It’s time for the next generation of video game consoles to arrive! As we say good-bye to October and hello to November, it’s time to check out the latest releases, both current-gen and next-gen, that are hitting stores this month. Personally, I didn’t buy anything in October except Pokemon because I was too busy with GTA V. But now, with the new consoles coming, I am ready for more. And November has plenty to keep us all satiated. Hit the poll below and meet me after the jump for analysis:
Category: Poll
Pixel Count: Most Anticipated October Release
Grand Theft Auto V landed last month and I imagine we are all still digging deeply into its controversial wickedness. However, time and video game releases wait for no one and with a new month comes more new releases.The odd thing about the month of October is that the really big releases come at the end of the month, such as Battlefield 4 and Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag. Before that, it’s much more wide open than usual for a fall month. Check the poll below and vote for the game you want the most this month, then meet me after the break for my thoughts:
Pixel Count: Most Anticipated September Release
September is the official first month of Fall and with it comes the official start of blockbuster games season. It’s not overflowing with gaming goodness and there is a legitimate reason that we can point to: Grand Theft Auto V. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? Check the list and poll of games below and then meet me after the jump to discuss September’s offerings in further detail:
Continue reading Pixel Count: Most Anticipated September Release
Pixel Count: Most Anticipated August Release
The Steam Summer Sale has come and gone, leaving only empty wallets and frantic gamers in its wake. We all know summer is the best time for working on the old backlog and I hope you’ve made some progress on yours because the summer drought is about to end in a big way. August is actually home to one of the most talked about games of the year, Saint’s Row IV. In case you didn’t know, it’s going to be my choice for the poll below. So let’s take a look at the poll first and then talk about what other games are coming out after the break:
Pixel Count: Which System Will You Be Playing in 2014?
E3 has come and the Big 3 have shown us what they have in store for us over the coming months. There has been so much news, updates, retractions, clarifications and denials that it is kind of hard to keep track of everything. Still, this has been an eventful E3, one where the details of two new consoles were revealed, where fanboys waged war and where Nintendo did whatever it is they do. Microsoft brought the games, Sony brought the Internet to its feet and Nintendo brought its beloved franchises.
So now that we have a clearer picture of what Microsoft and Sony are going to do with their next gen systems, it only makes sense to take a poll of our loyal readers and find out where your current desires lie. A lot can change between now and release but it seems reasonable to assume that some of you have made up your minds. So tell us in the poll below which system you plan on doing your gaming in the near future. Please leave the reasons for your vote in the comments!
Pixel Count: Most Anticipated May Release
It’s the last day of April and with it comes Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, which is the likely winner of this month’s poll. Before that, let’s look at last’s month poll real fast to see who won: Injustice! The DC Comic fighting game won the hearts and minds of our readers in a somewhat anemic month. Did anyone play Injustice? I tried the demo and found it to be about what I expected, which is a lot like the last Mortal Kombat. Not like that is a bad thing, but I already got my fill of that a few years back.
So here’s what we have lined up for May, kids:
Pixel Count: What Enemy Needs To Retire?
I’ve played a lot of games in my time. And in those games I’ve stomped on, shot at and slashed my way through millions of different enemies. Some were cute, like the Goombas and Koopa Troopas. Some were ugly like Abobo in Double Dragon and the Flood in Halo. But it didn’t matter: adorable or hideous, I slew them all and moved on to the next one.
But lately I’ve been feeling a bit of fatigue in games, specifically the ones that don’t seem to try anything new and just throw the same tired tropes at us in the hopes that we’ve become too numb to care. Zombies when they want gore, robots when they don’t. Ninjas when it’s time for stealth and Nazis when they want a clear delineation between good and evil. Terrorists when they want a modern game and aliens when its time to go back to the future. I am weary of it all.
But I shook myself from this apathy and decided to poll our esteemed readers on what common video game enemy you would love to never have to face again:
Pixel Count: Most Anticipated April Release
The March Madness is over and what a long, strange trip that month was. From Simcity’s crushing disappointment to the stellar heights of Bioshock Infinite. From the fantastic reboot of Tomb Raider to the prequels of Gears of War: Judgment and God of War: Ascension. March was a month where it could be all things to all people with a little something for everyone.
Well, I hope you got what you wanted in March because odds are that April isn’t going to blow your mind with its offering. Not that there aren’t some gems here, but nothing on the scale of last month. This is more of a specific kind of month, with niche titles that appeal to fans of that sort of thing. See the poll below:
Pixel Count: Most Anticipated March Release
If you thought February was rough on your wallet, then I have some bad news for you: March is going to ruin your finances. Just to give you an idea, for the poll choices, I like to select the noteworthy games for the month and my original list was 12 and I had to trim a few off to make this thing look less like ALL the March releases.
It all begins today with Simcity and Tomb Raider, both of which are garnering stellar reviews. I plan on picking up Tomb Raider a little further down the road, but Simcity is already pre-ordered and ready to go. I literally can’t wait to start plopping buildings and building my own version of Florida in a digital form. The GamerSushi SimCity Region will never be the same once my chuckleheaded Sim-citizens start wreaking havoc.
Continue reading Pixel Count: Most Anticipated March Release
Pixel Count: Prioritizing Your Backlog?
Welcome to Pixel Count Tuesday, everyone. Let’s get to polling.
Sorting through your video game backlog is like fighting a hydra. Every time you knock out a Witcher 2, a Dead Island pops up to take its place, right next to the Ni No Kuni head you were already aiming at next. And that’s not to mention the Final Fantasy VI head that’s been staring at you for nigh on 2 years.
At some point, you’ve got to step back, take a deep breath and get yourself more organized. For me, backlogs require a plan of attack. I can’t just fight through these games with a devil-may-care attitude, willy-nilly. I have to schedule, prioritize and move through them in the right order.
So my question to you guys is this: how do you prioritize your own gaming backlog?
Pixel Count: Best Video Game Sport
Welcome to Pixel Count Tuesday!
Here in America we are busy preparing for the Super Bowl on Sunday. It’s an unofficial holiday in these parts with plenty of food, football and commercials. Even people who don’t watch football tune in for the spectacle. There is a tradition where EA simulates the Super Bowl using Madden NFL and that got me to thinking about what sports are best when played on a video game.
Without a doubt, Madden is the most popular, but is it the best? Hockey, free from the constant breaks in gameplay and offering a flowing experience has always been my favorite sport to experience through video games. Soccer and basketball are largely similar to hockey and are a blast to play for the same reasons. Even racing games seem like they would translate better than football, yet Madden outsells them all, much to the annoyance of some who feel that it is the same experience every year.
So that leads to the poll question: what is the best video game sport to play? Vote below and leave a comment stating your reasons for your vote. Play ball!
Pixel Count: The Next Hurdle
It’s Pixel Count Tuesday, Sushians. Let’s cast us some ballots.
Every generation represents a new set of hurdles for the medium (or art, if you’re feeling fancy) of video gaming. In the current generation — and yes, I do include PC games in this — I think the most obvious hurdles we’ve cleared have to do with graphics, the ease of connectivity and huge, immersive universes. Within the last few years, it’s easier to play with friends than ever before, or even talk to them across games. I can share games with them on Steam or track their progress through PSN or XBL. Games like Skyrim, Borderlands 2 and Arkham City have given us amazing, huge worlds that we can interact with, and feel like we’re a part of. The Uncharted series and Red Dead Redemption have given us high-caliber storytelling and some memorable vocal performances.
But do I think all of these things are perfect? Not by any stretch. The medium still has plenty of growing up to do in terms of what it can achieve, in any number of arenas. Today’s Pixel Count poll is a big one, representing what I think are the biggest hurdles that gaming still has in front of it.
So, if we’re entering the next generation soon, which of these do you think is the most important issue, from a player’s perspective? Vote and tell us what you think in the comments!
Poll: Most Anticipated November Release
This is it. The month we have all been waiting for. The final month of fall 2012. Sure, there are a few games out in December, (Far Cry 3 is the only one that springs to mind, but whatever) but we all know November is where the big boys come to play. Usually the home of Call of Duty, a new challenger steps forward, but wait…it’s actually an old challenger!
That’s right, Halo 4 vs. Call of Duty. It’s not exactly a fair fight because CoD is multiplatform, but let’s face it: the two biggest FPS franchises in the world both releasing in the same month is the industry equivalent of a heavyweight title fight. For myself, it’s all about Halo 4. With glowing reviews that came out today, the gauntlet has been thrown down by the 343 Studios team. Can Call of Duty rise to the challenge?
Oh and something called the Wii U is also releasing this month. Not sure what it is. Probably an add-on for the Wii. And some new Mario game. I would do more research, but between Star Wars: Episode VII and Halo 4, I am in somewhat of a catatonic state.
So let us know what November release you are most looking forward to by voting in the poll and commenting in the…uh…comments. COMMENCE!
Poll: Most Anticipated September Release
Well, it’s here: The Fall of 2012. This is the time of year when things get a little cray cray. After the doldrums of summer finally subsided last month with Sleeping Dogs and Darksiders 2, this is season of the big dogs. It’s a little leaner than last year but there are still some blockbusters forthcoming, most notably, Borderlands 2. I know many of the GamerSushi staff are drooling at the chance to shoot thousands upon thousands of skags again. I am little more reserved on it, but I will probably pick it up at some point, after the dust from my backlog as cleared.
I know Torchlight II will be a popular choice for many, possibly as a change of pace from Diablo III. Sports fans will have to choose between hockey or the Beautiful Game as depicted in FIFA 13. I know Mists of Pandaria might draw some more WoW fans back into the fray for one last gasp, but I’ve heard that it has turned others off with its resemblance to Kung-Fu Panda. Hit the comments and let me know which side your bread is buttered.
Poll: Most Anticipated August Release
The dog days of summer are still on us but things are starting to look up a little bit. I’ve been using this time to work on the old backlog and things are progressing nicely on that front. However, even I am getting antsy for something new and fresh to arrive and this might be the month for it.
Aside from the usual August arrival of Madden NFL Football, we also get the Wii’s last gasp, The Last Story and even a GTA-clone that shows promise in Sleeping Dogs. Both of which are on my radar. Indeed, I have already purchased The Last Story and anxiously await its release date. Guild Wars II is also coming out, if anyone still likes MMOs. Check out the poll below and let us know what August release you are most looking forward to!
Poll: Most Anticipated July Release?
Back again after taking the month of June off, it’s time for our monthly poll where you tell us what upcoming release you are most looking forward to. June had a game or two, but it was quiet for the most part. With all the E3 hoopla, who has time to actually release a game, making June a good month to work on the old backlog.
Sadly, July isn’t much better. There are a few good games coming out, but most of it is for the niche crowd, such as JRPG fans and college football fans. Nothing wrong with that, as I am (Shocker!) apart of both demographics, but it looks like July will be another month to chew my way through The Witcher 2. Although The Last Story is something I plan on getting, it comes out at the end of the month. And that Final Fantasy music game for the 3DS is tempting ,e to buy a 3DS. Grr. I take it back. This is a good month for some games.
So hit the poll and hit the comments and let us know what July release you are looking forward to playing!
Poll: Game of the Show for E3 2012
With all of the big presentations over, the time has come for us gamers to sort through the R&B performances, the awkward jokes and the motion controls and get to what really matters to us: the games.
Now that we’ve had a chance to watch the trailers and read the stories coming out of E3 2012, it’s time to ask: what was you game of show?
Poll: Most Anticipated May Release?
Well, we are starting to get closer to E3, where the game releases slow down even more. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still a few heavy hitters coming our way in the month of May. And by heavy hitters, I mean Diablo III. I’ve not heard much about this game, so that means it probably won’t sell well. I sure hope whoever the developer and publisher are survive the losses they are sure to take by releasing this game (Sarcasm, do not email me).
Making its return to our lives is Max Payne. The brooding, noir-y 3rd person shooter, now in the care of Rockstar (perhaps you’ve heard of them?) makes its debut this generation. After Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption success, many are curious as to whether they can work the same magic on Max Payne. It can’t be worse than the movie, right? Personally, I am sitting all of these games out this month. I am still working on Xenoblade Chronicles and as tempting as Diablo III, my PC can barely run Farmville right now. But enough about me…what’s on your radar?
Poll: Most Anticipated April Release?
So March is over and with it goes Mass Effect 3. Hopefully all the controversy will be left in the dust, as well. All I know is if a game in April has a crappy ending, I don’t want to know about it. Keep it to yourself, please.
It’s a varied and interesting line-up this month. HD collections, long-awaited Japanese imports and PC ports, oh my! For myself, it’s another month of RPGs, as Xenoblade Chronicles and The Witcher 2 for Xbox 360 are already pre-ordered. I’m just waiting for the release dates to plop my money down and start grinding. Which reminds me that this has been a strong year for RPGs so far. We’ve already had Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Mass Effect 3 (It is an RPG, despite the claims of the haters) and now these two gems are hitting the shelves. I’m in heaven.
What games of April are you most looking forward to? One of the RPGs? Or the under-the-radar Prototype 2? Vote below and tell us why in the comments! If I left a game out that you are craving, please let me know below, as well. VOTE NOW!
Poll: Most Anticipated March Release?
We are finally starting to get into the time of year when some of the big ones are coming out. I hope you’ve cleared your backlog (God knows I haven’t) because things are about to get a little hairy. This month brings my most anticipated game of the year, a little title called Mass Effect 3. I’ve avoided spoilers, I’ve got my save files from the previous two games backed up and I am ready to save Earth by being the biggest douche in the universe.
There are plenty of other games coming out this month, if space epics aren’t your thing. Some of the games being released this month have slipped under the radar. When I was compiling this list, I was shocked to discover that Street Fighter X Tekken drops the same day as Mass Effect 3. Counter-progamming or suicide? You make the call!
So check the poll below and let us know what game this month you are most looking forward to. I don’t think we will see a surprise winner this month, but you never know. VOTE NOW!