The new console games: an invitation to adventure

By Christoph Lippok Oct 9, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Frankfurt - Shut up and move seems to be the motto of the latest crop of games for consoles, with most games coming out this autumn requiring players to get moving from the start without a moment to think.

One overriding trend remains a move toward cooperation, with players teaming up to fight monsters or helping one another, whether they're playing at the same console or linked together via the internet.

The new options include a ghost hunt in dark areas, a shoot-out and the newest Batman adventure. Many of them seem on the dark side, but the jump-n-run game Ratchet & Clank and the racing game Forza also provide fun for the whole family.

Dark Souls from Namco Bandai is a detailed action role-playing game with a taste for the gruesome. Players are invited to engage in a war against giant ghosts and monsters. The atmosphere is claustrophobic, the difficulty levels unforgiving. It only takes a few hits for your character to die a digital death in this sequel to Demon's Souls.

A key element is character development. There are 10 different classes of knights and magicians from which to choose. During battle, characters gather experience, which allow them to hone their skills.

The online mode might take some getting used to. Players can leave messages and warnings on their way through the labyrinth-like world, which can help others get through the challenges. Dark Souls is available for the Playstation 3 and XBox 360, costing about 65 euros (86 dollars).

If magic isn't your bag, then Rage might be the antidote for you. The first-person shooter game from Bethesda Softworks is not designed for the very young, hardly a surprise, since the people behind it are the same ones who made classics like Doom and Quake.

Like in so many other games, players of Rage find themselves in an apocalyptic setting. This time a vicious regime has risen up after a meteor strike, ruling harshly over the few surviving people. The scenario cries out for a real hero.

But even experienced first-person gamers will find some surprises here. The gameplay allows the use of robots and remote-controlled bomb cars. Between the shooting parts of the game, there are parts that require driving. Along with a single-player mode, there are also cooperative and multiplayer online modes.

Rage is set for release for the Playstation 3 and XBox 360 for about 65 euros. A PC version is available for about 50 euros.

Fans of Batman should mark October 21 in their calendars. That's the release date for the action title Batman: Arkham City from Warner Interactive. The famous DC Comics hero reappears here to take on familiar villains like the Joker, the Riddler and Victor Szasz. A few characters, like Catwoman, can also be played.

But Batman remains the focus, as players use him to creep, fight and puzzle through the game. He has a whole range of tools to help him. Players of the game's predecessor, Arkham Asylum, will recognize many of them. But plenty are new, like the smoke bomb.

In the game, Arkham City is a melting pot for a whole range of criminals, meaning the Dark Knight has plenty to do. Batman: Arkham City will be available for the Playstation 3 and XBox 360, costing about 60 euros. A PC version for about 45 euros is also planned.

A new version of Sony's Ratchet & Clank series is set for release on October 21, exclusively for the Playstation 3. The cooperative mode is at the centre of Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One. Up to four players can play together online or at the same console to save the galaxy. A lot of the game is about hopping around or solving puzzles, but there is also an unusual weapons arsenal and, as per usual, some humorous dialogue. The game will cost around 70 euros.

Developers at Microsoft have promised some eye candy with the racing game Forza Motorsport 4. Exclusively for the XBox 360, the graphics are supposed to have improved significantly over past versions. The game makes available several hundred cars from more than 80 companies. Players can customize details and performance. Settings and individualized paint jobs can also be traded with other players thanks to internet connectivity.

In a first, the Forza series also now supports Microsoft's Kinect controllers. That means players can change perspective during a race with a turn of their head or move through the menus with voice commands.