New Game Releases: June 27th-July 3rd, 2014
Lock and load! This week’s itinerary of new releases offers a number of remarkable titles. From the integration of two new levels and bosses in Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition, the retro-inspired charms of Shovel Knight, to Karl Fairburne’s second outing in Sniper Elite III, action abounds. Those looking for a more leisurely pursuit, there’s a trio of notables titles in the Anne’s Doll Studio series, with at least one entry offering the rare lolita-based game that we won’t be reviewing.
PlayStation 3
Sniper Elite III
PlayStation 4
Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition (PSN, $14.99)
Sniper Elite III
Wii U
BrickBlast U! (eShop, $3.99)
Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse (eShop, $4.99)
Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition (eShop, $14.99)
Monkey Pirates (eShop, $4.99)
My Arctic Farm (eShop, $7.99)
My Jurassic Farm (eShop, $7.99)
Shovel Knight (eShop, $14.99)
Xbox 360
Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition (XGS, $14.99)
Sniper Elite III
Xbox One
Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition (XGS, $14.99, Free via Games With Gold)
Sniper Elite III
3DS
Anne’s Doll Studio: Antique Collection (eShop, $4.99)
Anne’s Doll Studio: Lolita Collection (eShop, $4.99)
Anne’s Doll Studio: Princess Collection (eShop, $4.99)
Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse (eShop, $4.99)
Cocoro – Line Defender (eShop, $4.99)
Hidden Expedition Titanic (eShop, $7.99)
Mysterious Stars: The Samurai (eShop, $4.99)
Plain Video Poker (eShop, $1.99)
Quell Reflect (eShop, $3.99)
Shovel Knight (eShop, $14.99)
Skypeace (eShop, $0.99)
PC
Divinity: Original Sin
Sniper Elite III
Robert’s Pick: Not long ago, I was one of the biggest shooter fans around, but a trend toward corridor-based, thrill ride-like set pieces gradually diminished my appreciation for the genre. As such, 2012’s Sniper Elite V2 lingered in my XBox 360’s drive tray for weeks at a time, as there’s was something sublimely satisfying about executing a headshot at over 400 yards. You won’t find that kind of gratification from twitchy Halo / CoD / Killzone shooting galleries.
This week’s release of Sniper Elite III doesn’t radically alter the formula set up by its predecessor, but the game does require the type of finesse that’s absent from almost all recent shooters. Hopefully, the intermittent linear levels of the 2012 have been eliminated in favor of a North African sandbox full of both primary objectives and an ample amount of targets of opportunity.
Gonçalo’s Pick: There are few series that I hold as much reverence for as the classic Castlevania series. While I still enjoy newer entries, I long for the days when we’ll witness a return to its roots. The Wii-U release of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse brought all of my 8-bit memories back. This isn’t just another great action-platformer everyone should try, no, this in my opinion the series’ epitome and one of the greatest 8-bit games anyone could ever hope to play.
On a technical level, it pushes the NES graphical and sound capabilities to its limits and the level design is not only superb but even offers multiple paths adding to its replay value. The best feature however is the ability to meet new characters and change between them with a press of button, all of which carry a radically different gameplay style. Oh and have I mentioned this is the game that first introduced Alucard? Yeah there’s that too.
If there’s was a pick for an honest game title, “Plain Video Poker” would win, hands-down.
We’ll be getting Guacamelee! this week, since we tried to cancel Xbox Live but couldn’t. Even when we de-authorized the CC number, Microsoft was able to work around that.
Any ideas on how to get out, XBox owners?
Couldn’t resist posting this.
This is so true. It’s probably easier to leave the mafia then Xbox Live.
Call them everyday until you get an operator in the US.
A game with Lolita in the title that Robert won’t touch. What the hell is going on here. You get to take the clothes off of little dolls. Nothing creepy about that!!!!!
I wasn’t so hot on Sniper Elite VII. Half the level played just like any other FPS, machine guns and pistols played like hot garbage.
Shovel Knight looks like a fun little game, but the $14.99 price is a bit high.
You won’t find that kind of gratification from twitchy Halo/CoD/Killzone shooting galleries.
Straight up trolling!
Especially since he gave at least a few Duty games a very good score.
Any discount on Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition for loyal buyers who bought the game at launch on PS3?
I sucked at Sniper V2. Give me those shooting galleries.
I think Divinity: Original Sin is already out. It was one of the first games in the Steam Summer Sale.
The guy in the main pic is hardly sniping. He’s like 50 yards away, tops. WTF!
I hope you review the PS4 version of Sniper Elite 3!
I’ve been hearing good things about Shovel Knight and I’m a sucker for a Vert soundtrack.
I like how Goncalo isn’t afraid to pick retro title and how Robert can be dismissive of larger franchises.