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June 30, 2017 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: July 2017

July is upon us, and we’ve finally hit the “slim pickins” month of 2017. On the bright side, the Switch is getting another fantastic game to add to its already great lineup. We’ve also got an old-school and new-school RPG and a fun summer platformer as well. Here’s what we’re excited about for July:

 

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Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (PS4) – July 11
While most of the world is preoccupied with the snail’s pace progress of the Final Fantasy VII remake, we’re getting a remake in July only a year after its announcement (The Zodiac Age was announced at Last year’s E3). Improvements to game balance, the job system and a quicker play option will accompany the remastered visuals for a package the FF fans should really appreciate.

 

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Splatoon 2 (Switch) – July 21
The biggest release of the month is the sequel to the best new IP to come out for the WiiU. Splatoon was universally acclaimed for its take on the competitive shooter genre. From the neon color cheme to the fantastic chracter design, to the emphasis on paint splattering as opposed to kills, Nintendo proved once again they can provide an original take on a genre. And now that ARMS arrived last month, the Switch has two solid new franchises to go with Zelda and Mario.

 

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Pyre (PS4, PC) – July 25

The latest game from the makers of Bastion and Transistor arrives this month. It’s an action RPG with arena-style combat, and the story involves traveling through Purgatory to cleanse your soul through combat.

 

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Hey Pikmin (3DS) – July 28

If this month wasn’t so barren int terms of releases, this game might not have made the list. But the Pikmin franchise is a fun one, and it’s awesome that we’re still getting solid 3DS releases even as the Switch is taking off.

So, those are the games we’re excited about for July. What’s on your list? Let us know in the comments or hit us up on twitter.com/coopcritics!

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January 30, 2017 In Opinion

GAMES WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT: FEBRUARY 2017

2017 has started off with a bang, as January already brought us one of the biggest releases of the year in Resident Evil 7. February is up to the challenge though, as it also has one of the most anticipated games of the year, which is one of a couple big PS4 exclusives.

 

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Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World (3DS)–February 3
As if Woolly Yoshi wasn’t adorable enough on his own, Poochy came along to add even more cute to this updated port of the WiiU game. In addition to sporting a better framerate than Yoshi’s Woolly World on WiiU, the 3DS version has an additional runner mode called Poochy Gold Rush.

 

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Nioh (PS4)–February 9

Dark Souls meets Onimusha. If that doesn’t get you excited to play this game, we don’t know what to tell you. After playing some of the beta over the past few months, this game feels like it has just enough Souls DNA to satisfy fans of that series, and the setting of a monster-infested 1600s Japan makes it feel different enough from the Souls series to stand on its own.

 

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For Honor (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Knights versus Vikings versus Samurai–a medieval royal rumble. For Honor has been described as a shooter with swords, and features competitive multiplayer modes where the focus is on brutal melee combat as opposed to ranged battle.

 

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Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4)–February 28
From the developers of Killzone comes the PS4’s most anticipated game of the year. Horizon: ZD is an action roleplaying game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world run by machines. Players take on the role of Aloy, a hunter who can use melee, ranged and stealth attacks to defeat the robotic enemies of the land and scavenge them for materials that can be used for craft, or even turn some of the machines into allies by hacking them.

So, February looks like a pretty good month to be a PS4 owner, although there is a little something for everyone in there. March is shaping up to be a monster month as well, as the Nintendo Switch will be launching alongside another huge game–The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. So far, 2017 is a great year for gaming.

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November 29, 2016 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: December 2016

December is usually a month that is either barren, or a month in which games are sent out to die. This year, it’s neither of those things. in fact, December is shaping up to be a pretty great month for game releases, including some platform exclusives and one of the most anticipated games of the decade. Here are the games we’re excited about for December:

 

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Super Mario Maker 3DS (3DS) – December 2
A handheld version of the WiiU masterpiece that won several game of the year awards last year? Yes, please. Super Mario Maker lets you create your own Mario levels using assets from several of the franchise’s most popular games. The only drawback of the 3DS version of Super Mario Maker is that you won’t be able to upload created levels and share them online. You will however be able to share them through StreetPass, which certainly fits within the 3DS approach to playing locally together.

 

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Dead Rising 4 (PC, XBox One) – December 6
Frank West returns as the main character for the latest entry into the zombie-killing franchise. Dead Rising 4 is ditching the time restrictions of previous games in order to allow players to explore the world more. More time for picture taking, we guess? Selfies are a big part of the game, and we all know how long it can take to get one just right.

 

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The Last Guardian (PS4) – December 6
Yes, it’s really happening. One week after getting a new final Fantasy, we are getting the game that has been in development for almost ten years. But troubled development aside, we can’t wait to dive into a fantastical world and experience the latest story by the geniuses who brought us Ico and Shadow of the Colossus.

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Super Mario Run (iOS) – December 15
Mario. On a phone.
Announced during an Apple press conference, this runner will have Mario blazing through at least six worlds and three game modes, including one in which you compete against friends.
Brian is a little bummed this isn’t coming to Android devices just yet, but he’ll get over it when he’s playing on his iPad.

 

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The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (All Platforms)–December 20
The third season of Telltale’s series will once again start Clementine, but it’s a few years later and she’s a teenager now, although it will be told through the eyes of Javier, a new character. The season will consist of five episodes, but release dates for the reamining four have yet to be revealed.

 

So, there’s a little something for everyone this month, and some great stocking stuffers to go with new consoles this holiday. We’re still about five months behind on our backlog, so we’ll be playing 2016 releases well into the New Year.

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November 13, 2016 In Opinion

GAMES WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT: NOVEMBER 2016

It’s here, it’s here! November is here!
That’s right kiddies, the big month for game releases is upon us, and there are some blockbusters coming this month. There’s also some smaller games we’re pumped about too, so without further ado, here’s our list of games we’re excited about this month:

 

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Owlboy (PC) – November 1st
After being in development for nine-plus, the gorgeous retro metroidvania game by D-Pad Studio is finally arriving this month.The story involved  a young boy names Otus who must save his village from pirates. The game’s mechanics are inspired by Super Mario 3 and Kid Icarus.

 

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Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (Xbox One, PS4, PC) – November 4
SPAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCEEE! That is where infinite warfare happens–at least for this year’s installment of the CoD franchise. Ship combat and a new zombie mode will accompany all the usual bells and whistles. No matter how tired you think the franchise might be, CoD’s multiplayer is always top-notch, and this year shouldn’t be any different.

 

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Dishonored 2 (Xbox One, PS4, PC) – November 11
I’ll be honest, I missed out on Dishonored the first time around, but I’ve since picked it up and have been enjoying it. I’ve made a promise to myself that I’ll finish the first one before diving into the sequel, so I will probably wait ta bit before picking up Dishonored 2. But I’m still excited for it.

 

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Killing Floor 2 (PS4, PC) – November 18
I’ve watched the Killing Floor series from afar over he past few years as it continued to gain popularity on the PC. The horde-based cooperative shooter began as a mod and ended up as a full-fledged retail release in 2009. Killing Floor 2 Now it’s coming to consoles, and I can’t wait to get my hand my hands on it.

 

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Final Fantasy XV (Xbox One, PS4) – November 29
Early word on the latest installment of this legendary franchise has been good. I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t spent much time with the last couple Final Fantasy games. But I started with the series on NES and have so many memories of playing Final Fantasy VII on my original PlayStation that I will always have a soft spot for FF. Will this be the one that brings me back? We’ll see.

That’s our list of November releases we’re looking forward to. What’s on your list? Let us know in the comments.

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October 1, 2016 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: October 2016

Last generation, October was a month packed with AAA releases every single week–arguably the biggest month of the gaming year in terms of releases. But over the past few years, that has changed dramatically. There’s still plenty to be excited about this month though, with a variety of new games and re-releases that we can’t wait to dive into. here’s our list:

 

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Atari Flashback Classics Vol. 1 &2 (PS4, Xbox One)–October 4th

I grew up on Atari (yes, I am old)–it was my first console, and along with arcades laid the foundation for my lifelong love of video games. Being able to play Adventure, Asteroids, Maze Craze, Dodge ‘Em, Combat and the rest of this 100-game collection on Xbox one and PS4 is going to be awesome. Each volume costs $20, but that’s a small price to pay for my childhood.

 

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Dragon Quest Builders (PS4, Vita)–October 11th

Minecraft meets Dragon Quest? Yes, please. This game has the potential to be absolutely huge, especially if there are enough RPG hooks in it, which is the one area Minecraft is a bit lacking in.

 

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Gears of War 4 (Xbox One)–October 11th

Set 25 years after Gears 3, the next entry in the series focuses on J.D. Fenis, the son of Marcus and Anya.

 

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PlayStation VR–October 13th

I’m not hugely excited about VR, but when I do dive into it, I’ll be getting the PSVR. I’m already in the PlayStation ecosystem, and I’m really dying to play that until Dawn VR game.

 

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Battlefield 1 (Xbox one, PS4, PC)–October 21st

After playing a bit of the beta for this one, we could not be more excited. Horses vs. tanks, gigantic maps, stunning visuals and the buttery-smooth gameplay of Battlefield? Bring it on!

 

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Civilization VI (PC)–October 21st

The last Civ game I really got into was Civilization: Revolution, but I think I’m ready to step up to the big leagues with Civ VI.

 

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (Xbox one, PS4, PC)–October 28th

Confession time–I didn’t play Skyrim last generation. I know, right? I put over 300 hours into Oblivion on both PS3 and Xbox 360, but could not find the time to really get into Skyrim. So, I am beyond excited to have a new version for this gen. I will be all over this game.

 

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Titanfall 2 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)–October 28th

I dabbled in Titanfall, but the lack of a single-player campaign meant that it never hooked me. Respawn has corrected that misstep with Titanfall 2, and as a result, I’m actually excited for it. The multiplayer was great the first time around, so I’ve no doubt that will continue to be the case.

That’s our list of October releases we’re looking forward to. What’s on your list? Let us know in the comments.

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October 27, 2015 In News

Games I’m Looking Forward To: November 2015

I got all ready to make a monster post about the games of November this month, but guess what? The usual glut of games that makes November the busiest month of releases just isn’t there this year. With a bunch of games getting delayed into 2016, and publishers spreading releases out a bit more evenly through the year, November just isn’t the parade of releases it used to be.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t big releases to speak of this month. in fact, the one thing you can still count on is that November is where the biggest games are usually released. So without further ado, here are the games I’m excited about this month:

 

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Call of Duty: Black Ops III (Xbox One, PC, PS4)–November 6

I played a bit of the beta for Black Ops 3, and while it felt bit more like Titanfall than Call of Duty to me, the super tight gameplay that is the backbone of CoD was as good as ever. CoD is a game all of my friends play, and while my interest in the campaign has waned over the years, the multiplayer is something I’ll always jump into.

 

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Fallout 4 (Xbox One. PC, PS4)–November 10

If I could only get one game this month, Fallout 4 would be it. I am a huge RPG fan, and like many others, spent well over 100 hours with Fallout 3. I also live in Massachusetts, so the Boston setting is just one more reason I’m interested in the game. I will probably buy this one digitally, as I expect it to live on my console for the rest of the generation.

 

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Rise of the Tomb Raider (Xbox One, Xbox 360)–November 10

I came late to 2013’s Tomb Raider reboot, but when I did finally play it, I absolutely love it. Not only was Lara’s new origin story a great adventure, but mechanically, the game was fantastic. As a 40-year old gamer, I’ve been playing Tomb Raider games since 1996, when I played the first one on PlayStation. I’m really excited to see how Crystal Dynamics is building on the 2013 game, which completely revitalized the franchise.

 

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Star Wars: Battlefront (Xbox One, PC, PS4)–November 17

I did not get a chance to play the beta for Battlefront, but I don’t need to. I’m a big Battlefield fan (Hardline was great), and from everything I’ve seen, it looks like DICE got the aesthetic right. Not to mention, every single one of my friends that plays shooters will be getting this game. I expect this to be our go-to shooter for the next year. I’m just hoping the core game has enough content, as I’m not a big fan of season passes, which Battlefront is going to have.

As always, there are several more games coming out in November, and these are just my personal picks, so please sound off in the comments and let us know what games you’re excited to see this month!