This week’s new releases! May 16th – 22nd

It’s another exceptionally thin list of new titles this week, but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up for with quality thanks to L.A. Noire and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, both of which have seen large contingents of hype wagons deployed in their favor for the the last month or two.

Also take note that this week marks the first time we’re actually seeing an honest to goodness “real” game being released for the 3DS, i.e. something that is neither a delayed launch title or some cheap ass movie tie-in fluff. But while there’s little doubt that Dead or Alive: Dimensions will be greeted with open arms by most fans of the content starved platform, it does raise an important question. The 3DS may well be the most powerful gaming handheld device currently on the market, but can it really handle the complex uh……. “physics” that made the Dead or Alive series so famous? Only time and a lot of VERY thorough investigation will tell.

Highlights

L.A. Noire (PS3/Xbox360)

Rockstar Games returns once again from whatever astral realm it is they call home to once again show us all how it’s done. Specifically they’re going to attempt in bringing 60s film noire detective dramas back into the fold, apparently not satisfied from doing the same for the Spaghetti Western last year.

In L.A. Noire you’ll play the roll of Cole Phelps, a World War 2 veteran seeking redemption through some honest police work in 1947 Los Angeles. As a newbie officer you’ll start out on basic patrol duty where you’ll solve a few very minor felonies, and then gradually work your way up through the ranks of traffic detective, homicide, vice, and arson investigator. Activities in your career can range from interviewing witnesses, searching for evidence, connecting clues and confronting suspects, all of which smacks very heavily of Quantic Dream’s Heavy Rain, which I’d say is always a good thing. Of course it wouldn’t be a proper cop drama without a bit of violence, so in addition to your forensic work there’ll also be several full blown cops and robbers shootouts to keep you on the edge.

Although all that sounds pretty cool, the true star of the show in my book is the game’s liberal usage of the newly developed MotionScan technology that allows the motion capture of an actors face with unprecedented accuracy. As a result, many of the facial expressions in the game are so disturbingly realistic that I find it impossible to describe it in words; it really needs to be seen to be believed. It ain’t just for show either, analysing a suspects face for the tell tail signs of deceit will supposedly be one of the game’s core gameplay concepts, actively encouraging you to go with a “hunch” just like they do in the movies! Of course weather such a potentially revolutionary system is actually effective or if it’s instead destined to linger in the uncanny valley has yet to be determined by the public at large. Hopefully we’ll have some of our own first impressions on this new tech up soon!

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (PC)

The first Witcher was a bit of hit or miss cult classic; a flawed gem that would either engross you or disgust you. So three and a half years later with a much more focused vision and a few very harsh lessons learned, Polish developer CD Projekt are aiming for a lot more people being in the former category rather than the latter. The game once again puts you in the shoes of Geralt of Rivia, one of the last in a line of “witchers” superhuman bounty hunters that specialise in targets of the monstrous kind. Survival will rely on you developing (read: leveling up) Geralt’s expertise in the arts of swordplay, magic spells and Alchemy as you hack, slash and fornicate your way across an open fantasy realm. At least that’s the sales pitch anyway.

As you can probably tell by now, this is an RPG through and through. However console gamers seeking a bit of a fantasy romp to get them warmed up for Elder Scrolls: Skyrim need not get too exited. A console release might on the cards if Witcher 2 starts haulin’ ass on the charts, but for now it will be remaining a PC exclusive title, something that’s quickly becoming a rarity these days. Even so, it’s going to have a tough time battling it out for supremacy against this week’s other high profile PC exclusives Traffic Manager and Garbage Truck Simulator.

Full schedule

Multiplatform
L.A. Noire (X360/PS3)

PC
Fable III
Garbage Truck Simulator
Traffic Manager
Jade Rousseau
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Xbox 360
Xbox Live Hits Collection: Trials HD / Limbo / Splosion Man

3DS
Dead Or Alive: Dimensions

Wii
Animal Crossing: Let’s Go To The City *
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves *
Mario Strikers: Charged Football *
Wii Sports *
* re-releases under the “Nintendo Selects” label.

DS
Jewels Of The Ages
Dragon Quest VI: Realms Of Reverie
Samantha Swift And The Hidden Roses Of Athena
Junior Mystery Stories