New Game Releases: October 23rd- 29th, 2014

Sunset Overdrive

Not long ago, game shopping was a binary choice: you decided to purchase a particular title or you didn’t. Woefully, that’s not the case anymore, with publishers offering an array of different SKUs, goading prudent players to do a bit of research. Case in point: this week offers at multiple versions of Sunset Overdrive, each differentiated by a number of confusing perks.

Those that pre-ordered the game will earn two additional weapons in the Day One Edition in addition to a number of retailer-specific goodies. The Microsoft Store gives the Hangover, which may not play homage to Zach Galifianakis, but does provide players with an armament comprised of beer cans taped on an electrified pitchfork, while Amazon customers receive the Hotty Shotty gun and Wasteland skin. Strangely, not all stores are offering comparable bonuses, with Wal-Mart only extending a single item and Target apparently furnishing no supplemental items.

All of this begs the question, what was so special about the eighty dollar Sunset Overdrive Day One Deluxe Edition? Nothing really, besides getting the game and the obligatory season pass. In the end, Microsoft and Insomniacs’ methods seem more likely to bewilder and disillusion loyal fans, rather than offer any type of worthwhile reward.

PlayStation 3
Costume Quest 2 (PSN, $14.99)
MX vs ATV: Supercross (also on PSN, $29.99)
SingStar: Ultimate Party (Free to download, paid content)
WWE 2K15

PlayStation 4
Costume Quest 2 (PSN, $14.99)
Home (PSN, $TBA)
Lords of the Fallen (also on PSN, $59.99)
NBA LIVE 15 (also on PSN, $59.99)
SingStar: Ultimate Party (Free to download, paid content)
The Unfinished Swan (PSN, $14.99, cross-buy)
WWE 2K15 (also on PSN, $59.99)

Wii U
Bayonetta 2 (also on eShop, $59.99)
Castlevania Aria of Sorrow (eShop, $7.99)

Xbox 360
MX vs ATV: Supercross (also on XGS, $29.99)
WWE 2K15

Xbox One
Lords of the Fallen (also on XGS, $59.99)
NBA LIVE 15 (also on XGS, $59.99)
Sunset Overdrive Day One Edition (also on XGS, $59.99)
Sunset Overdrive Day One Deluxe Edition (also on XGS, $79.99)
WWE 2K15 (also on XGS, $59.99)

DS
Magical Diary: Secrets Sharing (eShop, $4.99)

3DS
Big Hero 6: Battle in the Bay (also on eShop, $29.99)
Castle Conqueror EX (eShop, $3.99)
Fantasy Life (also on eShop, $39.99)
KORG DSN-12 (eShop, $37.00)
Pokémon Art Academy (also on eShop, $29.99)
Saban’s Power Rangers Super Megaforce (also on eShop, $29.99)
Secret Journeys: Cities of the World (eShop, $4.99)
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse (eShop, $19.99)
The Legend of Korra: A New Era Begins (also on eShop, $29.99)

PS Vita
Freedom Wars (also on PSN, $29.99)
The Unfinished Swan (PSN, $14.99, cross-buy)
Tiny Troopers: Joint Ops

PC
Daedalus – No Escape (Steam, $TBA)
Skara – The Blade Remains (Steam, $TBA)
Fabula Mortis (Steam, $TBA)
Lords of the Fallen (Steam, $49.99)
Mythos: The Beginning (Steam, $TBA)
Retro-Pixel Castles (Steam, $14.99)
Skara – The Blade Remains (Steam, $TBA)
Zero Point (Steam, $TBA)

Robert’s Pick: Sure, I might pick up Sunset Overdrive, if I can navigate through the obstacle course of retailer exclusives. Much more likely is a purchase of Bayonetta 2, which also includes a copy of the first game regardless of which merchant you patronize. I loved the original title’s combination of outrageous hyperkinetic speed, quirky outlandishness, and profusion of visual and mechanical polish. The sequel looks to outstrip its predecessor in every possible way.

Bayonetta 2

 

Gonçalo’s Pick: There’s nothing I can say about Bayonetta 2 most of you don’t already know. It looks great, runs at smoother framerate than most games on more powerful systems and it’s made by Platimum, a studio known for its quality action games. To put it quite simply, this game is the reason I’m now on the market to buy a Wii U.

Bayonetta 2 (1)

About Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

26 comments

  1. Retailer specific content isn’t unique to games. They do it for DVD/BR movies as well. It drives me nuts and needs to stop.

  2. “about the eight dollar Sunset Overdrive Day One Deluxe Edition?”

    I’ll take a $8 copy. No complaints here if I get it for that price.

  3. At least they’re giving the skins and bonus weapons away instead of selling them as DLC. Give credit there.

  4. You gonna review, Bayo 2, Robert? I’d like to hear your thoughts on the game.

  5. Wait, Sunset Overdrive over Bayonetta for the picture? That’s a VERY strange choice.

  6. Costume Quest 2 for me this week. My kids loved the first game. Great timing too.

  7. 14 year old me would have loved Pokemon Art Academy. 28 year old me is buying it and playing it in private.

  8. WWE 2K15 might get a pickup.

  9. Bayobae for me. Going to get it tommorrow.

  10. hate all you want, Sunset Overdrive looks really fun.

  11. I still don’t think there’s enough Xbones in the wild to keep the MSRP of Sunset at $59.99 for too long. Like Titanfall it will drop. My guess is before the end of the year.

  12. Did you say “Bayonetta 2 runs at a smoother framerate”?

    Sorry to kill your dreams.

    http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2014-hands-on-with-bayonetta-2

    “The game’s unstable performance definitely has an impact on the experience as well: when you couple an often poor frame-rate with extremely challenging gameplay the results prove highly frustrating.”

    • Where is the punctuation?

      • Why do you mean?

        • The problem with the article is that they are comparing Wonderful 101 with Bayonetta 2. Thats ok, but half the time, you can’t tell exactly what game they’re referring to.

          A bit sloppy. They probably rushed it.

          Noticed Patrick Klepeck is getting lazy as well. He wrote a whole article questioning The Evil Wihin’s letterboxxing, then writes

          “As for me, I’m going to stick with The Evil Within at 2.35:1. Whatever the reason for its existence, there’s nothing else like it. If that’s what the creator wanted, too? All the better.”

          (basically, you can’t see things in the game from time to time)

      • Zero Punctuation?

  13. I see a lot of people who don’t care for Japanese games tweeting about Fantasy Life. I hope you’ll review it.

  14. No love for Freedom Wars?

    • War never changes.

    • Monster Hunter clones are fun and all but need groups on online friends. Thats why the Dark Souls wannabes like Lords of the Fallen are big here. They offer a better solo experience.

      Also, I heard there’s a lot of grinding in Freedom Wars. That doesn’t bother me, so I’ll probably pick it up soon.