Summer may almost be over, but it's going out with a bang. September is jam-packed with games as the holiday rush starts rolling, and we've put together a list of all the AAA releases, indie treats, and DLC making a play for your virtual wallet over the next 30 days.
Behold, the brothers, mice, athletes, aliens, Hylians, and--of course--Rockstars of September 2013...
September 3
Atelier Meruru Plus: The Apprentice of Arland
Platform: PS Vita
Get it from Amazon: Playstation 3
Developer Gust's 13th entry for the Atelier series is heading westward this month for the PS Vita. A port of the 2012 PS3 game, the game follows princess Meruru as she applies her alchemy skills to the betterment of the Arls kingdom and the Arland republic in which it resides. Gameplay will offer a blend of role-playing quests and all-out combat featuring Meruru alongside her mentor Totori and escort Rorona.
The PS Vita re-release will include new costumes and environments, fresh boss battles, and the ability to link up to March 2013's Altelier Torori: the Adventurer of Arland.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Platform: PS3 (Xbox 360: Already out)
The headliner for Xbox Live's 2013 Summer of Arcade is making its PlayStation Network debut. Developed by Starbreeze Studios, the adventure game sees players guiding two brothers through sun-soaked fantasy environments in their quest to obtain the “Water of Life” for their ailing father. In so doing, players will control both siblings at the same time in order to solve puzzles, defeat beasts, and survive great peril.
Is Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons the cure to your summer gaming blues? We think so. Learn why these siblings are worth following to the ends of the world in our Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons review.
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse HD
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360 (Sept. 4), PC (Sept. 4)
Mickey's 1990 classic is getting the HD treatment, gifting fans of the Sega Genesis original with a fresh take on the popular cartoon title. Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse HD will return the Disney mascot to the aforementioned castle where he will face supernatural fiends and obstacles to rescue Minnie from the gnarled clutches of the witch Mizrabel.
Over and above a fresh coast of paint, Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse HD will recreate the game's levels in 2.5D and include a 3D hub world. We're always up for a trip down memory lane. See what's in store for Mickey's upgrade in Castle of Illusion brings Mickey Mouse into HD.
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Arcade
Get it from Amazon: Playstation 3 | Xbox 360
Team Ninja presents this upgraded version of 2012's Dead or Alive 5. The fighting game will include features from PS Vita's Dead or Alive 5 Plus, such as a new training mode and Power Launcher gameplay feature; as well as tweaks to the Tag Mode and upwards of 231 unlockable costumes. In addition, players will have opportunity to step into the ring with five more characters, including Ninja Gaiden's Momiji and Rachel, Virtua Fighter's Jack Bryant, and DOA vets Leon and Ein.
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate is also being tweaked for an arcade release, marking the series' return to Japanese arcade halls after nearly 13 years. The cabinet will be powered by Sega's RingEdge 2 hardware.
Diablo III
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360
Get it from Amazon: Playstation 3 | Xbox 360 | PC (Physical)
The gates of Sanctuary are opening to console adventurers for the first time in Diablo's history. Confirmed for arrival on PS3, Xbox 360, and even PS4 (at a later date) this port of Blizzard's action role-playing epic will let players adopt a custom persona and plunge into a top-down dungeon crawler filled with angels, demons, skeleton kings, and other dark horrors.
From what we saw at this year's E3, Diablo 3 might just be better on consoles than PC. It's a bold statement, sure, but given all the exclusive loot, refined gameplay, revamped skills, and fresh animations slated for its console arrival, there's reason to be optimistic.
Kickbeat
Platforms: PS3, PS Vita
From the studio who brought you Star Wars Pinball and Castle Storm comes this rhythmic fighter for Sony's handheld. Offering a fusion of martial arts fighting and beat-matching gameplay, Kickbeat will pit players in high-energy battles where their success will hinge on their ability to tap, twirl, and swipe along with the game's music.
Kickbeat's tracklist will feature music for every tastes, including beats from Marilyn Manson, Blue Stahli, and Taiwanese rapper Shen Yi. Players will also be given the tools to mix and match pre-loaded songs to create their own fighting soundtrack.
Rayman Legends
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PS Vita
EU: Already out
Get it from Amazon: Playstation 3 | Xbox 360 | Wii U | PS Vita | PC (Download)
It's Rayman and his pals to the rescue (again) in the latest chapters of Ubisoft's richly animated platforming series. A direct sequel to 2011's Rayman Origins, Legends finds Rayman and chums awaking after a 100-year nap to discover the Bubble Dreamers have been busy reigning chaos and destruction upon the land. As such, it's up to Rayman, Globox, the Teensies, and newcomer Barbara to... well... you know the drill.
Rayman Legends was originally earmarked as a Wii U exclusive, but will now arrive for every current gen system. Murphy, who was designed to be controlled by the Wii U GamePad, will be reassigned to button prompts on PS3 and Xbox 360, while the Wii U and PS Vita will retain his touch-screen mechanics. Altogether, the game will employ a mix of platforming and rhythm-based action, and include remastered levels from Rayman Origins. Check out our Rayman Legends review to see why you should pick it up.
