Now this is more like it! Although Madden normally signals the start of the Fall schedule triple-A madness, it certainly doesn’t feel like it given what we’ve had the last two weeks. This week, that changes.

Remember. Release dates are quite literally made at the whims of the publisher.  The following are subject to change without any warning.

 

Releases To Watch For This Week

Borderlands 2 (Xbox 360, PS3)

Tuesday September 17, 2012

Everybody’s favorite Minutemen simulator makes a triumphant return to the consoles after all the controversy and whatnot nearly kept this sequel from seeing the light of day. The first has you predictably protecting the Mexican-U.S. border, but this sequel instead shifts the focus to the world’s largest, undefended border, the Canadian-U.S. border.

Instead of catching Mexican immigrants, “agent” Billy Ray Cole, the protagonist of the previous game, must content with a more dangerous, conniving prey, a.k.a. illegal Canadian immigrants. On top of the usual Jeeps, Hummers, and ATVs, Cole has gotten an upgrade in the vehicle department. Now he, and his ragtag crew hellbent on protecting America (or “Ehmehreca” as these guys call it) from illegal aliens, will drive hover cars, gyrocopters, and even jets! His weaponry has improved as well. Cole will still have access to various lethal weaponry like rifles and handguns, but Borderlands 2 now has non-lethal weaponry as well. Using these reduces the diplomatic friction between the two countries, but you’ll get less points. The game basically tests what you value most. Your score or America’s relationships with its neighbors?

Despite its overt patriotism tones, the first one succeeds on its rather hilarious dialogue and characters. Hopefully this sequel continues that tradition. I would go deeper into its other aspects like the new romance mechanics, the new enemy types like one crafty Canuck that disappears in a haze of maple leafs, and some of the new mechanics like being able to hogtie your live captures. Seriously, I would, but given how popular this game has become, everyone already knows everything they needed to know about it. I don’t have anything I can possibly add to that.

 

Coming This Week

Tuesday September 18, 2012

F1 2012 (Xbox 360, PS3)

Because this racing franchise involves turning right, Formula racing has yet to make much of a dent in the U.S. markets. Yet the F1 game franchise insist on showing up on our shores much like the FIFA franchises do. The last F1 was heavily criticized for its rather unforgiving difficulty. Codemasters attest that this iteration will be easier without sacrificing realism.

Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Collection (Xbox 360, PS3)

Where as Kirby’s Dream Collection: Special Edition digs up Kirby’s past, this anniversary collection digs up the “definitive” edition (read most recent re-release with the most number of suffix/prefix attached to it) of each numbered Street Fighter with Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition, Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition,and the recently released Street Fighter X Tekken. The supplementary materials though look to be more impressive. On top of the obligatory soundtrack, the collection comes with a two disc Blu-Ray documentary, the two anime films for Street Fighter IV, the Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie, the entire Street Fighter animated series, a 64-page art book, a Ryu statue that lights up, a full size, presumably wearable Ryu martial arts belt, and a certificate of authenticity you can proudly hang on the wall right next to your doctorate degree.

Hotel Transilvania (3DS, DS)

Every so often, a licensed game comes out that doesn’t look like it might entirely suck. Take this 2D platformer where you don’t actually play as the hapless human of the movie but as the vampire teenager who can turn into a bat or a ghost (for some reason or another). Trailer-wise it shows some potential to being a nice little romp through the wacky hotel rife with hidden nooks and crannies. But then again, that’s usually not enough though is it?

Harley Pasternak Hollywood Workout (Xbox 360 Kinect, Wii)

Who? Why does every exercise guru think they know how to make you get fit through video games?

Kinect Nat Geo TV (Xbox 360 Kinect)

Ever wish you can use a grizzly bear as a coffee table? Unless you’ve got one all tranqued out in your living room, you should consider doing it virtually in this edutainment game from Natural Geographic. This collection of eight interactive TV episodes will have you learning about the wonders of the natural world without you even knowing it. Creepy.

Kinect Sesame Street TV (Xbox 360 Kinect)

Didn’t we already have a Kinect Sesame Street game? Well this one comes with hundreds of classic Sesame Street clips as well as new interactive ones to teach kids that the TV does in fact talk directly to them. Imagine the repercussions of such lessons.

 

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