New PAL Releases Roundup - 13/03/2009

By Tom Bramwell Published 13 March, 2009

Resi 5, SOCOM, Persona 4, more.

Did you know that Chris Redfield is a gay icon? Apparently so. Outnumbered by gay friends in the pub last night, I was expressing my belief that Sheva's unlockable leopard-print bikini outfit is perhaps a step too far, only to be told that at least one of them is trying to coax a downloadable Redfield Speedo out of Capcom. What a thought.

What a game, too. It might be awkward to play on your own, and the lack of puzzles is saddening, but there's nothing quite like fighting your way through hordes of very dangerous (albeit stupid) enemies with limited weapons and ammo, upgrading and restocking weapons between levels and griefing Kristan in co-op (why break the habit of a lifetime). It may only be worth 7/10 in our eyes, but Resident Evil 5 can still be wonderful. It's certainly the most exciting thing on the shelves this week.

Possibly, anyway. Because if you've been following Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series than your feet may be carrying you to a completely different bit of the shop - in search of Persona 4 on PS2. Yep, 2! A bonkers blend of role-playing game and dating simulation, complete with its own openly gay character now I come to think of it, it's massive, replayable and reviewed next week once we've battled far enough through it.

Finally, also worth mentioning this week is SOCOM Confrontation from Sony, not least because it's a bit of an unknown quantity. The US release late last year was savaged, but largely on account of its many, many bugs. The European version enjoys the benefit of multiple patches, including a big one from around the start of the year. Will it make a difference? We're making sure to test it out on the European servers this week and over the weekend to find out, so check in on Monday for a verdict.

This week:

  • Bleach: Dark Souls (DS)
  • BrainTraining for Dummies (PC)
  • Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force (DS)
  • Codename Panzers: Cold War (PC)
  • Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising (PC - digital download)
  • Crystal Defenders (Xbox Live Arcade)
  • Enchanted Folk and the School of Wizardry (DS)
  • EVE Online (PC - boxed release)
  • Family Table Tennis (WiiWare)
  • Job Island: Hard Working People (Wii)
  • Jungle Speed (WiiWare)
  • Millennium Series Championship Paintball 2009 (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii)
  • Monster Jam Urban Assault (Wii, PSP, DS, PS2)
  • MySims Party (Wii, DS)
  • Peggle (Xbox Live Arcade)
  • Poker for Dummies (PC)
  • Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (DS)
  • Resident Evil 5 (PS3, Xbox 360)
  • Secret Service (Xbox 360, PS2, PC)
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (PS2)
  • SOCOM Confrontation (PS3)
  • Sonic and the Black Knight (Wii)
  • Suikoden - Tierkreis (DS)
  • Travel Games for Dummies (DS)
  • Trivial Pursuit (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2)
  • World in Conflict: Complete Edition (PC)
Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (32) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • muscleblade #1 3 years ago

    Played RE5 for a couple of days. One of my favourite games so far.

  • schnide #2 3 years ago

    Is SOCOM backwardly compatible with the PS2, or did they just put the old game on the PS3 disc by mistake?

    Heh heh heh.

  • Darren #3 3 years ago

    "Did you know that Chris Redfield is a gay icon?"

    Ah right, so that's why I find him so desirable then? He's so manly with those huge muscular arms that I want him to just wrap around me and hold me tight and... ahem... this is a family website so I won't go there. ;)

  • kinky_mong #4 3 years ago

    You'd just feel so safe in those big arms of his.

    So far Resi 5 is a 10 out of 10 from playing up to chapter 2-2 on Veteran with my friend.

  • bad09 #5 3 years ago

    I'm gonna crack and pick RE today on my last day off. Mess around with Capcoms crappy shooter this afternoon ;)

  • jonsaan #6 3 years ago

    /stealth I have gay friends and am in no way homophobic article.

  • GamesConnoisseur #7 3 years ago

    Will pick up RE5 and Persona 4, not too sure re Sonic and will hold on more reviews.

    EDIT: Metacritic 54 for Sonic and the Black Knight so forget it and Wii you smells at the moment!

    Yup RE5 is a must for co op and an ok for SP
    Edited by 1 at 13/03/09 @ 10:16

  • Vanmunt #8 3 years ago

    So far Resi 5 is a 10 out of 10 from playing up to chapter 2-2 on Veteran with my friend.

    I wasn't going to get this as the demo was poor, but my friend talked me into it and I must say in co-op it may be one of the best games I have played. If you are able to play this with a mate then get it, its as good if maybe a little more fun than GOW2 co-op
    Edited by 1 at 13/03/09 @ 10:16

  • andywilkie35 #9 3 years ago

    I am kinky_mong's friend and playmate, and I concur that its a big 10/10

  • andywilkie35 #10 3 years ago

    @Vanmunt

    I literally said your sentiments in the Resi 5 thread, I think it just outdoes GoW2

  • Ninja_Tino #11 3 years ago

    Glad to see the love for Resi, at least for now. These boards are plagued by people who simply hate it. I'm not gay, but if I had to get jiggy then Chris would lose to Leon, sorry. Real life though, Bowie's arse for definite! Been playing Persona 4 since Wednesday (woo Shopto) and really loving it. When you say "get far enough through it" does that mean you'll review it possibly without finishing it? That's mad!

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #12 3 years ago

    @Darren

    This is a family website hahahahaha. These forums contain some of the most fouled mouthed socially ignorant people the net has to offer.

    No Offence.

  • Widge #13 3 years ago

    none taken you cunt

  • NotSoSlim #14 3 years ago

    Fanboy goading by some people...as usual

  • Cloud-Strife #15 3 years ago

    Ordered Persona ages ago, its winging its way towards me as we speak, can't wait! P3 FES is one of my fave games so have high expectations for P4!

  • Rowlsten #16 3 years ago

    Job Island: Hard Working People?!?

    That sounds like some great escapism, the joy, the joy.

  • penhalion #17 3 years ago

    Persona 4 and a rental of RE5 for me.

  • Jack1258 #18 3 years ago

    Does anyone know whether Persona 4 works on PS3 (the old 60gb model). Annoyingly, I sold my PS2 when I got the PS3!

  • aine #19 3 years ago

    BrainTraining for Dummies (PC)

    isn't "brain training" a trademark? or is it okay because they took the space out and tacked "for dummies" on the end? if thats the case i've got a great new idea for a game, i call it SuperMarioBros for Wankers. i'll make millions!

  • penhalion #20 3 years ago

    @Jack1258

    Yes as that's what I'm playing it on. Just watch your saves as sometimes it says the save failed for some reason. Some kind of sync problem between the PS3 game emulator and the emulated memory card on the hard disk I think.

    @Rowl..

    I had to read that Job Island thing twice to believe it. WTF would I want to work all day, come home and playat working all day for?!?
    Edited by 1 at 13/03/09 @ 13:02

  • Ninja_Tino #21 3 years ago

    @ Jack. Yeah, use multiple saves!!! I already had one that was corrupted but tried later and it worked. Better safe than sorry, though. Also, the location of wherever you are isn't displayed in the lower left box. It's just completely blank. Just an annoyance, nothing major. Oh and very early on, when walking through fog your character will walk super fast now and again. I searched around and found out it never happens again, so overall, it works!

  • bad09 #22 3 years ago

    OK confirmed, anyone not joining RE from RE4 onwards DO NOT bother with 5, seriously absolute arse of a RE game so far, more so than 4, tedious bloody game, constantly reminding you you're playing a game (seriously RE had NO health bars, hint buttons, presses etc. - ruins the whole atmosphere you twats!).

    Obviously reverse that if you actually like the reboot (you odd people you), you'll love this, plays smoother, faster pace and of course (needless to the rest of us) co-op.

    Still it's fun - worth a punt, just thank god Capcom have already said 5 is the last of it's kind. RIP reboot I won't miss ya that's for sure.......


    Oh and BTW, 360 has HORRIFIC tearing in the full game (same as demo), which is a shame as it is a beautiful game. Look at PS3 if you can.

  • bad09 #23 3 years ago

    @ farticusmaximus

    Yeah I'm at 1080p, but I should not have to lower my settings for one game. They make sure the DLC is ready and good to go why not the actual game?

    Seriously I NEVER see tearing (except Kung Fu Panda - Mrs bad09), but RE5 SHOULD NOT have been released like that, it's like watching a bootleg movie FFS!
    Edited by 1 at 13/03/09 @ 14:06

  • Widge #24 3 years ago

    Sounds patchable though

  • ShinMegami08 #25 3 years ago

    Resident Evil 5 was a big disappointment.
    I think RE4 is one of the best games of the PS2 era, but RE5 is just not Resident Evil. It lacks soul and story and is too heavy action-orientated.
    Also it's very strange that you can choose any level online without having to unlock them. Really sucks.
    The coop mode is quite cool, but both players should start with the same weapon and ammo. Its just weird, that you have to shoot ten times in the head of a zombie, while your partner runs through the level with a protection suit and an electrical stick, because he has already finished the game. Bad balancing!
    The mix of action and "survival horror" in RE5 just doesn't work. Capcom would have better made two games out of it. One title with more action, coop-mode, "casual". And then one title would be a real Resident Evil game: good story, a lot of frights, real atmosphere.
    Stupid wankers, they could even have used the same engine.

  • bad09 #26 3 years ago

    "I think RE4 is one of the best games of the PS2 era, "

    Erm...you do know it's a Gamecube game? PS2 got an ugly port.....

  • ShinMegami08 #27 3 years ago

    ooops... you are right! But well, the PS2 port sold a zillion more copies than the GC, so...
    The port wasn't ugly at all. It's one of the most beautiful games on the PS2.

  • Darren #28 3 years ago

    @Widge - "Sounds patchable though"

    Unless a lot of people complain then I can't imagine it will be fixed because this issue has reared its ugly head in all Capcom's Framework MT engine driven games since Dead Rising. It also affects Lost Planet I believe although at the time of its release 1080p wasn't supported by the Xbox 360.

  • bad09 #29 3 years ago

    "The port wasn't ugly at all. It's one of the most beautiful games on the PS2."

    Bullcrap, it looks awful on PS2, just like CV!

  • lemonfist #30 3 years ago

    It looks pretty amazing still on the PS2. It's the dualshock that makes it the inferior version.

  • spookyzombie #31 3 years ago

    'Played RE5 for a couple of days. One of my favourite games so far.'

    Agreed. EG scored this too low.

  • Feanor #32 3 years ago

    "A bonkers blend of role-playing game and dating simulation, complete with its own openly gay character now I come to think of it, it's massive, replayable and reviewed next week once we've battled far enough through it."

    Kanji isn't openly gay. And EG should have a review ready from playing the US version.