Did you have a busy summer, filled with spending time with friends down the shore, relaxing on vacation and working to make money before you got back to college? If you have, then you may have missed these stellar video game titles released over the summer that you should try out between classes and homework.
“Shin Megami Tensei IV”
The Nintendo 3DS continues to grow with an impressive catalog of games, and “Shin Megami Tensei IV” is no exception. “Shin Megami Tensei” is a turn based RPG franchise in which your main character gains the ability to summon, fuse together and battle demons. The fourth game offers over 400 demons to fight and summon, and the game’s detailed sprites and art style helps each demon look stunning on the handheld’s screens. The game’s overall strategic challenge, impeccable voice acting and brilliant, surreal storyline with multiple endings helps “Shin Megami Tensei IV” be the best RPG on the 3DS to date.
“Animal Crossing: New Leaf”
Another 3DS title, “Animal Crossing: New Leaf,” has been one of the system’s best-selling games. Being the fourth title in the series, the “Animal Crossing” games have been known for their strangely addictive allure. The series is about living in a virtual town in which you have animal neighbors and do various tasks, such as picking fruit and fishing, in order to pay off a loan that a raccoon gave you when you buy your house. This unusual yet unique concept helped give “Animal Crossing” a quirky appeal that gamers could find nowhere else. “Animal Crossing: New Leaf” allows the player to become the mayor of their town, which will help players apply their creativity by constructing buildings and bridges. This feature helps keep the series interesting and compelling to play.
“Pikmin 3”
Another equally unusual but entertaining concept comes from “Pikmin 3” for the Nintendo Wii U. “Pikmin” is a series based on astronauts that crash land on a planet and encounter plant-like creatures that they must command in order to survive. The series’ real-time strategy gameplay lends itself well to both the Wii U gamepad and the motion control of the Wii remote, helping “Pikmin 3” control flawlessly on the Wii U. It becomes a lot easier to micro-manage an army of Pikmin due to its intuitive control schemes, making “Pikmin 3” the best entry in the series.
“Dragon’s Crown”
If you are looking for a title to play with your suitemates, look no further than “Dragon’s Crown.” The title is a fantasy beat ’em up game for both the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita. Up to four players can tackle the game’s campaign together, which features intense battles with some of the most memorable, engaging boss fights in the gaming industry. Each player can choose from six different classes, and characters can level up and learn new abilities as they progress. The game’s chaotic gameplay and beautiful art style make “Dragon’s Crown” an easy sell to those looking for a great cooperative experience.
“The Last of Us”
“The Last of Us,” which is a PlayStation 3 exclusive, has been receiving universal praise from critics. The game is a survival horror title that takes place in a post-apocalyptic version of the United States. The game gives you options on how to play it, as you typically could either take out enemies with stealth or by going out guns blazing. The way that the game plays is perfectly complemented by its amazing story, which can be incredibly heavy and emotional at times. Many gamers claim that it is the best game ever made, attesting to its brilliance in quality. If you are even remotely interested, it is highly recommended that you give it a shot.
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avigna@ramapo.edu
