Good morning!
We’ve spent quite a long while discussing beautiful little indie games, as well as some real chaff. This week, we get to focus on some major releases and redistributions. I am taking some time off my Tochlight II campaign to write up this feature only reluctantly, but there are some other gems in this short release list. Let’s get into them.
F1 2012
A game which needs no introduction from Codemasters, a development house which does racing games right. This is a top-notch, AAA realistic racer which fans of F1 should feel at home with.
Experience the next generation in weather system technology where storm fronts move across the circuits, soaking specific areas of the track, as well as racing around the all-new Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, home of the 2012 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. Two new quick fire game options: Season Challenge, a complete Career in just 10 races, and Champions Mode Scenarios, where you test your skills against the very best, complete an exciting line up of gaming options which also includes a 5 year Career, Co-op Championship, 16 Player Multiplayer & Time Attack Scenarios. F1 2012 Feel it!
Borderlands 2
Our blockbuster for the week, Borderlands 2, is the FPS RPG which many people have been waiting for. If you don’t know what Bordlerlands is, I suggest you 1) check out the trailer and 2) pick up either of the Borderlands titles on your platform of choice. I’ll embed the trailer at the bottom of this article, so read on.
A new era of shoot and loot is about to begin. Play as one of four new vault hunters facing off against a massive new world of creatures, psychos and the evil mastermind, Handsome Jack. Make new friends, arm them with a bazillion weapons and fight alongside them in 4 player co-op on a relentless quest for revenge and redemption across the undiscovered and unpredictable living planet.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD
I sank countless hours into this game on the PS1, and I don’t regret a thing. This game brought back the same feelings as playing Skate or Die on my NES during all-night Pixie Stix sessions with my buddies. I recommend this game if you didn’t get a chance to play the series when it was popular.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD takes the best elements of the classic THPS games and gives them a fresh update to create an all new skateboarding experience for PC. The gameplay in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD focuses on the satisfaction of linking sick tricks for maximum points. Combining sharp visuals with the best controls ever in a Tony Hawk game, the feel is cutting edge yet timeless.
Jet Set Radio
This re-release of the legendary DreamCast skate-based graffiti game is just rad. I still have this game on the DreamCast, so I won’t be picking up a copy, but it’s worth checking out if even just for the music.
Tag, grind, and trick to the beat in SEGA’s hit game Jet Set Radio!
Fight for control of Tokyo-to, mark your turf with graffiti, tag walls, billboards, and even rival gang members! Perform tricks and flips on magnetically driven in-line skates, but watch out for the local police force!
Dream Pinball 3D
It must be said: I’m a big fan of pinball. I don’t get to play the actual tables much since I’m not out at bars nearly as much as I’d like, but virtual tables are the next best thing.
No room for a pinball machine? So what! With DREAM PINBALL 3D you can transform your PC or console into 6 different, multilevel, 3D pinball machines! Clever gameplay, plus balls made of different materials – and each material has special ballistic properties that affect how those balls roll! A cutting edge engine gets the best out of this classic game’s optics and acoustics, including state-of-art particle technology, HDR and multiplayer 3D sound – and you get true pinball feeling, with a visible tilt function and the fantastic “Motion Blur” effect!
Torchlight II
This is my fucking game.
Torchlight II captures all the flavor and excitement of the original game – while expanding the world and adding the features players wanted most, including online and LAN co-op multiplayer. Torchlight II is fast, fun, and filled to the brim with action and loot. Adventure solo or online with your friends!
The Testament of Sherlock Holmes
This title allows you to take on the role of the world’s most famous detective and explore the gritty streets of turn-of-the-century London. “Take this down, Watson.”
Suspected in a case involving theft, fraud and double-crossing, Sherlock Holmes will undergo a descent into hell in what will doubtlessly become one of his most thrilling cases yet. You will find all the elements of a grand investigation: examine crime scenes, find the clues, follow the trails, interrogate suspects and unveil the mystery behind a great adventure, led by a breath-taking story full of twists!
Train Simulator 2013
The Train Simulator games are some of the higher quality titles from the often very, very bad simulator games available. Seriously, have you seen gameplay footage of Garbage Truck Simulator?
The best just got even better! RailSimulator.com pushes the boundaries of simulation once again with Train Simulator 2013, the latest addition to the multi-award winning series. Feel the power as you drive some of the world’s mightiest machines on railroads across the globe.
And that’s it! Go find your time-sink.. And leave me a comment or two, I’m lonely. As promised, here’s the Borderlands 2 launch trailer.
Wait, they made “Garbage Truck Simulator”? That seems like more of a punishment than a game. “You failed your math test Billy? You know what that means. 2 hours of garbage truck simulator, while you think about what you’ve done.”