Summer Sweep: Last Fall's Best Games You Probably Missed

50 Comments

Posted July 16, 2010 - By G4Sterling

It's the middle of July. You're probably eyeing the upcoming Summer of Arcade games, thinking about upgrading to PlayStation Plus, or trying to decide what else is worth picking up on the cheap. Loot Whore covers a certain amount of the price-digging for you, but I wanted to ask folks around the office to recommend at least one game from last fall's release rush that was criminally neglected by the gaming masses in favor of blockbuster titles. The criteria are simple: when the game hit stores, what you probably bought instead, what we said then, why we still love it, and which major online retailer has the best deal on a new copy. Without further ado, here's some diamonds in the rough that are worth taking another look at.

DJ Hero

Release Date:
October 27, 2009

What You Probably Bought Instead:
Uncharted 2, GTA: Episodes from Liberty City, Demon’s Souls, Borderlands, Halo 3: ODST

What We Said Then:
“DJ Hero is a gamble that was worth taking and further proof that Konami's bungling of the Americanization of its own music games (in this case, Beatmania) remains one of the biggest missteps in modern gaming. DJ Hero is a good game, one that will undoubtedly find a hardcore audience that appreciates it, flaws and all, and an interesting step forward for music games.”

What We Say Now:
Sterling: I still enjoy poking around with DJ Hero every once in a while. It’s certainly not a perfect game -- that hardware issue with the crossfader is a sticking point -- it’s still good, and with DJ Hero 2 on the horizon, it might behoove you to pick up a copy now while the fire sale clearance is going on. I’ll never forget hitting a perfect on “Fix Up, Look Sharp vs. Genesis,” or playing “Feel Good Inc. vs. Atomic.” For someone who got tired of mash-ups some time around 2004, DJ Hero impressed me with its take on the genre -- music games and mash-ups, that is.

What's The Best Price You Can Find It New Online:
$46.29 for game bundle, Buy.com

Brütal Legend

Release Date:
October 13, 2009

What You Probably Bought Instead:
Uncharted 2, Borderlands, Demon’s Souls, Halo 3: ODST

What We Said Then:
“Brütal Legend, developer Double Fine's heavy-metal opus, transports players into its mytho-rock-ical universe with screaming, fiery abandon. Seriously, if you ever wanted to know what it would be like to live inside heavy-metal album covers, creative director/designer Tim Schafer's vision is as close as you'll ever get. It's got its issues, but overall, Brütal Legend is a hell of a lot of fun.”

What We Say Now:
Abbie: Much like Psychonauts, Brütal Legend is one of those games I’ll end up replaying every couple of years. The story-telling and fantastic Frank Frazetta inspired setting keeps calling me back. I’d originally anticipated the multiplayer to keep me interested, but the balance never quite felt right and instead I’ve been spending my post-completion play sessions using the Oculus of the Lost to find everything I missed the first time around. Brütal Legend may be lacking in some departments but it makes up for that in humor, creativity and originality. If you are a fanatic or even just have a passing interest in heavy-metal or rock and roll, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not playing this game.

What's The Best Price You Can Find It New Online:
$19.99, Gamestop

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey

Release Date:
September 8, 2009

What You Probably Bought Instead:
Batman: Arkham Asylum, Dirt 2, The Beatles: Rock Band, Guitar Hero 5

What We Said Then:
“IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey takes what many would call a dead genre and brings it to next-gen life in an unparalleled way. It takes its chosen subject and nails every aspect of it with exceptional attention to detail and a clear love for the warbirds of yesteryear. This is, quite simply, the best flight combat game we've ever played on a console. If you have any yearning for the wild blue yonder, you must play it.”

What We Say Now:
Kevin: Maybe I’m a masochist, or because I love period-specific damage modeling, but there is something truly satisfying about hammering your P-51 Mustang into a tight turn over Berlin and being able to see the ground below through the ragged holes that have been blown through your wings by enemy ordnance. The game has been a mainstay on PC systems for a long time, but the console version finally brings realistic flight simulation into your living rooms in a big way. Play through some of the major air battles during WWII including the Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, Berlin, Sicily, Korsun and the Battle of the Bulge in and you can nearly smell the sweat and oil.

What's The Best Price You Can Find It New Online:
$28.99, Buy.com

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles

Release Date:
November 17, 2009

What You Probably Bought Instead:
Assassin’s Creed II, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

What We Said Then:
“Let's just get this out of the way right up front: fans of the Resident Evil series who have spent anxious hours guiding Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield through Raccoon City and beyond will find lots to love about The Darkside Chronicles. If you have a Wii and an insatiable desire to splatter zombie brains like paint on a Jackson Pollock, this game should be on your wish list without question. Its only flaws are the limits of its genre and the hardware, and even then, it's still the best game of its kind ever made.”

What We Say Now:
Sterling: 2009 was the year that several Wii games aimed outside of families came in with a loud bang of hype, and went out with a whimper. Of all of those titles, I had the biggest blast playing The Darkside Chronicles. I wasn’t a huge fan of The Umbrella Chronicles when it dropped in 2007, but the update hit on so many of my RE buttons: it took my favorite pre-RE4 game (Resident Evil 2) and remixed so much of that familiar plot and threw in co-op that even my shooter-hating wife would play with me. It’s a pity that so few gave it a try.

What's The Best Price You Can Find It New Online:
$37.96, Walmart

Forza Motorsport 3

Release Date:
October 27, 2009

What You Probably Bought Instead:
Need for Speed Shift, Dirt 2, something else that made Forza 3 a modest hit rather than the GT-killer that Microsoft has gunned for all these years.

What We Said Then:
"If you are a car lover or sim fan, you owe it to yourself to go out and get Forza Motorsport 3. The entire package drips with polish and the physics-based gameplay is solid across all game modes. This title transcends a pure gaming experience to become something of a virtual driving tool. Forza 3 is a deep simulation experience and it’s the best racer available on any platform right now."

What We Say Now:
Matt Keil: Forza Motorsport 3 improves upon Forza 2 in almost every way. It doesn't redefine the genre, but it adds enough to be a solid upgrade for car lovers and simulation enthusiasts. New features like Rewind and Quick Upgrade help lower the barrier of entry for casual players and lower the frustration factor considerably. For expert racers, Forza 3 is an extremely detailed sim with enough personality and balance to keep your interest at least until Gran Turismo 5 finally makes it to shelves.

What's The Best Price You Can Find It New Online:
$37.03, Overstock.com

Dead Space Extraction

Release Date:
September 29, 2009

What You Probably Bought Instead:
Halo 3: ODST, Scribblenauts, Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, Wii Sports Resort

What We Said Then:
"Dead Space: Extraction is a perfect example of what can happen when a developer approaches the Wii in the right way and maximizes the console’s capabilities to fit with the game’s style and design. Everything from the “shaky-cam” presentation to the brilliant remote implementation keeps you thoroughly engaged and immersed every second of the game. It’s quite an accomplishment, and one that will grab hold of you and not let go of you until the end credits roll."

What We Say Now:
Jake: While I’m super excited about Dead Space 2, one of the aspects of the game I’m most looking forward to is that the PlayStation 3 version comes bundled with Dead Space Extraction in HD. This means a whole mess of people who missed the game on the Wii will be able to experience one of 2009’s best and, sadly, most overlooked titles. Visceral Games did such a fantastic job of pushing the boundaries of what a typical on-rails shooter is with Extraction, and not only that (and I bring this up every time I talk about the game), it has one of the greatest motion-controlled moments ever. (Hint: are you a righty or a lefty?)

What’s The Best Price You Can Find It New Online:
$19.99, Best Buy

A Boy and His Blob

Release Date:
October 13, 2009

What You Probably Bought Instead:
Uncharted 2, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

What We Said Then:
"A Boy and his Blob is the kind of game the Nintendo Wii was designed for. It features simple-but-beautiful graphics, innovative gameplay and an emotionally compelling story that everyone in the family can enjoy."

What We Say Now:
Stephen: Every third party Wii game has to compete with Mario, Link and the rest of the Nintendo Mafia, so it's not surprising that this game wasn't all that widely played, but it's not too late -- it's pretty inexpensive now, and the game's gentle style and focus on friendship is the perfect antidote to typical video game kill-fest

What’s The Best Price You Can Find It New Online:
$17.92, Buy.com

Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time

Release Date:
October 27, 2009

What You Probably Bought Instead:
Uncharted 2, Borderlands, Dragon Age: Origins, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

What We Said Then:
"Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time is a remarkable achievement that makes the case for the series’ longevity and determined adherence to form. The game’s basics work so well and the improvements and changes are brought in to take advantage of one of the most solid gameplay foundations available. Similar to the mathematical properties that find infinite potential in a finite space, Insomniac continues to mine the genre for more and more while always making the experience feel like your favorite well-worn pajamas on a lazy Saturday morning. Once you throw them on, you know they’re not coming off all day"

What We Say Now:
Rob Manuel: Massive battles with incredible weapons? Check! Time bending puzzles? Check! The climatic ending to an epic adventure? Check! As you may already know, our love for the daring Lombax and his mechanical companion is without bounds, but this time Insomniac Games have really pulled out all the stops. Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time features all the humor and action that made the series great as well as outer space battles, mini-planets to traverse, and enough hidden gold bolts to keep you busy until the next installment.
What’s The Best Price You Can Find It New Online:

$29.99 at KMart

Honorable Mention:
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars PSP ($24.98 at Amazon)

Tags: PlayStation 3, Videogames, Wii, Xbox 360

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M6000

wow what a list good games mostly

Posted: July 17, 2010 11:50 AM
UK_John

G4TV also missed a game from last fall - Space Rangers 2 Reboot (an update to a 2006 game Space Rangers 2). It is a great space based RPG. A combination of Pirates in Space, Star Control 2 and Elite, It is a space trading combat game with ground based RTS features, a black hole arcade game like Asteroids and multi-choice text adventure quests like those old 'play your won adventure' books!

It is PC only from a small Russian developer, so you know it will be deep and addictive and challenging. A game where you will have to use your brain and think your way though situations!

The game has over 100 pilots controlled through AI doing their own thing. traders will be trading, pirates will be trying to rob them, Military will be fighting the Dominators (evil Robot race you have to defeat) and the universe will go about it's business with or without you! You have 100's of hulls, weapons and shields, etc to choose from and it truly is an addictive game where you often find yourself playing one more turn! Google the title and be surprised that a game so loved is unknown to you!

Oh yes, and if you're thinking 'what about Space Rangers 1?', that comes free with SR2!!! :) It can be got for $20 or less, so if you have a laptop or PC less than 5-7 years old, you will be able to play this game!

Posted: July 17, 2010 10:35 AM
lowkevmic

I passed on Brutal Legend, and I feel bad that I did. Looks like I have a new game to play this weekend! But the funny thing is a lot of the games they mentioned for the 360, I did buy that fall/winter season. Borderlands, Batman:AA, Halo ODST(which sucked, by the way), and GTA:Liberty City Stories. But my girl was awesome enough to buy me Dj Hero for Christmas that year, and I will admit it is a lot of fun! I only wish they had a bigger song list or music store like Guitar Hero.

Posted: July 17, 2010 10:31 AM
cwhas2godhands

If you missed Dark Sector, it is available, new, on Amazon for 10 cents. Too bad they get you shipping, which is $7.99. But still 10 cents?!

Posted: July 17, 2010 6:59 AM
Eros

Yes, Brutal Legend is quite cheap but sadly, it is not very good. I love Tim Schaefer, but Brutal Legend was quite disappointing.

Posted: July 16, 2010 11:25 PM
Slingshot24

Chepest new copy of DJ hero is on Amazon for 360 only is the Renegade Edition, thats all you need to play, for 65

Posted: July 16, 2010 11:11 PM
JingJang

Brutal Legend is a bit of a niche title for heavy metal fans if you ask me. The combat was a bit dull and the comedy, while good, couldn't carry the whole game for me. In my opinion, Deathspank is a far more competent Brutal Legend when comparing the base elements; great hack n' slash, amazing humor, and no rts elements. Not to say BL isn't without merit, it's just that there are better and, in the case of DeathSpank, cheaper games out there that you'll probably enjoy more, especially in the economy we're in.

Posted: July 16, 2010 11:08 PM
MJH243

(1. I need to find Brutal Legend and give it a shot already... Much like most everyone else, I heard about the RTS elements and had second thoughts about purchasing it. There's pretty much no excuse for not trying it now.

(2. Is it just me, or is there something wrong with Rob Manuel's paragraph on Ratchet and Clank Future: ACiT after the update??? I'm seeing it in black text and have to highlight it to read it.

(3. I don't think I'll ever give DJ Hero a shot... ever. . The only thing that makes it creep into my thoughts is that Daft Punk is in the game. Even with Daft Punk and the $46 price listed at Buy.com, I'm not going for it.

I was waiting for its competition--Scratch: The Ultimate DJ--but then it fell into legal trouble. At E3 2009, I believe it was put in the hall with the rest of the hopeful games and peripherals that were hardly showcased at all on tv and online, but as soon as I heard it was a turntable with an Akai drum pad setup with a hip-hop tracklist, I was sold. But since it got caught up in the courts, I haven't read about or heard anything about it... It's a shame really... I'm tired of hip-hop karaoke games, but I'll still try them out, while still holding out hope for a re-emergence of Scratch: The Ultimate DJ somewhere...

Posted: July 16, 2010 10:51 PM
Adrenalyn915

What's with all the Brutal Legend hate? That game rocked!
It is the perfect homage to heavy metal in video game form!
And if you don't like heavy metal, then... what the hell is wrong with you?!?!

Posted: July 16, 2010 10:06 PM
Adrenalyn915

What's with all the Brutal Legend hate? That game rocked!
It is the perfect homage to heavy metal in video game form!
And if you don't like great rock music, then... what the hell is wrong with you?!?!

Posted: July 16, 2010 10:05 PM
Socratz87

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars was just awesome all around.

Posted: July 16, 2010 9:23 PM
DerekRD

I find it odd that you considered Demon's Souls a game people bought instead of Brutal Legend, when Brutal Legend outsold it in October (Demon's Souls was 11th and Brutal Legend on 360 was 12th on the NPD. Don't think the PS3 version was in the top 20).

Posted: July 16, 2010 8:51 PM
DreamingDarklyRobin

Brutal Legend disappointed me greatly, if it had been marketed more as a RTS it wouldn't have bothered me as much. But I still bought it at launch because I feel I should try to support Tim's games since they never sell very much.

Posted: July 16, 2010 8:44 PM
blueboykc

i just ordered brutal legend from amazon for about 18 bucks shipping and all...

another game abbie talked me into..

Posted: July 16, 2010 8:20 PM
Nub Salad

I hated brutal legend. I played about the first half hour and had to stop. Am I the only one that's over Jack Black? I remember thinking he was super funny and then lately I just haven't. And Brutal Legend as a game just seemed like a generic action game with a metal twist. The only other game I can say I don't think should be on that list is DJ hero and that's only because i thought dj hero did pretty well, maybe not though.

Posted: July 16, 2010 7:43 PM
hoof_hearted4

the only game on that list i have any interest in is R&C: ACIT. and i love how U2 (which i didnt get) is the game u probably bought on most of those games, other common ones being Demons Souls and Borderlands (which i did buy) and of course halo odst (which i dont have an xbox)

haha on the xbox note, i must say i played MW2 with my friend today on his xbox and after about 10 minutes i said wow this game blows and went to bfbc2 on my ps3.

Posted: July 16, 2010 7:29 PM
Darkstorn

Brutal Legend is highly recommended. It was marketed as a hack n' slash, but even with the RTS elements (which are pretty basic and somewhat clunky), it's an excellent game. The combos are awesome, the presentation is amazing, and if you're a heavy metal fan, you will LOVE this game. Trust me.

Posted: July 16, 2010 7:17 PM
ionic_photard11

when a title of a game uses an umlaut to pay homage to motley crue ummmmm to hell with that game sounds way to pretentious. My gaming dollars are far too few to spend on something where the title reminds me of a hair band.

Posted: July 16, 2010 6:56 PM
shinichimaru

i really enjoyed dj hero. it had some of the best music in a game that ive ever heard. (of course that has to do with personal taste) as for everything else on the list, im glad i missed it. -_-

Posted: July 16, 2010 6:19 PM
XwingVmanX

I forgot i still need to play brutal legend! lol

Posted: July 16, 2010 6:13 PM