Top Releases:

• Hollow Knight: Silksong (PC/PS4/PS5/Switch/Switch 2/Xbox One/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 4^th
• Cronos: The New Dawn (PC/PS5/Switch 2/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 5^th
• Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion (PC/PS5/Switch 2/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 5^th
• Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots (PC/PS5/Switch) – Releases Sep. 5^th
• Metal Eden (PC/PS5/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 2^nd
• Hirogami (PC/PS5) – Releases Sep. 3^rd
• Adventure of Samsara (PC/PS4/PS5/Switch/Xbox One/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 4^th
• Hell Is Us (PC/PS5/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 4^th
• NBA 2K26 (PC/PS4/PS5/Switch/Switch 2/Xbox One/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 5^th

IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING, OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD.

Hollow Knight: Silksong (PC/PS4/PS5/Switch/Switch 2/Xbox One/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 4^th

Developed by: Team Cherry
Published by: Team Cherry

Cronos: The New Dawn (PC/PS5/Switch 2/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 5^th

Developed by: Bloober Team
Published by: Bloober Team

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion (PC/PS5/Switch 2/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 5^th

Developed by: Marvelous Inc.
Published by: XSEED/Marvelous USA, Inc.

Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots (PC/PS5/Switch) – Releases Sep. 5^th

Developed by: HYDE Inc.
Published by: Bandai Namco

Metal Eden (PC/PS5/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 2^nd

Developed by: Reikon Games
Published by: Deep Silver

Hirogami (PC/PS5) – Releases Sep. 3^rd

Developed by: Bandai Namco Studios Singapore/Bandai Namco Studios Malaysia
Published by: Kakehashi Games

Adventure of Samsara (PC/PS4/PS5/Switch/Xbox One/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 4^th

Developed by: Ilex Games
Published by: Atari

Hell Is Us (PC/PS5/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 4^th

Developed by: Rogue Factor
Published by: Nacon

NBA 2K26 (PC/PS4/PS5/Switch/Switch 2/Xbox One/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 5^th

Developed by: Visual Concepts
Published by: 2K Games

Ports and Expansions:

• Indiana Jones & the Great Circle: The Order of Giants (PC/PS5/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 4^th
• Star Wars Outlaws (Switch 2) – Releases Sep. 4^th

Everything else:

• Neyyah (PC) – Releases Sep. 2^nd
• V’s Rage (PC) – Releases Sep. 2^nd
• Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel (PC – Coming out of early access/PS5/Series X|S) – Releases Sep. 3^rd
• Punch to Glory (PC) – Releases Sep. 3^rd
• Reel it! Ocean Fishing (PC) – Releases Sep. 3^rd
• The Fame Game: Welcome to Hollywood (PC) – Releases Sep. 4^th

• Jetrunner (PC) – Releases Sep. 4^th
• The Murder Hotel (PC) – Releases Sep. 4^th
• Splatterbot (PC/Switch) – Releases Sep. 4^th
• Tokyo Underground Killer (PC) – Releases Sep. 4^th
• GRAVIT (PC) – Releases Sep. 5^th
• Shuten Order (PC/Switch) – Releases Sep. 5^th

Notable Releases from 10, 20, and 30 (and sometimes 40) years ago:

Games:

In notable titles, 2015 saw the release of Super Mario Maker for the Wii U, which allowed players to build their own 2D Super Mario levels. Using art styles and assets from Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U, players could finally put their wildest ideas for Mario levels onto the screen with the ability to share them with every Wii U user around the world (so, like, 100 people).

Using the Wii U game pad made creating levels a breeze, letting you quickly tap the asset you wanted and place it in the level. In my own personal experience, I have very fond memories of Super Mario Maker, as it was the last big game I played before the birth of my daughter. I poured hours into the game, knowing full well that I would soon have zero time for video games. By the middle of October she would be here, the games would stop (for a little while) and then, four years later, Super Mario Maker 2 would come out for Switch and she would beg me to buy it so she could make her own levels.

From 2005 we’ve got the Game Boy Advance game Rebelstar: Tactical Command, the fourth game in a series that I had neve heard of until I picked it as this week’s notable title. This is a tactical, turn-based shooter with players deploying a squad of units as they try to save the Earth from an alien invasion. If you’re thinking “wow, this sounds a lot like X-COM“, then you’ll be pleased to know that Rebelstar was designed by Julian Gollop, the same man who designed the original X-COM: UFO Defense.

One key difference between the two series, however, is that Rebelstar does not have a base building or scientific research mechanic. The game play is very similar to X-COM, with players moving units around a grid based map, fighting against enemy units. As players defeat enemies, they gain experience and grow stronger. While reviews were decent, Rebelstar: Tactical Command was not a big seller and effectively ended the reboot of this 1980’s franchise.

From 1995, we’ve got Mega Man 7, the only game in the original franchise to make it to the Super Nintendo. Capcom’s treatment of the game should have been an indication to all of us on how much they seemed to care about Mega Man, which is to say, not at all. Originally, Maga Man 7 was to be a Japan-only release, as the title was a late-era SNES game and Capcom had no desire to spend the money to localize and distribute it outside of its home country.

Fan uproar would cause the company to make an about face on that decision, promptly shoving the game into US stores, but in incredibly low quantities. Those few that did get to play it, however, found the game to be fun but unremarkable. It was the same old Mega Man that had always been around, which was fine, but it lacked any of the innovations that the Mega Man X franchise was known for. At the end of the day, the entry is fairly forgettable ( I couldn’t tell you one single robot master), a sad end to the Blue Bomber’s life as a (kinda sorta) Nintendo exclusive, with the series moving to the Saturn and PlayStation for its 8th entry.

From 1985, we’ve got another Capcom game, the arcade classic Ghosts ‘n Goblins. Before Capcom had players running around as a blue robot with a gun for a hand, they were letting players run around as a knight named Arthur. Wielding a lance, players would guide Arthur through treacherous graveyards and chilling underground caves on his quest to save the fair Princess Prin-Prin. Ghosts ‘n Goblins is notorious for being brutally difficult, although it gave players some reprieve, letting them take two hits before they died, instead of the standard one hit death. In a comedic twist, when players are first hit they will lose all of their armor and are reduced to running around in their boxer shorts.

Despite the high difficulty, Ghosts ‘n Goblins was a smash at arcades, continuing Capcom’s hit streak, following the success of Commando. While it would pull in great numbers through the rest of 1985, it was in 1986 that Ghosts ‘n Goblins really took off, as the cabinet would begin to make its way across the United States, making it the 9th highest grossing cabinet of the year. Sequels ports, and spin-off’s would follow, with an NES version arriving in Nov. 1986 (selling over 1 million copies), followed by a 1988 sequel, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, and two new franchises, Gargoyle’s Quest and Maximo.

Movies:

In notable films, the Transporter series got a reboot with the aptly titled Refueled. However, without original star Jason Statham attached to the project, The Transporter Refueled was a box office dud, earning only $72 million worldwide, failing to ignite another trilogy. Critics hated it even more than audiences, where it sits at an unflattering 15% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

2005 gave us the film The Exorcism of Emily Rose, the major feature directorial debut of Scott Derrickson, who would go on to direct the films Sinister, Doctor Strange, and Black Phone. While most exorcism films tend to follow the same format as the classic 1973 film The Exorcist, The Exorcism of Emily Rose takes a different approach, by being a courtroom drama. In the film, the priest tasked with performing the exorcism is charged with negligent homicide, following the starvation death of Emily Rose.

With all of the demon possession scenes shown in flashback, the film allows us to only see “the good parts”, I guess, but I found it to be a bit of a slog to get through. While there are some genuine thrills and scares, I don’t think this was Derrickson’s best work (and he would follow it up with the absolutely dreadful remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still). If you want a truly terrifying, well made movie from Derrickson, 2021’s Black Phone is where you should start.

From 1995, we’ve got the movie To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, the OTHER cross dressing movie of the 1990’s, after The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. There was a quirky charm in seeing action movie stars Wesley Snipes and Patrick Swayze in drag because, you know, THEY’RE TOUGH GUYS!!!! Still, what could have come across as cheap laughs at the expense of the gay community, To Wong Foo… portrays the LBGT community in a positive light, despite not being very well made and skirting around more controversial subjects but, you know, baby steps. In the end, To Wong Foo… was a light-hearted film that the gay community was able to take pride in as our country became more and more accepting of them.

From 1985, we’ve got the, maybe one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen, American Ninja. This god awful action film stars Michael Dudikoff as an army…private…I think, who ends up stationed on a military base in…Asia…maybe? Anyway, his convoy gets attacked by rebels, and then ninjas, so Michael Dudikoff uses his ninja skills to fight them all back, but not before they kill literally everyone but Michael Dudikoff. He then returns to the military base and everyone hates him, except one higher ranking soldier who fights Michael Dudikoff, gets beat up, and then respects Michael Dudikoff.

After that, there’s some conspiracy shit with the heads of the army base working with the ninjas who are, like, drug lords, or something. It doesn’t matter, none of this matters. All you need to know is that there are ninjas, one of them is American (thank God), and they all fight each other. It’s as close to a live action G.I. Joe movie as we would get until the actual 2009 G.I. Joe movie. I never watched this as a kid, despite several of my elementary school friends being super into it and telling me I had to see it. Despite my hatred of it, American Ninja would spawn a massive franchise for distributor Cannon, with five films released through 1993.

Albums:

In notable albums, 2015 saw the release of Rodeo, the major label debut from rapper Travis Scott. Well received by critics and listeners, Rodeo peaked at #82 on the Billboard Top 200 and was named one of the best albums of 2015 by multiple outlets. I don’t know a thing about Travis Scott or any of his music and I won’t pretend to, but he’s certainly very famous and this is where it all started. Exciting for his fans, I’m sure, but this 44 year old couldn’t give a shit.

From 2005, we have another debut album, Music of the Sun, from an artist that I’m at least a little bit more familiar with, Rihanna. Featuring the hit single “Pon de Replay”, Music of the Sun peaked at #10 on the Billboard Top 200, spending an impressive 35 weeks on the chart. Music of the Sun didn’t really wow critics, however, and it isn’t nearly as beloved as some of her later albums. Fans, though, were all in on Rihanna and, two years later in 2007, would help turn her into a global superstar when Rihanna’s hit single “Umbrella” would take us all by storm.

From 1995 we’ve got the album Circus from Lenny Kravitz, a pretty forgettable album that probably only peaked at #10 on the Billboard Top 200 because we all loved his 1993 song “Are You Gonna Go My Way”. The album took a bit of a critical drubbing, though it was seen as something of an improvement over his previous album. It was, at least in the eyes of critics, far less derivative and leaps above other contemporary rock bands.

While the album would spawn four singles, “Rock and Roll is Dead”, “Circus”, Can’t Get You Off My Mind”, and “The Resurrection”, none were nearly as memorable as “Are You Gonna Go My Way” or even later hits like “Fly Away” and “American Woman”. Circus is a fairly bland, forgettable album that is a stop gap between his breakthrough and mainstream success; for the real fans only.

Closing things out this week, from 1985, we’ve got the album Knee Deep in the Hoopla, from the rock band Starship, which featured former members of Jefferson Starship who were, in turn, made up of former members of Jefferson Airplane. Anyway, that’s all just legal hoopla and shit, what you need to know is that in 1985, Starship, like a lot of other aging acts from the 1970’s, decided to “80’s-ify” themselves for the “modern listening audience”. What we got was schmaltzy, snyth driven bullshit that the masses ate up like candy.

The album’s lead single, “We Built This City”, was a big fucking deal when it came out, dominating the airwaves on both radio and television, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Catchy as fuck, “We Built This City” was like an anthem for all the middle class, thirty-something’s of America who thought they could still be cool AND be yuppies. The song would be nominated for a Grammy in the Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, losing to Dire Straits “Money For Nothing”.

While I was certainly not immune to the charms of “We Built This City” as a child (remember, it was fucking EVERYWHERE), I can’t say that I really like, or even respect, the song now. Yeah, I’ll hum the chorus, I’m doing it as I type this, but only because that ear worm dug a trench so far into my brain that you might as well call me RFK Jr. (except I won’t take away your vaccines). Starship are still going today, inexplicably, so if you want to hang out with a bunch of aging hippies and Wall Street Bros., go to one of their shows.

Super Mario Maker (Wii U) – Released Sep. 11^th, 2015

Rebelstar: Tactical Command (GBA) – Released Sep. 6^th, 2005

Mega Man 7 (SNES) – Released Sep. 1995

Ghosts ‘n Goblins (Arcade) – Released Sep. 4^th, 1985

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