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Community Corner

This Month in Gaming - July 2011

It's officially hot out. Here are some of the near-future releases that might make a nice companion to your A/C.

I've got good news and bad news.

The bad news is that it's a relatively slow month as far as video game releases go. Not much big-name content here.

The good news is that is this a prime opportunity to direct you towards some titles you may or may not have heard of that could very well end up being worth your attention. So, without further ado:

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Here we have the sequel to 2007's Earth Defense Force 2017, an Xbox 360 game that has developed somewhat of a cult following. A third-person shooter with famously bad voice acting, EDF 2017 was credited with having gameplay that was pure fun. Over 150 weapons, 4 vehicles, hordes of enemies, 53 levels with destructible environments... Throw some 2-player co-op in there and you have yourself a good time.

Insect Armageddon looks to take all of that and simply step it up to the next level. This sequel is said to include vastly upgraded visuals, over 300 weapons, and 4 selectable player classes. In addition, 3-player co-op is now available local or online, as well as a 6-player "Survival Mode."

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On top of all of that, it retails at $39.99.

Another sequel coming out this month is a follow-up to 2009's Bound in Blood, and the third game in the Call of Juarez series. Like the two games before it, The Cartel is a first-person shooter with a "Wild West" theme to it, though this particular title actually takes place in modern-day Mexico.

The biggest new feature this time around is the 3-player "drop in, drop out" co-op gameplay, a feature that was on the wishlists of many fans following the release of Bound in Blood. The developer listened, guys!

Look for this one on all of the HD platforms in a few weeks.

As the indie game development scene grows, so does its popularity and sales. But most importantly, so does the quality of the games that it contains. This month, Bastion could be a big one.

This title earned the distinction of "Best New IP" at PAX East this year, and more recently, "Best Downloadable Game" of E3 2011 courtesy of the Game Critic Awards. It's an action role-playing game often singled out for its compelling art style and creative use of a consistent narrator accompanying all moments of the game.

If action-RPGs are up your alley, this could be a borderline must-play. But no matter who you are, I'd keep Bastion in mind this month, especially since it's likely to release at a bargain price point. If you don't have an Xbox 360, it's also planned for a PC release, but does not yet have a confirmed release date for that version.

  • Limbo [PS3, PC] - July 22nd

Speaking of difference-making indie titles, Limbo may not be a new name, but it's been an Xbox 360 Arcade exclusive until now. This month, PS3 and PC players will be able to catch up on this excellent title.

If you're not already familiar with Limbo, it was the indie game story of 2010. It's a side-scrolling platformer through a dark and shadowy realm, the location of which becoming a point of debate in gaming circles all on its own. Its gameplay and puzzle mechanics are sharp with occasionally startling and disturbing sequences.

Limbo has been almost universally accepted by critics as an excellent game, earning a Metascore of 90. This is one of the games that you should have already played last year. If you don't own an Xbox 360 console, you had a pretty good reason for not playing it, but that all changes on July 22nd.

Filling this month's "bizarre" quota is Catherine, the adult-adventure/puzzle-platforming/survival horror game.

This is a difficult game to describe. It centers around the main character Vincent who is simultaneously in love with two people, Katherine and Catherine. As he tries to balance this relationship, the game's course is affected by moral decisions that are presented a bit outside of the norm. Whereas most games will ask for your decision at the onset of a particular event, Catherine instead uses answers to seemingly unrelated questions asked at seemingly unrelated moments to decide the moral direction of future situations.

It's an interesting idea, and it doesn't stop there. The active gameplay of Catherine takes place during nightmare scenarios in Vincent's sleep where he is tasked with climbing a wall to escape from sheep and enemies with butts for faces. It's executed in the form of an action/puzzle sequence in which Vincent must also avoid falling into a pit of spikes.

Without much of a precedent to go on, it's difficult to predict how Catherine will turn out. If nothing else, it sure has controversy and anticipation associated with it, and everyone can get a much clearer picture of this title on July 26th.

This month might not have the blockbuster household names associated with it, but it's got no shortage of interesting and original titles. Whether you want to shoot a lot of bugs, wield a shotgun in Mexico, or manage a love triangle whilst climbing nightmare puzzle walls, chances are pretty good that you'll still find something worth playing.

Pick up these games and respective consoles at these local video game retailers:

  • , 545 South Broad St., Lansdale. (215) 368-1955
  • GameStop, 1551 Valley Forge Road, Lansdale. (215) 631-1230
  • , 2333 W. Main St., Lansdale. (215) 855-4280
  • GameStop, 801 Bethlehem Pike, North Wales. (215) 412-2900
  • GameStop, Montgomery Mall, North Wales. (215) 362-2036
  • Toys R Us, 2 Airport Square, North Wales. (215) 368-8050
  • Best Buy, 801 Bethlehem Pike, North Wales. (215) 855-3528
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