May 19 – May 25

Section: 

If last week was almost depressingly devoid of games releases, then apparently the industry is here to say it's sorry with a host of games.

I'm giving the nod for Game of the Week to Transistor. From Supergiant Games, the team that brought us the critical darling (some members of the podcast notwithstanding) Bastion, Transistor launches this week on the PC and PS4. To be honest, I don't know much about the gameplay, but it's a beautiful and creatively styled game to look at, and that's at least got my attention. I hope the final product delivers what the images suggest.

Also this week, Wolfenstein: The New Order comes to pretty much everything you can play video games on. Developed by the relatively unknown Machine Games — founded by former founding members of Starbreeze —when I played this game at PAX East, it very much reminded me of the kind of game that Raven used to make. And that's not just because Raven took a stab at Wolfenstein back in 2009, but something about the pacing of the action, the way the story presented itself, just the aesthetic of it all felt reminiscent. I'm not totally sure if that's a good or bad thing. I always enjoy these kinds of games while I play them, but they don't tend to stick with me very well.

Tropico 5 rounds out the week on PC, coming later for the 360 and PS4. Tropico 4 was largely a derivative disappointment, so I'm interested to see what Kalypso has in store for this version, but I'm calling my interest a cautious optimism at best. Tropico has always felt on the verge of greatness, but like it's missing some fundamental spark of life to pull it all together. It's been four iterations so far, and I just don't feel like they've found it. Fifth try's a charm?

All told, not a bad week to be a gamer, though.

PC
- Wolfenstein: The New Order
- Transistor
- Tropico 5
- Killer Is Dead - Nightmare Edition
- Always Sometimes Monsters
- The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II
- Panzer Tactics HD
- Distant Worlds: Universe
- Project Temporality
- Firefighters 2014

PS4
- Wolfenstein: The New Order
- Transistor
- Sparkle 2

Xbox One
- Wolfenstein: The New Order

Xbox 360
- Wolfenstein: The New Order

PS3
- Wolfenstein: The New Order
- Drakengard 3
- Mugen Souls Z
- R-Type Dimensions

Wii U
- Swords & Soldiers HD
- Squids Odyssey
- Fit Music for Wii U

Vita
- Sparkle 2

3DS
- Mega Man V

Comments

Distant Worlds: Universe was robbed. Coming out on Steam too!!

Transistor is definitely on my radar, but I'm waiting on impressions before I consider buying it.

This week is Tropico 5 for me, thanks to Malor spearheading a 4-pack purchase, which breaks down to just $27 each.

The last good Wolfenstein game spawned Enemy Territory which I obsessively played for a year or so.. not sure this new one will recapture that aspect.

I loved Bastion too much to not buy Transistor. And even if I didn't it would have to be really bad for me not to pick up a game that looks that good.

Elysium wrote:

Also this week, Wolfenstein: The New Order comes to pretty much everything you can play video games on.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/HwaJgVi.jpg)

IHateDRM wrote:

I loved Bastion too much to not buy Transistor. And even if I didn't it would have to be really bad for me not to pick up a game that looks that good.

Same. Bastion was fantastic so I'm definitely picking up Transistor this week.

This is still my frame of reference for Wolfenstein games:
IMAGE(http://www.myabandonware.com/media/captures/B/beyond-castle-wolfenstein/beyond-castle-wolfenstein_6.gif)

garion333 wrote:

Distant Worlds: Universe was robbed. Coming out on Steam too!!

100% agreed! This is an outrage! A travesty of the highest order!

Developed by the relatively unknown Machine Games — founded by former founding members of Starbreeze

I suddenly find myself interested in the new Wolfenstein.

But not before I am interested in Drakengard 3, though no clue when I'll be able to get it. Still haven't been able to get Fable: Anniversary or Earth Defense Force. Tight budget is tight. :/

Will eventually get around to Transistor as well.

Too many games for me at least.
Wolfenstein, Mugen and Drakengard...

Transistor: Preordered
Wolfenstein: Might buy it once I'm done with Transistor
Drakengard 3: Might buy it when it's on sale
RType: Maybe if I see it cheap.
Mugen Souls Z: Err. Maybe in 6-7 years if I see it in a bargain bin for $5
Sparkle 2: [insert long stream of curse words here] After finishing the first one, I'm not likely to buy anything that company ever produces in the future.

Tanglebones wrote:

This is still my frame of reference for Wolfenstein games:
IMAGE(http://www.myabandonware.com/media/captures/B/beyond-castle-wolfenstein/beyond-castle-wolfenstein_6.gif)

Seconded.

Wow. Haven't seen that in AGES!

Very much looking forward to tomorrow's Transistor launch. Kinda surprised there weren't any reviews to read today

doubtingthomas396 wrote:

Wow. Haven't seen that in AGES!

I remember we had an Apple IIe that wouldn't run it for some reason.

Just got home to find my wife has bought me a copy of Wolfenstein for PS4.

Is this the equivalent of when a guy surprises his wife with flowers hoping to get lucky?? If so it's a win-win for me!

learn2speaklion wrote:

Just got home to find my wife has bought me a copy of Wolfenstein for PS4.

Is this the equivalent of when a guy surprises his wife with flowers hoping to get lucky?? If so it's a win-win for me!

My ex did that twice, once when I was unemployed with Fallout New Vegas (because nothing makes a job search easier than Fallout, amirite?) Then later with Arkham City.

I view it as the equivalent of flowers, candy, ice cream, Star Trek swag, etc...

Demosthenes wrote:
learn2speaklion wrote:

Just got home to find my wife has bought me a copy of Wolfenstein for PS4.

Is this the equivalent of when a guy surprises his wife with flowers hoping to get lucky?? If so it's a win-win for me!

My ex did that twice, once when I was unemployed with Fallout New Vegas (because nothing makes a job search easier than Fallout, amirite?) Then later with Arkham City.

I view it as the equivalent of flowers, candy, ice cream, Star Trek swag, etc...

My ex only did that once for me too. My wife... nope. Maybe a water bottle *grumble

Tropico has always felt on the verge of greatness, but like it's missing some fundamental spark of life to pull it all together.

What really made T4 work, in my opinion, was the campaign mode. The sandbox mode was okay, but the campaign had a bunch of interesting challenges, and it finally gave it that spark for me. The earlier ones I liked, but didn't love, but I have something like 140 hours in T4.

For $27, I figured T5 was worth a try.

Tanglebones wrote:

This is still my frame of reference for Wolfenstein games:
IMAGE(http://www.myabandonware.com/media/captures/B/beyond-castle-wolfenstein/beyond-castle-wolfenstein_6.gif)

Mein Leiben!

Malor wrote:

For $27, I figured T5 was worth a try.

and...?

Looking for a decent builder with a good career mode.

Moggy wrote:
Malor wrote:

For $27, I figured T5 was worth a try.

and...?

Looking for a decent builder with a good career mode.

It doesn't release until Friday.

re: R-Type Dimensions
I was almost excited.
If I wanted to play a re-release of a compilation of R-Type I & II on my PS3, I'll put in my PS1 R-Types disc thank you. (Actually I'd probably put in R-Type Delta instead cause I haven't beat it yet)

Had I the budget for it, given the sheer awesomeness that was NIER, I would be all over Drakengard 3. Sadly, I'll have to wait until later in the year.