November 2017 - The Month in Gaming
Here once again (and fashionably late), is The Month in Gaming. Though perhaps not as many as last month, there are quite a few big releases to sink your teeth into.
So, here are some of the games you should be keeping an eye on (or...are likely already playing) for the month of November 2017.
Call of Duty: WWII
Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series - Episode 5: Don't Stop Believin'
Sonic Forces
Release Date: 7th November
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Sonic's latest adventure pits Modern Sonic, Classic Sonic, and your Deviant Art Fanfic Character against Eggman and various other Sonic villains after they've taken over the world. Levels vary between Modern Sonic's 3D obstacle courses (à la Sonic Adventure, Unleashed, and '06), Classic Sonic's 2D sidescrollers (à la the original Sonic Games), and the Avatar's (*Deviant Art Fanfic Character's) levels, where you have a grappling hook, apparently. Tag team stages à la Sonic Heroes (a.k.a. the greatest Sonic game) also feature.
After the praised reception Sonic Mania received when it released this year, it'll be interesting to see how Forces fares. Another winner for Sega? The recognition DeviantArt The Hedgehog deserves? Finally, a universally praised 3D Sonic title?
Oh.
Mario Party: The Top 100
Release Date: 10th November
Platform: 3DS
Among the millions of Mario titles; alongside the platformers, the sports games, the racers; lies a mix of all of them: the Mario Party series. In itself, the Mario Party series has 10 main titles, and Mario Party: The Top 100 collects, you guessed it, one hundred of the "best" minigames from across all of them.
The Top 100 presents the minigames through various different modes, and all minigames feature remastered graphics and sound. If you've never played a Mario Party game before, this seems a decent way to jump in.
L.A. Noire
Release Date: 14th November
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Team Bondi and Rockstar's noir thriller has finally made its way to current-gen. More than just 'GTA in the 1940s', L.A. Noire has a lot of unique stuff going for it. Crime scene investigation, suspect questioning, World War II flashbacks, you name it.
Along with remastered graphics and audio, the ports bring with them significant changes to the questioning system. The three options formerly known as 'Truth, Doubt, Lie', have changed to 'Good Cop, Bad Cop, Accuse', likely at least partially since the former options left some players confused when 'Doubt' translated to protagonist Cole Phelps threatening suspects with a good beating. Whether these new labels will effectively label all of the dialogue now is questionable, but it seems a decent improvement (though it'll always be 'Press X to Doubt' in my heart).
Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2
Release Date: 14th November
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
There's a lot of these now, eh? To TT Games' credit, they've long since found a winning formula with their Lego series*, and this seems set to continue with this latest outing, a sequel to the 2013 title Lego Marvel Super Heroes.
There's a whole roster of Marvel heroes to take control of, many of which have their own unique abilities. Expanding on its prequel, these include variants of heroes from different time periods and Marvel realities, e.g. Spider-Gwen, Gladiator Hulk, and Howard the Duck wearing Iron Man's armour. 'Cause why not?
There's also a four-player competitive battle mode, new to the Lego series, and multiple different arenas to do battle in. If health bars are the same as in the single-player, matches should be over quickly.
*They also have easy platinums, which makes them a winner in my book.
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
Release Date: 17th November
Platform: 3DS
Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are the enhanced alternate follow-ups to the critically acclaimed Pokémon Sun and Moon. Translated into English, that means they're largely the same, but feature a different storyline, new locations, and new Pokémon, though they're still set in the Alola region.
Notably, these will be the last instalments released for the 3DS (the first being 2013's X and Y), since the series will be jumping to the Nintendo Switch with the next main release. This release will also be the first mainline Pokémon entry for a home console. Collectively, the world waits eagerly.
Star Wars Battlefront II
Release Date: 17th November
Platforms: (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Marred by a huge controversy over its microtransactions and progression system, Battlefront II nonetheless looks to be a great way to get immersed in all eras of the Star Wars canon, with an array of heroes and villains.
At the centre of the game's campaign is Iden Versio, an Imperial Commander and leader of Inferno Squad, whom must repel the Rebellion after Emperor Palpatine is killed following the events of Return of the Jedi. It looks to be a fun, fan-pleasing ride, and is a much welcome addition after the lack of a campaign in the previous instalment.
The multiplayer meanwhile is much expanded on from 2015's Battlefront, as it contains maps and characters from all Star Wars eras as opposed to just the original trilogy (and even more from the OT also). That means Darth Maul can now fight Rey, Finn can team up with Yoda, and of course, Han can still shoot first.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Release Date: 17th November
Platform: Switch, PSVR
You know what this is. Now it's on Switch and Orwell Goggles.
Next.
Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 3: Fractured Mask
Telltale certainly does not mess around. Their second release of this month continues the second season of their Batman mythos, focusing on Bruce Wayne/Batman's fight against villains including The Riddler, Mr Freeze, and t̶h̶e̶ ̶J̶o̶k̶e̶r̶ "John Doe".
If you haven't played it, Telltale's Batman series, unlike other Batman games, puts as much focus on the man behind the mask as it does the Caped Crusader (if not more so). The double life gameplay presented is still largely traditional Telltale, and Bruce Wayne and Batman's escapades mix with satisfying results.
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
Release Date: 21st November
Platforms: Mobile (Android, iOS)
Pocket Camp is the next app coming out of Nintendo's foray into mobile gaming, after Miitomo, Super Mario Run, and Fire Emblem: Heroes.
Gameplay here is still largely traditional Animal Crossing, though as the name suggests, the bulk of the action takes place in a campsite rather than a town. Though, as with previous titles, the player can travel elsewhere for items etc. As with Fire Emblem, microtransactions are present, and here they gift crafting without raw materials, and reduced in-game timers (so, traditional mobile stuff).
And that's about it for The Month in Gaming for November 2017. Which of November's games are you most looking forward to/enjoying the most? One I didn't mention? Distract in the comments below.
'Til next time.
So, here are some of the games you should be keeping an eye on (or...are likely already playing) for the month of November 2017.
Call of Duty: WWII
Release Date: 3rd November
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
The fourteenth (!) main entry in the Call of Duty series brings the fight back to boots-on-the-ground, historical action; as opposed to the futuristic jetpack warfare of the last couple entries. As you've likely guessed from the title, that action has also returned to World War II.
WWII brings a notable new addition to the series with Headquarters, a social space and multiplayer hub akin (very akin) to Destiny's Tower area. Here, you can pick up challenges, customise weapons, open loot boxes, and watch other people open loot boxes. Also, you wander around in third-person. You know, like Destiny.
Otherwise, it's largely business as usual. There's a campaign, multiplayer, and a Zombies mode, the latter of which evokes the dark, creepy atmosphere of the original classic maps from 2008's World at War. It also has David Tennant. Do with that information what you will.
Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series - Episode 5: Don't Stop Believin'
Release Date: 7th November
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Mobile
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Mobile
Christ, that's a mouthful. The fifth episode of Telltale's Guardians of the Galaxy series will wrap up the first collaboration between Telltale and Marvel, with more likely to come in the future.
The series, separate from the film canon, has endeavoured to focus on the relationships between the Guardians, in true Telltale fashion. It's enjoyed favourable reviews thus far, and so seems yet another good addition to Telltale's archive.
Telltale still has two other ongoing series with the second seasons of both Batman, and Minecraft: Story Mode, and at least two more set to premiere next year, with the fourth and final season of the Walking Dead and the long-awaited second season of The Wolf Among Us.
Sonic Forces
Release Date: 7th November
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Sonic's latest adventure pits Modern Sonic, Classic Sonic, and your Deviant Art Fanfic Character against Eggman and various other Sonic villains after they've taken over the world. Levels vary between Modern Sonic's 3D obstacle courses (à la Sonic Adventure, Unleashed, and '06), Classic Sonic's 2D sidescrollers (à la the original Sonic Games), and the Avatar's (*Deviant Art Fanfic Character's) levels, where you have a grappling hook, apparently. Tag team stages à la Sonic Heroes (a.k.a. the greatest Sonic game) also feature.
After the praised reception Sonic Mania received when it released this year, it'll be interesting to see how Forces fares. Another winner for Sega? The recognition DeviantArt The Hedgehog deserves? Finally, a universally praised 3D Sonic title?
Oh.
Mario Party: The Top 100
Release Date: 10th November
Platform: 3DS
Among the millions of Mario titles; alongside the platformers, the sports games, the racers; lies a mix of all of them: the Mario Party series. In itself, the Mario Party series has 10 main titles, and Mario Party: The Top 100 collects, you guessed it, one hundred of the "best" minigames from across all of them.
The Top 100 presents the minigames through various different modes, and all minigames feature remastered graphics and sound. If you've never played a Mario Party game before, this seems a decent way to jump in.
L.A. Noire
Release Date: 14th November
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Team Bondi and Rockstar's noir thriller has finally made its way to current-gen. More than just 'GTA in the 1940s', L.A. Noire has a lot of unique stuff going for it. Crime scene investigation, suspect questioning, World War II flashbacks, you name it.
Along with remastered graphics and audio, the ports bring with them significant changes to the questioning system. The three options formerly known as 'Truth, Doubt, Lie', have changed to 'Good Cop, Bad Cop, Accuse', likely at least partially since the former options left some players confused when 'Doubt' translated to protagonist Cole Phelps threatening suspects with a good beating. Whether these new labels will effectively label all of the dialogue now is questionable, but it seems a decent improvement (though it'll always be 'Press X to Doubt' in my heart).
Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2
Release Date: 14th November
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
There's a lot of these now, eh? To TT Games' credit, they've long since found a winning formula with their Lego series*, and this seems set to continue with this latest outing, a sequel to the 2013 title Lego Marvel Super Heroes.
There's a whole roster of Marvel heroes to take control of, many of which have their own unique abilities. Expanding on its prequel, these include variants of heroes from different time periods and Marvel realities, e.g. Spider-Gwen, Gladiator Hulk, and Howard the Duck wearing Iron Man's armour. 'Cause why not?
There's also a four-player competitive battle mode, new to the Lego series, and multiple different arenas to do battle in. If health bars are the same as in the single-player, matches should be over quickly.
*They also have easy platinums, which makes them a winner in my book.
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
Release Date: 17th November
Platform: 3DS
Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are the enhanced alternate follow-ups to the critically acclaimed Pokémon Sun and Moon. Translated into English, that means they're largely the same, but feature a different storyline, new locations, and new Pokémon, though they're still set in the Alola region.
Notably, these will be the last instalments released for the 3DS (the first being 2013's X and Y), since the series will be jumping to the Nintendo Switch with the next main release. This release will also be the first mainline Pokémon entry for a home console. Collectively, the world waits eagerly.
Star Wars Battlefront II
Release Date: 17th November
Platforms: (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Marred by a huge controversy over its microtransactions and progression system, Battlefront II nonetheless looks to be a great way to get immersed in all eras of the Star Wars canon, with an array of heroes and villains.
At the centre of the game's campaign is Iden Versio, an Imperial Commander and leader of Inferno Squad, whom must repel the Rebellion after Emperor Palpatine is killed following the events of Return of the Jedi. It looks to be a fun, fan-pleasing ride, and is a much welcome addition after the lack of a campaign in the previous instalment.
The multiplayer meanwhile is much expanded on from 2015's Battlefront, as it contains maps and characters from all Star Wars eras as opposed to just the original trilogy (and even more from the OT also). That means Darth Maul can now fight Rey, Finn can team up with Yoda, and of course, Han can still shoot first.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Release Date: 17th November
Platform: Switch, PSVR
You know what this is. Now it's on Switch and Orwell Goggles.
Next.
Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 3: Fractured Mask
Release Date: 21st November
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Mobile
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Mobile
Telltale certainly does not mess around. Their second release of this month continues the second season of their Batman mythos, focusing on Bruce Wayne/Batman's fight against villains including The Riddler, Mr Freeze, and t̶h̶e̶ ̶J̶o̶k̶e̶r̶ "John Doe".
If you haven't played it, Telltale's Batman series, unlike other Batman games, puts as much focus on the man behind the mask as it does the Caped Crusader (if not more so). The double life gameplay presented is still largely traditional Telltale, and Bruce Wayne and Batman's escapades mix with satisfying results.
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
Release Date: 21st November
Platforms: Mobile (Android, iOS)
Pocket Camp is the next app coming out of Nintendo's foray into mobile gaming, after Miitomo, Super Mario Run, and Fire Emblem: Heroes.
Gameplay here is still largely traditional Animal Crossing, though as the name suggests, the bulk of the action takes place in a campsite rather than a town. Though, as with previous titles, the player can travel elsewhere for items etc. As with Fire Emblem, microtransactions are present, and here they gift crafting without raw materials, and reduced in-game timers (so, traditional mobile stuff).
And that's about it for The Month in Gaming for November 2017. Which of November's games are you most looking forward to/enjoying the most? One I didn't mention? Distract in the comments below.
'Til next time.
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