New Releases: September
For those of you preparing for the flood of video game releases, it’s time to crack open the piggy bank. 3DS owners score the first opportunity on Saturday September 3 with Metroid Prime: Federation Force, which switches up the series’ usual stylings for a four-person cooperative shooter.
If you’re after a little more value for money, maybe hold out until Friday September 9 for The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Edition (PS4, XBO, PC). The special edition of the online-centric game includes all previously released DLC packs. Meanwhile, jump ahead to Tuesday September 13 and Xbox One exclusive ReCore will finally get its time to shine – telling the tale of one of the last remaining humans on a planet controlled by robotic foes.
Two days later on Thursday September 15 you’ll be able to get your hands on a collection that deserves a spot on every gamer’s shelf. BioShock: The Collection (PS4, XBO) squeezes all three fantastic games in the BioShock series onto one disc with a prettier coat of paint added in for good measure.
Leadheads, however, should look no further than Forza Horizon 3, as the Microsoft-exclusive racer (XBO, PC) sets its sights firmly on Aussie terrain. It speeds into stores from Tuesday September 27.
Closing out the month on Thursday September 29 is the one and only FIFA 17 (PS4, XBO, PC, 360, PS3). The game needs no introduction, but it’s worth noting that this iteration marks the first time the series is making use of the incredibly beautiful Frostbite engine.
News:
Still Surviving
In some surprising Gamescom news, Metal Gear Survive, a four-player stealth co-op game set within the Metal Gear universe, has been announced for PS4, Xbox One and PC.
The first in the series without any involvement from its creator Hideo Kojima, Survive will take place in an alternate universe set directly after the events of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. Players must bandy together to battle a new zombie foe.
“Metal Gear Survive will offer a fresh take on the series’ famed stealth elements,” said Konami Europea president Tomotada Tashiro in a press release, “but within a unique co-op setting that is designed for a truly engrossing multiplayer experience.” The game is due for release in 2017.
Next Stop: Hollywood
Just because Pokémon Go no longer dominates news headlines doesn’t mean the franchise is going away any time soon. In fact, in late July, Legendary Pictures announced that it would be developing a live-action Detective Pikachu film – following the Japanese release of Detective Pikachu: Birth Of A New Team for 3DS earlier in the year.
Now, Marvel screenwriter Nicole Perlman and Disney alumni Alex Hirsch are reportedly in negotiations to join the project as lead writers. Perlman is perhaps best known for her work on Marvel’s beloved Guardians Of The Galaxy, while Hirsch is behind the Disney cartoon series Gravity Falls.
Legendary has yet to release any concrete plot or character details for the film, but production is currently slated to begin sometime in 2017.
Review:
Batman: The Telltale Series – Episode One (PS4, XBO, PC)
Telltale Games is a fascinating company. Originally known for cutting its teeth on small-time adventure games like Sam & Max, the development studio bravely took hold of The Walking Dead franchise, blowing away fans and critics alike. Before long Telltale became a household name, obtaining licenses to some of entertainment’s biggest properties like Minecraft, Game Of Thrones, and now Batman.
The first episode of the series, Realm Of Shadows, interestingly chooses not to focus solely on the caped crusader, placing heavy emphasis on Bruce Wayne instead. It’s here that Telltale sets up a version of Gotham that is close to securing a better future for itself, thanks largely to the involvement of both Bruce and Harvey Dent (who is currently run for mayor). Yet while the community may not be entirely sold on Dent, the Wayne’s public backing is distinct, a dynamic that the series looks set to build tension from.
Much of this comes in the form of Telltale’s classic decision-making. You won’t find the life-or-death calls found in The Walking Dead or Game Of Thrones (at least for now), but many choices will still weigh heavy on the mind. For example, do you shake Carmine Falcone’s hand at the risk of ruining your own reputation in order to ensure he won’t tank Dent’s campaign, or do you turn him away completely?
Once Bruce dons the cowl, things become slightly unsteady. What’s most disappointing is that detective work – a core characteristic of Batman, and one that should lend itself best to Telltale’s playing style – is also one of Realm Of Shadows’ most underwhelming elements. That’s largely due to a lack of any substantial discoveries, most scenes simply requiring you to click on every point of interest in order to keep the story chugging along. The most challenging these asides become is when you have to work out which two points link together, but it still feels like busy work.
Also a slight let-down is combat, which, despite attempting to change things up, still becomes a barrage of timed button presses. While necessary to the style of game, they fail to provide the feeling of inhabiting the Dark Knight like others have already successfully done. This is only the introduction, however, so there’s still certainly room for improvement. Crafting the type of Batman you want to see is a thrilling opportunity, so here’s hoping Telltale becomes the hero Gotham deserves.
★★★
