The games of July 2013

July 16 (cont'd)

Time and Eternity

Platforms: PS3
EU: Already out

Time and Eternity makes its way out west this month, bringing PS3 RPG'ers an epic tale of love, loss, and dragons. The story follows Toki, a princess with a destructive alter ego named Towa, who embarks on a time-traveling quest for revenge after her fiance is murdered on her wedding. Over and above helping her relive the events leading up to her big day, time can be wielded as magic in battles. Toki will also have the ability to switch between her Toki and Towa identities at will, and fight alongside her ex-fiance, who's soul has taken up residence inside her pet dragon. All things considered, that's not a bad trade off.

Turbo: Super Stunt Squad

Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U, 3DS, NDS

With the new season comes summer blockbusters--and with those come video game tie-ins. Turbo Super Stunt Squad is one such title, borrowing its cast and plot from Dreamwork's CGI kids' flick of the same name.

Like the movie, Turbo centers on a garden snail named--you guessed it--Turbo, who will stop at nothing to be the greatest racer the world (or garden) has ever seen. In the game, players will get to select a Turbo cast member and compete in various challenges to build up their skills and become the most awesome ball of slime the world has ever seen. Protip: Avoid the salt.

July 18

Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time

Platforms: iOS

Following on the theme of garden-variety video games, PopCap Games is readying the launch of its long awaited followup to Plants Vs. Zombies. The sequel--which may or may not have something to do with time travel---returns players to the front-lines of a zombie invasion where the only line of defence are sentient plants with varying abilities. It will feature new locations and strange new allies including the Bloomerang, Bonk Choy, Jumping Bean, Snapdragon, and Chili Bean, to name a few. Super food and other new goodies will also help players keep the undead at bay.

July 23

The Smurfs 2

Platforms: PC, Mac

Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy, Gutsy, and the rest of the pint-sized clan are back in theaters this month, so you can bet your smurfing smurf there's a video game tie in on the approach.

Developed by Ubisoft and WayForward Technologies, it will see players teaming up to fight Gargamel's Naughties and solve platforming challenges. It will follow the plot of The Smurfs 2, which sees the gang fighting to save Smurfette and beat the smurf out of Gargamel after she is smuggled away to Paris.

July 25

Shadowrun Returns

Platforms: PC, Mac, iOS

Jordan Weisman's cult cyberpunk series is back in an all new tactical combat adventure. Developed by Harebrained Schemes, Shadowrun Returns breathes new life into Weisman's unique “magic-meets-technology” vision, offering a tale of elves, orcs, dwarves, humans who must co-exist in a gritty, futuristic world corrupted by otherworldly powers.

Fans of the pen-and-paper series and/or the 1993 SNES game will find themselves at home in this all-new entry. Shadowrun Returns will retain the games' isometric action, fusing detailed 3D characters against animated, hand painted backdrops. Players will also be able to strike out into Weisman's world in style all their own thanks to the game's in-depth class-building and skill-based character progression system. The Shadowrun Returns Editor will also make it possible for fans to craft their own scenarios and share them fellow Steam shadowrunners.

TBA

Sir, You Are Being Hunted

Platforms: PC, Mac

You are cordially invited to join gentlemen of high renown for a rousing evening of merriment, libations, and the hunting of human prey. Pardon me? You were not advised you would be playing the role of the prey? You weren't aware that your hunters were robot killers and that this night would find you fighting for your life in a procedurally generated world stocked ever-so-lightly with the tools, food, and resources you will need to survive?

Pity. Better get running.