It’s probably just as well that Britain experienced a massive heat wave in July, as the amount of new games on offer was decidedly thin on the ground. That’s not surprising, though, seeing as how we’re now right in the midst of the summer software drought – and that extends to gaming news in general. Still, it’s not all bad news; August looks set to shift things up a gear in terms of new titles, and with Gamescom just around the corner, we’re all set for a fresh influx of PlayStation-related gossip. For now though, it’s time to dissect July’s output and see what was worth your time and hard-earned cash.
Truth be told there wasn’t a great deal available last month, though PlayStation Vita did manage to get a strong showing in the shape of PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate HD. Yep, this classic franchise hit Sony’s high-powered handheld with hours and hours of content, sumptuous visuals and tough-as-nails difficulty. Velocity Ultra, meanwhile, offers the fast-paced thrills of an arcade shoot-‘em-up with surprising tactical depth – throw in Trophy support and unlockables and you have quite the compelling package. One thing is for sure, we don’t recommend spending your money on the abysmal Superfrog HD.
The only other title worth your attention is Tecmo Koei’s PlayStation 3 brawler Dynasty Warriors 8. Yes, this series has been around forever, and has had several misfires along the way, but this latest entry really hits the mark. Featuring a massive character roster and heaps of extra content, Dynasty Warriors 8 reinvigorates the long-running series and offers the most enjoyable Dynasty Warriors title since DW3 – and about time, too.
So, that’s what we deem to be the cream of the crop of July 2013’s line-up; but what game ultimately deserves the accolade for Game of the Month? Once again, the PSU Towers team chewed the fat over last month’s offerings, and decided that Dynasty Warriors 8 takes the crow this time around. Despite the quality of PS Vita titles in July, we felt that this game deserves recognition for giving the the venerable hack-‘n-slash series a much-needed shot in the arm. Don’t get us wrong though; while Dynasty Warriors fans will lap it up, the game also stands on its own two feet and has more than enough content to satisfy newcomers thanks to its expansive weapons line-up, blood-pumping combat and meaty character roster.
Here’s what PSU.com’s Dane Smith had to say in his review, and be sure to read the full article here.
"At the end of the day though this is a Dynasty Warriors game, and it still uses the same set-in-stone formula that has made it so divisive since the second game in the franchise. You still run around a battlefield slaying thousands of enemies at a time with very little strategy and in a mindless haze of glee and ecstasy. Those are what beat’em up, hack and slash games are about. Fans of the series will automatically love it, and haters will automatically hate it. For those who are undecided there are enough tweaks and new additions to this release that you should give it an honest shot."
What do you feel deserves the award for July 2013’s Game of the Month? Post your comments below.