May 3
Thor: God of Thunder (Wii, DS) – Everything I read says the DS version is one to watch, based on the legacy of developer WayForward. And the Wii version… is the Wii version.

May 10
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean (Wii, DS, 3DS) – Very reliable stuff, geared towards kids, families and super-fans of the franchise in question. By this point, I feel like Travellers Tales has ironed out much of the technical weirdness that bugged the series… now I just want them to work on the cutscene writing. I’m tired of seeing every game include serious characters suddenly, comically breakdancing.

Virtua Tennis 4 (Wii) – SEGA considered promoting this one with a sexy commercial with Virtua Fighter’s Jacky in a thong.

Dream Trigger 3D (3DS) – Could be an interesting early 3DS puzzle game, although if the DS history is any indicator, launch window puzzle games eventually become $5 downloadable games.

May 17
SpongeBob SquigglePants (3DS) – SpongeBob does WarioWare in 3D!

May 24
Kung Fu Panda 2 – uDraw (Wii) – It is interesting to see the uDraw slowly develop into its own sub-brand under the Wii heading. I think we’re already at the point where the third-party uDraw peripheral has more support than Nintendo’s own Balance Board.

Dead or Alive Dimensions (3DS) – I like this one more than last month’s Street Fighter IV 3D… and I think we’re all still waiting for the inevitable SAMUS PLAYABLE announcement.

Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion (3DS) – So somebody made a Smash Bros with two decades worth of Cartoon Network characters, most of which are no longer regularly seen on TV. Huh.

May 31
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II (3DS) – Another fighting game on 3DS! I’m beginning to think we’re seeing so many fighters on 3DS because they’re sort of easy to make in 3D, like a Dreamworks movie.

We also have a rather entertaining case mod, with someone deciding that we don’t get enough radiation with our normal microwave cooking, so they turned their microwave into a PC.  Head over to HackedGadgets to check out more screens from this fantastic case mod.  Also, make sure to check out our other Ones to Watch articles for the Xbox 360, PS3/PSP and Wii/DS to know what to look for at the store.

Magicka Vietnam (Paradox) – Magicka hit the PC scene earlier this year to rave reviews, even though it was a buggy mess at launch.  So when the dev team said they had a new title to announce, everyone assumed it would be Magicka 2.  Instead, we got what most thought was an early April Fools Joke.  Yes, the wizards of the Magicka universe are heading into the jungles of Vietnam to dispense justice the only way they know how. Everything about this title, from the Rambo-like headbands, to the Battleifeld Bad Company 2 inspired poster art, the game looks to embrace its strange surroundings.  I do hope that they take the time with this release to clean up a ton of the bugs that are still in the current release.  Also, while they are taking a not too serious look at Vietnam, it is always difficult to touch on this rather sensitive period in US history, even today.  Look for Magicka Vietnam on April 12th, 2011.

Portal 2 (Valve Software) – When Portal dropped as a part of The Orange Box, it quickly became the star of the compilation package.  GLaDoS became a star villain, with our hero only hearing her disembodied voice throughout the Aperture Science lab.  Portal 2 is now set to continue the journey, now 200 years in the future.  GLaDoS is supposedly back, and after 200 years, even more bitter about her untimely disassembly by our hero.  The new game also boasts cross platform multiplayer with people that own the game on Mac and PS3.  I do hope that the move from smaller niche title, to grandiose full retail release does not take anything away from the charm and spirit that embodied the first Portal title.  Look for Portal 2 on April 18th, 2011.

And that pretty much does it for our PC release list for April 2011.  One that is not listed, if only because we do not have an exact release date is Jurassic Park The Game from Telltale Games.  The first episode is set for release this month, and it looks to break from the traditional Telltale Games formula. 

Let us know what you think of these choices, or if we missed anything in our monthly roundup of titles on the PC.  Check back here next month for more Ones to Watch on the PC.

Our case mod this month is filled with mystery, as there is no rhyme or reason for the case modifications.  It looks like it could be an engine blower if it was laying flat, but that would disguise the case mod on the other side of the box.  Check out Xbox Freedom for more pictures fo the case in question. 

As always, make sure to check out the Ones to Watch articles for the PS3/PSP, Wii/DS and PC on the site for all the games you need regardless of platform in April.

Michael Jackson: The Experience (Ubisoft) – It seems that the main function of the new Kinect peripheral for the Xbox 360 has been dancing and exercise titles.  There have been no less than four to five dance titles for the Kinect, and Michael Jackson: The Experience looks to get in on that action.  Of course, you tend to stand out when your game features and eccentric legend of the music world that died under strange circumstances.  Michael Jackson: The Experience looks to be similar to its Wii companion that was released late last year, with the exception that the Kinect becomes your main input for the game, rather than a Wiimote.  You will dance, and sing your way through a large catalog of Michael Jackson hits, along with a few misses.   It will be interesting to see how well the game presents the moves of Michael for players, or if the fan craze that showed up after his death is still there almost two years after that moment in time.  Look for Michael Jackson: The Experience on April 12th, 2011.

Portal 2 (Valve Software) – Oh Portal, how we do love you so.  When Portal first arrived in the midst of The Orange Box package, it was seen as more of a tech demo than actual game.  It was a bit on the short side, but it became the star of the entire package on all the platforms it was released on.  With a witty nemesis who only wanted to use your character in sadistic tests, it challeged everyone and cries for a sequel erupted from all directions.  Portal 2 is set to take up that challenge, now boasting a campaign that is much larger in scope, to the point of being a packaged title on its own this time around.  The puzzles are even more devious, and we are now presented with the Apeture Science Laboratories after 200 years of inactivity.  One does have to wonder if Portal 2 will be able to stand up on its own as a full featured title, or if the novelty will wear off after a few hours of play.  One thing is certain – Valve tends to put out quality release titles tiem and time again, so I think the benefit of the doubt is in their favor with this one.  Look for Portal 2 on April 18th, 2011.

Mortal Kombat (Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment) – When Midway imploded a few years back, hopes for a new Mortal Kombat title were on the ropes.  No one knew what the dev team was working on for some time, and it seemed as if the title would never see the light of day.  Warner Brothers swooped in, picked up the rights, and Mortal Kombat strutted its stuff at E3 last year to accepting crowds.  Back are the simple 2D planes and a simpler roster, and of course, gruesome moves and fatalities.  New to the series are X-Ray moves, where you get to see the devestation you unleash upon your enemies at an internal level.  It remains to be seen whether the title will have legs months after release, but nearing the launch, it has me interested in the Mortal Kombat franchise for the first time in over 10 years.  Mortal Kombat hits on April 19th, 2011.

And that is about it for the month of April on the Xbox 360.  Tune in next month for more gaming goodness for your Xbox 360, and let us know what you are looking forward to on your Xbox 360 in April.

April 5
Karaoke Revolution: Glee 2 (Wii) – These do not have enough songs on the disc for me to seriously pursue them, but for the Glee superfan, they seem like an easy get.

Duke Nukem: Critical Mass (DS) – The DS will not be ignored in the Duke Nukem hype! Come get some!

April 10
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 3D (3DS) – It’s a 3D version of Chaos Theory, in case you’re wondering.

Raving Rabbids: Travel in Time 3D (3DS) – More of a platformer than a minigame collection like last falls’ Travel in Time for Wii.

April 19
Conduit 2 (Wii) – The sophomore effort for all the shooter fans out there who only own Wiis. Seems like a very small Venn Diagram to me, but what do I know.

And that’s about it. I think you’re expected to still work through that massive catalog of 3DS launch games.

But I guess it is better to have five PC gems than a sack load of crap falling out of the sky and on to your PC.  I will take a quantity of good, quality titles over 18 Nancy Drew titles.

But enough of my ramblings, continue on below to check out all the releases that are looking like the sure bets for the month of March on PC.  Also, make sure to check out the other Ones to Watch titles for Xbox 360, Wii/DS and PS3/PSP.

Dragon Age II (Electronic Arts/Bioware) – Oh how I loved the first Dragon Age title on PC.  I spent so many hours with the title, testing the different origin stories, trying different strategies, and waxing nostalgic as to how the game was a modern day Baldur’s Gate.  Dragon Age II looks to tweak the mechanics of the first game, which does have me a bit worried on the PC.  But judging from the early demo, it does not seem to have taken too much of a hit.  But the additions, like a more streamlined combat experience, actual spoken dialog for our hero, and easing up the treacherous difficulty look to make this more of a Mass Effect 2-like experience.  Look for Dragon Age II on March 8th, 2011.

MLB 2K11 (2K Sports) – I do have to appreciate the fact that 2K Sports has continued to support the PC crowd with a handful of their sports titles.  Baseball is making its third appearance on the PC, and it looks to be a solid improvement over last year’s iteration on the platform.  The PC platform has received the same treatment as its console breathern, with the new Dynamic Player Rating System, improved fielding and base stealing and of course, new player facial animations and body types.  As with every yearly sports title release, some will get upset at the idea of buying what appears on the surface to be a roster update, and I do get that argument.  But there seems to be enough there to warrant a purchase for fans of baseball.  Look for MLB 2K11 on March 8th, 2011.

Total War: Shogun 2 (Creative Assembly/Sega) – It has been quite some time since the last Shogun title.  So long in fact that Creative Assembly have moved over to publisher Sega for the latest release.  The new Shogun 2 includes all the items that you expect from a Total War series, including the huge battlefields filled with carnage.  There is also the back end system that plays out kind of like a board game, where you can peform such features as poisoning a rival warlord, which will weaken his forces on the battlefield.  It is a solid looking title that has a huge following.  For some, the game can be rather overwhelming, but I think it is something that strategy fans should definitely have on their list this month.  Look for Total War: Shogun 2 on March 15th, 2011.

Homefront (Kaos Studios/THQ) – I had heard nothing about Homefront until last year at E3 when I was greeted by a huge sprawling banner for the game.  Checking the game out for a short period there, I was absolutely hooked on the fiction in the world.  I am a sucker for alternative history titles, and the idea of North Korea pulling off a devestating attack and crippling the US sounds like a solid premise.  Mix in the idea of being part of a ragtag band of freedom fighters, and the horrors of the torture that an opposing force can bring to your front door and you have a solid title.  I am a bit worried that the single player story, which is not Kaos Studios strong suit, might misfire, but I am keeping my fingers crossed at this point.  Look for Homefront on March 15th, 2011.

Crysis 2 (Electronic Arts/Crytek) – Oh Crysis, how I loved the fact that you murdered my computer at the time of your release.  Sure, Warhead optimized things quite a bit, but it was Crysis that always had me going back to test out new configurations and hardware.  The new Crysis 2 looks to move things future with the world overrun by aliens, and moving our characters to the concrete jungle of New York.  Visually, the game looks stunning, but there are worries that the game has become consolified due to it being multiplatform.  All I ask for is a bit more story, but it definitly looks to be a title to pick up this month.  Look for Crysis 2 on March 22nd, 2011.

Assassins Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft) – Assassins Creed II took a big hit when it jumped to the PC last year.  It had nothing to do with the actual game but more about the copy protection system that wrecked havok with end users.  Brotherhood looks to tone down the copy protection system, and plans to add a lot of extra features into the core release for end users, like a free copy of the new DLC in the $50 price tag.  Brotherhood is a quality expansion, and adds a surprising amount of single player content, as well as including a unique multiplayer component of stalking a victim while you are being stalked.  It is very reminiscent to The Ship, and is a blast to play.  Look for Assassins Creed: Brotherhood on March 22nd, 2011.

And that is all we have this month for the Ones to Watch for the PC.  Check back in next month for another column, and let us know if we missed a selection, or if we are off-base with one of our picks.

As for our case mod, this rather cool Master Chief case mod can be found over at CraziestGadgets.com.  It definitely shows some creativity and I love the damage effect on the opposite side of the case.

Let us know what you think the best picks are for March 2011 on the Xbox 360, and if you want to read about other platforms, make sure to check out the Ones to Watch articles for the PC, Wii/DS and PS3/PSP systems.

Dragon Age II (Electronic Arts/Bioware) – The first Dragon Age was a great game…if you were playing it on a PC.  On the console, it was good, but there were certain quirks that did not seem to transfer over from the PC to the Xbox 360.  The title was also plagued by frame rate issues and other graphical glitches like clipping.  Dragon Age II was developed from the ground up on the Xbox 360, instead of being ported from the PC to the platform.  It features a host of new game mechanics, including a new combat system, better camera work and most important to me, complete voice work for your main character, Hawke.  Sure, there has been some flack from the hardcore that the game has been dumbed down for the lowest common denominator, but Bioware made the same changes for Mass Effect 2, and it seems to have been for the better.  Look for Dragon Age II on March 8th, 2011.

MLB 2K11 (2K Sports) – 2K Sports knew that last year’s entry for baseball was not received as warmly as people thought it would be by gamers.  Fielding and base stealing were two areas that people found problems with the game, as well as pitching control.  This year, a lot of the design focus went into redesigning the fielding mechanics, making it harder to lesser skilled players to make long runs for a catch.  Base stealing also factors in more stats when making throws from the catcher, the lead that a runner has off the base, the pitch delivery and pitch type as well as the fielder’s skill at making the catch from the catcher.  Mix in more detailed facial animations and body types and you have a much improved entry from 2K Sports for MLB 2K11.  Look for MLB 2K11 on March 8th, 2011.

Yoostar 2: In the Movies (Blitz Games/Yoostar Entertainment Group) – While I have never heard of the Yoostar brand until I saw a trailer for this game about a month ago, I fell in love with the concept surrounding the game.  I consider myself a complete movie buff, and the idea of a game that inserts you into movie clips, grades you on your performance, allows uploading of clips to share, and it works light years ahead of Microsoft’s failed attempt to do this with Your In The Movies – it sounds fantastic.  And really, who doesn’t want to act out scenes from CSI: Miami as resident acting genius, David Caruso?  That’s right, nobody.  Sure, there could be technical hurdles to making it work flawlessly, and Fourhman made good points about the game not working as advertised when it comes to scoring, but I am giving Yoostar 2 the benefit of the doubt.  Look for Yoostar 2: In the Movies on March 8th, 2011.

Homefront (Kaos Studios/THQ) – What do you get when you make a video game about the movie Red Dawn, but substitute the North Koreans for the Russians?  Why you get Homefront, the new title from THQ and Kaos Studios.  Homefront is offering up an alternate reality where America has been besieged by a super powerful North Korea.  Homefront strikes a chord with me, because I love alternative history titles, and the fact that it pulls no punches in its depictions of violence and desolation.  Seeing things like executions of families in front of their kids, or pits that troops are dumping bodies in unceremoniously are tough to watch, and give the player a reason to fight the good fight.  I am disappointed that the team is tacking on multiplayer, and Kaos is known more for its multiplayer games, rather than its single player stories.  Look for Homefront on March 15th, 2011.

Top Spin 4 (2K Sports) – While I have never been a fan of tennis in real life, mostly because I suck, I do enjoy playing it in a video game.  A lot of this comes from the ability to pull off the moves that the pros make on TV.  That said, I was not a fan of Top Spin 3, as I felt the difficulty levels were way out of wack, leaving me consistently frustrated with my game sessions.  Top Spin 4 has gone back and remodeled the game engine, incorporating a new physics engine, game types, and tournaments.  Also new is the idea of focusing on a style of gameplay, like being a serve and volley player vs. a baseline player.  There are also skills based on the type of surface that you are playing on.  I also love the idea of streamlining the tournament mode, so you play one tournament a month, and then one prep event, be it an actual game, training, or something ouside the realm of tennis, like a TV appearance, or a sponsor party.  Look for Top Spin 4 on March 15th, 2011.

Crysis 2 (Electronic Arts/Crytek) – The original Crysis came out as a PC exclusive, and was a good title, but was designed ahead of the hardware curve on the platform and sold a paltry 90K in its first month of sales.  Needless to say, Crytek, decided that they needed to be a multiplatform company, and when Crysis 2 was announced, it was announced across several platforms, Xbox 360 included.  Sure the graphics in the game are without question, amazing, and the story continues from the first, but with enough distance as to not alienate the player.  But I have felt a little uncomfortable with the early builds and multiplayer demos for Crysis 2 so far, as the Xbox 360 controls seem a bit sluggish.  I have given the game the benefit of the doubt, as those demos are based on early code, and not fully optimized as the final product should be.  Look for Crysis 2 on March 22nd.

And there you have it folks, another stellar month of games for the Xbox 360 platform.  I should also take the time before questions are made, that these lists are not meant to be a representation of exclusive titles.  They are titles that I select as what I think the best are on the Xbox 360 platform in a given month.  They are not paid for advertisements, and at no time do we state that they are exclusive.  We just want to give a rundown of what we think you should be spending your cash on each month.   I hope that clears things up and see you back here in April for another edition of Ones to Watch on the Xbox 360.

The PSP has slim pickings — maybe devs are focusing on the NGP — but it will be getting the remake Ys I & II Chronicles.

And before you think that’s all there is this month, there’s a game in the list below that features beings named after game consoles living in a world called “Gameindustri”. I’m not kidding. Take a look.

February 8th
Explodemon (PS3) – The PSN title Explodemon has apparently had a long development time but IGN says it’s worth picking up in their 8.0 “Great” review. It’s slated to land in the PlayStation Store on Tuesday the 8th.

Test Drive Unlimited 2 (PS3) – The first Test Drive Unlimited game got good press for an interesting open world driving and racing game and included online play on the lowly PSP if memory serves. This one is on the PS3 but not PSP, and will also appear on the PC and Xbox 360.

Superstars V8 Next Challenge (PS3) – Coming in at a budget MSRP of 40 bucks into a very crowded racing genre might be just what this one needs to get some traction. Of course unless you’re made of money and have already bought Gran Turismo 5 and the most recent Need for Speed, this one might be a distant third.

You Don’t Know Jack (PS3) – The quiz game genre enjoys two healthy offerings with Buzz Quiz TV and Buzz Quiz World – or actually three if you count the downloadable Buzz Quiz player application from the PSN that can use purchased question packs from those first two games – but the You Don’t Know Jack series goes way back. I’m looking forward to seeing how this one turns out since we all last saw this franchise during the very early days of PC gaming.

Trinity: Souls of Zill O’ll (PS3) – This Tecmo KOEI action RPG that makes me think it might have a few of the warts of some of KOEI’s other franchises when it comes to the engine or mechanics, but I’ll keep my eyes open for a demo just in case we get the ability to try this one out ahead of time.

February 15th
Back To The Future: The Game (PS3) brings the acclaimed adventure game over to Sony’s system. I’ve heard great things about the voice talent in this game and how well it adheres to the original first film in the trilogy.

Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (PS3) – Bash your friends faces in on and offline in Capcom’s latest online fighter this month.

Hyperdimension Neptunia (PS3) – This is it, a JRPG not based on high fantasy, folks. It features – I kid you not – deities based on game consoles, at least if IGN’s writeup is to be believed. Want to hear another one? The game world is named “Gamindustri.”

Ys I & II Chronicles (PSP) – The previous Ys games must have done well because this reissue of the first two games in the venerable series is coming from Xseed Games developed by Nihon Falcom Corp.

February 22
Knights Contract (PS3) comes from Namco Bandai, features more swords and sorcery, but stands firmly in the hack and slash action camp instead of turn-based RPG. The twist is that you’ve made a pact with a resurrected witch and must protect her. Given the world’s one where witches have all been hunted down I imagine revenge is on the menu.

de Blob 2 (PS3) brings the sequel to a Wii-only game onto the PS3 in high definition with 3D support if you have one of those sets available. IGN’s preview is worth a look.

February 22
Killzone 3 (PS3) blazes onto the system on the 22nd offering, according to IGN’s 8.5 “Great” review it offers a strong single player experience if a linear one, and an even better online offering than Killzone 2 brought to the table. As a Sony property it’s trumpeting Move and 3D support if you’ve got the hardware for it.

The Bulletstorm (PS3) demo has received some buzz from the likes of Penny-Arcade and others around the web and the final game blasts into view on the 22nd.

February 28
Plants vs Zombies finally arrives on the PlayStation Network. What little I’ve seen of this game on other platforms makes me wonder if not having a mouse available to play it will make this game a little harder than it should be. I did find Peggle good enough to buy, however, so I’ll keep an eye on this one.

February 7
Mario Sports Mix (Wii) – NOA has been curiously quiet about the Square Enix character cameos hidden in this game, even though the beans have already been spilled back during the Japanese release.

February 8
You Don’t Know Jack (Wii, DS) – Yep, this one’s back, and on everything. Same bald jerk on the cover; same in-your-face use of the word “irreverent.” The Buzz franchise ate this one’s lunch years ago.

Naruto Shippuden: Shinobi Rumble (DS) – Probably one to watch, right? It has teh Naruto.

February 14
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation (DS) – The big DS release arrives on Valentine’s Day, the Best Selling Game (in Japan) of 1995. If you’d like another year statistic that will boggle your mind, note that this DS version was announced way back in 2007.