Games to get in August

The sweet, sweet slowdown continues this month with only a handful of niche titles sure to please the fans while simultaneously keeping the wallets of those who could care less nice and plump.

August
3rd- Monster Rancher DS (DS)
10th- Madden NFL 2011 (All)
24th- Mafia II (PS3, 360)
31st- Metroid: Other M (Wii)
31st- Valkyria Chronicles 2 (PSP)

Monster Rancher games are pretty consistent alternatives to Pokemon, so those who still feel the need to catch em all, but unable to wait for Black and White to release next year, should find some refuge here.

I’m no fan of annual installments of sports games (or any game for that matter *cough*Call of Duty *cough*) but all of the early looks show a Madden with a core gameplay that is actually trying a few new things. It’s more than just a new paintjob and roster update, so I guess I’ll cut the series some slack this year.

Mafia II looks like a lot of fun and Valkyria Chronicles is sure to please fans of the PS3 original.

If you own a Wii, Metroid is likely one of five games coming out for the system in 2010 worth taking a look at, so don’t forget to check it out.

As for me, it’s all about the digital content this month. As more and more developers try their hand at the increasingly lucrative downloadable market, the quality of these games is beginning to soar. August will bring us Shank, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair and more.

If there’s nothing on the store shelf getting you excited this month, I’d suggest checking out the stores and marketplaces on your various consoles. There’s bound to be something to pique your interest at a fraction of the retail cost.