Upcoming video games: 'Rocket League,' 'Geometry Wars 3,' 'F1 2015'
Among titles releasing the week of July 6, "Rocket League" bursts onto the scene with its crash course collision of RC-car action and soccer-ball bashing, the intense arcade-style "Geometry Wars 3" increases its reach, and "F1 2015" includes two seasons' worth of improvements to the annual racing franchise.
Rocket League (PC, PS4)
From July 7
A unique hybrid of soccer and RC car racing with a dash of low-gravity pinball may sound strange as a concept but has proved utterly beguiling to players during the "Rocket League" beta test period. Taking the concept behind PS3 cult fave "Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered BattleCars," sprucing it up and spreading it to PlayStation 4 and Windows PC (with multiplayer compatibility between the two), "Rocket League" and its zippy match-ups make for tense games, hilarious stunts, and amazing, exuberant replay videos. Free to PS Plus members in July.
rocketleaguegame.com
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions (Vita)
From July 7
Following debuts across multiple formats -- PC, Mac and Linux, the PlayStation and Xbox families, Android and iOS -- the frantic eye-searing arcade shooter arrives on PlayStation Vita as a free download for PS Plus members.
sierra.com/geometrywars
F1 2015 (PC PS4 XBO)
Europe, Australia: from July 10
Americas: week of July 21
Japan: July 30
Codemasters' annual update to its ongoing Formula One franchise moves it over to a new iteration of its game engine for improved visuals and backend performance, and brings over "F1 2014" content as a bonus. A new Pro Season mode aims for a greater sense of realism as players race against the current championship's drivers and teams.
formula1-game.com
Rory McIlroy PGA Tour (PS4 XBO)
From July 14
PGA's top-ranked golfer Rory McIlroy returns for his second outing as franchise cover star but first as title name after Tiger Woods' departure: refined swings and putts, an easier and more challenging swing technique in addition to the usual method, and the ability for particularly errant plays to stray onto adjacent holes.
easports.com/pga-tour
God of War III Remastered (PS4)
From July 14
The PlayStation 3's Grecian myth hack-and-slash brought over as the latest remastering project for PS4 players, in this, the series' 10th anniversary year. Upgraded to a 60-frames-per-second refresh rate at 1080p, there's also a new photo mode means players can make their own hi-res screenshots.
godofwar.com