New Releases for the Week of August 23rd-August 29th
With the release of Madden NFL 25 this week, thousands of virtual football seasons are poised to commence. Yet, the launch of Electronic Art’s perennial cash cow also signifies an even larger phenomenon. Traditionally, the game marks the beginning of the pre-holiday deluge of new titles. Looking ahead, the next few weeks are filled with obligatory games. From Grand Theft Auto V, Rayman Legends, and well as the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 iterations of Diablo III, the industry is prepping one last push for our current cycle of consoles before venturing into the untested terrains of the next generation.
360
Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Apocalypse (XBL, $14.99)
Killer Is Dead
Lost Planet 3
Madden NFL 25
Painkiller: Hell & Damnation
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (XBL, $14.99)
PS3
Killer Is Dead
Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F
Lost Planet 3
Madden NFL 25
Painkiller: Hell & Damnation
WiiU
Phineas and Ferb: Quest for Cool Stuff
Pokemon Rumble U
3DS
Fish On 3D (eShop, $9.99)
Funfair Party Games (eShop, $19.99)
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (Virtual Console, $4.99)
Phineas and Ferb: Quest for Cool Stuff
Wakedas (eShop, $2.99)
Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward (eShop, $24.99)
PSP
Sweet Fuse: At Your Side
Vita
Spelunky (PSN, $14.99, 11.99 for PS+)
PC
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Ultimate Edition
Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn
Grim Dawn (Delayed)
Guardians of Middle-Earth
Lost Planet 3
The Chaos Engine
Robert’s Pick: Bet you think I’d pick Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F, didn’t you? While the teal-hair temptress/songstress/diva will inevitably factor into my weekly playtime, I’m really excited for the return of the Bitmap Bros. (along with Abstraction Games, responsible for the PS3/PS Vita port of Hotline Miami). Called Soldier of Fortune in the United States, the original The Chaos Engine captivated with its mix of steampunk aesthetics, a variety of distinctive characters, and tense shooting action. I’m hoping that the PC, Mac and Linux remake doesn’t lose any of the original Genesis/SNES’s versions’ appeal.
Say’s Pick: As much as I’d love to pick either Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F or Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Ultimate Edition, this week Grim Dawn gets the award. As an indie enthusiast, it’s hard not to champion the efforts of Arthur Bruno and Eric Campanella. As developers who worked on Titan Quest and the Immortal Throne expansion, the duo split off and formed their own indie studio when Iron Lore Entertainment was unable to secure financing for their next project. Using the Titan Quest engine, Grim Dawn spins a stimulating tale of two otherworldly forces battling to either wipeout mankind or utilize the world’s remaining humans as resources. Mixing hack and slash action, extensive lore, and a number of sophisticated gameplay mechanics, Grim Dawn certainly deserves your attention.
I guess to post first! The HONOR, the GLORY is mine!
Robert, know I counting on you to review Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F. Well, maybe Blue. You two seem like the only two guys I know that could give the game a fair evaluation.
Wakedas looks fun and it’s priced right. I support eShop games that are less than $5.
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Hatsune Miku for me too
Darn it, Robert-san where is that Madden 25 trivia you’ve been promising me for week now?
(Time for a new podcast)
Was Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward ever released as a 3DS cart?
I was interested in TMNT: Out of the Shadows, but I hate the $15 price point for games that used to be $10 when XBLA started. Now, I just wait for sales.
I hear you. Basically I only buy digital games when they are really good or marked down.
Just Madden NFL 25 (don’t judge) for me.
And where is the promised Madden Trivia?
Madden trivia?
Lost Planet 3 is supposed to be really bad right? I shouldn’t think about getting it (I really like the first one, sort of liked the second).
Yeah, a Western team is taking over. This will not end well.
Robert, after seeing the list, I was sure Hatsune Miku was going to be your pick.
Never heard of the Chaos Engine or the Bitmap Bros.
Thanks for the info.
Good site, I just wish you’ve review Xbox indies.
What is Pokemon Rumble U? I haven’t heard nothing about this game!
Spelunky is way too expensive. It should be $7 tops.
MADDEN, BABY!!!!
I already bought Lords of Shadow for $20 from GMG so just have to wait until tuesday to actually play it in 60 glorious frames per second. Also I wish that Metal Gear game for the Game Boy Color would be released on the virtual console.
Amen brotha!
I’d love to see MGS on VC. Cmon Konami make it happen.
Wait is this a remake of the original Chaos Engine? That would be awesome!
It sure is! Looks to be a winner.
Its a shame that Grim Dawn is delayed. I’ve been waiting for that one for a while now.
Your comment just reminded me! After some twitter feedback we found out there was a delay on Grim Dawn, and found this dev entry right after afterwards – http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crateentertainment/grim-dawn/posts/571863. They mentioned “sometime before Christmas” as a new deadline.
No love for Killer Is Dead this week?
Hoe come only Rob and Say give picks now?
After reading this, I’m sure Robert will soon include mind reading to his LinkedIn skills. Don’t worry, I’ve got faith he can do it!
I don’t get it… 🙁