Keeping alive the pattern, the ESRB followed up a rather full week of rated titles with one that has a moderate quantity. This week we take a look at 19 fresh titles which are without the usual “filler” titles. However, it does hold a couple of high profile DS titles and the usual dose of unannounced games.

What a refreshing week for me, as I don’t have to see the usual amount of filler titles that dominate the DS and PC platforms. There are a few sequels sprinkled in, but no movie tie-ins or lame Pet genre games to deal with. Just some solid retail, arcade and puzzle titles across all the platforms. This week saw the Nintendo platforms getting some of their highly sought after games, including Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen and FINAL FANTASY TACTICS A2: Grimoire of the Rift for the DS. The Wii looks to be getting the 2001 Game Boy Color title Toki Tori coming soon on WiiWare. In addition, the DS exclusive New International Track & Field, which is a sequel to the original Konami coin-op, is on the way.

The Xbox 360 and PS3 had several titles rated this week. Each had Sid Meier`s Civilization Revolution and Codemaster’s Grid come across. In addition, the 360 had three titles that have been flying below the radar. The retail title Backyard Baseball ’09 and XBLA titles CrazyMouse and Golf: Tee it Up! CrazyMouse is being developed/published by Ultizen Games, which appears to be the first Chinese developed XBLA title that will hit the service. The other XBLA title, Golf: Tee it Up!, is coming from Activision and appears to be a case of the ESRB making the unofficial North American announcement. The game was first noticed on the German ratings board site last month, but so far little to no information has come out.

With only 19 titles to work with, I really don’t have a title of shame so to speak. So I chose a game that just seemed like it wasn’t needed at all, and that was Campus by Toppware Interactive. I think we all knew it would be coming eventually, but this sim about campus life seems like it may not have any legs unless it delves into the worlds of fraternities, party life and Big Time College sports. Based on the fact that the game was rated E for Everyone for content that includes mild language and use of tobacco, I’m guessing this will be the most unrealistic sim ever made. Most of us over the age of 25 probably want to forget our campus years, and those that are still in college don’t need a Sim to tell them what it is all about. Not to mention the fact that this game was originally released in October of 2007, so I have no idea why the ESRB is just now providing a rating.





Title
Publisher
Rating
Platforms


SingStar: Pop Volume 2
SCEA
T
PS2