TWiG 2009-02-22: 50 Cent and the Kingdom of the Diamond Skull

This is it, people.  This is the week we’ve been waiting for, the week that’s been on our minds since last year, the week we sit outside the GameStops and GameCrazys of the world waiting impatiently for the doors to open as we finally have the de facto game of the year within our sights.  For many, the tears of joy have already started.

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand arrives on Tuesday.

(long pause) Too much?

All right, so perhaps I’ve allowed my own preconceptions to get in the way of, I don’t know, journalistic integrity or something, but there is no way I can take 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand seriously.  Here’s the plot, courtesy of Wikipedia:

“50 Cent and his G-Unit crew finish completing a tour of shows in the Middle East. Rather than receiving cash, G-Unit is offered a diamond-embedded skull of legends. When attempting to return home, 50 Cent and his entourage are attacked, and the skull is stolen by local gangs. 50 Cent will risk whatever it takes to get his skull back.”

I have got to think that the ridiculousness of this whole premise is intentional, because the sheer ridiculousness of it is what’s got everybody talking about it.  Nobody is taking it seriously, really, but everybody seems to want to play it, because let’s face it, it actually sounds kind of fun romping around the desert as 50 Cent, taking out thugs and trying to find the Crystal Diamond Skull.  If Indiana Jones makes a cameo, I’m totally buying it, and I wish I was less serious than I actually am.

If I wanted to be totally truthful, it’s Killzone 2 that sticks out on this particular list.  It feels at this point like Killzone 2 has been out forever given that they lifted the embargo on reviews a full three weeks before the game is actually going to arrive on store shelves, but FPS fans who’ve had about enough of Resistance on their PS3s are about to be loving life.  Word is that the latest Killzone is pretty light on the whole “story” thing, but it gets the shooter mechanics pretty much perfect.  Here’s to finding out.

The Wii has a Dead Rising remake on the way, the 360 is seeing the new Star Ocean, and the DS gets Ys, the new Puzzle Quest, and Peggle!  It’s a light release week, but there’s truly something for everyone on the way.

Who else is oddly transfixed by the Blood on the Sand phenomenon?  Who’s going to finally turn off Flower in favor of some Killzone?  Let’s hear from you in the comments!  The full release list and trailers for Killzone 2 and 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand are after…the jump.

Xbox 360:

Star Ocean: The Last Hope (23 February)
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (24 February)
ShellShock 2: Blood Trails (24 February)
Stoked (24 February)

Wii:

Battle Rage (24 February)
Dead Rising: Chop Til You Drop (24 February)
Puzzle Challenges and More! (28 February)

PS3:

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (24 February)
ShellShock 2: Blood Trails (24 February)
Metal Gear Online Scene Expansion (26 February)
Killzone 2 (27 February)

PS2:

Ski & Shoot (28 February)

DS:

Legacy of Ys: Books I & II (24 February)
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (24 February)
Imagine: Ice Champions (25 February)
Peggle Dual Shot (27 February)

PC:

Drakensang: The Dark Eye (23 February)
Penumbra Collection (23 February)
ShellShock 2: Blood Trails (24 February)
Tom Clancy’s EndWar (24 February)

PSP:

Nothing this week…

—Mike Schiller