by J. Adams
Nintendo will release the Nintendo 3DS-XL on August 19th for a relatively modest $199.99. This new model of the 3DS includes dual screens 90% larger than the original (top: 4.88 in., bottom: 4.18 in.), an “86% longer battery life” which will bring the play time on a full charge to roughly six hours, while increasing the weight of the system by about 3/4 of a pound. The new handheld will release on the same day as New Super Mario Bros. 2, likely to help your local game shop employees sell both to you at the same time – that’s what I would do, anyway.
August 1
Deadlight – XBOX Live Arcade
A side-scrolling, survival horror platforming by independent
developer Tequila Works, Deadlight is
the first game.
August 7
Persona 4, Arena – PS3, Xbox 360
August 7
Persona 4, Arena – PS3, Xbox 360
2D fighter based on Shin
Megami Tensei: Persona 4 characters, with its own side-plot loosely
connected to Persona 3: FES and Persona 4.
Sound Shapes – PS3, PS Vita
Side-scrolling musical platformer, geared to casual gamers.
August 8
Hybrid – Xbox Live Arcade
August 8
Hybrid – Xbox Live Arcade
Downloadable from the Xbox Live store, Hybrid is an online multiplayer third-person shooter that takes
place in a post-apocalyptic setting.
August 10
The Amazing Spider-Man – Windows PC
August 10
The Amazing Spider-Man – Windows PC
I’m not a fan of movie tie-in games because they tend to be
rushed to coincide with the release of the movie they represent. This
particular game is being developed by Beenox, the same company that developed
the last two Spider-Man games, Edge of
Time and Shattered Dimensions.
Those two were a bit of a good time, so this one might be worth a look as well
– just beware of spoilers, as the game is supposed to serve as an “epilogue” to
the film.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 – Windows PC
Euro Truck Simulator 2 – Windows PC
Have you ever wanted to be the driver of a semi-truck,
picking up and delivering cargo in and around Europe’s major cities? Me either
- but apparently there are people out
there who enjoy that kind of thing. They are welcome to it.
Sanctum – Mac
August 13
Sanctum – Mac
Sanctum is a
hybrid first-person shooter and tower defense game that has been available on
Windows since April 2011. It’s a fun diversion, but I prefer Orcs Must Die.
Darksiders II – Windows PC, Xbox 360, PS3
August 14
Darksiders II – Windows PC, Xbox 360, PS3
This is the highly anticipated sequel to Darksiders released in 2010. In the
sequel, players will take control of Death, one of the Four Horsemen of the
Apocalypse, who is convinced that his brother War (the playable character from
the original), is innocent of the crimes that he has been convicted of
committing. The game is reported to be double the size of the first and will
include additional puzzle-solving and a hub-spoke dungeon system.
The Last Story – Wii
The Last Story – Wii
Normally I am very lukewarm about third-person
action/role-playing games, but this particular game is being developed by
Mistwalker Studios, the company founded by the legendary Hironobu Sakaguchi
(creator of Final Fantasy). As an
added bonus, Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy,
the SaGa series, and The Black Mages (band)) is composing the
score. I am definitely looking forward to this one.
Papo & Yo – PS3 (via PlayStation Network)
Papo & Yo – PS3 (via PlayStation Network)
A casual fantasy adventure game by independent developer
Minority, Papo & Yo is a
puzzle/platformer about a boy and his massive, razor-mawed monster. I generally
pass on these sorts of games myself, but there is a very large (and growing)
market for games like this.
Sleeping Dogs – Windows PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Sleeping Dogs – Windows PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Sleeping Dogs is an
open world crime drama action game with controls reminiscent of Batman: Arkham Asylum’s “Freeflow”
combat system, a fully-integrated cover system, and a three-tiered experience
point system that will represent the main character’s support of the Triads,
the Police, and his general reputation around the city. I’m not normally one
for these particular sorts of actions games, but if the role-playing elements
and the experience system are well managed, it might be worth a purchase.
Dust: An Elysian Tail – Xbox Live Arcade
August 15
Dust: An Elysian Tail – Xbox Live Arcade
This game has been getting quite a bit of attention for
simply being developed by a single person while maintaining “a level of graphic
quality usually notable to teams with dozens of personnel.” I’ll give the demo
a test run, but I won’t have high expectations for more than graphics based on
what I’ve seen.
Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack – Windows PC
Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack – Windows PC
This was a downloadable launch title for the PlayStation
Vita and a sequel to Tales From Space:
About a Blob. Mutant Blobs Attack
is a side-scrolling platformer in which players control an alien blob that
grows as it consumes loose objects in the game world. There are some
physics-based puzzles involved, and many of the obstacles presented to the
player can be bypassed by simply growing larger.
New Super Mario Bros. 2
August 19
New Super Mario Bros. 2
It’s
Mario, so there’s really not too much to say. The game plays like a classic
Mario Bros. side-scroller, but this installment puts a larger emphasis on
gathering coins – the ultimate goal of the game is to collect One. Million.
Coins. Sounds like a weekend of fun to me!
August 21
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – Windows PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Mac
It’s been a while since there’s been a full-blown Counter-Strike release, and this
installment seems to be a good direction for the series. It plays as a
first/third-person shooter based around terrorists vs. counter-terrorists and
will feature objective-based matches as opposed to the more common Deathmatch
and Team Deathmatch.
Retro/Grade – PlayStation Network
Retro/Grade – PlayStation Network
Another Indie for the PS3, Retro/Grade is part rhythm game, part shooter. The game plays like
a normal space/plane shooter but is entirely timed to the background music. As
such, it can be played with a regular controller or a guitar controller.
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron – Windows PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron – Windows PC, Xbox 360, PS3
The sequel to 2010’s Transformers:
War for Cybertron is the next chapter of the war between the Autobots and
Decepticons prior to their arrival on Earth. It’s a third-person action shooter
that shows promise, and the first game released to slightly above-average
reviews.
Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition – Windows PC
August 24
Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition – Windows PC
When
released for the PS3 and the Xbox 360 several months ago, Dark Souls gained a solid following simply because it is, quite simply, one of the most unforgiving games ever created. The standard
difficulty of this game puts “Realistic” modes on any other game to shame.
Finally, PC gamers are going to have the chance to play it – although most of
their time will most likely be spent watching death animations.
August 28
Guild Wars 2 – Windows PC
Guild Wars is one of the more popular massively-multiplayer
online games, and one of the stronger competitors to Blizzard’s World of Warcraft. Guild Wars focuses far more on player-vs.-player (PvP) content, and
for many, that is the primary attraction. I wasn’t a fan of the first release,
so I will likely be giving this one a pass.
Madden NFL 13 – PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita
Madden NFL 13 – PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita
Electronic Arts releases a new Madden game every year, and
they’re all basically the same. I have exactly one sports game (Madden ’09) that I play maybe – maybe – twice a year. In short, expect
more of the same (football) with slightly better graphics and updated team
rosters and stats.
Rock Band Blitz – Playstation Network
It’s
Rock Band without the need for
special controllers shaped like musical instruments. I rather like that idea,
as Harmonix’s first two games, Frequency
and Amplitude, were two rhythm games
that I thoroughly enjoyed, and they were out long before the first Rock Band or Guitar Hero.
The Xbox Live version releases on August 29. Rock Band Blitz – Playstation Network
The Ratchet and Clank Trilogy – PS3
This
collection of the first Ratchet and Clank
trilogy (Ratchet and Clank, Ratchet and
Clank: Going Commando, and Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal) has been
remastered to support 1080p HD and, if your television is set up for it, 720p
stereoscopic 3D. The games were great when they originally released, so I
would imagine they’ll be just as great now with updated graphics.
That’s all for
August – as we move into the holiday season, we’ll be seeing even more sequels
and a tighter release schedule. There are a few titles I’m looking forward to
in the next few months, some of which might even have their own features.
You’ll have to keep reading to find out!
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