Posted in: Movies, Recent Updates, Video Games | Tagged: adventure time, Amiibos, dragon age, entertainment, Far Cry 4, GTA V, pokemon, Super Smash Bros., video games, WWE 2K15

Sweet Release! Super Smash Bros, GTA V, Far Cry 4, Dragon Age, Pokémon, Adventure Time, Amiibos, WWE 2K15

Published Tue, 18 Nov 2014 23:30:00 -0600

by Hannah Means Shannon

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By Jared Cornelius

Welcome back to Bleeding Cool's weekly look at new release video games. It's time for Sweet Release! Last week was an utter avalanche of titles and this week is more of the same. With almost too much to play, I can say that I've looked into my release crystal ball and with a few exceptions this is the last landslide week of games for the holidays. There'll be releases from now till the end of the year, but all signs point to this being the last of the big triple A releases for the season. So without further ado, let's start this week off a game that's sure to make college roommates do battle in real life.

The big screen version of Nintendo's seminal fighting series arrives this week with Super Smash Bros. (for Wii U). In what's become a generational tradition since the N64, Super Smash Bros. provides an eclectic range of Nintendo's popular characters and has them do battle in up to four player 2.5D arenas. Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong duke it out along with other 8 and 16 bit era characters like Mega Man, Pac Man, and Sonic. This edition also allows you to use your Nintendo Mii characters, adding a minor levels of customization to the brawl. Fight among themed stages with Nintendo branded power-ups to unlock trophies full of historical information on the beloved videogame company and characters. The series is also adding support for GameCube controllers via an adaptor (sold separately). Compatibility with their Amiibo line of "Toys-To-Life" collectible figures and integration with the 3/2DS version. With a ton of characters and reverence for the source material Nintendo has produced quality games in the Smash Line every time and I wouldn't expect this release to be much different. Super Smash Bros. (for Wii U) releases Friday exclusively for the Wii U.

Has it been too long since you engaged in anti-social behavior? Are you missing the sweet, sweet, endorphin rush of committing virtual crimes on new generation consoles? Well rest easy friends because Rockstar Games are releasing Grand Theft Auto V on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One this week. The prolific crime series features three playable characters who can be switched between at any time and focuses heavily on the planning and execution of high end robberies, think Heat: The Game. The upgraded port still has the original core game and multiplayer, but adds a ton of new improvements including additional side activities, new weapons, and more vehicles. The upgrade promises a denser and more active Los Santos as well as a whole new first person view. Players who've already purchased a copy of GTA on last generation consoles get some cool exclusive weapons and vehicles and the option to import their save and online character into the upgrade. Grand Theft Auto V released Tuesday on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

In more first person open world news, Ubi Soft's Far Cry series is back. Far Cry 4 changes settings from the tropical South Pacific and switches gears in favor of the Himalayan Mountains. Determined not to get caught in a racial scandal this time around, Ubi Soft's main character is Ajay Ghale, whose returned to the fictional country of Kyrat only to find it torn apart by civil war. Far Cry 4's approximation of the Himalayan Mountains looks amazing and is also full of brand new wildlife to set upon enemies or hunt for sport including rhinos, honey badgers, and elephants. The game also features drop in, drop out co-op and an exclusive share feature on the PlayStation 4 which allows friends who don't own the title to play two hours of co-op in your game like an extended demo. Far Cry 3 was critically acclaimed last generation for its use of a living breathing open world where the environment could be as deadly as the enemies. It also unfortunately stumbled with its storytelling by swapping an incredibly compelling villain for a far less interesting character half way through, oh and it was also a tad bit racially insensitive. Far Cry 4 released Tuesday on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC in a variety of editions, including "Limited", "Gold", and "Collectors" all containing various bits and bobs of downloadable content.

It's been almost a month since we've had a sword and sorcery epic, so why not set aside 80 hours of your life for Bioware's latest entry, Dragon Age: Inquisition. Staying true to Bioware's create-a-character theme, players choose a race, gender and skill set then get dumped off into the world to solve a mystery involving an act of medieval terrorism that opened a dimensional rift. The series has a rich and storied background that's a bit daunting if you haven't played, but every person, place, and thing has a codex so you can read to your heart's content. Returning players worried about saves shouldn't fear as EA has a website where you can catch up and guide the path of your main character on the new generation consoles. The fantasy series mixes action combat with the ability to switch between companion characters and control them individually as well as micromanaging on more of a turn based level if a player desires slower pace and more precise actions. Dragon Age also has a heavy focus on building bonds between the player and party members much like Bioware's Mass Effect franchise. The reviews are already up on this one folks and the word is it's really good so just go get it. Dragon Age Inquisition is available Tuesday on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Do you want to be the best? Like no one ever was? Bring out the Poke-balls and prepare the spreadsheets because another Pokémon is hitting our shores. This year's flavors are Pokémon: Ruby Red and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire for the Nintendo 3/2DS. Continuing the long running tradition of capturing colorful creatures and forcing them to battle for your amusement like an anime inspired cockfighting simulator. Trade, evolve, and battle online with the re-mastered Gameboy Advance classic featuring a complete visual overhaul, new areas, characters, and "Mega Evolutions". The most interesting news for this entry is Nintendo is selling the game in a duel pack for the first time in the series history, it's not cheaper or anything, but I guess it's kind of neat. File Pokémon under the, "You know if you like this" series and move on with your life. Pokémon: Ruby Red, Alpha Sapphire, and Duel Pack release Friday exclusively for the Nintendo 3/2DS.

Finn the human and Jake the dog are ready to punch some more buns in the WayForward developed Adventure Time: The Secret of The Nameless Kingdom. While the first Adventure Time game was a flawed but entertaining riff on Link's Adventure and the second a disappointing take on classic hack and slash dungeon crawlers. Secret of The Nameless Kingdom decided to take on the Legend of Zelda formula again by aping the SNES classic Link To The Past. Rescue three princesses, upgrade abilities, and meet up with the cartoons eclectic cast of characters. The game features a wholly original story with puzzle solving adventure and combat ripped straight out of Nintendo's original adventure epic. Adventure Time: The Secret of The Nameless Kingdom released Tuesday for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Nintendo 3/2DS and digitally on PlayStation Vita and PlayStation TV.

As if you didn't need more plastic crap in your house, Nintendo is launching their brand of "Toys-To-Life" collectible figures this week. The figures use an RFI chip in to store individual stats from compatible games including Hyrule Warriors and Smash Bros. to start, with future compatibility in Mario Kart 8 and other titles later. Nintendo being late to the party on the "Toys-To-Life" trend hasn't been great for them, as they've been getting some heat in the press for figures looking worse than the prototypes. Keep in mind that unlike Activision's Skylanders that just work with the game, Amiibos offer a minimal level of interaction and are more of a save file. The initial wave features favorites like Link, Zelda, Samus, and Mario and are available Friday.

So far nobody's been calling WWE 2K15 the "best in the world". The wrestling series made its debut on last generation consoles in October and has been purportedly pretty lousy with the game missing features and suffering from paired down modes. The new generation release is at least hoping to give the series a visual upgrade but I wouldn't hold my breath as it seems to be hit or miss on character models. Seriously, Dolph Ziggler looks like a Neanderthal, while Golddust looks spectacular, it's real inconsistent. 2K15 still features some new hooks from 2K which play on the developer's sports legacy like the "MyCareer" for create-a-characters and "2K Showcase" which has players tackle some of the best rivalries from the last few years. WWE 2K15 released Tuesday on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

In another weird release, Deep Silver's Escape Dead Island hits last generation consoles this week. Unlike the mainline series, Escape is a 3rd person action adventure game developed by Fat Shark Studios not to be confused with the 1st person original from Techland. The game offers a mix of stealth and combat and was described to me as having similarities to the Metroid-Vania style of progression, where items and skills open new areas. Escape also features a cel-shaded art style reminiscent of the Borderlands series, but it doesn't look as clean with characters seeming blocky. It's releasing with a lower price point and during an incredibly busy week so I'd imagine that this may not be great, check some reviews before you buy. Escape Dead Island released on Tuesday on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC

If you want the most inferior version of spring 2014's hottest game, Watch_Dogs, now's your chance. I don't remember much about this game, and I can't imagine anyone will actually buy this, so instead of recapping what's actually in it I'm just going to make some nonsense up. A mask wearing loner uses his hacking skills to change all the signs on the highway to flash "9-11 was an inside job" thereby showing all those jerks driving how they're being deceived. Seriously Activision you're almost six months late to the party, if you sell more than 100 copies of this I'll be impressed. Watch_Dogs released Tuesday for the Wii U for $59.99! So if you hate yourself that much why not save sixty bucks and just hit yourself in the head with a ballpeen hammer.

That's it for this week kids, you can check out my other regular column, Typing on The Dead: Bleeding Cool's Walking Dead recap, which just got a new entry last week. You should also go read the re-animated, Live From The Comic Shop, column written by Christine Marie. I can confirm is written live and at a comic shop, Conquest Comics in Bayville New Jersey.

Jared Cornelius is some guy from the Jersey coast who listens to a lot of Prince while he writes these. Tell him your favorite Prince song via Twitter @John_Laryngitis

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