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Did Return to Arkham’s Delay Just Wreck Our Summer Gaming?

Did Return to Arkham’s Delay Just Wreck Our Summer Gaming?

Now that May and June are behind us, it seems like we have a few months of drought before any exciting games start coming out. I mean in August we have a new Deus Ex and No Man’s Sky ; September brings Final Fantasy XV, ReCore, Dragon Quest VII, Forza Horizon 3, and Destiny: Rise of Iron . There are so many great games to look forward to by year’s end, but what are we supposed to do in July? We’ve got holes in our pockets and nothing to spend our money on!

It’s especially frustrating since July’s main attraction, Batman: Return to Arkham , has been put on hold. This was the holy grail for superhero game fans. Return to Arkham will feature remastered versions of Batman: Arkham Asylum , and Batman: Arkham City , both for the price of a single budget game. Arkham Asylum / City are hailed as two of the greatest superhero video games of all time, and I can tell you from personal experience that they live up to the hype. If you never got to experience the games for yourself, do consider diving in with Return to Arkham when it finally does release. Both games have been overhauled with the Unreal Engine 4. Updated character models, textures, lighting effects, and shaders are going to make this already-gorgeous game look stunning on your Xbox One or PS4, and all of the previously released add-ons for both games are included on the disc. For those of you who didn’t play these games when they released, you could be looking at two personal GOTY candidates when they show up.

So what are we supposed to do in the meantime? Fear not! July is still jam-packed with incredible offerings – more than I can fit into a single article. No matter your tastes, there’s something here that will keep you happy until the busier months come ’round to raze your budget. Here are a few of our top picks:

Monster Hunter Generations

Anyone who dedicates him or herself to Monster Hunter Generations won’t have any issues waiting for the holiday season to roll around. Actually, this game will easily sustain you until Nintendo decides to finally release the NX. Monster Hunter games are known for their depth, and it’s common to hear of fans who spend upwards of 1,000 hours or more with each iteration. The unending loop of hunting monsters, slaying them, harvesting their remains for materials, using those materials to craft better and armor, and going out to hunt stronger monsters has been fine-tuned to perfection by now, and Monster Hunter Generations promises to be not only the deepest entry in the series, but also the most accessible.

I Am Setsuna

For anyone who simply can’t wait for Final Fantasy XV , Square Enix and Tokyo RPG Factory have partnered to release I Am Setsuna . This one is headed to PS4 and Steam on July 19, and it promises to deliver some seriously nostalgic JRPG goodness. Have you been missing classic active time combat, a strong narrative driven by memorable characters, and a pure fantasy aesthetic in your RPGs? If you were born before 1995, then the answer to that question is undoubtedly “yes.” You’ll be pleased to know that I Am Setsuna has been developed for true fans of the golden-era JRPGs like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger .

Did Return to Arkham’s Delay Just Wreck Our Summer Gaming?

Rocket League: Collector’s Edition

This one is a bonus! If you haven’t heard, one of the most successful indie games of all-time is getting physical. On July 5, Rocket League is will be getting a physical retail release, which will come with some extra goodies. Right out of the box, of course, you’ll have access to the timeless base game, as well as the hockey and basketball variants that Psyonix have cooked up since release. The physical collector’s edition also comes with three complete DLC packs, four brand new vehicles, and an exclusive art print. Rocket League is the multiplayer phenomenon that will define this generation of indie games, so don’t miss out!

That about wraps it up. Those are my personal highlights, but don’t forget July will also see the release of Carmageddon: Max Damage, Inside, Song of the Deep, and other notable indie games. Which game are you looking forward to most this July? Are any of you going to be playing through the Arkham games for the first time? Let us know in the comments.

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