This Week in Gaming (Week 43)

[TheLostSwede]

Welcome to the last full week of October and boy is it going to be a busy week of new game releases. This week's AAA release is said to force you to go rogue on your tour of duty. Next you'll be starting your own tentacle cult, which if followed by being kicked out of hell for the second time, an inaccurate history lesson, being blown away by the wind and finally being turned into a blue hedgehog.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 / This week's AAA title / Friday 25 October
Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops. The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity. Steam link




Worshippers of Cthulhu / Monday 21 October / Early Access
You are not a harbinger of destruction; but a herald of cosmic rebirth. Your purpose is not to sow chaos, but to embrace the inevitable evolution that awaits us all.
Humanity is insignificant, pitiful in its smallness. Our existence is a fleeting whisper in the cosmic winds, and only by awakening Cthulhu can we transcend our feeble existence. In one profound act, you can shake the foundations of the universe. Awaken Cthulhu, for in his awakening lies the catalyst for a cascading effect that will reshape the cosmos and a new order shall emerge. Steam link



No More Room in Hell 2 / Tuesday 22 October / Early Access
No More Room in Hell 2 is an intense & terrifying permadeath co-op journey into the eerie darkness of zombie-infested zones. As an emergency responder you must survive, scavenge, stockpile and fulfill your mission - then repeat, each time in an ever-changing experience. Steam link



Age of History 3 / Wednesday 23 October
Embark on an epic journey with Age of History 3, which takes you through the vast timeline of human history. From the Age of Civilization to the realms of the far future, play as various Civilizations ranging from dominant empires to small tribes. Advance in the technology tree to unlock better buildings and stronger units, improving your Civilization. Each technological breakthrough opens up new possibilities, reflecting the evolution and growth of your Civilization through History. Steam link



Windblown / Thursday 24 October / Early Access
Wake up warriors! This is Windblown, a lightning-fast action roguelite crafted by Motion Twin, the creators of Dead Cells. You innocent souls have lived peacefully in The Ark, a floating village orbiting around the gigantic and deadly Vortex. However, don't let that calm existence fool you; your cozy little island is about to get devoured… Steam link



Sonic X Shadow Generations / Friday 25 October
Play as Shadow in a brand-new story campaign featuring never-before-seen abilities that prove why he's known as the Ultimate Life Form! Speed through iconic stages from Shadow's history, discover hidden secrets in an expansive hub world, and unlock new powers to take on Black Doom and save the world. Steam link

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[kilo]

Age of History III looks good. Based on the maps, it looks like c. 1450 to the future. Anyone know for sure?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Basically. CoD has turned into Mission Impossible or any other generic, overly dramatic, overly done and overly hyped action movie. I sat through the generic hollywood action movie trailer with the generic music and I honestly could not summon a modicum of interest with the game or the franchise. I didnt even give a deep sigh and say "Well, lets gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo" or "Oh, more of this again...." It was like "Oh...Well. Moving on..."

 

[scottslayer]

Sonic X Shadow Generations leaked two days ago (a week early) and it looks like your basic Sonic rehash but this time with Shadow.
No More Room in Hell 2 is locked to 8 player co-op and has permadeath mechanics for characters, blacklisting it until next year when they claim it comes out of Early Access with more than one map.
COD6: blacklisted

 

[Onasi]

I am very upset that no mention of Ys X has been made. Falcom games never get any recognition in the mainstream. *sigh*

Ys X: Nordics on Steam

Explore uncharted islands, engage in fast-paced action combat, and experience the high seas adventures of unlikely allies Adol and Karja in Ys X: Nordics!

store.steampowered.com

 

[TheLostSwede]

Basically. CoD has turned into Mission Impossible or any other generic, overly dramatic, overly done and overly hyped action movie. I sat through the generic hollywood action movie trailer with the generic music and I honestly could not summon a modicum of interest with the game or the franchise. I didnt even give a deep sigh and say "Well, lets gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo" or "Oh, more of this again...." It was like "Oh...Well. Moving on..."

But if you pre-order, you get glow in the dark weapons...

I am very upset that no mention of Ys X has been made. Falcom games never get any recognition in the mainstream. *sigh*

Ys X: Nordics on Steam

Explore uncharted islands, engage in fast-paced action combat, and experience the high seas adventures of unlikely allies Adol and Karja in Ys X: Nordics!

store.steampowered.com

Sorry, there were bigger titles, it was almost part of this week's roundup, but just missed out. These companies need to learn not to release their games on the same day as bigger releases.
Also, this weekly roundup is somewhat limited in terms of how many games I'm going to put in it and I had honestly never heard anything about that game or that company before, but I guess it could be because it's not my genre as well. There doesn't tend to be all that much interested here in JRPG content as well, at least not unless it's some big well known title.
I did actually skip a couple of other games I personally liked, but again didn't seem to have enough traction compared to the ones I did post.

 

[Onasi]

I had honestly never heard anything about that game or that company before

Bruh. It’s only one of the oldest still active development houses and their Dragon Slayer literally created Action RPG as a genre.

There doesn't tend to be all that much interested here in JRPG content as well, at least not unless it's some big well known title.

You reckon there is much… *checks* …Age of History 3 fans here on TPU? Or many furries Sonic aficionados? Meanwhile I see a ton of talk about niche Japanese titles, JRPG or otherwise, in recent gaming thread about hidden gems.

I mean, you shoehorned three (that’s 3) Early Access titles into the roundup. I wouldn’t even mention those since, you know, they aren’t done. But whatever, you have your way of doing things and I suppose there’s reason for it. I don’t think many people come to TPU for their fresh gaming news in any case. I just like reading your posts to know what the mainstream gamer considers to be “of interest” nowadays.

 

[Dristun]

Couldn't care less what the CoD campaigns are about and wish they'd sell a version of the game without it for 40-50 bucks: MP is where it's at anyway.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Bruh. It’s only one of the oldest still active development houses and their Dragon Slayer literally created Action RPG as a genre.

I have no idea what that is... As I said, not my type of game, but I do try to cover JRPG when possible.

You reckon there is much… *checks* …Age of History 3 fans here on TPU? Or many furries Sonic aficionados? Meanwhile I see a ton of talk about niche Japanese titles, JRPG or otherwise, in recent gaming thread about hidden gems.

Clearly, as there's interest in both of the games and if you go back and check over the past two years I've done this, JPRG games tend to get zero votes most months on TPU.

I mean, you shoehorned three (that’s 3) Early Access titles into the roundup. I wouldn’t even mention those since, you know, they aren’t done. But whatever, you have your way of doing things and I suppose there’s reason for it. I don’t think many people come to TPU for their fresh gaming news in any case. I just like reading your posts to know what the mainstream gamer considers to be “of interest” nowadays.

One game per day? The game you wanted is also released on the 25th, hence my comment about companies need to learn not to publish their games on the same day as other big releases, if their stuff isn't as well known.
Seems like Worshippers of Cthulhu is leading this weeks poll and I had never heard of that one either until today, but it slotted in on a day when nothing well-known was launching, although I spotted something else first, but skipped that in favour for Worshippers of Cthulhu.

 

[Solaris17]

JPRG games tend to get zero votes most months on TPU.

what votes?

Seems like Worshippers of Cthulhu is leading this weeks pol

Of course? its only out of the games you picked lol.

As I said, not my type of game

So you only post this week in gaming based on games you think are cool?

 

[Onasi]

One game per day? The game you wanted is also released on the 25th, hence my comment about companies need to learn not to publish their games on the same day as other big releases, if their stuff isn't as well known.

Falcom has been doing just fine sales-wise in the West. I have a hunch there isn’t much overlap between people who are waiting to grab the latest Ys title and Sonic fans.

I have no idea what that is... As I said, not my type of games.

Not really about “type of games”, more like basic video game history.

what votes?

I assume he means the embedded poll in the news article itself.

 

[TheLostSwede]

what votes?

In the quick poll on the front page of TPU?

So you only post this week in gaming based on games you think are cool?

No, I post it based on what's big upcoming releases, what has the most followers on Steam, what tends to be popular with the crowd here and then based on my opinion.
If you're not happy with this, please take it up with management.

Falcom has been doing just fine sales-wise in the West. I have a hunch there isn’t much overlap between people who are waiting to grab the latest Ys title and Sonic fans.

Well, you're free to run a poll in the forums and ask if this is the case.

Not really about “type of games”, more like basic video game history.

For a niche genre that loads of people aren't into.

Even a hugely popular franchise like Final Fantasy only came third the week of its release.
The other JRPG that week got one or maybe two votes...

 

[Solaris17]

No, I post it based on what's big upcoming releases, what has the most followers on Steam and then based on my opinion.

Am I missing something?

I guess you nailed black ops 6?

 

[TheLostSwede]

Am I missing something?

View attachment 368333

View attachment 368334

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I guess you nailed black ops 6?

You might want to check what I posted the last couple of weeks, as half of those games have already launched.
This is about upcoming games, not what launched in the past week or so...
Again, one game per day/date as well, if that's too hard to understand, then I don't know what I can do to explain it more clearly.

 

[W1zzard]

Am I missing something?

Our list is titles launching Oct 21 to Oct 27, aka "next week". Steam lists 80 games in that timeframe, we can't list them all. What other solution do you propose?

 

[Solaris17]

Our list is titles launching Oct 21 to Oct 27, aka "next week". Steam lists 80 games in that timeframe, we can't list them all. What other solution do you propose?

Nothing really, I just wasnt understanding how the list was put together.

 

[nomdeplume]

But if you pre-order, you get glow in the dark weapons...

All the same we're still looking for a bright spot...

There doesn't tend to be all that much interested here in JRPG content

Oh, there one is.
(*)

No, I post it based on what's big upcoming releases, what has the most followers on Steam, what tends to be popular with the crowd here and then based on my opinion.
If you're not happy with this, please take it up with management.

Nope going dark again.

Having taken this subject up with TheLostSwede over previous selections. Comments are always welcome to suggest a missed title. Which I believe has previously resulted in the rare addition to promoted games.

*I'm only commenting at all to remember the fact TPU is yet to turn into r/tpu. Anything found lacking through upstanding professional approaches far outweighs alternatives. Don't get upset at a joke that was only a joke.

 

[HOkay]

Worshippers of Cthulhu sounds interesting, though I think I'm projecting Dungeon Keeper onto it because I just really loved the old Dungeon Keeper series! Ah well, I'll be busy messing around in Throne & Liberty anyway. It's nothing new, but it seems a decent enough MMO outing so far.

 

[Space Lynx]

Nothing really, I just wasnt understanding how the list was put together.

I always just assumed that @TheLostSwede browsed the big list and picked stuff out that looked interesting, narrowed it down to five to post here each week.

 

[Why_Me]

I always just assumed that @TheLostSwede browsed the big list and picked stuff out that looked interesting, narrowed it down to five to post here each week.

This ^^

 

[TheLostSwede]

Having taken this subject up with TheLostSwede over previous selections. Comments are always welcome to suggest a missed title. Which I believe has previously resulted in the rare addition to promoted games.

But do it ahead of time, not after I've put up that weeks post. And yes, I'm more than open to suggestions, as long as it's a game that is interesting for more than one person here.

I always just assumed that @TheLostSwede browsed the big list and picked stuff out that looked interesting, narrowed it down to five to post here each week.

It's normally six, since one game is sort of a major/AAA release, when there is one, which is most weeks.

 

[mechtech]

Cthulhu

I beat him down in legendary

But do it ahead of time, not after I've put up that weeks post. And yes, I'm more than open to suggestions, as long as it's a game that is interesting for more than one person here.


It's normally six, since one game is sort of a major/AAA release, when there is one, which is most weeks.

Suggestion,

Would it be possible to do DLCs / major updates?

 

[konga]

Didn't really expect to see Ys here anyway, and I guess I shouldn't be surprised that swede has never even heard of falcom despite their very long and storied history . Please know that any remarks about games being missing from these lists from me has always been in good fun though. I know that my tastes probably deviate from the TPU norm.

As for me, though, I'm playing the Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake this week.

 

[Sithaer]

Couldn't care less what the CoD campaigns are about and wish they'd sell a version of the game without it for 40-50 bucks: MP is where it's at anyway.

I wish there was an option for the opposite.
I don't give a damn about multiplayer/competitive shooters/games in general, stoped playing those like 15+ years ago but I do find the CoD/Battlefield campaigns fun like playing a movie but I aint gonna pay full price just to play that few hours experience at most.

@TheLostSwede
Damn, sometimes I kind of feel bad for you cause theres always someone who points out that you missed this and that game and whatever else even tho its pretty much impossible to cover and know about every new game/genre,etc. 'I'm also in the dark about JRPGS and pretty much never played those..'

 

[Dristun]

I wish there was an option for the opposite.
I don't give a damn about multiplayer/competitive shooters/games in general, stoped playing those like 15+ years ago but I do find the CoD/Battlefield campaigns fun but I aint gonna pay full price just to play that few hours experience at most.

Being denied actual choice is a very familiar experience in almost every sphere of life