Games you can play this week

After a very short drought of big releases, we now enter the period of gaming bliss as the third and fourth quarters start bringing in the big-hitters heading all the way into the holiday period.

After years of enduring development hell, the True-Crime-turned-Square-Enix new IP, Sleeping Dogs, finally arrives this week; along with an overlooked XBLA game.

Sleeping Dogs

Release date: 17 August 2012

Once an Activision’s True Crime game, Sleeping Dogs has garnered much attention since its re-branding earlier this year.

Set as a large-open world GTA-styled action game, Sleeping Dogs features a kung-fu-movie inspired storyline, which sees an undercover cop attempt to stop a nefarious Triad operation from taking over. Cue lots of guns, lots of kung-fu, many car-chases and mega explosions.

The game itself is looking pretty impressive, with a seamless hand-to-hand combat system, acrobatic third-person shooting, as well as intense on-foot and in-vehicle chase scenes.

Dust: An Elysian Tail – XBLA

Release date: August 15

Dust: An Elysian Tail is a downloadable arcade game with a ton of charm. Dust is on a journey to rediscover his past, and with the help of a companion and an ancient sword, action and adventure ensues.

Explore the beautiful world of Falana, which is full of mystery and danger, but also a kind of ethereal beauty.

This 2D platformer also offers an animated combat system as well as an extensive amount of exploration.

Dust: An Elysian Tail is scheduled for release on Xbox Live Arcade on 15 August.