At the beginning of every month, Looking Forward gives you a small sampling of what we are anticipating most. Sure, we have our small list of things we intend to play or watch each month, but when it boils down to it what are we wanting the most as the month starts? Read on to find out.
Saints Row IV
Saints Row the Third made a huge splash during Holiday 2011 and pretty much single handedly kept its publishing partner THQ afloat through 2012. However, despite all the praise, both critical and from the general public, the series just wasn’t able to hold my interest and I skipped the Third in favor of other gaming experiences that seemed more my style. That all changed after heading to PAX East and seeing Saints Row IV up close.
I’ve since gone back and played Saints Row the Third and the praise was accurate, Volition has found their open-world nitch. Saints Row might have been built off the Grand Theft Auto model but Saints Row the Third is just a fast-paced ball of profane fun and Saints Row IV seems to be even more of that. It promises to be crude, rude and outlandish and after a year of hgh-profile releases focusing on dire circumstances and issues (Tomb Raider, Bioshock Infinite, The Last of Us, etc…) a game that is fun for the sake of just being fun is something I can’t wait to get my hands on.
-Chris Scott, Editor-in-Chief
Europa Universalis IV
Crusader Kings 2 was a dark horse candidate on many of 2012’s game of the year lists. Paradox’s strategy games had always filled an exciting niche, but behind complex UIs and lacking the graphics of more widely accepted games, they failed to get that wider acceptance. CK2 was able to exude graphical appeal and offer an easier-to-comprehend experience while still provides the strategic depth of earlier games. On the heels of that success, Paradox returns to what is considered its core series: Europa Universalis. EU4 is highly anticipated, especially for us old hands, who want to see it finally gain the recognition it so richly deserves. The newest version upgrades trade, diplomacy, events, and, well, basically every aspect of the game, even going so far as to include a converted to allow you to continue your CK2 game into the 1420-1820 era of EU. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into what has been one of the best grand strategy franchises around.
-Tony Odett, Features Editor
Breaking Bad
After the usual summer drought of entertainment releases, there is a lot to look forward to in August, but nothing quite as anticipated as the final eight episodes of Breaking Bad. The final season of Breaking Bad was split into two half-seasons, and it’s been more than a year since the first half of the season aired. Breaking Bad fans need their fix. We need to know how the best show on TV will end. What is Heisenberg’s ultimate fate? How does he become the disheveled Walter with the hair, the beard, and the gun? Why does he need the gun? How will he use the ricin? (Will he use it on himself?) Where is his family? What becomes of Jesse? How will the showdown between Walter and Hank play out?
All of these questions will be answered very soon in what the cast and creators are hyping up as the best eight episodes of the series. It’s easy to believe the hype, considering Breaking Bad is the only the show that has gotten consistently better and more exciting with each new season and nearly each new episode.
Jeff Derrickson, Senior Editor
The Bureau: X-COM Declassified
X-COM: Enemy Unknown came out last year and took a handful of awards with it. All were rightfully earned, too, because Enemy Unknown was a fantastic strategy game with real emotional attachment and top-notch presentation. The Bureau: X-COM Declassified strays away from turn-based strategy by blending cover-based shooter with the X-COM universe.
Being as shooters and strategy games are my two favorite genres, seeing these two being married by 2K Marin has be more than excited. The universe is a tad different this time around, being set in an alternate 1960’s world instead of the futuristic setting of Enemy Unknown. I think the thing that excites me most is managing my squad in semi-realtime with the command wheel while I blast the enemy away. Oh, and perma-death returns, as well as character growth, both of which played a major part in my love for Enemy Unknown. Losing an important team member was infuriating, and made you play more cautiously. That’s just something you don’t see in other squad-based shooters – your squad dying.
-Don Parsons, Communications Manager
Now that we have shared our most anticipated games/movies/TV shows for August, what is yours? Let us know in the comments below.
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