Out the Pipeline: New Releases for January 2011
It's the year 2011 ladies and gentlemen and as you may have expected, the gaming industry is certainly not taking a break.
Kicking the new year right off, there are several big titles expected this month and, without a doubt, many of you are waiting in anticipation like it's your 16th birthday all over again - well, if that hasn't already happened.
Well then, let's get down to it. January sees a whole slew of games for both home consoles and portable devices. Square Enix is pretty busy this month with three game releases. Sony's ready to start the year with LittleBigPlanet 2 and DC Universe Online. Meanwhile, survival horror fans can look forward to the impending release of Dead Space 2!
Here's a quick brief on what you may want to keep an eye on.
Kingdom Hearts Re:coded (Nintendo DS)
(US) Tuesday - January 11, 2011 / (UK) Friday - January 14, 2011
Buy Now from Amazon.com
JRPG fans rejoice as Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts Re:coded for the Nintendo DS is finally out on Tuesday. Set after the events of Kingdom Hearts II, our heroic trio investigate a mysterious message left in Jiminy's journal. He didn't write it and thus they embark on another adventure by digitizing Jiminy's journal, allowing them to revisit past locales. The game has gotten an entire makeover from the original Japanese release and it combines the gameplay mechanics from Birth by Sleep, 358/2 Days and the original coded.
Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! (Sony PSP)
Tuesday - January 11, 2011
Buy Now from Amazon.com
Prinny is back as the hero of his very own game yet again in NIS America's Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! Don't worry, that is the title of the game. Unfortunately for our little penguin demon friend, Etna's panties have been stolen and it's up to him to catch the thief. Then again, he's a Prinny, what chance does he stand? You get a thousand Prinnies to play with and you are definitely going to need it. The first game was notorious for its outrageously hardcore difficulty setting and the sequel is no different. Fortunately, NIS America was kind enough to include a Baby Mode for the more casual crowd. Yea, yours is not the only ego that has been trampled on.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Nintendo DS)
(US) Tuesday - January 11, 2011 / (UK) Friday - January 14, 2011
Buy Now from Amazon.com
Ghost Trick is a bit of an interesting action adventure title for the Nintendo DS. Players take the role of Sissel, an unfortunate soul (quite literally) that wakes up to find out he's been killed, although he has absolutely no memory of who he is or why he was killed in the first place. Players can possess inanimate objects and must save other victims by travelling back in time by an astounding four minutes in order to progress and discover who Sissel really is. Oh, and he has until sunrise before he vanishes forever. No pressure.
DC Universe Online (PS3 / PC)
(US) Tuesday - January 11, 2011 / (UK) Friday - January 14, 2011
Buy Now from Amazon.com
This MMO by Sony Online's Austin studio has been a long time coming. Create your own hero or villain in this massively multiplayer online game set in the DC universe and battle alongside or against your favourite classic comic book heroes and villains like Superman and the Joker. Game's finally out on Tuesday for the PS3 and PC.
LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3)
(US) Tuesday - January 18, 2011 / (UK) Friday - January 21, 2011
Buy Now from Amazon.com
Quite likely the biggest title from Sony and Media Molecule this month, LittleBigPlanet 2 is set for release on January 18 exclusively for the PlayStation 3. Complete with support for the PlayStation Move, you get even more creative freedom and license to create just about anything you want! From mind-numbing puzzles to full blown games, LittleBigPlanet 2 isn't holding anything back from all you creative gamers out there. Don't forget, they have a pretty wicked Collector's Edition as well, complete with a seven inch plush Sackboy!
Mass Effect 2 (PS3)
(US) Tuesday - January 18, 2011 / (UK) Friday - January 21, 2011
Buy Now from Amazon.com
Brace yourselves for one of the most epic sci-fi adventures this generation... again. Mass Effect 2 for PS3 is set for release on January 18. Even BioWare has dubbed this the definitive version of Mass Effect 2. Utilizing the Mass Effect 3 engine, ME2 for the PS3 boasts improved visuals and performance. And while the first game may not be available to PS3 owners, BioWare is spoiling them with a quick synopsis at the start - graphic novel style courtesy of Dark Horse Comics, complete with consequential decisions to be made.
Mindjack (PS3 / Xbox 360)
(US) Tuesday - January 18, 2011 (UK) Friday - January 21, 2011
Buy Now from Amazon.com
Square Enix presents yet another role-play - oh wait, my mistake! It's a sci-fi third person shooter from developers feelplus and Square Enix. The game is set in A.D. 2031 and corrupt organizations are on the rise while the world's government crumbles to nothing. Players take the role of a rogue team of agents and can hack into and control enemies to do their bidding. Think Ghost in the Shell, it's about, oh, exactly like it. The multiplayer boasts to be something quite unique as players can quite literally hack and invade another player's game to either aid or hamper their progress. Wild.
Dead Space 2 (PS3 / Xbox 360)
(US) Tuesday - January 25, 2011 / (UK) Friday - January 28, 2011
Buy Now from Amazon.com
The sequel to the survival horror from EA Visceral Games, Dead Space 2 sees everyone's favourite engineer return after three years since the horrific events of the first game. The Necromoth infection hits again and it's obviously up to Isaac to save the day. However, this time he's ready and armed with a new set of armour and equipment. Dead Space 2 also introduces online multiplayer for the very first time. If the beta's anything to go by, it's going to be one hell of a game.
Two Worlds II (Xbox 360 / PS3
(US) Tuesday - January 25, 2011 (UK) Friday - February 4, 2011
Buy Now from Amazon.com
Return to the sweeping fantasy realm of Antaloor in Two Worlds II. This sequel features a brand new engine and brings many improvements from the first, including a revised combat system, better animations and improved enemy AI. Like Oblivion, it's a free roaming RPG and you can do just about anything you want in whatever order you feel like.
Lord of Arcana (Sony PSP)
(US) Tuesday - January 25, 2011 / (UK) Friday - February 4, 2011
Buy Now from Amazon.com
Square Enix is busy this month. Aside from Kingdom Hearts and Mindjack, the Japanese publishing giant also has Lord of Arcana set for release on January 25. The game's a dungeon crawling action adventure much akin to Capcom's Monster Hunter series. You'll duke it out with some serious foes as you build up your avatar. Multiplayer's the key here as hunting anything is always better in a group.
