Deathly Hallows
As the first month of autumn draws to a close, most of us will have settled decently enough back into our regular routines of ample work and not a lot of play. On the other hand, the gaming industry is gearing up for the flurry of games ingrained in the annual holiday season.
But while it may not be time for shiny bells and tempting offers just yet, the changing weather brings with it winds of change to major franchises, old genres, and a host of thrilling, dramatic stories.
To help us in our transition to longer stays indoors, here are ten exciting games that will be bursting on the scene in the dark and stormy month of October.
Read Only Memories
Let's face it. Not all of us will make it to see what the world looks like fifty years from now; we might not even be able to make it to next year. But thanks to the wonders of technology, we won't need to wait very long for our first taste of the future.
Developed by Midboss, Read Only Memories is a cyberpunk adventure game set in 2064 Neo-San Francisco. As a young struggling journalist, you have to investigate and uncover the mystery of the disappearance of your friend, the creator of the world's first sapient robot, Turing.
Fast-paced puzzles, decisive dialogue choices, and an exciting world of side quests and character arcs await to be explored as you experience unique graphics and exotic sounds in a dystopian future. The inclusion of queer and diverse characters in meaningful roles brings the tense story of multiple paths and missed opportunities to life, and gives us a world that might not seem so different from ours at all.
Read Only Memories is out on Windows, Mac, and Linux on October 6th.
Rock Band 4
The band is back and it's ready for current-gen!
After three years of plastic instruments collecting dust in cupboards, Rock Band 4 will be stepping back on stage with upgraded wireless controllers, all-new single-player and multiplayer modes, and of course, brand-new tracks. More than 2000 songs will can be downloaded from the Rock Band Music Store, including those previously purchased at no additional cost.
In addition, Rock Band 4 will have backwards-compatibility for all last-gen controllers, so whether on lead guitar, bass guitar, drums, or vocals, all of us can once again get back to being rock stars.
Rock on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 6th.
Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 1: The Order of the Stone
Arguably the most popular family-friendly video game of this era will finally be getting a story, and it sure looks interesting.
Thanks to adventure game powerhouse Telltale Games, Minecraft: Story Mode will be coming into existence and giving players a different spin on the big, wide, pixelated world of Minecraft.
As a male or female hero named 'Jesse', you will have to save the world from oblivion by traversing through storied places such as the Overworld, the Nether, and the End in order to find the legendary Order of the Stone. Five episodes, tough decisions, and thrilling action will all be rolled into one for an an adventure of a lifetime through the world of Minecraft.
Minecraft your own story on Windows, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on October 13th, and on iOS and Android on October 15th.
Guitar Hero Live
Talk about a comeback; we're getting a new Guitar Hero after five years!
Guitar Hero Live will introduce a revamped six-button guitar controller, two new innovative gameplay modes, and hundreds of new tracks.
The new single-player GH Live mode gives you a first-person view of real crowds, real venues, and best of all, real reactions. If you're missing too many beats, your bandmates will be trying to give you a wake-up call, but if you're on fire, the cheers will be off the charts.
The most significant feature of Guitar Hero Live is Guitar Hero TV (GHTV), the world's first playable music video network. At anytime, you can pick a channel and discover new songs to play, earning in-game currency and leveling up to access Premium Shows. GHTV also lets you play with your friends locally or online all over the world, so the competition to be the best guitarist never stops, no matter your skill level.
Go Live on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on October 20th.
Life is Strange - Episode 5: Polarized
One of the most pleasant surprises of the year will be sadly coming to an end.
The fifth and final episode of Life is Strange will close the books on what has been a thrillingly dramatic adventure through Arcadia Bay, Oregon, in the shoes of charming protagonist Maxine Caulfield. Her power to rewind time has changed the course of her world, and only she has the power to prevent it from being stuck in time.
The choices made throughout the season will come full circle in the last episode, and different choices will lead to different endings. But while it might be the last time we will be entrenched in Max's story, the lovely soundtrack will be there to ease our sorrows.
Polarize the end on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on October 20th.
Tales of Zestiria
The Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) genre is as strong as ever, as Bandai Namco celebrates the 20th anniversary of its Tales series with the fifteenth main entry.
Tales of Zestiria tells the story of a Shepherd named 'Sorey', blessed with powers by the mystical spirit race, the Seraphim, as he travels with his friends to free the land from creatures spawned by negative emotions.
Improving upon the series' famed Linear Motion Battle System, Tales of Zestiria's seamlessly integrated Advanced Battle System lets certain characters fuse into a single entity in battle to deliver powerful attacks. With the help of Seraphim, you can discover diversified and huge environments throughout your adventure in the medieval fantasy open world.
Discover Zestiria on Windows, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 3 on October 20th.
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water
What's Halloween without some horror?
This October marks the highly-anticipated return of Japanese cult horror franchise Fatal Frame with its first core entry since 2008. Utilizing the Wii U GamePad controller as your only defense, you will have to save yourself from hostile ghosts by taking photographs of them.
Three interconnected stories will converge uncovering the truth behind the history of death and darkness on Mount Hikami. Armed with the power of the Camera Obscura and the ability to see the shadows of spirits, you will have to survive a deadly stream of water flowing throughout the mountain while investigating the ruins of an eerie inn, a shrine filled with life-sized dolls, and a lake full of dead priestesses.
Capture Fatal Frame on Wii U on October 22nd.
Assassin's Creed Syndicate
Another year, another Assassin's Creed; this time, we'll be jumping into haystacks all the way in jolly old Victorian England.
Set in 1868, twin siblings Jacob and Evie Frye travel to London to rally the underworld in the face of widespread corruption caused by the age of the Industrial Revolution.
The birth of the modern age gives birth to all-new weapons and technology, such as brass knuckles, cane swords, and rope launchers to scale buildings in seconds and take enemies by surprise. Play as either protagonist, hijack carriages, and even brawl on top of them as you save London from Templar control.
Assassinate the Syndicate on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 23rd, and Windows on November 19th.
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
While the next The Legend of Zelda game for consoles is still missing in action, fans of the franchise can keep themselves occupied with a Zelda game with not one Link, but three.
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes lets three players team up via local or online multiplayer to cooperatively solve puzzles and battle bosses in inventive dungeons. Single players can also use paper dolls instead of real players to complete the team of three.
The new Totem mechanic lets the three Links stack themselves on top of each other to reach new locations and attack enemies on higher ground, while loot can be collected to create wearable outfits with different boosts and abilities.
With a visual style and top-down view reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes will surely give fans a satisfying sense of nostalgia.
Tri Force the Legend on Nintendo 3DS on October 23rd.
Halo 5: Guardians
Master Chief returns, but this time he's missing.
In a 4-player cooperative epic that spans three worlds, you will have to hunt the truth in search of Master Chief while a mysterious and unstoppable force threatens the galaxy.
Two new multiplayer modes breathe new life into the storied franchise: Warzone brings in both friendly and enemy AI to mix up the experience with up to 24 players battling it out, while Arena gives players the competitive 4-vs-4 combat that we all know and love.
Choose your Guardians on Xbox One on October 27th.
What game are you excited about this October?
Published: Oct 1, 2015 04:13 pm