With the deluge of new games that has come out in the past two months, I thought maybe an all-encompassing topic thread designated for their discussion might be useful; maybe give people an idea of what's hot and what's not.  As I myself haven't played the majority of the titles listed below, I'd love to hear opinions on them.

These are just some of the titles I could think of, so feel free to add your own if you'd like:

Bubble Bobble Revolution (DS)
Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA (PS2)
Dead Rising (360)
Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories (PS2)
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime (DS)
Enchanted Arms (360)
FFVII: Dirge of Cerberus (PS2)
Guilty Gear Judgment (PSP)
Lego Stars Wars II: The Original Trilogy (Multi-platform)
LocoRoco (PSP)
Mario Hoops 3 on 3 (DS)
Mario vs Donkey Kong 2: March of The Minis (DS)
Mega Man ZX (DS)
Ninety-Nine Nights (360)
Rule of Rose (PS2)
Star Fox Command (DS)
Tenchu: Dark Secret (DS)
Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins (PSP)
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria (PS2)
Xenosaga Episode III: Also Sprach Zarathustra (PS2)
Yakuza (PS2)

We mustn't forget Baten Kaitos Origins (GC). The game is quite reminiscent of Chrono Trigger.  I'm a few hours into it and it's already a breathtaking experience.

Well, I've only played four of these...

Enchanted Arms (360) - I only saw the first hour of this so I can't say if it improves or not but it had possibly the most irritating characters in any video game I've played. The music was also crappy (with a grating battle theme) and the dialogue was inane. On the bright side, it sure looked pretty (fitting its next generation status) and I've heard it gets better. I didn't stick around to find out (and I was playing it on a friend's machine anyway).

FFVII: Dirge of Cerberus (PS2) - Saving graces are the music and FMV. The rest of the game is sluggish and boring. Even though you go through FF7 environments (like the Shinra Building and the Nibelheim Mansion), it never really felt like it. This isn't a game you should pick up for nostalgic purposes. The story didn't help matters, being overly pretentious (in the grand FF7 style, I suppose) and predictable. The nicest thing I can say is that it was over in nine hours.

Xenosaga Episode III: Also Sprach Zarathustra (PS2) - Just finished this one off. It's probably the best of the trilogy, with good production values and effective character development. The plot is all over the place and it suffers from Xenogears Disc 2 syndrome near the end (although expected) but the ending is moving and a great send-off. I would have preferred Mitsuda to return but Kajiura's music works well enough (although it's nothing I'd listen to on its own).

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria (PS2) - Just started this one so I can't say much... but so far it seems pretty good. The graphics are some of the best I've seen on the system and the story seems decent enough. I've heard the game is difficult and requires a LOT of level grinding (one of the reasons I gave up on DQ8) so I'm not sure how long I'll stick with it. Music is the usual Sakuraba fare and inferior to the original game (although it has its moments).

(And of course, there's Okami but we have a whole thread on that so... )

So far, I've only taken a look at two games this holiday season: Megaman ZX and VP:2. VP:2 is sitting next to me in shrinkwrap, but I plan on tearing into it pretty good over the weekend. I expect it to be better than Suikoden V and that's already my runaway for best game this year. We'll see...

I'm happy with Megaman ZX, even though I've been playing through it pretty slowly (1-2 missions every few days)...Last Megaman Zero game I played was 2, so this feels pretty fresh to me thus far. The overworld exploration is kind of annoying (the map helps immensely), but the difficulty level is just right...Play carelessly enough and you're dead before you know it, but it's not as bad as Zero 2's masochistic streak. Great music...Easily my favorite DS score and right up with my favorite Megaman music. I'm looking forward to ZX Tunes almost as much as the Wild Arms Rock Arrange.

As for others I'm interested in this season:

Okami definitely has my curiosity and every screenshot I see makes me more curious. Time is the main issue here.

Lumines Plus is nice, since it'll be awhile before the PSP redesign and price break.

Elite Beat should fit right in this year...It won't require a massive time commitment and I haven't played a good rhythm game since...Parappa. 1.

Yoshi's Island 2 is a go. No questions there.

No time for Disgaea 2, but it's on the radar. Been playing the original some recently, if just to play around in the item world some.

That's pretty much the story for most RPG's this holiday: I already know I won't have time for them. Yggdra Union, Super Robot Wars 2, Tales of the Abyss, Devil Summoner, FF3, Rocket Slime, Magical Starsign...Sorry guys. I see them more as a future investment, considering the drought of good games that usually follows a new console generation.

I have to see Snoopy vs the Red Baron for myself, if only because the last Peanuts console game was Snoopy's Silly Sports for NES.

I really want to get this one, but since I have no PSP I'll probably wait until next year when (hopefully) the new model will be out.  I assume since it's a Sony title it won't be too hard to find by then.

I've got mixed feelings on this one.  I really wish it had a Metroivania style map system for the overworld.  So far, I like it, but not as much as the more straightforward Zero series.

I've only played this very briefly, and mostly in multiplayer, but the control isn't as bad as I was expecting.  The strategy stuff is also cool.  That said, many of the missions I've done are of the very repetitive "kill everything in a big empty area" variety.

Absolute garbage.  Do not rent, buy, or waste time checking it out at a store like I did.

I was shocked by the early release and wasn't budgeting time to play it until February when I thought it would be out.  So, even though the Xeno series is one of my most favorite series, I'm sitting this one out for now while I take care of Okami, Zelda, and other major fall titles.  My sister put 10 hours in and said it fixes most of the gameplay problems from XS2 and the story hits hard and fast.  I can't wait.

Of those titles, I've really only played Yakuza, ZX, and am eagerly awaiting DDR Supernova.

ZX hasn't been played a lot, so I can't give my opinions on it.

Yakuza, on the other hand, just might stand as one of the greatest beat 'em ups in recent memory. Brutal, visceral, easy to get into, and totally satisfying, just the way a beat 'em up should be, with an absolutely riveting storyline to boot. I just wish they had gone with English subtitles instead of full blown American voice acting. The english cast doesn't do a bad job, but the game is distinctly Japanese, and to have them talking in English kind if marrs it a bit. Still, a very good game. I hope they fix all the flaws with the (hopefully) inevitable sequel.

I also picked up Okami, and my friend Marc and I were totally blown away by the graphics. Typically, he and I won't stop talking once we put a game in, critiquing everything from the menu layouts, and introduction to the art style and character design, but when gameplay actually began, we sat there in awe of the majesty with which the game presents itself. Okami DOES assure one that it is okay to be a graphics whore, even in situations like this. We haven't played much more of it than the intro missions, so I don't know if I'd classify it as a Zelda killer, like other people have, but I can definitely say that when it comes to graphics and sense of style, Okami destroys the Zelda series.

Just picked up March of The Minis today, and it's kept me hooked for a good hour and a half.  The gameplay is a DS-functional yet familiar take on the Mario vs DK formula; kind of "touch-capabilities meets Lemmings."  Though it's a simple affair controlling the Mini Marios via the stylus, the vast number of environmental hazards and obstacles you're presented with gives the game excellent depth, and even I was surprised that what should be feeling like a tiring formula, actually feels fresh and innovative. 

It's really a pretty easy game to get through, if you take your time, and move each of your Mini Marios to the goal, one by one - but the real challenge lies in getting those gold star rankings, where you'll not only want to get to the goal in the quickest amount of time, but also collect the various treasures scattered throughout the levels, AND try to position the Minis in such a way where they'll all line up to head through the goal at the same time.  No small feat, and it's sure to keep the replayability high.

Although I only took a peek at it, the Construction Mode, where you can edit and create your own levels, looks like a really cool idea.  It's got an expansive tool editor and everything that looks really complicated to use, so it's GOTTA be cool. ;)

Sadly, the only game I can comment on is Xenosaga Episode III.  I personally thought this was the best game in the trilogy in terms of story and gameplay.  Characters have somewhat unique abilities again; also, there really isn't a useless character in your party so you can switch people out to fit your mood or playing style.  I thought the game was relatively easy since they removed the event slots from the battle system (i.e. I didn't spend lots of time trying to land a kill on the "points" slot) and I liked that the special attacks were dependent on the boost gauge.  And the story, well, it's rushed with the ending and all, but hopefully that just means that Bamco is keeping an open mind about a new Xenosaga game. 

Most of my quibbles are fairly minor.  The first 5 hours or so of the game, you're basically just running around from one story scene to the next (moreso than usual anyway).  You also spend entirely too much time in one particular place, which just also happens to have one of the few missable side quests of the game.  HaKox, the minigame, can just plain get on your nerves after a while if you're not very coordinated.  Last but not least, Bamco, if you're going to edit blood from the cutscenes, at least change the dialogue so that it's not so blatantly obvious.

.

^

I is definitely worth playing. I personally got four hours into II and gave up on the battle system. Fortunately, III gives you VERY detailed synopses of both games (among other things).

We (Jeremy and I) bought this one based on how much fun the demo seemed to be.  Unfortunately, it seemed to lose its appeal after only about an hour of play.  It's way too tough and too repetitive. *dodges flying objects* ;)

We also bought this one based on how fun the demo was.  We have not been disappointed so far... the multiplayer mode makes it a lot of fun.  It's also not too tough, and the little touches here and there that only seasoned Star Wars fans would pick up on make the game seem extremely polished.  You know what I'd like to see?  Something like Final Lego Fantasy or something. ;D

Ohhh, where do I begin?  My most anticipated game of 2006 has completely fulfilled every expectation I had of it and so much more.  I think part of the reason I'm enjoying it is because I'm an item-collecting skill-whoring maniac, and I seem to be really GOOD at playing it.  I played for almost 10 hours today... in one session.  I haven't done something like that since... something on the SNES.  It's painful to read reviews from friends (I think he posts here as Sephiro444) like this one - http://blog.nathanmallory.com/index.php/?p=99 that pan the game without giving it much of a chance.  I guess it's just the classic Tri-Ace syndrome - you're either going to be enthralled by it, or you're not going to have the patience to get into it.

Wow...That was...I have no words for that...

*Shrug* I don't think that had anything to do with it being a Tri-Ace game. Just sounds like he wasn't interested in it to begin with and found each little aspect to be different from what he was expecting. Or he just wanted something to vent frustration over, period. Or he found that first dungeon harder than expected and got stuck (or died) in a few areas. Wasn't like VP1, where Freya held your hand for the first dungeon.

As for me, I'm through Chapter 1 and I'll be playing more once this exam hell period blows over. Too early to tell if I like it more than VP1, but I do see the movement portion has potential...Some of the battles in the original got pretty repetitive when you were fighting the same enemies.

These are the only two games on that list that garner my attention. I don't have a 360, but when I eventually get one, Dead Rising will be the second game I get (Condemned, FTFW). I'm dying to play it, and I've heard nothing but good/great things. I mean, killing thousands of zombies with hilarious and practical weapons should be at the top of anyone's list.

As far as Megaman ZX goes, I played for a couple of hours and it's... well, it's just Megaman. The different little Biochip system and an open-ended map design make it different from the X/Zero series, but not by too much. I just feel like I've played this before, several times over. I'm disappointed, but it's by no means a bad game. From here on in, whenever I feel like some Megaman I'm just going to fire up X or X2 on my Anniversary Collection and save the $30.

I'm only about three or four missions into Mega Man ZX myself, and I'm a bit torn.  On one hand, as Zane says, the open-ended structure feels fresh enough that I don't want to write this off as just another MM title...... but then, when you get down to the core gameplay, it kind of really is.  And then my other side feels that, like XLord, this would just be better off as a straightfoward action Mega Man game - like, I just wanna tear through stages, destroying robots and Mavericks and crap.  Since when did Mega Man have to get so darned plot driven?

I like the ease of challenge, though, like Goldfish comments - and the music is doubly awesome.  Oh, which GBA Zero titles are compatible for you to pop into your DS to fight the bosses again?

I think we can thank Inticreates for the storyline bit...The Megaman Zero games really try to establish themselves with the post-X storyline and characters. The Remastered soundtracks actually have drama on them, based on the games. Whether it's a boost or a hinderance is a toss-up, but the explanation for the Zero (or X)armor on my character works well enough for me and the Ciel references should be familiar.

I get the same deja vu feeling from this as I do when I play a new Metrovania game (pretty much the reason I skipped Zero 3 and 4 after 1 and 2...I have both Harmony and Aria, but only about 3 hours logged on both, after playing SOTN and COTM to death), but I've always preferred the controls, music and action (and challenge, frankly...Zero 2's insanity aside) of the Zero games. I won't say it feels fresh, but after Mega's recent console attempts at classic gameplay (see X6-X8 and Network Transmission) and given the lack of run-and-gun titles overall, it's a blessing and I like the simplified map set-up (especially compared to the overly detailed Metrovania ones).

Also, I'm not sure which other games have it, but seeing FMV on the DS' screen is pretty cool. I know PSP can handle it, but I wasn't aware DS could until I saw the sequences in ZX. Wonder if it drains the battery more than usual.

i miss the days when i could pay full price for new releases. but since i dont really have much time for gaming anymore, i might as well wait until the price drops after half a year
at least that way if i dont like the game then i dont feel like it was as much of a loss....

Just finished this a week or 2 ago. Great FMV and Soundtrack, and not a bad combat system in and of itself, but it gets old kinda fast, and there's virtually no variation to it.
You'll be doing exactly the same stuff over and over until you reach the end, which fortunately comes really fast.
The story is overly melo-dramatic and just plain boring, and it's generally an insult to anything that has to do with FFVII.
Vincent's cool though.
I enjoyed it for the first half maybe, but then it grew stale and it became terribly frustrating at points.

I'm a HUGE Megaman Fan, but I returned this to the store a couple of days after buying it.
It looks great, and the FMV is impressive, but that's about it.
The music was 'meh' considering this is a Megaman game we're talking about, and nowhere NEAR as good as MMZero 2, 3 or 4.
Gameplay is remeniscent of the Zero series, which is good, but lacks the variety of weaponry. I didn't care very much for the Form system, and would much have preferred the usual MM system whereby you take over a boss's weapon.
The open-endedness doesn't help it in anyway, and again, the usual MM system of chosing your boss works much better IMHO.
And when I was confronted with all the bosses at the end (in true MM fashion), but NO possibility of healing in between them, I had had enough.

Sorry to be a grumpy old man, but again, this game was a tremendous disappointment.
I loved the original to bits, and I guess it is to be expected that you will be let down if you have too high expectations. But geez, they could've just made exactly the same kind of game, only with nicer graphics, and I would've been happy as a child, but instead they took out EVERYTHING I loved about the first game, and replaced it with either some stupid idea, or nothing at all. Returned this after about 10 hours of play as well, because it DOESN'T get any better.
Music was immensely boring as well.

I'm surprised noone has mentioned FFXII yet though.
I didn't like it that much when I played through it the first time, but I've picked it up again after buying the Ultimania Guide, and I am actually rather enjoying it now.

Still, the best fun I've had this year is with old games from my huge back-log.
Shadow Hearts: Covenant is one of the best things I've touched in aeons.

That would be MM Zero 3 and 4 if I'm not mistaken.

I would assume that it hasn't been mentioned because that whole language barrier thing is making most people wait until it's available in English!

He might be referring to the recent English version leak that's been tromping around the internet.

D'OH!

Sorry, I was under the impression that it was already released in English for some reason.

So, how about that Twilight Princess huh!?

Nooooooooo! That's even further away than FFXII!

Well, I cracked Chapter 3 in VP2 last night and I'm officially hooked. It different from the original in ways (storyline is more "normal", no flying, the non-combat portions of battles, the skill system which seems similar to FFIX, meeting characters), but bears enough resemblance in others (art style, the button mashing fighting, 2.5D perspective). The learning curve does seem a bit strange, as even through Chapter 3, the game still introduces new stuff to learn. Important thing though: It's actually fun! It's a bit hard if you try to play right through (and just freeze enemies without fighting any!), so I'm just taking my time, learning the system and letting the items and levels accumulate.

It's early, but I like the gameplay bit more than Suikoden V already. The characters...Nah, not even close. Alicia/Silmeria and Lezard are great and the folks at the start of Chapter 3 are cool (no spoilers here), but everyone else is either stereotype cutouts (traveling wisecracking bandit, burly bodyguard) or...um, come out of the scattered swords. Which absolutely sucks compared to the original. At least thus far.

And the plot...I'll see as I play more. It has mad potential though.

And about the music...There are still a large number of tracks I have no desire to hear outside of the game...BUT, there isn't one instance where it hasn't worked ingame (alongside the amazing, though-jaggied visuals) and the better tracks have grown on me immensely during the playtime (I like the battle theme more than the VP1 one now and the dungeon themes are magic). Sakuraba's best? Who knows, who cares...It works fine and doesn't wear out over long periods of time.

I hope you like Chapter 3... you're gonna be there a while. ;)
I'm closing in on the end of the chapter, and Alicia is already level 30... I'm still kinda getting ass-whooped in some places.  Don't let that scare you away, though.

I've only released one Einherjar so far... that may be contributing to my ass-kickedness.

On another note, we picked up DDR Supernova last weekend and got around to checking it out on Monday (I didn't play, I just watched Jeremy play ;D) Holy crap, what happened here?  These... licensed songs actually have fun steps!

We haven't unlocked much stuff yet, but just the stock songs are tons of fun... and some are pretty tough too.  Try "Dance Dance" on 'Expert' :)

I'm about halfway through Enchanted Arms and I've liked it.  I don't have a problem with the music or the voice acting; nor am I a homophobe so I don't have any problem with Makoto.  The story is good, and Ubi did a good job translating it as it has some humor to it.  I've not played many RPGs all the way through since Xenogears ruined the genre for me, so perhaps I like these light-hearted, fluff RPGs more (the last RPG I played through was Mario & Luigi Partners in Time after all).  Graphically, the game is pretty and the battle engine works for me too.  There is no world map, so the game is pretty much linear and yet it I've spent 20 hours in it so far---this game may make it to the 40 hour mark without wandering around aimlessly looking for the next whatever.

Ninety-Nine Nights is goddamn retarded; I hate that game for everything that it failed to be.  Unfair way to judge, perhaps, but the developers had to be aware of its faults and what it could've been like but just collectively shrugged and said 'whatever'.  So much potential, so much wasted.

Dead Rising was fun, but survival mode without at least one save point is beyond stupid on Capcom's part.  Who wants to leave their 360 on for no less than 10-12 hours (I forgot the actual calculation) for the last achievement and unlockable?  The 360 generates too much heat and I don't really like the idea of the wear-and-tear for you to stand hidden from zombies eating food at the last second.  The main game itself was great.