This Week In Games, August 10 - 16, 2014: Hohokum, Risen 3, Disgaea 4 and Some Weird Japanese Stripping

Written By: Tyler

Greetings friends, and welcome to another addition of "This Week In Games," the weekly article that I write where I discuss the finer points of surrealist art.

Each week I go on Gamespot -- you may have heard of it -- and I look at the new games that are coming out. I then write about them because this is a blog after all. I don't choose every game because to be honest, not every game is worth mentioning, but I pick some of the more interesting ones, whether it's good or bad, and I pick the bigger releases. Just because I say there isn't anything really coming out on a day, doesn't mean there isn't. It just means that there isn't anything that fantastic or worth checking out. That may sound harsh but there are so many games out these days that you have to pick and choose.

I also only talk about North American releases because that's where I'm from.



August 10

Nothing! It's Sunday after all.


August 11

It looks like there's nothing here according to Gamespot.


August 12


Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten 

Coming Out For: PS Vita
Genre: Strategy - RPG
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1vN2TGKwns
 
It was released in 2011 on PS3 but now you can pick it up on the Vita. It's enhanced and expanded, including apparently 50 pieces of DLC. The Disgaea series is one of the few RPG series that have gotten a really good following that I haven't ever tried, and I know that's criminal, but fans of the series should check this out.


Hohokum
 

Coming Out For: PS3, PS4, PS Vita
Genre: Adventure
Gameplay: http://ca.ign.com/videos/2014/07/23/hohokum-launch-trailer

It's kind of hard to explain Hohokum but it is my most anticipated release of the week. It looks gorgeous, and I'm sure the soundtrack will compliment the visuals exceptionally well. From a gameplay perspective it's a bit of an oddball... even the creators try to avoid describing what it actually is, choosing to just let them play it instead. In an article on Mashable, I saw the idea of flying a kite mentioned a lot and that seems appropriate. In it you just fly around in a colourful and active world and things happen. I can't sell you on it; if you look at that screenshot and it looks like something that might pique your interest, then make sure to watch that I linked above and see what it looks like in action.


Risen 3: Titan Lords

Coming Out On: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Genre: RPG
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vU42VAFzoE

Risen 3: Titan Lords is a medieval RPG that is promising a "classic RPG" experience, with a large, breathing world with a ton of side-quests and places to explore. It is played in a third-person view and you level up your character, use points to up your attributes and unlock skills, and do battle with various baddies using a combination of magic or melee. Use quick or hard attacks, mix them up, throw in some magic, be on your way to victory.

If this sounds like every other RPG you see, then you're probably right. Obviously I won't know until I actually play it, if I get around to it, but from the gameplay videos I've seen, it honestly doesn't look like anything that fantastic. It looks fairly generic. The visuals aren't exactly stunning, the battle animations don't look fluid (and some are laughable like what appears to be stabbing with a mace), and there's nothing here that screams "must-play." However, it doesn't look terrible either. I can't see Risen 3 standing up to the best in the genre, but it could serve you decently well as an RPG to tide you over until a better one comes... especially since, if you're like me, Sacred 3 has let you down (review on that coming). I imagine this ends up being a 6 out of 10 or maybe a 7, and people seem to forget that those scores aren't actually bad.



Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed 

Ima just leave this here and I'll be right back.

Coming Out For: PS Vita, PS3
Genre: Adventur/Action-RPG
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btW9_L8d48U

Akiba's Trip is a game where basically demon creatures have taken over Akihabara. There is a conspiracy that you will unravel, but more importantly you have to strip the clothes off of demons and expose them to light. I imagine that line is going to either make you want to play it or avoid it at all costs. You have to appreciate Japan and their willingness to do stuff like this.



Surgeon Simulator: Anniversary Edition

Coming Out For: PS4
Genre: Simulation (Of Sorts...)
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYLPHa-4sUs

Ah yes, here we are, with a port of the wildly popular and comical Surgeon Simulator... this time for PS4. Fumble your way through a variety of operations this week, along with an exclusive PS4 mode that nobody seems to know anything about. Have fun and happy surgeoning!



August 13

Just a release of Hohokum in other places.


August 14

Gaiabreaker

Coming Out For: Wii U
Genre: Shoot 'Em Up
Gameplay: http://www.destructoid.com/the-wii-u-is-getting-one-shmup-richer-soon-with-gaiabreaker-273733.phtml

The Wii U hasn't had a lot going on since it was released, but this week there's a vertical shmup being released in the eShop. It doesn't do much that we haven't seen before, but since these games aren't as common as they were back in the 90s, it's still nice to see one. It could be a nice little game to play while you wait for something bigger to be released, like Hyrule Warriors or Bayonetta 2.


August 15

Another day where there isn't really a whole lot going on.



That's it for this week folks. Make sure to comment in the little box below (is it still there? Who knows?), or follow me on Twitter by clicking here here here. See you next time.

This Week In Games, July 28 - August 2, 2014

Written By: Tyler

Hello again everybody to another edition of "This Week In Games," a weekly feature I do that involves me talking about cows.

Every week I go through the new releases (usually according to Gamespot) and I pick some of the interesting games of the week, whether they're good or bad. Usually I'm pretty positive, especially when you consider I've never played a lot of them so I try to keep an open-mind.

I keep it mostly to "first time" releases, meaning games that are launching this week, but I do throw in some ports and whatnot as well here and there. The release dates are all North American as well, because that's where I live. Okay, let's do this.



July 27

Nothing today, go outside and play heathens.


July 28


The Room

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Puzzler
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4R7KxglZY4

The Room is originally a mobile game (and a terrible but awesome movie, but this is no relation to that), and it is getting ported to PC. I had to post a link to the gameplay on the iOS version because I couldn't find anything concerning the PC version that isn't just a comparison of the graphics between the two versions.

The gameplay consists of you solving puzzles. The puzzles, in this case, are boxes that you have to open. It looks pretty interesting and the mobile version won awards, so it's probably worth checking out on PC. On a side note, the title screen music is pretty haunting.




July 29


Firefall

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: MMO shooter
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI_QHwlLUXI

This is going to be a hard sell for a lot of people, and I'm not even convinced that I want to play it myself. Firefall is an MMO shooter that has been in beta for years. I only ever heard the name and never cared to check it out, but it's been a long time coming and because of that it's, at the very least, a relatively important release.

The good aspects, as I see it, is that we don't actually have a lot of full-fledged MMO shooters and so this has the chance to be fresh. It looks like there's a fair bit to do in it such as a campaign, random missions and PvP, and if you like cartoon visuals it will be pretty appealing. I'm also a big fan of Tribes and enjoy jet packs, so on a personal level it has that going for it.

On the other hand, it's a free-to-play game which could be good or bad. It's bad, obviously, if it ends up being pay-to-win and I'm not entirely sure how this will work. The other thing I'm not a fan of is the shooting mechanics. It doesn't really look like it's going to feel good to shoot. It looks like nothing has any oomph, and that's a problem in the genre.

I can't really recommend it or tell you to avoid it, because I'm honestly not sure. It looks like it could be okay, but part of me feels like it's going to be a disappointment. Hey, it's free though, so there's no harm in checking it out.



Rogue Legacy 

Coming Out For: PS3, PS4, PS Vita

Genre: Roguelike, Side-Scrolling Platformer
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfIFidx71WE


Rogue Legacy is a game that I unfortunately ignored last year when it came out on PC. It's a Roguelike, which means randomly generated dungeons so no playthrough will be the same... only the twist here is that when you die, your child takes over and he/she could have a variety of features, such as being colorblind or a dwarf. It's a really neat idea, and now that it's coming out on console as well, there's no reason not to pick it up.



The Last of Us Remastered

Coming Out For: PS4
Genre: Third-Person Adventure/Action
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNZesQXSyxo


The Last of Us is one of the best games to hit the PS3, and now PS4 owners get a chance to play a remastered version. I don't even need to play the remastered version to say you should play it. The game is a fantastic, story-driven action/adventure game. The plot may not be complex, but it's told extremely well. The gameplay consists mostly of killing hideously deformed creatures and searching buildings for stuff, but it's a very rewarding, addictive game. Grab this enhanced version, because not only will it have better graphics, but it will have the Left Behind DLC and more. I can't stress this enough; get this game.


July 30

Nothing here... but you should be playing The Last of Us anyway.



July 31

Cloud Chamber

Coming Out For: PC

Genre: MMO Story Game
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62W-ju8Xd-c

There's a very good chance that Cloud Chamber ends up winning my award for most original game at the end of the year if I choose to give out that award. It is a multiplayer story game, where you basically just watch videos and go on their network and discuss your way through the story. It's a very neat idea in theory, and I hope it translates to a fun experience.



Lovely Planet 

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: FPS
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEBvOVrhnuA

Realistic shooters too violent and graphic for you? Enter Lovely Planet -- a cutesy FPS where you shoot things with your semi-auto in an abstract and colourful world. There are five levels, and it could be some harmless, simple fun.



August 1

Eidolon 

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: First-person exploration
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCZJUH7sx-Q

Eidolon is a first-person exploration game, which means you'll basically just walk around and explore your surroundings. These times of games are hit and miss, so it's up to Ice Water Games to craft a compelling story that makes us want to dive deep into this world.


August 2 

Nothing of interest here.


So that's it for another week. Did I miss a game that you're looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter @ArtBathednCrime.

This Week In Games, July 20 - 26, 2014

Written By: Tyler

Welcome to another edition of "This Week In Games," a weekly feature where I discuss the finer points of wine. We'll get right down to it, but I have to make a few quick points as I do every week.

I don't include every game that is being released that week. I go down some of the more interesting ones and give a quick rundown on them. I don't always put Early Access games, but sometimes I do, and I try to limit it to games that are seeing their first retail release, though I will sometimes put ports. I try not to put games that were released on PC and then released on places like Steam later because Steam and PC are the same thing... but occasionally I will if I don't realize that a game was already released before. The release dates are also for North America because that's where I live. Sorry to those who live in other parts of the world.


July 20

Nothing! Enjoy the day of rest and relaxation.



July 21

Shadow Blade: Reload

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Platformer
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEkfFaEPuCA

This is an early access game, so because of that, you shouldn't expect a full game. It's also an enhanced version of Shadow Blade. However, it looks really cool. Since it's a 2D side-scrolling platformer where you play as a ninja, it should be a lot of fun. The mechanics look solid, and they're going to try to implement a level editor, local co-op and a variety of other features.



July 22

Ollie Ollie

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Runner/Sport/Platformer
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuJczWSgfCU

Ollie Ollie is a 2D runner where you are on a skateboard and you have to perform fancy tricks while not landing on your face. It was a Vita-exclusive so I never got to play it. Since it's coming out for PC this week, I may give it a try. It looks simplistic but I suppose the beauty of a game like this is that it is simplistic looking. It does look like it's going to be a bit of a challenge, though, so it should make for a good time.



July 23

Unrest

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Adventure/RPG
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hajqi1C13LE

Set in Ancient India, we are going to be given a setting that we don't often see. You play as four different characters, and the idea of Unrest is choice, apparently. Much like a game like Planescape: Torment, the developers say that you can go the entire game without fighting anybody if you're smart. If you do fight, it may have consequences that won't help you. Battles will be few and far between. If your character dies, the game continues on. The obvious concern here is that the choices you make won't be balanced or logical, but that's something we won't know until we play it. As it stands now, Unrest looks like a pretty decent romp through an uncommon setting.




The Wizard

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Strategy/RPG
Gameplay: http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-wizard-teaser-trailer/2300-6420154/

First of all, the teaser trailer that I linked above is very funny. Secondly, The Wizard is about a Wizard without a face and the Thief who stole his face. At the very least, it's a unique storyline. The gameplay involves you chasing him down through dungeons, not unlike a Roguelike, where you can upgrade your spells. It looks like the game is going to have a sense of humour, and if the trailer is any indication then it'll do it well. I don't think the game will having mindblowing gameplay, but it looks like it'll be an entertaining 16-bit adventure. Let's get our attractiveness back!



July 24

Gods Will Be Watching

I believe this is an image from the version that was at Ludum Dare, but it's still a cool pic and the game looks similar.

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Adventure
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QliEVf1ZSzU

Here we go; this is the game of the week for me. Sporting a retro look (like many indie games), Gods Will Be Watching is a point-and-click adventure game but with a huge twist. It's not about solving puzzles in the way that we are accustomed to in the genre, so instead the game aims to place you in intense situations where you have to make choices on the fly and your decisions will affect the outcome of the world surrounding you. I'm ridiculously excited for this game and I hope that it makes me feel as uncomfortable as it's supposed to.



July 25

The Fifth Day

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Survival/Action/FPS
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG80z5EmkIU

This is an early access game. In The Fifth Day, you are a robot and you have to survive to the Fifth Day. At first I thought it was just another DayZ and Rust and I was going to rant about how we have so many games like this in Alpha that it's ridiculous. It does resemble those games in some way but the focus here is more on playing by yourself or with your friends in order to just survive a few days. You build stuff, hack AI from "the old world," and kill enemies. I may give it a spin. I'm not that excited for it but it seems relatively polished already and since the concept is more focused/less huge than games that are similar it may actually come out someday!


Wii Sports Club

Coming Out For: Wii U

Genre: Sports
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gklSuWQFXk

Wii Sports Club is getting its full retail release on July 25th. The game consists of HD remakes of the games from the original Wii Sports, with an online component added. I'm of a mixed mind concerning this. On one hand, Wii Sports was a great game to package with the original Wii when it came out, but on the other hand, I feel like time has passed this by. It could hit huge with casual gamers, but I don't even feel like the Wii U is the system for it. Yes, you can hook up your Wiimotes and play it, but I think they should have focused on something else. There's no doubt it'd still be fun because the original was fun, but I won't be picking it up.



July 26

There's nothing going on today either. Go out and have fun!



This week was heavy for PC releases, but there are some interesting picks here. Did I miss a game that you're looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter @ArtBathednCrime.

This Week In Games, July 13 - 19, 2014

Written By: Tyler

Another week, another quick rundown of the games releasing this week. Now, this isn't every single game, so instead I picked games of interest. Most of the games in this feature will be games I want to play, but I will give an honest opinion on each and every one. Just because I don't want to play a game doesn't mean a game isn't an important release. The release date for these are all the North American release dates because that's where I live.



July 14

LIGHT

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Puzzle/Action/Adventure
Gameplay: http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-light/2300-6420020/

LIGHT is a top-down stealth game where you sneak, steal and hack. It's not unlike Hotline Miami in ways, though it has less emphasis on violence and surrealism. It's supposed to have a good narrative, and maybe it will, but I'm having a hard time getting past the visuals. Playing as a square in a game like this annoys me a little bit.



Infinity Runner

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Action
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zBtpvWXK4M

Infinity Runner is a lot like Mirror's Edge, which isn't a bad thing. It's first-person and you just do a lot of running in a Sci-Fi environment. The trailer that I linked above makes it look like it's going to be pretty intense, so I will probably play this one.



July 15

Abyss Odyssey 

Coming Out For: PC, PS3, Xbox 360 (July 16)
Genre: Platformer/Action
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtKd6paqhEg

Abyss Odyssey is a side-scrolling platformer/action game. You have three characters to choose from and then you can either hack and jump your way to victory by yourself or with a friend. It's nothing original, but it could be fun. The mechanics look solid.



July 19

Freedom Planet

Coming Out For: PC
Genre: Platformer
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zlMtd4zeI0

Freedom Planet reminds me a lot of Sonic, if I'm being honest. That's not a criticism because the speed in the game makes it look like a good time, especially to those who miss the 90s. It appears that there are multiple characters to play as, and secrets to discover. I think Freedom Planet will end up being a fun little romp, a reminder of the games that kids in the 90s played (including myself).




That's it for this week folks. It's not a huge week in terms of big releases but there is still a bunch of cool little games seeing the light of day. Until next time, thanks for reading, and feel free to tweet me @ArtBathednCrime.

This Week In Games, June 29 - July 5, 2014

Written By: Tyler

Hello and welcome to another edition of "This Week In Games," a weekly feature where every Sunday or Monday I give a quick preview of some of the games releasing this week that are of interest to me in a good or bad way.


June 30

Divinity: Original Sin

Coming Out For: Windows, Linux
Genre: Role-playing
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDaYWfqJD3g

This is the big release of the week for me, and it's strange because I didn't know anything about it and I only played Divine Divinity briefly years ago... so I'm not a series fan. However, this prequel to that looks incredible.

It looks like a dense (as the gameplay video says) RPG, with a neat robbery system that actually affects your reputation if you get caught. You can cause a distraction with one character by talking to somebody and then use another to steal. The crafting seems simplistic but it appears that there are a lot of things you can craft. The combat is turn-based but I like the idea of your action points carrying over to the next turn so you can have a big turn. It looks like there's a lot of variety in your attacks.

The leveling system looks like it has depth, with the different perks you can put points into and all the other things that you can level up, and there's a lot of story to read and things to do. My only complaint from what I know is that there isn't a marker telling you where to go so questing will be extremely difficult. NPCs will tell you, but then you have to remember. There is a dialogue diary but it looks like it's hard to filter through.

If you're playing co-op, you can make decisions together and depending on how you interact with your partner your stats will be affected.

There's also an RPG kit to make your own adventures! The game isn't even full-priced but looks huge. $40 on Steam.


July 1

Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition 

Coming Out For: PS4 (July 1), Xbox 360 (July 2), Xbone (July 2), Wii U (July 2)
Genre: Platformer
Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVQbAtAQzj8

Guacamelee! sees its debut on the systems listed above in an enhanced edition. I'm not really sure why I never played the game because I love luchador wrestling, and the game is zany and colourful. I reckon now is probably a good time to try it out, and if you have Xbox Live Gold it is the free Games With Gold for July, so pick it up.



Child Of Light

Coming Out For: PS Vita
Genre: Role-playing
Gameplay: http://ca.ign.com/videos/2014/05/20/child-of-light-psvita-trailer

I really enjoyed Child of Light because JRPGs are where my heart is. They're my roots.

You can fly around in this game, which is different, and the turn-based combat has a spin on it with the fact you can use your companion to slow down enemies and just generally interact with things. The story is told entirely in rhyme, and the visual style is gorgeous. It looks like the Vita version hasn't suffered so if you haven't played Child of Light, here is another chance to do so.



Sniper Elite 3

Coming Out For: PS3, PS4, X360, XboneGenre: Third-Person Shooter

Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1yg9jffjxI

It's already out on PC, but it sees its console release. Here's what I said about the PC version.

This one doesn't interest me at all, and since I don't get paid to do reviews I'm not sure if I'll get around to this one or not. It's not that it looks terrible, but it doesn't look like it brings anything to the table that we can't get a million other places. The kill-cam idea doesn't really make me feel like I'm seeing the damage I'm doing, it just seems annoying, and the action looks okay but there are so many shooters it just doesn't stand out.