New Releases for the Week of December 23, 2012

Photo of Robert Allen Robert AllenDecember 20, 2012
26 5,418 2 minutes read

Fluidity Spin Cycle (3)With 2012 rapidly  coming to a close, most publishers have decided to let their revenue streams freeze up like a Canadian creek. Not so with Nintendo, who will be offering a wealth of downloadable titles for their portable platforms. With notable releases like Fluidity: Spin Cycle and Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels, it’s gratifying to see the publisher sparring competitively with contemporaries.

360
No releases

PS3
Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee HD (PSN, $9.99)

Wii U
No releases

3DS
Fluidity: Spin Cycle (eShop, $TBA)
Johnny Impossible (eShop, $5.99)
Mahjong 3D: Warriors of the Emperor (eShop, $9.99)
Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels (Virtual Console, $4.99)

DS
Jump Trials Extreme (DSiWare, $1.99)
Goooooal América (DSiWare, $4.99)
Wizard Defenders (DSiWare, $1.99)

Vita
No releases

PC
Shadows on the Vatican – Act II: Wrath

Robert’s Pick: Late in 2010, developer Curve Studios released their charming physics-based puzzler puzzler- Fluidity, to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Regretfully, Nintendo’s WiiWare download service never quite garnered a robust fanbase, dooming the game to obscurity. With the release of Fluidity: Spin Cycle for the 3DS, the developer gets a much deserved second chance at earning admiration. With a stronger narrative impetus and gameplay that remains faithful to the original, the title is the one highlight in an otherwise tepid week of releases. Just make sure you play the game in a soft-floored environment, Spin Cycle remarkably lives up to it’s moniker, challenging players to rotate their portable a full 360 degrees.

Fluidity Spin Cycle (1)

Sean’s Pick: Who’s buying a game this week? I mean realistically? Hopefully, you’ll be too busy enjoying the gifts that you have been given or are giving to be buying a game, unless of course, you are buying a game for the new system you unwrapped, in which case you have an entire generation of titles to play. I would recommend starting with Mass Effect, because regardless of which console you unwrap, there is probably a Mass Effect game available for it, and it’s probably worth playing.

Mass Effect (1)

Eric’s Pick: If not for Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels, the pick of the week would be the remaining doors of a chocolate-filled Advent calendar. Also known as the Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2, The Lost Levels first saw the light of day in the U.S. as a part of Super Mario All-Stars for the Super Nintendo (and later the Wii). The reason for this is because Nintendo thought the game would be too difficult for some American gamers and opted to go with a retooled Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic as the U.S. sequel, instead. It’s a tough game, alright, but if you’re looking for a good challenge on the 3DS, it’s an easy recommendation at $5.

Super Mario Bros The Last Levels (1)

Photo of Robert Allen Robert AllenDecember 20, 2012
26 5,418 2 minutes read
Photo of Robert Allen

Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

26 Comments

    1. They had a good run. Maybe Blue will get a WWE game without all the glitches.

      Peronally, I hope Saint’s Row and Red Faction live on.

    2. UbiSoft is looking to buy their assets – maybe they can keep a few studios alive as well? I’d love to see Relic keep their doors open, and I think Ubi could treat the Warhammer 40K license with respect (they are European after all)

      1. Yeah, Ubi makes sense, but they water games down for mass appeal, like Des and Sage say. I wouldn’t mind if the XCOM team got to handle it.

  12. How can you guys even suggest one of these games when there’s a ton of sales going on? Show some steam love guys.

Back to top button