November 14 - November 18

Section: 

I have rimmed just so many skies this past weekend, that I'm pretty sure I've committed a felony in at least five bible-belt states. It is, frankly, hard to talk about more new releases, because I finally feel as though I could spend an entire year just playing the games I have right now. Battlefield 3, which as of this time last week was the core of my entertainment attention, hasn't been fired up in days. Uncharted 3 and Arkham City are basically paperweights right now. Oh, and Deus Ex, which I completed twice back in August and September, has new DLC out that I haven't even thought about playing.

This week provides no respite though. I'm certain there are those of you already penning this week's stanza of the epic poem "meh, I'll buy all these stupid sequels when they're a quarter," and that's nice. I'll be busy over here mirthfully reveling in all the industry seems to offer like a toddler splashing in a warm bath.

And, yes, even though I have no time for it, I have a game that I can still manage to be excited for this week. Who knows when I'll actually find time to play my Game of the Week in any kind of depth. Probably some time in March. Of 2013.

For me, this week's game is Saint's Row 3. In a post that is built a little bit around the theme of unrestrained mirthfulness and reckless behavior, this choice fits right in. Everything about this game seems to be predicated not on decisions about narrative flow, realism or marketable bullet points. No, this seems much more like a game that just wants to have some senseless fun. If I can get a sandbox to play in that's as fun as something like Just Cause 2, then count me stoked.

Also, before you ask, since Zelda releases this coming Sunday, I am considering part of next week's list.

PC
- Grotesque Tactics 2: Dungeons & Donuts (download)
- Jurassic Park: The Game (download)
- Minecraft
- Need for Speed: The Run
- Real Warfare 2: Northern Crusades (download)
- Saints Row: The Third
- Sideway: New York (download)

Xbox 360
- Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
- Assassin's Creed Revelations
- Bejeweled 3
- DreamWorks Super Star Kartz
- Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
- Hole in the Wall
- Jurassic Park: The Game
- Kinect Disneyland Adventures
- Kung Fu High Impact
- L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition
- Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat
- Need for Speed: The Run
- Rayman Origins
- Saints Row: The Third
- uDraw Gametablet with uDraw Studio: Instant Artist
- udraw Pictionary: Ultimate Edition
- Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
- Victorious: Time to Shine
- Yoostar on MTV

PS3
- Assassin's Creed Revelations
- Bejeweled 3
- Carnival Island
- DreamWorks Super Star Kartz
- Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends
- Eyepet & Friends
- Jurassic Park: The Game (PSN)
- L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition
- Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat
- Medieval Moves: Deadmund's Quest
- Need for Speed: The Run
- Plants vs. Zombies
- Rayman Origins
- Saints Row: The Third
- uDraw Gametablet with uDraw Studio: Instant Artist
- udraw Pictionary: Ultimate Edition
- Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
- Vanguard Bandits (PSN)

Wii
- ABBA: You Can Dance
- Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
- DreamWorks Super Star Kartz
- Jimmie Johnson's Anything With An Engine
- Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics
- Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat
- Need for Speed: The Run
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2012
- Rayman Origins
- Zumba Fitness 2

Nintendo 3DS
- Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy
- Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic
- DreamWorks Super Star Kartz
- Escape Trick: Convenience Store (eShop - $5)
- Imagine: Fashion Designer
- Play & Learn Chinese (eShop - $8)
- Shinobi

Nintendo DS
- Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
- Bejeweled 3
- Beyblade: Metal Masters
- DreamWorks Super Star Kartz
- Escape Trick: Convenience Store (DSiWare - $5)
- Fossil Fighters: Champions
- Need for Speed: The Run
- Play & Learn Chinese (DSiWare - $8)
- Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut

Comments

OK, but I have to ask: wouldn't Zelda be on that list, if Mario 3D land was on last weeks list? Where's the accountability?!? Who's in charge here?

Do you really want to see Zelda lose out to Saint's Row for Game of the Week, because with me in charge it just might have happened.

This is why we can't have nice things.

It would have been epic if you'd just titled this 'Skyrim some more' and then sat back to watch the outraged howling.

I'm interested in Shinobi and, um, wait, Minecraft gets released this week? Does this mean that after a year of getting people to pay for the honor of beta testing, the thing is getting a real release?

Elysium wrote:

Do you really want to see Zelda lose out to Saint's Row for Game of the Week, because with me in charge it just might have happened.

Instead it'll lose out to something else, right?

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I'm interested in Shinobi and, um, wait, Minecraft gets released this week? Does this mean that after a year of getting people to pay for the honor of beta testing, the thing is getting a real release?

Booo. Hissss. Stop clockin.

It's been more like two years anyway.

I thought Shinobi was pushed back to 2012 for poor hardware sales? Or was that rescinded?

Anyways, SR3 this week, Zelda next week and then I'm basically done for the year.

shoptroll wrote:

I thought Shinobi was pushed back to 2012 for poor hardware sales? Or was that rescinded?

It was pushed back to this month from an original release date in September. Mega Man Legends 3D was canceled.

Zelda midnight Sat night!

These articles being published on Mondays it seems like the start of the week would be Monday... but whatever.

Next Mon I'll be too busy playing Zelda to read the article anyway.

SAINTS ROW 3!

Repeat that several thousand times. In bigger font. With parades and explosions.

I don't think I've ever had this level of anticipation for a game in my entire life.

I'm a little surprised Assassin's Creed doesn't at least get, like, an honorable mention or something.

Rayman Origins is getting rave reviews for it's beautiful artistry, great level design and spot on controls. I honestly am not sure how to feel as I have barely ever really enjoyed platformers as much as Nintendo ones.

Halo: Anniversary edition, Assassin's Creed, and Rayman are all coming home to my house tomorrow.

(Says the chick who is so far behind she didn't even get to start Arkham City until last night. Sigh.)

ClockworkHouse wrote:

It was pushed back to this month from an original release date in September. Mega Man Legends 3D was canceled.

Ah, thanks for clarifying. I knew it was pushed back, I just thought until early 2012.

Saint's Row is getting the insta-buy while Assassin's Creed and Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 are getting kicked to the Christmas list.

That said though, I think Skyrim might stop me from going to the Best Buy midnight opening for the purchase of said copy of Saint's Row tonight.

I've got a date with Saints Row early next year. It's not a price thing, it's a time thing. Rayman is probably on my daughter's Christmas list (well, it will be when I show her a video).

Mario 3D isn't out until Friday in Europe. It will be mine on Friday, then.

Assassin's Creed for me, excited to see how they close out Ezio's story. Looking forward to Zelda after that and then starting Skyrim, ridiculous amount of gaming hours coming up!

I'm planning on picking up Saints Row 3. It should be a good balance to Dark Souls, which I just picked up.

And then NO MORE!! I must commit to my holiday moratorium.

mrtomaytohead wrote:

Rayman Origins is getting rave reviews for it's beautiful artistry, great level design and spot on controls. I honestly am not sure how to feel as I have barely ever really enjoyed platformers as much as Nintendo ones.

I remember Rayman 2 as my favorite and most enjoyable platformer I've ever played. It had unmatched controls for its time and it was really funny and fun.

I would not be surprised if Rayman Origins is as good as they say

Saints Row 3 was a definite buy for me... and wow, it's just plain ass-kicking fun. Now the big dilemma is which icon to click on, SR3 or Skyrim.

Like everything else in my life this fall, the release schedule seems like a touch too much.

Needless to say, it's a rockin' problem to have.

Well crap.

Anyone releasing some form of cloning device or time travel widget? I seem to be running out of hours..

Johnvanjim wrote:

Well crap.

Anyone releasing some form of cloning device or time travel widget? I seem to be running out of hours..

I hear plenty of employers are still handing out pink slips.

Rayman Origins for me this week, something the whole family can play together. Would love to pick up Saint's Row, but it will just have to wait till next year, my plate is full and my wallet empty.

I have rimmed just so many skies this past weekend, that I'm pretty sure I've committed a felony in at least five bible-belt states.

I just can't let this gem pass unacknowledged. Isn't this a line from Shakespeare or something?

Rayman Origins is the only title that really stands out of the list, for me.

wordsmythe wrote:

Like everything else in my life this fall, the release schedule seems like a touch too much.

Needless to say, it's a rockin' problem to have.

It needs to end. I don't have the willpower to not buy games with all these sales, and I certainly don't have the time to play them!

Guys, it's not like they rot or something, and most of these are strong single-player experiences. Buy them as you can afford them, and they will be waiting for you when you have time.

And someday, when you're retired or dead, you'll have time to play them all.

Around the same moment, I'll have enough time to finally catch up with my RSS feeds.