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Retail Roundup: December 10, 2008 on Game and Player
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Retail Roundup: December 10, 2008

Ed Kirchgessner  //  December 10, 2008


Whoops. You stepped in a pile of Christmas.

W

hile I'm fairly certain I'm still a huge video game fan, this week's slate of releases is unlikely to convert any naysayers. Alas, most major publishers let loose the floodgates on their A-list products months ago. What we're left with are this week's releases.

Alright, perhaps I spoke too soon. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 is bound to excite fans of Japanese role playing games. Indeed, this bargain PlayStation 2 title is the follow up to the critically acclaimed Persona 3. While this game probably isn't for everyone (some folks have a hard time swallowing high school suicides as a vital play dynamic), it fills a certain niche which is exploited far too infrequently. Thank you, Atlus — this week is no longer a complete failure.

Climbing back aboard the express train to "Crap Town," we have Build-a-Lot for the Nintendo DS. I'm not quite certain when development began on this real estate simulation, but considering the current state of the economy (and the housing market in particular), this title from publisher Mumbo Jumbo seems like a slap to the face. I can almost hear the marketing team now: "Can't sell your house? Play our game instead and make millions in the magical world of real estate!" Yup — hours of entertainment.

Sweet! Developer 49Games has stumbled upon yet another sport ripe for exploitation on the Wii! Biathlon may not be the most popular pursuit here in America, but Ski and Shoot let's you compete against the sport's biggest stars from the comfort of your own home. Don't get me wrong — I fully appreciate the athleticism this pastime requires. Still, game descriptions like this make me assume EA's WCF Street is just around the corner.

When I want to play a first person shooter, I reach for my PC keyboard or game controller — not my DS. Nintendo's handheld is perfectly suited to a number of genres, but alas: first person action isn't one of them. Although NoWay Studio, developer of C.O.R.E., may try to convince you otherwise, I'd steer clear. Carpal tunnel syndrome is painful, after all.





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