The Video Game Release Calendar is about to start picking up any minute now, especially after all the big games set to be revealed at this weekend’s PAX West expo.
But a (very small) number of new games were also released in the last five weeks, so if you missed any Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week selections during the month of August, I’ve collected them below.
Week of August 1, 2016
No Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week.
Week of August 8, 2016
No Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week.
Week of August 15, 2016
The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week was No Man’s Sky, a space exploration simulator for the PC and PS4.
Developed by Hello Games, an ultra-tiny developer from the United Kingdom, No Man’s Sky gives players a procedurally-generated playground with billions and billions of planets to play in. Exploring the universe and naming your discoveries is an important part of the game, as is discovering the secret that lies at the very center of the map. No Man’s Sky is one of those games that should appeal to everybody, and might even pull in patrons who just want to see what all the fuss is about.
Week of August 22, 2016
The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week was F1 2016, the latest open wheel racing simulation from Codemasters. Available now for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, F1 2016 will feature an enhanced Career Mode, as well as the complete 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship schedule with 21 tracks and 22 drivers.
Also of note this week was a pair of 3DS titles from Nintendo. Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a co-op-focused spinoff from the main Metroid series that doesn’t star intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran. Instead, players will join up with a squad of Galactic Federation Marines as they do battle with Metroids and Space Pirates on a distant planet.
Meanwhile, Style Savvy: Fashion Forward is the third game in Nintendo’s fashion franchise, and it’ll give budding business owners the chance to stock thousands of items in their boutique or “design clothes fit for a fashionista, style some wicked hair, master the art of make-up, and even become the next top model.”
Week of August 29, 2016
The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week was a tie between Madden NFL 17 and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.
The release of Madden NFL 17 on the PS4, Xbox One, PS3, and Xbox 360 means that it’s time for FOOTBALL, and for this year’s entry in their annual sports franchise, EA Sports focused on improving Madden’s famed Franchise Mode. That should make the hardcore statheads very happy, but Madden appeals to almost everybody, so most patrons will be happy to see it on the shelves.
Many gamers are excited for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided as well, though it’s a very different kind of game… a science fiction story that has many parallels to our world including civil rights, terrorism, and government surveillance. Its heady themes make it one of the smarter games out there, and one that many PC, PS4, and Xbox One owners are very interested in.
Also of note this week was The King of Fighters XIV, a one-on-one fighter for the PS4. Players familiar with the long-running King of Fighters franchise will want to check it out, as will fans of one-on-one fighting games like Street Fighter V and Mortal Kombat X.