The games of August 2011

Features
By published

Like an oasis in the desert, this month has some relief during the dry period

August 23

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

This action-RPG/stealth/first-person shooter/talk-a-thon mega-mashup is one of our most anticipated games of 2011. Its open-ended approach to everything--including genre, you'll notice--is meant to give us the freedom of flexibility to punch, cut, shoot or outright ignore the no-do-gooders of New Detroit as we please. It's been a long time coming, this sequel, particularly if you're an old-school Deus Ex fan who hated the mediocre DE: Invisible War. Don't let its gold-only aesthetic turn you off. Everything we've seen of Human Revolution is rad, and we're dying to dive in and get our robot-enhanced augmentation on.

This action-RPG/stealth/first-person shooter/talk-a-thon mega-mashup is one of our most anticipated games of 2011. Its open-ended approach to everything--including genre, you'll notice--is meant to give us the freedom of flexibility to punch, cut, shoot or outright ignore the no-do-gooders of New Detroit as we please. It's been a long time coming, this sequel, particularly if you're an old-school Deus Ex fan who hated the mediocre DE: Invisible War. Don't let its gold-only aesthetic turn you off. Everything we've seen of Human Revolution is rad, and we're dying to dive in and get our robot-enhanced augmentation on.

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This action-RPG/stealth/first-person shooter/talk-a-thon mega-mashup is one of our most anticipated games of 2011. Its open-ended approach to everything--including genre, you'll notice--is meant to give us the freedom of flexibility to punch, cut, shoot or outright ignore the no-do-gooders of New Detroit as we please. It's been a long time coming, this sequel, particularly if you're an old-school Deus Ex fan who hated the mediocre DE: Invisible War. Don't let its gold-only aesthetic turn you off. Everything we've seen of Human Revolution is rad, and we're dying to dive in and get our robot-enhanced augmentation on.

This action-RPG/stealth/first-person shooter/talk-a-thon mega-mashup is one of our most anticipated games of 2011. Its open-ended approach to everything--including genre, you'll notice--is meant to give us the freedom of flexibility to punch, cut, shoot or outright ignore the no-do-gooders of New Detroit as we please. It's been a long time coming, this sequel, particularly if you're an old-school Deus Ex fan who hated the mediocre DE: Invisible War. Don't let its gold-only aesthetic turn you off. Everything we've seen of Human Revolution is rad, and we're dying to dive in and get our robot-enhanced augmentation on.

Bodycount

Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
EU: September 2

As if the troubled development of Bodycount, which recently saw the departure of its lead design guy, wasn't enough, it's been in rough shape every time it's been demoed. Its defining feature is unimpressive destructibility, which must be particularly worrisome for the developer -- this is more Breach than Battlefield. In the face of DICE's incredible Frostbite engine, Bodycount is tame. Still, the Borderlands feel to the light openness of it is something we liked, and it's highly objective oriented. Ideally, this means it's a shooter with more substance than shooting everything in front of you. We're cautiously optimistic about this one.

As if the troubled development of Bodycount, which recently saw the departure of its lead design guy, wasn't enough, it's been in rough shape every time it's been demoed. Its defining feature is unimpressive destructibility, which must be particularly worrisome for the developer -- this is more Breach than Battlefield. In the face of DICE's incredible Frostbite engine, Bodycount is tame. Still, the Borderlands feel to the light openness of it is something we liked, and it's highly objective oriented. Ideally, this means it's a shooter with more substance than shooting everything in front of you. We're cautiously optimistic about this one.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked

Platform: 3DS
EU: N/A

While hardly a notable port for 3DS--it doesn't add much from the 2009 original, aside from tweaked 2D graphics and 3D support--Devil Survivor Overclocked ends the handheld's RPG drought. It sucks we still don't have a proper, new, exclusive, awesome, killer-app RPG for the 3DS, especially since the original Devil Survivor plays perfectly well on it, but the update could be worth the cash and time if you're desperate to sink time into going to college and killing monsters. It also has a new chapter for the Shin Megami-faithful who wanted more from this one in the first place.

While hardly a notable port for 3DS--it doesn't add much from the 2009 original, aside from tweaked 2D graphics and 3D support--Devil Survivor Overclocked ends the handheld's RPG drought. It sucks we still don't have a proper, new, exclusive, awesome, killer-app RPG for the 3DS, especially since the original Devil Survivor plays perfectly well on it, but the update could be worth the cash and time if you're desperate to sink time into going to college and killing monsters. It also has a new chapter for the Shin Megami-faithful who wanted more from this one in the first place.

August 24

Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition

Platform: Xbox 360, PS3
EU: August 25

The XBLA and PSN port of Street Fighter III 3rd Strike Online Edition is, according to Capcom, an arcade-perfect online version of the Street Fighter most of us forgot. It doesn't bother taking the HD route, instead opting for converted widescreen that doesn't stretch everything out to look terrible. Challenges, unlocks and uploading fights to YouTube round out the rest of the $15 download.

The XBLA and PSN port of Street Fighter III 3rd Strike Online Edition is, according to Capcom, an arcade-perfect online version of the Street Fighter most of us forgot. It doesn't bother taking the HD route, instead opting for converted widescreen that doesn't stretch everything out to look terrible. Challenges, unlocks and uploading fights to YouTube round out the rest of the $15 download.

August 30

Tropico 4

Platform: Xbox 360, PC
EU: August 26

Tropico 3 was, for all intents and purposes, quietly a remake of the first Tropico. It had a hot new look, more depth, but functionally the same features. That was fine, Tropico rules, and its casting us as rulers of tropical islands hasn't really changed in a decade. At its core, Tropico 4 remains much the same as its predecessors, but only because it knows damn well what it's great at. This time, though, we're seeing a few curveballs thrown our way. The politics and economy are far deeper, rewarding and risky. Natural disasters like tsunamis and volcano eruptions can ruin your island randomly--not that it's meant to be punishing, just that it's yet another dynamic thing we'll have to deal with. The new Council of Ministers exists to advise new players and vets on particularly hot issues, too, so it's the most approachable version yet. Most importantly for 360 gamers, the serviceable but flawed interface is getting an upgrade as well.

Tropico 3 was, for all intents and purposes, quietly a remake of the first Tropico. It had a hot new look, more depth, but functionally the same features. That was fine, Tropico rules, and its casting us as rulers of tropical islands hasn't really changed in a decade. At its core, Tropico 4 remains much the same as its predecessors, but only because it knows damn well what it's great at. This time, though, we're seeing a few curveballs thrown our way. The politics and economy are far deeper, rewarding and risky. Natural disasters like tsunamis and volcano eruptions can ruin your island randomly--not that it's meant to be punishing, just that it's yet another dynamic thing we'll have to deal with. The new Council of Ministers exists to advise new players and vets on particularly hot issues, too, so it's the most approachable version yet. Most importantly for 360 gamers, the serviceable but flawed interface is getting an upgrade as well.

Madden 12

Platform: 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PSP, PS2 (!)
EU: September 2

EA's a strong supporter of the PlayStation 2 even still--of the handful PS2 games in the past year, the vast majority have been EA Sports games. Madden 12 keeps that support going, which blows our mind. We briefly forgot the PS2 was still around. Good on EA for supporting those we've left behind. Anyway: Madden. You throw footballs and there are pockets and pitches. Obviously the guy typing these words isn't a football nut. Still, Madden 12 has some impressive new stuff this year for its dedicated following. Following up on its NCAA counterpart, the blown-up presentation is a big deal this time around, as the developer tries to meet its mantra of "True to the Game." On-the-fly player performance changes mean you're going to have to keep an extra sharp eye on your guys, and deal with them on the fleshed-out managerial side of things.

If you want to see more of what they're doing over there at EA, they're keeping some really excellent,detailed blogsabout the new features and other way-hardcore stuff.

EA's a strong supporter of the PlayStation 2 even still--of the handful PS2 games in the past year, the vast majority have been EA Sports games. Madden 12 keeps that support going, which blows our mind. We briefly forgot the PS2 was still around. Good on EA for supporting those we've left behind. Anyway: Madden. You throw footballs and there are pockets and pitches. Obviously the guy typing these words isn't a football nut. Still, Madden 12 has some impressive new stuff this year for its dedicated following. Following up on its NCAA counterpart, the blown-up presentation is a big deal this time around, as the developer tries to meet its mantra of "True to the Game." On-the-fly player performance changes mean you're going to have to keep an extra sharp eye on your guys, and deal with them on the fleshed-out managerial side of things.

If you want to see more of what they're doing over there at EA, they're keeping some really excellent,detailed blogsabout the new features and other way-hardcore stuff.

Driver: Renegade

Platform: 3DS
EU: September 2

We still don't really know much about this one. We know it's about Tanner, the Driver series' main dude, driving some cars in New York City. For the most part, it looks like a Burnout game--smashing dudes and beating the clock are your two primary goals in its 100 missions. We're not expecting much, but it could be enough to sate our appetite for destroying cars with other cars 'til the next Burnout.

We still don't really know much about this one. We know it's about Tanner, the Driver series' main dude, driving some cars in New York City. For the most part, it looks like a Burnout game--smashing dudes and beating the clock are your two primary goals in its 100 missions. We're not expecting much, but it could be enough to sate our appetite for destroying cars with other cars 'til the next Burnout.

Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad

Platform: PC
EU: August 30

Before you brush off another World War II FPS, consider that Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway and Call of Duty: World at War both hit in 2008, and Wolfenstein and Battlefield 1943 made for a great summer of 2009. After that, we haven't seen another WWII game, especially one that caused involuntary eye-rolling. Considering the assaulting frequency we're used to with this particular subgenre, it's been ages since we've seen a solid WWII shooter, and Red Orchestra's return is most welcome. Heroes of Stalingrad is the sequel to one of the best PC multiplayer games period. The tactical multiplayer game uses Unreal Engine 3 to give its violence a gross display of realism, too, if you're into demoralizing opponents by blowing them to pieces. RO2 also has a single-player campaign this time around, although we suspect it'll largely be a means of training players for its fast but thoughtful competitive modes. Also, can we just acknowledge for a second how happy we are to see some solid PC exclusives this year?

Aug 2, 2011

Before you brush off another World War II FPS, consider that Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway and Call of Duty: World at War both hit in 2008, and Wolfenstein and Battlefield 1943 made for a great summer of 2009. After that, we haven't seen another WWII game, especially one that caused involuntary eye-rolling. Considering the assaulting frequency we're used to with this particular subgenre, it's been ages since we've seen a solid WWII shooter, and Red Orchestra's return is most welcome. Heroes of Stalingrad is the sequel to one of the best PC multiplayer games period. The tactical multiplayer game uses Unreal Engine 3 to give its violence a gross display of realism, too, if you're into demoralizing opponents by blowing them to pieces. RO2 also has a single-player campaign this time around, although we suspect it'll largely be a means of training players for its fast but thoughtful competitive modes. Also, can we just acknowledge for a second how happy we are to see some solid PC exclusives this year?

Aug 2, 2011

Game of the Month, July 2011
EDF, Catherine, Bastion, NCAA, From Dust or Ms. Splosion Man? We pick a winner


The Top 7… Best games of 2011 (so far)
What will be this year's greatest game? Here's how the competition looks at the halfway mark

The Top 7… Worst games of 2011 (so far)
Early contenders for early bargain-bin retirement