Posted in: Movies, Recent Updates, Video Games | Tagged: EA, entertainment, kickstarter, Koei, microsoft, OlliOlli, PlayStation Plus, Sims 4, sony, Sports Friends, Super Time Force, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, video games, Warrior Orochi 3 Ultimate, Xbox Live Gold

Sweet Release! – The Sims 4, OlliOlli, Warriors Orochi 3, September's Free Games

By Jared Cornelius

Well gang here we are in the first week of September and it's finally time to wave the summer goodbye.  I've been reminding you about summer's impending end for almost four weeks now, so let's look to more pleasant things like video games.  In contrast to last week where we had something for everyone this week is a little more on the niche side of things.  Life sims, skateboarding and mindless combat.  On the bright side the first of the month also means the calendar for free games if you subscribe to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold, so a big plus there.

Starting off this week we have the latest in EA's once mighty Sims franchise with The Sims 4.  As the name implies The Sims is a life simulator with players creating a character then playing out their virtual life complete with a home, job, and bathroom breaks.  Your characters have a certain level of happiness, cleanliness, and hunger that players need to keep up with as well.  The series has struggled in recent years partially thanks to an oversaturation of games with titles like The Urbz, The Sims Online, and the MySims series.  From what I've been able to gather, The Sims 4 seems to have made some incremental changes but if you've liked previous games the new iteration doesn't deviate much.  The Sims 4 is being developed by EA Maxis who created the first Sims title sans the EA branding but that was almost 14 years ago and I have to imagine the studio is a shell of what it once was.  The Sims 4 is available Tuesday at retail and EA's Origin platform.

If the lack of skateboarding games has got you down, developer Roll7 has the answer for you with OlliOlli.  Featuring a mix of gameplay between endless runner and precision platformer, OlliOlli puts players on a high score chase through a 2D level with various goals and tricks to accomplish.  Think Tony Hawk's Pro Skater on a 2D plain if you want to get reductive.  It's a little bizarre but full of charm and about the closest thing you'll get to a real skateboarding game in 2014.  OlliOlli got a surprise release on the PlayStation 4 last week and to keep the good news rolling, OlliOlli is cross buy, so getting any version nets you the game across all three Sony platforms.

If you like repetitive tasks, publisher Koei and their Warrior series of games is back with Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate.  The long running Warriors series has mainly focused on the Chinese side of things with Dynasty Warriors and in more recent years added the Japanese focused Samurai Warriors series, however Orochi is the convergence of the two in a feudal hero crossover.  The 3rd person hack and slash game is all about the combat with players completing missions in sprawling levels while combating hordes of semi-mindless enemies at the same time.  Koei has had a reputation for re-releasing the same game over and over with incremental changes, but hey it works for Madden.  This iteration features over 145 characters including ones from the Soul Calibur and Ninja Gaiden series, new missions and levels, and lots of downloadable character costumes.  Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate is a mouthful and released on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 Tuesday.

A new month means that new round of free games for premium service subscribers.   PlayStation Plus members get treated to the Kickstarter indie darling Sports Friends on the PlayStation 4 along with PlayStation Vita cross compatible space shooter/2D exploration game Velocity 2X.  PlayStation 3 gets the Sony centric Super Smash Bros. inspired PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale and dragon based strategy game Hoard.  Finally PlayStation Vita owners will get the motocross  movie-star  stunt game Joe Danger and 2014's version of Tempest 2000 with Jeff Minter's TxK.

For Xbox Live Gold users the Xbox One will get the fantastic 2D shooter/time paradox filled Super Time Force.  In less stellar news Microsoft is still trying to get you to download Crimson Dragon, which will be free for another month.  Xbox 360 users get the 4 player co-op heist game, Monaco What's Yours is Mine, followed by developer Bungie Studio's farewell to the Halo franchise in Halo Reach.

That's it for this week, I'll skip most of the cheap plugs because it's a holiday weekend and I'm writing this column late.  Just remember you can follow me on Twitter @John_Laryngitis.  See you next time and Stay Gold.

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