Bleach the Third Phantom is the fourth Bleach video game released in the U.S, and the first that isn’t a one-on-one fighter, but rather a strategy RPG akin to Shining Force. The game is loosely tied to Bleach continuity, and it starts several years before the start of the series. The Third Phantom stars a pair of twins (one of which you choose and name beforehand) who are attacked by a hollow in the Rukon district. Afterbeing rescued by a group of Soul Reapers (including younger versions of Kiskue Urahra, Soske Aizen, and Kaien Shiba) the two decide to become Soul Repaers themselves. When a powerful enemy attacks the Soul Society, the twins shunted forward in time to the modern day where they meet Ichigo and his allies. There are around 60 playable characters, and nearly every major player in the Bleach series makes an appearance.
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I can’t blame anyone for being leery about another Grand Theft Auto on a Nintendo portable. After all, the first effort, a Game Boy Color version of GTA 2 was horrible, and while 2005’s Grand Theft Auto Advance was slightly better, it still wasn’t anything to write home about. So how does The Nintendo DS entry Chinatown Wars succeed where others have failed? Simple, it combines classic GTA action with stylus driven gameplay to make a fun package that’s every bit as engaging as its console cousins.
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Are you one of those people who think video games are, or can be art? Did you like Braid? If so, you’ll love The Path. The Path is one of those games which clearly isn’t for everyone, but it makes you think about what’s going on in ways that games such as Halo and Grand Theft Auto can’t. The Path is a retelling of the story of Little Red Riding Hood. After selecting one of several sisters, you are sent by your mother to visit your ailing grandmother. You are given one command: stay on the path. Indeed, doing so will get you to grandma’s house safe and sound, but you don’t want to do that. It’s by deviating from the path that you learn more about the game and find more of the forest’s secrets. You’ll also encounter the “wolf”. The game’s control system is simplistic, but it gets the job done as all you are doing is exploring and checking out objects. The game is very ambiguous, as you learn nothing of the girls besides their name. What’s the game’s point? Is there one? While the ambiguity will put off most players, others will enjoy trying to decipher the game’s meaning. If you want something different and have an open mind, check it out.

As seen on our game night last week!

Castle Crashers is a tongue-in-cheek throwback to old school beat-em-ups like Golden Axe and Double Dragon. It was developed by The Behemoth, the people behind the similarly zany Alien Hominid. Taking control of one of four characters, you (and up to three more of your friends if playing co-op) set out on a quest to defeat thousands of barbarians, sorcerers, monsters, and other baddies in your quest to save the princesses. You can stop at shops to buy special items, and you can replay stages after you beaten them. There are well over 20 unlockable characters, including several who are available as downloadable content. You can even unlock Alien Hominid if you have a save file from that game. There is also a competitive multiplayer mode which you can play with up to 3 other players. Castle Crashers is headed to PSN later this year, so PS3 owners can see what the big deal is.

This turn-based strategy RPG is easily one of the most underrated Nintendo DS games of last year. In fact, I’d almost go as far to say that it was one of last year’s big sleepers. It introduces a unique style of play that sets it apart from other games on the DS, as well as other games in its genre. I would be hesitant to even call it a strategy RPG, as it takes a lot of pages from other genres, such as real time strategy, shooter, and even some tower defense games for good measure. It’s Episode 4 in developer Sting’s Department Heaven series, which also includes the Game Boy Advance titles Yggadra Union and Rivera, although there isn’t much of a relation between them, and one does not have to have played the other two to enjoy KITN.
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When it was released in 2004, Far Cry was initially seen as a tech demo for Crytek’s CryEngine, which produces beautiful graphics even by today’s standards. The game itself wasn’t bad either, merging sandbox-style gameplay, spot-on FPS action, and enemy AI. You step into the shoes of Jack Carver, an ex Special Forces operative who is attempting to escape his troubled past. When escorting a female reporter named Valerie Constantine, his boat is attacked by mercenaries and she goes missing. Jack must search the island to find her, and discover why these mercenaries are attacking him. The journey will take him all over the island, from lush jungles, to deep forests, beaches, and canyons. The game’s graphical engine makes these visuals seem realistic as possible, and at times you may even forget that you’re being hunted down by mercenaries. Players can approach a confrontation any way they choose, be it an all-out gun approach, using stealth, or even setting traps to avoid confrontation altogether.
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The Nintendo DS’s library is a recipient of a huge amount of shovelware. As an unfortunate side effect, many good games get lost in the shuffle because their publishers and developers had inadequate funding behind them. Such is the case of THQ’s Desktop Tower Defense. Basically a DS version of the online flash game of the same name, DTD is your basic tower defense game with a few twists. Like in other games of its kind, DTD has you building and upgrading towers to prevent waves of creeps from crossing the screen. You can even control how fast the waves approach for an increased challenge. You can customize the look and animations of each of the creeps and towers, and share your creations with other friends. There are several different modes you can play, adding variety. While the interface isn’t always as intuitive as one would like it to be, it gets the job done, and for a stylus driven interface, you could do worse. While the pixel-based editing tools aren’t exactly LittleBigPlanet, they help you put your own personal touch on the game.

If you’re into casual games, this is a good addition to your DS lineup. Although it would have been better suited as a DSIware title, it’s still a fun game at a good price. You can also play the flash-based game online for free here.

Hmm, the kids seem to be into these tower defense games, and everyone loves zombies. Why not put the two together? Popcap, the king of casual gaming, has done just that with Plants vs Zombies. You play as a homeowner, and hordes of the undead are invading your lawn. All that stands between you and the undead holocaust is your garden and several lawnmowers.. These aren’t any ordinary plants however, these are sentient plants with combat abilities to fight off the zombie horde. You stockpile sunlight so you can have enough money to place your seeds. Each level you gain access to new plants, so you’re learning how to play the game as you move along. Your neighbor Crazy Dave helps you out by selling you seeds at his store, and you can take part in bonus games such as wall-nut zombie bowling. There are several unlockable modes, some of which parody Popcap’s other games such as Bejeweled.
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