Each month of the year our regular staff members come together to tell you what each of them have been playing over the past few weeks, we like to call this our Monster Month. Read on to find out what each of us have been playing over the month, as well as give an insight in the games we are looking forward to playing in the coming month.
Enjoy!
Steven B
Summer Time to Remember
This month I have been playing Capcom’s new IP “Remember Me” and it was really a good experience for me, even my review reflects that. With university stopping for the summer it is time I now get the chance to sit down and play through more of my pile of games that i have not touched yet. I have enjoyed playing GRID 2 and that was a bit mixed for me with the fustration of the online racing it is like playing dodgems with people who clearly do not know how to drive.
Besides from playing on my console I have been watching all the events from E3 and boy did that show us new games and IP’s for the next-gen that I can not wait for. I am looking forward to the new IP from Ubisoft “The Division” that has got a lot going for it and it looked nice and smooth.
David B
A month spent looking back and looking forward
Although I downloaded the free copy of Fable 3 from Xbox live I haven’t touched it and instead I have been focused on some retro gaming, playing classics like the Super Nintendo game Secret of Mana as well as Game Boy Advance titles Advance Wars and Kingdom Hearts.
On the rare occasion I have booted up my 360, I have dipped in and out of Injustice as I continue to play online and work through the numerous arcade modes to unlock some achievements. The month has been disappointing and quiet for triple A title releases.
Finally I have spent o lot of time with friends and work colleagues arguing around the E3 announcements of the next generation consoles. When I thought I had decided which team I was going to fight for in the console war, Microsoft removing DRM has now put me in a state of flux again. Do I go back to Sony after my PS1 and PS2 days or do I keep with Microsoft? Only time and further details, videos and footage will tell.
David W
What a month, eh?
If the excitement of E3 wasn’t enough, Microsoft backtracking on their Xbox One policies a couple of weeks later made June a very exciting month to be a gamer. The next generation of consoles isn’t far off and the hype is certainly there.
In the meantime, I decided to tackle my pile of shame. Firstly, Sleeping Dogs was put to bed. Having missed the buzz surrounding the title when it first released, I thoroughly enjoyed the campaign and the style of the title.
Next up was Tomb Raider. Having been a big fan of the first few games in the series, I’m glad to see the reboot has done them justice. A gripping storyline and complex puzzles kept me entertained. Definitely worth purchasing if you haven’t already played it.
L.A. Noire has also been spinning away in my Xbox 360’s disc tray. The video game equivalent of The Bill has given my brain a good workout and is a great title. I’m just surprised I hadn’t played through this game sooner.
Finally, switching to the Nintendo 3DS, I’ve been playing Animal Crossing: New Leaf. It’s been a while since I’ve been hooked on a handheld title and the latest instalment of Animal Crossing has revived my love for portable gaming.
Looking ahead to July, there isn’t anything that particularly stands out in terms of new releases. However, my (now decreasing) pile of shame still stands quite tall so I should probably work my way through that.
Tim L
Equal Rights
The last month has been a bit interesting for me as I’ve stepped away from solely playing my Xbox 360 and have given my PS3, 3DS, PC and newly acquired PlayStation Vita some game time!
I’ve mainly been playing The Last of Us on the PS3, which is an absolutely amazing game. The experience from start to finish had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. The ending wasn’t a huge surprise but it definitely left me satisfied and I’m planning a second playthrough soon.
The 3DS has been used to play some more Zelda: OoT and Animal Crossing: New Leaf, both of which are very fun! Animal Crossing has seen daily visits from me because of the sheer amount of things to do!
My PC has been used mainly for looking after my various cities in Sim City – which are all looking mighty good! It’s a shame the land size is so small because I’d love to expand my cities beyond their restrictions and bring in some more residents/tourists! I’ve also been playing a little Dungeon Defenders from time to time.
Lastly, I have only just obtained a Vita, as the price has now gone down, and have actually yet to play any games… I joined PSN+ to get Uncharted, Gravity Rush and Rayman Origins and was pleasantly surprised to see another ten or so PS3 games also added to my collection! Now I just have to find time to play them…
Justin O
A PlayStation Summer
This month has been made up of mostly PlayStation, for one reason or another. The majority of my gaming took place on either my PS3 or Vita, and after seeing E3, all my future gaming will continue this pattern.
I spent most my time playing The Last of Us. I must say this has to be one of the best gaming experiences I’ve had in recent years. Stellar storytelling, game mechanics, and overall atmosphere I’m already starting my third play-through.
One of my all-time favorite games also released on PSN this month, none other than the neon-pink-1980s-blood-bath that is Hotline Miami. I just can’t get enough of this game. The only thing keeping me from the glorious platinum is a couple of pesky bugged trophies. Fortunately they are in the process of releasing a patch to take care of the problem.
Next month is looking pretty stale at the moment. However, I am looking forward to picking up the Metal Gear Solid Legacy collection, because beating Snake Eater six times just isn’t enough.
Anthony B
Naughty Dog Does it Again
June saw the release of our new looking site. I hope our regulars like the change and new comers are also enjoying it. Wether you are on desktop or on mobile or tablet, we have you covered. We will go more into our new changes over the coming weeks.
Hot off the heels of May, Grid 2 kicked off my June with some frantic wheel to wheel action from the masters of racing- Codemasters. I’ve not had the time to carry on from season two yet so I count that as barely touching this game, but from the hours I have had, it has been great fun to race the GRID once again. As soon as time allows I’ll be right back in there to finish the campaign and have some time with its multiplayer.
Before The Last of Us landed I thought it would be best to give Remember Me a blast. I found the combat a little longwinded, and the endless hammering of buttons during the combat soon wore a bit thin. I am nearly half way in and I am slowly getting bored already with it, but luckily Last of Us was bought and everything had to stop…
Well, what a masterpiece Last of Us is! Granted I am still early on in this game, but I can easily conclude already that Naughty Dog manages to knock out consistent stellar releases each and every time. This is yet another masterpiece of game design, storytelling and the graphics and voice acting are just the icing on the cake! If you have yet to pick up The Last of Us I urge you to get your hands on it – stat! Don’t own a PS3, then buy one already! 🙂
I also got some hands-on time with an Oculus Rift Virtual Reality headset. In summary – Wow! This is purely a game changer and the potential is extremely exciting! I’ve played the future of immersive gaming people, and it is wild!
So July seems pretty dead for new releases, so, thankfully, this will give me a chance to get further into the previously mentioned games – phew!
Craig A
A month that has whizzed by
Time is flying and it’s crazy to think that it is nearly July already. It also means that it won’t be long before the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 arrive… which equally means it’s nearly Christmas…eeek. Anyway, since June has whizzed by I’ve only really played Worms and FIFA.
A snippet from my Worms review for Console Monster. Full review through the link.
Worms: Revolution remains the same principles as mentioned; however there are also some new aspects into the game including new game physics such as the introduction of water, worm soldier classes and new weapons like the concrete donkey – which is just crazy fun.
So with time flying, and a holiday booked for July, I’m not sure how muchactualgaming will take place. I’ll try and play some more games while I am in the UK so that I can have something decent to tell you about for the next Monster Month. Until then, chow!
So that wraps up our Monster Month for June. Why not let us know what YOU have been playing this past month, leave us your gaming antics in the comments below! Until next month, happy gaming to all our fellow Monsters!
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