New Games This Month: July 2008
We don't know any way to put this gingerly, so we're just going to come right out with it: July isn't going to be a great month for games. Sure, there are a few (read: very few) exceptions, but for the most part, we hope you didn't burn through all of June's surprise riches already.
But far be it from us to rain on your July, see the cream of the crop and decide for yourself.
But far be it from us to rain on your July, see the cream of the crop and decide for yourself.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
pkpk523 @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:04PM
Kinda slow month, but I don't think gamers have too much to complain about with all the great titles recently, I still have to finish MGS4 and Mass Effect (yes, way behind) and start NG2. Also, a DS is looking better and better to me. I'm thinking a DS over a PSP. Anyone with both care to offer any advice?
natels @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:08PM
I have a PSP and like it 100% better than the DS. But I am bias as I like better graphics and more of the PSP ports/games than the DS. Also, movies look great on it for a road trip. But let's not turn this into a PSP vs. DS war. Both are great handhelds. If you want more specifics, email me.
Boy With Balls on Chin @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:09PM
Ive got both and love them both. If you want just a straight up game system, go with the DS. If you want it to play movies and do other cool things, get a PSP.
xAnarChisTx @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:11PM
Mass Effect? Really?
Man, you need to catch up! Awesome stuff. Took me 3 days straight to finish that game, with almost all side quests done.
I should try the expansion, actually. I was kinda sad to finish the game in a short amount of time. :(
arrrgh @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:12PM
PSP is great for a media player with some awesome games as well. GFX are honestly not that far off. Like comparing psx to n64.. the only thing is that there are TONS of great DS games, and they have much more variety gameplay wise than most psp titles.
It is good to have both. PSP is much more versatile for media. The screen is big and beautiful, surf the web with ease...good stuff
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:12PM
If you want to play only games, go for the DS. It has the most third party support. It has the most casual to the most hardcore games.
And a lot of RPG's.
This might help you with your decision.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=222049
OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:18PM
Depends what you're looking for. If you just want game and you don't give a crap that they are on an unpowered system that's too anemic to even rotate a map in a strat RPG then go with the DS.
For the most part the designers know they're working with crappy specs and they put out games that are solid despite the DS limitations.
If you want solid games running on a system with enough power to actually hold all the innvations of the 1990s, then go with the PSP. Wild Arms XF, R-Type Command, Jeanne D'Arc, and the FFT remake all blow nearly every DS SRPG out of the water, and the same is true for most of the standard RPGs on the two systems.
Personally, I haven't picked up my DS since I got tired of Revenant Wings, and my PSP's been the one getting all the playtime.
NATO_Duke @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:44PM
We have a DS and a PSP and though the PSP has much better graphics, I am not a big fan of the game selection or the controls. I would go with the DS. There seems to be a lot more fun to be had with its titles.
pkpk523 @ Jul 2nd 2008 5:06PM
Yeah, I haven't done all that much research into them, and I would just get both but as i mentioned earlier, I'm already backlogged on my console games as it is (I forgot that I haven't opened Orange Box yet either), so getting both portables doesn't make much sense to me, but something while on business would be great. Thanks for the advice guys, I'm gonna look into it a bit more and figure it all out, but I'm leaning towards the DS at the moment. Is there really much benefit to the PSP to PS3 compatibility? Thanks again for the advice all.
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:04PM
Chocobo's Dungeon and Final Fantasy IV for me...
Maybe Soul Calibur, but I will wait for the reviews. Previews hasn't be so good so far.
Btw... Soul Calibur requires a HDD in the 360, and it requires at least 6GB for the PS3 version (5GB install and 1GB for saves).
samfish @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:04PM
I believe they said that wasn't true about the 6GB thing.
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:10PM
Oh yes. I just read the update. It won't be 6GB, but it will require install.
Any word about the required HDD for the 360 version? My brother in law is a huge Soul Calibur fan and he has an Arcade model.
arrrgh @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:13PM
theyd better not
i dont want to install my console games >:(
stream me the meadia!! streeeam me the media! get clever devs.
kittiechan @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:29PM
The HDD requirement for the 360 was an error.
Marty @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:36PM
1Gb for saves? Does it save everything you do in the game to video?
That's ridiculous... so much so that I doubt it's true.
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:07PM
Heard via IGN UK that UT360 runs at 1080p and at a great framerate. Maybe I'll rent it just to look at it lol. Heres a snippet...
Graphics 10
You could frame a screenshot and hang it over your mantelpiece.
samfish @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:12PM
That would be classy with a K.
NATO_Duke @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:08PM
I cant find excitement here. I never have time for the handheld games these days, and the others just aren't that exciting.
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:16PM
Same here, no time for handhelds. My kids use my DS usually. I'm bummed that none of my buddies are buying Soul Calibur :( Might just rent it. Ive been buying too many games these days.
Boy With Balls on Chin @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:23PM
I think Soul Calibur is the first game that everyone that I know is getting. I cant wait to beat their asses.
FOXHOUND @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:08PM
purchasing:
SOULCALIBUR IV
CIVILIZATION REVOLUTIONS
renting:
NCAA FOOTBALL 08 (wasn't that impressed by the demo)
phobic99 @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:42PM
Yep I'm also really looking forward to Civ Rev and SC4.
ballistic3188 @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:17PM
trauma center and soul calibur here.
though depending on the controls i might pick up we love golf
Dirty @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:22PM
Civ rev looks like it could be taking up a lot of my time. I have yet to finish NG2, for some reason I got distracted by finishing Assassins Creed. I put it down to play mass effect and just now came back to it.
I have always enjoyed Soul Calibur but I never really loved them, fighting games really havent done it for me after MK3.
Plus I am hoping to get a PC this month and have a lot of games to catch up there.
007craft @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:25PM
people buy too many games. Theres only about 4 or 5 really good games a year worth purchasing. So far Ive made one purchase in 2008, GTA4. I dont expect to make another purchase until October (saints row 2) and then november (gow2). UT3, Soul Calibur4, trauma center 2, no thanks.
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:27PM
Really?
I buy at least one game per week. There are a lot of good games out there, for every system.
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:38PM
I agree 007craft. I recently shortened my list and Im just buying AAA games I like and MP games I know my friends are also buying.
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:45PM
Buying
Battlefield:BC *getting this weekend
GoW2
Streetfighter 4
Wipeout HD
Banjo3
Starwars FU
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:46PM
R2 depending on reviews
NATO_Duke @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:51PM
Yeah, people may buy a lot of crap games (which is their prerogative) but I think there are a lot more great titles a year than you appear to buy. GTA4 as the only game worth it so far? I can’t agree with that at all.
xGeneral DEATHx @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:17PM
Hooray for Fenix finally getting Battlefield: BC. In the immortal words of John McLane:
Welcome to the party, pal!
*Takes aim at you*
FOXHOUND @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:32PM
Admittedly, this *has* been a great year for gaming thus far, both releases and announcements-wise. So, yes, I'm going to indulge. But not without research.
"caveat emptor" and all that, you know?
Mr Khan @ Jul 2nd 2008 4:49PM
My yearly quota is about double 007craft's. I usually pull between 9 and 12 a year, which always felt reasonable to me
These past two years, however, that quota's been leaving me missing a good bit, and that's just from owning Wii & DS
Shagittarius @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:27PM
Crap month, Only SCIV seems like a potential buy.
No I don't want Civ light.
LAdubbz45 @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:31PM
UT360 & FFVI are the ones for me this month
Marty @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:34PM
Well, should be a good month for me to catch up. While we're listing games we need to finish / are playing here's my backlog:
- Grand Theft Auto 4 (haven't finished yet! XD)
- Half-Life 2: Ep 2 (need to finish)
- Team Fortress 2 (need pyro and medic achievements)
- WoW (doin' the lvl 70 rep / pvp gear grind)
- Mass Effect (finished already, but want achievements)
- Penny Arcade (need to finish)
- Diablo II (just installed again for nostalgia!)
Time to stop buying games and start playing them, methinks.
xGeneral DEATHx @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:04PM
Ah, Diablo 2...something tells me I'll be re-installing this one for nostalgia purposes, too. PSYCHED about Diablo 3!!!!
Brittany @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:49PM
bah i hate achievement whores in TF2.
NATO_Duke @ Jul 2nd 2008 12:53PM
bah i hate when turkeys atack my corn fields.
WTF does that have to do with anything?
xGeneral DEATHx @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:15PM
Strike the turkeys' weak points for massive damage.
Edog Lost @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:03PM
What about Space Chimps? July 15th
JerJerBinks @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:14PM
Ugh, what a horrible month for games. Looks like I might have to finally play some Ninja Gaiden:Sigma and any other games I have shelved.
Yuccadude @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:23PM
Definitely getting Civ Rev and maybe SC:IV just to play as DLC Vader if they aren't lying about it. If they are, I'll just have to be happy with secret apprentice.
OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:24PM
For me:
Spectral Force 3
Civ Lite (maybe a rental)
Soul Calibur 4 PS3 (Vader over Yoda 11 times out of 10.)
Trauma Center (One of the very few DS games that actually uses the stylus in a worthwhile fashion.)
FSK405K @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:41PM
What is Spectral Warrior 3, a FF Tactics clone? Were the previous two entries good?
OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:27PM
Spectral Force 3:
http://www.atlus.com/spectralforce3/
One of the few SRPGs on the 360, and I'm an SRPG buff, so I'm interested.
FSK405K @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:32PM
Ya, the website doesn't really tell very much. It's got to be at least as good as the FFA PSP port or will be disappointing.
Odog4ever @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:47PM
Civ Rev = buy
SC4 = rent
remaing games = pass
Donald @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:40PM
Final Fantasy IV - already pre-ordered
Trauma Center 2 - might rent, didn't get into the first one as much as I thought I would
Mr Khan @ Jul 2nd 2008 4:50PM
No love for Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns?
I see. You're pirate fans, then...