This weeks new releases! May 2nd – 8th

Well it looks like it’s going to be yet another slow week across all formats, which is sadly somewhat of a tradition leading up to the summer months; publishers being under the highly misinformed opinion that most gamers, particularly those of summer vacation age, would rather expose themselves to the vicious dangers of the outside world in order to bask in lethal solar rays rather than just stay inside and play video games all day.

The situation is particularly grim for 3DS owners; last week they got their first taste of crappy movie tie-in produce with Thor: God of Thunder and this week all they’ve got to look forward to is the much delayed former launch title Steel Diver, a game so mind numbingly simplistic that it makes us at Push-Start wonder how it ever managed to reach retail. Then again, with the highly questionable PS3 re-release of the year old PC/Xbox 360 title Sniper: Ghost Warrior and the highly questionable existence of Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011 also on schedule for this week, it’s got plenty of company in that respect.

Highlights

Guilty Gear XX: Accent Core PLUS (PSP/Wii)

The fourth and final revision of the much loved Guilty Gear XX by respected fighting game developer Arc System Works is more or less the only game on the schedule this week that I can talk about with much authority. It actually came out way back in 2008 in Japan and a year later in the US, but this week will mark the first time – bar an EXTREMELY limited PS2 release of this game by Zen United last year – that the Guilty Gear franchise has reared its head in Europe since the 2009 release of the nigh unrecognisable Guilty Gear 2: Overture (it wasn’t a fighting game and featured maybe 4 or so returning characters).

What will probably bring a tear to many a Guilty Gear fan’s eye is that it will also likely be the LAST time it makes an appearance as well; Arc System Works separated from longtime publishing partner Sega Sammy a few years ago and for reasons that have never been made public other than “publishers are dicks”  they were not able to take the Guilty Gear IP with them. So while Guilty Gear lives on in its superb spiritual successor BlazBlue, legal obligations will likely prevent Arc System Works from ever being able to release a truly “new” Guilty Gear game ever again. Which is a really tough reality to accept for all the fans like me who are crying out for an epic Guilty Gear vs BlazBlue battle royal to happen someday.

So if you decide to pick up Guilty Gear XX: Accent Core PLUS you’ll not just get a top class high-speed 2D fighter that’s been tuned to perfection over the last 8 years and 4 revisions, but you’ll also get both a testament and a swan song to a franchise that spans over a decade, one that will never be the same again. I guess it’s very appropriate that Accent Core PLUS features the 7 years overdue return of popular characters Kliff Underson and Justice; it’s almost as if they just wanted a chance to say goodbye….. *sniff*

If you’re interested in picking up the special commemorative collectors edition then head over to Zen-United, it’s expensive at £66 but more than worth it if Guilty Gear is your sort of thing.

Full schedule

Multiplatfrom
Guilty Gear XX: Accent Core PLUS (PSP/Wii)
Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011 (PS3/Xbox360/Wii)
The First Templar (X360/PC) [this game seems to pop up on retailer’s release schedules every other week. Will it ever actually come out? Who knows.]

DS
Hidden Mysteries: Salem Secrets
Plants Vs Zombies
Samantha Swift And The Hidden Roses Of Athena

Wii
Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party 4

3DS
Steel Diver

PC
Hide & Secret 3: Pharaoh’s Quest
REDRUM
Stolen Venus
Aerie
Secret Of Casanova
The Exorcist
Tulula
Vanished In Rome
M4 Tank Platoon

PS3
Sniper: Ghost Warrior