January 10, 2011: wallet threat level red tights

This week sees the release of Sony’s superhero-themed MMO, DC Universe. If you’re a comic book nerd, 1) ha ha, and 2) you can expect 100% more licensed superheroes than you got in City of Heroes. As for me, I normally wouldn’t care since I’m too way cool for comic books. Plus it’s an MMO that isn’t called Lord of the Rings Online. However, I have an ongoing assignment to cover it over the next four weeks, so I’ll be playing. Friend me or sidekick me or mentor me or Justice League me or whatever it is you do in this game and we can fight crime together. Excelsior! Snikt! Bamf!

The really intriguing release this week is Capcom’s Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, a Nintendo DS game from the creator of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. Ghost Trick is a puzzle game in which you’re a ghost who has to possess objects to solve puzzles, and ultimately solve the mystery of who killed you. I played a bit of it at a press event and I really like its style and how it’s suited to the DS. Remember the DS? That folding thing Nintendo made?

Then there’s Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! for the PSP. I have made no embellishment to that title. All those words are actually in the game’s name. Now you may know what a Prinny is from the Disgaea games. You may have even married one in ZHP. I know I did and I don’t regret it. We had some great times, mostly involving meal deliveries. But if you haven’t played one of these Prinny games, I have to warn you that they aren’t to be approached lightly. Even though this sequel to the first game advertises itself as being easier, it’s still not a very friendly platformer. But then again, some people actually got more than three levels into Donkey Kong Country Returns without quitting in disgust, so I might not be the best judge of platformers.