Batman: Arkham Origins
Batman will be back Oct. 25 in another installment of the extremely popular Arkham franchise. Arkham Origins will take place years before the Arkham Asylum and Arkham City installments. Featuring an inexperienced Dark Knight, Arkham Origins depicts a city which labels Batman as Gotham’s menace, not its savior. Players match wits against Black Mask. In addition, gamers face the seven assassins sent to destroy Batman. Arkham Origins also portrays the Joker as Batman’s ever-present nemesis. This game is a must for fans of the series and first time players alike.
Grand Theft Auto V
The GTA series, the father of crime games, has rarely disappointed gamers in its 15 years of existence, and the latest installment of Grand Theft Auto V will be no exception. The game’s storyline depicts the lives of three very different criminals. With an enormous game layout, the options and format of Grand Theft Auto V make the game look like a criminal themed version of the Sims. Gamers will have to wait to find out the game’s secrets until Sept. 17, when Grand Theft Auto V hits Salt Lake City store locations.
Disney Infinity
On Aug. 18, Disney will follow the footsteps of video gaming trends with its own version of Skylander called Disney Infinity. Players will be able to select their player from the trove of Disney and Pixar characters, which come in the form of collectable figurines. Each will unlock its own video game. The characters will also be playable in the highly anticipated “Toy Box” mode, where players can build individual video games using an editing system.
Saints Row IV
Saints Row IV stirred up controversy when its trailer, showing a naked character shooting aliens, caused Australia to ban the game’s distribution. Not only did the game cause uproar by screening naked bodies, it also shocked people by making the main character both the president of the United States and the head of a major crime syndicate. Its predecessors have been referred to as Grand Theft Auto clones, but that title was shoved aside when the aliens landed. Anyone finding GTA too boring or other games’ protagonists too clothed will definitely get a kick out of Saints Row IV. The game is up for grabs on Aug. 20.
Assassins Creed 4: Black Flag
The Crusades, the Italian renaissance and the American Revolutionary War have provided interesting backdrops in former Assassins Creed games, and now added to the franchise’s storyline queue is the Caribbean circa 1715. On Oct. 29, players can pirate their way across the seas, waging maritime battles and hunting for lost Spanish gold. When glancing over Assassins Creed 4’s previews, the concept falls short. The game’s trailers only show the pirate action and have not given details in regards to the game’s story, which has been an integral part in the success of the previous Assassins Creed installments. Hopefully Ubisoft isn’t out to pillage gamers’ money this season.