Ah, Disgaea, how do I love thee? What started out as a small amount of buzz surrounding some Japanese strategy RPG with cute artwork turned into a full-blown successful franchise that helped put NIS on the map. Gamers everywhere didn't know what to expect at first but once Disgaea landed on our shores it changed the perception of SRPGs and what the genre could be. The title immediately carved itself a niche market with a cult following and to this day is a highly sought after title.

In case you're unfamiliar with Disgaea though let's fill you in with the basics. The series follows the exploits of demons and monsters as they go about their daily lives in the Netherworld. Maybe they are murdering someone, plotting against a rival, or just trying to take over the world; you know...

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Describing how split the Madden fan base has been since its arrival on next-gen consoles isn’t an easy task. Every year a newly polished model has to be rushed to hit the shelves and features some can’t live without end up missing. Depending on your skill level the game can be too easy to a flaw or too difficult to be any fun. The graphics have been better than the old-gen counterparts but they’re not exactly what we had been promised. The only constant about the Madden franchise or any football game in general, is the fact that every gamer has different expectations and different things about the game that could make or break it for them. Has any Madden ever truly been perfect? I don’t even have to dignify that with an answer....

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Mike Mignola's Hellboy franchise has certainly done well for itself since it got started way back in 1993. Two feature length films, some animated adventures, a legion of devoted comic book fans, and a couple of games have solidified the red demon as a mainstream series. For me, Hellboy is all about atmosphere and attitude and it's Mignola's unique vision and the mythos he crafted that makes the series so compelling. While the second film, The Golden Army has already come and gone, a game of a different name Science of Evil came out around the same time.

Science of Evil takes place outside the storyline of Golden Army. When it comes to games based on franchises you typically see a game attempt to take you through the most current narrative...

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Behemoth’s first Xbox Live Arcade title was Alien Hominid HD, a frantic old-school shooter with a high difficulty level. Their second offering, Castle Crashers, is more laid back and open for casual players. The presentation matches the styling of Alien Hominid as the artistic flair and level design are absolutely brilliant.

There’s not much of a narrative that goes along with the game. The King’s daughters are kidnapped by some evil-doers. The main character is a brave knight sent out to rescue all the princesses. The knight treks over various types of land and storms the castles that hold the young maidens. It basically works as a premise, but the loose narration doesn’t do the game any favors....

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One WiiWare Game and Two Virtual Console Games have been added to Wii Shop Channel today.

WiiWare

Helix (Ghostfire Games, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Helix is a music-rhythm game designed for the Wii console. Use the Wii Remote controller to do dozens of exciting moves, including punches, circles, back fists, hooks and more. Enjoy 26 songs to play and three difficulty levels.

Virtual Console

Ys Book I & II (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Ys Book I & II chronicles the first adventures of Adol Christin, a young, red-haired swordsman on a quest to unlock the secrets of an ancient kingdom. As Adol, you search the island of Esteria, gathering clues to unravel the mystery of Ys.

SAMURAI SHODOWN 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen—Blood, Language, Tobacco Reference, Violence, 900 Wii Points): First released in 1994, this fighting game follows 15 samurai in their individual quests. The rage system, which was popular in the first game, has been further enhanced. Not only does attack power rise when the gauge is full, but the player can also use a special technique that can break the opponent's weapon and force the opponent to fight unarmed.