Welcome back to the new weekly feature here at Gear Diary! As noted last week I will highlight the major video game releases for the coming week, talk about releases from the previous week as well as what I’m playing … and hopefully you will join the discussion!

The summer blockbuster movie season is in full swing, and that means we are seeing more and more movie tie-ins. This week it is Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, a movie dominated by CGI robots and the kid from Even Stevens but whose media campaign spent more time on Megan Fox. The game is out on every platform, and as happened last time also gets TWO DS releases – one for Autobots and the other for Decepticons. That is what we call the Pokemon factor … and it seemed to work last time, as there was just enough differentiation to make it worth getting both if you liked them.

There is a pretty solid release list this week. One of the biggest games for the Wii this year, The Conduit, arrives this week. Dawn of Discovery was delayed from last week, but my shipment tracking says it is a sure thing for this week. Also coming is the sequel to the solid but overlooked Overlord, which also gets a DS and Wii version. Multiplatform Dynasty Warriors and Fight Night releases will thrill fighting and boxing fans, respectively, and the Japanese mega-hit franchise Monster Hunter for the PSP hopes to finally sell a few copies here. Check out the list!

• Fight Night Round 4
• Overlord II
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires

• Fight Night Round 4
• Overlord II
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires

• The Conduit
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil
• Overlord: Dark Legend
• Dawn of Discovery

• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

• Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
• PANGYA: Fantasy Golf
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

• Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
• Overlord Minions
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Autobots
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons
• Dawn of Discovery

• Overlord II
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
• Fuel
• Spore Galactic Adventures
• Dawn of Discovery

Last week’s biggest release – Ghostbusters - was favorably reviewed as a solid game with some minor annoyances. Guitar Hero: Smash Hits is getting average reviews, as reviewers find it fun but question the value of a full-game price for what is essentially an add-on disc.

As for last week … as if they were tired of showing up on ‘coming out this week’ lists all over the Web, BOTH Hinterlands: Orc Lords and Black Sigil released last week. Hinterlands: Orc Lords has been repositioned as an expansion of the original download-only game, and is being given away for free to owners of the original game through Steam or Impulse, and is available on CD or as a digital download for new players. The original was solid and loads of fun, and while I have created an Orc Shaman (one of two new character types) I haven’t fully checked out the new features yet.

To highlight a recent release in more detail: Plants vs. Zombies is a ‘casual’ game in the Tower Defense sub-genre of strategy games. I am amazed at what has happened with the TD (Tower Defense) genre recently – I did a review of Defense Grid: The Awakening last year, and have recently been replaying the DS gem Lock’s Quest. It seems like a genre that fits perfectly into the ‘casual game craze’ while also offering developers an opportunity to add plenty of depth and individualization. There are still too many Flash-type web-based TD games such as ‘Desktop Tower Defense’ that are generic sci-fi fluff, but every now and then a gem comes along. Like Plants vs. Zombies!

In an era of a constant stream of $60 games that last four hours and offer me-too multiplayer, Plants vs. Zombies offers an amazing value: hours of core gameplay, loads of added content, tons of reasons to keep coming back for more, and Crazy Dave! I liken this to Portal … but better! Not that the core game is necessarily better than Portal, but because it offers a wonderfully addictive experience that won’t be over in a few short hours.

Plants vs. Zombies is available for the Mac or PC through PopCap games, or on Steam for the PC. It is $9.99 through Steam, and $19.99 on Popcap.

What I’m Currently Playing:

• Mac: The Sims 3 – just got this, will say more next week after I have a chance to play.
• Mac: Neverwinter Nights – I have the original game, both expansions, and all six Premium Modules loaded up, and am working my way slowly through these classics again.
• PSP: Final Fantasy VII – have any of you played this on the original PlayStation a dozen years ago? I’m not a console guy, so this is my first play through. Nice story, good cutscenes, decent fun.
• PSP: Medal of Honor – another classic released to the PSN Store, this one is a solid shooter with terrible controls – which I guess was also true back in 1997!
• DS: Black Sigil – still trudging my way through – it is like two games in one. I like the story and interactions, but the battles happen so often on the overland map, and the travel is so slow, that I end up putting the game down frequently.
• iPod Touch: Let’s Golf – solid golf game in the style of the PSP ‘Hot Shots Golf’ games, nice and light presentation, decent accuracy. Oh, and $0.99!
• iPod Touch: Peggle – yeah, still playing Peggle.

So what are you playing? Chime in below!

Enjoy gaming!

Related posts:

1. GearGames: June 14 – 20
2. GearGames: June 28 – July 4th
3. GearGames: July 12 – 18
4. GearGames Weekly: July 26 – August 1
5. GearGames: July 19 – 25