Franchises Dominate Fall Video Game Releases

Photo courtesy of Ubisoft

The fall season for video games is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory. This October has seen the release of multiple anticipated titles, and, while most games coming out are sequels or yearly installments of an existing franchise, many of these will be making their first appearance on next gen consoles – an exciting advancement for gamers.

These games include “Star Wars: Battlefront,” “Fallout 4” and “Halo 5.” “Halo 5” has already been released and has received excellent reviews, with a score of 85 on Metacritic and a nine out of 10 on IGN.“Fallout 4” will be the first installment in the franchise since “Fallout: New Vegas” which came out in 2010, and many fans have been anticipating this title for years.

“It’s a sequel to ‘Fallout 3’ and ‘New Vegas,’ with an even bigger map and more objectives. Plus the story is influenced by the choices you make in the game,” said student Kevin Barros.

“The Star Wars: Battlefront” series is being revived this year after being dormant on the previous generation of consoles, and will be coming out to coincide with the film “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” “Battlefront” is heavily anticipated by avid “Star Wars” fans across the globe.  

“I’m excited for ‘Battlefront,’ but after [Battlefront] I feel as though there is not much else coming out,” said junior Tom Moore. “I’m looking forward to where the rest of the ‘Minecraft’ story mode goes. ‘Tomb Raider’ could be interesting, especially since the first one was good. ‘Rock Band 4’ I’m also excited about; I think it's cool to see these music games come back. I think it's the right time after a long break.”

As far as annual releases go, there will be another “Assassin's Creed” and “Call of Duty” to keep casual gamers happy. This year’s “Assassin's Creed,” named “Syndicate,” is set in 1868 London and occurs during the industrial revolution, giving gamers a fresh experience on a series that has been around since 2007.

“Call of Duty: Black Ops III” is set to be released on Nov. 6, and this year's title features heavy changes to the campaign mode that will be refreshing for seasoned veterans of the series, as well as for newcomers. Gone is the linear, story driven narrative that dominates every first-person shooter campaign, as Video Game Development Company, Treyarch, has introduced a four player co-op campaign, designed to be played with friends online, while still delivering the blockbuster moments that “Call of Duty” is known for.

Overall, this holiday season is shaping up to be solid yet unspectacular, as many of the blockbuster games are sequels and not original titles. However, this year's offerings are varied and diverse enough that there will certainly be something for everyone. 

bcanning@ramapo.edu