Whilst the Mac App Store goes through a slow stage, we are here to remind you of the awesome titles that are headed your way that you need to keep an eye on. From indie puzzlers to full-blown first-person shooters, the second half of 2012 looks like it’s going to be as action packed as ever.
Call of Duty: Black Ops – Aspyr Entertainment
Easily the most recognised game in the list, Black Ops has been confirmed for release this fall for Mac gamers, featuring the full campaign, online multiplayer (cross-platform unconfirmed) and co-operative play through Zombies. The add-on packs, First Strike, Escalation, Annihilation and Resurrection have all been confirmed, but may cost extra through DLC. It’s all here and we can’t wait for Black Ops this autumn, and neither should you.
Tiny Thief – 5 Ants
Tiny Thief was first showed off at GDC 2012 as a sneaky new puzzler for iPhone and iPad, but after we contacted the developer they then revealed that the game was also set for the big screen too, and we were hooked. Tiny Thief is a 2D puzzle platformer where you, a Robin Hood-style thief, must use different environmental objects and triggers to get past guards, chefs, natives and circus performers. Ranging over 5 stories containing 6 levels each, it’s a must buy when it arrives. The original release date was July time, but extra effort into improving the visuals may have pushed back the game’s arrival.
Empire: Total War Gold Edition – Feral Interactive
This Total War game from Feral Interactive was originally planned for spring this year, but the delay has certainly not curbed our anticipation for one of PC’s finest real time strategy games. As well as including all of the original game, this Gold Edition also comes packed with a lot of extra content such as the Warpath Campaign and 4 unit packs: the Special Forces Units and the Elite Units of the East, West and America. We named Rome: Total War the best strategy game of 2011. Could Empire once again prove that no-one does real-time strategy any better than Total War?
Aralon: Sword and Shadow – Crescent Moon Games
Aralon was one of the first games we really got excited about when the Mac App Store launched. It made a big splash on the iOS App Store as a huge open-world RPG, akin to that of Skyrim on the Xbox and PC. More than a year after they announced on their Twitter that they planned on releasing Aralon for Mac, we still haven’t heard a peep from Crescent Moon headquarters. But the impressive alpha screenshots of the game means we still can’t help ourselves from getting very excited about this release. For all we know Aralon could release tomorrow, or next year. Keep an eye out.
Supernova (Galaxy on Fire 2 Full HD Expansion Pack) – Fishlabs
We named Galaxy on Fire 2 Full HD our game of the year for 2011. And with good reason. Its open-world galactic experience grabbed us from the start, and the addictive commodity mechanics, upgrade system and combat made it a space explorer not to miss. May this year saw the first premium expansion pack for the full game, Valkyrie, which added new items, missions and characters; expanding and refining an already immersive and fulfilling experience. After the success of the first add-on, the developers have announced another, named Supernova. It once again adds on the previous game with new items, such as plasma resources, special equipment, and new bounty hunter and evacuation missions. Not to mention the desperate struggle of the Mido Confederation against a devastating supernova which makes up the bulk of the new campaign. Unlike Aralon, Supernova has a firm release date of August 30th for Mac and all iOS platforms.
