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Shippin' Out March 9-14: Smash Bros. Brawl, Condemned 2

Nintendo's delayed brawler finally arrives alongside Sega's atmospheric action sequel and a DS version of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles.

62 Comments

This space is usually reserved to talk about the week's biggest upcoming releases, but this week's largest game is already out. Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii went on sale yesterday, following the Sunday release strategy Nintendo takes with many of its biggest products, including the DS Lite and Wii hardware launches. Although the Smash Bros. disc literally has too much game for some Wii systems to handle, the critical and commercial reception thus far has been exceedingly positive.

Smash Bros. is by no means the only anticipated game launching this week. Sega has the sequel to its Xbox 360-launch action game Condemned lined up; Condemned 2: Bloodshot will ship to retailers for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Bloodshot picks up a year after the first game left off, with players assuming the role of criminal-investigator-turned-homeless-drunk Ethan Thomas. As in the first game, the creepy action is focused on brutal melee attacks, typically with unorthodox weapons such as pipes and bricks.

Condemned is limited to Microsoft's and Sony's systems for now, but Sega also has something for Wii fans in the market for an M-for-Mature gaming experience. House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return combines both arcade sequels in the light-gun shooting franchise and adapts them to work with the Wii's motion-sensing controller.

Sports gamers have something to look forward to as well with the release of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 on the PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable. The latest installment in Konami's long-running soccer series (formerly known as Winning Eleven), Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 adds a few wrinkles to bring the franchise's sim-oriented gameplay more in line with the real deal, including the ability to have players take a dive to draw a foul.

Portable players get a few exclusive releases of their own this week. Square Enix brings the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series to the DS with Ring of Fates. PSP role-players won't go wanting, either, because Wild Arms XF brings the Sony-exclusive series to the handheld for the first time as a strategy RPG. Those looking for a little more action on the go can check out the shoot-'em-up Nanostray 2 for the DS.

In the downloadable arena, both the Wii Virtual Console and Xbox Live Arcade are welcoming a pair of games this week. Nintendo's online store sees a pair of imported 16-bit games, DoReMi Fantasy: Milon's DokiDoki Adventure for the Super Famicom (Super Nintendo) and Puyo Puyo 2: Tsuu for the Sega Megadrive (Sega Genesis). In keeping with the heightened prices of previous Virtual Console localizations, both games will sell for 900 Wii points ($9). Meanwhile, Xbox Live Arcade will welcome the logic-puzzle game Brain Challenge for 800 Microsoft points ($10), and the casual puzzle game Bliss Island for 400 Microsoft points ($5).

This week's new releases are listed below (list taken from retailer information--actual dates may vary).

MARCH 9, 2008 (Sunday)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)

MARCH 10, 2008
Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory (PC)
DoReMi Fantasy: Milon's DokiDoki Adventure (Wii VC)
Puyo Puyo 2: Tsuu (Wii VC)

MARCH 11, 2008
Condemned 2: Bloodshot (Xbox 360, PS3)
House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return (Wii)
Insecticide (DS)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP)
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (PS2)
Wild ARMs XF (PSP)
Imperium Romanum (PC)
Seven Kingdoms: Conquest (PC)
Nanostray 2 (DS)
Buzz! The Hollywood Quiz (PS2)
Buzz! Junior: RoboJam (PS2)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (DS)

MARCH 12, 2008
Brain Challenge (XBLA)
Bliss Island (XBLA)

MARCH 13, 2008
PlayStation Network release schedule not yet announced.

MARCH 14, 2008
No releases scheduled for today.

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Inphure

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Is House of the Dead compatible with the Wii Zapper?

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KittenToes

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really looking forward to Condemned 2, and also Brawl looks awesome!!

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bernie0

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brawl is the best game i ever played

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rayray345

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Bliss Island looks freakin weird as f*@k!

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AxL_2k7

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Its something unusual, I think that this the first time that I ever seen a game been released in Mexico at the same time that in the US. If isn't the first time is the few ones that has "done" this. ^-^

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lamprey263

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there's some great games coming out in March, with SSBB just out, and Army of Two and Bully SE, and we've still Condemned 2 and Rainbow Six Vegas 2 to look forward to anyhow, another reason I desire not to ever get a PSP is the fact that the PSP games worth getting end up on the PS2. Silent Hill Origins made it to PS2 just the other week, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror went from PSP to PS2, Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow will go from PSP to PS2 in a couple months, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories also went from PSP to PS2... now as we see here, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters is going to the PS2. Though, the port I'm really looking forward to is the PS2 God of War: Chains of Olympus.

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sonofabear17

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damn I wish I had a Wii so I could pick up Brawl. And to all you people saying "Brawl is juat an updated version of meelee" no s%!*. Thats all any sequal is. They arent gonna completely change the gameplay, why fix whats not broken. They just add new stuff like online multiplayer and the level editor. Stop being fanboys its a good game so stop trying to bring it down.

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HALCONAZUL

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ok to all the fanboys... How many TRUE Mario, Zelda Pokemon etc games are made each year none they are most of the time 1 or 2 per generation maybe is the same formula... but if it not broken...why fix it? and how many Fifa, Madden Guitar Hero are verey year uh? Melee got released in 2001 and it is still playedthat was 7 years ago Brawl comes... and will be played until the next... in several years

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XanderKage

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God damn it, no PC for Condemned 2. I really liked the first one...

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Chief_Kuuni

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nice condemned 2 is out, the first one was good

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hongkingkong

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[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

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ashuncc2

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Eh, I'll wait for Vegas 2.

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Mario_sonic_man

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why brawl why?

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dmish82

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I hope Condemned 2 is good

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Nineball2112

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I'm looking forward to picking up Bloodshot 2! This game should be sweet...

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ferid84

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Why there is not PES2008 for PC WHY?!?!?! i feel 2008 will be a crappy year for pc unlike the 2007..

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CrAzED_MOFO

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"Nintendo IS a great company but I am sick of the same old stuff over and over and over and over and over again. Brawl is a slightly updated Melee, thats all it is. Even fanboys I've talked admitted but still love it. Like I said, Condemned 2 is the true shining game of this week" Ah, I feel your pain. It's hard when you're trying to bash one set of people for buying the third sequel to a game, when you're busy buying the second sequel to a game. It's a heavy buden, no? He can bash on Super smash bros because even though they made 3 sequels its been out since the 90s as condemned released in 2005 big difference people have had time to play super smash bros more then they had condemned but i like metal gear thats even older

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DonutTrooper

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Nothing like playing the iconic hero in Brawl who attacks more like a Metal Gear itself than the character being played.

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sanjeev3

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I agree with pencilpusher, they keep re-releasing slightly improved versions of the game and getting a lot more than they deserve. This is why that one day, nintendo will go out of business. Some other gaming companies spend a good time making great games which are no doubt better than a lot of marios and the such and nintendo, though making a good, simple game, get a lot more publicity and money. The gameplay is good but they just cant keep going like this. They havnt really done much with themselves or playing the computer market fairly. I think if SSBB beats Spore for game of the year in 2008, then nintendo is really going too far, its a cheap win and spore is a new type of game which hasnt been done before or been rereleased with small improvements multiple times.

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pencilpusher69

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09231991 "Nintendo IS a great company but I am sick of the same old stuff over and over and over and over and over again. Brawl is a slightly updated Melee, thats all it is. Even fanboys I've talked admitted but still love it. Like I said, Condemned 2 is the true shining game of this week" Ah, I feel your pain. It's hard when you're trying to bash one set of people for buying the third sequel to a game, when you're busy buying the second sequel to a game. It's a heavy buden, no?

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pencilpusher69

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FreddieGermany "I know that some Nintendo fanboys are gonna hate me but I bought brawl on Sunday and it is not that good. I was disappointed after all the delays and me holding on to my wii just to play brawl and this is what they come out with???????? Anyways I am going to buy Condemned 2: Bloodshot for my PS3 Thursday" The comedy stylings of FreddieGermany, ladies and gentlemen! Let's give him a big hand! You can enjoy his humor thursdays at the summit lanes. Bring the family and get half priced beer, and free hotdogs for the kids. Come on down!

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blackace

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FF: Crystal Chronicles and SSBB are the only things I want on that list for now.

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BioShockOwnz

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FreddieGermany: Forget about Super Mario Galaxy, the Game of the Year for last year? Guess so...

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FreddieGermany

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LordelX "Wow. Christmas came early for Wii owners. I wonder what their big holiday game is going to be?????????????????" your wrong Christmas came 3 months late lol

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BioShockOwnz

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09231991: I feel like SSBB was worth $50. There is sooo much content in the game. There's more stuff packed in SSBB than any other game. The modes, the options, the fan service. It's all there. Sure, it's a lot like SSBM, but that's a good thing. It is a sequel and it improves on the formula by giving us new characters, modes, and so on. Sequels shouldn't be completely different games, just a great addition to what it brought to the table in its past games. SSBB is a HUGE game.

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Lord_Daemon

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Hmmm nothing really of interest to me this week except maybe Insecticide for the DS. Maybe I'll give House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return a spin just to relive my old light gun game memories.

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FreddieGermany

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I know that some Nintendo fanboys are gonna hate me but I bought brawl on Sunday and it is not that good. I was disappointed after all the delays and me holding on to my wii just to play brawl and this is what they come out with???????? Anyways I am going to buy Condemned 2: Bloodshot for my PS3 Thursday

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InfinityTomorro

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PlayStation Network release schedule not yet announced? Uh oh. Ugh im so tired of bad updates

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alberto2045

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PES is lokign good

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Scienceray

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Ahh the True Winners of this week are: Condemned 2: Bloodshot, FFCC:RoF, and Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters. as for brawl, i think it was way over hype, and as many others have said, just a more complex melee

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Kh1ndjal

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seven kingdoms...mm

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Jebril

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LOL Brawl is not an updated Melee it plays nothing like Melee xD I hates it cuz it's so much more different actually.

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09231991

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@ Lightbarier, Do you know me? No, then shut your mouth. I've owned every system from the past 18 or so years, including hand-helds and PC. I've probably played more games than you so I don't even know why your even responding to me. Nintendo IS a great company but I am sick of the same old stuff over and over and over and over and over again. Brawl is a slightly updated Melee, thats all it is. Even fanboys I've talked admitted but still love it. Like I said, Condemned 2 is the true shining game of this week and As I also said in my other post, I'll wait for a TRUE fighter than some rehashed, knock-off. Thank you.

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RaiKageRyu

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Brawl pwns everything.

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Taegre

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Condemned 2 is going to be the first game I've picked up on release day since Halo 3 (God that was one of the best weeks of my life). Now this gives me about... 12 hours and 26 minutes to finish Lost Odyssey... Why are there so many awesome games this gen? It's the Dreamcast all over again!

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LordSpleach

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For those who are about to get Brawl, it needs 128 block of memory, so adjust your Virtual Console memory accordingly.

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Lightbarier

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09231991 I feel totaly sorry for you probly never got to play much of good games raised in a slaughter house and brain washed to think nintendo games stink by sony or microsoft who knows they both would have done it if it made them a buck. The point is you can go and suck my a$$.

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Pete5506

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Brawl is so much fun

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09231991

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Yes, thank you, carljohnson, BioShockOwnz and ghost867 for recognizing the truly great game of this week, Condemned 2, which was also slated for a Feb. release but got pushed back. Condemned was just friggin amazing and the second one is gonna pwn. Played Brawl, and in all honesty, its not that great. I nearly fell asleep while playing it cause it was just so pointless and not fun. $50 is way to much for a Melee 1.5 game. maybe when it goes down to 30 or 20, but not 50. I'd actually would rather wait for a TRUE fighting game. But overall, outta this week, Condemned 2 is truly the great game of the week and I seriously suggest to anyone who owns a 360 or PS3 to go and buy it, amazing, just amazing.

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carljohnson3456

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I really want Condemned 2. Only thing that is going to make me think twice about this game is that it's so dreary looking. After about 3+ hours into a dreary game, I usually want a change of pace/scenery, because I get depressed, lol. Other than that, it's looking awesome.

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BioShockOwnz

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SSBB is good and all. I have my copy and I've been playing it, but the real stuff is Condemned 2: Bloodshot. Can't wait!

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ghost867

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Of course, everybody is crazy about Brawl. Played it, enjoyed it, though for me, it's not worth the money or the effort. I have to wait overnight at a store to find a Wii, then spend $250 on it plus tax, then buy Brawl, which is $50 plus tax. Then I'd need a couple wireless Gamecube controllers, which is a bunch more. I don't know, maybe down the line when things are cheaper. Brawl is hella fun, just not $300+ of fun IMO. As far as everything else is concerned, Condemned 2 looks friggin sweet. The first one was incredible, so I highly recommend that. I wouldn't bother with House of the the Dead 2 & 3. Kind of a crappy rehash if you ask me. Though if you have a PS2, and never got to play Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters, buy it. It's only $30, it's got a cool online mode, and it's just hella fun. I love the PSP game, and I HIGHLY recommend that. Really, go buy it, now. And the Crystal Chronicles game is coming out for DS... let's just say I'd wait for the reviews on that one.

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Cwagmire21

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@LordelX "Wow. Christmas came early for Wii owners. I wonder what their big holiday game is going to be?" Well it was delayed from 2007 Holiday season, I guess it would be more it coming late than early.

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R3DN1N3

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MUST......GET.......BRAWL ! ! !

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ocdog45

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if SSBB wasn't out this week, this week would be trash

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09231991

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Don't give a crap about Brawl, All I want is Condemned 2 baby.

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polsci1503

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I thought the Mass Effect DLC was supposed to be available today too...

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dukerav

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Gameflying Condemned 2 I think, not much else interests me, just not into games like Smash Bros.

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ajcali08

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@raahsnavj "what can we expect for the computer in the next few months?" I don't know... what was released for X360 and PS3 6 months ago? hmm interesting since World in Conflict will come out for consoles a year later than its pc counter-part. Crysis will never make it to a console, UT3 hasnt made it to the xbox yet.. All the games i mentioned are far better than any console port you might be refering to. As far as pc gaming is concered, most of the new games came out end of last year..now we have to wait a lil longer, but for the console gamers, they'll have to wait for the next gen consoles to be able to play pc games comin in 2008.

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DocGonzo1971

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SSBB and FFCC for me this week. I might check out Condemned 2, but I want to hear more about it since what I've seen just looks like more of the first one.

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