The Week Ahead in Pop Culture: Comedy, Bionic Augmentations and More!

The week beginning Sunday 21st August is an incredibly busy one! So lets take this one thing at a time and see what we have in store!

Tuesday 23rd August

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfV01sTqB68&w=560&h=315]

Adam Jensen is back. After the disastrous events at the end of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, the augmented community is more fearful and oppressed than ever. Against this backdrop, Jensen must uncover the secrets behind a conspiracy, and try to survive in this world that is hostile to him and his kind. Out on PS4, Xbox One and PC

Worms W.M.D 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p14IvU9P06c&w=560&h=315]

The latest in Team 17’s series sees a return to form, with the addition of vehicles and buildings elements to keep your worms fighting longer than ever.

Out on PS4, Xbox One, PC and PS Vita

Hue 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TbQxVphzO4&w=560&h=315]

This week’s quirky puzzle platformer is Hue. Using a magic ring, manipulate the colour of the background in this 2D platformer and solve puzzles. Cute, charming and a very simple concept.

Try it out on PS4 and PS Vita

 

Inside

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0V2rPVQWfM&w=560&h=315]

Inside is an excellent indie horror game, that I’ve covered before, and now PS4 owners get a chance to see what all the fuss is about.

 

GAMES RELEASED ON WEDNESDAY 24 AUGUST

Obduction 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsWHoOKa24E&w=560&h=315]

The spiritual successor to the genre defining Myst series, Obduction is a first person puzzle solving game where the player, and locations from all over the world, have been transplanted into a different reality. Can you solve the mysteries and find your way home?
Find out on PC, Linux and Oculus Rift

 

GAMES RELEASED ON THURSDAY 25 AUGUST

Madden NFL 17

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEmQEFCBp2c&w=560&h=315]

It’s Madden, but the new one.

On Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Playstation 4

The Other 99 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guJEkyzAfFI&w=560&h=315]

Coming out of Early Access on Steam, the other 99 is an indie survival game that sees the player stranded on a mysterious island, with only a note that says “The only way off the island is through the other 99”
What are you capable of to save yourself? And will you still be you by the end?

Steam release on PC

Of Kings and Men

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWtinBnWZxM&w=560&h=315]

God I love Medieval combat. And more than that, I love Mount and Blade. So finding out about this? A medieval online combat game in the style of Mount and Blade with base building and factional warfare?
Sign me up.
Only in early access, but this is a game  I will be watching closely.
(Bonus Points, Made in NI)

Get to battling on Steam Early Access

 

GAMES RELEASED ON FRIDAY 26 AUGUST

The King Of Fighters XIV 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGI8F48lv24&w=560&h=315]

The other pillar of fighting games moves to 3D models, with some consternation from the fans. With the game being scrutinised more than ever, can they pull out a comeback win:?

Find out on PS4

Assetto Corsa 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdVgf-TcM_Q&w=560&h=315]

The absolutely gorgeous PC racing sim comes to consoles, so now everyone can enjoy hyper realistic simulations.

PS4 and Xbox One Owners can get in gear on Friday

A.O.T.: Wings Of Freedom 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1grlu4PwiMA&w=560&h=315]

Not able to legally be called Attack on Titan in Europe, we finally get the localisation of the fan favourite anime game. Play as all your favourite characters as you fully immerse yourself in the maneuver gear using, titan slaying combat.

Strike out from the Walls on Playstation 3, Xbox One, PC, Playstation 4 and Playstation Vita.

Space Hulk: Deathwing 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jvqIXqn-8A&w=560&h=315]

An adaptation of the classic Games Workshop board game, Space Hulk: Deathwing will see players take on the role of Terminators trapped aboard a ravaged ship, taking on the alien Tyranid  hordes in brutal first person gameplay.
Previous GW adaptations have been hit and miss, so maybe this one will be good?

Save your cries of “For the Emperor!” for PS4

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Game Of The Year Edition

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rF9EWqogGA&w=560&h=315]

If you’ve missed out on one of the best games of 2015, now’s your chance to catch up, with all the DLC to boot.

An incredible deal on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

FRIDAY 26 AUGUST 2016

Bad Moms

It’s been 14 years since Mean Girls. Which means the original audience are probably now old enough to see themselves in THIS movie which sees suburban mothers give up on the PTA rat race and just enjoy themselves and their lives, much to the consternation of an interfering PTA head.
With a very accomplished cast led by Mila Kunis and a strong premise, this might be a dark horse to look out for.

War Dogs 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdFIkMY1SUI&w=560&h=315]

Jonah Hill and Miles Teller are a pair of twenty something defence contractors who are charged with arming America’s allies in Afghanistan. In way over their heads, the two must try to stay afloat and live long enough to enjoy their misbegotten earnings.

The Purge: Election Year

The Purge movies feel kind of like a politically aware SAW series, riffing on the affairs of a given time period in their now yearly releases. This film is looking good, with a definite real world satire going on in American Election politics. I still can’t believe they just straight out use Trump’s slogan. Well. there’s a time for subtlety. Not here.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

 

Andy Samberg makes his feature film, a riff on pop music culture in the vein of Spinal Tap. The Lonely Island are great, Andy Samberg is great. Hopefully upscaling to the big screen keeps the charm he has on TV.

Mechanic: Resurrection

Honestly, I don’t remember the Mechanic movie in 2011, but a hitman who makes his crimes look like accidents is a solid premise. And Jason Statham always needs more money for fighting people.

So that’s you up till the 28th, this week was pretty full, and as we move towards autumn it’s only going to go further from there!