Only a few more weeks until the next-generation of gaming blows minds across the world. But we still have a little bit of kick left in the current-gen to keep some of us satisfied. Myself, I’m torn between the shooter series I love and coming back for a nostalgic trip through wrestling memories. After this, there’s only a few games on my radar thankfully. Maybe it’s just me, but besides the console launches, the software just doesn’t seem to be as robust as last year. Oh well, here’s this week’s dish of releases.. ~Don P.

releases29_Battlefield4

It’s been awhile since there has been a big-name shooter, but it’s that time of year when two big shooters come out back-to-back. As per usual, EA is releasing Battlefield 4 and the Battlefield 4: China Uprising Expansion (PS3, PC, and Xbox 360) before Activisions offering from Infinity Ward. I haven’t heard much about the single-player campaign, but I think Battlefield is known for its multiplayer, which is what I can’t wait to play. My time with the beta was enough to let me know that I will love it about as much as I did Battlefield 3’s multiplayer. The new leveling mechanic is an interesting twist on the tried-and-true formula, so I look forward to seeing how that plays out over the course of my play time.

[one_half]releases29_pacmanPac-Man was a big deal during the early gaming era, and then made a massive comeback with the digital hit, Pac-Man: Championship Edition. With Pac-Man on everyone’s brain again, Namco is releasing Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures (PC, PS3, Wii U, and Xbox 360). The game looks like a charming 3D platformer, and with Pac-Man in the starring role, it has potential to pull in older gamers like myself as well as my kids.[/one_half]

[one_half_last]releases29_sniperzombieI got stuck in the first Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie game, but that doesn’t mean I am not interested in Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army 2 (PC). The funny thing is, I played Sniper Elite V2 on console, and couldn’t stand it. I played Nazi Zombie because let’s be honest here, sniping zombies sounds a hell of a lot more fun than sneaking around Germans. Just in time for Halloween, this is a new, stand-alone campaign to play through.[/one_half_last]

releases29_assassinscreed4

This years Assassin’s Creed installment, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (PS3, PC, Wii U, and Xbox 360), comes out this week, too. Initially I was a little put-off by this one. I thought the setting to the last game was simply perfect after a long string of games set in Europe’s Renaissance era. To me, it was a backwards step to go from Revolutionary era America to a pirate-centric game. Don’t get me wrong, pirates are neat and cool, but as a history buff, I felt there were other areas that Ubisoft could have explored. And then I watched the “Assassin’s Creed IV 101 Trailer” and now I am trying to frantically pencil it in to my schedule before the end of the year.

[one_half]releases29_sonicSo I thought Sonic Lost World (3DS and Wii U) was coming out last week, and included it in last weeks release list. I was wrong. So here’s a brief repeat to freshen up your memory. SEGA’s trying to grab people who want another Super Mario Galaxy. Sonic plays on spherical worlds, like Mario Galaxy, and is even exclusive on Nintendo products. Jeff is going to review it for us, so look forward to that.[/one_half]

[one_half_last]releases29_angrybirdsI have some issues with Angry Birds Star Wars (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, Vita, and 3DS). For $30..wait, I just went and looked and it’s $40, which is worse than I originally imagined, you get a game that costs a fraction of a fraction of that on mobile platforms. There are some new levels, and sure, it will look pretty on your big TV. But $40 is a little excessive. A $10 digital title would be much more reasonable, but this is clearly shooting to grab some counter sales to parents who aren’t privy to these “evil schemes”.[/one_half_last]

releases29_wwe2k14

Being a retired wrestling fan, I still have moments where I remember the good old days. WCW, ECW, the nWO, the WWF Attitude Era, Goldberg, Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels, etc., etc. Wrestling games over the past few years have done little to try to get me back into the sport I used to know and love, but WWE 2K14 (PS3 & Xbox 360) has done nothing but try to get me crawling back for a wrestling fix. It started with the 30 Years of Wrestlemania mode announcement. Then came the roster list, which had a lot of my favorites. It ended with Undertakers own mode, Defeat the Streak/Defend the Streak. So there are a lot of little things that look promising, here’s hoping the gameplay is solid, too.

Also available –

[one_third]releases29_slenderSlender: The Arrival (PC)[/one_third]

[one_third]releases29_masterrebootMaster Reboot (PC)[/one_third]

[one_third_last]releases29_battleground3dBattleGround 3D (PC)[/one_third_last]

[one_third]releases29_footballmamagerFootball Manager 2014 (PC)[/one_third]

[one_third]releases29_bloodofthewerewolfBlood of the Werewolf (PC)[/one_third]

[one_third_last]releases29_deadlypremonitionDeadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut (PC)[/one_third_last]

[one_half]releases29_lillyLilly Looking Through (PC)[/one_half]

[one_half_last]releases29_castlevaniaCastlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD (PS3)[/one_half_last]

Are you picking up anything this week? Still playing catch up from weeks past? Let us know in the comments below.

About Author

By Don Parsons

got into podcasting in 2007, and transitioned into writing in late 2008. In late 2011, he went from blogging to writing for a small site called Vagary.tv. Don attended E3 for Vagary.tv in 2012. Now, Don is one-fourth of the foundation of Critically Sane.