The Days of Summer Are Gone, But the Games of Summer Live On

Generally speaking, the gaming industry is the exact opposite of the movie industry—while the movie industry ramps up in the summer with blockbuster after blockbuster, the gaming industry usually hibernates until October, when the heavy hitters start arriving on the holiday scene. This summer was not really too different from the average gaming summer, except for a few key titles that you might want to check out if you missed them while toiling away at some yawn-worthy internship. Here are five titles that came out this summer to tremendous buzz:

1. Boom Blox, Wii, EA Games
This incredibly addictive puzzle game from Electronic Arts came out of nowhere in late May. The game is a bizarre mix of wall-ball (for those who remember from their elementary school playground days) and Jenga. Players take turns tossing balls at a tower of blocks—precariously arranged, of course—attempting to knock as many blocks off the tower as possible without knocking off set “danger” blocks that lead to lost points. The game is immeasurably fun for four players, and with a packed house trying to jinx the thrower, the game becomes an intoxicatingly good blend of Jenga and basketball.

2. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, PS3, Konami
The conclusion to Konami’s 20-year-old Metal Gear series was released on June 12 to immense critical and commercial hoopla. After moving three million units within a few weeks of launch, the word was final—MGS4 was everything series fans hoped it would be and then some. The game’s unpredictable pacing, visual splendor, inventive boss battles, and satisfying story certainly left more than a few gamers with their mouths hanging open as the final credits screen finally rolled some 20 hours after the title credits began. Solid Snake takes his place amongst gaming’s most treasured heroes with the end of his storied saga in MGS4.

3. Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, Activision
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is worthwhile for one reason and one reason alone: “Walk this Way” is way too fun to play in your underwear. Other than that, Aerosmith is probably the most controversial pick on the list. For Aerosmith fans, the game is pure fan service even though it lacks some of Aerosmith’s biggest hits, but for Aerosmith detractors, the game is probably a torturous experiment in tedium. There’s nothing wrong with the game’s set list—meager though it may be at fewer than 40 songs—but the whole experience certainly feels a bit joyless. This is the fifth Guitar Hero game in three years. Is a band breakup on the horizon?

4. Final Fantasy IV, Nintendo DS, Square Enix
The DS remake of the Super Nintendo classic role-playing game Final Fantasy IV is noteworthy for two reasons: first, it spruces up the classic game considerably—adding cut scenes and voice acting to a title that’s as old as the freshman class at Columbia—and second, it’s hard as hell. You will die a lot. Still, when you finally climb Mt. Ordeals (aptly named), you’ll put your DS down and thrust your hands into the air in exuberant triumph. Then you’ll remember you’re on the subway and you will quietly step off and pout in a nearby phone booth.

5. Civilization Revolution, Xbox 360, PS3, Take 2
Long a favorite of hard-core PC gamers, the Civilization series has finally come to consoles with Civilization Revolution. CivRev is an absolutely awesome conversion of a series known for shipping with a game manual longer than any text you’ll read in Lit Hum to the console space. Sure, it’s been a little stripped-down and simplified—you’ll find yourself going to war way more frequently than you would on the PC—but it’s basically all here in its meaty goodness. Grow a civilization, build an army, develop an economy, and become one of the great leaders you’ve always wanted to be instead of just reading about them.