5 Massive Game Releases You Need To Play This Week

The weather is beginning to heat up across SA and as September comes to an end and October rolls in, we get some big-name game releases in the sports, RPG and adventure genres.

Here are our picks for the biggest games launching the week:

NBA 2K16

Release date: 29 September (PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, PC)

The juggernaut of NBA simulators is back this week, and if you thought things were getting a little stale, NBA 2K16 aims to do something new with the series. Outside of graphics and gameplay tweaks and improvements, the game has a redoubled focus on the MyCareer mode. In a sentence you don’t hear often with sports games, NBA 2K16 aims to tell an interesting story.

How do you achieve a sophisticated storytelling in a sports game? You get Spike Lee involved. MyCareer in NBA 2K16 is going to be a Spike Lee joint. The director of Malcolm X had a heavy involvement in the game’s development. As you play through MyCareer, you will follow a top high school player going through the roller coaster of emotions as he makes decisions toward his pro career.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5

Release date: 29 September (PS4, Xbox One)

The last couple Tony Hawk games have been a bit of an experimental detour for the franchise, but Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is back with a focus on delivering the familiar Pro Skater gameplay we fell in love with years ago, with needed updates and tweaks to make it fresh for the current-generation of consoles.

Collecting SKATE, finding hidden areas, smashing out long combos, completing objectives, and of course, racking up massive scores are all part of the core gameplay this time around, which should please veteran fans.

Players can also play offline by themselves or enjoy drop-in and drop-out online multiplayer. Whether players work together to complete missions or challenge each other, 20 players can play in a single session together. The game features eighty missions over nine environments with opportunities to unlock new content and level up their skaters. Returning to the series is the ability to build and share skateparks with the game’s park creation tool set. Either create your own skater or play as one of the top skaters in the world.

LEGO Dimensions

Release date: 29 September (PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS4, Wii U)

The LEGO games have become incredibly popular with both younger and more serious gaming audiences, and there’s a reason for that – they’re incredibly fun. While already great, LEGO Dimensionsis set to take that to a new level. LEGO Dimensions combines characters and settings from multiple Warner Bros. properties, much like Disney’s Infinity game, along with the unique qualities of LEGO building bricks and Minifigures. Players will use a portal-like platform to project their real-life figures into the game. Characters and playsets already confirmed include Batman, Scooby-doo, Portal, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, and more. There is also the cool building aspect to a number of the toys, which gives it a unique spin.

Heroes of Might and Magic VIII

Release date: 29 September (PC)

Die-hard PC gamers can look forward to Heroes of Might and Magic VII, which sees the popular series making a triumphant return to the mouse and keyboard crew. Heroes of Might and Magic Heroes VII aims to deliver the essence of turn based strategy gaming. Set in a fantasy universe with RPG progression with a strong story narrative, the game allows you to explore the world of Ashan, develop and manage your economy, lead armies and legendary creatures into battle, and build up your heroes with hundreds of different abilities and skills.

Fallout Anthology

Release date: 2 October (PC)

In preparation for the highly-anticipated Fallout 4, Bethesda are releasing the Fallout Anthology to get you up to speed and give you a serious shot of nostalgia. Experience the definitive PC collection from the award-winning series, as the Anthology features all five critically-acclaimed games and official add-ons in a premium collectible set including – Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition, Fallout New Vegas: Ultimate Edition, Fallout Tactics, Fallout 2 and Fallout. Packaged in an exclusive mini-nuke storage case, complete with audible bomb sound and a space reserved to add your copy of Fallout 4, this is the ultimate collectible for Fallout fans.

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