The X Button

King for a Game

The game's proper name is Hokuto Musou, but it's evident that Tecmo and Koei will call this Fist of the North Star when it arrives in North America. Still, they could always dub it Dynasty Warriors: Fist of the North Star, since the game takes the Dynasty Warriors schtick of fighting off a hundred-man army and applies to Fist of the North Star's ideal of fighting off a hundred-man army and making all of their heads explode. Like most Fist of the North Star action games, this one has Kenshiro exploding most of the murderous-thug population of a nuked-out world, but he's not the only playable character. Rei slices through foes, Toki politely butchers attackers, and a grim-looking version of Mamiya kicks her enemies' heads in. The game even features playable villains: Jagi uses shotguns and rocket launchers, while the formidable Raoh just stomps all over everything. Hell, even Raoh's war horse, Kokuoh-Go, is playable. Not that the game skips over the opposition, as nearly a dozen Fist of the North Star villains also show up.
Import Barrier: The finer points of the storyline may elude players, but they can always wait. And that's because...
Chances of a Domestic Release: An English release was confirmed for Europe, and a North American version is almost certain. Barring censorship, there's no reason to get the Japanese release. Well, not unless you want the limited-edition clock that awakens you with the screams of post-apocalyptic slaughter.

There are animal-raising games and there are theme-park games, and somewhere between them lies Minna no Suizokukan. Just as Harvest Moon has players tending a farm and caring for animals through mini-games, Suizokukan is all about managing an aquarium and water park. From the penguins to the dolphins, the creatures require the usual feeding, cleaning, and training, and all of that falls to the player. On the other hand, that player is also in charge of picking which fish to stock, which events to promote, and just how to spin things to the press and visitors when an unruly orca breaks a trainer's leg. The Harvest Moon connection seems even more apparent in the game's big-headed characters and normally cooperative animals, though it might be more satisfying if you could play as the marine life, doing tricks and gradually plotting a glorious escape.
Import Barrier: Without some Japanese knowledge, tending to the aquarium's attractions will require a lot of trial and error. And perhaps virtual animal-rights violations.
Chances of a Domestic Release: It's approachable enough to appeal to casual DS players, but no company has taken a chance yet.

Sgt. Frog's new DS-based RPG has the look of a typical anime-character vehicle, as it finds the space-invader amphibian and his rivals/allies cavorting around as medieval warriors and buccaneers (the human cast of Sgt. Frog seems strangely absent from combat, but they don't move merchandise like the goofy alien frogs do). Yet this RPG is more than just a cash-in; it was created by Tales Studio, and it plays a lot like a traditional Tales game, with fast-paced battles that involve plenty of button-slamming and team-up attacks. Of course, half the fun of Sgt. Frog lies in the manifold nerdy references, and this game delivers those in the form of Namco character cameo. Special appearances are made by Klonoa, Pac-Man, Katamari Damacy's Prince, .hack's Haseo, The Legend of Valkyrie's Valkyrie, and even that boring sky fortress from Xevious.
Import Barrier: You'll find lots of Japanese text, but you won't need much knowledge of the language to flail away in battle.
Chances of a Domestic Release: Minimal. American anime publishers spent years struggling to sell Sgt. Frog over here, and until you see the yellow-hatted creature on TV, you won't see him in any domestic video games.

Cho Aniki Zero: Muscle Brothers hit the PlayStation Network last week, but this isn't the sort of game you should ignore for long. The entire Cho Aniki series of shooters is known for its ridiculous, mock-homoerotic style, and it's typified by recurring heroes Samson and Adon, who fly around in speedos and shoot flowers and laser beams from the crowns of their heads. And that's perfectly normal compared to the enemies they face. However, Cho Aniki Zero is a remake of the first game in the series, so Adon and Samson are merely the sidekicks of the more conventionally handsome hero Idaten, and they follow him through various side-scrolling stages. The other playable lead, the curvaceous Benten (yes, a woman), is joined by two grotesque little cherubs who never got starring roles in the series. That's not to say Cho Aniki Zero is mild in its humor, as the game's crawling with half-naked (and mostly male) enemies and weird fusions of bodybuilder and machine. Then there's the game-over screen, where Samson and Adon manfully embrace while the player slams a button over and over in order to continue.
Get Excited If: People complained about Radiant Silvergun and Policenauts never coming out in English, but all the while you just wanted a Cho Aniki game to be translated.