Good Ole' Fashion Fun

The twentieth installment of the Need for Speed franchise, Need for Speed: Rivals is set to release for seventh generation consoles on November 19 and November 22 for eight generation consoles. The game has maintain similar gameplay of its predecessor Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, and players are able to purchase and drive exotic cars, they also get to race and chase other drivers as a cop or be chased as a regular racer. The game also has features from another predecessor Need for Speed: Most Wanted by maintaining the open world features which includes several jumps, speed traps, and unlock-able cars. The game has features from yet another predecessor Need for Speed: Underground by maintaining similar aesthetic vehicle personalization, like paint jobs, rim, etc. So if you love the concepts from previous Need for Speed titles or are looking for a fusion of what you like most from the previous titles, I suggest picking up a copy of Need for Speed: Rivals at your local retailer on November 19 or 22.

Super Mario 3D World

Set for release  in North America on November 22, Super Mario 3D World is yet another Mario game to hit the shelf. Already established as a disappointment upon its announcement during this year's E3, as many had hoped for a new Mario Galaxy title. The game is similar to Super Mario 3D Lands for 3DS. In this new installment pipes play a more important role, as the gamer can see what is inside each pipe before entering, a brand new innovation in the series. Secondly for the first time players dive into pipes headfirst, as opposed to falling in as in the previous installment. the coolest addition to this game is Mario's cat power, which allows him to climb wall up to a certain height, to be agile and perform pounce rolls to kill enemies. Despite not being a bold move for Nintendo, as many had hoped with a new Mario Galaxy, the game is a great installment to the extensive Mario series.

Generation X ........or Y?

Released on October 12 for the 3DS, Pokemon X and Y are making their debut as the first installments in the sixth generation of the series. The game makes use of the beautiful graphics (as compared to previous handheld consoles) to portray, for the first time, fully 3D polygonal graphics. This game also allows you to create an avatar to your liking by choosing gender, skin tone, and hair color at the beginning of the game, and can later gain outfits and accessories throughout the game. The game offers the starter Pokemon: Chepsin, Fennekin, and Froakies. the game also includes the legendary Pokemon Xerneas (X) and Yveltal (Y) for which the games were named. The game also introduces the fairy-typed elements to the Pokemon world. The game also introduces the features of Mega Evolution, which allows Pokemon to evolve temporarily during battle, this features also has drawbacks. There is also Sky Battles, which is only for flying-type Pokemon allowing them to fight in the air; also there is Horde Encounters which allows multiple Pokemon to fight at once. The game also includes Super Training, which allows players to train specific skills of their Pokemon. Lastly there is Pokemon Amie, which allows players to pet and feed their Pokemon as if it were a Nintendog. Despite these numerous features the game has maintained its main objective which is to catch and train Pokemon and eventually challenge and defeat 8 gym champions to become the regional champion. If you are a fan of the Pokemon series or just an avid gamer I suggest picking up a copy of Pokemon X or Pokemon Y at your local retailer.

Mario Kart 8

Artwork for Mario Kart 8

In the spring of 2014, Nintendo is set to released the highly anticipated eleventh install of the Mario Kart series, Mario Kart 8. Like its predecessors the game is pretty much the same with the addition of new tracks and extra features to cart and tracks. Nintendo has kept much of the information of this installment as a secret, so very little is known about the game, in regards to how many tracks there will be, etc. This tactic, I think is to create more anticipation among Nintendo and Mario Kart fans as well as those who would most likely not purchase the game. Of course this game will only be released for the Wii U.

The Second Son

InFamous: Second Son, is set seven years after the ending of InFamous 2, which was the saga of Cole MacGrath.  The game is set in Seattle, Washington with new character Delsin Rowe, who doesn't have the electrical-based powers of his predecessor, but has the incredible ability to absorb the powers of other conduits. He realizes this power after attempting to save victims from a bus crash. The game is set to be released in 2014 only for the PlayStation 4. The developer Sucker Punch has taken advantage of the PS4 next-generation capacity to create beautiful effects in not only the destruction in the game, but also in the game's subtleties. So if you were a fan of the first two inFamous installments, I would recommend purchasing InFamous: Second Son upon its release sometime in 2014.

As Real As It Gets

If you have ever played Battlefield: Bad Company 2, then you remember how players and CPUs had an effect on their surroundings, like using a RPG to try to blow up a tank, missing and destroying the building behind you. Well this level of destructibility has been re-introduced to Battlefield 4, of this destructibility feature, dubbed Levolution, is an advanced version of the original from Bad Company 2. On October 29, 2013 Battlefield 4 will be released in North America on both seventh and eight generation console, the game is highly anticipated. The single player campaigned is set in 2020, six years after its predecessor, playing as Sgt. Daniel Recker an member of the US special force dubbed Tombstone. The plot of the game is about the threat of a world war three between the US, Russia, and China, after America's involvement in the assassination of China's future leader. A new program dubbed Battlefield 4 Premium provides 2 weeks early access early access to content, 5 expansion packs, and 12 battlepacks. To add to Levolution , the game also features the re-introduction of Commander mode, which is mode of strategy and tactics, as players are coordinating attacks by issuing orders, also the game features 64-player battles in multiplayer mode. If you are looking for a more realistic war game, purchase BF4!

After the Apocalypse

After a terrorist attack on the US on Black Friday using currency to spread a virus, cities in the US are carved up into quarantine zones and the ungoverned regions plagued with death and destruction, and as a member of the Division it is your job to go to these ungoverned regions to keep the fabric of society from unraveling. The game is an open world type, where players can interact with their surroundings, level up , and purchase weapons and equipment. Many of the features of the game are innovative and set to match the criteria of eight generation games. The game is set to be released in 2014 for the PS4 and Xbox One, and as fan of thrilling games with great stories and plots I am looking forward to purchasing and playing this game and would encourage you to do the same.

The Few, The Proud, The Ghosts

Set 10 years after a disastrous war destroys the United States and many of the world's superpowers, with its citizens living in ruins, society in disarray, and infrastructure non existent, a group of South American countries unified as the federation invade the United States, occupying several states. Upon the invasion a group of former US Special Forces soldiers unite to defend the US and repel the invaders as the a unit called the Ghosts. Unlike the two prior Call of Duties this installment was developed by Infinity Ward, who brought success to the franchise with COD: Modern Warfare series. Among the changes is the ability to use a canine to do recon prior to entering a location. Call of Duty: Ghost is set to release on November 15 for seventh generation consoles, minus the Wii, and will be released on the respective release dates for the PS4 and Xbox One, and an unannounced date for the Wii U. I'm definitely, as with many other fans looking forward to another Modern Warfare styled Call of Duty.

Let's Not Forget the Little Guy

In 2014 Nintendo is set to release Super Smash Bros. for both the Wii U and the 3DS, this release will be the fourth installment of the Smash Bros. series since 1999. Despite this game not being on the list of the types that I play anymore, I felt like I needed to go back to my roots and show one of the few good games from the legendary Nintendo. This new installment includes new characters like the villager from Animal Crossings, Megaman (with a borrowed arsenal from other characters in the Megaman games), the female trainer from Wii Fit, as well as the usual characters like: Mario, Pikachu, Link, Donkey Kong, etc. Many Nintendo fans are looking forward to the game on both platforms, note that the 3DS version is much lower-resolution and is cel shaded, I am looking forward myself to a few rounds with a friend.