It’s the holiday season, and that can mean only one thing: a glut of video games as producers hurry to get them out in time for the shoppers. What did you think I was going to say?
We’re taking a look at the video games coming out this month to let you know what you should be excited for, what you should pass on, and what you might have missed last month.
Games to be hyped about:
The Last Guardian (PS4)
This game was announced in February of 2007. After 10 years in development, it’s finally here. The third installment from Team ICO, this game is a spiritual successor to their previous games, ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. These games are both known for their soundtrack, beauty, and sense of scale, and The Last Guardian looks to be trying to accomplish the same thing. But with a cute giant puppy bird to carry you around instead of Aggro, the noblest of steeds.
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (PS3, PS4, XBOX 360, XBOX ONE, Windows PC, MacOS, Android, iOS)
I know. A lot of people are over the Walking Dead. But Telltale has been absolutely killing it with this series. In addition to looking great aesthetically, this continues the story of Clementine who I’ve personally grown very attached to. The first two seasons were fantastic, and since this doesn’t come out until the 20th, that gives you plenty of time to go play those and catch up. Especially since the very first episode is free!
Games to Skip:
Honestly, December is always a pretty good time of year for video games. If you had to skip something, I’d suggest:
Dead Rising 4 (Timed exclusive XBOX ONE, Windows PC)
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I never really cared for this series, but I know a lot of people love it. However, even worse is that they’ve taken out the timer that was standard in these games, so that “players don’t feel like they’re under the gun”. Well, you are under the gun. It’s a zombie apocalypse. If anything calls for a little hustle, I feel like that’s it. This departure from their classic features means it gets a skip from me.
Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS (Nintendo 3DS)
As a fan of the mustachioed plumber since birth, it pains me to say skip this one. And if you ONLY have a 3DS, fine, it’s probably worth picking up. But the game looks and plays amazing on the WiiU, so if you can get it on there, I’d suggest that. That said, there’s enough quality on the 3DS right now that I’d suggest getting another game before this. It’s more of a “soft” skip on this entry.
You Might Have Missed:
Pokemon Sun/Moon (Nintendo 3DS)
It flew pretty under the radar, so you’ve probably never heard of Pokemon. That said, this is single strongest entry in the series since Blue/Red. There’s an actual story that I truly enjoyed, memorable characters, the monster’s designs are excellent… the biggest downside to me was that you couldn’t use the d-pad for navigation, only the joystick. But that is a very small gripe for a very good game. Fun for kids and kids at heart... prepare to defend your choice of starter until the day you die.
Final Fantasy XV (XBOX ONE, PS4)
Another game 10 years in the making, Final Fantasy XV came out at the end of November. Even though I don’t love this series personally (always been more of a Final Fantasy Tactics guy), there’s no denying it look gorgeous and innovative for the series. Especially in terms of the protagonists looking like a boy band.
That's it for this month. Look forward to January's releases, which are sure to be garbage after the holidays!
