With September’s Console Release Rundown, the overall structure is going to evolve, which should better fit with the article’s purpose. The amount of releases this month nearly doubled the numbers from July and August. It just wasn’t feasible to expect insightful and interesting feedback on all of them. So, a conclusion was reached: screw the ones we don’t care about, focus on the one’s we do.

Basically, the new structure is intended to strip out the noise and just bring you semi-informed opinions on the games that the BattlePlay contributors are interested in. Only truly interesting feedback will make its way into the article — “interesting” being determined by yours truly, which brings me the added bonus of BP’s contributors dancing competing for my acceptance.

Along with that, any game without any worthwhile opinions… well, they just won’t appear in the article. Consider this my pre-apology for the countless games that will be snubbed by BattlePlay and its humble contributors: Sorry…

With that in mind, let’s jump in to what September has in store. You can feel it in the air this month. The big dogs of the console gaming world are starting to make their presence felt, just in the nick of time for customers to start complaining about Christmas commercials coming earlier this year than last. It’s not the best lineup I expect to see as December approaches, but it is headlined by two of the biggest exclusives on the current gen consoles, both of which are trilogizing their franchise this month. In to the pool we go.

Resistance 3

Systems: PS3
Release Date: 9/6/2011
Price: $59.99

I don’t think any of BattlePlay’s contributors have spent any time with the Resistance franchise. However, it does deserve to be mentioned and commended. It’s one of the truly elite console exclusive franchises in existence. Though I haven’t played Resistance — for no other reason than I haven’t played it — Insomniac is one of my favorite developers out there. I assume the same quality that they bring to the Ratchet & Clank franchise also shines in the Resistance franchise.

As I write this, I’m really racking my brain to why I haven’t played played Resistance? This must be remedied.

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Driver: San Francisco

Systems: X360, PS3, Wii
Release Date: 9/6/2011
Price: $56.99 (Wii: $46.99)

“I love SF. It’s a wonderful town and I’d love to drive in it. The problem here for me is if I drove in reality like I drive in driving games, I would be dead along with scores of innocents. To avoid an ego crushing feeling of automobile inadequacy, I don’t do driving games. I’ll take the trolley on this one.” — Steve Z.

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Dead Island

Systems: X360, PS3
Release Date: 9/6/2011
Price: $59.99

“Unless you live under a rock you’ve seen the original Dead Island trailer. Mike wrote about this here. We all know the game won’t reflect the emotional depth of that trailer. That trailer is all that this game will be remembered for.” — Steve Z.

“Mike’s mental powers have put me off this game completely. I can’t wait to hear what he has to say about it.” — Kevin T.

Our contributors should note: mentions of my extreme greatness will guarantee your feedback a place in the Rundown…

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Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten

Systems: PS3
Release Date: 9/6/2011
Price: $59.99

“I am getting this game. I have played every Disgaea game that has been released. Ever since I played Final Fantasy Tatics, i can’t get enough of these types of Tactics games.” –Kevin T.

Note: An, “I will buy this!” from Kevin == big deal.

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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

Systems: X360
Release Date: 9/6/2011
Price: $56.99

“I liked playing Dawn of War on my PC and enjoyed that more than Warcraft. Having not played that title for a while and getting to do it “Gears of War” style on an XBOX, it might be something I get myself for Christmas. Besides, the “insanely giant shoulderpads” (IGN) are reminiscent of my wife in the 80’s.” –Charles S.

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NHL 12

Systems: X360, PS3
Release Date: 9/13/2011
Price: $56.99

“Borrowed a recent edition of NHL for XBOX from a co-worker and the rink seems so constraining after all of the Madden and FIFA I have played the past few years. Oh – and I never figured out how to take a proper shot. If Fox can reprise their old hockey title, I’m game, but I’ll pass on this one.” –Charles S.

There was so much buzz about NHL 11 being one of the greatest sports games of all time that I just had to pick it up. And, I’m not sure about all time, but the game was extremely well conceived, and amazingly polished. The problem I had with it: the controls are not meant for the casual gamer, not in the least. It took a while (30/40 games) to get a feel for the game, and even then my skills felt inept. The game leaves little wiggle room to appeal to a mass audience. If you’re a casual gamer that loves hockey, NHL 12 is probably not catering to you.

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White Knight Chronicles II

Systems: PS3
Release Date: 9/13/2011
Price: $59.99

“The first release of WKC has garnered quite a following. It’s unique percentage based item drop algorithms have made haters of some and drove the collectors among us to distraction. Some of the rabid fans have racked up over a 1000 hours of game play just on this single title. As long as the developers stick to the formulas that worked the first time I can’t see this title doing poorly.” –Steve Z.

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Gears of War 3

Systems: X360
Release Date: 9/20/2011
Price: $59.99

“I’ll come out and say it: game of the year in 2011. Gears of War 3 sets a new standard in triple A title development and with its masterfully executed beta, will go down in video gaming history as one of the legends.” — Steve Z.

To add to Steve’s hyperbole rich feedback: does anyone remember this trailer? This trailer was part of the original advertising campaign for the first Gears of War. It was enough to not only have me buy the game, but also the Xbox 360 needed to play it. My wife got both items for me for Christmas that year. I had it opened by Thanksgiving.

The Gears of War franchise was my first experience with the Xbox, and it is still my favorite. Tuesday can’t come soon enough.

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Pro Evolution Soccer 2012

Systems: X360, PS3, Wii
Release Date: 9/27/2011
Price: $59.99 (Wii: $19.99)

“I already blogged my impressions and expectations for FIFA 12, so I downloaded the demo for PES to see how they compare. The pace that the players run at is a bit fast – like FIFA was a few years ago so that part needs fixing. PES does have nicely detailed player models which are evident in replays and closeups – maybe better than FIFA in that respect. I also like PES’s kick strength indicator which appears at the players feet and happens to be exactly where you’re looking when your about to make the pass. FIFA puts a bar indicator at the bottom of the screen and I can’t ever recall ever referring to that. So two nice touches for PES, but not enough to tear away a devoted and acclimated FIFA player.” –Charles S.

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So, Who Should Get Your Money?

If you’ve spent any amount of time reading the posts on BattlePlay, you should already have guessed that GoW3 is the runaway winner this month of the coveted, “my income is not really where it should be right now, but I still plan to waste money on games” award (I’m still working on the title). It’s a favorite of mine so much so that I was willing to preorder it at Gamestop in order to play the beta. Gamestop never gets my money, but an exceptions was required in this case. When it arrives on Tuesday, all other gaming in my life can expect to be put on a rather long hiatus. There’s Locust to be gutted. There’s faces to curb-stomped. Gears of War rules my 360 again.

As usual, let us know what you plan to pick up this month, if anything.

Portal 2 remained dormant in my cabinet far longer than I ever expected it would. I regret this. It doesn’t deserve to be treated that way, no great game does.

While GlaDOS waited patiently, accumulating dust and slipping ever so quickly into the back of mainstream culture, I played L.A. Noire. I thought it would be quick. I assumed it would be a couple weeks, at the most, of me busting bad guys, wearing fedoras, and marveling at post-World War II Los Angeles. And it was all that and more, for a while — before my interest in the game plummeted off a cliff, dragging my freedom to play other games down with it.

This has always been a problem for me. As I grew up I had it hammered into me that you don’t quit something you’ve already started and made a commitment to. If I joined a soccer team and didn’t like it, that was too bad. I was going to finish out the season, whether I liked it or not. It was a good life lesson that has stuck with. However, sometimes it materializes in ways that it was not intended.

My obligation to L.A. Noire came from the fact that it starts off as a great game. While playing through the homicide cases, I was primed to gush about it being my favorite game of the year. It was a great story arc, the only one the game needed. It was so good that carrying on after that was destined to be a letdown. The cliff was built into the game. I had no chance of avoiding it.

Once Cole Phelps transferred to vice, the game was no longer compelling to me. Yet, I trudged forward. Whether it was obligation, or denial that the game was no longer interesting, I kept playing. I finished the vice desk, did my thing in arson cases, and just kept pushing forward, hoping evermore that the game would conclude. But, each case started taking more and more real world time. My interest was fading. And slowly, I just stopped playing altogether.

Weeks went by without me progressing. But, it continued to hold my console’s tray hostage. No other single player games were allowed in until a conclusion was reached with this one (I was still playing some co-op every Saturday — my only gaming during this time).

Finally, I pushed through the blockage. I reached a conclusion. L.A. Noire had to go. It was time for Portal 2.

In the sharpest of contrasts, I blew through Portal 2’s single player campaign in a week. It’s a fairly common stance to love Portal, so I won’t waste your time gushing. There is one experience that I want to share, though. A small, highly insignificant achievement I earned along the way might be the most memorable moment of the entire game. I’m not even sure if the term, “achievement” describes it accurately. It was more of a notification of an action. But to be perfectly honest, it was a flat out mocking of my gameplay. The achievement was meant to laugh in the face of the player for blindly following the game and its narrators, for trusting in the instinct the player has built over years of gaming. My actions were automated. I have no recollection of making a choice; my thumbs just did it. And, the game reacts with an achievement cackle.

Most achievements are bread crumbs to reinforce the player that they’re doing the right thing. Or, they exist to superficially enhance a game’s replay value. They are not utilized as a creative aspect of a game capable of delivering its own unique experience. They’re one off blips at the bottom of my screen that increase my gamerscore. Not this achievement, however. It served a greater purpose within Portal 2’s narrative. It left me laughing, shaking my head, and slightly embarrassed — which means I was happy my wife wasn’t there to razz me about my ineptitude. But it also showed me that achievements can be more, and should be more. With a simple 5 point achievement, Valve has changed my perspective of what achievements can accomplish.