Review: Dragon Ball Z – Ultimate Tenkaichi (PS3)

With the end of summer here, and the school year now starting, we are fast approaching the busiest time of the year when it comes to video games.  Gone are the months where little to nothing comes out at the store, and in is the mad rush to populate store shelves with as much product as humanly possible to consume.  Then add about 50% more to that number and you have the amount of games we will see over the next three months.  September is starting us off nicely, with five solid titles that look worthy of your gaming dollar.

Also, I immediately took a liking to this month’s case mod.  as you can see, someone took it upon themselves to take cooling very seriously, by building a case out of nothing but case fans.  While it seems practical from a design point, I have to wonder how much heat is generated by powering up all of these case fans.  If you want to see more of the fan case, head over to bored-bored.com and check out the full article which has several more pictures of this unique case design.

Also make sure to check out our other Ones to Watch articles for the PS3/PSP, Xbox 360 and Wii/DS for September 2010.

RUSE (Ubisoft) – At first, I had a lot of skepticism for RUSE.  I mean, it was a cool concept using a strategic zoom that strategy fans die for, but being an Ubisoft game, I figured it would have crazy DRM and I would just have to skip it due to principal.  However, out of the blue, the developer released a note that said the game would not use the now infamous Ubi DRM, and instead would use some different mechanism.  Also, if you happen to have a Microsoft Surface machine in your house, you will be able to play this game using your cool, egregiously expensive device.  Also, I like the fact that the developer has released several betas over the last year to play test and tune the device, hopefully making for a far more stable client upon release to retail.  Look for RUSE on shelves and digital storefronts September 7th, 2010.

Patrician IV (Kalypso Media) – Until E3 this year, I had never really taken the time to ever play a Patrician game.  I never really took the time to figure out what the game was about, and in my ignorance, I just skipped them.  After my 30 minute demo of this new entry in the Patrician series, I am hooked and onboard for the release.  Yes, it is a hardcore simulation game, but it factors more on the economic side of simulation, developing a trade empire that will allow you to become the head of the Hanseatic League.  The gameplay is suitable for anyone from 8-80 and just looks like it could be one of those games keeps you coming back for another turn.  Look for Patrician IV on shelves and digital storefronts on September 14th, 2010.

Civilization V (2K Games/Fireaxis) – Speaking of games that leaving you saying “just one more turn”, Civilization V making the turn and coming to the finish line and it looks to be a solid title that will again, suck countless hours from PC gamers around the globe.  Featuring a new hex grid system, new leaders, several new ways to win, upgraded tech trees and no longer being able to stack infinite units on one square, Civilization V will redefine the Civilization franchise for some time.  Also, it looks as if some of the mechanisms from the Revolution series will be incorporated in some way to make the game a little easier for players that are new to the full blown Civilization product.  However, the hardcore audience will still find the same addictive gameplay that has been in the product for years.  Look for Civilization V on shelves and digital storefronts on September 21st, 2010.

Darksiders (THQ, Inc.) – It was a bit of a surprise when THQ announced that they were going to release Darksiders on the PC.  The announcement came out three months after it was released on the PS3 and Xbox 360, and it just seemed a bit odd.  That said, the gameplay should be a great fit for those that like their games with a mix of keyboards and mice.  In another plus,  it looks like the developer is taking the extra time to craft a title that will use the beneifts of the PC to its advantage, rather than pump out a crappy port.  Of course, the caviat from some, including our Fourhman, is that the game offers nothing original, but for those that like their Zelda like games with more blood and gore, Darksiders is just the right game for you.  Look for Darksiders on shelves and digital storefronts September 23rd, 2010.

Dead Rising 2 (Capcom) – Continuing their support of the PC platform, Capcom has slated Dead Rising 2 as a same day and date release on the PC with the console versions.  Dead Rising 2 will feature several graphica enhancements for the PC platform, while still providing the same kind of gameplay that was present in the first title.  This time around, we do get a new protagonist, a new weapons crafting system and a new story that focuses on hero Chuck Greene and his need to earn money to buy Zombrex for his daughter.  Some will balk at the fact that Dead Rising 2 will use Games for Windows LIVE for both its mutliplayer and co-op play, but I for one find the system fine to use.   I for one like to support developers that strive to give PC players a quality experience that caters to the platform’s strengths, and Dead Rising 2 looks to continue that process.  Look for Dead Rising 2 on shelves and digital storefronts September 28th, 2010.

And there you have it, another month of quality titles to purchase for your Personal Computer system.  There are a few other titles of note, but did not quite make the grade, including FIFA Soccer 11,  F1 2010 and and Painkiller: Pandemonium.  Do you agree or disagree with this list?  Let us know your picks in the comments or in the forums.  Make sure to return next month for more Ones to Watch on the PC.