Games to Watch, July to September 2014

Genre: Platforming, RPG

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

Publisher: Ubisoft

Rating:

What is it?: Child of Light is a platforming RPG set from a side-scrolling perspective with an Active-Time Battle System for battles against enemies. Players control Princess Aurora, the daughter of an Austrian duke, in Lemuria in her quest to recapture the three sources of light.

Features:

• Single-player
• RPG elements (Stat Building)
• Turn-Based battles
• Beautifully crafted Visuals.

Similar to: Final Fantasy series(Battle System), Trine Series.

Also worth noting:

• Child of Light Complete Edition includes 7 DLC's

Availability: PlayStation Vita

Genre: Adventure/Platformer

Developer: Mass Media Inc

Publisher: SCEE

Rating:

What is it?: The original and multi-million units selling Ratchet & Clank trilogy returns in the Ratchet & Clank Trilogy for the PlayStation 3.

Experience the classic adventures of the universe's favorite Lombax, Ratchet and his robotic sidekick Clank in this classic PlayStation 2 trilogy now fully remastered in high definition.

Features:

• SinglePlayer/multiplayer
• Large amount of unique and original weaponry and gadgets
• Explore whole solar systems filled with wide array of different planets
• Complete puzzles and planets with an array of gadgets and gear.

Similar to: Jak & Daxtor, Sly Cooper.

Also worth noting:

Availability: PlayStation Vita

Genre: 3rd person Action / Adventure

Developer: Naughty Dog

Publisher: SCEE

Rating:

What is it?: A Remaster of ours and many others GOTY for last year The Last of Us has been rebuilt for the PlayStation 4 system. 20 years after a pandemic has radically changed known civilization, infected humans run wild and survivors are killing each other for food, weapons; whatever they can get their hands on. Joel, a violent survivor, is hired to smuggle a 14 year-old girl, Ellie, out of an oppressive military quarantine zone, but what starts as a small job soon transforms into a brutal journey across the U.S.

Features:

• Single-player/Multiplayer
• Scavenge and manage supplies and ammo. Craft weapons and items.
• In-game cinematic commentary from the cast and creative director
• 60fps 1080p, higher resolution character models, improved shadows and lighting, in addition to several other gameplay improvements.

Similar to: Uncharted.

Also worth noting:

• Will have an official PS4 bundle
• Multiplayer progress will not carry over
• Includes additional game content: "Delve into Ellie's past in Left Behind, the single-player prequel chapter" and "Eight new multiplayer maps in the Abandoned and Reclaimed Territories packs"

Availability: PlayStation 4

Genre: Action RPG

Developer: Keen Games

Publisher: Deep Silver

Rating:

What is it?: Set in the war for Ancaria. Choose from legendary heroes and fight together against the rise of evil. You will face hordes of grimmocs, brute beasts, legions of mercenaries and undead wizards. Develop your character's skills and abilities and band together to use powerful co-op abilities and tactics.

Features:

• SinglePlayer/multiplayer(co-op(1-4))
• Play as 1 of 5 heroes, each with unique skills and weapons
• Master special attacks and quickly decimate hoards of enemies
• Perform powerful co-op combat arts to defeat epic bosses together
• Level up and customize your hero, outshine your fellow warriors

Similar to: Diablo, Torchlight.

Also worth noting:

• Sacred Citadel a side-scrolling action brawler is the prequel to the Sacred 3 story.
• The First Edition is exclusively available during pre-order and will give you additional DLC.

Availability: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Genre: Action RPG

Developer: Blizzard Entertainment

Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment

Rating:

What is it?: Diablo III: Reaper of Souls Ultimate Evil Edition bundles together the deep, corrupted universe of Diablo III with the new Reaper of Souls expansion exclusively for consoles. Having only barely survived through the devastating war brought upon by demons set on invading humanity, the dark fantasy world of Sanctuary is once again threatened by the exiled demons and Prime Evils from the depths of Burning Hell. The heroes of yore are long gone and now it is up to you, the new champion, to stand against the demons alone or with friends as you slay hordes of monsters, learn new skills and find many great items of power to defeat these demons once and for all.

Features:

• 4-player same-screen and online co-op multiplayer with the ability to share treasures with other players on your friends lists.
• Includes the original Diablo III game and new content and updates from the Reaper of Souls expansion.
• A new Apprentice mode that boosts low-level players' powers while adventuring with high-level friends.
• A new Adventure Mode that gives players the freedom to go anywhere and slay anything.
• Nephalem Rifts that provide fully randomized dungeons to explore and loot.
• Level Cap increase to 70.

Similar to: The "Diablo" series, Torchlight.

Also worth noting:

• Pre-ordered copies of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Ultimate Evil Edition will also include the exclusive Infernal Pauldrons bonus in-game item.
• Players can transfer their previous characters from the original Diablo III on PlayStation 3 to the new Ultimate Evil Edition on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, and similarly from original Diablo III on the Xbox 360 to this new edition on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
• The PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 versions of the game will feature a Nephalem Rift inspired by The Last of Us (including Clickers, Stalkers and Bloaters), and the "Guise of the Colossi" transmog set from Shadow of the Colossus.

Availability: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Genre: 3rd person shooter

Developer: PopCap Games

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Rating:

What is it?: A multiplayer third-person shooter set in the Plants vs Zombies universe. Players can control Zombies or plants as they battle it out against each other or work together across the games multiplayer modes.

Features:

• 4-player online co-op/ 24-player multiplayer action
• 1(Garden Ops) cooperative mode and 3(Team Vanquish, Gardens and Graveyards, Gnome Bomb) competitive multiplayer modes.
• Customization: Personalize your favorite plants and zombies with hundreds of unique items and customizations
• New plants and zombies: Powerful new plants and zombies with a huge variety of abilities
• Expansive world: Over 10 unique multiplayer and cooperative battlegrounds
• Night and day have an effect on gameplay.

Similar to: Battlefield(Game modes).

Also worth noting:

• Downloadable content for the game which will be released free of charge.

Availability: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4

Genre: JRPG

Developer: Bandai Namco Games

Publisher: Bandai Namco Games

Rating:

What is it?: Tales of Xillia 2 is the follow up to the original Tales of Xillia that was released last year on the PlayStation 3. Set one year after the events of the first game, Tales of Xillia 2 centres around Ludger Kresnik, a young man and a skilled chef who lives with his brother Julius and their cat. Ludger aspires become an agent in the prestigious Spirius Corporation just like his brother but has failed the interviews and currently works in a cafeteria at the station. On one fateful day though, Ludger meets Elle Marta with whom he accompanies to to reunite with her father at the mythic "Land of Canaan". Throughout their journey, Ludger and Elle must make hard choices and decisions that affect not only their own welfare, but that of the world and people around them.

Features:

• A darker story and noir atmosphere.
• Choices that affect how the story will branch out.
• Enhancements to the Linked Combat System from the original Tales of Xillia game
• Newly incorporated battle features including Chromatus transformations and the Weapon Swap System.

Similar to: Tales of Xillia, the "Tales of" series

Also worth noting:

• The Day One Edition of Tales of Xillia 2 will include special tracks selected by the dev team and an exclusive metalcase for the game.

Availability: PlayStation 3

Genre: Sports

Developer: EA Tiburon

Publisher: EA Sports

Rating:

What is it?: Madden NFL 15 lets you play out the National Football League with your favourite teams and players from right from the seat of your lounge. This latest instalment from the Madden NFL series delivers everything fans need to beat their rivals on both sides of the field, including all-new tackling mechanics, smarter AI and the most immersive defensive gameplay control in franchise history. Take control of the defense and challenge the best offenses in the game. It's not just football, it's Madden Season.

Features:

• All-new player-lock camera angles, pass rush tools, open-field tackling mechanics, and smarter AI.
• A revolutionary crowd-sourced play-calling system with three distinct ways to run offense and defense: coach suggestions, Madden community picks, and concept plays.
• Dynamic pre-game and halftime shows, in-depth player profiles, as well as enhanced on-field graphics.

Similar to: The "Madden NFL" series

Also worth noting:

Availability: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Genre: RPG

Developer: inXile Entertainment

Publisher: inXile Entertainment

Rating:

What is it?: A upcoming post-apocalyptic turn-based and party-based RPG with tactical combat. Wasteland 2 is set in an alternate history timeline, in which a nuclear holocaust took place in 1998 in relation to an impact event involving a cluster of meteors that sparked a global nuclear war.

Features:

• Single player
• Up to 7 characters will fill the player's party. 4 player-designed characters and up to 3 non-player characters
• One Size Does Not Fit All: Don't feel like finding the key for a door? Why not try a Rocket Launcher! Basically the same thing... right?
• Enhanced Classic RPG Game Play: Classic RPG game play ideas updated with modern design philosophies.
• Decision Making... with Consequences: With both short and long term reactivity to the players choices, every decision matters in the outcome of the story.
• Huge & Customizable: Dozens of hours of game. Hundreds of characters. Thousands of variations on your Rangers' appearance. Over 150 weapons. Dozens of skills. Even the UI can be customized.

Similar to: Wasteland, Fallout

Also worth noting:

• Early access beta is available on steam now
• Crowd funded through kickstarter

Availability: PC

Genre: Simulation

Developer: Maxis

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Rating:

What is it?: The Sims 4 is the newest life simulation game from the ever popular The Sims series. Boasting more intelligent Sims with complex emotions, social and environmental interactions as well as much more intuitive customisation tools for building and decorating your Sim's home, The Sims 4 will let you control and shape many stories for your Sims the way you want and then watch as your creations come to life.

Features:

• Create new Sims with intelligence and emotion.
• Experience all new intuitive and fun creative tools to sculpt your Sims and build unique homes.
• Easily see, share and download new Sims and homes from The Gallery.

Similar to: "The Sims" series, Second Life

Also worth noting:

• The Sims 4 comes can be purchased as part of various standard and Collector's Editions that come with extra digital and physical content.

Availability: PC

Genre: Hack 'n' Slash, Action

Developer: Omega Force

Publisher: Tecmo Koei

Rating:

What is it?: Omega Force brings its new and ultimate re-release of Warriors Orochi 3 hack 'n' slash adventure to both past and current gen consoles. Taking place several years after the battle against the Serpent King, Orochi, the Warriors Orochi universe has been almost totally demolished by the sudden rise of the eight-headed serpent demon. With a hybrid cast of characters and stages from the likes of Dynasty Warriors, Ninja Gaiden 2, Atelier and Samurai Warriors, the remaining warriors are only just barely surviving and still trying to battle the demon with what little army and resources they have left. But it isn't enough. Fortunately, a mysterious woman appears and grants the surviving warriors the power to travel back in time to save other warriors who died in the initial wave of carnage, and also a chance to change the fate of the future.

Features:

• Single Payer, Local and Online Co-op.
• Ability to switch between a party of three characters on the battlefield in real-time.
• A new Duel Mode, a mix of team 3 vs. 3 combat and card battles.
• 145 playable characters, including nine new to the series.
• Cross-Play and Cross-Save between the PS3, PS4 and PS Vita versions of the game.

Similar to: Dynasty Warriors 8, Samurai Warriors

Also worth noting:

• Players can import save data from Warriors Orochi 3 on PS3 to the new Ultimate version.

Availability: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One

Genre: First-Person Shooter, MMORPG

Developer: Bungie

Publisher: Activision

Rating:

What is it?: Destiny is a brand new and ambitious sci-fi and open-world first-person shooter from the the makers of the Halo series. Long ago, a mysterious entity known only as the Traveler breathed life and miracles to our solar system; bringing rain to Mars and cleansing the poisonous skies of Venus, which allowed for human colonisation of those planets in what became known as the Golden Age. However, the Traveler had an ancient enemy that followed its journey and devastated the Earth with its powerful darkness. Now, only one city is left standing and protected by the Traveler, and you, a Guardian and survivor of these Dark Ages with the ability to wield some of the Traveler's incredible power, are destined to defend the last safe haven on Earth and explore the ancient ruins of our solar system to discover all that we have lost and find hope for our future.

Features:

• Enormous and persistent open-world environments to explore, complete quests and traverse alone or seamlessly with friends and other players throughout the Solar System.
• Three different classes to choose from - the Titan, Hunter and Warlock - with differing skills, abilities and equipment to use for battle.
• A Competitive PvP Multiplayer arena known as The Crucible.

Similar to: Borderlands 2, Halo

Also worth noting:

• PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 copies of Destiny will include timed-exclusive digital in-game content at release.

Availability: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Genre: Action

Developer: Omega Force, Team Ninja

Publisher: Nintendo

Rating:

What is it?: The delicate balance of the Triforce has been disrupted and Hyrule Kingdom is once again being torn apart by a dark power, this time led by Sorceress Cia. Cut down entire legions of enemies as Link, Zelda, Midna and other characters from The Legend of Zelda franchise using over-the-top powerful Dynasty Warriors-style moves.

Features:

• Single player/multiplayer(1-2)
• Heroic Link carves through a huge onslaught of enemies as he executes flashy moves with combat attacks. This also marks the first time that many other iconic characters from The Legend of Zelda franchise are playable for any length of time, including Princess Zelda, Impa and Midna.
• Protect and reclaim recognizable landmarks from multiple games in The Legend of Zelda series, including such classic areas like Hyrule Field and the Palace of Twilight.
• Push back armies of classic enemies from The Legend of Zelda, as well as powerful enemies making their debuts in Hyrule Warriors.
• Advance the story to unlock new playable characters, each with unique moves and weapon types. Collect Rupees and other useful items to upgrade weapons and craft badges, which players can use to bolster each warrior's abilities.

Similar to:

Also worth noting:

• Other developer: Nintendo SPD
• Two players can play local co-op, with one player joining with the Wii U GamePad controller and another with the Wii U Pro Controller or Wii Remote + Nunchuk controllers
• The game is a collaboration between Tecmo Koei and Nintendo, and will contain elements of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series and Tecmo Koei's Dynasty Warriors series.

Availability: Wii U

Genre: Turn-based RPG

Developer: Gust

Publisher: Tecmo Koei Europe

Rating:

What is it?: Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star is a sci-fi RPG from the developers of the popular Atelier series. Exclusive and localised in English and other European languages for the PlayStation 3 so far, Ar nosurge tells the compelling story of a civilisation that lost their planet and has been roaming the edge of space for 2000 years in search of a new home. The player follows two sets of characters: Delta and Casty, who wish to protect all of humanity, and Ion and Earthes, who wish to find Ion a way back home to Earth. In this world, music and song can create magic, and Ar nosurge also places heavy emphasis on character relationships in the game where closer bonds between a player's characters can mean that their overall party will grow stronger in battle too.

Features:

• Interchange between the two sets of characters throughout the story.
• An intricately deep turn-based RPG battle system.
• A detailed synthesis system for players to create their own items.
• A unique character development system that focuses more on the relationships between the main characters than their success in missions and battles.

Similar to: The "Atelier" series, the "Ar Tonelico" series

Also worth noting:

• Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star will include both European and Japanese voiceovers.

Availability: PlayStation 3

Genre: Sports

Developer: EA Sports

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Rating:

What is it?: FIFA 15 brings football to life in stunning detail so that fans can experience the emotional intensity of the sport. Many enhancements and improvements have been made across the board for FIFA 15 to deliver better AI intelligence, more dynamic realism and control on the field and even greater incredibly detailed visuals for the players.

Features:

• Improved AI intelligence such as recognising various team tactics on the field.
• Players have memories and will show emotion based on the context of the match.
• Ability to control set piece, such as positioning off-the-ball teammates during throw-ins, corners, and free-kicks.

Similar to: The "FIFA" series, the "PES" series

Also worth noting:

• Pre-ordering FIFA 15 will give players up to 40 gold packs to build their dream clubs in FIFA 15 Ultimate Team, depending on the edition.

Availability: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii, Xbox 360, Xbox One