Weekly Pop Culture Round Up: September 25th

The week starting September 25th has a whole host of FOX based comedies coming back, then the annualised games releases continue with Forza and FIFA. Some anticipated indie games like Clustertruck and Serial Cleaner give the scene a bit of Variety, whilst in Film, fictionalised biopics and weird comedy are there to round off the week.


Sunday September 25th

Bob’s Burgers Season 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_79bs2iLXE

Bob’s Burgers is consistently funny, with none of the celebrity laden staleness of The Simpsons or the tired edginess of Family Guy.  A show that celebrates the averageness of the modern family, and endlessly entertaining.

 

Check out the Specials on Fox

The Simpsons Season 28


There you go, You got to see the fun couch gag. Best part’s done now. It’s The Simpsons.  They’re on Season 28. What more do you want from me?

 

Get settled down on the Couch with the family on Fox

 

Once Upon A Time Season 6

 

The reimagining of Fairytales and Disney stories continues, this season getting into some stranger territory as characters like Dr Jekyll, The Count of Monte Cristo and Aladdin get their time in the spotlight.

Last year the show was airing on Netflix the week after the US episode release, so they may have that system in place again.

 

Live Happily Ever after on ABC

 

Family Guy Season 15

 

 

Much like the Simpsons, you’re either going to watch Family Guy or you’re not. And you decided that two quality changes ago.

 

Yet another animated Sitcom on Fox.

 

Tuesday 27th September

 

Forza Horizon 3

 

The prettiest and most accessible racing game on the market returns, this time going to a land down under as the game takes place amongst the varied landscapes of Australia. You’re almost guaranteed that the background will be as pretty as the cars.

 

Take Pole Position on Xbox One and PC

Shantae: ½ Genie Hero

 

 

The first high definition Shantae game finally releases after a successful Kickstarter. The platforming action game is part of a series with a core of devoted fans, who will be pleased to have a newly updated game to enjoy.

 

Conjure up an adventure on WiiU, Xbox One, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita and PC.

 

Darkest Dungeon

This 2D dungeon crawler was released to critical acclaim on Steam. With a focus on keeping your heroes mentally healthy, the management aspects of the game create a fresh challenge every time you play. Now joining a wealth of PC games being ported to Playstation to take advantage of that big audience.

 

Crawl the Dungeons on PS4 and PS Vita

 

Hitman: Episode 5

 

Episode 5 of Hitman is nearly here, and this time Agent 47 is taking on a paramilitary camp. With a rumoured five targets to take out, in a highly secure training facility on a disused farm, this episode may be the most entertaining yet.

 

Blend in on Xbox One, PC and PS4.

 

Clustertruck

Clustertruck is that game you played as a kid where you imagined someone running and jumping alongside your car on long journeys.

Now, you do the jumping. Platform across trucks, around obstacles and use a wide variety of tools to reach your physics based goals. This one looks great, a really fun concept that will hopefully be well realised.

 

Might as well Jump on Steam.

 

Drunk History Season 4

 


With a much anticipated appearance by Lin Manuel Miranda, the comedic retellings of historical fact return. 

 

Drink and Learn on Comedy Central

 

Thursday 29th September

 

PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB

 

From today, the PS4 goes small with a big capacity. The new model replaces the original PS4, and will lack an optical port, but will gain power and eject buttons that are visible to a real person.

 

FIFA 17

 

2016’s entry into the venerable kickabout simulator has a huge focus on esports tournaments, and in game tournaments as players enjoy a thoroughly deep Career mode.

Reach the Big Leagues on Xbox One, PS4 and PC

 

Azure Striker Gunvolt 2

 

 

Supposedly Azure Striker Gunvolt was an average to middling game, that did a variety of things well, but nothing great. Hopefully, the sequel will do as it should and provide a fix for repetitive enemies and stages, as well as a more solid gameplay loop.

 

Power up on 3DS

 

Serial Cleaner

Releasing into Early Access on Steam, Serial Cleaner is a fast paced puzzle/stealth game where players will be tasked with a top down crime scene and orders to make the evidence disappear. Outwit cops and remove all traces of the crimes.
Seemingly a mix of Hotline Miami and Viscera Cleanup Detail, hopefully this game will have a quality to back up that concept.

 

Clean up on Steam

 

Quantum Break Steam release

Now anyone not on Xbox One or Windows 10 can experience the time twisting shooter from Remedy. Supposedly the game is fairly competent, with some really interesting concepts for blending the connected TV show and the game narrative.

 

Reverse the clock on PC through Steam

XCOM 2

 

Console players can now enjoy the deep tactical thrills of reclaiming the Earth from Advent and the Alien Menace. Enjoy the randomly constructed maps, and the frustration of a 95% hit chance sailing past a sectoids head.


FIght for Humanity on Xbox One and PS4

 

Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice

While the main console game may be literally a broken mess, on 3DS Sonic Boom has been much more gracefully received. Whilst not up there with the classics, there’s probably something here for the fans

Follow me, Set me Free on 3DS

 

Space Hulk: Ascension

 

The other Space Hulk game that isn’t a first person shooter. Ascension is a direct translation of the original turn based board game with some new content and features to improve on the strategy side of things.

 

Make your move on PS4

 

Lego Dimensions Year Two

 

  • Lego Dimensions Ghostbusters Story Pack
  • Lego Dimensions Adventure Time Level Pack
  • Lego Dimensions Mission: Impossible Level Pack
  • Lego Dimensions Harry Potter Team Pack
  • Lego Dimensions Adventure Time Team Pack
  • Lego Dimensions The A-Team Fun Pack

 

 

Year Two of Lego Dimensions brings a mix of modern and classic series together, and builds a larger framework for the toys to life game.
Plus, I know some people who will be thrilled that Adventure Time Lego is going to exist by the end of the week.

 

Get Creative on PS3, Xbox 360, WiiU, Playstation 4 and Xbox One.

 

Nintendo Selects Range

 

  • Steamworld Dig/ Steamworld Heist Collection Disc (WiiU)
  • Fast Racing Neo Disc (WiiU)
  • Nintendo Wii U Selects range: Captain Toad Treasure Tracker (WiiU)
  • Pikmin 3 (WiiU)
  • Super Mario 3D World (WiiU)
  • Mario Party 10 (WiiU)

 

The latest range of Nintendo Select Titles hits the stores, at the discounted price of £19.99. If you have a WiiU and you don’t have these games, now is definitely the time to try them out. Super Mario 3D World is a classic, and Pikmin 3 is the best use of the WiiU gamepad that currently exists.

 

Streamline

One in a new generation of games designed around streaming culture, Streamline is a multiplayer game built around Streamers directly interacting with viewers and fans, whilst still remaining in control of their content. It seems like a good idea, and even if this one doesn’t turn out so well, I can see this framework being copied elsewhere.

 

Play along at home on PC on Friday 30th

 

Marvel’s Luke Cage

 

Marvel’s latest Netflix series releases in full on Friday 30th. The series is set to feature a different kind of heroism, as Luke Cage reluctantly takes up the mantle of hero in response to the world around him in Harlem.

With a bulletproof black man as the lead, I’d get ready for a lot of think pieces this weekend.

 

Deepwater Horizon

 

Mark Wahlberg heads up this fictionalised account of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Supposedly the film will be focussing on the everyday heroism of the people on board and contrasting it with the greed of the people on board. Early reports say that even if it isn’t particularly accurate, it’s a compelling watch.

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children

Eva Green is the titular Miss Peregrine in this adaptation of the hit book. A home for children with ‘Peculiar’ abilities to hide in, when the serenity and safety of the home are threatened, the children must learn to use their abilities for their own protection.

Swiss Army Man

The critically acclaimed dark comedy sees Daniel Radcliffes corpse being used in a whole variety of strange ways by Paul Dano. When Dano is lost on an island, Radcliffe’s body washes ashore and is revealed to have a variety of supernatural features that Dano can use to find his way back to civilisation.

Critically Acclaimed and darkly funny.

 

Southside With You

 

 

The biopic of the first date of The Obamas has critics singing praises, giving a very human and intimate view of the people behind the presidency.