August is usually devoid of big-name, must-own titles. That isn’t the case this year. The biggest game of the month is Remedy’s Control. Astral Chain and the annual Madden are two other big drops, and there are other unique titles worth keeping an eye on. There may not be an overwhelming amount of “blockbusters” this month, but August has a wide variety of experiences for players to enjoy.
Control
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: August 27
Control is Remedy Entertainment’s latest third-person action game. Like Alan Wake and Quantum Break, the game’s narrative focuses on the supernatural. Control distinguishes itself with its otherworldly Metroidvania-like environment. As you progress and gain new abilities, you’ll unlock new areas of the map and gain access to older sections. As a fan of Quantum Break, I’m looking forward to seeing what crazy powers I’ll get to wield. Also, three-dimensional Metroidvania games don’t come around every day, so that’s a bonus.
Astral Chain
Platforms: Switch
Release date: August 30
Astral Chain is the biggest Nintendo Switch exclusive of the month. Players take on the role of a police officer who fights alien monsters with the aid of a supernatural being. As is typical of Platinum Games, Astral Chain features flashy over-the-top action. What makes the game different is that it isn’t entirely an action title. A good portion of it involves detective work. What that entails is somewhat of a mystery. It’ll be interesting to see how Astral Chain balances the two disparate gameplay elements.
Pre-order Astral Chain on Amazon
Blair Witch
Platforms: PC, Xbox One
Release date: August 30
Arriving 20 years after the original The Blair Witch Project, Blair Witch is August’s biggest Microsoft exclusive. Taking place two years after the movie, you take on the role of a cop who is searching Black Hills forest for a missing kid. While the “found footage” film genre is no longer popular, horror games are very much in vogue. In that sense, a Blair Witch game isn’t such a crazy proposition. Based on the trailer, it looks like it’ll be one of the scariest games of 2019.
Pre-order Blair Witch on Amazon
Madden NFL 20
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: August 2
This latest installment features a new story mode called Face of the Franchise. What makes this mode unique is that users can play the campaign with a player-created character. In Franchise Mode, you get the chance to interact with other players between matches. There are also new “X-Factor” and “Superstar Abilities” which give your character beneficial boosts. New features aside, this is still the same core Madden experience you’ve come to expect. If you’re a football fan, you’ve probably already secured a copy.
Oninaki
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch
Release date: August 22
I recently wrote a preview for Square-Enix’s Oninaki. Brought to you by the developers of I Am Setsuna and Lost Sphear, Oninaki is an action RPG set in a fantasy world. Its central theme is about life and death. As I detailed in my preview, the game has scenes that are surprisingly deep and disturbing. The hack and slash mechanics satisfy while the RPG elements offer a good layer of depth. Like previous Tokyo RPG Factory titles, Oninaki is a sleeper hit in the making.
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: August 27
Patrice Désilets is best known for bringing us the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Now, he and his team, Panache Digital Games, are delivering another historically-minded title. Spanning over eight million years, Ancestors centers on a hominid clan as it slowly evolves into homo sapiens through the eons. What’s interesting about the actual gameplay is that should your character die, you’ll take control of another clan member. If they all perish, you’ll have to start over. This is a pretty high-level concept so I’m curious to see if Ancestors can actually pull it off.
Pre-order Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey at Humble Store
The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: August 30
The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan is yet another horror title by Supermassive Games. Like Until Dawn, Man of Medan is a mix of Quick Time Action sequences and dialogue choices. What’s interesting about Man of Medan is that real-world events inspired its story. I remember Until Dawn dropping in August when it launched so I guess Supermassive decided to keep that tradition going. If Man of Medan is as intense as Until Dawn, it should make for an entertaining ride.
Pre-order The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan on Amazon
Friday the 13th: The Game
Platforms: Switch
Release date: August 13
What’s with all the horror games releasing this month? Friday the 13th: The Game is one of this generation’s surprise hits so it makes sense it’s coming to Switch. Of course, the big question is how the asymmetrical survival horror title will function on Nintendo’s handheld/console hybrid. At the time of this writing, it is unclear what form of online or local play Friday the 13th will have. Even if it isn’t up to par with other versions, the idea of playing Friday the 13th on the go should be enough to entice players to check it out.
Pre-order Friday the 13th: The Game on Amazon
Rad
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Release date: August 19
Rad is one of the quirkier titles releasing this month. Developed by Double Fine, the game takes place after two post-apocalyptic events and has players running around a nuclear wasteland beating up monsters with only a bat. Rad puts me in an uncomfortable position. On one hand, I’m not a fan of “roguelike” titles since dying and starting from scratch isn’t appealing. Yet, I’m a fan of Double Fine and of anything with 80’s aesthetics. Whatever the case, it does look like a title many will enjoy just because of its quirky premise.
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