New Game Releases: November 8th-14th, 2013

Proclaim it from the belfries and battlements: the next generation is here! Technically, Sony’s PlayStation 4 won’t be hitting retail until November 15^th, but that won’t stop third-party publishers from taking advantage of the excitement, pushing seven titles onto retail shelves.  Even, the Xbox One which isn’t due until November 22nd, is getting a very early version of NBA 2K 14. For stalwarts sticking with the concluding generation, a few notable games exists, from XCOM: Enemy Within to Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus.

PlayStation 3
DuckTales Remastered (Retail)
Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition
Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus
XCOM: Enemy Within

PlayStation 4
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Battlefield 4
FIFA 14
Just Dance 2014
Madden NFL 25
NBA 2K14
Need for Speed: Rivals

Wii
Barbie Dreamhouse Party
Transformers Ultimate Battle Edition

Wii U
Barbie Dreamhouse Party
DuckTales Remastered (Retail)
Toki Tori (eShop, $1.99)
Wario’s Woods (Virtual Console, $4.99)
Wii Sports Club (eShop, $1.99- one day pass, $9.99- to purchase a sport)

Xbox One
NBA 2K14

Xbox 360
DuckTales Remastered (Retail)
Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition
XCOM: Enemy Within

3DS
4 Elements (eShop, $5.99)
Barbie Dreamhouse Party
Crazy Chicken: Director’s Cut 3D (eShop, $1.99)
Frozen
Kid Icarus: Uprising (eShop, $34.99)
KORG M01D (eShop, $34.00)
Luxor (eShop, $5.99)
My Baby Pet Hotel 3D (eShop, $29.99)
Secret Agent Files: Miami (eShop, $7.99)
Wario’s Woods (Virtual Console, $4.99)

DS
Barbie Dreamhouse Party
Crazy Chicken: Director’s Cut (DSiWare, $TBA)
Frozen
Transformers Ultimate Autobots Edition

PS Vita
Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition

PC
Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition
SimCity: Cities of Tomorrow
XCOM: Enemy Within

Robert’s Pick: There was a time when Insomniac Games rivaled Nintendo’s first-party output, with entries in the Spyro and Ratchet & Clank series delivering delightful, polished play experiences. Then, things gradually became undone. Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One transformed the once enjoyable franchise into a simplified slog that bored up to four participants. While Full Frontal Assault was at least a bit more engaging (for co-op players), the Vita’s outsourced port was substandard, marred by technical issues. Last year’s release of Fuse revealed the developer hitting rock-bottom, turning out a puzzling collection of shooter clichés, insipid dialog and firefights which were altogether tedious.

This week’s release of Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus is poised to reverse that trend, with Insomniac delivering a game which returns to the series roots. Hopefully, the lovable Lombax and his robot companion can recapture the sublime mix of platforming, riotous weapons, and enemy eradication that elevated the original trilogy to celebrated status.

Eric’s Pick: Just like Alf being back in P.O.G. form, Injustice: Gods Among Us returns for an Ultimate Edition. As to be expected, this version contains the game and all of the DLC in one convenient package. Better yet, players looking to don satin tights and fight for our rights on-the-go will be pleased to know that the Vita gets in on the action this time around, complete with 60FPS gameplay. Thankfully, the handheld Injustice looks to be far easier on the eyes than Mortal Kombat‘s Vita port was. To the Batcave, Robin! There isn’t a moment to lose!

Gonçalo’s pick: I’m ashamed to admit it, but I have never played the original 1993 release of X-com or its sequel, Terror from the Deep. I did however play quite a bit of XCOM: Enemy Unknown and thoroughly enjoyed the tactical gameplay coupled with the added pressure of Iron Man mode. With that in mind, for this week, how could I choose anything other than XCOM: Enemy Within? I already plan on naming my squad members after Say, Robert, Jeremy and Blue.

Say’s Pick: I was about to choose Barbie Dreamhouse Party but then I remember I like my job and I’m already a pest as it is, so I decided to go with Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition. Fighting games are always enjoyable, and this one contains the original game bundled along with all DLC. I was sold with the idea of playing Wonder Woman while kicking some ass, but you have also over 30 fan favorite DC icons including Batman, The Joker, Green Lantern, The Flash and Superman. It’s available for pretty much every console there is, including PC so there are options for everyone.

Jeremy’s Pick:  If XCOM Enemy Unknown was a best-case remake of the original X-Com, the new expansion, Enemy Within, makes it the J. J. Abram-helmed alternate timeline reimagining. Beginning with content from last year’s superlative turn-based alien defense hit, the additions are primarily focused on the tactical rather than the strategic game. Enemy Within introduces the ability to further augment your soldiers with cyborg and genetic enhancements to match the advanced bioengineering of the alien menace. Who hasn’t wanted to call in a 10-foot robotic super soldier when the Sectoids get thick? Additionally, a new resource, an orange substance called Meld to encourage quicker completion of goals and facilitate new enhancements.

If you finished the original campaign in Enemy Unknown and are looking to add a new twist on a great game (or if you just got frustrated with the high mortality rates of your squaddies and just want to give them some extra oomf and try it all again), Enemy Within may just hatch your inner Chryssalid. So to speak.