With the Christmas shopping season just around the corner, it’s no wonder that many companies choose to release some of the most highly anticipated video games in the fourth quarter of the year. After the return-to-school madness, and before Black Friday marking the official start of the Xmas shopping season, there is a delicious lull between major American holidays full of hype, and speculation and pre-order frenzies within the video game community.
For many gamers, the fourth quarter each and every year offers some agonizing waiting-games and trials of patience. Of course, that doesn’t mean the first half of 2011 didn’t offer some fantastic new release titles — L.A. Noire, anyone? — but as fall looms on the horizon, painting the landscape a pallet of reds, yellows and oranges, some of the best video games of 2011 will be hitting the shelves after months of promotion and anticipation. The following 10 video games are scheduled to release during September, October and November, many of which are already available for pre-order at your choice video game retailer, and more than a few of them are apt to be go-to favorites on the Christmas wish lists of the gamers in your life.
September-Release Video Games
Dead Island (9/06/11): Earlier this spring, Square Enix released an epic trailer for Dead Island, a shooter title which promises to expand upon the popular Zombie Apocalypse themes while incorporating impressive graphics, some variety in character choices, and hopefully a few surprises. The release date was adjusted numerous times, but the game is expected to finally hit shelves in early September. Pre-order options are already available at numerous retailers, such as GameStop, who also offer bonus content for gamers who choose to purchase through them. Dead Island will be available on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC.
Star Fox 64 3D (9/09/11): Nintendo has a long history with the Star Fox franchise, beginning on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and now moving onto the latest platform: the handheld Nintendo 3D3. If you haven’t splurged on one of these systems, you might want to consider giving it a try-especially if you’re a gamer with experience on the various hand-held options available throughout the years. The 3DS specifically has a lot of vintage video game-inspired titles available, which offer plenty of nostalgic appeal. If you’ve enjoyed the Star Fox franchise in the past, definitely consider this one, which promises to launch the epic series into the modern gaming era 14 years after the release of the original. This upcoming release is exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS platform.
Gears of War 3 (9/20/11): This mature Sci-Fi Shooter continues the successful Gears of War franchise with a supposedly climatic finale to the saga. With the success of the previous two in the series, the bar is set pretty high for Gears of War 3, especially if this is the last new release in the franchise the fans will ever receive. GameSpot discussed the changes to the multiplayer mode after a hands-on experience with the game back last October, which revealed three new modes, new weapons and other surprises awaiting players. This one is a must-play for fans of the Gears of War saga, but also a likely hit for any gamers who favor the Shooter genre or the Sci-Fi theme. This video game is exclusive to Xbox 360 at release.
October-Release Video Games
Rage (10/4/11): Yet another First-Person Shooter hitting the shelves for fall 2011, Rage is a mature title set in a futuristic world in which Earth has been ravaged after an asteroid collides with the planet. It may prove to be a refreshing change of pace from the popular Zombie Apocalypse setting, taking place in a general post-apocalypse world as imagined by Bethesda Softworks-the same folks who created Doom and Quake. Fortunately, this title is releasing on the PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 platforms, so there is plenty of flexibility for gamers wanting to disappear into this visually appealing, devastated version of Earth.
Just Dance 3 (10/7/11): Just Dance 3 is the only Music/Dance genre video game coming in fall 2011 to make this top 10, and it does have a fairly specific fan-base rather than the more widespread appeal some of these other titles enjoy. Thanks to the fairly new addition of motion sensor technology for the Xbox 360 (with Kinect) and Playstation 3 (with PS Move), Just Dance 3 will be available on those platforms in addition to the Nintendo Wii system. Ubisoft has had a fair amount of success with the first two Just Dance titles, any video games which get gamers moving and up off the couch are becoming increasingly popular, especially with parents. While the PS3 version’s release is still To Be Announced (TBA), October 7th will see the Xbox 360 and Wii versions on the selves.
Batman: Arkham City (10/18/11): The Batman franchise has been seen numerous video games, ranging from moderately successful to downright horrible. Fortunately, this upcoming release is a follow-up to Batman: Arkham Asylum, one of the most successful Batman titles to date. The hype over this Warner Bros. Interactive project has increased considerably following the coverage at E3 back in June, and the screenshots, trailers and announcements about Batman: Arkham City have gamers eager to play. Classified as Action Adventure, this mid-October release promises a few surprises, some impressive graphics, and a fair representation of the classic Batman characters fans have come to love. Batman: Arkham City will be available on PC, Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and eventually the WIIU platform.
Battlefield 3 (10/25/11): Fall 2011 has numerous Shooter genre video games being released, and Battlefield 3 is no exception. This mature-rated title follows in the wake of the original two Battlefield games, and offers some pretty impressive stats. For one, the PC version will boast a 64-player multiplayer; the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions cap-out at 24, but that’s still a tremendous amount online together at once. The maps are lush and well designed, and there are plenty of weapons available for gamers looking to go out in a blaze of glory. Playing as U.S. Marines, players are equipped with supplies suitable for an elite squad of combatants. Choose between the PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions, but don’t miss this one if you enjoy the First-Person Shooter genre or Military-based titles.
November-Release Video Games
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (11/11/11): The latest installment of the Elder Scrolls saga hits stores mid-November, and gamers are already hopeful that this 5th chapter in the series will surpass the 2006 and 2008 Game of the Year recipient predecessors. Quality Role-Playing video games aren’t as numerous as they were back in the SNES and Sega era, but Bethesda Studios has given gamers a dose of the elements, qualities and atmospheres which made those vintage titles so popular by way of the Elder Scrolls series. The coverage on this upcoming game has offered some tasty tidbits to fans: The crafting system has supposedly been expanded, the dungeon designs were improved, and exploring the world is less linear than in earlier chapters of the series. We can only hope these rumors are true. You can find this one on the PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 platforms.
Assassin’s Creed Revelations (11/15/11): Ubisoft just keeps publishing hit titles in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, and Assassin’s Creed Revelations is due to release just over a year after the successful Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood predecessor. This series has plenty of time-traveling goodness, stealth opportunities and old-fashioned swordplay, and the storyline continues to be intriguing enough to keep gamers looking forward to new chapters. The series truly embodies the Action Adventure genre and the addition of multiplayer mode with Brotherhood-which continues in Revelations-gave these titles even more versatility. More than a few fans are looking forward to the new post-kill taunt ability, which promises humor if nothing else. This new release will be available for PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.
Star Wars: The Old Republic (TBA 2011): Star Wars: The Old Republic (SW:TOR) is quickly becoming a thorn in the side of many gamers, as an official release date for this highly anticipated massively multiplayer online (MMO) Role-Playing game is still pending. A combination of the Electronic Arts, BioWare and LucasArts companies are behind this MMO, which means more than just Star Wars fans are chomping at the bit for this one. So much hype and anticipation surrounds SW:TOR, than it had to be included on this list-even if it’s still speculation that the TBA status will finally reveal a November release date. A Sci-Fi MMO based on the epic Star Wars franchise, SW:TOR will no doubt be on most gamers’ Xmas lists, even if they’ve never dabbled in MMO titles in the past. This upcoming title is exclusive to PC.