Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness

411mania talks about this week's game releases. Highlights include Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days, Raiden IV, and The Beatles: Rock Band.

411mania gives a rundown on this week's game releases. Highlights include Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?, Street Fighter IV, DoDonPachi Daioujou Black Label Extra, Shooting Love, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, Metroid Prime Wii. Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? (PSP) Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? is one of the best platformers I've played in years thanks to it's tight controls and above average presentation. However, this game is definitely not for everyone. In fact, I'm pretty sure that only hardcore platformer junkies and people with infinite amounts of patience will get past the first three or four stages without developing a desire to throw their PSPs at a wall in rage. But if you can hang on, getting through the game can be quite satisfying and is an achievement that is worth bragging about. Street Fighter IV (PS3, 360) It isn't necessary for me to go in-depth since every other site is already doing it. I will, however, bring to your attention one of the coolest features SFIV has - the Arcade Request system. Basically, instead of watching a static screen while waiting for someone to challenge you online, this system allows you to play against the computer and seamlessly accept a challenge when one comes your way. It's like going to an arcade and playing against the CPU until someone gets the nerve to plunk down fifty cents to take you on. If you set it to accept only Player Matches (unranked) you can keep things going by rematching or, if you don't want to play the person again, you can quickly and easily go back to arcade mode after your match and continue on with the CPU until you get another challenge. It's hard to believe that it's taken Capcom this long to implement such a system. I can only hope that SNK does the same thing in its home version of KOF XII. DoDonPachi Daioujou Black Label Extra (360 Import) Every shooter needs its own hook to stand out. While Trigger Heart has its grapple syst...

Nintendo, which has been historically criticised for not providing enough software for its platforms, emerges as the clear winner this week ¿ at least in terms of quantity. Specficially, American gamers get to choose between eight DS titles over the next five days, including the likes of Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2008 and Pocket Pets. Also, a quintet of Wii releases are available through Friday, which includes the towering arrival of Godzilla Unleashed and Myth Makers: Super Kart GP.

The review scores from EGM #222 (December 2007) are revealed: * Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock: 9, 8.5, 8 * Sega Rally Revo: 7.5, 7, 7 * Conan: 5.5, 5.5, 5.5 * WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008: 8, 7, 5.5 * Clive Barker's Jericho: 3, 4.5, 4.5 (Shame of the Month) * The Simpsons Game: 7, 6.5, 7 * Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War: 4, 6, 4 * Folklore: 5.5, 7.5, 8 * The Eye of Judgment: 8, 8, 8 * Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction: 8.5, 9.5, 9 * Halo 3: 10, 10, 9 * Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation: 6.5, 6.5, 8 * Half-Life 2 Orange Box: 10, 9.5, 10 * Beautiful Katamari: 7, 4.5, 4 * Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations: 9, 7, 7.5 * Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness: 7.5, 7, 7 * Silent Hill: Origins: 7.5, 7, 7

As most of the world is dragged kicking and screaming into the high-def PS3 era, a handful of developers continue to service the ginormous PS2 market with smaller, easier-to-market titles. RPG fans know well the name of NIS America, the publisher responsible for titles like Atelier Iris, Ar tonelico and Disgaea, and today it's announcing four more games to fill that aching hole in your adventurous heart. Disgaea Portable for PSP has been confirmed, but it's much more than the Japanese

If you're reading this, you know all about Disgaea and its surreal, demonic universe. The strategy RPG series continues to grow in popularity (with an animated series and the just-released Disgaea 2), but publisher NIS America sent out a call for fans to help share their love of the series - because it sounds like Disgaea Portable, for PSP, needs a little push to get to the