Labor Day weekend is sometimes viewed as the last weekend of summer. But it started as a celebration for workers and their families. A way to relax from all the “labor”. The modern day version of that relaxation can mean to do nothing but play video games. To that point, Namco Bandai is helping gamers do that and save money too. The games will be discounted at the indicated pricing from 7 p.m. PST Thursday, September 1 until 10 a.m. PST Tuesday, September 6. Most games are at 50% off and are for iOS and Android devices.

Here is the list of games and their sale prices:
NBGA Titles App Store Device Current price Current In App Price Sale Price
More Brain Exercise Amazon Marketplace Android $ 2.99 N/A $ 1.49
TNA Wrestling iMPACT! Amazon Marketplace Android $ 4.99 N/A $ 2.49
Isaac Newton’s Gravity Google Android Marketplace Android $ 1.99 N/A $ 0.99
More Brain Exercise Google Android Marketplace Android $ 2.99 N/A $ 1.49
Ms. PAC-MAN Google Android Marketplace Android $ 2.99 N/A $ 1.49
PAC-MAN Championship Edition Google Android Marketplace Android $ 2.99 N/A $ 1.49
PAC-MAN Google Android Marketplace Android $ 2.99 N/A $ 1.49
Pool Pro Online 3 Google Android Marketplace Android $ 2.99 N/A $ 1.49
TNA Wrestling iMPACT! Google Android Marketplace Android $ 4.99 N/A $ 2.49

Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima Apple App Store iPad $ 1.99 N/A $ 0.99
Fossil Feast Apple App Store iPad $ 1.99 N/A $ 0.99
House of Glass Apple App Store iPad Free $4.99 $ 1.99
Isaac Newton’s Gravity – iPad Apple App Store iPad Free $4.99 $ 1.99
Mishap for iPad Apple App Store iPad $ 4.99 N/A $ 1.99
Mooniacs Apple App Store iPad $ 1.99 N/A $ 0.99
More Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima HD Apple App Store iPad $ 6.99 N/A $ 2.99
Ms. PAC-MAN for iPad Apple App Store iPad $ 4.99 N/A $ 1.99
PAC-CHAIN Apple App Store iPad $ 2.99 N/A $ 0.99
PAC-MAN for iPad Apple App Store iPad $ 4.99 N/A $ 1.99
Pool Pro Online 3 for iPad Apple App Store iPad $ 1.99 N/A $ 0.99
Stroke of Midnight Apple App Store iPad Free $4.99 $ 1.99
ACE COMBAT Xi Skies of Incursion Apple App Store iPhone $ 4.99 N/A $ 2.99
DigDug REMIX Apple App Store iPhone $ 2.99 N/A $ 0.99
Galaga REMIX Apple App Store iPhone $ 2.99 N/A $ 0.99
Isaac Newton’s Gravity – iPhone Apple App Store iPhone $ 2.99 N/A $ 0.99
Mishap Apple App Store iPhone $ 4.99 N/A $ 1.99
More Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima Apple App Store iPhone $ 4.99 N/A $ 1.99
Mr. Driller Apple App Store iPhone $ 1.99 N/A $ 0.99
Ms. PAC-MAN iPhone Apple App Store iPhone $ 4.99 N/A $ 1.99
PAC-ATTACK Apple App Store iPhone $ 2.99 N/A $ 0.99
PAC-CHAIN Compact Apple App Store iPhone $ 2.99 N/A $ 0.99
PAC-MAN Apple App Store iPhone $ 4.99 N/A $ 1.99
PAC-MAN Championship Edition Apple App Store iPhone $ 4.99 N/A $ 0.99
PAC-MAN REMIX Apple App Store iPhone $ 2.99 N/A $ 0.99
PAC-MANIA Apple App Store iPhone $ 1.99 N/A $ 0.99
Pole Position: Remix Apple App Store iPhone $ 2.99 N/A $ 0.99
Pool Pro Online 3 Apple App Store iPhone $ 1.99 N/A $ 0.99
Ridge Racer Accelerated Apple App Store iPhone $ 6.99 N/A $ 2.99
Splatterhouse Apple App Store iPhone $ 2.99 N/A $ 0.99
Star Trigon Apple App Store iPhone $ 1.99 N/A $ 0.99
Tamagotchi: ‘Round the World Apple App Store iPhone $ 4.99 N/A $ 1.99
TimeCrisisStrike Apple App Store iPhone $ 2.99 N/A $ 0.99
Time Crisis 2nd Strike Apple App Store iPhone $ 6.99 N/A $ 2.99
Buccaneer Blitz Apple App Store iPhone / iPad bundle $ 2.99 N/A $ 0.99
Puzzle Quest 2 Apple App Store iPhone / iPad bundle $ 6.99 N/A $ 3.99

You can watch this teaser trailer below (and get your fill of Siegfried).

If you still want more, check out the official website. Right now they’ve got a “like on Facebook to reveal this image!” thing going on, which is kind of silly, but…whatever floats your boat, I guess.

BUY

When I first started to play the game, I was hoping that the question “Ivy the Kiwi?” would be answered. Is it a kiwi? Is it a bird? Is it…what is Ivy?!?  Sorry, no answer about that, but what I did find was a fun game that felt correctly translated to the Wii.  The game starts with Ivy’s birth and she finds that her mother is not where in sight.  She hasn’t gotten out of her shell completely when she embarks in a journey to find her mother.

Ivy the Kiwi? It’s a fun and cute, adventure puzzle game, where you draw vines in order to move Ivy.  The goal of each stage is to collect 10 feathers, but you can finish the stage without collecting them all.  Some of the stages are harder to get all 10 feathers and in some levels, you’ll run out of time.  After just a few levels I already wanted to go back to the first stages to get that one feather I missed.  This made me believe that it would be a game that I would reply without a problem.  It also has a time trial section, where you can try to do each level at a faster time and a 4 player party. In it you play the levels but you can sabotage the other players, while keeping your Ivy moving towards the goal.

This game came out on both the Wii and the DS and after playing the game, I can see how the DS game would be easier since the goal is draw vines on the screen in order to get Ivy to climb, jump, propel and pretty much any kind of movement you want her to do. I was surprised how easy it was to control the vines with the Wiimote  to get Ivy to the right position. It became almost second nature and just a quick move of the wrist, the vine went where I wanted.  I always feel weird playing games like “Mario vs Donkey Kong” where you don’t control the character, but control the things around them in order to get to do the things you want them to do, but in this case, not been able to move Ivy was not a problem.  I adjusted rather easily, and got the hang of it quick.

The sound  and music can become a little repetitive, but every time you move from one major level to another, the music and look changes.  Thanks to that change, you don’t hate the music and in some cases you start to miss a particular tune you liked.  The game’s look as if you where looking through parchment paper.  One of the draw backs is that only a small window in the middle of the tv is where the game runs. It has a border around that works as a background.  It was annoying to me since I have a large tv and I do like to use 100% of the real estate.  Made it feel almost like if I was using my DS to play on the large screen TV at times.  The graphics are very much in the style of an old story book or hand drawn like Okami.  The look fits the game rather well and it does transfer to a world only an Ivy, who might be a kiwi, could leave.

Should you get it? My answer is yes.   It’s a fun game that you’ll play over and over again. With friends or by yourself, Ivy the Kiwi? It’s a fun game. One that can come in handy this holiday season when you try to keep people playing other things than just Rock Band

A review copy of this game was provided by the publisher and did not affect the outcome of this review.

The float will be 55 feet tall and also include Pac-Man’s frenemies: Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde. This is all part of what is essentially a huge birthday party for the Big Yellow Guy, and he’ll be holding up a giant birthday “cake,” accordingly. (Wait, it’s his birthday and he’s got to hold his own giant cake? Some friends he’s got.)

“PAC-MAN’s big spirit and insatiable appetite for adventure have won him a place in gamers’ hearts for three decades, and we think this is a great time to show how much we appreciate him,” said Kenji Hisatsune, who is president, CEO and COO of Namco Networks America. “It’s a true honor for PAC-MAN to be recognized with a birthday party in Pasadena and we think the towering 55 foot high float serves as a monumental way to celebrate his legacy with the world.”

“PAC-MAN and his friends will be a thrilling addition to the 122nd Rose Parade,” said Jeffrey L. Throop, president of the Tournament of Roses. “Every year, thousands of families travel to Pasadena to celebrate the New Year, and millions watch along on television. To be able to celebrate PAC-MAN’s 30th anniversary with the world on New Year’s Day is a true privilege for the Tournament of Roses.”

This is, of course, also a tie-in to promote the latest Pac-Man game – Pac-Man Party, which is a minigame collection for Wii.

Rating:

BUY

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is based on the 400 year old Chinese tale: Journey to the West. If you’ve ever seen Dragonball: Z, you might be familiar with the story and not even know it. In Enslaved, our story is set 150 years in the future, and a frightening apocalyptic setting at that complete with city ruins and mechanical creatures set on your destruction. The story in Enslaved was written by Alex Garland, the same writer we have to thank for the movies: The Beach and Sunshine, and the screenplay for the upcoming movie Let Me In.  I’m a fan of Garland’s movies, which definitely gave the game an point in it’s favor before I even cracked the box.

It looks cool, until it tries to kill you

The main character in Enslaved is Monkey, a large man who seems not to own a shirt. He’s a solitary fellow, adept at living on his own, partially no doubt to his extreme agility and acrobatic nature. (I did remark on his sash though as I played — it’s styled to hang from the back of his pants like a tail, but it’s off-center, so it often just looks like he has a crooked tail.)  As the game opens, Monkey finds himself waking up on a slave ship that’s about to crash. He sees a young woman running ahead of him as he makes his way through the mechs between him and the escape pods. Of course, by the time you finally direct Monkey to the escape pods (no easy task) that woman has taken the last one — and won’t let Monkey inside. When the escape pod crashes, with Monkey hanging on, he’s knocked out cold. And, when Monkey does wake up, it’s only to learn that he’s been ‘enslaved’ by the woman, Trip. She’s attached a headband to him that gives her the ability to command Monkey to act and makes sure that he has the proper motivation to obey (if she dies, he dies).  Trip, only wants one thing though — and that’s for Monkey to help her get home. Once there, she promises to remove the headband so he can be a free man once more.

Ninja Warrior's next contestant

So, here’s how the game works at it’s base elements: You control Monkey; he runs, jumps, scrambles to the best of his ability over the ground or shimmering surfaces the game highlights for you. When you encounter mechs, Trip hides and Monkey bashes them with his staff, or tries to take them out before they reach him by using either the stun or plasma blasts on his staff (a handy weapon). At an early chapter in the game, Trip rewires a Dragonfly to act as camera and sensor, adding a new level to the fight against the mechs where you can sense them ahead of time and try to get around them — when that’s possible.

Overall, I came into the game with low expectations. But, once I started playing I was hooked. Monkey, is a gruff dude and he’s not playing around. Trip, is a bit annoying, mostly when you take Monkey around a cleared area to pick up ammo, health or experience points — she doesn’t have a lot of patience to wait around. And there are times where if you take Monkey too far from her, she’ll kick a command over the headband: Agony. The game plays a little like a Prince of Persia / Tomb Raider mash-up on chapter based rails. And that’s not a complaint, if you like heavily story based games, with decent action, this will be right up your alley.

In the beginning, it’s pretty easy to get a little annoyed at Trip. She’s enslaved Monkey, she’s a pretty big wuss — consistently getting frightened by incoming mechs or yelling at Monkey to take out threats. But, over time I think she becomes pretty darned lovable. She’s handy to have around for one thing, like the Dragonfly I mentioned. But, she’s also able to create a decoy while Monkey goes gallivanting off to take out potential dangers. Another point in her favor is that she rarely, really puts herself in danger. She’s smart enough to know when to stay put or when to clamber out of reach so that Monkey doesn’t have to keep charging down from wherever he is to save her.

Combat is pretty simple without being a complete button mashing exercise. Monkey has his staff (as previously mentioned) and can do both close and ranged combat with it. The problem mostly comes in small game hiccups where an enemy might be too close, or at the wrong angle for a hit to land. For me it meant trying to apply a little strategy to fights after dying the first time or two. For bigger fights, both those with more mechs and those with bigger more advanced mechs it sometimes meant having to figure out exactly what the game wanted me to do. Enslaved is pretty decent when it comes to giving you instruction on using your combat abilities — but not always about implementing scene based tactics. So, it’s important to pay attention to screen commands, which often means dying and doing it all over again so you can pay better attention (or just take a moment to regroup). Let me also mention, it’s not God of War — though if you’re a backseat gamer, it does LOOK a bit like that’s how the combat works. In reality, there’s not a lot of combat maneuvers to learn and few fancy combos. Personally, I really liked the combat simplicity. There was enough variation for me to find my own combat play style, but not so much to make me bored by sorting through upgrade menus.

There are few annoyances to note however. The camera for one. When you’re just walking around, it’s mostly fine — but those rails I mentioned? When it’s time for a dramatic scene or a set-up shot for the next challenge, the camera control is yanked from you. Sometimes this means picking back up control in an awkward position. One of the other things I started to notice further along in the game is that the ammo starts coming around more often, but not always when you need it. I learned the hard way that upgrading Monkey’s ability to hold more ammo might be more important than originally planned. Especially when in later chapters bigger fights get closer together; giving you lots of chances to use up the ammo you have on hand, and not enough places to resupply. Lastly, while the majority of this post-apocalyptic, earth reclaimed setting is for the most part, beautiful; there are some definite graphical glitches and issues. They few and far between, but it does make one wonder how much more outstanding some of the environments could’ve been given more time.

And one of the biggest complaints that you can have about a game like this — it’s not long enough. The chapter based story telling, makes the game FEEL like the story is moving faster. In some parts of the story I was engrossed enough, and playing for long enough that I would come across a chapter heading and I’d have to stop and ask “How’d I get here already?” I think that’s a good thing. But it also meant there wasn’t nearly enough play time. For a linear story like this one, it also means there’s not a ton of re-playability – unless you’re looking for trophies or achievements.

Piggyback scenarios are thankfully few

Monkey and Trip are eventually lovable characters. The story has it’s poignant moments, within getting right in your face about it. And the cut scenes, especially in conversational moments between Monkey and Trip have a lot of subtle expression that gives the whole story and setting that extra bit of connective tissue that holds things together. Even though Trip has forced Monkey into being her muscle, it never really feels like a never ending escort mission, and most of that has to do with the story politely scooting the action and their companionship along as you go.

Enslaved, in one small package, gave me a whole lot more than I was planning on, and I love it for that. I’m a sucker for a game with a good story, and I got that and a whole lot more. If you’re like me, Enslaved is definitely worth picking up. If you’re looking for something with a bit more combat to sink your teeth into, I’d suggest downloading the demo for Enslaved and giving that a shot before spending your money.

And though the game might be over, there’s good news: Ninja Theory has DLC on the not-so-distant horizon for Enslaved. We might have to wait a little bit but I’m already looking for to it.

Review copy provided by Namco Bandai and didn not affect the outcome of this review.

Namco Bandai Games America was created long ago to bring video games like Pac-Man to America. Namco Networks America was created to work on mobile and social games.

Now the two will combine into one company to merge and take advantage of the talent each of them have in the mobile and console space.

“We strive to make games accessible to gamers across multiple platforms. Combining the companies’ deep pools of talent and resources is the best way for us to achieve our goal of broadening our consumer base,” said Kenji Hisatsune, President, CEO and COO of Namco Networks. “I am very excited about uniting these dynamic groups and look forward to delivering top-notch content that’s appropriate for multiple gaming platforms and communities.”

Ninja Theory, the studio that rocked out the PS3 launch with “Heavenly Sword” is back to bring us more luscious gaming eye-candy.

Due out this October, “Enslaved: Odyssey to the West” features the motion captured talents of “Lord of the Rings” actor, Andy Serkis. Serkis’ involvement with Ninja Theory’s “Heavenly Sword” was most likely a large factor in his return to the studio to reprise his motion-capture role.

The game’s narrative is a product of Alex Garland’s twisted and oh-so-talented mind (from “28 Days Later”, a most excellent horror film).

Enjoy these shiny Gaming Angels Exclusive screenshots from “Enslaved: Odyssey to the West”.

Rating: E10+
Players: 1-4
Genre: Action
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Release Date: January 18, 2010 (North America)

BUY

The confusion started when my boyfriend was a little too eager to download easily the most camp game I’ve ever seen onto the Wii, a game mainly comprised of oiled up blokes, babes and bears in speedos that leave nothing to the imagination. It continued when we were greeted with this.

In the single player, you play as a chain of body builders. No single entities here, oh no. You’re quite happy pumping iron at the local gym, with your gym buddies that seem to share your stylist, and your face. Even the female character Brenda carries the gene mutation. As to why the only terrifying muscle woman in the game is said to be British, I’m not sure, I don’t know whether to be proud or mildly offended. As for the polar bear, I can only assume he has only just started his gym membership, he has a bit of a beer belly going on.

Being so buff doesn’t come naturally, so, you must employ a bit of help in the form of protein powder. Unfortunately, other people and things are after your special stuff, they steal it and run off with it. The only logical thing to do is chase them down in your speedos through the streets and off buildings in an orderly queue. Unfortunately, the people/aliens you are chasing have had a munch on your protein powder, and you guys haven’t had your fix. This means that despite your ultimate figure, they can run through walls, and you can’t. You play as the last bodybuilder in the queue following the thief through the walls. In basic terms, the aim of the game is to YMCA your way through the thief-shaped holes in the walls with the Wii remote and nunchuck, whilst unintentionally ogling your current character’s wiggling derriere.

I think I’m in love.
As time goes on, the AI-controlled bodybuilders in front of you gradually eat bricks and fall out of the queue because they didn’t flex their fine muscles fast enough. This means you move a little bit closer to the front of the queue, and your reflexes need to be that little bit more responsive. This is all good in theory, but unfortunately the controls are unresponsive for a game that’s centred around quick reactions. By the time you’ve realised that the controllers haven’t quite registered your perfect pose that even Arnold Schwarzenegger would have been proud of in his Mr Universe days, you’re already eating dirt. As for graphics, you can’t even see what backgrounds there are when you’re playing because your eyeballs are too busy bleeding, and the gameplay quickly becomes repetitive as the only things that change on each level are the thief and the route of the chase. If you’re looking for a game experience that will touch your mind and your heart, this game might not be for you. If you’re happy with rainbows, utter confusion and a good laugh, this game doesn’t disappoint.

The greatest thing about this game is that it’s rubbish, and that it knows it’s rubbish. It completely revels in it, from the cheesy J-Pop to the baby chick suffocating in one of the character’s afros. Anyone expecting a gaming masterpiece is insane, and Namco Bandai know it. This unashamedness leads to a truly unique game experience. Whether or not it’s one you want to have it a different matter altogether.

There is only so long you can play this game before the fun melts away, and the shame and awkwardness kicks in. Unless you’re drunk and surrounded by similarly drunk friends watching you play, in which case this may be the most awesome thing you’ve seen since watching a bar of soap expand in the microwave until it turned into the Stay Puft man (don’t try this at home, kids – watch it on the internet).

However short-lived the game may be, you’re only paying 500 Wii points (five US dollars) for a uniquely fun party game, or a quietly amusing single player game which you play in the dark with the curtains closed.

Overall, Muscle March is a game worth buying just to have your mind blown, then rearranged back together upside-down.

New screenshots for the video game tie-in to the upcoming Hollywood movie Clash of the Titans were released by Namco Bandai today. Perseus, half God and half man, rises up to save his family and stop the Zeus from unleashing hell on earth. Both the movie and the game will be available on March 26th.

If you would like to enter for a chance to win tickets to the movie, simply join the Clash of the Titans Facebook group as they are giving away a pair of tickets daily. You can also follow them at @ClashGame on Twitter for more information.

Namco Bandai is the latest company to decide to expand what it does on Xbox Live Games on Demand and Playstation Network by bringing old titles back. The hard-to-find titles and best-selling content will be available for the Xbox 360 in addition to PS One classics and current PSP titles be brought to PSN.

“Expanding our digital distribution presence across all major platforms is an essential part of our worldwide corporate strategy,” said Robert Stevenson, vice president of online development at NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “Through this initiative, our consumers will have access to our latest releases, bestsellers and hard to find classics with the press of a button.”

The first titles include:
Xbox LIVE Games on Demand
• Ridge Racer® 6, E for everyone, now available for 1600 Microsoft Points
• Beautiful Katamari™, E for everyone, available Q1 2010

PlayStation Network for the PSP system
• SOULCALIBUR®: Broken Destiny, T for teen, now available for $39.99
• TEKKEN® 6, T for teen, now available for $39.99
• Ridge Racer®, E for everyone, now available for $14.99
• Me & My Katamari™, E for everyone, available today for $19.99

With more titles to be announced in the next few months.