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The games of summer 09

Beat the heat with GR's sunny suggestions

Words: Shane Patterson, GamesRadar US

AUGUST

THE BIG PICK

Batman: Arkham Asylum - 360, PS3
Release date: August 25

 
We approach every new comic game tepidly. Licensed characters have a tumultuous history in vid games and Batman’s past has been somewhat disappointing over the last few years. True he was performing Heroic Brutalities in Mortal Kombat vs DC, but that wasn’t his own game. And when we didn’t get a Dark Knight game (which when you think about it, would not have lived up to that film at all), we saw a glimmer of hope in the gorgeous-looking Arkham Asylum.

 
Not only are the visuals purdy, but the gameplay accentuates Batman’s ninja-like stealth, his custom gadgets and his beat-the-crap-out-of-baddies sensibility. Plus, this is the first time we’re able to creep around the industrial prison housing the Bat’s greatest foes.

WHAT ELSE?

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box – DS
Release date: August 25

When mysteries are afoot, Layton and his ever-trusty assistant Luke are on the puzzle-laden case. The sequel to Curious Village makes its US debut this summer and you can expect more beautiful cutscenes mixed with tricky brain teasers. And just like the first game, expect DLC with a new puzzle a week for 33 weeks. Yeah… seriously. Layton is the shit.

Dissidia: Final Fantasy – PSP
Release date: August 25

 
Also known as Fan Service: The Game, Dissidia is the Final Fantasy PSP brawler, where your favorite heroes and villains from the neverending franchise duke it out over who looks the moodiest. Topped the Japanese sales charts for weeks and allegedly has a story mode that is over 40 hours long. Dammmmmmmmn.

Wolfenstein – PC, 360, PS3
Release date: August 4

 
The WWII shooter plagued with Nazis and the macabre makes its return in Raven Software’s reimagining of the FPS that started it all. Expect explosions, monsters (not just of the Nazi kind) and a little bit of RPG-ness. Check out our coverage here.

DON'T FORGET

Madden 10 – Every system ever that hopes to turn a profit
Release date: August 11

 
Another year, another Madden. And like our earlier NCAA entry, another year for fans to get exactly what they want and keep pumping money into the industry. This year, the digital athletes look slightly better than last year.


 
58 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
MechGyver  - 5 months 13 days ago 
There“s no better time to be spent loked inside home playing video games than Summer...01010110101...1o1....
RebornKusabi  - 5 months 13 days ago 
Marvel vs. Capcom 2 bitches!
RebornKusabi  - 5 months 13 days ago 
Ah, Binary- I hate you so goddamn much that it drove me to switch my degree courses to get around you.

So long Computer Security and Computer Programming, hello Information Technology!
jballboy88  - 5 months 13 days ago 
AHHH!!!! FOR BEATLES ROCK BAND YOU GUYS FORGOT TO LABEL IT FOR PS3 ALSO!!!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!!!!
iluvmyDS  - 5 months 13 days ago 
FOUR PAGES?! How can I possibly read all that.

Joking.
iluvmyDS  - 5 months 13 days ago 
My god I'm excited for Turtles In Time, I NEED a good beat-em-up.
iluvmyDS  - 5 months 13 days ago 
I will argue that Scribblenauts will be one of the best DS games of '09.
crumbdunky  - 5 months 13 days ago 
I might share some enthusiasm for Shadow Complex if Cliffy hadn't looked and sounded so MONUMENTALLY bored when he showed us it at E3.

And will I break Scibblenauts if I want to tke on every puzzle using words like tits, ass and nob? 'Cos I assure you THATS what EVERYONE will want to do.

And I don't counr September as summer and you should know that. In fact, being English, I'm, unsure about the existence of this season at all.
thor0997  - 5 months 13 days ago 
I love some Overlord. It was simple action and story but I love the Minions. Funny little ass holes that they are.
Cyberninja  - 5 months 13 days ago 
im going to buy the bundle for fan service the game since i dont have a psp yet that plus the new souliclaibur my is going to have some copition that plus birth by sleep is for psp
nik41507  - 5 months 13 days ago 
11TH!!
NeoKef  - 5 months 13 days ago 
1600 for Marvel vs Capcom 2? I was hoping it would be cheaper since SSFIITHR was 1200 points and 800 for the original SSFII. While the original Soul Calibur (sorry if I misspelled) is 1200 and the Special Edition of Fatal Fury for 400 points.
FierceDeity  - 5 months 13 days ago 
ahahah take you for a ride
MvC2 was so bloody awesome
Ded  - 5 months 13 days ago 
I thought BlazBlue was on the 360 as well..? I'm still hoping for a Europe release :( sigh.
Unoriginal  - 5 months 13 days ago 
Wow July is kinda weak.
I still can't stop drooling over Muramasa

Nice informative article but the "theme song" is horrible. The lyrics make no sense at all.
LittleTaco  - 5 months 13 days ago 
My favorite game from last summer (that i actually bought) was bad company, if i buy a game that is realeased this summer i hope i enjoy it as much as battlefield!
TheKingsAssassin  - 5 months 13 days ago 
you forgot About I Am Alive(august)
reCaptcha: Lafayette goldfarb
BLACKICE  - 5 months 13 days ago 
ODST will be the best game ever
alfonso.hdez  - 5 months 13 days ago 
Damn, I already feel my poor wallet bleeding. Also, the HALO a game joke was so bad it was actually really funny :P
animeman  - 5 months 13 days ago 
I hadnt even herd of Dissidia: Final Fantasy until now. I cant wait for it to come out.
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