Q2 2009 gaming report - PS3 & Xbox 360

The second quarter of the year, April, May and June, is an odd time for gaming. On one hand it seems the perfect time for some triple-A titles, summer, kids out of school, days too hot to head outside or rainy weather, just perfect for gaming. On the other hand it’s a slow buying time for families and simple put not the holidays.  So in 2009 how did the ‘slow’ quarter for gaming turn out, lets take a look.

Multi-platform – The winner this quarter is … well everyone. The largest number of quality games hit multiple platforms such as Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on every system possible to Prototype on Xbox 360 and PS3. While this is great for all gamers it hurts each system as the games are developed to work on every system opposed to taking advantage of each systems true power. There are tweaks, and licensed games such as Transformers do customize for PS2, Wii and DS but overall they are usually the same game on each system. Here are the games of note from Q2 on multiple systems.

• Prototype – The action starts right away, the power is raw and awesome, this is what action gaming is all about. Mature gamers only, a great title.
• Guitar Hero: Metallica and Smash Hits – More of the same but worth note as they both take full advantage of the World Tour mechanics. The look is better, feel is expected and fun good as ever.
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Expanding on the movies story the raw, feral power of Logan … Weapon X comes across, actually a bit better than the movie.
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – Another movie title but with better graphics than the first movies offering. The multiplayer on next-gen systems is worth the purchase alone and the G1 skins and downloads, priceless.
• Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood – Not too many western titles out there but even if there were Juarez would still stand out. Fans of westerns will enjoy but not you who liked Wild Wild West with Will Smith.
• Red Faction: Guerrilla – RF took some time off from its revolutionary days of ‘destroy everything’ but now it’s really fulfilling that promise. The shift from first to third person is seamless for fans of the series and for noobs, just sit back and enjoy a story worthy of Total Recall (movie, not game).
• Fuel – Racing game, good racing game, over the top racing game, nuff said.
• Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 – If you don’t like Dynasty Warriors AND Gundam you need look elsewhere. For fans it’s outstanding fun and the story is fun and original, again for fans.
• The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena – Is Riddick really relevant anymore? The movies were enjoyable but the dated source material is kinda a drag even with the solid gameplay.
• BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger – Run of the mill 2-D fighting game that reminds of an older, simpler time in gaming when the Street Fighter II’s of the world ruled the gaming landscape. Why’s it on the list, the bonus items, DVD, full soundtrack, it’s pretty swank.

PlayStation 3 – Two games, just two exclusive games of note. See, slow time of summer.

• inFAMOUS – Graphic novel style cutscenes guide the story in an excellent third-person semi-sandbox action fest. The gameplay and story is top notch but the mechanic of good or evil and effect on all aspects of the game really makes inFAMOUS shine.
• Cross Edge – An all-star cast from games most gamers outside the niche JRPG genre won’t recognize. That aside Cross Edge is unique and stylish and worth the rental.

Xbox 360 – Rinse, repeat. Slow time of summer for exclusives.

• Ninja Blade – Under the radar is the best way to sum up this title. The action is fast paced with tons of timed button presses and many a large beastie to kill. If Kratos had a Japanese cousin that felt like they were pulled from an 80’s ninja anime then Ninja Blade is that cousin’s story. One heck of a fun time, not long, but fun.
• Velvet Assassin – Setting back women’s sneaking rights by decades. The concept was cool, female spy on next-gen system, but the execution sucks. A good killer should be able to utilize any instrument at their disposal, not so in Velvet. Yeah, this was not fun to play.

Overall Grades – While there are a lot of games listed only two really stand out; inFAMOUS and Prototype. Sadly both titles are Mature eliminating a large portion of gamer and both are action oriented targeting the same type of gamer. The rest of the cross platform titles will make PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 gamers happy with niche fans getting their fix with Transformers, Juarez and Cross Edge to name just a few titles. It was a quarter for fans of specific franchise but for gamers looking for something unique and original there are only two choices, one of which was multi-system, so sadly both the PS3 and 360 get a D, kept just above failing. Next up a look at Wii and DS for Q2 gaming releases.