New Releases: September 29th-October 5th, 2022

This week, Let’s Build a Zoo and F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch make their way to consoles while Valkyrie Elysium hopes to reinvigorate the Square-Enix series. Elsewhere, Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris and Sakura MMO 2 (pictured) make their Switch debuts.

PlayStation 4
Airoheart (physical & digital, $39.99)
Alfred Hitchcock – Vertigo (physical & digital, $49.99)
APICO (digital, $19.99)
Blade Assault (digital,TBA)
Brewmaster (digital, $17.99)
Bunny Park (digital, $17.99)
Dakar Desert Rally (physical & digital, $39.99)
FIFA 23 (physical & digital, $59.99)
F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch (physical, 39.99)
Lemon Cake (digital, $29.99)
Let’s Build a Zoo (physical $34.99, digital, $16.99)
Let’s Build a Zoo- Dinosaur Island (DLC, $8.49)
Maneater APEX Edition (physical, 29.99)
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (physical & digital, $49.99)
Paw Patrol: Grand Prix (physical & digital, $49.99)
Post Void (digital, $TBA)
Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space Remastered (digital, $19.99)
Sam & Max Save the World Remastered (digital, $19.99)
Undungeon (digital, $19.99)
Valkyrie Elysium (physical & digital, $59.99)
Yum Yum Cookstar (physical & digital, $39.99)

PlayStation 5
Airoheart (physical & digital, $39.99)
Alfred Hitchcock – Vertigo (physical & digital, $49.99)
Dakar Desert Rally (physical & digital, $39.99)
FIFA 23 (physical & digital, $59.99)
F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch (physical, 39.99)
Inertial Drift Twilight Rivals Edition (physical, $29.99)
Let’s Build a Zoo (physical, $34.99)
Valkyrie Elysium (physical & digital, $59.99)

Switch
8Doors: Arum’s Afterlife Adventure (physical, $34.99)
9 Clues 2: The Ward (digital, $14.99)
Airoheart (physical & digital, $39.99)
Alfred Hitchcock – Vertigo (physical & digital, $49.99)
Bunny Park (digital, $17.99)
Burger Patrol (digital, $4.99)
Bus Driving Simulator 22 (digital, $22.39)
C.A.R.L. (digital, $14.99)
Caffeine: Victoria’s Legacy (digital, $17.99)
Casual Challenge Players’ Club (digital, $4.99)
Crossroads Inn: A Fantasy Tavern Sim (digital, $13.32)
Dinogotchi (digital, $9.99)
Dorfromantik (digital, $13.49)
Escape Goat (digital, $4.99)
Fashion Friends (digital, $9.99)
FerroSlug (digital, $5.67)
FIFA 23 (physical & digital, $39.99)
F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch (physical, 39.99)
From Space (digital, $19.99)
Funtasia (digital, $14.99)
Guardian Tales (digital, free to play)
Grime (digital, $TBA)
Hazelnut Hex (digital, $7.99)
Hexceed- Rimor (DLC, $1.00)
Host 714 (digital, $4.99)
Kattish (digital, $4.99)
Lemon Cake (digital, $29.99)
Let’s Build a Zoo (digital, $16.99)
Let’s Build a Zoo- Dinosaur Island (DLC, $8.49)
Let’s Sing ABBA (digital, $39.99)
Martian Panic (digital, $39.99)
Mission 1985 (digital, $9.99)
Moon Dancer (digital, $10.99)
Mutant Mudds Collection (physical, $29.99)
Neon Mine (digital, $4.99)
One Hell of a Ride (digital, $6.99)
Paw Patrol: Grand Prix (physical & digital, $49.99)
Picross S8 (digital, $9.99)
Railgrade (digital, $17.99)
Sakura MMO 2 (digital, $9.99)
Shirone: the Dragon Girl (digital, $13.49)
Shotgun Farmers (digital, $9.99)
Snug Finder: More Fun (DLC, $2.99)
Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris (digital, $49.99-$89.99)
Treasures of The Roman Empire (digital, $6.29)
Voodoo Detective (digital, $14.99)
Xeodrifter (physical, 29.99)

Xbox One
Airoheart (physical & digital, $39.99)
Alfred Hitchcock – Vertigo (physical & digital, $49.99)
Blade Assault (digital,TBA)
Brewmaster (digital, $17.99)
Bunny Park (digital, $17.99)
Dakar Desert Rally (physical & digital, $39.99)
FIFA 23 (physical & digital, $59.99)
F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch (physical, 39.99)
Lemon Cake (digital, $29.99)
Let’s Build a Zoo (digital, $16.99)
Let’s Build a Zoo- Dinosaur Island (DLC, $8.49)
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (physical & digital, $49.99)
Paw Patrol: Grand Prix (physical & digital, $49.99)
Work From Home (digital, $TBA)

Xbox Series S/X
FIFA 23 (physical & digital, $69.99)
Maneater APEX Edition (physical, 29.99)

PC
Airoheart ($39.99)
Alfred Hitchcock – Vertigo ($49.99)
Bibets ($TBA)
Brewmaster ($16.19)
Bus World ($TBA)
Dakar Desert Rally ($39.99)
FIFA 23 ($69.99)
Melody’s Escape 2 ($TBA)
Monorail Stories ($TBA)
Moonbreaker ($TBA)
Mythic ($TBA)
Undetected ($TBA)
Witchy Life Story ($TBA)
Yusetsu ($TBA)

Rob’s pick: When the world is wearing me down, I recharge with PC Engine/ PC Engine CD STGs like Blazing Lazers, Star Parodier, or the Summer Carnival titles A healthier alternative to a smoke break, it’s surprising how reinvigorating a ten-minute session of relaxed vertically scrolling action can be. This weeks’ release of Moon Dancer for the Switch looks to offer that same kind of recreation. It’s a straightforward shoot ‘em up without the overpowering intensity of a danmaku, so this should be a competent commute-time title.

With Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, Triangle Strategy, Live A Live, and The DioField Chronicle, Square Enix has wisely complemented their big blockbusters with a steady succession of games that are slightly more modest in scope than the mainline Final Fantasy epics. While they’re not quite the A24 of interactive media, I appreciate the publisher greenlighting slightly smaller titles that allow for a bit more creative risk.

Undoubtedly, Valkyrie Elysium falls under this umbrella, with a succinct quest that doesn’t try to pad its playtime. Although development duties have been passed from Tri-Ace to Soleil Inc and the emphasis is on 3D action, the recent demo left me optimistic for the full game.

Ryan’s pick: Valkyrie Elysium seems like the perfect game to play for the next month while I wait for Star Ocean: The Divine Force. I think it’s interesting that Square Enix is willing to offer two action RPGs back to back in the fall season, especially with a big anticipated game like Star Ocean coming so soon. At first glance I’m going to be honest in that I actually like the art style and character designs more for this game, especially with the character animations and visual effects. I think in terms of length and scope the game should fit perfectly, allowing me some breathing time to do my dailies waiting for the 3.2 patch of Genshin Impact.

One parallel I can’t help but draw is a lot of the environments and visual tone of the game reminds me a lot of Elden Ring. I don’t think it’s necessarily a negative point against the game, and I feel like the battle system will differentiate it enough for me that it will feel like a different game. The Einherjar support characters as well seem pretty interesting and an integral part of the battle system, and I find myself drawn to the magic user Taika especially. I just hope they are smarter than my Mimic who kept shooting arrows during all the boss fights. And I swear she would always wait for me to engage the bosses before she would run in. Related to FromSoftware games, Sakuraba Motoi also worked on the soundtrack for Valkyrie Elysium, so that fact alone makes this an easy choice for me.

Matt R’s pick (editor, Shindig): I’m a little sad that I can’t pick Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth this week, after the unfortunate delay of its PS4/5 port. I’ve got it on my phone, I’ve got it on my Vita, but somehow the latest re-release had me more excited than Valkyrie Elysium. But even if my nostalgia can’t be sated just yet, Elysium does look worthwhile, too. I’m curious to see how an action RPG Valkyrie unfolds—it’s a change in direction from the series’ roots in unorthodox riffs on turn-based combat, but one that shows a lot of potential. At the very least, it’s nice to see the series getting some attention.

And when Rob goes vert, I go horizontal: Hazelnut Hex looks like my shmup pick for the week. It’s a bright, colorful, silly cute-em-up about a young witch’s quest to save breakfast, with adorable characters, eccentric-looking bosses, and a touch of danmaku in the attack patterns.

Lastly, something that doesn’t need any introduction: Picross S8. Jupiter consistently serves up the best nonograms on Switch, and any new collection of them is an instant buy.

Matt S’ pick (editor, DigitallyDownloaded): For me, it’s going to be all about Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous this week. Especially since I’ll be able to play it on Nintendo Switch. The previous Pathfinder was a wonderful spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate (which, given Baldur’s Gate 3 was not, was such a relief), and I’m expecting more of the same for this one. Put that 100-hour RPG on my Switch and see if I don’t play it like crazy.

I am, of course, also very much a fan of Valkyrie Elysium – Square Enix is hitting a real purple patch right now with a seemingly unending series of excellent games, and between this, DioField Chronicle, the third Voice of Cards, and NieR: Automata on Switch, the company is consuming time I just don’t have available to me right now.

And finally, Brewmaster. I like beer. I want to brew beer. This game lets me do that. Couldn’t as for more.