Not even four months could pass between the next installment of the Ace Attorney series. Capcom has treated us with the sudden release of Apollo Justice, and fans of the series couldn’t be happier. Let us state that this game is just like any other Ace Attorney title. For more information on the series, check our cleverly-written review of Phoenix Wright: Trials & Tribulations, also available for the Nintendo DS. That review will inform you on all the basics of the series, whereas this review will focus on the similarities and differences between previous Ace Attorney titles and the recently-released fourth installment of the series. Worry not, this review is spoiler-free.

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Winter is gone and March is here. Sure, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is near and will be awesome, but the DS isn’t going to prettily sit on its laurels this month; a few big hits are set to release within weeks, alongside a whole bunch of interesting titles. Action, adventure, strategy and role-playing; the Nintendo DS has something for everyone this month. Check out the most impressive DS titles coming this March:

Mysterious Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer – March 4: Shiren the Wanderer is very similar to Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, a dungeon-crawler with randomly-generated levels, many items and enemies to collect and battle, and big punishments for defeat. This one, however, is a remake of an old SNES game, and things are a bit more simple and easy-going than in the Pokémon spin-off.

Eco Creatures: Save the Forest – March 4: A very artsy RTS with a twist, Eco Creatures has you in control of different ecosystem creatures doing their best to protect their natural habitats. You can command various classes, each with many units ready to do your bidding, and a robust map editor lets you design your own areas and share them with friends, both locally and over the net.

Ninja Reflex – March 4 The DS has trained your brain well enough; now it’s time to train those reflexes! This title is all about Ninjas and their impressive agility. Various events are exposed as mini-games, such as catching flies with chopsticks or defending from multiple sword attacks. Everything is handled with the stylus, and a ‘hot seat’ multiplayer option is also available. The Wii version of this title seems like the winner, but we can’t be sure until we try them both.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates – March 11: A robust action RPG with solid button controls, combo attacks, various classes, and a deep magic-casting system, split into a Solo Mode and a multicard Multiplayer Mode that seems like a ton of fun, as long as you can track down some friends with the game (yep, no online play).

Insecticide – March 11: A great blend of old-school adventure titles (LucasArts’ greatness, Grim Fandango, Full Throttle) and action sections similar to Beyond Good & Evil. As insects evolve and practically take over the world, a new civilization rises, and a young police detective is set to discover the truth behind some mysterious cases. Sounds like a winner!

Sega Superstars Tennis – March 18 Sonic, Ai-Ai, Ulala and Amigo bring it on to the tennis court on a frantic mascot match for the DS. Since Mario Tennis DS isn’t around, Sega’s characters take the court, and although stylus controls aren’t present, a well-developed, button-based tennis game for the DS could be great. Ah, if only this game had online play…

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword – March 20: Responsive stylus input, intense Ninja action, and great-looking characters and backgrounds make Ninja Gaiden DS a sure hit for the system. Good combat with multiple attacks and enemies, combined with well-designed levels and impressive boss battles make fora great title for the Spring.

On the tail of Sony’s recently announced 399$ MGS4 PS3 bundle comes another announcement of interest to handheld gaming fans. Those of you who still do not own a PSP (or would like to pick up the new slim model in an attractive color) will soon be able to grab a bundle which will include a special red PSP (pictured) and God of War game disc. In addition, this $199 bundle includes a coupon redeemable for a free download of Syphon Filter: Combat Ops from the PS Store AND the film Superbad on UMD. The total value of this bundle seems to surpass anything Sony has come up with so far, and we’ve no doubt that this will move serious units for the company this summer.

You know what? I already own 2 PSPs and yet I suspect that I will march right down to Best Buy and grab this when it comes out in June, simply because I have no self control. I know there are a lot of DS fans on this site, and some of you might not yet have a PSP system. I am curious to find out what you think about this new offering… is it tempting?

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Nintendo today announced that its two new Pokemon Mystery Dungeon titles; subtitled “Explorers of Time” and “Explorers of Darkness“, will release in North America on April 20th. These two titles are of course sequels to the two Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games released in 2005, which were accepted with much criticism due to their simplicity and lack of DS-specific qualities. Still, PMD is an interesting take on the world of Pocket Monsters, putting you in the shoes paws of the Pokemon themselves.

The new titles are developed to boast improved features such as better graphics, a unique Wi-Fi option, and expected returning features like an engaging story and a variety of dungeons to crawl through. Over 490 Pokemon are present, some exclusive to each version (sound familiar?). Interestingly enough, the Wi-Fi ability is being utilized to allow online rescue missions and even the ability to send friends text messages or e-mails. In-depth details have yet to be given, but this Pokemon spin-off/sequel is sounding like an intriguing addition to the Nintendo DS library.

We’ve certainly seen our fair share of bad Pokemon spin-offs (Pokemon Dash?), but if Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness turns out like it looks to, then we may have another solid Pokemon game on our hands. While you eagerly anticipate PVG’s review come April 20th, check out the official boxarts released today courtesy of Nintendo, as well as a short trailer for the titles.

One of the most interesting things to come out of the Microsoft presence at this year’s Game Developers Conference is their announcement about plans to bring XNA gaming to their Zune media player.

What is XNA, you might ask? Well, for you code-heads out there, “XNA is a completely managed (.NET 2.0 based) API that targets Direct3D 9.0 (for its Graphics functionality) under the covers that provides a seamless programming experience for Windows and the XBOX 360.” But for the rest of us, it is sufficient to note that this platform allows developers to create impressive, cross-platform games for various systems (now including the Zune).

There was some question during the Microsoft keynote about whether these new games would work exclusively with the newer model of Zune player due to differences in button input. Fear not, first-gen owners (all 5 of you zing!), because Microsoft has made it clear that games will be available for “the entire family of Zune media devices”.

Despite our earlier hypothesizing that Microsoft might enter the portable gaming space in a more serious manner, this announcement actually makes pretty good sense. It will allow them to leverage an existing product line, by adding functionality that will set their player apart from competitors (ahem, iPod Touch). What are your thoughts on this announcement? Do you think that the games will be interesting enough to warrant a second look at the Zune?

5th Cell, the company behind the development of Drawn to Life, an original and innovative DS title soon to be released for the Wii, is working on two more DS projects, according to creative director Jeremiah Slaczka. During a recent interview with DS Fanboy, Mr. Slaczka noted that 5th Cell has moved on from mobile gaming and is happy working on the DS. Both projects have not been officially announced and therefore can’t be talked about, but the team’s love for gaming and passion for new IPs has us intrigued and excited. Make sure to read the full interview to find out more on the business relationships of 5th Cell, and an interesting note on how small developers can get into the industry.

Chances are, if you’ve been on the internet or watching the news at all in the last few days you’ve learned about the inevitable unfortunate demise of Toshiba’s HD-DVD high definition media format. While the news may come as a shock (or a relief) to many, it raises the question of just how the newly-presumed standard high definition media format (Blu-Ray) will effect our beloved gaming industry? We’ve already seen it effect the console side of things, with Microsoft investing in an HD-DVD add-on peripheral and Sony implementing a full Blu-Ray player into their Playstation 3, but is it possible that we could see Blu-Ray; or something similar, on our next-generation portables?

For the time being, it seems unlikely, but not by any means impossible. Sony has already made the step to discs using their own UMD format (which didn’t work out so well for them in the end, but that’s besides the point), and it’s only a matter of time before Nintendo realizes that they need to make the jump from cartridges to discs. But when the time comes for them to do so, are they going to pick a UMD-like format? It’s highly unlikely that Nintendo would make their own format like Sony has (but again, not impossible… Gamecube, anyone?), but a condensed form of Blu-Ray on a portable would sure sound lovely. Imagine your Nintendo DS or PlaystationPortable games in high definition? It makes your mouth (or eyes?) water, doesn’t it? The fact of the matter is, with high definition TV sales constantly rising and the popularity of Blu-Ray disc on the rise, patience is the only thing standing in the way from technology progressing to a point where we’ll see high definition and a high definition format on our portables.

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With all of the megaton games arriving for the PSP in March, we just couldn’t wait to get this list of upcoming titles on the front page. During the coming weeks some major hitters are coming out for the PSP, as well as some not-so-major hitters. Anyone with a PSP will already know about Crisis Core and God of War, but all of the titles coming out next month hold some promise. Kris is particularly excited to try out N+, the quirky ninja simulator from Atari, while I have dibs on the review of Crisis Core, which you can expect immediately upon release of the game. Continue below to get the skinny on these titles and make note of their release dates. We generally aren’t the type to recommend pre-ordering games, but true PSP fanatics might want to consider it next month.

World Championship Cards — February 26th: This game is going to feature 30 different card games. If you are one of those that has to stay away from those addicting poker handhelds you might want to shy away from this one for your own health.

God of War: Chains of Olympus — March 4th: We did a review of the demo for this game last month and needless to say, the brand is in very capable hands with Ready At Dawn studios. This is looking like a must have for any PSP owner.

FlatOut: Head On — March 11th: A racing game that promises real world physics and the “most destructive” racing game on the PSP. Not a whole lot of gamer buzz on this one but hey, this could be the racing simulator you’ve been looking for with wi-fi racing action and three different gameplay modes.

Wild Arms: XF — March 11th: The sixth entry into the Wild Arms franchise, this RPG is going to take place on the same planet as all the others. My guess is that this will contain many of the same plot developments and recycled RPG drama from the other 5, but if you are a Wild Arms fan it’d probably be a crime to disregard this one.

Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core — March 25th: The prequel to the if you haven’t heard of it you’re not of this world game Final Fantasy VII. This game has gotten amazing reviews already in Japan and promises the best graphics on PSP to date, in other crisis core news, make sure to check out the new American website to make your mouth water that much more.

N+ — March 25th A simple puzzle game that sets you as a Ninja who really has a thing for gold, this 2D puzzler has you avoiding crazy robots and playing through 50 levels designed by gamers who loved the original. If you like Ninjas (and who doesn’t) you might want to take this one for a spin!

Would you like to win some free swag? Well, of course you would, you greedy and deplorable human. In anticipation of next week’s release of THQ’s Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed for the PSP, we are excited to be able to give away some very adorable and very kitsch bobbleheads. Just imagine the gamer cred that you could accumulate by having one of these bad boys perched on your desk (or sealed, unopened, in an airtight gaming-memorabilia humidor). The game is shaping up quite nicely on the Sony handheld, and from the looks of the trailer below, the portable iteration retains the series’ trademark sense of style and irreverent humor. This prequel to the console titles also introduces some creative new ways to rid the planet of its annoying inhabitants, many of them involving Big Willy’s excretory functions.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below explaining why you think the puny, insolent humans should be eradicated. This friday we will chooseWe have already chosen 10 winners at random and contacted them via email to arrange delivery (open to residents of US, Canada and Mexico). Only one entry per household; cheaters and ballot stuffers will be automatically disqualified, and later liquefied. Extra Bonus: when you enter your email in the comment section below, we will notify you next week when we run a separate giveaway for a free copy of the game! It doesn’t get much better than that, folks.

[Update: Winners have been picked and prizes sent. Congrats to all who entered. Look for our game giveaway soon, where you will have a chance to win one of 10 free copies of the title when it ships this spring!]

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Among the accumulated pool of dead handhelds over the years has come the addition of the Gizmondo, arguably one of the worst gaming handhelds to ever release (despite its impressive listing of features and capabilities). After being mocked amongst the likes of the Tapwave and even the N-Gage, the Gizmondo released to poor reviews and horrendous sales in 2005. After all, who would want a portable with a launch title called “Sticky Balls“? Needless to say, the handheld died off by 2006, as the company that produced it moved into bankruptcy.

Then, late last year, a website appeared claiming that the Gizmondo would be resurrected in 2008. Carl Freer (Chairman of Gizmondo) later confirmed the article to be true, and hoped for a launch of the platform in early or mid 2008. Unfortunately, his optimism and high hopes were for nothing, seeing as Gizmondo has recently been delayed to the very end of the year (Darn! How sad!). Strangely enough, no one has even seen the new Gizmondo or any of its games (if it has any at all for that matter), so all of this is beyond farfetched at this point.

If the handheld does launch later this year, expect more news and coverage on this dreadful wonderful new portable. From the looks of things lately, Nintendo and Sony may be getting more competition than they initially expected in the market. After all, one market can never be too crowded.

[Thanks: Gamespot]