Earlier this week, Daniel asked you readers on your picks for the best game so far in 2012… before naming Journey as his choice. (I think it's a tie between that and Mass Effect 3.)
Of course, the only way this can hold is if we purposefully ignore all the delectable high-profile games that have been slated for the holiday season. And that begins next month. (It just gets longer and longer and longer…)
That said, if Journey is still your pick, then don't forget about the special $30 Journey Collector's Edition which comes with flOw and flower, plus a whole list of goodies including all soundtracks for all three titles, extra one-shot mini-games from thatgamecompany, and creator commentary play-throughs.
And then there's the other $30 PS3 compilation, the Ratchet & Clank Collection, which enhances all three PS2 Ratchet titles into HD glory and includes exclusive access to Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time demo.
With all the major releases before August 28, though, your wallet may not get that far. Amidst heavy-hitters like Darksiders II, Sleeping Dogs, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Guild Wars 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Madden NFL 13 are the rest of the Xbox Live Arcade titles, Hybrid and Dust: An Elysian Tail, and GR favorite Sound Shapes. I almost don't want to mention the full list. It's overwhelming…
August 7 – Persona 4 Arena (X360, PS3) by Atlus, Arc System Works
August 7 – Sound Shapes (PS3, Vita) by SCEA, Queasy Games
August 8 – Hybrid (X360) by 5th Cell
August 14 – Sleeping Dogs (X360, PS3, PC) by Square Enix, United Front Games
August 14 – Darksiders II (X360, PS3) by THQ, Vigil Games
August 14 – The Last Story (Wii) by Xseed Games, Mistwalker
August 15 – Dust: An Elysian Tail (X360) by Microsoft, Humble Hearts
August 19 – New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS) by Nintendo
August 19 – Nintendo 3DS XL by Nintendo
August 21 – Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (X360, PS3, PC) by Valve
August 21 – Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (X360, PS3, PC) by Activision, High Moon Studios
August 22 – JoJo's Bizarre Adventure HD (X360, PS3) by Capcom
August 24 – Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition (PC) by Namco Bandai, From Software
August 28 – Guild Wars 2 (PC) by NCSoft, ArenaNet
August 28 – Madden NFL 13 (X360, PS3, Wii, Vita) by EA Sports, EA Tiburon
August 28 – Rock Band Blitz (X360, PS3) by Harmonix
August 28 – Ratchet & Clank Collection (PS3) by SCEA, Idol Minds, Naughty Dog
August 28 – Journey Collector's Edition (PS3) by thatgamecompany
If that wasn't enough, I've got Persona 4 Arena, The Last Story, and the 3DS XL all pre-ordered. I don't even want to see my financial advisor (who doesn't exist… maybe… don't judge me!).
What will you Buy? What will you Try? And what needs to Die?