May 12 – May 18

Section: 

Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but this week just looks like a hot mess to me. Sure, not every week can bring a gleaming gem for the gaming world to rally around, but at least most weeks I find something new I can muster at least a passing enthusiasm in.

So, instead I'll highlight something old. No, not Minecraft on the PS3.

I'll give this week's spotlight to Battleblock Theater's move to Steam. Coming from its origins on Xbox Live, Battleblock Theater was highly praised for being a tricky but worthwhile platformer from the guys responsible for Alien Hominid and Castle Crashers. The updated PC version adds a few bells and whistles, including a level designer and improved textures, but largely it sounds like the same game.

Beyond that, let's just chalk this up to a quiet week before games like Wolfenstein, Transistor and Watch Dogs hit later this month.

PC
- Battleblock Theater
- The Last Tinker: City of Colors
- Chronology (download)
- Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Complete Edition
- Memento Mori 2
- Fearless Fantasy
- Orc Attack: Flatulent Rebellion

Xbox One
- Super TIME Force

Xbox 360
- Super TIME Force

PS3
- Minecraft: PlayStation 3 Edition

Wii U
- Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails

Vita
- Borderlands 2
- Soul Sacrifice Delta

3DS
- Moon Chronicles - Episode 1
- Mega Man IV (Game Boy)

Comments

Y'know, I still haven't gotten around to the first Memento Mori (classic point-and-click adventure game), but I heard pretty good things about it. Maybe now I'll have some motivation to do so.

Minecraft has been out on PS3 for months. Is that an update or something?

Bast wrote:

Minecraft has been out on PS3 for months. Is that an update or something?

Retail release.

Dynasty Warriors on PC sounds pretty cool tbh, if only because we're seeing more Japanese games on the platform.

I played Battleblock Theater on the 360 and it is one of the funniest, fun-est games I've ever played, with a fantastic ending that challenges the original Portal's for Best Credit Song. In fact, I played it some last night — every once in a while my seven year-old daughter wants to play again. One correction: the console version had a level designer as well.

I've been looking forward to Scram Kitty on the Wii U. It's an indie bullet hell platformer thing that looks neat in preview vidoes. Unfortunately, given its name and the platform it's releasing on, I imagine most people assume it's a bit of shovelware about a cartoon cat on a train.

Borderlands 2...

It's better on the Vita.

WATCH_DOGS is almost here.

I don't tend to get excited about new releases. I'm a little alarmed at myself for being excited. Still trying to figure out what platform to get it on. A last-gen console? PC? Is this a potential system-seller for me, because it's set in Chicago?

Orc Attack: Flatulent Rebellion was robbed!

wordsmythe wrote:

WATCH_DOGS is almost here.

I don't tend to get excited about new releases. I'm a little alarmed at myself for being excited. Still trying to figure out what platform to get it on. A last-gen console? PC? Is this a potential system-seller for me, because it's set in Chicago?

WiiU, then.

And I had no idea Battleblock was coming to PC. I finally get to check it out.

MeatMan wrote:

Orc Attack: Flatulent Rebellion was robbed!

How are there still Orcs in the world? I thought they were wiped out in the genocide waged by Elysium in 2012.

lostlobster wrote:

I played Battleblock Theater on the 360 and it is one of the funniest, fun-est games I've ever played, with a fantastic ending that challenges the original Portal's for Best Credit Song. In fact, I played it some last night — every once in a while my seven year-old daughter wants to play again. One correction: the console version had a level designer as well.

It was really really good on the 360 but no one seemed to care. Hopefully it gets some attention through Steam.

Everything I saw about Battleblock Theater for awhile suggested that it was some kind of multiplayer-only competitive platformer, so I stopped paying attention to it. Is that not the case?

ClockworkHouse wrote:

Everything I saw about Battleblock Theater for awhile suggested that it was some kind of multiplayer-only competitive platformer, so I stopped paying attention to it. Is that not the case?

It's a puzzle platformer with excellent music and great humor. It's a great single player game or you can play "co-optional" like the recent Mario bros. games where you can work together to reach secrets or beat the crap out of each other for mindless amusement. There's some arena game modes for online that I've never bothered with.

S0LIDARITY wrote:
lostlobster wrote:

I played Battleblock Theater on the 360 and it is one of the funniest, fun-est games I've ever played, with a fantastic ending that challenges the original Portal's for Best Credit Song. In fact, I played it some last night — every once in a while my seven year-old daughter wants to play again. One correction: the console version had a level designer as well.

It was really really good on the 360 but no one seemed to care. Hopefully it gets some attention through Steam.

Is it still enjoyable single player? Like Clock, I thought it was a competitive multiplayer game.

garion333 wrote:
Bast wrote:

Minecraft has been out on PS3 for months. Is that an update or something?

Retail release.

Wait, so how was the version I almost bought back a few months ago not a retail release? I downloaded the demo to see if my daughter would like it, but I stayed my hand because it was $20, which is past the "I'm gonna think REAL hard about buying this" threshold for a downloadable title on a dying console.

Marketing is confusing.

doubtingthomas396 wrote:
garion333 wrote:
Bast wrote:

Minecraft has been out on PS3 for months. Is that an update or something?

Retail release.

Wait, so how was the version I almost bought back a few months ago not a retail release? I downloaded the demo to see if my daughter would like it, but I stayed my hand because it was $20, which is past the "I'm gonna think REAL hard about buying this" threshold for a downloadable title on a dying console.

Marketing is confusing.

It is releasing at brick and mortar stores, on disk.

BNice wrote:
S0LIDARITY wrote:
lostlobster wrote:

I played Battleblock Theater on the 360 and it is one of the funniest, fun-est games I've ever played, with a fantastic ending that challenges the original Portal's for Best Credit Song. In fact, I played it some last night — every once in a while my seven year-old daughter wants to play again. One correction: the console version had a level designer as well.

It was really really good on the 360 but no one seemed to care. Hopefully it gets some attention through Steam.

Is it still enjoyable single player? Like Clock, I thought it was a competitive multiplayer game.

It has an very entertaining single-player campaign. There's a community of players that also introduce single-player levels created with the level editor. The community levels are often crazily difficult.

The co-op and multiplayer is thoroughly enjoyable but secondary to my enjoyment.

mrtomaytohead wrote:
doubtingthomas396 wrote:
garion333 wrote:
Bast wrote:

Minecraft has been out on PS3 for months. Is that an update or something?

Retail release.

Wait, so how was the version I almost bought back a few months ago not a retail release? I downloaded the demo to see if my daughter would like it, but I stayed my hand because it was $20, which is past the "I'm gonna think REAL hard about buying this" threshold for a downloadable title on a dying console.

Marketing is confusing.

It is releasing at brick and mortar stores, on disk.

Oh...

Well that makes sense then.

S0LIDARITY wrote:
BNice wrote:
S0LIDARITY wrote:
lostlobster wrote:

I played Battleblock Theater on the 360 and it is one of the funniest, fun-est games I've ever played, with a fantastic ending that challenges the original Portal's for Best Credit Song. In fact, I played it some last night — every once in a while my seven year-old daughter wants to play again. One correction: the console version had a level designer as well.

It was really really good on the 360 but no one seemed to care. Hopefully it gets some attention through Steam.

Is it still enjoyable single player? Like Clock, I thought it was a competitive multiplayer game.

It has an very entertaining single-player campaign. There's a community of players that also introduce single-player levels created with the level editor. The community levels are often crazily difficult.

The co-op and multiplayer is thoroughly enjoyable but secondary to my enjoyment.

I only played co-op with my daughter. The co-op side-games were great as well. It never occurred to me before, but I think I have to play the whole game solo now.

lostlobster wrote:
S0LIDARITY wrote:
BNice wrote:
S0LIDARITY wrote:
lostlobster wrote:

I played Battleblock Theater on the 360 and it is one of the funniest, fun-est games I've ever played, with a fantastic ending that challenges the original Portal's for Best Credit Song. In fact, I played it some last night — every once in a while my seven year-old daughter wants to play again. One correction: the console version had a level designer as well.

It was really really good on the 360 but no one seemed to care. Hopefully it gets some attention through Steam.

Is it still enjoyable single player? Like Clock, I thought it was a competitive multiplayer game.

It has an very entertaining single-player campaign. There's a community of players that also introduce single-player levels created with the level editor. The community levels are often crazily difficult.

The co-op and multiplayer is thoroughly enjoyable but secondary to my enjoyment.

I only played co-op with my daughter. The co-op side-games were great as well. It never occurred to me before, but I think I have to play the whole game solo now.

Great family coop with my 9 year old boy and my 7 year old daughter. We can play together and laugh maniacally passing up the controllers, great level design and replayability. And the announcer will make you laugh when you less expected. For 15 bucks on the xbox live arcade it was a steal considering the time spend and we still fire it up at least once a month for the laughs.

Sands forgot one (ok... there's a lot that comes out each week, but this is one I've been playing so...)

DreadOut released Thursday on Steam. Horror time!