Release Date: August 2
Platform: Xbox One / PC
Not a whole lot is known about Fullbright’s second outing, but after Gone Home, it should be expected that this off-earth trip will be as narratively driven and immersive as their first.
Ewan said: “It’ll be interesting to see what Fullbright are able to do after the success of Gone Home. As their first release, it absolutely blew me away and in my mind, still, represents one of the best examples of storytelling in games. If they’re able to recreate any of the magic of Gone Home, I’m sure I’ll enjoy Tacoma just as much.”
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Release Date: August 8
Platform: PlayStation 4 / PC
Hellblade is a substantial step forward for independent games hitting the “AAA” benchmark as Senua’s Sacrifice looks the part on a minuscule budget. Its use of Norse and Celtic mythology is sure to be intriguing as the heroine battles her mental manifestations.
Camilla said: “With recently announced PS4 Pro support, this game is shaping up to be very impressive if not one of the month’s best. This game looks like a spooky adventure to rival Horizon Zero Dawn and I can’t wait to get into it.”
Brodie said: “Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice hasn’t been on my radar for long. A trailer last month caught my attention and I’ve since kept a close eye on it. It’s astonishing the things Ninja Theory have been able to achieve on a shoestring budget and the game’s confronting themes of mental illness are certainly worth tackling. Let’s hope the game can shed some light on something that’s often swept under the rug.”
Seamus said: “Ninja Theory have tackled some serious themes in their games before, but Hellblade is on another level. Set in the Viking age, a Celtic warrior who suffers psychosis and as such, sees the world to be a much darker place and hell-like place, goes on a journey to fight not only those who killed her lover, but the demons in her head. Not likely to necessarily be a fun or joyful experience, but one looking at mental health like not many games have before.”[divider] [/divider]
Release Date: August 23
Platform: PlayStation 4
Though Nathan Drake’s adventures might have come to a close, it doesn’t mean Sony is done with Uncharted. Chloe is the new thrill seeker in town as Naughty Dog’s trademark cinematic action is set to make The Lost Legacy a must play for Uncharted fans, adrenaline junkies and story nerds alike.
Mehdi said: “A Thief’s End was an amazing end to the journey that we’ve been on with Nathan Drake the past few years, but quite frankly, I’m far from done with this amazing universe. Developing a full-sized Uncharted title in just over a year, The Lost Legacy is a fascinating take on what smaller-sized productions can lead to, and I’m incredibly impressed by the size and scope that the team at Naughty Dog has managed to achieve. Nate may be retired, but we and Chloe still have a lot of adventure left in us, and I’m eager to set the first steps in yet another adventure!”
Camilla said: “The only thing more exciting than a new instalment in the Uncharted series is the fact that this game comes with a remastered copy of Jak and Daxter, for free! Naughty Dog has really outdone themselves this time. I am so ready to kick some ass with Chloe.”
Ewan said: “I just can’t get enough Uncharted. I couldn’t be happier that Naughty Dog has “accidentally” spun Uncharted 4’s singleplayer DLC into a fully fledged, stand-alone game. The scope of the game sounds as if it’s really pushing the mechanics further than we’ve previously seen in the franchise, but what I’m most looking forward to is playing as Chloe and learning more about her character.”
Seamus said: “When Naughty Dog announced Uncharted The Lost Legacy, I was excited. When they revealed it starred Aussie Chloe Frazer and South African mercenary Nadine Ross, I was ecstatic! Although I enjoyed my time with all the varied personalities in the Uncharted universe, learning more about these two intriguing characters was always a hope of mine, and not only are we getting that but in a whole new game just one year after the incredible Uncharted 4.”[divider] [/divider]
Release Date: August 30
Platform: PlayStation 4
A fun golfing game with open world elements? That’s gotta be a first. Well, It’s a first for Everybody’s Golf, a classic Sony franchise that has a history dating back two decades now. Despite celebrating the milestone, the series is said to feel brand new again, so strap into your golf cart and tee off.
Matt said: “This is legitimately the only way I can play golf without sucking. And even then, it’s borderline.”
Shannon said: “I’ve been a massive fan of the Everybody’s Golf series for many, many years. I’ve always found it to be a relaxing game that is easily accessible and this one looks to be no different. They have now incorporated an online hub which looks to push the series forward in the first meaningful way for some years”.[divider] [/divider]
Release Date: August 29
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Our little plumber friend is no stranger to a good crossover, but this marks the first time he’ll share a screen with Ubisoft’s Rabbids. And let’s be honest, the gun-toting hero pose of Miyamoto and Guillemot got you extremely in the mood for this bizarre game.
Matt said: “In the beginning, I would have been so against this game because the Rabbids are the video game equivalent of Minions… but the more I see, the more I want to play.”
Brodie said: “It’d be easy to dismiss Kingdom Battle as a Mario misfire on face value. It’s a strange, strange crossover that I once would have deemed suitable only to die-hards. But a handful of previews have managed to change my tune and now I can’t wait to play this Mario meets Banner Saga mash-up.”
Seamus said: “I was utterly jaded on this game before the reveal, I thought we’d left those damn Rabbids back in the Wii shovel ware pile where they belong.
Then Ubisoft showed the game and it turns out to be a lite-XCOM style strategy game? Keen to see how this plays out.”[divider] [/divider]
RELEASE LIST FOR AUGUST
- The Long Dark (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – Aug. 1
- Tacoma (Xbox One, PC) – Aug. 2
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (PS4, PC) – Aug. 8
- Lawbreakers (PS4, PC) – Aug. 8
- Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – Aug.8
- Sudden Strike 4 (PC, Mac, Linux) – Aug. 11
- Agents of Mayhem (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – Aug. 15
- Cities: Skylines (PS4) – Aug. 15
- Matterfall (PS4) – Aug. 16
- Sonic Mania (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Aug. 15
- Sudden Strike 4 (PS4) – Aug. 15
- The Escapists 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – Aug. 22
- Guardians Of The Galaxy Episode 3 (PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS3, Xbox 360, iOS) – Aug. 22
- Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (PS4) – Aug. 23
- F1 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – Aug. 25
- Madden NFL 18 (PS4, Xbox One) – Aug. 25
- Absolver (PS4, PC) – Aug. 29
- Culdcept Revolt (3DS) – Aug. 29
- Everybody’s Golf (PS4) – Aug. 30
- Hello Neighbor (Xbox One, PC) – Aug. 29
- Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle (Switch) – Aug. 29
- Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition (PS4, Xbox One) – Aug. 29
- Redout (PS4, Xbox One) – Aug. 29
- Warriors All-Stars (PS4, PC) – Aug. 29
- XCOM 2: War of the Chosen (PC) – Aug. 29
- Yakuza Kiwami (PS4) – Aug. 29
- Ark: Survival Evolved (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – Aug. 29
- Life is Strange: Before the Storm (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – Aug. 31
