Pick & Play: September 11 – 17

Pick & Play: September 11 – 17

With the second full week in September, we’ve entered the throes of the fall gaming onslaught. This week brings us gunplay by the dead, gunplay by the living, stick-based sports, and dystopian, cyberpunk futures.

The Gunstringer
(Xbox 360)

Two Kinect titles in as many weeks! The Gunstringer is a humorous production issuing from the team behind The Maw, ‘Splosion Man (as well as its sequel), and Comic Jumper. Their first full retail release, The Gunstringer, is part platformer, part rail-shooter. As a cap-gun toting, undead marionette, you work your way through vignettes predicated on B-movie themes, from the basic Western to a haunted bayou hunt. A second player can join in at any time, manifesting as a second cap-wheel targeting reticle. Twisted Pixel’s unique brand of humor is front and center, with the occasional FMV interjection, or the digitized hand of God rearranging the scenery of what is, ostensibly, a puppet show. Perhaps most appealing, however, is the Gunstringer’s price. At $39.99, it weighs in at $10 less than other retail Kinect titles. The Gunstringer will be in stores this Tuesday, September 13.

Hard Reset
(PC)

Flying Wild Hog has a unique pedigree, combining some of the talent behind Painkiller with some of those who worked on The Witcher. Painkiller’s influence certainly shows in the gameplay, which is a twisted, though traditional, cyberpunk shooter. Health and shield pickups are the orders of the day, as neither recharge on their own and guns never need to reload. Speaking of guns, there are two, an energy weapon and a projectile weapon, but both are able to be upgraded along numerous different paths, allowing them to shift into roles both familiar and new. You’ve wielded a shotgun and an assault rifle before, but how about a lightning gun, arcing electricity at your cybernetic enemies? The story is told through violent, comic-like cutscenes between levels, employing panels and limited motion, applying a certain noir feel to the proceedings. Hard Reset will be rebooting your computer on Tuesday, September 13.

NHL 12
(PS3, Xbox 360)

This year’s hockey title promises an improved physics engine, a more intensive goalie game and the chance to play in the New Year’s Day Winter Classic. Should you pick it up? With the NHL 2K series effectively defunct, EA’s offering is the option for those who want to don some skates and cut up the virtual ice. NHL 12 slides into stores this Tuesday, September 13.

Call of Juarez: The Cartel
(PC)

Lagging a couple months behind its console brethren, Call of Juarez’s first modern day entry makes its way to the PC this week. Continuing the story of the McCall family, The Cartel pairs one of the cowboy’s descendants with a pair of agents from the FBI and the DEA as they travel from California to Mexico in pursuit of the men behind a massive drug ring. The game is out this Tuesday, September 13, but should you pick it up? Find out in our review .

God of War Origins Collection
(PS3)

Do you like your mayhem to be violent? Gore to spatter the room from wall to wall in your wake? Did you enjoy Kratos’ console outings, but never picked up a PSP to play his mobile efforts? Sony feels you. The God of War Origins Collection is their solution to your plight, offering high-res renditions of both PSP God of War titles, Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta. If the smooth, satisfying swordplay isn’t enough to tempt you, let’s not forget that Sony has added full trophy support to the games. God of War Origins Collection could be ripping the wings off of harpies in your living room this Tuesday, September 13.

Bit.Trip Saga
(3DS)

WiiWare isn’t the most popular component of the Wii’s shop channel. As such, it’s perfectly feasible that you’ve never heard of the Bit.Trip games. But if you have any appreciation at all for non-traditional rhythm titles, these unique games are well worth a look. That just became easier with the Saga and Complete collections, which bring all six titles in one pack to the 3DS and the Wii, respectively. Saga even adds 3D to the experience. From platforming to Pong, the Bit.Trip games find unusual inspiration for their rhythm-century antics. Both Bit.Trip collections will be bouncing into stores this Tuesday, September 13.

White Knight Chronicles II
(PS3)

Didn’t play the original White Knight Chronicles? No worries. The second entry contains the first in its entirety. Serving more as an expansion than a true sequel to this most unusual of multi-player RPG hybrids, White Knight Chronicles II improves the battle system of its predecessor while offering more in the way of content. More enemies! More places to explore! More time to while away! More loot! You, too, could be transforming into a medieval mech this Tuesday, September 13!

Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad
(PC)

The first Red Orchestra developed something of a cult following with its extremely realistic depiction of WWII era combat. A first-person shooter, Red Orchestra was set on the Eastern Front of the conflict, the pitting the Soviet Russians against the Nazi Germans in pitched, multiplayer battles. This time out, the focus is on the Battle of Stalingrad, the engine is now the Unreal Engine 3. In addition to the comprehensive multiplayer, there’s a full, non-linear Stalingrad campaign for both sides of the conflict. Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad will be marching out this Tuesday, September 13.

DLC Slated for release this week: