August 6 (Cont'd)
The Sims 3: Dragon Valley
Platform: PC
EU: Out now
Go medieval on your Sims in this fantasy-themed expansion for The Sims 3. Already out in Europe, the add-on will loop North American players in on the simulated magic by offering a whole new 'Store World' brimming with pet dragons, fantastical buildings, and a dramatic storyline that will give players something to follow while they spend their hard-earned Simoleons. As always, the add-on will ship with a warehouse of new homes, items, and Sim accessories.
If you've been dreaming of the day your virtual you can own a make-believe dragon, your time has come.
August 7
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Xbox Live's Summer of Arcade 2013 promotion kicks off in style with this surreal title from Starbreeze Studios (Syndicate, The Darkness). The puzzle-heavy adventure game centers on two siblings who must recover the 'Water of Life' from a strange land in order to save their dying father. To do so, players must control the brothers in tandem to overcome various puzzles and conflicts using dedicated buttons and opposing analog sticks to guide them along their quest.
In addition to headlining Xbox Live's arcade promotion, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons will arrive a little later for PS3's PlayStation Network and on Steam. Read our impressions of this Fable-esque title in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons preview.
August 11
Mario and Luigi: Dream Team
Platform: 3DS
EU: Out now
Nintendo's A-list siblings are at it again, this time pairing up to solve trouble on Pi'illo island. Sticking to the Mario & Luigi series formula, the story has players controlling both Mario and Luigi in tadem as they travel through sleep-themed locales and work together to take down screen-filling bosses. This time, however, Mario will have the added task of plunging into Luigi's dreamspace and braving the platforming dangers within--all while players influence the environment by interacting with a sleeping Luigi using the 3DS's touchscreen controls.
Mario and Luigi: Dream Team has already stirred fans in Japan, Europe, and Australia. Now it's time for North American gamers to take the trip. See why you'll want to make time for a snooze in our Mario & Luigi: Dream Team review.
August 13
Angry Birds Trilogy
Platform: Wii U, Wii
Rovio's pig-killers are flapping their way to Nintendo's consoles this month. This collection will feature the first three games in the physics-puzzle series, including Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, and Angry Birds Rio. It will also feature new content developed specifically for the collection's console release.
Angry Birds Trilogy has already been out for a while on PS3 and Xbox 360. Both versions made innovative use of motion controls to operate the game's slingshot-based action. This in mind, the Wii U's gamepad should also prove a good home for the series.
Dishonored: The Brigmore Witches
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
EU: August 14 (PS3)
Daud's DLC quest continues in this sequel to Dishonored's The Knife of Dunwall expansion. For one last time, players will slip into the boots of the assassin Daud in a story that sees the anti-hero fighting through new areas of Dunwall to thwart the Brigmore Witches and their leader, Delilah. Corvo Attano, star of Dishonored's core campaign, is expected to make an appearance in the DLC--which should come as no surprise to those who've completed the main story.
Dishonored: The Brigmore Witches will let The Knife of Dunwall champions carry over their powers, upgrades, and chaos levels. For better or worse, it will also mark the end of Dishonored's DLC run.
Ducktales Remastered
Platform: PS3, Wii U, PC
Are you ready to solve a mystery? Re-write history? Engage in tales of derring-do... oo-oo? You're in luck, as WayForward (Shantae, Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage) is putting the final touches on an HD remastered edition of the 1989 NES classic, Ducktales.
Naturally, the game will star Scrooge McDuck, Disney's pogo-jumping, treasure-hunting duck who sets out to recover valuable artifacts from around the world. It will feature high-definition visuals, a new tutorial level, and multiple difficulty modes to cater to gamers new and ancient. WayFord and publisher Capcom have also coded an online treasure room that will let players compare their loot and stats with greedy ducks across the globe.
