Upcoming video game releases: 'New Super Mario Bros. 2,' 'Transformers,' 'Madden NFL 13'
New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS)
North America: August 19, E
European regions: August 17, 3+
Japan: July 28, A (all ages)
Coin-collecting frenzy New Super Mario Bros. 2 has been boasting of its long-term replay value. Mario's latest outing could prove a decent little money-spinner for Nintendo too.
Price: $39 / €39 / £29 / R499 / ¥4,800
newsupermariobros2.nintendo.com
Darksiders II (360 PC PS3)
North America: August 14, M17+
European regions: August 21, 18+
Plunge yourself into the chaos of the earth's final apocalypse as Death, one of the Four Horsemen, as voiced by the gravelly Michael Wincott (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Crow), and vindicate fellow horseman War, star of the first game.
Price: $59 / €69 / £39 / R599
On PC: $49 / €49 / £35 / R399
www.darksiders.com
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (360 Mac PC PS3)
Worldwide: from August 21 via download
One of the most enduring online action games is updated, and brought to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for the first time. Teams of terrorists and counter-terrorist each have their own objectives to work towards, in a streamlined experience requiring tactical teamwork and quick reactions.
Price: $15 / €14 / £12
counter-strike.net
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (360 Mac PC PS3)
North America: August 21, Teen
European regions: August 24, 12+
Settle the score between Autobots and Decepticons during the final moments of home planet Cybertron in a conflict that sucks in transforming robots miniscule and megalithic.
Price: $59 / €59 / £39 / R599, less on PC
transformersgame.com
Madden NFL 13 (360 PS3 Vita Wii)
North America: August 28, E
European regions: August 31, 3+
Updated for a new season, Madden NFL 13's improvements include new passing and defensive AI systems, with 4 players on the same machine, up to 6 online, and an Xbox 360 version that can respond to player audibles via the Kinect Sensor.
Price: $59 / €69 / £39
easports.com/madden-nfl
Rock Band Blitz (360 PS3 via download)
PlayStation 3, North America: August 28
Xbox 360: August 29
PlayStation 3, European regions: expected August 29
This is Rock Band reinvented. No plastic instrument accessories required, just a standard controller and the option of importing old Rock Band songs or sticking to Blitz's 25 song soundtrack as you surf the note highway à la Frequency, Amplitude, and Frets on Fire.
Price: 1200 MS Points / $15 / €14 / £10
rockband.com/games/rockbandblitz
