Oddly typical of the gaming industry, as soon as term time starts to creep around the corner and rear its head, major AAA titles are being released! Still, after weeks of complaining about the lack of things to play, I suppose I should realize that beggars can’t be choosers.
For those of you still impatiently awaiting Fury Road’s DVD/Blu-Ray release, this week sees the release of Mad Max on the Xbox One and PS4. With heavy emphasis on (what else) vehicular combat in an open world environment, the game seems to have been specifically crafted with drooling fanboys (myself included) in mind. Free from rigid linear constraints, you’re free to be The Road Warrior and explore the expansive wastes however you choose, with melee brawling, stealth and of course explosive car chases all optional courses for you to take. There’s also a huge variety of gleefully inventive weaponry and an extensive car customization mechanic as well. The game is released on Tuesday.
Of course the real heavy hitter this week is Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. With such an epic scale, multitude of gameplay mechanics and a complex narrative, it’s quite difficult to sum up The Phantom Pain in a small paragraph. Suffice it to say it has already accumulated universal critical acclaim and perfect 10s in numerous publications. If that doesn’t sell you, then just remember that it’s part of one of the most iconic franchises in gaming, and boosts more unique features than any other game released this year. You can also emergency evac a horse with a parachute so… there’s that too. The Phantom Pain is also released on Tuesday.
The critically acclaimed Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is making its next-gen debut this week as well. Praised for its storytelling and visual style, the game has you control two brothers in a fantasy world. From a top down perspective you control each of them simultaneously via the two thumbsticks, with each brother having different abilities. The game was directed by Sweedish film-maker Josef Fares and received numerous awards for it’s narrative and innovation when it was first released back in 2013. The Xbox One and PS4 versions meanwhile will be released on 4th September.
Also released on the 4th is Rugby World Cup 2015 (Xbox 360, PS4, Xbox One, PS4, PSVita PC). Yes it’s one of those sports games I know so much about. Details are surprisingly scarce for this, suffice it to say there will be much running and kicking. Truthfully, hype levels seem relativity low for this one. Perhaps this explains the lack of marketing and details surrounding it, as people seem to be unhappy with the direction this one is taking. Even the trailer seems to be unsure how to sell this one. Sorry sports fans… try Metal Gear?
Nobunaga’s Ambition is a ridiculously dense and complex strategy game, that has you take on the role of a historical figure of your choosing from Japan’s feudal period. Featuring various real world scenarios that stretch from the birth of Nobunaga – one of the most successful warlords of the era – right up until the nation’s eventual unification, players can win the game through violence, diplomacy, or a mixture of both. Regarded as a simulation, rather than an out and out game, this is not one for casual gamers. The PS4 release of the game is on the 4th September.
