The Monthly Roundup

Welcome to the Monthly Roundup. Each month we’ll take a look at the upcoming releases and highlight the ones we are most excited for. The number of titles that we talk about will vary depending on the month but we’ll highlight our most anticipated titles and pick our personal favourites for the month.

Though November is not as jam-packed full of big-name releases as October was, there are still quite a number of games that are coming out to get excited for! Some of these have already been released (yes, we are a bit behind on this) but fear not: the month is only just getting started and we still have a ways to go.

Halo 4
Release Date: November 6^th

Halo has always been a huge title in the video game industry and Halo 4 doesn’t look to change that; with an already gigantic and dedicated fanbase and a brand-new studio at the helm (admittedly staffed almost entirely by long-time developers of the franchise that created Halo at Bungie), it is a new-yet-familiar experience that many are looking forward to. The consensus thus far has been that Halo 4 is a much more emotional and serious story than the games that preceded it, but time will tell if this is a formula that Halo will benefit from. Check out our preview for more information on what to expect from the new sequel!

Nick J.'s Pick of the Month: Though I spent some time in the beta for PlanetSide 2 and enjoyed almost every minute of it (I say almost because it took me some time to realize the necessity of playing within a group of other people, instead of by myself), the game I am most anticipating in November is Halo 4 (a game that, at the time of publication, is admittedly already released). After having read into the plot of the game, familiarizing myself with the new Halo novels being written by Greg Bear, and reading about the Marathon trilogy (the original trilogy developed by Bungie), especially about how they approached AI technology and how AIs grow over time, I am extremely excited to see what sort of plot Halo 4 has to offer. It seems like a classic yet ingenious sci-fi story that I can't wait to delve into.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Release Date: November 13^th

The next installment of the Call of Duty franchise takes us forward into the near future, showing us what the next generation of war will look like. The game looks to have some stellar graphics, thrilling setpieces and promises to bring the same exciting multiplayer that fans of the franchise expect. Though not many of us here at Loading Checkpoint are Call of Duty fans (Ed. Note: anymore), Dallas H. will be bringing us coverage of his experiences in-game, so stay tuned for that!

Dallas H.'s Pick of the Month: My pick for November would have to be Call of Duty: Black Ops 2! Out of all of us here at Loading Checkpoint, I am the biggest Call of Duty supporter; nothing better than playing seven straight hours of multiplayer team deathmatch! The graphics look improved and the sniping (my preference) in all of the gameplay trailers looks freaking fantastic! I will definitely be making videos for this game and posting them, so keep an eye out!

ZombiU

Release Date: November 18^th

Released alongside the WiiU, ZombiU is likely the most anticipated title for the new Nintendo console. Utilizing the new WiiU gamepad in unique and intuitive ways, and taking the zombie genre to another level with more demand of interactivity from the players, ZombiU looks to be an interesting title that should help determine the success of the WiiU itself. I am unsure if anyone at Loading Checkpoint will be getting a WiiU but expect us to keep an eye on how it and the new games do on the market, and relay the information to you.

Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two

Release Date: November 18^th

The first Epic Mickey, released only for Wii, was met with middling reviews; though people appreciated the classic Disney setting and the interesting approach to the gameplay, ultimately it was just another Wii game. Epic Mickey 2, however, is being released across all consoles and, indeed, all platforms -- even Windows and Mac! This sequel looks to continue the story from the first game and will most likely elaborate on the drawing gameplay from the first game, taking advantage of the touchscreen on the WiiU gamepad. Screw Kingdom Hearts, Epic Mickey is all the Disney you should need!

Nick R.'s Pick of the Month: Looking at November’s releases I find myself leaning in a different direction than I thought I would even a month ago. I find myself without a whole lot of enthusiasm for Halo or Call of Duty. It seems like more of the same, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but they fall down my shopping list because of it. I was pretty stoked for PlayStation All-Stars until I played the beta and found it to be a little bland. 

Then I heard Epic Mickey 2 was available on PS3. I really wanted to play the first but it was only available for the Wii and, sadly, I do not own one. Now the sequel comes as a multiplatform release. I've only just started to read about it but it looks promising: it's a local co-op musical! Mickey Mouse will burst into song as you play, and that makes me smile. This month I’m walking past the gloomy future wars of Halo and Call of Duty to pick up a happy musical Disney game. Epic Mickey 2 gets my vote this month.

Hitman: Absolution

Release Date: November 20^th

While Hitman has always been the be-all end-all of stealth-action games, Absolution looks to take that claim to the next level. With enhanced AI, stellar level design, and endless ways to approach your objectives, Hitman: Absolution will give players nail-biting action as you execute elaborate plans to execute important targets -- and with added online interconnectivity, Absolution will have players competing against one another to figure out who is the true Agent 47!

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
Release Date: November 20^th

While Tekken and Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat all have huge followings, the truth of the matter is that the biggest fighting game to be released in the last decade was Super Smash Bros., and its two sequels. Taking cues from the successful Nintendo franchise, Sony is releasing PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, a multiplayer fighting game that pits familiar PlayStation characters against one another in a battle for supremacy. If you want to see Sly Cooper beat the crap out of Parappa the Rapper, or see Sweet Tooth blow Fat Princess away with a shotgun, this is the game for you.

PlanetSide 2
Release Date: November 20^th

An MMO like no other, PlanetSide 2 is an FPS that pits three different factions against one another as they vie for control of an entire planet. When you create a character, you choose one of the three factions and set out in their name, as you try to take control of different facilities located across the map in order to gain resources for your faction. These resources can be turned in for vehicles and better gear, that then allow you to push to take bigger facilities, and the cycle repeats. The persistent world and the emphasis on large-scale team battles (it is next to impossible to capture any facilities without a squad of at least eight soldiers at your back) make PlanetSide 2 a very interesting and unique title, one that I am excited to try out with some friends!

Mass Effect 3 DLC: Omega

Release Date: November 27^th

Though not a full release, also worth noting is the release of the third DLC pack for Mass Effect 3, Omega. This DLC includes a much larger story than previous packs, focusing on the conflict surrounding the Omega space station featured in Mass Effect 2. In the DLC, gangster Aria T'Loak enlists the aid of Commander Shepard to retake Omega from Cerberus forces; the pack promises to have some intense combat and familiar faces, giving Mass Effect fans some extra content they are sure to love!

Kaitlyn P.'s Pick of the Month: For the month of November I am most anticipating the release of the Mass Effect Omega DLC. Yes, it’s becoming clear to everyone now that I am a massive Bioware fangirl. See what I did there.

Anyway, we’re going to finally see what went down on Omega between the second and third game AND we’ll get to see a female Turian. Girl Power.

The Monthly Roundup

With a new month comes new releases, and boy is October full of them! With at least five major titles being released, and countless smaller titles, it almost makes you fell like we’re already in the holiday season!

Each month we’ll take a look at the upcoming releases and highlight the ones we are most excited for. The number of titles that we talk about will vary depending on the month but we’ll highlight our most anticipated titles and pick our personal favourites for the month. So, without further ado, let’s tackle the big month of October:

War of the Roses

Release Date: Oct. 2^nd

I’ve been excited for War of the Roses ever since I started getting into Mount & Blade, and now that I’ve had some hands-on experience with it I am only looking forward to it even more. A medieval “shooter” of sorts, War of the Roses takes the fast-paced multiplayer combat of Call of Duty and puts a sword in your hand instead of an assault rifle. It looks to be quite a lot of fun; read our preview from last week to get a better idea of what the game has in store!

Resident Evil 6

Release Date: Oct. 2^nd

The next installment of the Resident Evil series (which is actually closer to the fifteenth than the sixth) looks to be an extension of the gameplay found in Resident Evil 5; focused mainly on action as opposed to survival, the game features a tightly bound third-person camera, stand-and-shoot combat, and two-player cooperative play. The graphical upgrades look quite impressive, however, and the inclusion of three separate campaigns to play through hails back to the classic Resident Evil games -- especially considering some fan favourite characters (like Leon Kennedy) are returning. All in all, it looks to be a solid addition to the franchise.

Nick R.’s Pick of the Month: It’s a bit unfair for the other games coming out in October because Resident Evil 6 has given me tunnel vision. I absolutely love this series and knowing that it comes out makes every other game fall down my list. Dishonored and Assassin’s Creed III are next on my list, but honestly I know for a fact that I will have more fun playing RE6. There is nothing quite like screaming for help as a zombie tries to eat your face and having a friend roundhouse kick it away.

Aside from my fanboy reasons, four intersecting campaigns, stunning graphics, and good times making every shot count with a friend are why I’m making Resident Evil 6 my pick of the month.

Dallas H.'s Pick of the Month: Looking at this group of games I find myself most excited for some running-and-gunning, teamwork-building, head-popping, ZOMBIE-SLAYING ACTION! Resident Evil 6; yes that's right, the gore fest continues with a round six!

Resident Evil 5 gave me a few playthroughs, all full of good memories of yelling at my buddy to turn around him because some huge guy was creeping up behind him. Although I miss the survival horror element to the games, they have done a great job with the coop side of things. So it's almost time for me and a couple friends to go through this world of zombies and hell!

NBA 2K13

Release Date: Oct. 2^nd

Though gamers once had an option of two different NBA game franchises, the NBA 2K series has quickly become the series of choice for gamers looking to get their basketball fix; not only has the innovation and delivery of the 2K series been regarded as much more successful, EA hasn’t released an NBA game for three years (recently even cancelling their NBA Live ’13 title). Given there isn’t much competition in the market, 2K13 looks to be the go-to game for basketball fans!

Dishonored

Release Date: Oct. 9^th

Dishonored is being heralded as one of the biggest titles to be released in 2012, never mind just October. A stealth-action game at its core, the developers continually boast that Dishonored is designed to allow any style of gameplay, featuring multiple ways to complete any and all objectives. Add to this a fantastic art direction, a steampunk-esque setting and a development dream team featuring icons of the industry and it’s not hard to imagine why people are so excited for it! Check out our full preview later today for a more in-depth look at what Dishonored has in store for us.

Kaitlyn P.'s Pick of the Month: I have a specific set of requirements a game must fill before I become interested enough to play and this month I’m not seeing anything that gets a perfect score. However, I am feeling a stirring of interest for Dishonored. The reason? Well, there’s an emphasis in the game on ‘player choice’ which happen to be magical words for me, and I appreciate that the stealth angle is optional if you would rather just BOOM land in the middle of the action. And then, of course, there's the cast: with such huge Hollywood talent behind the game, it's hard not to get excited.

The main draw for me, however, is actually the setting and world of Dishonored. The game is set in the industrial city of Dunwall, which is modeled after the late 1800's, early 1900’s London. If you read that sentence correctly you will immediately realize what it means. Steampunk. PLUS the game includes a plague spread by rats and dogs that causes the infected, known as weepers, to cry blood and become violent towards others. If you read that sentence correctly you will know I am referring to some kind of Zombie like creatures. So that means this game has both Steampunk and Zombies.

Steampunk Zombies.

I think my title is catchier.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Release Date: Oct. 9^th

Now here’s a concept that scares some people: XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a remake of the classic XCOM: UFO Defense, a game beloved by legions. Those same legions were the ones who decried the decision to reboot the XCOM series as an FPS, a game announced two years ago, yet they seem to have been placated by the prospect of a true-to-it’s-roots strategy game rebooting the series instead. Check out our preview for the game tomorrow but, given the success of the demo released earlier this week, rest assured that it plays as well as you’d hope!

Nick J.'s Pick of the Month: While there are a great deal of games coming out this month that I am eager to play, Dishonored and XCOM sit squarely on the top of the pile, elbowing each other in the ribs for the top spot. Both are types of games that I enjoy (stealth-action for Dishonored, strategy for XCOM) and both are set in genrés I love (steampunk-esque for Dishonored, science fiction for XCOM).

Unfortunately for Dishonored, the recent demo for XCOM gave me a taste for the strategy game and now I want more. SO MUCH MORE. For that reason, I give my pick of the month to XCOM.

Chivalry: Medieval Combat

Release Date: Oct. 16^th

Chivalry: Medieval Combat has a very similar (read: near identical) premise to War of the Roses: both games put you in the shoes of a knight and force you to kill other players with swords and maces and other medieval weapons. The primary difference between the two games is that, while War of the Roses is a third-person game, Chivalry is entirely first-person, presumably giving an added depth of immersion. Expect a comparison of these two games when they are both released to see how they stack up to one another!

Medal of Honor: Warfighter

Release Date: Oct. 23^rd

The newest Medal of Honor, released in 2010, was met with seemingly middling reviews: a solid multiplayer was held back by a disappointing singleplayer and some minor technical issues. Warfighter looks to improve on the formula, however, by adding a more diverse group of setpieces, the use of the Frostbite 2 engine (originally developed for Battlefield 3) and even allowing people to play as different armed forces in the multiplayer (including Canada’s own JTF2). It’s another shooter in a shooter’s market, for sure, but it looks to be a solid title all the same; and, given one of the most memorable experiences I've had with a FPS was in Medal of Honor, I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Assassin’s Creed 3

Release Date: Oct. 30^th

The fifth console release in the Assassin’s Creed franchise (someone really needs to teach these developers how to count!), AC3 takes place during the American Revolution, a far jump from the Renaissance that the Assassin’s Creed series has been mired in for the past three games. The brand new setting is the most compelling reason AC3 is so anticipated, but a new engine, new characters and new weapons make it all the more exciting. With the pedigree behind this game, expect great things.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Release Date: Oct. 30th

The Need for Speed franchise had a fairly successful reboot in Hot Pursuit, released in 2010, but driving fans have been clamoring for a return of the much-beloved Most Wanted. Well, their calls have been answered: Most Wanted is a reboot of the 2005 classic that looks to channel the critcally acclaimed Burnout: Paradise, if only because of the free-roaming allowed even cduring races, allowing the player to take whatever route they desire. Considering the mixed reception of Need for Speed: The Run, Most Wanted may be exactly what driving fans need.