Summer 2013 Console/Computer Game Guide

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The kids are out of school and summer time is in full swing. Look for these great console and computer game offerings when you need a break from the heat.

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You can keep that summer feeling on your down time with The Sims 3 Island Paradise on PC/Mac (also in limited edition with extra content). Construct and manage a five-star resort hotel; explore the endless ocean, and/or build and sail your own houseboat in this extensive expansion pack (requires The Sims 3). Other PC releases include Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded (PC/Mac) and Machines at War 3 (PC/Mac), the sequel to Land Air Sea Warfare.

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The Nintendo Wii U still rules the roost in next generation consoles with games like New Super Luigi U releasing as downloadable content (DLC) on the online Nintendo eShop (available through Nintendo Wii U gaming console) for use with the “New Super Mario Bros. U” game, then will later as a stand alone physical Wii U disc for purchase in stores. The special DLC will have 82 updated stages playable as Luigi who can jump higher than Mario. Pikmin 3 (August 4) will be a Wii U exclusive and will feature new Pikmin creatures like the flying Winged Pikmin that follow the player and can carry items in the air.

Game adaptations of this summer’s hottest films include Disney’s Planes (August 6) and Turbo: The Video Game (July 16). These all age games will release on multiple platforms as well as Disney Infinity from Disney Interactive, which will include collectible figurines into the gameplay using famous Disney properties including The Lone Ranger, Pirates of the Caribbean, Toy Story and The Incredibles. Disney Infinity will release August 17 on the PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo Wii U.

The WiiU exclusive LEGO City Undercover game put the familiar brick-based media into a fun, open world experience featuring Chase McCain as a lead detective tasked with protecting the city from the main antagonist Rex Fury. This one player game offers amazing interactive options using the touch screen. camera-ready Wii U GamePad including maps, satellite navigation, video calls, drawing actions, scan features, and audio scans. Other all ages games include Worms Collection and Minecraft, an Xbox 360 exclusive that includes all the latest DLC.

Extensive action games on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and/or PC include Nordic’s Painkiller: Hell & Damnation, Suda 51’s Killer is Dead (August 27) from XSeed, Metro: Last Light from Square Enix and Deadpool from Activision, which features a fast, fluid combat system, updgrades, and mutant abilities amid a story from veteran Deadpool writer Daniel Way.

Injustice: Gods Among Us features 24 core characters including Aquaman, Bane, Batman, Black Adam, Catwoman, Cyborg, Deathstroke, Doomsday, Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Lex Luthor, Nightwing, Raven, Solomon Grundy, Superman, and Wonder Woman. This high quality fighting action game has a familiar arena format with polished visuals and online/multiplayer modes.

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The four-player co-op, action shooter Fuse stresses team work where players can harness alien technology then combine their team’s abilities, upgrade weapons and unlock more abilities. Developer Crystal Dynamic and publisher Square Enix push current consoles to their limit with the impressive Lara Croft reboot Tomb Raider.

UbiSoft’s Tom Clancy Splinter Cell: Blacklist (August 20) will feature new exciting gameplay elements including “kill in motion” and an all-new snake cam. Capcom’s Resident Evil: Revelations come from the Nintendo 3DS to the big screen on PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U with enhanced graphics while the PlayStation 3 exclusive action survival game The Last of Us  features survival action from Naughty Dog, the studio of the Uncharted game series. Also available in Survival Edition.

Football fans awaiting the start of the season can satisfy their appetite with NCAA Football 14 and Madden NFL 25 (25th anniversary), which will also be a launch title for Xbox One® all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. Golfers can enhance their summer experiences at the links with Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition.

Still looking to get a great deal on a PlayStation 3? Try the Legacy bundle with a 500 GB hard drive for $299 that includes the inFAMOUS 2 game and Gran Turismo 5 original full version with a voucher for more than $20 of bonus DLC, including new cars and tracks.

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Racing fans can try WRC 3 – FIA World Rally Championship 2012, Fast & Furious: Showdown, and GRID 2 featuring robust single and multiplayer modes with an advanced AI and a reverse option to erase crashes and redo race segments.

RPG action game releases include the PS3 exclusive Tales of Xillia (August 6, also available in a collector’s edition), Dragon’s Crown (August 6) for the PS3 and PS Vita, which will feature cross-saving, and the very memorable Remember Me on PS3 and Xbox 360, which feature outstanding graphics, futuristic action, interactive video segments (memory remixes) and an extensive Combo Lab where players to customize their own combination combat moves.

Enjoy your gaming this summer!

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