Recently in New Releases Category
Batman: Arkham City easily ranks as today's most anticipated new game.
The sequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum includes appearances by classic Batman villains like the Joker, Riddler and Poison Ivy. The game also features voice acting from Mark Hamill, who played the Joker in "Batman: The Animated Series" and writing from Paul Dini, a wordsmith who contributed his talents to that terrific show.
Batman: Arkham City is released for PlayStation 3 and XBox 360. The game's PC release is set for Nov. 15.
A list of more games out can be found here. Among the other new releases, I think the most intriguing is Rocksmith, a title billed as more of a guitar instructional than a game per se.
The sequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum includes appearances by classic Batman villains like the Joker, Riddler and Poison Ivy. The game also features voice acting from Mark Hamill, who played the Joker in "Batman: The Animated Series" and writing from Paul Dini, a wordsmith who contributed his talents to that terrific show.
Batman: Arkham City is released for PlayStation 3 and XBox 360. The game's PC release is set for Nov. 15.
A list of more games out can be found here. Among the other new releases, I think the most intriguing is Rocksmith, a title billed as more of a guitar instructional than a game per se.
Today's a big day for new releases, as Rage, Dark Souls and NBA 2K12 hit stores, while former PC exclusive Crysis becomes available for XBox Live and PlayStation Network.
Rage, from id Software and Bethesda Softworks, is an FPS set in a post-apocalyptic earth. The people at id Software gave the world bloody FPS games like Castle Wolfenstein, Doom and Quake back when the FPS genre was dominated by PC titles and gamers actually played the single-player campaigns. Rage is released for PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360.
Dark Souls, developed by From Software and published by Namco Bandai, is the "spiritual sequel" to PlayStation 3 exclusive Demon's Souls. That game earned a reputation for extreme difficulty, and Namco Bandai is banking on that reputation to promote the sequel. Dark Souls is a PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 release.
NBA 2K12 is 2K Sports' latest iteration of its basketball franchise. The developers are trying to build on last year's well-received Jordan Challenge mode with the new "End the Debate" feature, in which players can play as all-time greats like Jordan, Magic and Dr. J to settle who deserves to be known as the GOAT. NBA 2K12 is out for Nintendo Woo, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Sony PSP and XBox 360.
Console gamers probably missed Crysis, Crytek's futuristic FPS that is probably known more for its high system requirements than its gameplay. But after releasing Crysis 2 for PC and consoles earlier this year, the original game is now available for console players via PlayStation Network or XBox Live download.
Rage, from id Software and Bethesda Softworks, is an FPS set in a post-apocalyptic earth. The people at id Software gave the world bloody FPS games like Castle Wolfenstein, Doom and Quake back when the FPS genre was dominated by PC titles and gamers actually played the single-player campaigns. Rage is released for PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360.
Dark Souls, developed by From Software and published by Namco Bandai, is the "spiritual sequel" to PlayStation 3 exclusive Demon's Souls. That game earned a reputation for extreme difficulty, and Namco Bandai is banking on that reputation to promote the sequel. Dark Souls is a PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 release.
NBA 2K12 is 2K Sports' latest iteration of its basketball franchise. The developers are trying to build on last year's well-received Jordan Challenge mode with the new "End the Debate" feature, in which players can play as all-time greats like Jordan, Magic and Dr. J to settle who deserves to be known as the GOAT. NBA 2K12 is out for Nintendo Woo, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Sony PSP and XBox 360.
Console gamers probably missed Crysis, Crytek's futuristic FPS that is probably known more for its high system requirements than its gameplay. But after releasing Crysis 2 for PC and consoles earlier this year, the original game is now available for console players via PlayStation Network or XBox Live download.
"Gears of War 3" is today's biggest new release, and other notables include "Lonesome Road," the final storyline-based DLC for Fallout: New Vegas and 2K Sports' demo for NBA 2K12.
By all appearances, Epic Games' conclusion to its Gears of War saga follows its predecessors tradition of chainsaw-bayonets, cover-based tactics and hulking characters. Some people say Gears of War can be too much on the "dudebro" side of things, and although they have a small point, Epic Games deserves a lot of credit for pioneering the cover -based mechanics that are pretty much standard in any game featuring a third-person perspective.
In my opinion, no one has done it quite as well since. I also got a kick out of the developer's introduction in the original's manual, which explained how a game of paintball led to a new approach to gameplay.
Gears of War 3 is an XBox 360 exclusive.
By all appearances, Epic Games' conclusion to its Gears of War saga follows its predecessors tradition of chainsaw-bayonets, cover-based tactics and hulking characters. Some people say Gears of War can be too much on the "dudebro" side of things, and although they have a small point, Epic Games deserves a lot of credit for pioneering the cover -based mechanics that are pretty much standard in any game featuring a third-person perspective.
In my opinion, no one has done it quite as well since. I also got a kick out of the developer's introduction in the original's manual, which explained how a game of paintball led to a new approach to gameplay.
Gears of War 3 is an XBox 360 exclusive.
Continue reading Chainsaw bayonets, the Mojave Desert and basketball.
Nintendo announced a big price drop for their still-new 3DS portable gaming system. The Big N slashed $80 from the devices' MSRP, bringing it down to $169.99 from $249.99.
There's more: Nintendo also revealed plans to release a package of downloadable NES and Game Boy Advance titles for the 3DS. Players who buy the system before the price drop - Nintendo has taken to calling them "3DS Ambassadors" - can get the games free of any additional charge.
The 3DS' price drop, to be effective Aug. 12, follows many reports, such as this one, of disappointing sales for the new handheld. The 3DS's big selling point was its 3D visuals, but readers can go to virtually any gaming website and read comments from players lamenting a relative lack of games for the new system.
There's more: Nintendo also revealed plans to release a package of downloadable NES and Game Boy Advance titles for the 3DS. Players who buy the system before the price drop - Nintendo has taken to calling them "3DS Ambassadors" - can get the games free of any additional charge.
The 3DS' price drop, to be effective Aug. 12, follows many reports, such as this one, of disappointing sales for the new handheld. The 3DS's big selling point was its 3D visuals, but readers can go to virtually any gaming website and read comments from players lamenting a relative lack of games for the new system.
Continue reading Nintendo throws Hail Mary, lowers 3DS price.
NCAA Football 12 (unasked-asked-for editorializing: I always preferred it to Madden) comes out today for PlayStation 3 and XBox 360.
The 2012 edition of EA Sports' college football franchise not only lets players assume the role of head coach or player, but also conference executive. The game's features include an option to realign conferences, allowing fans to relive the fun of the last off-season's conference moves and (I assume) create their own Pac-Integer or put San Diego State in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Whatever players do, it can't be much loss logical than the Big 10 having 12 teams and the Big 12 having 10 teams. (You've heard that joke before? Sorry.)
Other features include the "Road to Glory" and "Coaching Carousel" career modes as well as animal mascots and team-specific pregame traditions. I haven't had a chance to play this game yet, but college football is generally awesome.
The 2012 edition of EA Sports' college football franchise not only lets players assume the role of head coach or player, but also conference executive. The game's features include an option to realign conferences, allowing fans to relive the fun of the last off-season's conference moves and (I assume) create their own Pac-Integer or put San Diego State in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Whatever players do, it can't be much loss logical than the Big 10 having 12 teams and the Big 12 having 10 teams. (You've heard that joke before? Sorry.)
Other features include the "Road to Glory" and "Coaching Carousel" career modes as well as animal mascots and team-specific pregame traditions. I haven't had a chance to play this game yet, but college football is generally awesome.
Continue reading NCAA Football 12, Harry Potter games in stores today.
Fear 3, the third iteration of the paranormal FPS series goes on sale today. The franchise's malevolent Alma returns to the game, as do her sons Point Man and the telekinetic Paxton Fettel. The game comes from Day 1 Entertainment and Warner Bros. Interactive Studios for PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 and is rated M for Mature.
Also out today:
Also out today:
- Shadows of the Damned (Grasshopper Manufacture/EA Games). Action/horror title placing players in the role of a demon hunter. Released for PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 and Rated M for Mature
- Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident (Big Fish Games) Puzzle/detective game with four-player multiplayer. Released for Nintendo Wii and rated E for Everyone.
- Cars 2: The Video Game (Avalanche Software/Disney Interactive Studios) Adaptation of the new Pixar movie about talking cars involved in racing and espionage. Released for Mac, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360.
L.A. Noire (Team Bondi/Rockstar Games) is out today. Tech-Out will have a review soon, but I have to leave the office and actually play it first. A number of co-workers who don't often play games are familiar with the title, so I'm definitely curious to see if the game lives up to the hype.
(Aside: I was often puzzled by Rockstar's spelling of "noire," since the term film noir does not have the "e." I checked out some comments today on Kotaku and GameSpot and learned "noire" is the feminine spelling and noir is the masculine version. The word is French for black and since "la" is the feminine definite article in French, the title may have a double meaning: "L.A. Noire = "La Noire" = "The Black.")
Anyway, L.A. Noire is out for PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 and is rated M for such reasons as nudity, blood and gore and drug use. I would write that "games are not just for kids anymore," but if you're reading this, you probably already know that.
Today's other releases include:
(Aside: I was often puzzled by Rockstar's spelling of "noire," since the term film noir does not have the "e." I checked out some comments today on Kotaku and GameSpot and learned "noire" is the feminine spelling and noir is the masculine version. The word is French for black and since "la" is the feminine definite article in French, the title may have a double meaning: "L.A. Noire = "La Noire" = "The Black.")
Anyway, L.A. Noire is out for PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 and is rated M for such reasons as nudity, blood and gore and drug use. I would write that "games are not just for kids anymore," but if you're reading this, you probably already know that.
Today's other releases include:
- SpongeBob SquigglePants (THQ). Social game featuring Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants. Rated E and released for Nintendo 3DS. THQ released a previous version of this game for the Nintendo Wii.
- The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (CD Projekt/Atari) Fantasy RPG. Rated M and released for PC. The official web site has some news on fixing some release date technical difficulties.
- Fable III (Lionhead Studios/Microsoft Games Studios). RPG. Rated M and now released for PC. Tech-Out reviewed the console version in November.
- Honest Hearts (Obsidian Entertainment/Bethesda Softworks). DLC add-on for Fallout" New Vegas. Available via XBox Live and Steam. Bethesda reports a PlayStation Network release will happen ASAP.
