411mania gives a rundown on this week's game releases. Highlights include Retro Game Challenge, Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad/Bikini Zombie Slayers, X-Blades, and Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection.

Retro Game Challenge (DS)
The challenges do not require you to finish each game. However, all of the games are complete, so you can if you want to. They can take up to eight hours or longer to beat and are not what I would consider shovelware - there is some depth to all of them. One of the action games, for example, has its own power-up screen where you can use certain items you've collected to improve your character. Abilities such as jumping higher and throwing more projectiles are essential for getting further in the game. Another example is how one of the racing games has a very cool drifting mechanic which makes it much more interesting than most of the others that I played in the 80s. So, at the very least, some of the games offered here rival those that were actually released back in the day.

Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad (360) / Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers (Wii)
This week's releases of Bikini Samurai Squad and Bikini Zombie Slayers mark Onechanbara's first official appearance in the US. It originally started out as one of D3's Simple Series games in Japan. History lesson: The Simple Series is made up of mostly budget titles that rip off other successful games. The low-budgetness isn't always a bad thing though, as it gave the developers some freedom to experiment, which is probably how Onechanabara was born. I mean, where else would they have gotten the idea for zombie-hunting bikini-and-cowboy-hat-wearing girls with swords? Somehow, Onechanbara was popular enough to break away from its Simple Series roots and has spawned quite a few sequels.

X-Blades (PC, PS3, 360)
After playing the retail version I can safely say that this game is fun for a hack-and-slasher. There isn't anything new or...
» Read More 

It looks like a scary week in gaming; perfect for valentine's day!
» Read More 

TVGB: "I've been trying my darnedest to ignore the viral video campaign for Onechanbara, the cult franchise featuring bikini-wearing, Stetson-sporting Japanese schoolgirls doing what they do best - cutting a bloody path through hordes of zombies.

Don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled this "buckets of blood" meets "babes in bikinis" title is finally seeing release outside of its native Japan, but these videos.

Ugh."
» Read More 

At last the Onechanbara is coming to North America. To find out about D3's plans for their zombie slasher series Siliconera spoke with Oohashi Toshiro from D3 Japan's Consumer Business Division. One of the questions Siliconera asked him was if there was anything different between the Japanese and North American versions of Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers (aka Onechanbara R in Japan). Toshiro-san told Siliconera, "the mere thing is that the graphics are now in higher resolution in comparison to the Japanese version so we were able to implement and present something that is more visually appealing."
» Read More 

From gameplayer: Your eyes do not deceive you: the more zombie blood gets splattered over the heroines of this game, the more excited they get.

Welcome to the world of Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers, where hot chicks are hot for blood.
» Read More 

Kotaku's Michael McWhertor writes: "Finally, D3 Publisher of America has come to its senses! We don't want your Dark Sectors, guys; we want your poorly animated super soldiers shooting giant bugs and gooey zombie killin' adventures in combat inappropriate clothing. We want that mind-numbing stuff. That's why we're so pleased to learn, via GamesRadar, that Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers will be coming to the Wii in early 2009."
» Read More 

The Hudson Entertainment site admin has stated that it is possible that there gamers could see a sequel to Onslaught.
» Read More 

From the article: "KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that Opoona, a new Role-Playing Game (RPG) exclusively for Wii is available now in store and online through retailers across North America including: Amazon.com, Game Crazy, Gamefly, and GameStop..."
» Read More 

From the article: "KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that Opoona, a new Role-Playing Game (RPG) exclusively for Wii has reached gold status, and is scheduled to ship to North American retailers on March 25, 2008. Gamers can begin their journey at Amazon.com, Game Crazy, Gamefly, and GameStop."
» Read More 

Opoona is a "lifestyle RPG," where you, as Opoona, descendant of brave warriors, known as Cosmo Guards, must adapt to a new environment, meet new people, get a job, all while becoming aware of the precious world and people surrounding him. Already revealed in Nintendo's Q1 2008 release schedule, KOEI confirms Opoona's is coming March 25, 2008.
» Read More