What Games To Consider (March 25th – March 29th)

Welcome to We Got This Covered’s gaming couch. Come in, sit down and relax as we take you through the video game releases clogging up the calendar over the next seven days. It’s a beautiful tragedy being a gamer these days, as I’m sure you, like me, have run into the old choose-between-this-and-this predicament when scouting for games. It’s frustrating and, in a perfect world, a decision no gamer should have to make. But fear not joystick junkie! Each week our handy guide will condense and report from the four corners of the industry to help you select what to invest your hard earned cash in and maybe even consider a few hidden gems along the way. On to what really matters: the games! Playstation 3 March 26th: – Bioshock Infinite (Multi-Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC.) – Army Of Two: The Devil’s Cartel (Multi-Platform: PS3, Xbox 360) – Terraria (Multi-Platform: PS3, Xbox 360)* *This game will be released on Xbox LIVE March 27th. – Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 (Multi-Platform: PS3, Xbox 360) *EU release on March 28th. March 27th: – Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time (Exclusive: PS3 + PS Vita) March 28th: – Ghost Recon Trilogy (Multi-Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC)* *This game will be available on PC at a later date Bioshock Infinite is casting the biggest shadow this week. The third instalment in the popular FPS franchise is a quasi-prequel that takes place in 1912, long before the events in everyone’s favourite underwater metropolis: Rapture. Ken Levine and his team at Irrational Games were lauded with critical acclaim for the first two games and, by the looks of things, Infinite doesn’t plan on disappointing the established fanbase. You play as the heroic Booker Dewitt tasked with protecting an unusual girl named Elizabeth in Columbia – a retro and stylised sky city. As the story progresses, we are told, your relationship with the AI-controlled Elizabeth will become much more dynamic as secrets are unveiled. Sounds exciting! Gathering a fantastic 9.4 over on IGN, Bioshock Infiniteis set to be the biggest release of 2013 thus far – by quite a margin, mind you. Whether you’re a series newcomer or avid fan, this game promises unique game play mechanics and an immersive world to explore. Would you kindly consider picking it up on Tuesday? Let us know in the comments. With all the being said, Bioshock Infinite isn’t the only major retail release gracing the high street this Tuesday. From EA Montreal and Visceral Games comes the third iteration in the Army of Two franchise – following Army of Two and Army of Two: The 40th Day, respectively. This new instalment will focus on two fresh characters named Alpha and Bravo while maintaining the amiable co-op dynamic that made the originals a riotous and enjoyable experience. Rios and Salem, the T.W.O. agents from the first games, are not absent from the narrative, playing two top executives that act as grizzled veterans for our new-fangled duo. At the time of writing, the game hasn’t been released to critics, therefore latching reviews down under a pesky embargo. Nevertheless, expect a deep customisation system and fast-paced game play with Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel utilising EA’s impressive Frostbite engine. Moving away from the blockbuster releases, Tuesday will also herald the publication of 505 Games' new title Terraria – on PS3, at least. Though the game has existed on Steam for over a year now, the studio have been focusing on bringing the project to consoles with a wealth of new content – including maps, weapons and even multiplayer functionality. The game itself is Minecraft-esque sidescroller with an emphasis on exploration and crafting. With a cute, Lego like aesthetic, Re-Logic’s game looks to be a fun yet rewarding experience, and hey, if defending your house from zombies and flying eyeballs sounds up your street, then check out Terraria on the Playstation Network come Tuesday and Xbox Live on Wednesday! Also coming out this the week, we have the multi-platform release of Tiger Woods PGA 14, the latest in EA’s annualised sport simulator. While some gamers may expect a simple par of the course release (sorry, I had to), EA have added a plethora of new features into the new iteration to prevent the game from going stale. The LPGA career mode will allow players to compete against the best women in the business, and will include the Kraft Nabisco Championship as a playable tournament. The studio has also gone to the extent of licensing the use of the four major golf championships across the world, including The Masters and The U.S. Open, making this the most authentic, realistic Tiger Woods game yet. In combining a rich archive of golf history with some fresh features, Tiger Woods PGA 14 looks set to entice new players to the series while also appealing to long standing fans. Hell, you can even play golf in the dark for the first time. Four! Aside from Levine’s opus clogging up the week, come Wednesday, Sanzura Games are finally releasing Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. This is the fourth title in the animated spy series following a seven year hiatus, and it looks to be the most ambitious yet. After picking up the franchise from Sucker Punch, Sanzura have put ample effort into retaining Sly’s fidelity. Early reviews have hailed the nuanced environments and rounded characters, with minor niggles directed at the game’s mechanics. Still, featuring a time traversing story – jumping from the Wild West to medieval England, to name just a few – and with the familiar stealth/exploration styled aesthetic, Thieves in Time is worth a look in for Playstation owners. Besides, buy it on the PS3 and you’ll even get a free Vita copy of the game via the cross-buy feature. Lastly, why not start the weekend early with a blast from the past? On Thursday, Ubisoft are unveiling a nugget of nostalgia with their collection of Ghost Recon games. The good-valued trilogy will include Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 and Ghost Recon: Future Solider. The bundle will also come packed with all the games’ respective downloadable content. Neat! Price Breakdown based on RRP's in US & UK: Bioshock Infinite - $59.99 (£37.97) Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel - $59.99 (£40.00) Terraria - $14.99 (£11.99) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 - $59.99 (£49.99) Sly Cooper Thieves in Time - $39.99 (£39.97)* Cross-buy available with PS3 copy. Ghost Recon: Trilogy - $24.99 (£16.40) Star recommendation: Bioshock Infinite Worth checking out: Terraria Continue reading on the next page for all your Xbox 360 needs... Xbox 360 It’s all quiet on the Microsoft front this week, folks! All of the games released are multi-platform and other than Playstation receiving Terraria a day earlier, there’s not much to report. March 26th: - Bioshock Infinite (Multi-Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC.) - Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin (Xbox 360, PC) - Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 (Multi-Platform: PS3, Xbox 360) - Army Of Two: The Devil’s Cartel (Multi-Platform: PS3, Xbox 360) March 27th: - Terraria (Multi-Platform: PS3, Xbox 360) March 28th: - Ghost Recon Trilogy (Multi-Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC)* *This game will come to PC at a later date. Price Breakdown based on RRP's in US & UK: Bioshock Infinite - $59.99 (£37.97) Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel - $59.99 (£40.00) Terraria - $14.99/1200 Microsoft Points (£11.99) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 - $59.99 (£49.99) Ghost Recon: Trilogy - $24.99 (£16.40) Up next, Mobile gaming... Mobile March 28th: - Dungeon Hearts (Ipad, PC, MAC) March 29th: - Pili Pili Rush (iPhone/Touch/iPad + Andriod) The Lowdown: Starring into the abyss of mobile gaming is quite intimidating. Every day, hoards of games are released upon the App and Play store in equal measures. But fret not: here at We Got This Covered, we’ll streamline the assault down to a few necessary titles, starting with Thursday’s Dungeon Hearts which will be available on the iPad. Granted, the game will also be available on Mac and PC, but with its nostalgic blend of 2D puzzles and RPG mechanics, Dungeon Hearts’ visual style feels very much at home on the small screen. Players will be tasked with connecting the oncoming shapes within a match-3 system, what’s more, the game will grant experience along the way allowing you to level up your favourite characters. The developer, Cube Roots, is a small, independent studio that pride themselves on making minimal yet highly polished games – and Dungeon Hearts looks to fit into this legacy like a falling Tetris block. Featuring a catchy soundtrack and varied boss battles, Dungeon Hearts is the perfect mobile game to sink some time into on the go. Concluding our bite-sized mobile section this week is the unveiling Pili Pili Rush from The Game Atelier on Friday. The platformer gravitates around Pili Pili, the titular hero who travels the world to collect eggs for his friendly fire bird, Minka. Classed as an action game that subtlety integrates puzzle features, Pili Pili Rush will host over 60 levels in a range of different environments – from Aztec ruins to remote islands. With each new title comes added depth and value for money as mobile gaming grows into a formidable presence in the industry, and though Pili Pili Rush is a familiar mash-up of genres for the platform, it’s set to provide the depth that gives it the all important value-for-money attribute. Looking for handy entertainment for your commute? Then check it out! No word on pricing for the above games but given the fast paced nature of the mobile gaming world, there’s always a free game or two hidden within the catacombs of the online stores. For now, though, Pili Pili Rush is our mobile game of the week! Continue reading on the next page in all three dimensions... 3DS March 28th: - Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS Exclusive) *This preview is based on the EU release, the sequel was released for the US on the 24th. - HarmoKnight (3DS e-shop Exclusive) The Lowdown: Who knew that Thursdays are such a popular day in the world of Nintendo, eh? Kicking off this week in all three dimensions we have everyone’s other favourite plumber Luigi. Mario’s other half returns with his own ghost busting adventure, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon – or Luigi’s Mansion 2 for the worldwide release. It’s been 12 years since Luigi had his own video game world and, if early reviews are anything to go by, it was well worth the wait. Developed and published by Nintendo, the game sees the titular man in green fight against King Boo, who has shattered the Dark Moon into six pieces over the aptly named Evershade Valley, thereby sending Professor E Gadd’s ghosts into frenzy. Luigi plays the reluctant and timid hero, fighting all the nightly nasties with his Dark-Light attachment and the fan favourite Poltergust 5000 vacuum. As a big fan of the original, this is a game I’d love to get my hands on. Nintendo proved that Luigi was more than just comic relief back in 2001 with the first Luigi’s Mansion, and this game looks set to build upon the same quirky, inventive style of the original. Thursday also marks the curtain call for HarmoKnight, the new title from Pokémon developer Gamefreak. A western release was confirmed last year after the game established its own niche market when it graced the shores of Japan back in September. It’s a rhythm action platformer in which players must harmonise with the in-game music – which will also feature musical cameos from the Pokémon franchise. Equipped with nothing more than an elegant hammer, you are tasked with jumping and collecting the musical cues in this side-scrolling adventure. While small in concept, the game features a multitude of boss fights and looks to provide good value for money. If you liked Sound Shapes – a fantastic PS Vita game in the same genre – then HarmoKnight might peak your interest with its artsy harmonies. Price Breakdown based on RRP's in US & UK: Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon - $39.99 (£29.97) HarmoKnight - $15 (£9.95) Star Recommendation: Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon Worth Looking Into: HarmoKnight Continue reading for the Playstation Vita... Playstation Vita March 26th: - Machinarium (PS Vita) *North America release only. EU still unannounced. March 28th: - Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3, PS Vita) The Lowdown: The Vita always gets a hard time for its supposed lack of games. In fairness, there has been a shortage of blockbuster releases thus far but, as an owner of the troubled handheld myself, I know that the Playstation Store bodes a wealth of great titles if you know what to look for. But I digress, rather than open that can of worms, let’s focus on Tuesday’s point-and-click adventure game Machinarium. Originally released for PC back in 2009, Amanita Design’s Vita port is considered to be the ultimate edition for the game and will take full advantage of the handheld’s interactive features – namely the front and rear touch pads. After being honoured with the ‘Excellence in Visual Art’ award during the Independent Games festival, Machinarium has some artistic clout behind it. Players will control a humble robot in this puzzle/adventure game who, after being dumped on the city’s scrap yard, must journey back to save his mechanical girl friend. With a wealth of mini-games and built-in trophy support, this is a downloadable title well worth a look in for Vita owners in North America. Price Breakdown based on RRP's in US & UK: Machinarium - $6.99 (£4.99) Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time - $29.99 (£29.97) Our next destination is the world of PC gaming... PC March 26th: - Bioshock Infinite (Multi-Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PS3) - Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin (PC, Xbox 360)* *This game will be released in Europe on March 27th. - Slender: The Arrival (PC)* *This game will be released on MAC at a later date. March 28th: - Dungeon Hearts (PC, Mac, iPad) The Lowdown: Ah, the wonderful domain of PC gaming. Famed for its sprawling RPGs, the platform also offers many other excitable titles with each passing week. Let’s cast our eyes over this week’s exclusive PC games. On Tuesday we have the fifth expansion pack for Final Fantasy XI, entitled Seekers of Aldouin. It’s funny that a franchise called Final Fantasy is rather infamous for being an extensive, platform spanning series, isn’t it?Regardless, the Japanese RPG is one of my favourites and the latest game – published and developed by Square Enix – will continue to explore the metropolis of Aldouin set within the world of Vana’ Diel – I see the franchise is maintaining its characteristic hard-to-pronounce names, heck it wouldn’t be Final Fantasy without them. What’s new for MMO, I hear you ask? Well, as it turns out, quite a bit. The developers have integrated some fresh jobs into the gameplay, namely Geomancer and Rune Fencer, along with new missions and a whole host of nasty enemies. Keep in mind, this is an expansion pack and you’ll require the original Final Fantasy XI in order to play. Though the game is being released on March 26th in North America for both PC and Xbox 360, the servers won’t go live until March 28th. Stepping out of the fantastical realm of JRPG, Tuesday will also mark the release of Slender: The Arrival on PC. The developers at Blue Isle Studios have penned this as a continuation in the Slender: Eight Pages collection and it looks to bode the same eerie aesthetic the franchise is loved for: brilliant first-person thrills. The game looks to set players on a freshly laid narrative path with a brand new story set within the beloved dark forest milieu. Though the developer is considering a multi-platform release down the line, PC gamers can pick this game up first on the 26th via online download. Promising pure, unadultered fear, the question remains; will you be able to play without the light on? Price Breakdown based on RRP's in US & UK: Bioshock Infinite - $59.99 (£29.99) Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin - $29.99 (£17.99) Slender: The Arrival - $10 *No word on a price for Dungeon Hunters at this time. Star Recommendation: Bioshock Infinite Worth Checking Out (if you dare): Slender: The Arrival Our final platform is the Wii U... Wii U March 28th: - Lego City Undercover (Wii U Exclusive) I can almost hear your gasps from here, but yes fellow gamers, this week we will see the release of a convincing Wii U game in the form of Lego City Undercover. For the first time in the series' long history, we finally have a Lego video game based on a novel idea. Harnessing cinematic inspirations from the likes of Die Hard and Goodfellas, Lego City Undercover is an amiable sandbox styled adventure that appeals to gamers of all ages. Developed by Traveller’s Tales, players will step into the pixelated boots of Chase McCain, as he attempts to take down the villainous Rex Fury. Early reviews have hailed the open world gameplay and hidden in-jokes that the franchise is loved for, plus, this is the kind of third-party release that the console has been crying out for. If the philosophy behind the Wii and the subsequent Wii U was to unite a family through the medium of video games, then this game would serve as the perfect embodiment of this approach. Labelled as a kid-friendly Grand Theft Auto without sacrificing any immersive depth in the process, Lego City Undercover is building up brick by brick to be a fantastic release for the beleaguered console. Price Breakdown based on RRP's in US & UK: Lego City Undercover is set at $49.99 (£39.99) So there you have it, we think we've covered it all but if anything was left out feel free to let us know in the comments. Also, be sure to let us know what you'll be picking up this week.