New Releases for 03/13/12

SECKMANS SELECTIONS

Boy, what a week! Ton of awesome new releases here. I think my Amazon wishlist just increased (if possible) by a page or two. There are some sweet video games coming out, including the higly anticipated Journey by the company who brought us Flower. And there's plenty to listen to in the music word...we go everything from The Ting Tings to some surprising new artists who have stolen my heart. And in movies...well pretty much every good movie from this fall came out...My Week With Marolyn, TinTin, The Three Musketeers, etc. Anyway, here's a look at some of the things that came out this week, March 13, 2012!

VIDEO GAMES

Silent Hill: Downpour

Staying true to the franchise's original roots, this eighth installment of the Silent Hill franchise returns with an all new thought-provoking horror storyline. Players will once again find themselves face to face with their deepest sins and fears in the strange world of Silent Hill. The survival horror experience begins after a prison transport vehicle careens off the road, leaving lone inmate Murphy Pendleton stranded in Silent Hill. Gamers will encounter mind-bending puzzles, as well as horrific creatures and other world terrors using everyday objects from wooden chairs to glass bottles to fend off their enemies. The natural response, fight or flight is left to the player as they unravel a dark, thought-provoking storyline which will appeal to fans of the early, classic Silent Hill series, as well as anyone who enjoys a deep, psychological horror experience. In addition to the main storyline, players will also be presented with variable side quests along the way that can change depending on their play style, revealing unknown evils within the town.

Journey
[PS3 Dowload only]

In Journey, the player takes the role of a robed figure in a desert. The game features no map or instructions, only a large mountain in the distance that the player journeys toward. While traveling the player can encounter other players, one at a time, if they are playing online. Players cannot speak to each other, but can help each other in their journey or not as they wish. Players met online will not be identified with a username and voice or text communication will not be possible with the other player. According to designer Jenova Chen, "it's about two strangers who meet online. They don't know who they are or how old they are. All they know is, that is another human being." The only way players can communicate audibly with each other is with a wordless shout. Players will have symbols on the front of their robes for identification, so that the player can tell whether they have met that traveler before or not. Journey is the last game made under a three game contract between Thatgamecompany and Sony, the first two being Flow and Flower.

Tales of Graces f


The popular Tales RPG series by Namco Bandai returns to PlayStation 3 with this port of the Wii hit Tales of Graces (original Wii game was a Japanese only release). Tales of Graces f features stunning high-definition visuals with improved outlining and the detailed anime art style of Mutsumi Inomata. The gorgeous and spacious environments truly immerse you in the beautiful open world. Master new combat styles to aid you in battle. The Style Shift - Linear Motion Battle System allows you to freely change between fighting styles while evading enemy attacks. Use powerful new techniques and take the fight to your foes like never before with Accelerate mode. Enlist the help of up to three friends to battle enemies side-by-side, and explore more than 10 hours of engaging gameplay in the all-new Lineage & Legacies epilogue that's exclusive to the PlayStation 3. This all-new content features new dungeons, dangerous new monsters and powerful new spells, attacks and techniques.

MOVIES

The Adventures of Tintin (Blu-ray/DVD)

The Descendants (Blu-ray/DVD)

My Week with Marilyn (DVD/Blu-ray)

The Three Musketeers [Blu-Ray 3D]

Wallace & Gromit: World of Invention [Blu-ray]

Neverland

The Killing: Season One

The Guild: Season Five

MUSIC

Sounds From Nowheresville by The Ting Tings

If you loved their first album, then you've got more of the same new age/indi rock awesomeness here! This is the 2nd studio album by this kick ass English duo.

We All Raise Our Voices to the Air (Live Songs 04.11-08.11) 

by The Decemberists

Up All Night by One Direction

I have to admit, for a pop album, it's pretty darn good...but I personally just can't get into a pre-hipster boy band of 12 year olds. If that's your thing, have at it.

Rescue by Adam Cappa

Now here is an awesome album, by a guy most of us Heathens have never heard about! LOL. I typically have an aversion to must Christian pop artists, but every once and a while someone comes along who melts my godless heart and is too good to ignore. I love finding new artists! ^_^

Felony Flats by Anya Marina

Never heard of her? Me either. ^_^ But if you like the band Metric...we'll her sound is very reminiscent, so I'm down with it. Anya is a Portland, Oregon-based singer/songwriter.

Steppin on Water by Elisa

Italian musician Elisa is new to me. Sweet vocals and music stylings that range from the incredible Miss Li to Ingrid Michaelson.

Stories to Tell by Dave Barnes

Again with these Christian Pop artists! David Barnes' 5th album Stories to Tell, musically and lyrically, is pretty damn awesome. Reminds me of a male Colbie Caillat mixed with some vocal stylings of Andy Grammer.

Delta Spirit by Delta Spirit

A great rock ablum by San Diego's Delta Spirit. This is their 3rd ablum. Check it out, cause it's really good!

Stronger for It by Janiva Magness

Amazing Blues/Rock album. AMAZING! Like Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt? Well then, you'll like Janiva.

Once (Original Cast Recording)

Based on the amazing film by the same name. While I'm glad it continues to garner attention, and there's some new music (not sure that it was written by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová) in the show...a preview of the soundtrack just doesn't inspire the same emotions as the music from the film. The Guy vocals are ok (but it's hard to be better than Glen) but the Girl vocal are too harsh when compared to the gentleness of Markéta.

Silent Hill: Downpour Soundtrack

Moody and Ominous, I love a good Silent Hill soundtrack. Daniel Licht (the composer famous for his work on the "Dexter" series) composed the score for the game (Clowning Around With Monsters is particularly creepy!). The music sounds very different from the Akira Yamaoka's music in the prior games, but honestly that's a welcome change. Every other Silent Hill soundtrack has just been variations on the same theme, and while awesome, was starting to get a little stale. Jonathan Davis of Korn performs the end credit song for the game, which is only thing I'm disappointed with. The Vocals in the world of Silent Hill have, and alway should, belong to the amazing Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (who appears on tracks Intro Perk Walk and Bus to Nowhere).

BOOKS

Flashpoint
(paperback)

Gotham City Sirens: Division

Collects Gotham City Sirens #20-21

Sailor Moon 4

A new group calling themselves Black Moon is after Usagi and the rest of the Sailor Guardians, wielding a new power known only as the Malefic Black Crystal. Chibi-Usa may be the key to it all, but to find the answers and rescue her kidnapped friends, Usagi will have to journey through time to the 30th century and discover what fate has in store.

This new edition of Sailor Moon features:

- An entirely new, incredibly accurate translation!
- Japanese-style, right-to-left reading!
- New cover art never before seen in the U.S.!
- The original Japanese character names!
- Detailed translation notes!