THE ICONIC HEDGEHOG SIGNALS
A SUPER SEPTEMBER FOR GAMERS
THE summer holidays are done for another year, and hopefully this new term will feel more normal for kids, who have endured turbulent times at the hands of Covid.
And while a return to the classroom might be bad news for some, for parents it means a cherished few hours of freedom.
For those of you looking for inspiration to fill those hours, there’s a smattering of new games out this month that are worth your attention.
Sonic zooms us into September with some high-speed fun, then the superb-looking Deathloop lands mid month. And to get us in the mood for Halloween, the creepy and kooky Addams Family carries us into the haunting month of October.
Sonic Colours Ultimate (PEGI 7) PS4, XBOX ONE, Switch, PC
September 7
Release:
Sega has re-mastered its superb 2010 Wii platformer, Sonic Colours, for newer consoles.
Set in outer space, it sees everyone’s favourite hedgehog on a mission to save the Wisps – an alien race enslaved by the evil Doctor Eggman.
The action mainly takes place in the villainous doctor’s incredible interstellar theme park, comprising five planets all chained together.
As well as the famous Sonic rings, among the highlights of Colours are the power-ups which each Wisp activates. There are eight different types of Wisp with very different abilities including helping Sonic to run faster, turn into a laser, drill through soft ground or – my personal favourite – the ‘purple frenzy’, which sees him chomping on anything in sight.
Ori The Collection (PEGI 7) Switch
Release: September 28
The adventures of tiny guardian spirit Ori are some of the most memorable of the last few years.
This sumptuous collection gathers together Blind Forest and Will of the Wisps, along with digital copies of the games’ award-winning soundtracks, and six collectable art cards.
If you’ve yet to play any of the Ori games, then this is the perfect entry point.
I promise it’s a gaming experience you’ll never forget.
Deathloop (PEGI 18)
Release: September 14
ONE of the few Sony exclusives releasing this year – and a timed exclusive at that.
The highly stylised action-adventurer sees you play as Colt, an assassin stuck in a time loop.
Set in an alternate 1960s, Colt wakes up on a beach at the island of Blackreef – a former army base – whose inhabitants are holding a seemingly never-ending party.
As each night ends, the timeline resets, and everyone wakes up to relive the same day over again.
As much as I love the look of this game, it’s the recent multiplayer mode announcement that has me the most intrigued.
Game director Dinga Bakaba said the reason the developers decided to add a PVP (player v player) mode was not about the competitive play aspect – there’s no leader board to fight to get your name on – and that it was really an ‘anecdote generator’.
Just Die Already (PEGI 12) PS4, XBOX ONE, Switch, PC
September 24
Release:
Who said older is wiser? This old people mayhem sandbox game is from the makers of Goat Simulator – and we all know how delightfully bonkers that was.
The game’s tagline pretty much sums up its premise, you are old and angry – and you’ve just been kicked out of your retirement home.
Freed from the confines of the care home, you are able to wreak havoc upon the unsuspecting locale and its residents.
Packed full of destructible objects and a physics system that would make Isaac Newton cry, you set off to complete a bucket list of tasks, while everything around you wants you dead.
The Addams Family: Mansion Mayhem (PEGI 7)
PS4, XBOX ONE, Switch
September 24
Release:
I usually dread movie tie-in games, but I have a huge soft spot for the adorable Addams Family.
With the second animated feature due out in October – and this year marking the 30th anniversary of the sublime Adams Family movie – there’s no better excuse to spend some time with Morticia and Gomez in the family home.
The 3D platform adventure sees you exploring the mansion, solving puzzles and mini games in an attempt to save it from an unwelcome visitor. Supporting up to four player co-op, you can dice with death in the kitchen, the graveyard and a host of other quirky locations.