Joystiq's Fall Release Cheat Sheet: December 2012
Oh, December, with your regionally specific cold or warm nights, sugarplums and gift giving. It's also a time when the video game industry stops jamming the accelerator on so many video games. Which is good, because you have a lot of games to catch up on from both October and November.
December, however, does have a few highlights. Far Cry 3 arrives, along with the retail package of the outstanding Walking Dead adventure game series. So keep warm (or cool – we don't know where you live!) inside and spend some time with a few new video games.
Of course, there are plenty of other great games available this fall we didn't get a chance to highlight. That's why we want to hear your anticipated Fall 2012 games for a follow-up "Community Response" feature to these Cheat Sheets. Give us your list in the comments below and tell us why you're looking forward to it; we may even highlight your comment.
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December 4, 2012 – PC, X360, PS3
"After replenishing my supplies – and buying a silencer for my SMG, for all the good it will do me – I check out the bulletin board in my newly acquired base of operations. It seems a bandit has taken over a local farm and someone wants me to take revenge. The only catch is that I have to honor the local tradition in doing so, which means I have to kill him with a knife. Sounds easy enough." – Joystiq's Far Cry 3 Preview
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December 4, 2012 – X360, PS3 (Retail Collection, Episodes Available Digitally)
All five episodes of The Walking Dead crawl to retail shelves in one convenient bundle this December, for Xbox 360 and PS3. Each episode so far has been a treat of terror: The writing is "fraught with tense pauses and biting, yet humane, dialogue;" the gameplay "has found the balance between personalized gaming and coherent drama;" and Telltale Games has a surprising smash hit on its hands. The retail package is out just in time for the holidays, and really, there's nothing more eternal than the ravenous hunger of the undead. And they say diamonds are forever.
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December 4, 2012 – X360 (Download), PS3 (Retail and Download)
"Believe it or not, the controls work: I was able to pull off abilities and combos with nearly as much complexity as the PC MOBAs. Legolas, for example, has a rooting ability that locks enemy players down, as well as a quick dash ability, and another one that knocks back targets away from him. After a little bit of practice, I was able to use those abilities together, dashing forward past a fleeing enemy, knocking him back into harm's way, and then locking him down in place for the finish. The toughest part is making sure the aiming is lined up (you move with the left stick, and target with the right), but it's amazing that it works on a controller at all." – Joystiq's Guardians of Middle-earth Preview
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2012 – PC, Mac
"Luftrausers is a fitting continuation of the gameplay style that Vlambeer explored in Super Crate Box. It's easy to play, and relies on a combination of continuous unlocks and – most importantly – responsive, satisfying explosions on the regular, to get players hooked on repeated short sessions." – Joystiq's Luftrausers Preview
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2012 – PS3 (Download)
Ratchet and Clank return! Insomniac's latest installment brings the action to PSN with cross-play funcationality across the PS3 and Vita. Full Frontal Assault promises to return to the series roots, packing in plenty of action and weapons, but also throwing in some new tower defense elements.
