July 9 – July 13

Section: 

Nobody ever says, "I just can not wait until all the big games of mid-July come out." There is a good reason for this; one which you cannot help but naturally intuit when you look at this week's release list.

I do remember a time, and maybe it was just for me, when the launch of the annual edition of NCAA Football was a big enough deal. The past few years have been a little more hit-and-miss for me, but there is something about the launch of NCAA that puts my mind back into a football place. I start to anticipate the first college games of the year, which always seem to spring up out of nowhere on some random Thursday night with one of last year's powerhouse teams playing some community college from South Dakota.

I realize that in talking about what appeals to me about the release of NCAA Football, I am not actually talking about playing the game itself. The truth is I usually get a good ten or fifteen hours of joy out of the actual game and then I move on pretty quickly to something else. One or two deep passes to some All-American wide receiver, and I've pretty much got the picture, which is why NCAA Football 13 isn't actually my game of the week.

No, I'm pegging Quantum Conundrum's release on the Xbox and PS3 as the big item to which you should pay your attention and your greenbacks. Having been released on the PC for a couple of weeks now, the game is equal parts charming and mind-bendy. Definitely a more puzzling challenge than its inspirational parent Portal, Quantum Conundrum retains the same kind of a-ha, genius moments that made Portal such a treat. If you haven't played the PC version, it's hard to go wrong with Quantum Conundrum.

PC
- The Sims 3 Diesel Stuff
- Babel Rising (download)

Xbox 360
- Ice Age: Continental Drift - Arctic Games
- NCAA Football 13
- Quantum Conundrum (XBLA)
- Dungeon Fighter Live: Fall Of Hendon Myre (XBLA)

PS3
- NCAA Football 13
- Summer Stars 2012
- Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition (PSN)
- Mickey Mania (PSone Classic)
- Quantum Conundrum (PSN)
- Rainbow Moon (PSN)

Wii
- Ice Age: Continental Drift - Arctic Games
- Summer Stars 2012

3DS
- Ice Age: Continental Drift - Arctic Games
- Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure
- Johnny Kung Fu (eShop)

DS
- Ice Age: Continental Drift - Arctic Games

Comments

I really enjoyed the demo for Rhythm Thief on 3DS. Unfortunately, it's releasing right after Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, so I don't know how many people are going to be looking for a new rhythm game so soon.

Elysium wrote:

Nobody ever says, "I just can not wait until all the big games of mid-July come out."

Except this year, with Theatrhythm, Quantum Conundrum and Kingdom Hearts 3DS all dropping in July. Or maybe that's just me!

I've been playing through QC with my 7-year-old daughter. She thinks the game itself is a hoot and is enjoying the together time with her Dad. I agree on both counts.

I also let her handle the WASD/mouse for a while. So it's teaching her useful life skills!

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I really enjoyed the demo for Rhythm Thief on 3DS. Unfortunately, it's releasing right after Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, so I don't know how many people are going to be looking for a new rhythm game so soon.

I am always looking for all the rhythm games, so I'm totally fine with this! Also I imagine the appeal of Theatrhythm is greatly reduced if you've never played any of the main series. Rhythm Thief looks like it should be entertaining for everyone.

Diesel!

I unabashedly love this time of year, because I have time to attack the Pile of Shame without worrying about keeping up with the new hotness. Bless you, marketing plans.

Demyx wrote:
Elysium wrote:

Nobody ever says, "I just can not wait until all the big games of mid-July come out."

Except this year, with Theatrhythm, Quantum Conundrum and Kingdom Hearts 3DS all dropping in July. Or maybe that's just me!

And then The Last Story on July 31st.

Demyx wrote:
Elysium wrote:

Nobody ever says, "I just can not wait until all the big games of mid-July come out."

Except this year, with Theatrhythm, Quantum Conundrum and Kingdom Hearts 3DS all dropping in July. Or maybe that's just me!

Good month for Square-Enix!

Nothing for me this week unless Johnny Kung Fu is a remake of Kung Fu for the NES. Or Rainbow Moon gets some good post-release word of mouth.

I had a ton of fun with NCAA 11 with some fellow Goodjers. I fell off with NCAA 12 because of some real life stuff, but I might just jump back in.

Since it is the special Hyper Arcade Edition of Frogger on PSn, I'm intrigued.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
Demyx wrote:
Elysium wrote:

Nobody ever says, "I just can not wait until all the big games of mid-July come out."

Except this year, with Theatrhythm, Quantum Conundrum and Kingdom Hearts 3DS all dropping in July. Or maybe that's just me!

And then The Last Story on July 31st.

Yup. This summer is seeing a surprising list of releases for me.

Quantum Conundrum is a might buy for me. Rainbow Moon is a must buy.

kazriko wrote:

Quantum Conundrum is a might buy for me. Rainbow Moon is a must buy.

I think that Rainbow Moon is a buy for me too.

I'm interested in Babel Rising. I'm interested in just about anything with half a theological implication to it.

wordsmythe wrote:

I'm interested in Babel Rising. I'm interested in just about anything with half a theological implication to it.

Have you played El Shaddai? It's really quite interesting. It uses theology more as a backdrop to a personal story of family and redemption, but I loved it.

Also, what's with all the rhythm games lately? Not complaining, they just seem to all be hitting at once.

Minarchist wrote:

Have you played El Shaddai? It's really quite interesting. It uses theology more as a backdrop to a personal story of family and redemption, but I loved it.

I think the same can be said about Binding of Isaac.

Also, what's with all the rhythm games lately? Not complaining, they just seem to all be hitting at once.

Bows & arrows are so two months ago.

Well I'm playing football. GotW or not, I'm still excited about it. I think it's all those years I had a Gamecube only or a Wii only and didn't get access to it. Now I'm overloading on the PS3 fun the last couple of years.

I was so perplexed by the name "Diesel Stuff" that I had to look it up.

WTF, it's a fashion expansion?

Quintin_Stone wrote:

I was so perplexed by the name "Diesel Stuff" that I had to look it up.

WTF, it's a fashion expansion?

It's like Katamari Damacy but with clothes. Or super models.

Quintin_Stone wrote:

I was so perplexed by the name "Diesel Stuff" that I had to look it up.

WTF, it's a fashion expansion?

Diesel the brand? Didn't they make straight-leg jeans that I could wear with my Airwalks?

Minarchist wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:

I'm interested in Babel Rising. I'm interested in just about anything with half a theological implication to it.

Have you played El Shaddai? It's really quite interesting. It uses theology more as a backdrop to a personal story of family and redemption, but I loved it.

I started off interested, but then it seemed to become as untethered from ... well, everything, as Evangelion. Also, I have to be in a very specific and rare mood to countenance that style of brawly gameplay.

Quintin_Stone wrote:

WTF, it's a fashion expansion?

They also did an H&M "stuff pack" for the Sims 2.

Quintin_Stone wrote:

WTF, it's a fashion expansion?

Horse Armor, or Hattes?

wordsmythe wrote:
Quintin_Stone wrote:

I was so perplexed by the name "Diesel Stuff" that I had to look it up.

WTF, it's a fashion expansion?

Diesel the brand? Didn't they make straight-leg jeans that I could wear with my Airwalks?

I guess? I've never heard of it before now.

mrtomaytohead wrote:
Quintin_Stone wrote:

WTF, it's a fashion expansion?

Horse Armor, or Hattes?

A little of both, I think.

Rainbow Moon is perhaps the worst title for a strategy RPG ever. It should switch names with Record of Agarest War.

I disagree. I think all SRPGs should have names that could double as My Little Ponies.

In fact, I'm going to start calling Final Fantasy Tactics "Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight Sparkle was probably a FF game for the Wii.

Demyx wrote:

In fact, I'm going to start calling Final Fantasy Tactics "Twilight Sparkle."

Vampire Brony?

It says something about the dearth of interesting titles this week that Mickey Mania is the only one that stands out for me...

brokenclavicle wrote:

It says something about the dearth of interesting titles this week that Mickey Mania is the only one that stands out for me...

I'm curious about Quantum Conundrum on XBLA. I actually thought it was a PC exclusive. Basically nothing else looks interesting though.