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Grand Theft Auto IV Xbox 360, Playstation 3 ESRB Rating: Mature Release: 4/29/08
Perennial favorite of senators, representatives and politicians of all ages looking for a scapegoat, the "Grand Theft Auto" series will debut its ninth entry this month with "Grand Theft Auto IV." Players will control Nico Billic, a man of Easter European descent lured by his brother Roman to the U.S. in his pursuit of the American Dream.
Whether or not Nico makes it big is up in the air, but you can expect new levels of immersion and realism from GTA IV, which takes place in Liberty City, analogous to the boroughs of New York City and neighboring New Jersey. The game is shaping up to be as big as its predecessors, so keep an eye out as the launch nears for further coverage.
Okami (Wii) ESRB Rating: Teen Release: 4/15/08
Released a year ago on the PS2 to rave reviews and relatively low sales, adventure game "Okami" is getting a second chance on the Wii. Set in a vaguely defined period of classical Japanese history, "Okami" tells the tale of Shinto sun goddess Ameterasu's efforts to save the land from darkness in the form of a white wolf.
"Okami" (a play on the Japanese words for "great god" and "wolf") features gameplay similar to the Legend of Zelda series with an inspired twist: a heavenly brush that players can manipulate to slice, blow and otherwise affect the environment around them, which is beautifully rendered in a manner reminiscent of the Sumi-e art style.
Mario Kart Wii ESRB Rating: Everyone Release: 4/27/08
Ever a source of joy, this kart racer will hit late in the month to fill the Wii's post-Smash Bros void of first-party games. Equally suited to attracting the party crowd as "Smash Bros. Brawl," this iteration will drop the two person vehicle model of its predecessor and introduce motorbikes as an alternative to the traditional kart-based gameplay.
Also notable for the upcoming title is the new Wii Wheel that will be packaged in with the game. Essentially a very nice piece of plastic, the new peripheral is meant to simulate a regular steering wheel. Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu has revealed 32 racing tracks total, half-new and half-remade courses from previous games.
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