On the Download: June 24-30 Part 1

You are not reading the title wrong.  This week On the Download will be split into two parts to cover the good amount of noteworthy downloadable games released this week.  It did not take long for the downloadable game space to start dropping big release after another.  This week alone, we got the expansion to the biggest RPG of 2011, the extended ending to the biggest RPG of 2012, the next episodes in the Penny Arcade and Walking Dead series of games and two big 3DS downloadable releases.  Got a whole lot to cover in On the Download this week.  Today, we will be looking at the two big 3DS downloadable releases.  Along with these games, you can also download the demo for Rhythm Thief for free and get VVVVV on sale for 5 dollars.

A few months ago, Zen Studios released Zen Pinball 3D for the 3DS.  Now Zen Studios has brought their successful Marvel Pinball game to Nintendo's portable system as well.  Marvel Pinball 3D is the same game you may have experienced on the Xbox 360 or PS3, now with 3D visuals and being able to take it on the go.  Marvel Pinball features four tables that players can enjoy.  The four tables are each based on a different Marvel property.  One for Iron Man, one for Captain America, one for Blade and one for the Fantastic Four.  Each table has a corresponding villain that acts as the boss for the table.  For example, you battle Red Skull on the Captain America table or fight the Mandarin on the Iron Man table.   Marvel Pinball 3D also features online leader broads and in-game challenges to keep players occupied.  For those interested in another pinball game for the 3DS, Marvel Pinball 3D costs 8 dollars to download.

Earlier this year Renegade Kid cut their teeth in the downloadable game space with Mutant Mudds for the 3DS.  Now a few months after their first downloadable, they have released their second exclusively for the 3DS.  The game is Bomb Monkey.  In the world of Bomb Monkey, these creative little primates created a sport by the name of Blok Bombing.  The goal of Blok Bombing is rather simple.  You will have to stop the bloks from rising high enough to knock you off your perch.  By carefully stacking bloks and using bombs, you can set up combos and earn a higher score.  Bomb Monkey puts a creative spin on the puzzle game genre.  Bomb Monkey features several different game modes (Endless, Rescue, 3 Minutes and Numbers) and both co-operative and competitive multi-player modes for all to enjoy.  Bomb Monkey looks like an unique puzzle game that 3DS owners should check.  The best thing is this game will only set you back 5 dollars if you decide to pick it up.

Off the Newsstand: Game Informer Issue 228

Two editions of Off the Newsstand in one week, well that is a first.  Got both issues of EGM and Game Informer on the same day so immediately after I breezed through EGM, I breezed through Game Informer.  The bad part of that breezing through both magazines was that I had nothing to read until this past Tuesday when I got my newest issues of both Nintendo Power and Game Informer.  After an underwhelming March issue of Game Informer, let us see if Game Informer can bounce back with a good April issue.

In short, Game Informer Issue 228 is a better than Issue 227.  It is not the best issue out there, but a solid nonetheless.  With Ubisoft's announcement of Assassin's Creed III releasing this coming October, Game Informer has new protagonist, Connor gracing the two special covers.  While the Assassin's Creed III cover story is a much more informative and a better read than The Last of Us cover story from the last issue, it did nothing to get me excited for the fourth Assassin's Creed game in four years.  Honestly, I was more excited for Assassin's Creed: Revelations after reading Game Informer's cover story back last June than for the newest entry in Ubisoft's cash cow.  Maybe it is franchise fatigue or Assassin's Creed may not  be my cup of tea.  If you are a fan of Assassin's Creed, you will definitely eat up everything that is reveled in Game Informer's good cover story.  If you are not a fan of Assassin's Creed, this issue of Game Informer is packed with good articles.  Some of the articles you can find in this issue are an interview with Mojang's Markus "Notch" Persson, the man responsible for a little indie game by the name of Minecraft, coverage of the D.I.C.E. summit in Las Vegas, a roundtable interview with Marvel Comics' top writers about video games, comics and Avengers vs. X-Men, a look at Zen Studios, makers of hit downloadable game Pinball FX 2 and a interview with the designer of the Flash game tribute to the 8-bit era, Abobo's Big Adventure, Roger Barr.  Those all come with another solid round-up of previews on upcoming games such as Hitman Absolution and Far Cry 3 and reviews on recently released games like SSX and Syndicate.  One article I could personally do without is Game Informer's annual April Fool's tradition, Game Infarcer, a fake magazine within Game Informer.  It will illicit a few laughs here and there, but there are much better ways to use those few pages on a stupid jokes about the gaming industry.  I will say it is funny watching somebody skim through Game Informer only to stumble upon the Game Infarcer article and believe everything on those few pages.

Overall, Issue 228 of Game Informer is a solid issue.  The cover story will only excite fans of the Assassin's Creed franchise, but it is still an enjoyable read.  If you do not enjoy the cover story, the other great articles will more than make up for it.  You will not be disappointed if you pick up Issue 228 of Game Informer at your local book store or library.

On the Download: January 8-14

After the lack of big downloadable releases, we got a full order of games to talk about on this edition of On the Download.  It seems that right after Christmas, developers take a few weeks to start releasing new games for the downloadable services and consoles.  At least now there should be a steady stream of games on both fronts for gamers to enjoy for the next few months.  Let us take a look at the biggest downloadable games of the week.

30 years after the original released on the Apple II, Choplifter is back.  Now in glorious high definition, Choplifter HD dropped on XBLA, PSN and PC earlier this week.  inXile Entertainment has recreated the classic Choplifter gameplay for a new era of gamers to enjoy.  In Choplifter HD, you take control of an up-and-coming rescue pilot who is just recruited to an international helicopter rescue team.  Throughout the 30 missions that are in the game, you will pilot various different helicopters.  Maneuver through perilous conditions as you rescue others and complete your mission.  If you are interested in revisiting a classic franchise, Choplifter HD will run you 15 dollars or 1200 Microsoft Points.

From the studio that brought Pinball FX 2 and Marvel Pinball to the console downloadable services has now brought a whole new pinball experience to the Nintendo 3DS in Zen Pinball 3D.  For the first time experience pinball in a new dimension as you play four excellently crafted original pinball tables.  Featuring the most authentic pinball experience on any handheld to date, Zen Pinball 3D also offers online leaderboards, in-game friend challenges and interactive 3D models.  Looking for a pinball game for the 3DS, look no further than Zen Pinball 3D at the affordable price of 7 dollars.

If you don't know who 5th Cell is, let me refresh your memory.  They are the team behind the two Scribblenauts games for the Nintendo DS.  After the release of Super Scribblenauts, 5th Cell looked to broaden their scope.  Start making games for different systems other than the DS.  Run Roo Run is one of results of 5th Cell broadening their scope.  Run Roo Run follows Roo, a mother kangaroo, travelling across Australia in order to rescue her kidnapped baby.  Run Roo Run has over 420 levels, each only being a single screen long.  Before you roll your eyes, each level is filled to the brim with unique, fun obstacles that complement the easy-to-learn one touch gameplay.  Also each week, you will automatically 10 new levels for free each and every week.  For the price of 1 dollar for the iPhone version and 2 dollars for the iPad version, Run Roo Run is perfect for any gamer while on the go.  Now that I think about it, I might just download Run Roo Run right now.