Out This Week - 29/04/11

Celebrate! It's a three day week for UK gamers! But the game industry release schedule stops for no man or wedding, and neither do we.

Angry Norse god Thor will try and barge the royal bride from your telly this weekend. The funnybook-turned-film star has a SEGA-developed movie tie-in out for all consoles.

Who could take on such a force? Step forward almost-as-angry Scottish/British person Andy Murray. He graces the cover of Virtua Tennis 4, also by SEGA. Buy it and perhaps you'll meet Andy online - the lad himself was denied a wedding invite. Maybe he should stop losing. Zing!

PC gamers can distract themselves with Darkspore, an action RPG semi-sequel to Will Wright's Spore. There's also Outland, an intriguing shooter-platformer hybrid for XBLA, while deep JRPG Persona 3 lands on PSP.

Despite being a downloadable title, Outland is getting the full Eurogamer review treatment this Wednesday, so it's probably rather good.

Or is it?

You'll have to come back and find out.

This Week in Shops!

• Virtua Tennis 4
• Developer: SEGA
• Publisher: SEGA
• Formats: PS3, Wii, Xbox 360

What is it? After some uneven handling for Virtua Tennis 3 and Virtua Tennis 2009, the tennis sim's latest incarnation is back in the trusted paws of SEGA's internal team. Eurogamer interviewed Virtua Tennis series creator Mie Kumagai, who admitted the need for "a lot of major changes to the game". Unsure which platform deserves your purchase? Sony may have the best option: angry bearded Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Pat Rafter are part of Virtua Tennis 4's exclusive PS3 content. PlayStation owners also get extra party games, Home gubbins, Move support and stereoscopic 3D. What does Eurogamer think? Has SEGA served up aced/netted (delete tennis adjective as appropriate) a title worthy of the series' Dreamcast origins? Eurogamer has yet to lob home a verdict, but will do so on Friday.

Darkspore

• Developer: Maxis Software
• Publisher: Electronic Arts
• Formats: PC

What is it? Maxis have mind-melded the creature customisation tools of God game Spore with a fully-fledged online RPG that reminds us of Diablo. Play pick n' mix with thousands of assorted body parts, armour and weapons. With your own sci-fi Frankenstein assembled, you begin a galaxy-spanning quest. What does Eurogamer think? Eurogamer's review is in the works.

Thor: God of Thunder

• Developer: Liquid Entertainment/Red Fly Studios
• Publisher: SEGA
• Formats: DS, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360

What is it? Another SEGA published Marvel movie tie-in, following in the footsteps of The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, and Iron Man 2. On the upside, series author Matt Fraction has penned the script, while film-version stars Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston lend their voices and likenesses. No word on Natalie Portman. Boo. What does Eurogamer think? Eurogamer has not yet published a review. Honestly, you'd think we were all on holiday.

What Else?

• Zumba Fitness (PS3)
• Mythos (PC)
• Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 (PSP)
• Outland (XBLA)
• Trouble☆Witches Neo! (XBLA)
• NIN2-JUMP (XBLA)
• Under Siege (PSN - really, you think?)

Chart Predictions!

Each week one of the team steps up to predict the UK all-formats chart. The following predicts the outcome for the week beginning Thursday 28th April (to be reported on Tuesday 3rd May).

Tom Bramwell, Editor At Large, Eurogamer.net

"A lot depends on the drop-off in Portal 2 sales, but since I love the game and the TV adverts are pretty good I'm going to bet on it holding at a decent level. I'd expect Virtua Tennis 4 to beat it to the top slot though. What happens below that is tougher to call, but I imagine FIFA 11 will benefit from us reaching the business end of the football season, while Black Ops may benefit from the hype for the impending Escalation DLC and Zumba has been a consistent performer too. Viva Pinata at six, obviously."

1. Virtua Tennis 4
2. Portal 2
3. FIFA 11
4. Call of Duty: Black Ops
5. Zumba Fitness

Eurogamer's devilishly bearded Website and Video administrator Tom Phillips attempted to predict the future last week. We've put together a fancy table to show how well he didn't do.