The games of February 2011

FEBRUARY 14

Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation

Platform: DS
EU release: TBA

Even though the Dragon Quest series is one of the best-selling in gaming history, outside of Japan it’s popular with a smaller, but equally dedicated group of people. And that same group should be happy that now, 15 years later, the last missing “main” DQ entry is getting localized. The sixth entry rounds out the series with the same level of classic RPG grinding goodness, and has a story that centers around a multilayered world of dreams upon dreams. This lost SNES classic has upgraded graphics similar to the IV and V remakes for DS, so here’s hoping it holds up as well as the two previous games.

FEBRUARY 15

Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds

Platform: PS3, 360
EU release: Feb. 18

It’s taken more than a decade to see this through, but at long last, Marvel vs Capcom 3 is a reality. As you’d expect from Capcom’s Vs series, the combat is far more eccentric, exaggerated and out of control than a typical Street Fighter, with 10-story leaps and screen-shattering special moves that practically launch your opponents into the atmosphere. Both companies have strong representation, including Amaterasu, Dante and Mike Haggar (Capcom) and Iron Man, Wolverine and Thor (Marvel), but we’re not so sure about the doubling up of similar characters – do we really need Wolverine AND X-23? Hulk AND She-Hulk? Chris Redfield, Wesker AND Jill Valentine? Ah, who cares, this is gonna be awesome.

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together

Platform: PSP
EU release: Feb. 25

Much like Dragon Quest VI, this is a rerelease of another lost SNES game that RPG fans have been clamoring for since 1995. A remake of the first game in the Tactics Ogre series, which inspired the beloved Final Fantasy Tactics, Let Us Cling Together has the same hardcore, grid-based, stat-boosting, XP-collecting gameplay that strategy gamers find so addicting, and it’s being made by many of the members of the legendary original developer Quest. Not seen since a limited rerelease on the PlayStation, Let Us Cling Together is a Japanese classic that never got the attention it deserved internationally, which might change with this PSP game.

Hyperdimension Neptunia

Platform: PS3

Wait, don’t run away just because of the name and overly-JRPG character designs – this is actually a pretty clever parody of the console wars. For example, the world is divided into four areas called Leanbox (Xbox), Lastation (PlayStation), Lowee (Wii) and Planeptune (Sega’s canceled system Neptune), and the dialogue is completely saturated with references to classic games. If you’re up on your game trivia and can stomach an extremely “J” JRPG, this could be a cool little gem. Extra bonus: you can create custom summon spells using photos on your PS3’s hard drive. Please, promise you’ll try not to make your ass the most powerful spell in the game.

Gears of War Triple Pack

Platform: 360

Don't let the “thrice”-ness of the title fool you – Gears of War 3 is not included in the Gears of War Triple Pack. You do receive the first two parts of the trilogy, however, as well as every DLC multiplayer map and "Road to Ruin," a deleted campaign chapter from Gears of War 2. If you're a completionist, this package might be tempting, and if you've somehow managed to ignore the franchise completely up until now, the $30 price tag makes this a very convenient way to catch up before the ending hits shelves in late 2011.

Dance Paradise

Platform: 360
EU release: Nov. 19, 2010

Feel like you’ve exhausted the potential of Dance Central? Were you somehow able to tolerate Dance Masters long enough to get tired of it? Is your Kinect sitting useless, waiting desperately for you to bring home another game with the word “Dance” in the title? Then you may enjoy this. Its UK release last year didn’t exactly rack up the best review scores, but that doesn’t mean dance-game fanatics won’t find something to like about it.