One game has dominated this month for me. It took most of my time, and permeated my conversations with friends. It’s a game that was my biggest time sink since Animal Crossing, and is one of the most rewarding gaming experiences I’ve had all year. But we’ll get to that later. This October was excellent at providing a variety of games for almost every kind of player. We had puzzle platformers, robust online worlds to race through, experimental narratives, updates to modern classics, portable masterpieces, the return of a couple of the best developers in the business, and the invention of what I hope becomes a brand new genre. Sometimes with dozens of rehashes around us games can feel a bit stale, but after a month like this it’s hard to ignore how many fresh and exciting ideas are still being brought to us all year long. (more…)
Tag: Beyond: Two Souls
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Beyond: Two Souls review
Quantic Dream has a talent for crafting moments. The scene in Heavy Rain where (SPOILER for a nearly four year-old game but whatevs) you chop your finger off is one of the most memorable things I’ve done this console generation. Forget about the plot holes and the French accents, when I walked into that room, I was completely drawn in.Beyond: Two Souls is, again, a game that may not be filled with the most brilliant writing of the generation, and the story may not hit the right notes at every turn, but there are moments that are really something special, and they’re worth seeing the whole thing through.
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It’s almost August…what’s left?
With less than half of the 2013 left, we’re rapidly approaching an onslaught of Fall game releases, alongside the launch of two new consoles. There’s going to be a lot of games coming out soon. For the sake of jogging your memory and mine, let’s take a look at what we can expect in coming seasons.
Pikmin 3 – August 04
WiiU
I’ve been a fan of this series since I tore open the Purple Lunchbox™ and dropped Pikmin in as my first game. Variety is a key factor in determining my enjoyment in a game, and both titles always had plenty to see. Tons of enemies, several levels to explore, puzzles to solve – Pikmin is always a treat. My expectations are high for this third entry, and let’s hope Nintendo finally gives us a reason to plug in our Wii Us.
Dragon’s Crown – August 06
Vita
Despite the controversy with Dragon’s Crown, it still appears that Vanillaware is bringing their A game with this beat ’em up with an eye-catching art style.
Tales of Xillia – August 06
PS3
While I’ve never been a fan of the Tales series, Xillia looks to be another hit for those looking for another fantastical adventure.
Mario & Luigi Dream: Team – August 11
3DS
My favorite Mario RPG is still Legend of the Seven Stars. I’ve enjoyed the Mario & Luigi games since, but they’ve never hit that sweet spot that even the Paper Mario series did. I still look forward to the fourth entry, and while I don’t expect it to win over any new fans, I’m sure serious devotees will enjoy this one as well.
Payday 2 – August 13
360/PS3/PC
I enjoyed the brief time I spent with the original Payday, and Payday 2 looks to be an appeal to an even wider audience, especially as it’s launching on consoles this time.
DuckTales: Remastered – August 13
PS3/PC/WiiU
The NES classic is being brought back to life by the talents at Wayforward.
Saints Row 4 – August 20
360/PS3/PC
Please be good. Please be good. Please be good. I enjoyed the juvenile, off-kilter humor of Saints Row 3, but I didn’t enjoy the majority of the gameplay, which consisted of shootshootshootcovershoot. PLEASE BE GOOD. I WANT TO LOVE YOU. This time you take on the role of the president of the United States, who also happens to have superpowers. Please don’t screw this one up.
Splinter Cell: Blacklist – August 20
360/PS3/PC/WiiU
Splinter Cell: Conviction was something I aggressively wanted to enjoy, but never quite clicked with. After finishing the game, I wished I enjoyed the gameplay as much as previous Splinter Cell games, but the amount of shooty action brought the experience down for me. From what I’ve seen, Blacklist looks like even more action than before…so we’ll see.
Divekick – August 20
PS3/Vita/PC
A fighting game with two buttons. That’s it. You can dive into the air and come flying back down with a kick. It’s the fighting game to relearn fighting games with, and it looks like just the perfect refresher for anyone even remotely interested in the genre. Even if you aren’t into fighting games, Divekick hopes you get you started with it’s ease of entry. It has plenty of extra strategy for those looking to go deeper, as each character has specific quirks to master. It looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Killer is Dead – August 27
360/PS3
Grasshopper and Suda 51 never fail to turn some ridiculous ideas into something tremendously entertaining. No More Heroes, Shadows of the Damned, and Lollipop Chainsaw were all extreme exercises in stylistic lunacy, and I can’t imagine this story of cyborgs, executioners, and assassins being any different.
Rayman Legends – September 03
360/PS3/PC/WiiU/Vita
This beautiful looking game could be incredible. I really enjoyed Rayman Origins, but I never quite felt anything more than “this is a pretty good game.” Rayman Legends looks like it could be taking the leaps beyond good, and straight into something special.
Outlast – September 04
PC
The long awaited horror game from Red Barrels sounds terrifying from everything I’ve heard, and looks to be the best way to destroy any hope of sleep until the next Amnesia hits the market.
The Wonderful 101 – September 15
Wii U
Platinum Games makes some incredible stuff. Bayonetta is my favorite action game of all time, and Vanquish is one of the most solid third-person shooters of the generation. With The Wonderful 101, they really seem to be spreading their wings into brand new territory. As a Wii U exclusive, I really hope it turns out to be another slam dunk from an incredibly talented team.
Grand Theft Auto V – September 17
360/PS3
Where should I begin? I’ve never been the biggest proponent of most Rockstar games, and seem to be one of the few voices to consistently call their projects “just okay, at best.” Red Dead Redemption and Bully are both fine games, but I’ve never thought they were as incredible as many do. I actively disliked playing Grand Theft Auto 4, to the point that I stopped a third of the way through and didn’t pick it up again. I really want to be won over this time, so here’s hoping.
Beyond: Two Souls – October 8
PS3
Heavy Rain was one of the most interesting gambles of a game that I’ve ever played, and I enjoyed it immensely. It was thrilling, weird, sometimes kind of broken, and I loved it. Whatever happens with Beyond, I hope it can improve upon what made Heavy Rain so special.
Pokemon X and Y – October 12
3DS
The new generation of Pokemon is showing enough innovation to actually get me excited for a new Pokemon game. It’s got a completely revamped way to move around the world, all of the Pokemon are actually animated in battle, and plenty of brand new content and Pokemon. This could be the first Pokeventure in a long time to really change up a familiar formula in a great way.
Batman: Arkham Origins – October 25
360/PS3/PC
The first of the popular Batman series not being handled by Rocksteady, Origins is (who guessed it?) takes place five years before the story of Arkham Asylum. After losing a bit of interest after Arkham City, I’m much more excited to see what Rocksteady is working on next.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – October 29
360/PS3/PC/WiiU/XBO/PS4
After losing me about three games ago, the annualized stabby franchise is heading into the world of pirates. Will the new setting be the one that brings back many of the fans who fell off around AC3?
Battlefield 4 – October 29
360/PS3/PC/XBO/PS4
-Shooty shoot. Bangbangbang. Kaboom.- “Look at that guy who just crashed a helicopter and jumped out and landed in another helicopter and exploded and and and…”
Call of Duty: Ghosts – November 5
360/PS3/PC/WiiU/XBO/PS4
Call of Duty is a fun ride every year. The campaign’s solid, the multiplayer is snappy and enjoyable, and whatever other modes they throw in are usually worth your time. It’s Call of Duty. You probably either know if you like it or not by now. (I still think it’s kinda rad.)
Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don’t Know! – November 12
360/PS3/WiiU/3DS
A Diablo style Adventure Time game developed by Wayforward? Sign me up!
Watch Dogs – November 19
360/PS3/PC/XBO/PS4
Watch Dogs was our first glimpse into the next generation, and is going to be one of the first games that will get to show off what next generation consoles are capable of.
Tearaway – November 22
Vita
Media Molecule’s back again, with what is shaping up to be a delightful reason to break out the Vita one more time before the year closes down.
Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time – Late Summer 2013
iOS
A sequel to one of the most addicting games to come to every single device you own, Plants vs Zombies 2 is launching as a free-to-play game on iOS devices sometime later this Summer.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD – October 2013
WiiU
Remastering one of the most beautiful games of all time seems like a pretty good way to sell a few Wii Us.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds – November 2013
3DS
A sequel to one of the most revered games ever, is there any way it could ever stand up to it’s predecessor? Probably not, but I’m still sure looking forward to whatever Nintendo’s got cooked up for the beloved franchise.
Shovel Knight – Winter 2013
WiiU/3DS/PC
If Shovel Knight isn’t my most anticipated game for the rest of the year, it’s very, very close. A wonderfully imagined throwback to Mega Man and other classics, I can’t imagine a game more tailored specifically towards my interests.
Super Mario 3D World – December 2013
WiiU
This is the first instance of a cooperative 3D Mario game, and is a follow up to the best original game on the 3DS. Platformers continue to be my favorite genre, and I’m pretty sure this one’s going allow Mario to keep the crown.
Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs – Late 2013
PC
This trailer pretty much sums up why I’ll be playing this one with the lights on.Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
360/PS3/PC
While the first game was an imperfect mix of God of War and Shadow of the Colossus, it wasn’t a bad game by any stretch. It was a game that held tons of promise, but was held back by one too many bad decisions. If the sequel can capitalize on that potential, we’ll be looking at something amazing.
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number – Late 2013
PC
The sequel to one of the best games of last year is shaping up to be another adrenaline fueled, murderous trek through insanity.
Killzone: Shadow Fall – Late 2013
PS4
Probably one of the first things you’ll do on your hot new PS4. If you’re into shooting things, that is.
Super Time Force – Late 2013
360
Capybara games (Swords and Sworcery, Below) continues to show off their talent with a clever bullet-hell platformer.
Knack – Late 2013
PS4
Every new console needs a weird, colorful platformer, right?
Image Sources – gametrailers.com forbes.com dealspwn.com edge-online.com gameinformer.com wiiudaily.com cinemablend.com mynintendonews.com digitaltrends.com chip.de geeksofdoom.com gematsu.com pcgamer.com shopto.net justpushstart.com multiplayerblog.mtv.com neogaf.com eggplante.com indiestatik.com
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