On The Radar: Week of 12/15

Unfortunately, it is likely that until the new year the only new posts that will go up here at Punchy Title will be On The Radar entries. The holiday season is closing in and family obligations take priority. At any rate, come back here each Monday to get some insight into the last minute holiday releases.

Everything Old is New Again - Aquaria - PC (Steam) $19.99 ($15.99 before 12/31)

Aquaria is a great little indie game that you probably didn't notice when it came out a little over a year ago. This 2D side-scrolling adventure game is chock full of content. The Steam release this week includes SteamWorks integration. That means achievements and all the benefits that come with a Steam-enabled game.

With features like a cooking system that allows you to create useful potions to some of the most beautiful sprites in recent memory, Aquaria is really worth the investment.

Be Sure to Check Out - Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People Episode 5: 8-Bit Is Enough - Wii 1000 Points/ PC $8.99

This series, developed by Telltale Games (of Sam and Max Season 1 & 2 fame), is surprisingly engaging even for non-fans of Homestar Runner. Each game so far has had an entertaining storyline and successful dialogue. Many gameplay elements such as the map system and objective structure are customized to the particular gimmick of each Episode.

The result is that each episode maintains a good combination of familiarity and novelty. Let's hope that the fifth episode continues down the same path. My one caution would be that if you haven't been through the first four episodes then it might be wise to wait for the inevitable multi-episode discount right around the corner. Do I smell a Steam release on PC or a DVD release on Wii?

I Can Make No Suggestion in Good Faith - Final Fantasy Versus XIII - PS3 $59.99

Does anyone know anything about this game? So far the layperson has had the opportunity to see two CG game trailers that contains absolutely no gameplay footage. I think most people agree that this is probably an action RPG. Is that all we know?

This release totally perplexes me. Avoid it until someone can figure out what on earth is going on. Is this a good way to market a brand new Final Fantasy game?