Keeping track of video game releases isn’t as easy as it once was — the volume of games released each week is constantly expanding, and they’re spread over a mind-boggling array of platforms (consoles, PC, Mac, handhelds and mobile).
Well, I’m here to make things a little easier on you. Every week I’ll rattle off five games I think you should check out. These articles are not meant to be comprehensive lists of everything coming out that week — think of them as a nice rounded tasting menu. Each week I’ll try to highlight several games from different corners of the gaming landscape (handhelds, consoles, indie, PC, you name it) then finish up with a “Pick of the Week”.
Hit the jump for the five games you’re going to want to check out this week…
This Week’s Indie Game
Foul Play (PC & Xbox Live, Sept. 18th)
Despite it’s sinister-sounding name, Foul Play is actually pretty damn adorable. The game’s a brawler in which you take control of cute, paper doll old-timey gentlemen and batter cute paper doll demons. The indie twist is that this all takes place on a stage, and you have to beat up your opponents with style (no brainless button mashing allowed) to impress the audience.
This Week’s Phone Game
Angry Birds Star Wars II (iOS & Android, Sept. 19th)
Another Angry Birds games arrives this week for you fowl flicking fanatics. This one is based on the Star Wars prequels, which means we’re going to get to see if Jar Jar is capable of killing off the seemingly unstoppable popularity of Angry Birds. My money’s on Jar Jar.
This Week’s Wii U Game
The Wonderful 101 (Wii U, Sept. 15th)
Platinum Games returns to their more colorful, upbeat roots after spending quite a long time in Violentfetishville with stuff like MadWorld and Bayonetta. The Wonderful 101 may look like a take on Pikmin at first glance, but it’s actually a full-on Platinum-style action game — one that reportedly makes better use of the GamePad than almost anything else on the Wii U. I know it doesn’t have Mario or Link on the cover, but maybe give it a try Nintendo fans.
This Week’s Wait…Another Wii U Game?
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Wii U, Sept. 20th)
Hey, it’s an HD version of that Zelda game everyone crapped on when it first came out, but then later decided they loved! The Wind Waker HD not only comes with spiffy spit-polished graphics, but a number of other tweaks as well — sailing is less of a chore for instance, and the late-game Triforce fetch quest has been streamlined. The physical version of The Wind Waker HD won’t be available until October 4th, but you can download the game from the Wii U eShop this Friday.
Pick of the Week
Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox 360 & PS3, Sept. 17th)
It’s finally here! Grand Theft Auto V, the biggest game of year, arrives tomorrow! Will it be the best GTA of all time or will it not? It probably doesn’t matter — it’s going to consume the next month of your life either way. Honestly, we may as well just shut this blog down for the next few weeks.
So yeah, whether you’re a casual gamer, hardcore or a Nintendo fan, there’s some big stuff coming out for everybody this week. Planning to grab any of the above-mentioned games? Any games you’re itching to get your hands on that I failed to mention? Hit the comments and let everyone know.