New Releases: November 7th-13th, 2024

This week, Slitterhead body-hops its way to release, accompanied by Mario & Luigi: Brothership and the PlayStation 5 remaster of Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle. If Marona or the Mario Bros’ exploits fail to excite, there’s always the culinary delights of Select Oblige (pictured). Here’s the full list of what’s arriving:

PlayStation 4

Astebros (digital, $12.99)
Irem Collection Volume 2 (physical $34.99, digital, $24.99)
Neo Harbor Rescue Squad (digital, $TBA)
River City Saga: Three Kingdoms Next (digital, $29.99)
Slitterhead (physical $59.99, digital, $49.99)
Tetris Forever (digital, $34.99)
The Rise of the Golden Idol (digital, $TBA)

PlayStation 5

Elderborn (digital, $TBA)
Farming Simulator 25 (physical & digital, $59.99)
Irem Collection Volume 2 (physical $34.99, digital, $24.99)
Metro Awakening VR (digital, $39.99, PS VR2)
Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle Remastered (digital, $19.99)
Songs of Conquest (digital, $TBA)
Songs of Silence (digital, $39.99)
The Rise of the Golden Idol (digital, $TBA)

Switch

10-in-1 Games Bundle for Kids & Toddlers (digital, $29.00)
Aery – Peace of Mind 2 (digital, $2.69)
Angel at Dusk (digital, $14.99)
Battleminer Giants (digital, $4.99)
Bioframe Outpost (digital, $24.99)
Bubble Riders (digital, $1.99)
Candivity (digital, $2.99)
Caveheart Legacy Of The Depths (digital, $4.99)
Crimson Asylum (digital, $4.99)
EcoGnomix (digital, $19.99)
EGGCONSOLE Xak II PC-8801mkIISR (digital, $6.49)
Games Advent Calendar 2024 Bundle (digital, $19.99)
Hentai Waifu 2 (digital, $4.19)
Jetpack Kiwi (digital, $5.99)
Magical Bakery (digital, $26.99)
Mario & Luigi: Brothership (digital, $59.99)
Miyamoto (digital, $3.99)
Party Party Time 3 (digital, $5.00)
Popcorn Rocket (digital, $4.99)
Pro Flight Simulator Deluxe (digital, $19.99)
Rally Racing Drift 2024 (digital, $7.99)
Sugamenia (digital, $9.99)
Survive Undead Rush (digital, $6.99)
Symmetrical Logic Puzzles 1000 (digital, $3.59)
Sweet Survivors (digital, $2.99)
Tetris Forever (digital, $29.74)
The Alchemist of Ars Magna (digital, $79.99)
The Nightmare Journey (digital, $4.99)
Virche Evermore -EpiC: Lycoris- (digital, $49.99)

Xbox One

Bioframe Outpost (digital, $24.99)
Shieldwall (digital, $17.99)
Techtonica (digital, $19.49, Game Pass)
Tetris Forever (digital, $34.99)
The Rise of the Golden Idol (digital, $TBA)

PC

Atomic Picnic ($19.99)
Blood Running ($TBA)
Chicken Police: Into the HIVE! ($24.99)
Death of the Reprobate ($11.69)
Empire of the Ants ($39.99)
Farming Simulator 25 ($49.99)
Maximum Football (free to play)
Menace from the Deep ($TBA)
Metro Awakening ($39.99, VR)
Neo Harbor Rescue Squad ($TBA)
Salvation: Immortale ($TBA)
Select Oblige ($TBA)
Sengoku Dynasty ($23.99)
Slitterhead ($TBA)
Techtonica ($19.79)
Terralysia ($9.59)
Tetris Forever ($29.74)
The Rise of the Golden Idol ($TBA)
Tower Factory ($14.99)
Two Falls (Nishu Takuatshina)
Underground Garage ($19.99)
Unrailed 2: Back on Track ($17.99)
Valefor ($TBA)
Vending Machine Business Simulator ($TBA)
Void Sols ($TBA)
Yawnoc ($TBA)
Zephon ($TBA)

Rob’s pick: Given NIS American’s track record, I wouldn’t expect the PlayStation 5 port of Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle Remastered to offer much improvement over the recent re-release. But that’s OK, as I’ve always loved Takehito Harada’s spritework and even favor it over the 3D polygonal characters that have appeared in the last two Disgaea entries. What you’ll find is a heartwarming storyline and solid TRPG mechanics that shirks grids and hexes. As such, Phantom Brave is a requisite experience for anyone who appreciates the one-two power-combo of strategy and skilled storytelling. I love a good outcast (go figure) and Marona is one of gaming’s best.

The bullet hell genre is notoriously aloof. There aren’t many entry points for players who want to experience a shooter that unequivocally demands your complete attention. Although Angel at Dusk’s preoccupation with flesh and bone might signal unapproachability, it’s actually one of the best danmaku to try thanks to a tutorial that explains the fundamentals and ability to grind for new weapons.  Lastly, Yawnoc has me slightly intrigued by the mixing of twin-stick shooter and Conway’s Game of Life. These indie devs are cooking.

Ryan’s pick: I made friends with someone that is a serious Tetris fan, and I was introduced to a completely different universe for this game in doing so. I had no idea what a t-spin was, nor did I know that you could do them in the original Tetris. I then learned there’s a whole vocabulary associated with this game, so after some listening and spectating I found a deeper appreciation for the series. Tetris Forever gets my official pick this week because it offers 15 Tetris games including some that were not released outside of Japan. I think that is a great way to practice some of my newly acquired skills and strategies.

Yawnoc seems pretty interesting as well, as I’m curious to see exactly how Conway’s Game of Life ties into the enemy/boss automata and gameplay for this twin-stick shooter. Visually I like the spritework and I think it could be worth a look if you are in the mood for some bullet hell fun. One final nod goes to Blood Running which releases on Steam. It’s an extraction shooter that reminds me slightly of hunting in the original Oregon Trail mixed with some Hotline Miami.

Matt S’ pick (editor, DigitallyDownloaded): I’m really keen on Slitterhead, given that it’s by the same director as the original Silent Hill, Forbidden Siren, and Gravity Rush. The early reviews of the game suggest that it has some great ideas but is “janky” to play, and I wouldn’t have it any other way – that “jank” is what made Forbidden Siren so awesome. Throw in that this takes place in a “Kowloon” style labyrinth of tight corridors and this has all the makings of a cult classic concept.

I’m also looking forward to Tetris Forever. I’ve been playing Tetris for as long as it’s been around, and I do actually prefer the earlier takes on the game, before some of the gimmicks started rolling in. This is also a Digital Eclipse special, so I am looking forward to checking out the museum features, interviews and so on. No one makes “retro compilations” like Digital Eclipse these days.