Consoles, PCs, handhelds, Facebook, smartphones — the world of gaming is becoming increasingly confusing and fragmented, but don’t worry, we’re here to simplify things for you. Each week I’ll rattle off five games I think you might want to check out this week. Keep in mind, these articles aren’t meant to be comprehensive lists of everything coming out that week so much as a nice rounded tasting menu. So, let’s get to it…
This Week’s Farming Sim
Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley (3DS, Nov. 4th)
Oh man, guys, oh man. Have you been keeping up with the latest Harvest Moon drama? See, the Harvest Moon series is developed and published by a company called Marvelous Entertainment in Japan, where the series goes by the name Ranch Story. For decades these games were then localized for North America by Natsume under the title Harvest Moon. Well, recently Marvelous decided to go with a different western publisher, but Natsume owns the Harvest Moon trademark, so there’s been a split in the series – the latest farm sim/RPG from the makers of past Harvest Moon titles will be called Story of Seasons, and Natsume is making Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley themselves.
Phew! Got all that? Behind the scenes stuff aside, Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley definitely looks different than past HM games. It’s still got crops to raise and bachelors/bachelorettes to woo, but it also introduces Minecraft-like collecting and building elements. Whether this new Harvest Moon measures up to Story of Season remains to be seen, but it looks worth a shot either way.
This Week’s Rhythm Game
Rocksmith 2014 (Xbox One & PS4, Oct. 30th)
Hey, remember Rocksmith? It came out near the end of the plastic instrument rhythm game craze, and actually let you plug in and play with real guitars. It didn’t make a huge splash, but the game certainly had some ardent supporters. Enough that Ubisoft has made a new version of Rocksmith for 2014.
This Week’s Super Complex Strategy Game
Alea Jacta Est (PC, Nov. 4th)
Looking for a super dense, crunchy strategy experience? Are games like Civilization just far too rudimentary for you? Well then, Alea Jacta Est, a super-detailed, number-heavy simulation of Rome’s various civil wars should be right up your alley. Here’s the game’s Steam page.
This Week’s Adventure Game
A Bird Story (PC, Mac & Linux, Nov. 7th)
Need something that’s the diametric opposite of this week’s big Call of Duty killfest? Well, how about A Bird Story? It’s a wordless adventure game done in a visual style reminiscent of classic 16-bit RPGs about a boy who finds and injured bird, which he then goes on imaginary adventures with. Here’s the game’s Steam page.
Pick of the Week
Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare (PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 & PS4, Nov. 3rd)
Well, here it is, this year’s serving of Call of Duty action. Advanced Warfare doesn’t look to shake up the formula in any fundamental way, but the game does boast a lot of intriguing smaller additions. A new graphics engine, jetpacks, Spider-man grappling hooks, Kevin Spacey’s face! Get out there and get warfarin’ advanced style!
Call o’ Duty brah! Any games you’re itching to get your hands on that I failed to mention? Hit the comments and let the world know.