The Best and Worst Games of August 2019
The end of summer blues have started to kick in and while this might mark the beginning of a new school year, the end of scorching hot days and lounging on the beach, it also brings us closer to some huge games this fall. That said, with games like Madden NFL 20, Control, and The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan August stood out with some huge video game releases and gave us plenty to sink our teeth into in the meantime. So how exactly did some of the biggest games of the month perform? Did they even make the list? Let’s dive into it and find out.
The Best
Ion Fury
***Click here to read our full review***
If you’ve been waiting for a game to scratch that 90’s first-person shooter itch Ion Fury may be exactly what the doctor ordered. From the creators of Duke Nukem 3D, Max Payne, and Prey 3D Realms has teamed up with Voidpoint to bring us a brand new Build Engine title that oozes nostalgia. Despite not having a multiplayer mode, the action in Ion Fury is frenetic, and the campaign is a wild ride. Overall there’s plenty to get excited about here, which is evident by its Metacritic score of 79 as well. “Ion Fury was an absolute treat to play and truly felt like I was reliving my teenage years again….Ion Fury is an excellent homage to classic ’90s first-person shooters like Blood, Shadow Warrior, and Duke Nukem 3D.”
Astral Chain
***Click here to read our full review***
PlatinumGames, the brilliant minds behind the likes of Nier: Automata and the Bayonetta series, are back with a brand new game. Astral Chain is a fantastic addition to the Nintendo Switch. So much so in fact that people have been review bombing the game just because it’s exclusive to the console. Don’t let that deter you from scooping this one up however, as there’s plenty to get excited about and they’re just jealous they can’t play it. There’s a special police task force, investigations, creatures that have invaded the world, and endless action. If you’re a fan of Japanese third-person action or RPGs this is one to add to your must-buy list. And if that hasn’t convinced you, it’s sitting at an impressive 87 on Metacritic. “Astral Chain is an excellent action game that uses the Switch’s unique hardware in creative ways. It fits handsomely in PlatinumGames’ excellent catalog and should satisfy anyone who likes Japanese action RPGs, or third-person action games.”
Control
***Click here to read our full review***
As one of the most highly anticipated games of this month, if not the entire year, Remedy’s new title Control more than lives up to its hype. Whether or not you’re a fan of their previous works, like Max Payne, Quantum Break, or Alan Wake, Control is Remedy’s biggest and best game yet. Featuring a badass protagonist in Jesse Faden, who uses telekinesis, levitation and a sweet service gun to take her enemies down in the coolest of ways, the action within this gorgeous narrative doesn’t let you down. Overall Control is a supernatural third-person action-adventure game that’s mysterious, stylish and well-designed and anyone who likes a well-thought-out title is going to love this. Here’s what we had to say about it in our review, “Control is the best game Remedy has made, and it’s one of the most unique narrative action games out there. It’s visually jaw-dropping and the superpower combat is entertaining as heck, but it’s the paranormal adventure and stylistic choices that really make Control sing.”
We’ve covered the best, so now what about the worst of August 2019?