Feeling the summer crunch yet? Just a little? Well, we sure are. After months of ample pickings from the new release catalogue, things have finally hit a new lull, so much so that it’s been difficult to determine a ‘must have’ game for July. Don’t get us wrong, there’s still some compelling stuff worth investing in, but nothing up to the level of triple-A goodness that we enjoyed earlier in the year.
In strike contrast to the weather, July has proven decidedly tepid on the gaming front, though there were a few stand out offerings, such as the family-orientated LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, a charming and addictive take on the Potter Universe fused with the same trademark humor that has seen even the most hardened of gamers gravitate towards LEGO brand. Still, as rewarding as this proved, it ultimately came down to PlayStation Network to provide us with our stand out title of the month, namely the hilariously titled and hugely enjoyable action-RPG, DeathSpank.
Conceived by Ron Gilbert of Monkey Island fame, DeathSpank is something we’d be more than willing to shell out full price for, making the $14.99 USD price tag an even more attractive purchase. Despite a tenuous plot, DeathSpank is chock full of witty banter, unforgettable characters and retro-tastic visuals, and remains just a downright joy to play regardless of the fact that at its core, it’s pretty much your standard hack ‘n slash adventure. Charming and hilarious to the end, Gilbert’s creation is refreshing RPG that never fails to entertain, and therefore bags our Game of the Month accolade for July 2010.
Here’s a snippet of what we had to say on the game in our review, which can be read in full here.
“The gameplay flows nicely, never interrupted by loading times as you move from one area to the next, while the colourful world is a delight to explore. The top-down perspective and contrast of the 2D backdrops and 3D animations gives it a retro feel and an appealing art-style that feels like you’re wandering through the pages of a fairy-tale book with delightful places such as Bobble Wood and the Town of Pluckmuckle to explore.”
Of course, we don’t expect everyone to agree with our choice, so be sure to let us know what game you think deserves the accolade for Game of the Month: July 2010 in the comments section below.