Out This Week - 07/10/11

By Tom Phillips Published 3 October, 2011

Rage! Dark Souls! NBA! Cursed!

It's been a long time coming. This week meaty shooter Rage emerges from the vaults of id Software - the makers of Doom, Quake and Castle Wolfenstein, no less.

But has id maintained its genre-changing level of quality? You'll be able to read Eurogamer editor Tom Bramwell's thoughts in our review tomorrow. There's also a talkthrough with him and yours truly on the way as well.

From the cutting edge of the FPS genre to a well-worn classic, the original Crysis arrives for PS3 and Xbox 360 this week, available to download for 1600 Microsoft Points or £15.99. It's a "modified and enhanced" version of the 2007 original's single-player campaign, with a few control tweaks and 3D support.

Also fighting for your money this week: Dark Souls - the rock hard recipient of 9/10 from Eurogamer earlier today. "Yes, the game is difficult and obtuse. But it is also simple and elegant, with intuitive controls and a snappy, unfussy interface," said reviews editor Oli Welsh.

Alternatively, Medieval hack and slash The Cursed Crusade also arrives on Friday. It has an evil Pope and Templar knights, if you like that sort of thing.

Xbox 360 gamers are due the delayed console version of Tropico 4, while Nintendo fans get Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2, a continuation of the Pokemon-esque Dragon Quest sub-series.

It's another bustling week for virtual stores: co-operative stickup shooter Payday: The Heist arrives, as well as the honey badger-enhanced NBA Jam: On Fire Edition and goblin crowd-culler Orcs Must Die!

Sega oldies Space Channel 5 Part 2 and Sega Bass Fishing are scheduled to show their faces on XBLA tomorrow. Will they turn up on PS3 too? We'll have the final PSN launch list from Sony on Wednesday.

Update: Sony has announced a last-minute delay for Payday: The Heist - it will now launch later this month instead.

This Week in Shops!

Rage

  • Developer: id Software
  • Publisher: Bethesda
  • Formats: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

What is it? id Software's long-awaited new shooter. What does Eurogamer think? Set your alarm clocks, Eurogamer's review will publish at 5.01am tomorrow morning.

id-life crisis.

Dark Souls

  • Developer: From Software
  • Publisher: Namco Bandai
  • Formats: PS3, Xbox 360

What is it? Tough as nails dark fantasy role-player where you die an awful lot. What does Eurogamer think? "If entertainment is fun without failure and progress without pain, you'll have to find it somewhere else. But you'll be missing out on one of the best games of the year," Oli Welsh wrote in Eurogamer's 9/10 Dark Souls review.

Die another way.

What Else?

  • Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 (DS)
  • The Cursed Crusade (PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
  • Tropico 4 (Xbox 360)
  • Crysis (PSN, Xbox Live Games on Demand)
  • Sega Bass Fishing (XBLA)
  • Space Channel 5 Part 2 (XBLA)
  • NBA 2K12: (PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360)
  • NBA Jam: On Fire Edition (PSN, XBLA)
  • Orcs Must Die! (XBLA)
  • Eufloria (PSN)
  • PowerUp Heroes (Xbox 360 w/Kinect)
  • Catrap (3DS Virtual Console)

Chart Predictions!

Each week one of the team steps up to foresee the future - to be specific, what next week's top five games will be in the UK all-formats chart. The following predictions are for the week beginning Friday, 7th October, to be reported the following Monday.

Tom Phillips, Website & Video Administrator, Eurogamer.net

"While Rage is sure to make a big splash, I can't see FIFA 12 unseated so soon. Still, the multi-platform id shooter should still beat platform-exclusive Gears 3 in its third week on sale. With plenty of positive scores behind it, Dark Souls will chart highly - but it is still a bit niche. It's a close call, but I think it'll squeak fourth ahead of F1 in fifth."

  1. FIFA 12
  2. Rage
  3. Gears of War 3
  4. Dark Souls
  5. F1 2011

Last week, Eurogamer TV's Johnny Minkley had a go. How did he do, loyal reader? Feast your eyes beneath.

Position The Truth The Prediction Result
1 FIFA 12 FIFA 12 YES!
2 Gears of War 3 Gears of War 3 YES!
3 F1 2011 F1 2011 YES!
4 Zumba Fitness Zumba Fitness YES!
5 Dead Island Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection SO CLOSE!

Your Chart Predictions!

Last week we asked you a tricksy question indeed - where FIFA would end up in this week's chart. But not FIFA 12 - no, we said FIFA 11. You were caught out in your droves, with 65 per cent of you predicting last year's effort would be top spot this week! Only 26 per cent of you read the question correctly, predicting a low chart finish. Teehee.

This time we'll make things plain and simple, as you obviously don't listen to a word we say banana. Where will Dark Souls chart next week?

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Phillips

Tom joined Eurogamer in 2010 and has quickly made his mark writing news and columns and coming up with puntastic straplines. Questionable beard. @TomPhillips151 on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Phillips archive page.

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Comments (37) Latest comment 8 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • darkmorgado #1 8 months ago

    Is Crysis going to get its own review on consoles? I can't believe that either the PS3 or the 360 will stand up against the PC original in terms of visuals, and I'll be interested to know how well all the various powers and things translate to the limited inputs of a controller.

  • DJDog #2 8 months ago

    Although the visuals in Rage look great I think the gameplay looks very average. Hope I'm wrong.

  • StolenGlory #3 8 months ago

    "1600 Microsoft Points or £15.99"

    I thought the game was going for 1840MSP in accordance to the cash into MSP exchange rate?

  • arcam #4 8 months ago

    Rage has looked distinctly uninteresting to me for the last year, but as release date comes close I am finding myself surprisingly drawn to it... Awaiting the review with interest.

  • DozyKipper #5 8 months ago

    @StolenGlory £15.99 is the PS3 price.

  • DrStrangelove #6 8 months ago

    I dreamt of playing Rage tonight, and it was fantastic. Now I have no doubts anymore, instabuy.

  • liamaland #7 8 months ago

    1.RAGE
    2.Dark souls
    3.Gears Of War 3
    4. Fifa 12
    5.????

    thats the top 5 for me...cant really tell what will be on spot 5 as its getting close to the big games comming out

  • Architect_z #8 8 months ago

    MOTHERFU*KING DARK SOULS!

  • Yuroko #9 8 months ago

    I can't see Dark Souls entering the top ten. If it does then it will be filling up the bargain bins by next week. The idiots won't have the patience for that game. Predicting the 5th place is a little bit optimistic I'm afraid. Would love to be proven wrong though.

  • schnide #10 8 months ago

    Trick question on FIFA my arse ;)

  • vmanb #11 8 months ago

    there's no way rage will be no1 i'm pretty sure of that, be lucky to get in the top 5 imo. Probably still going to get it though so long as it gets some decent reviews

  • captainrentboy #12 8 months ago

    I'll be surprised to see Dark Souls trouble the Top 5 next week.
    Not saying it's not good, just that it doesn't scream 'mega hit'.
    Of course I could be wrong, in which case I'll eat my own shit.

  • Sonic_D #13 8 months ago

    If Dark Souls gets in the Top 5 that would be most welcome.

  • Mik3yB #14 8 months ago

    Want Rage now!!!

    Squeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

  • Hindle #15 8 months ago

    Post deleted at 23:04:43 04-04-2012

  • eltonpr0n #16 8 months ago

    Just get that fucking Zumba wank out of the chart.

    At least let the British Top 5 have some decency until that further disgrace Just Dance 3 hits the market for overweight mothers and their kids to play.

  • comedyjack #17 8 months ago

    They say the Rage review is up tomorrow and I'm waiting with bated breath. (I'm visualising an 8 or 9)

  • menage #18 8 months ago

    Really interested in what Rage will be doing. That game took a long while for me to warm up to but it does look very good.

    I'll need more Dark Souls time though, so that will have to wait.

  • tehehe #19 8 months ago

    Big minus for rage - no standard id fps multiplayer, only some "cart" racing. I don't understand this decision and I don't like it.

  • T3TSUO #20 8 months ago

    Big Plus for Rage. Amazing graphically and sonically. Great level design that hints at open world. Great feel to the weapons. Gameplay that has a lot more depth than find the biggest gun. Huge amount of gadgets to build.
    Multiplayer that will appeal to those that love Twisted Metal (alot then)
    Will buy Crysis just to see it on my living room TV.
    Will also buy Dark Souls too so an expensive week.

  • P1GEONPOO #21 8 months ago

    captainrentboy talking about eating shit. funny that.

  • darkmorgado #22 8 months ago

    Big minus for rage - no standard id fps multiplayer, only some "cart" racing. I don't understand this decision and I don't like it.

    This isn't Doom or Quake. Get over it.

  • airjoca #23 8 months ago

    Holy F**k Up Batman (or Eurogamer)

    "NBA 2K12 Jam: On Fire Edition (PSN, XBLA)"

    Really? REALLY? You just merged the most Sim game of this generation with a simple arcade game.

    See, NBA 2K12 is one game, NBA JAM is a totally different one. And as I've said before, NBA 2K12 will be the best sports game of this generation, and yet you do not review it...

  • DreadedWalrus #24 8 months ago

    'the honey badger-enhanced NBA 2K12 Jam: On Fire Edition

    Oh, Eurogamer. In other news, Pro Evolution FIFA Soccer Street 2012 comes out soon, and later, Football Championship Manager 12 makes its debut.

    Edit: Also, I echo calls for a 2K12 review. Get an American in to review it, or something. I picked up 2K11 knowing almost nothing about basketball, and it became my favourite sports game of all time. 2K12 looks immense from the demo.
    Edited by DreadedWalrus at 03/10/11 @ 22:27

  • SomaticSense #25 8 months ago

    "NBA 2K12 Jam: On Fire Edition "

    /facepalm

  • curryking3 #26 8 months ago

    Phew, I'm not crazy. I thought 2K12 did an arcade spinoff after reading this article lol.

  • makeamazing #27 8 months ago

    It's rage and Crysis for me this week...

    But...when the hell am i supposed to play all these great games i have/will get :( I think we need to get the government involved and give us Gaming Bank Holidays! its the only way!

  • bad09 #28 8 months ago

    I'll be honest Rage really hasn't looked that interesting to me ever since it was announced but I got a sexy new PC coming and want to work it out and Rage is supposedly some good eye candy so I may just bite.

  • gjgjg #29 8 months ago

    AHEM! ... don't forget NBA2K12 - the best sports game of the year (fifa being the other one) !

  • skowhegan Verified Staff Writer, Eurogamer Network #30 8 months ago

    Somehow those two got amalgamated into one list entry, but yes - NBA 2K12 and NBA Jam: On Fire Edition are both out this week.

    One has honey badgers, the other doesn't. You know which one to choose.

  • Aphexman #31 8 months ago

    @DrStrangelove, I had this dream too, weird.

  • GamesConnoisseur #32 8 months ago

    Dark Souls all the way, sadly on X360 as simply due to my friends list, felt someway as if slightly betraying the series' home on the PS3 but heck what about Mass Effect/Splinter Cell/KoToR starting on the MS's consoles?!

    RAGE a week rent for me, as too many good game coming up, may convert into a buy if solid enough.

    That was a good chart prediction for last week, but Dark Souls on 4th seem too much hoping that FPS obsessed mass market will suddenly takes to the sado macho hardcore gamers's wet dream without any guns or importantly brand awareness or even PR marketing behind it?!

    Would be great to see it in top five, three or even top spot...not happening.

  • chischis #33 8 months ago

    No Dark Souls on PC? :(

    Well it's not surprising, From Software can't be bothered to make another King's Field. At least DS is - supposedly - less linear than its predecessor, but it's still not enough to convince me to buy a 360 or PS3. Certainly not without a huge discount.

  • markypants #34 8 months ago

    Totally agree with the NBA 2K12 need for review... The problem is, Basketball is still a sport that isn't on most UK games players radar. Which is such a shame as NBA 2K11 & 12 are by far and away the best sports games ever to appear on a console... It's such a well presented & balanced gaming approximation of a sport, nothing comes close to it. And yet, unless you like basketball, it really means nothing. IGN have done a great review of it so worth a look... It has to be said though, the demos they put out year after year really don't help them because they are so stripped back compared to actual game. If it were my shout I'd put one out with an epic exhibition game with Michael Jordan etc and have all of the commentary and sexy in game gubbins that they take out to keep the file size down. I think people would be blown away by it.

  • DisneyJon #35 8 months ago

    Rage looks nice, but between it and Dark Souls I know which one is going to hit the 17.99 Zavvi price point first.

    When does XBL stuff release in the UK ? I want Nba Jam!

  • king26 #36 8 months ago

    Payday The Heist for me.

  • apoc_reg #37 8 months ago

    Actually the PC version of Crysis supports 360 controller and works great. They dumbed it down for Crysis 2.... a bit like the game....