Out This Week - 15/07/11
Harry Potter! Captain America!
Let's put it this way: I've seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. And I nearly cried. The film wastes no time getting to business - there's a bloody war going on. Potter 7 Part 2 packs a whole trunk of crash, bang, wallop. Perfect fodder for a video game. Only, don't expect the official Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 game to Wingardium Leviosa above the usual turgid memorabilia tie-in fare. We'd be Stupefied if it did.
Pottermania aside, there's another film tie-in arriving this week: Captain America. Sega's promised that this won't be another duff Marvel mash-up like Iron Man and Thor. This Captain America game, we were told, would be what fans truly deserve. And we hope that turns out to be more than dog waste smeared up the pavement.
Away from the film forest, video game pastures are arid. This week there's the belated shop release of Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, as well as downloadable L.A. Noire add-on Reefer Madness.
But that's not all - save some of your time and Microsoft Points for Wednesday's Xbox Live Arcade triple feature. Ms. Splosion Man headlines the bill - she's a sequel to Twisted Pixel's previous platform outing, the well-received 'Splosion Man. There's also Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team, a co-operative third-person shooter served as an entrée to this year's full 40K release Space Marine. And for dessert, Boulder Dash XL, an update of the ancient block busting puzzler.
We'll update this list with Nintendo eShop and PlayStation Network releases as the week progresses.
This Week in Shops!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
- Developer: EA Bright Light
- Publisher: EA
- Formats: DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
What is it? Cash-in of the huge cinematic climax to the Harry Potter series. Without Kinect - apparently this is now third-person action for the core. What does Eurogamer think? It's unlikely you'll know until next week, due to absent review code. Let's put it this way: last year's much-hyped Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 Eurogamer review returned an atrocious 3/10. Try not to be swayed if you can hold out for our verdict.
Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition
- Developer: Capcom
- Publisher: Capcom
- Formats: PC
What is it? The last of the brilliant Street Fighter IV releases. Yes I know we featured this last week - I'm out of options! What does Eurogamer think? Eurogamer's console review of Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition awarded 8/10: "A fitting end for what's been one of the most intense joyrides in gaming."
What Else?
- Captain America: Super Soldier (PS3, Xbox 360)
- Boulder Dash XL (XBLA)
- Ms. Splosion Man (XBLA)
- Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team (XBLA)
- L.A. Noire Reefer Madness LDC (PS3, Xbox 360)
Chart Predictions!
Each week one of the team will step up to predict the UK all-formats chart. The following predicts the outcome for the week beginning Friday 15th July (to be reported on Monday 18th July).
Wesley Yin-Poole, News Editor
"I expect Harry Potter and his army of fans to weave a magic spell over the UK charts next week. Fan fervour has reached fever pitch now the film is doing the rounds, and the release of the video game of The Deathly Hallows Part Two is well timed. But will it dislodge Zumba Fitness atop its muscle-bound top spot? You know what, I don't think it will. But number two is a good shout. The question on my mind is, now the films are finished, will this be the last Harry Potter video game? Oh, and the less said about Sega's Captain America movie tie-on, the better."
- Zumba Fitness
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two
- DiRT 3
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon
- Lego Pirates of the Caribbean
Last week, Eurogamer features editor Martin Robinson attempted to predict the future. Our fancy table below shows you how many he got right.
| Position | The Truth | The Prediction | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zumba Fitness | Zumba Fitness | YES! |
| 2 | DiRT 3 | L.A. Noire | NO! |
| 3 | Transformers: Dark of the Moon | Lego Pirates of the Caribbean | NO! |
| 4 | Lego Pirates of the Caribbean | Transformers: Dark of the Moon | NO! |
| 5 | L.A. Noire | UFC Personal Trainer | NO! |
Your Chart Predictions
Last week, 87 per cent of you predicted that nobody-release Air Conflicts: Secret Wars wouldn't finish higher than 12th in the UK video games chart. Well what do you know? You were absolutely spot on. A silly-billy 4 per cent of you thought it would top the UK all-formats top 40! Ho ho you must be sniffing rat poison!
This week it's the turn of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Will Pottermania grip the nation and propel the bespectacled hero and his friends to the top of the UK video game chart? Tell me.