Xbox 360 Fanboy

The big releases are starting to drip out as the industry steadily ramps up for yet another packed holiday season. This week, the Xbox 360 plays host to some decent titles including the likes of Rock Band 2, Pure, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. On top of those, we've also got Armored Core: For Answer and ... um ... Battle Fantasia. To our disappointment, we have learned that Battle Fantasia is not a fighting game about the Disney movie Fantasia. It's a shame, really, because we were ready to throw down with some tutu-wearing hippos.

[Via Joystiq]

While the PC crowd is all about Spore this week, the Xbox 360 is all about hockey. We have not one but two different hockey games up for grabs. What's that? A sports league that isn't exclusive to a single publisher? It's bizarre, we know. So bizarre, in fact, that we almost forgot there are two other games on the list. So, which is it gonna be, hockey, robot animals, or spandex?

• NHL 2K9
• TNA Impact!
• NHL 2009
• Zoids Assault

[Via Joystiq]

There are two really notable things about the games releasing this week. One, you may recall that Tales of Vesperia was the game that single-handedly caused the Xbox 360 to sell out completely in Japan. Somehow, we doubt the game will have quite the same impact in North America (regardless of its quality). Two, after over two frakking years, Castle Crashers is finally landing on Xbox Live Arcade. Our anticipation around here is palpable. Perhaps you've noticed. Also releasing this week is Tiger Woods 09. We're not sure exactly what's notable aboout that unless, of course, the Jesus shot makes a return.

[Via Joystiq]

This is it. Ten years of development have finally culminated in an actual finished product. We are speaking, of course, of Too Human. It's finally coming out folks. Will it be worth the wait? Will the quest for phat lootz pull you in? There haven't been any major online reviews posted as of this writing, so take that for what it's worth. We're also getting Namco Banadai's Smash Court Tennis 3 this week. So, you've got to choose between cybernetic-Norse dungeon crawling ... and tennis. What's it gonna be?

[Via Joystiq]

It's Madden time kids. Specifically, it's Madden 09 time. With good old Brett Favre emblazoned on the cover (wearing his Packers uniform or his fancy new Jets uniform), we're sure copies will be flying off shelves and into man-filled living rooms everywhere. We're also fairly certain that the percentage of "sick days" will be pretty high this week. Get out the snacks, the (root)beer and the turduckens. It's game time.

If the foosball isn't your thing, take comfort in the fact that we're also getting Bionic Commando Rearmed on XBLA this week.

[Via Joystiq]

Kids, it is a sad day in "Shipping this week" history. There is precisely one Xbox 360 game shipping this week. It wouldn't be such a big deal if it weren't for the fact that the game releasing ... is Crash Time. You may recall the demo that was released for the game back in May. We wouldn't blame you if you can't though. It was that bad. If you still need convincing, check out our video impressions of the demo above.

But hey, it's not all bad, as we still get the mind-bending Braid on Xbox Live Arcade this week. Thank the heavens for that.

This is it folks, this week officially marks the release of Soul Calibur IV. You may recall SCIV as the weapons based fighter that features not only ridiculously proportioned female fighters but also Yoda. The Playstation 3 version gets Darth Vader himself, though he may be Force choking his way to the 360 if rumors are to be believed. Also on the release this week are Spectral Force 3 and Summer Athletics The Ultimate Challenge. Spectral Force 3 is a Japanese strategy RPG and Summer Athletics The Ultmate Challenge is ... well, honestly, we have no idea. Looking at the title, we'd say someone is looking to cash in on the Olympic Games.

[Via Joystiq]

When you scan the new 360 releases this week, you may feel a sense of déjà vu. "Unreal Tournament III," you will say, "didn't that come out eight months ago?" Fear not, however, for your eyes do not deceive you. The Xbox 360 version of Unreal Tournament III has finally released, bereft of user created content though it may be. Presenting us with another trip back in time is Civilization Revolution, which has players building their ... civilizations from ancient times all the way into the space age. If you haven't given the demo a try, we suggest you do. It's good fun. Finally, we have Beijing Olympics 2008. We're guessing that one involves a lot of button mashing and stick twirling. You'd best prepare for the calluses now.

[Via Joystiq]

While there are technically two games coming out this week, there's really only one. You see, one of them is the Gears of War re-release (which we thought came out last week). That's all well and good for the folks who have yet to pick up Epic's super gory and very playable shooter. Just remember to watch out for that host shotty. Strangely enough, the new game releasing this week isn't all that new either. It's Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, which is, you guessed it, Guitar Hero with a lot of Aerosmith tracks. Whether or not you regard that as a good thing is entirely up to you. One point in defense of Aerosmith: they did give us Alicia Silverstone.

[Via Joystiq]

No, it's not a news related OMG Megaton. It's more like a "holy effing crap, look at all these games" kind of megaton. There are ten, ten games hitting the Xbox 360 this week. What's more, a lot of them look decent and, dare we say it, some of them even look good. Just look at all of 'em.

• Battlefield: Bad Company
• Top Spin 3
• Supreme Commander
• Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath
• Alone in the Dark
• Hellboy: Science of Evil
• Hail to the Chimp
• Wall-E
• Operation Darkness
• Gears of War Refresh (2-Disc Edition)

It's enough to give someone googly eyes. Alone in the Dark has our interest piqued (and has thus far fared decently in Europe). Here's hoping it -- and everything else here -- is up to snuff.

[Via Joystiq]

Okay, so there aren't any new games headed to the Xbox 360 this week. It's natural to feel emotions of deep sadness or great anger at such news. It's perfectly normal. However, prolonging such feelings can be damaging to the body and soul. As such, we advise all of our readers to take a deep breath. Sure, there aren't any new games this week, but over the last two weeks we've had ten new games. That should be enough to keep anyone busy. At least we have Alone in the Dark next week, right?

Here's hoping it was worth the wait.

[Via Joystiq. Image: Cubbie n Vegas (CC)]

This week's lineup of new Xbox 360 games just might be the most random in the console's history. Given the caliber of the competition's major release this week, it seems doubly so. Seriously, look at the lineup of games we have this week:

• Nascar 09
• Don King Presents Prize Fighter
• Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit
• Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm

We have stock car racing, boxing with large-haired flair, anime fighting, and a game about dangerous fishing. We ask you, dearest fanboys and girls, which of these games is the highlight this week? Ponder that for a while and see if you can't help us figure it out. We'll be playing Ninja Gaiden II.

Note: Deadliest Catch should be coming out for real this time. It seems it was listed by mistake last month.

[Via Joystiq]

First we should get this out of the way, I'm not Richard. As our American readers know it's Memorial Day and our fearless leader is spending time with his family so he asked Dustin or myself to take care of his weekly "Shipping This Week" post. Considering how well received it was the last time Dustin did one of Richard's regular features, I took the reigns. As a Canadian I'm not entirely sure what Memorial Day is. Okay, you can pretty much guess what it is based on what it's called. According to Dustin it's a day when American's memorialize stuff, but that just makes it sound like there's a lot of scrapbooking involved. Either way, Happy Memorial Day!

This week brings us two new, yet old, games. id Software and Splash Damage's class-based PC shooter, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, hits the Xbox 360 in a port by Nerve Software. While the PC version landed at retail around heavy-hitters like The Orange Box and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Quake Wars finds itself on the Xbox during a gaming release lull and hopes to catch a wider audience the second time around. Also hitting the Xbox 360 is Capcom's definitive version of Lost Planet with all new content including the ability to play as the evil Akrid. Lost Planet Extreme Condition: Colonies Edition, a game with a name so long I had to eat a sandwich in the middle of typing it for fear of losing strength, lands tomorrow for the price of a platinum release. So there you go, two new/old titles hit the Xbox. Planning on picking up either?

And yes, we promise Richard will be back to tell you about the games of the week next time.

Another week beyond the Grand Theft Auto IV launch, another super slim lineup of new games. By super slim, we mean precisely one game. The game in question is UEFA Euro 2008 from Electronic Arts. After a quick wiki, we have discovered that UEFA stands for Union of European Football Associations, so ... it's a soccer game then. But what's this? According to Metacritic, it's actually a pretty good soccer game. For all the true football fans out there, this week is for you. The rest of you can wait for June 3.

[Via Joystiq]