NEW RELEASES: July 2016
As we inch closer and closer to the chaotic holiday release schedule, July’s video game offerings are actually impressively varied, providing a little something for everybody.
First up on Friday July 8 is the return of Carmageddon’s memorable take on vehicular destruction with Carmageddon: Max Damage. It’ll smash its way onto both Xbox One and PS4.
Jump ahead to Tuesday July 12, though, and you’ll findGhostbusters. The new film might have fans worried, but this XBO, PS4 and PC title takes place after those events and packs in a two-to-four-player co-op campaign.
Leadheads and adrenaline junkies, on the other hand, should certainly get revved up for MX Vs. ATV Supercross Encore, which races onto store shelves for Xbox One on Friday July 15.
One for the artistic kids out there is Disney Art Academyfor 3DS. It’ll provide helpful advice on how to create famous Disney and Pixar characters, from Mickey to Olaf and everything in between. It’s out Saturday July 16. Also out for 3DS that day is Monster Hunter Generations. With new combat styles and hundreds of quests to work through, this is the perfect opportunity to see what all the fuss is about.
Wrapping things up on Wednesday July 27 is the collection we all knew was coming: Batman: Return To Arkham. The bundle will package better-looking versions of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City for PS4 and Xbox One, but will act as an exclusive for EB Games.
E3 2016 TOP STORIES
With great power…
Think your Xbox One isn’t powerful enough? Well then, stay tuned for Project Scorpio – the new member of the Xbox family set to release during 2017’s holiday period. The Scorpio hardware will sport a better GPU capable of handling 4K resolution gaming at 60 Hz, and will possess six teraflops of computing power. Meanwhile, Sony announced its own updated PS4, codenamed the Neo. While the company wasn’t as forthcoming with details, it’s assumed that the Neo can also handle 4K gaming and will be better suited for VR. Both companies have assured players that should you not upgrade, all future games will still be playable on your current system.
Slimming down
Scorpio wasn’t the only console announcement this E3, with Microsoft also finally unveiling its slimmed-down Xbox One, titled the Xbox One S. The device features a sleek white finish and is 40 per cent smaller than the current model, doing away with the bulky external power supply. Functionality wise, the S will be capable of handling 4K Ultra HD video support and HDR capabilities for both gaming and video. The 2TB Xbox One S will retail for $549 in Australia sometime in August.
Crash is back!
In exciting news for old-school gamers, Sony has announced that Crash Bandicoot will return. During its E3 press conference, the company revealed that Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, and Crash Bandicoot: Warped will all be remastered for PS4.
REVIEW:
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst (PS4, XBO, PC)
To call the original Mirror’s Edge niche is an understatement. After all, it was a first-person, parkour-focused experiment that had you running along rooftops with so much speed that motion sickness was almost a back-of-the-box bullet point. Still, its uniqueness was enough to quickly cement it as a cult classic.
The fact that Mirror’s Edge Catalyst even exists eight years later is nothing short of a video game miracle. Yet here we are, and while the formula still hasn’t quite reached its potential, DICE has made a lot of improvements bound to put a smile back on your face.
Unsurprisingly, Catalyst once again focuses on the series’ heroine, Faith, who lives off the grid as part of a group of free runners who prefer sticking to the skyline – namely because they’re a bunch of outlaws-for-hire capable of making speedy deliveries or conducting burglaries for the right price.
As the reboot opens, Faith is released from prison after a few years behind bars, but quickly finds herself returning to her nefarious roots and clashing with the authorities. If you think that sounds rather uninspired, that’s because a lot of it honestly is. In fact, narrative is actually Catalyst’s weakest element, merely existing to serve one purpose: to send you back to the streets and leaping off skyscrapers. Luckily though, the blistering pace of the original Mirror’s Edge remains not only firmly intact, but improved. Due to the inclusion of a more open world to run around in, you’re free to experiment with the paths you take, which is an absolute delight.
On the other end of the spectrum, combat once again has its ups and downs. Guns, for example, have thankfully been given the boot in an attempt to avoid slowdown; yet hand-to-hand combat has been given greater attention in its place, resulting in similar levels of frustration. Having a fluid run stopped dead in its tracks to exchange blows with an enemy is disappointing and a little repetitive. The missions that have you taking down soldiers without stopping your breakneck momentum fare much better, but are less frequent.
For all of its smaller flaws, though, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is still a deeply satisfying experience that replicates much of what made the original game so memorable. Long-time fans should be happy at the chance to see Faith again, but newcomers may want to stock up on paper bags, just in case.
♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎
