Superheroes and Comedy, Cowboys and Detectives: The Week ahead in Pop Culture

This week we get so much TV, plenty of adventure games and some really weird movies. Check out your week in Pop Culture below!

Monday, September 19th

 

Gotham Season 3

 

I recently watched all of Gotham on Netflix, and while it’s definitely not great, there’s enough of a show there to be interesting at least. This prologue tale of Gotham and the Batman Universe has some compelling things to say about the villains, even if the actual story structure leaves a lot to be desired. With Season One and Two on Netflix, catch up before watching the season 3 premiere at 8 p.m. on Fox.

 

Tuesday, 20th September

Oculus Rift

Get the middle of the road VR hardware at retail now. With the HTC VIVE having already launched, and the PlayStation VR set around the corner, it’s going to be interesting to see who will be picking the Oculus up having not helped fund it.

Destiny: Rise Of Iron

Destiny: The Collection

 

Destiny has come a long way from the fairly generic but competent shooter that originally launched. While I still have problems (I’ll never forgive the decision to put all the background info on a separate wiki) the expansion sets have been very well regarded. Get Rise of Iron for your existing game, or dive in for the first time with the complete Destiny: The Collection.

 

Strike while the Iron is hot on Xbox One and PS4

 

Cossacks 3

Classic strategy games have needed a shot in the arm recently, and hopefully Cossacks 3 will be able to provide that. This series will be focussing on the 18/19th century for context, with the capability to field up to 10000 units on the field at any one time, and plenty going on in terms of base building, resource gathering and tech trees.

Command, conquer and start a new age for your empire on PC

Batman: The Telltale Series – Episode 2

 

Episode 2 of the series seems to be focussing heavily on the Legacy of the Waynes, and thus Bruce’s place in the world. Episode two of a Telltale Game is often where the seeds for the rest of the series start to take root, so this should be a good barometer of the quality ahead.

Dear Esther

The genre codifying game that has spawned a thousand imitators comes to the current generation of consoles. The updated version will feature new graphics as well as a developer commentary.

Take a walk on Xbox One and PS4

Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 4

 


Brooklyn Nine-Nine took a turn for the dramatic at the end of it’s last season, and while I have no doubt that the comedy will remain sharp, i want to know whether or not that drama will end up watering down the show’s excellence. The news that the show will be featuring a crossover with New Girl also has me wondering how that is even going to work.

 

Join the Squad at 8 p.m. on Fox.

 

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY9ar4QJOsY

After an actually quite impressive recovery in quality in season two, as the Inhuman population was revealed to the MCU, season three saw problems arise in pacing, amongst other things. Season Four promises the rise of more superheroes, including the Modern Marvel version of Ghost Rider.

 

Investigate the marvels on 10 p.m. on ABC.

 

Wednesday, September 21st

Firewatch

Firewatch is an excellent game from Campo Santo. A masterclass in excellent writing and , you play Henry, a man trying to escape from it all. Stand watch for fires and anything otherwise mysterious in a national park in Wyoming. This updated version will also come with an Audio Commentary option and free map exploration mode that will be patched into the PS4 and PC version.

Watch the treeline on Xbox One

 

Modern Family Season 8

Modern Family is the comedy television equivalent of your favourite dish at a restaurant. You’re never going to get anything massively surprising or new, but you’ll enjoy it regardless just because you already like it.  

 

Reunite with the family on 9 p.m. on ABC.

 

Thursday 22nd September

Virginia

As adventure game genres go, we can always use more noir detective stories. Following in the vein of stories like Deadly Premonition, Twin Peaks and more, take on the role of newly graduated FBI agent, Anne Tarver. Investigate the case of a missing child in 1992 Virginia. As you and your veteran partner work the case, you’ll have to deal with an insular community and unravel secrets to solve the mystery. All of this will be happening in a game with a beautiful cel shaded visual style.

The Truth is out there on Xbox One, PS4 and PC

Friday, 23rd September

Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade

Releasing from Early Access on Steam, and delayed on consoles, Warhammer 40,000 is the final result of multiple attempts to make a 40K MMO and is planet side lite in gameplay. Take a Space Marine, Chaos Marine, Eldar or Ork and fight in third person in set battles for control persistent game world. Reports on this one claim that the underlying game is fine, but that the game has a long way to go before being truly worthy of your time.

Crusade for the Emperor on PC

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Rob Zombie (he of horror fame) releases his latest film, a gory, gruesome take on the murder game scenario. A group of carnival folk are kidnapped from their vehicles and locked into a twisted game for the pleasure of a strange cult.

Live through the night on the 23rd

The Magnificent Seven (2016)

An all star cast led by Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt star in a remake of a remake. A good cowboy film is always a treat to watch. Hopefully this will actually be a good cowboy film.

Ride off into the sunset on the 23rd

Saturday, 24th September

Star Wars: Rebels

The animated programme, continuing the canon of the Star Wars Universe, helps to bridge the gap between the prequels/clone wars series and the original trilogy/rogue one. With a confirmation that season three will be darker and more challenging than ever, especially with the introduction of fan favourite Imperial Admiral Thrawn back into continuity, this series will be a must watch for many star wars fans.

 

May the Force be with you on Disney XD