Sunday Roundup: 12/7/14

While perusing the internet I happened across a list of underrated Sci-Fi games, or something like that, and this one was ranked highly. Featuring a story about singularity (or, if I understand the concept correct, the point in time when robotics become so advanced we as a race cannot tell the difference between automaton and human) and plenty of shooting action, Binary Domain looks like it’s a campy but fun little gem!

A high profile a game as this is going to be one I’m tracking down, and with this price I finally bought it. Though it wasn’t as well received as I’m sure it was hoping to be, I have to praise the game, Disney, and the development team for making something different with Mickey Mouse and the Disney franchise. If you’re unaware, Epic Mickey is a platforming game with a neat concept involving colors, a magic paintbrush, and a few classic Disney locales.

If I’m going to get one game, I’m probably going to buy the sequel. Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two features largely the same style of gameplay as the first game, but incorporates another playable character in the form of Oswald, the earlier version of Mickey Mouse that was seen in the first game. I remember a pretty big campaign for this game, but I haven’t seen or heard anything about the series since. Two mediocre games and a 3DS spinoff (which I need to still track down) likely won’t make a publisher too happy.

The sole “new” game I got this trip was a heavily reduced copy of Killer Is Dead for the 360. This limited edition (!!) comes with the game, an artbook, a soundtrack CD, and a hefty sized box to keep it all contained. I use quotations around the word new because GameStop has this stupid habit of opening new games and keeping the discs behind the counter (which I totally understand). It’s just incredibly hard for a collector to buy new from this store.

Big spender! I heard about this game from a friend who said it was a somewhat decent kid-friendly action RPG. Naturally it features some iconic Marvel superheros and villains, and, I’m assuming by the title, also features the Infinity Gauntlet. Wouldn’t it be funny if this game somehow shot up in demand due to the Marvel Cinematic Universe featuring largely the same story right now? One can only hope. Also worth mentioning, I originally intended to get this for my nephew for Christmas, but after purchasing it and talking to his parents and realizing he doesn’t really play video games much anymore, it just became my copy!

I’ve been watching this game’s price steadily decline over the past year from $24.99 all the way to $7.99 I found it for the day I bought it. Then it dropped even lower thanks to that precious sale. Seeing as I already have played Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on the 3DS, I likely won’t be touching this game too much. But it it worth it simply to have in the collection!

Man, I didn’t know this game came out so early in the Xbox 360’s life. That being said, I’m honestly surprised it is still $5 normally used! Also worth noting, as each of these games came out on the 360, an updated version was made around a year later for the PlayStation 3 under the subtitle Ninja Gaiden: Sigma.

So here’s something interesting about this game: it was originally released in 2004 as a PS2 game. This version on the Wii is a port which replaces the standard PS2 controls with the Wii’s motion controls. The game is a successor of sorts to the original classic game, featuring the titular Pitfall Harry as the protagonist. Also worth nothing, the cover art for this version has nothing in common with the actual visual style of the game.

A thrid-person spinoff of the main Resident Evil series, Operation Raccoon City lets you play as the evil Umbrella Corporation trying to clean up after the accident in the eponymous town. A college buddy was very much into Resident Evil during this game’s release, but was turned off completely by the third-person perspective and general lack of action seen in Resident Evil 5 that he so adored. I pretty much only got this because it was cheap: I’m really not the biggest Resident Evil fan.

The quest continues! With Secret Rings, I believe I only need to track down a decent copy of Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity to complete the Hedgehog’s series on the Wii. Those games are actually quite easy to find out and about, but getting it at a decent price is tricky. And I’m not going to speak on the ongoing issue of crappy Sonic games. Not yet…