 |
| Homeland Defense: National Security Patrol |
THQ Inc |
Teen |
PC |
| Mini-Motion: Home Run King |
Aptus Games |
Everyone |
Mac, PC |
| Mini-Motion: Hoverboard Racing |
Aptus Games |
Everyone |
Mac, PC |
| Luminous Arc 2 |
Atlus USA, Inc. |
Teen |
DS |
| Rubik's World |
The Game Factory Aps |
Everyone |
DS, Wii |
| Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon |
Natsume Inc. |
Everyone |
DS |
| Safari Adventures: Africa |
Conspiracy |
Everyone |
DS |
| Ultimate Band |
Disney Interactive Studios |
Everyone 10+ |
Wii |
| Wordfish |
Ubisoft |
Everyone |
DS |
| Walt Disney Pictures Bolt |
Disney Interactive Studios |
Everyone 10+ |
PC, PS 2, Xbox 360, Wii, PS 3 |
| Alien Crush Returns |
Hudson Entertainment Inc |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Digital Champ: Battle Boxing |
Hudson Entertainment Inc |
Everyone 10+ |
Wii |
| CHRYSLER CLASSIC RACING |
Zoo Games, Inc. |
Everyone |
DS |
| Age of Empires: Mythologies |
THQ Inc |
Everyone 10+ |
DS |
| Blue Dragon Plus |
Ignition Entertainment |
Everyone |
DS |
| My Baby Boy |
Southpeak Games |
Everyone |
DS |
| Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009 |
Majesco Entertainment |
Everyone |
Wii |
| The Tale of Despereaux |
Brash Entertainment |
Everyone 10+ |
PC, PS 2, Xbox 360, Wii |
| Paws and Claws Pet Vet: Australian Adventures |
ValuSoft Inc. |
Everyone |
DS |
| Pet Pals Animal Doctor |
Legacy Interactive |
Everyone 10+ |
Wii |
| Street Fighter Alpha 3 |
SCEA |
Teen |
PSP, PS 3 |
| Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World |
Namco Bandai Games America |
Teen |
Wii |
| Solitaire For Dummies |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone |
PC |
| Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Champions of the Force |
SOE |
Everyone 10+ |
PC |
| Spider-Man: Web of Shadows - Amazing Allies Edition |
Activision-Blizzard |
Everyone 10+ |
PS 2, PSP |
| Pet Pals: New Leash on Life |
Legacy Interactive |
Everyone |
Mac, PC |
| Portal: Still Alive |
Microsoft |
Teen |
Xbox 360 |
| NHL® 09 |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone 10+ |
PC, PS 2 |
| Ultimotion - Playhouse Disney |
Jakks Pacific Inc. |
Everyone |
Plug-and-Play |
| Turbo Fiesta |
ValuSoft Inc. |
Everyone |
PC |
| World of Mahjongg |
Selectsoft Publishing / MPS |
Everyone |
PC |
| Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine |
Destineer |
Everyone 10+ |
Wii |
| James Bond: Quantum of Solace |
Activision-Blizzard |
Teen |
PS 2 |
| Far Cry 2 |
Ubisoft |
Mature |
PC, Xbox 360, PS 3 |
| FIFA Soccer 09 |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone |
PSP |
| FIFA Soccer 09 All-Play |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone |
Wii |
| MySims™ Kingdom |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ |
Destineer |
Teen |
DS |
| Candace Kane's Candy Factory |
Destineer |
Everyone |
Mac, PC, Wii, DS |
| Animal Boxing |
Destineer |
Everyone 10+ |
DS |
| Club Vegas 20,000 Slots |
Selectsoft Publishing / MPS |
Teen |
Mac, PC |
| American Pool Deluxe |
Gamecock Media Group, LLC |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Enduro Racer |
SEGA |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Exodus From The Earth |
Strategy First, Inc. |
Mature |
PC |
| Midnight Club Los Angeles |
Rockstar Games |
Teen |
Xbox 360, PS 3 |
| North American Hunting Extravaganza |
Destineer |
Teen |
Wii |
| Ski and Shoot |
Conspiracy |
Everyone |
PC, PS 2, Wii |
| Space Harrier |
SEGA |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Spider-Man: Web of Shadows |
Activision-Blizzard |
Teen |
PC, Xbox 360, PS 3 |
| Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff |
Tecmo, Ltd. |
Everyone |
DS |
| Wonder Boy in Monster Land |
SEGA |
Everyone |
Wii |
| The Tale of Despereaux |
Brash Entertainment |
Everyone |
DS |
| The Amazing Spider-man and The Masked Menace |
Jakks Pacific Inc. |
Everyone 10+ |
Plug-and-Play |
| Solitaire & Mahjong |
Crave Entertainment |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 |
Konami Digital Entertainment |
Everyone |
PS 2, PSP |
| MLB Stickball |
2K Games |
Everyone |
Xbox 360 |
| MONOPOLY Here & Now: The World Edition |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone |
Web Browser |
| FIFA Soccer 09 |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone |
PC, PS 2, Xbox 360, PS 3 |
| Cooking Academy |
Mumbo Jumbo |
Everyone |
PC |
| Ben 10: Alien Force |
D3Publisher of America |
Everyone 10+ |
PS 2, PSP, Wii |
| Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled |
Graffiti Entertainment |
Everyone |
DS |
| Can You See What I See? |
Mumbo Jumbo |
Everyone |
PC |
| Brain Training For Dummies |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone |
PC |
| Buzz! Master Quiz |
SCEA |
Everyone 10+ |
PSP |
| Boingz |
RealNetworks |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Celebrity Sports Showdown™ |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone |
Wii |
| HorseCamp |
Viva Media LLC |
Everyone |
PC |
| Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine |
Destineer |
Everyone 10+ |
DS |
| Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars |
Gamecock Media Group, LLC |
Everyone 10+ |
Wii |
| Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 |
TOMY Corporation |
Teen |
Wii |
| Neverland Card Battles |
Yukes Company of America |
Teen |
PSP |
| PBR Out of the Chute |
Crave Entertainment |
Everyone 10+ |
PS 2, Wii |
| Skate It |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Strong Bad Episode 2 Strong Badia the Free |
Telltale Games |
Everyone 10+ |
PC, Wii |
| POP CUTIE! Street Fashion Simulation |
KOEI Corp. |
Everyone |
DS |
| Mini Motion: Sk8 HousE |
Aptus Games |
Everyone |
Mac, PC |
| Imagine Fashion Party |
Ubisoft |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Guinness World Records: The Videogame |
Warner Bros. |
Everyone 10+ |
Wii |
| Civil War: Secret Missions |
Activision-Blizzard |
Teen |
PS 2 |
| Cradle of Rome |
D3Publisher of America |
Everyone |
DS |
| Bratz Kidz™ Slumber Party |
The Game Factory Aps |
Everyone |
DS, Wii |
| Camp Rock Guitar Video Game |
Jakks Pacific Inc. |
Everyone |
Plug-and-Play |
| 3D Ultra™ Minigolf Adventures 2 |
Vivendi Games |
Everyone |
Xbox 360, PS 3 |
| CHRONO TRIGGER |
Square Enix, Inc |
Everyone 10+ |
DS |
| Challenge Me: Maths Workout |
Oxygen Games |
Everyone |
DS |
| Need For Speed™ Undercover |
Electronic Arts |
Teen |
PSP |
| Petz Dogz Pack |
Ubisoft |
Everyone |
DS |
| Nostradamus: The Last Prophecy |
Encore Software |
Everyone 10+ |
PC |
| Pirates: The Hunt for Blackbeards Booty |
Activision-Blizzard |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Quantum of Solace |
Activision |
Teen |
DS |
| Raven Squad: Operation Hidden Dagger |
Evolved Games |
Teen |
PC, Xbox 360 |
| Goosebumps HorrorLand |
Scholastic Inc. |
Everyone 10+ |
DS, PS 2, Wii |
| IGT Slots: Little Green Men |
Masque Publishing |
Teen |
Mac, PC |
| Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles |
Oxygen Games |
Everyone |
DS |
| Dark Horizon |
Paradox Interactive |
Everyone 10+ |
PC |
| Brain Challenge |
Gameloft |
Everyone |
PSP, Wii, PS 3 |
| Build-A-Bear Workshop - A Friend Fur All Seasons |
The Game Factory Aps |
Everyone |
Wii |
| James Bond: Quantum of Solace |
Activision-Blizzard |
Teen |
Wii |
| My Baby Girl |
Southpeak Games |
Everyone |
DS |
| Robocalypse |
Tecmo, Ltd. |
Everyone 10+ |
DS |
| Pop Star Guitar |
XS Games LLC |
Teen |
PS 2, Wii |
| Offshore Tycoon |
Valcon Games LLC |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Strong Bad Episode 1 Homestar Ruiner |
Telltale Games |
Teen |
PC, Wii |
| Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition |
SEGA |
Teen |
Wii |
| STAR OCEAN: First Departure |
Square Enix, Inc |
Teen |
PSP |
| Shaun White Snowboarding Road Trip |
Ubisoft |
Everyone 10+ |
Wii |
| Ocean Commander |
Valcon Games LLC |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode 2 |
Hothead Games |
Mature |
Mac, PC, Xbox 360, PS 3, Linux |
| Ultimate Band + DGamer |
Disney Interactive Studios |
Everyone |
DS |
| Ghostbusters |
Vivendi Games |
Teen |
PC, Xbox 360, PS 3 |
| Groovin' Blocks |
Empty Clip Studios |
Everyone |
Wii |
| Hello Kitty Daily |
Aspyr Media, Inc. |
Everyone |
DS |
| Discovery! |
Mumbo Jumbo |
Everyone |
PC |
| SingStar Legends |
SCEA |
Teen |
PS 2 |
| SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Confrontation |
SCEA |
Mature |
PS 3 |
| Scene It? Box Office Smash! |
Microsoft |
Teen |
Xbox 360 |
| Twin Strike Operation Thunder |
Zoo Games, Inc. |
Everyone 10+ |
Wii |
| Ben 10: Alien Force |
D3Publisher of America |
Everyone |
DS |
| Army Men: Soldiers of Misfortune |
Zoo Games, Inc. |
Everyone |
DS, PS 2, Wii |
| Jade Empire: Special Edition |
Electronic Arts |
Mature |
Mac |
| Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone |
DS, PSP |
| Need For Speed™ Undercover |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone 10+ |
DS |
| Nerf N-Strike™ |
Electronic Arts |
Everyone 10+ |
Wii |
| MindHabits |
Got Game Entertainment, LLC |
Everyone |
Mac, PC |
| Kung Fu Panda: Legendary Warriors |
Activision-Blizzard |
Everyone 10+ |
Wii |
| LEGO Batman: The Videogame |
Warner Bros. |
Everyone 10+ |
PC, PS 2, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, PS 3 |
| Mahjong Tales™: Ancient Wisdom |
Creat Studios, Inc. |
Everyone |
PS 3 |
| Word Mania 2 |
eGames Inc |
Everyone |
PC |
Here is the final tally on who, what and where everything was rated for the last three weeks. There were 152 rated titles on 11 platforms. Wii (58), PC (44), DS (36), PS2 (23), Xbox 360 (23), Playstation 3 (15), Mac (13) and PSP (12) had the most games rated. There were 119 of the 152 titles rated at E10+ or lower, 30 rated at T for Teen and five (Jade Empire: Special Edition, Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode 2, Exodus From The Earth, SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Confrontation and Far Cry 2) rated at M for Mature.
Got a comment on the article or a rated games, put it in the section below or send me an e-mail. Until next week, make sure you know what your kids are playing……
*The weekly Intriguing Title of the Week (and any game that is tossed in that paragraph) is identified based on a game on the list that catches the eye of the author for any number of reasons. Good, bad or otherwise, feel free to agree, disagree or add some constructive input to the discussion.
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