Out this Week! 25th June 2010

American football game Backbreaker is the first of many titles that are set for release this week. Using the 'Euphoria' engine, physical player interactions are all calculated on the fly, in differentiation a set animation technique, ensuring play is fluid and dynamic. The NFL license is not used however within the game, with Madden having sole use of licensed teams and players. [PS3, Xbox 360]

Coming much later than its release elsewhere in the world, From Software's hardcore RPG Demon's Souls is finally available within the UK this Friday, published by Namco Bandai. The third-person action RPG takes place in the fictional land of Boletaria- a land beset by cursed demons, of which the hero will need to banish. [PS3]

Traveller's Tales' latest Lego game is out this week. Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 focuses on the first four Potter films, all re-created in plastic block glory. The classic humour that TT have shown in abundance in delivery of their other licenses ought to be seen here, with the magical story only further infusing the game with unique and fun game play mechanics. [PS3, Xbox 360, PC, DS, Wii, PSP]

Another game relying on the success of its licensed forbearer's is High Moon Studios' third person shooter Transformers: War for Cybertron which takes place prior to the event's of the original animated series, when the Transformers still lived on the planet of Cybertron. The game hosts two distinct campaigns for each faction, the Autobots and the Decepticons. [PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii, DS]

A Look Ahead...June 2010

Were it not for the fact that my Wii was recently sold thanks to my auction site of choice after layer upon layer of dust was compounded on its sleek white surface, Super Mario Galaxy 2 would have been my most sought after game of the month. It's difficult to move at the moment for the amount of acclaim that has already been garnered for the latest foray from gaming's most loved icon. The original Galaxy, I did manage to play, and it was a triumph from start to finish in its sleek visuals and intriguing game play. The planet-trotting world is back again in all its 3D glory, and has set to refine Galaxy's ambitious opening on the Wii.

Another title which has me somewhat excited is the combination of the Harry Potter franchise with the Lego brand. Like Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Batman before it, Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 infuses the world of Hogwarts, Death Eaters, magic and raging teenage hormones with colourful plastic bricks. The Lego games have been a joy to play, both simple yet charming and really enjoyable. This particular title includes the storyline from the first four Potter films and is out on the 25^th June.

Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker for the PSP is finally due out this month also. The stealth-action game links the events between Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops and the original Metal Gear game. Peace Walker is a full fledged continuation of the series; written, directed, and designed by Kojima in a blend of stealth game play, RPG and RTS elements, that provide the basis of the game. Recently acknowledged as one of the hardest games ever conceived, Demon's Souls by From Software, finally hits our own fair shores this June after publisher's were reluctant to pick up the game in the first instance. I also can't help but notice the new Rock Band game, Rock Band: Green Day is out 11^th June and will focus on the band from California in the existing band template. All tracks are also available to export into any of the previous Rock Band games, apart from The Beatles: Rock Band.

The final release that is deserving of its place amongst the most anticipated titles of the year is the highly regarded and the long sought after StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, which started to be developed way back in 2003. Blizzard's real-time strategy series is a phenomenon all over the world, especially in South Korea, where professional players are enveloped as media celebrities, with some players earning over $200,000 a year! Featuring characters from the original game, which was released in 1998, Wings of Liberty focuses on the “Terrans”- human exiles from Earth. The next two expansions to StarCraft II that will be released much later, will focus on the remaining two species (“Zerg” and “Protoss”.)