Thanksgiving’s come and gone, and the fact that you haven’t exploded is in itself a minor miracle. Thankfully, there isn’t much to really get you riled up this week, unless of course you love Mickey Mouse to death.

Remember. Release dates are quite literally made at the whims of the publisher.  The following are subject to change without any warning.

Releases To Watch For This Week

Disney Epic Mickey (Wii)

Tuesday November 30, 2010
It’s funny. Mickey hasn’t really gotten his own movie or video game in a good long while, but somehow most everyone still knows who he is. Or do they? In Epic Mickey, Warren Spector (most notably known for his more hardcore fares like Deus Ex) takes Mickey a little closer to his roots of a mischievous character instead of the goody two shoes of the modern Mickey. In Epic Mickey, Mickey accidentally created the Phantom Blot with the help of a magical paintbrush. The Blot then entered into the Cartoon Wasteland, the world of forgotten Disney Characters like Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and pulled Mickey along with it. Now Mickey will have to undo his mistake and destroy this Phantom Blot. Played in third person with plenty of platforming, Mickey will have access to the power of Paint and thinner. Paint enables him to create objects in the world while thinner enables him to erase objects in the world. Depending on which power you use the most often along with choices made in the game, you shape the final outcome of the story, so basically, Paint and Thinner is the Good and Evil morality of the game. It doesn’t sound like Epic Mickey is out to create the newest platforming experience, but it promises to bring to light the many characters of Disney’s past. I’ve never even heard of this Oswald fellow until this game came about, so on that note alone, Epic Mickey has me very interested in seeing what other characters I’ve never heard of from Disney.

Honorable Mention

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn (DS)

Monday November 29, 2010
I’m starting to think that time has no relevance when it comes to reviving a series. The last game in this RPG series came out nearly a decade ago for the Game Boy Advance, but it was a real cult hit and a critical darling. For those who have been waiting for a sequel, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is your prayers answered. Set over 30 years after the events of the last Golden Sun, Dark Dawn promises to be a new beginning for new players and a familiar stroll down memory lane albeit slightly changed. Those who remembered the world before will find that the geography has been altered due to the events of the last game. You play as the descendants of the previous heroes who are drawn to the mysteries of this new world along with a new threat looming on the horizon. Like before, Djinns will play a giant role in character customization. Equipping Djinns to your characters grants various boosts to their stats and abilities, which like before can be used in combat or to interact with the world. Speaking of combat, it looks to be your typical turn-based combat complete with magic and summons. Dark Dawn probably isn’t out to push the RPG envelope, but that didn’t stop RPG fans from loving the hell out of the original 2 Golden Suns.

Coming This Week

Tuesday November 30, 2010

Nail’d (Xbox 360, PS3)

Depending on what it is that you’re actually looking for, you might or might not be disappointed by Nail’d. If you’re looking for a very arcadey motocross and ATV racer, than you’ve come to the right place. Otherwise, you might be a little bit disappointed.

SingStar Dance (PS3)

Those of you who have been dying to be rated on your dancing while you’re singing karaoke are about are about to have a reason for living. SingStar Dance is both a karaoke game and a dancing game via Playstation Move controllers. Just try not to kick the cat by accident. They really hate that.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon (Wii)

Wait, didn’t this come out like 9 years ago for the previous generation of consoles? Aren’t they at, like, Ghost Recon 7 or something or other by now? Yup, and Yup. Sorry to pop your dreams of a full on Ghost Recon experience for the Wii, but it’s basically Time Crisis with the Ghost Recon name complete with popping in and out of cover except done in 3rd person. Weird.

LTTP

• Deadliest Catch: Sea of Chaos (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii) 11/29/2010
• Shawn Johnson Gymnastics (Wii, DS) 11/30/2010
• Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes del Ring (Wii) 11/30/2010
• Chronicles of Mystery: The Tree of Life (DS) 11/30/2010
• Rec Room Games (DS) 11/23/2010

Ah dead weeks. How I’ve missed you so. At least there’s still something worth checking out this week compared to most other dead weeks where you get zilch. How about you guys? Who’s up for getting Nail’d?

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