The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week is Minecraft: Wii U Edition and Ori and the Blind Forest.

Most game publishers won’t release new games during E3 week, so the appearance of Minecraft: Wii U Edition on store shelves is great for librarians looking to fill out their Wii U collection with a title they know everyone will love. Minecraft’s Wii U Edition is the same virtual playground that we all know and love, but it also includes the Super Mario Mash-up Pack expansion, which adds Mario-themed characters, textures, and music to the game.

Also available this week is Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition, an enhanced and expanded version of the well-received “MetroidVania” for the PC and Xbox One. Players will still be able to guide young Ori through the forest of Nibel, but the Definitive Edition will add new areas, new abilities, more story sequences, and multiple difficulty modes to the game.

All Links in “This Week’s New Releases + Game News” are Provided by Warp Zoned.

New Release Round-Up

• Retail Releases: Minecraft Wii U Edition, Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition
• Nintendo Download: Rhythm Heaven Megamix, Terraria, Super Paper Mario, more
• PlayStation Store: Trials of the Blood Dragon, Siren, more
• Xbox Games Store (Wednesday): Trials of the Blood Dragon, Monkey King Saga
• Xbox Games Store (Friday): Tour De France 2016, Bard’s Gold

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The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week is, believe it or not, a three-fer.

Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst is a first-person action game from DICE, the same team responsible for Star Wars: Battlefront. Available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst is a prequel/reboot to 2008’s Mirror’s Edge, which was a cult favorite among gamers for its focus on acrobatic wallrunning over gunplay. Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst will appeal to fans of the favorite, as well as anyone looking for something different from the first-person genre.

Kirby: Planet Robobot is the latest side-scrolling platformer in Nintendo’s Kirby franchise. This time, the pink puffball has to stop an alien invasion using his copy abilities… but he’ll also pilot a giant mech to bring the fight directly to the extraterrestrials. Kirby: Planet Robobot is an all ages title that should appeal to fans of platformer games and Nintendo-published titles.

Finally, Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir (PS4, PS3, Vita) is a high definition remaster of Odin Sphere, a side-scrolling RPG originally released for the PS2 in 2007. Developed by Vanillaware and published by Atlus, Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir draws on Norse mythology for its storyline and features beautiful hand-drawn graphics. RPG fans will definitely enjoy this one.

All Links in “This Week’s New Releases + Game News” are Provided by Warp Zoned.

New Release Round-Up

• Retail Releases: Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst, Kirby: Planet Robobot, Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir, more
• Nintendo Download: Kirby: Planet Robobot, Wario: Master of Disguise, more
• PlayStation Store: Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst, Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir, Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 6, more
• Xbox Games Store (Wednesday): Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst, Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 6, Soul Axiom, more
• Xbox Games Store (Friday): Ducati 90th Anniversary, Professional Farmer 2017, Dovetail Games Euro Fishing, more

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The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week is Dead Island Definitive Collection (PS4, Xbox One), a compilation containing Dead Island, Dead Island: Riptide, and Dead Island: Retro Revenge.

Dead Island and Dead Island: Riptide are first-person melee-focused zombie games where players try to escape a tropical island crawling with the undead. Both games were originally released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 a few years ago, and they were fairly well-received by action/horror fans at the time. Meanwhile, Retro Revenge is a brand new side-scrolling spinoff created exclusively for the Definitive Collection.

All Links in “This Week’s New Releases + Game News” are Provided by Warp Zoned.

New Release Round-Up

• Retail Releases: Dead Island Definitive Collection, One Piece: Burning Blood
• Nintendo Download: Metroid Prime Hunters, Kick & Fennick, Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie’s Double Trouble, more
• PlayStation Store: Dead Island Definitive Collection, Dangerous Golf, Plague Inc: Evolved, more
• Xbox Games Store (Wednesday): Dead Island Definitive Collection, One Piece: Burning Blood, Fragments of Him, more
• Xbox Games Store (Friday): Dangerous Golf, Among the Sleep, APB Reloaded, more

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The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week is Overwatch, Blizzard’s “Hero Shooter” for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Rather than populate its game with generic character types, Blizzard chose to create dozens of unique “Heroes” for Overwatch, and they gave each one their own personality and fighting style. Overwatch is very similar to the recently-released Battleborn, and I’m sure the two games will be compared and contrasted for many years to come. Fans of online shooters, and the game’s well-received art style, will love it.

Also of note this week is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, a Platinum Games-developed beat ’em up for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Mutants in Manhattan isn’t a simple movie adaptation, and instead features a comics-inspired art style and an original storyline not tied to any previous incarnation of the Ninja Turtles. Platinum created a similar game based on the Transformers last year, and fans of that 80s franchise went crazy for it. The same is probably true for Mutants in Manhattan, though the reviews aren’t as strong.

All Links in “This Week’s New Releases + Game News” are Provided by Warp Zoned.

New Release Round-Up

• Retail Releases: Overwatch, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, more
• Nintendo Download: StarTropics, Zoda’s Revenge: StarTropics II, Dragon Fantasy: The Black Tome of Ice, more
• PlayStation Store: Overwatch, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, Downwell, more
• Xbox Games Store (Wednesday): Overwatch, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, OlliOlli 2, Not A Hero

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The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week is Valkyria Chronicles Remastered (PS4), a tactical RPG from Sega.

Originally released for the PS3 in 2008, Valkyria Chronicles captured the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere with its blend of magical characters and tactical modern warfare. This re-release will include enhanced graphics, a new set of Trophies, and all the previously released downloadable content. Perfect for anime fans and anyone who likes a deep RPG experience.

All Links in “This Week’s New Releases + Game News” are Provided by Warp Zoned.

New Release Round-Up

• Retail Releases: Valkyria Chronicles Remastered, Homefront: The Revolution
• Nintendo Download: PokePark Wii: Pikachu’s Adventure, Contra III: The Alien Wars, PixelJunk Monsters, more
• PlayStation Store: Homefront: The Revolution, Shadow of the Beast, Valkyria Chronicles Remastered, more
• Xbox Games Store (Wednesday): Homefront: The Revolution, Subnautica (Game Preview), Super Night Riders, more
• Xbox Games Store (Friday): Cubikolor

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The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week is a two-fer of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Doom.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End might be Nathan Drake’s last adventure, but it has finally arrived on the PlayStation 4 this week courtesy of Naughty Dog. The development team has decided to step away from the Uncharted franchise, so if it does continue in some way, they won’t be the one holding the reins. This makes Uncharted 4 even more important as not only is it the latest game in a popular and long-running adventure series, but its a last hurrah (of sorts) for a developer that makes some of the best games around.

The developer behind Doom (PC, PS4, Xbox One), id Software, has an equally impressive resume, but it’s been a long time since they released anything and an even longer time since they explored the world of Doom. But they’ve managed to recapture some of that magic with their simply-titled reboot and its expert melding of shooter styles from the 90s and today will appeal to a lot of people. However, just note that it’s also ridiculously gory, so it won’t appeal to everybody.

All Links in “This Week’s New Releases + Game News” are Provided by Warp Zoned.

New Release Round-Up

• Retail Releases: Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Doom, Disney Art Academy, more
• Nintendo Download: Super Meat Boy, Minecraft: Super Mario Mash-Up Pack, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, more
• PlayStation Store: Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Doom, MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune Vs Zombies, more
• Xbox Games Store (Wednesday): Raiden V
• Xbox Games Store (Friday): Doom, Grand Prix Rock N Racing, GunWorld II

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The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week is
Battleborn (PC, PS4, Xbox One), a “Hero Shooter” from Gearbox. According to the developer, a “Hero Shooter” is a game where players will be able to choose from over 25 different characters (some of whom that don’t even like guns) to fight back against an evil mastermind trying to control “the last star in the universe.” It’s pulpy sci-fi from the people who made the Borderlands franchise, what’s not to like?

All Links in “This Week’s New Releases + Game News” are Provided by Warp Zoned.

New Release Round-Up

• Retail Releases: Battleborn
• Nintendo Download: Pocket Card Jockey, Super Punch-Out!!, Style Savvy, more
• PlayStation Store: Battleborn, Neverending Nightmares, Shadow Complex Remastered, more
• Xbox Games Store (Wednesday): Superhot, The Park, Battleborn
• Xbox Games Store (Friday): Coffin Dodgers, Mystery Castle, Azkend 2: The World Beneath

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The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week is Tales From the Borderlands (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One), a collected edition of the episodic Borderlands spinoff. Developed by Telltale Games, players will travel back to Pandora for a story brimming with intrigue, adventure, and humor. Fans of Telltale’s previous titles will love it and fans of the Borderlands franchise will love it.

All Links in “This Week’s New Releases + Game News” are Provided by Warp Zoned.

New Release Round-Up

• Retail Releases: Tales From the Borderlands, Pokemon Rumble World, Sega 3D Classics Collection, more
• Nintendo Download: Xenoblade Chronicles, Mini Mario & Friends, Sega 3D Classics Collection, more
• PlayStation Store: Alienation, Hitman: Episode 2, The Walking Dead: Michonne – Episode 3, more
• Xbox Games Store (Wednesday): Hitman: Episode 2, The Walking Dead: Michonne – Episode 3, Elite Dangerous: Arena, more
• Xbox Games Store (Friday): DC Universe Online, Paranautical Activity, JumpJet Rex

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