What We Played #479 – Cyberpunk 2077, Haven & Worms Rumble
It feels like we're really racing through December as we cross another working week off our calendars on the way to being able to wave goodbye to 2020.
Last night played host to the almost interminable The Game Awards, which would make even blockbuster film watchers fidget and look at their watch with how long it was. Did the awards they handed out make sense to you, though? Does The Last of Us Part II deserve a pretty clean sweep? It's something we'll be asking and coming up with our own answers to pretty soon.
Perhaps there's space for another game to make a last minute challenge, with this week's launch of Cyberpunk 2077. Smooth sailing it has not been for CDPR's latest RPG epic though, from epilepsy triggers to just outright bugginess and pants performance on old consoles… Still, it's gathered more than a few plaudits.
After reviewing Worms Rumble, Gamoc succumbed to his desire to pick up Cyberpunk 2077, draining funds from his PlayStation 5 fund to snag it for launch and… he's actually found it to be pretty OK. After giggling at some of the more amusing bugs, he noted the "Nipples: On/Off" toggle, and he also said it's "pretty great so far. I've only seen a few bugs and no explicit ones. Someone did walk through the doors of a lift a second before they opened though…"
Jim was also waiting for Cyberpunk until he discovered that his pre-order hadn't actually gone through! Luckily it's only meant as a Christmas gift for himself, and would've been swiftly wrapped up. So instead he's played some Worms Rumble, honed his skill in For Honor and fired up Final Fantasy XIV for the latest update. He's gone so far as to roll a brand new character.
Another on the Final Fantasy XIV train was Reuben, thanks to the "amazing" Patch 5.4 that arrived on Tueday. Aside from that, he's been playing Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (review incoming) and Ikenfell, both of which he heartily recommends.
Aran has been playing the "tough but excellent" Unto The End, while also reviewing Haven. "I really like the main characters and the music is 
." I absolutely agree on that!
All Tom Lord managed to do this week was buy The Pathless, so we swiftly move on to Steve who reviewed Call of the Sea, played a bit of Monster Sanctuary and played an exciting console launch title: Killzone: Shadowfall. "It left me cold with some generic shooty stuff and awful checkpointing."
Nic B played all the way through Spider-Man: Miles Morales, calling it "suitably excellent", before squeezing in some MTG Arena and Monster Hunter World, where he's really looking forward to some PS5 optimisations.
Miguel mixed Doom Eternal on the Nintendo Switch with some drum bashing with the new Taiko Rhythmic Adventure Pack, and messing around with Fortnite for the new battle pass. "I wish I was immune to capitalism," he said, "but, alas, I need the cute character skins for this game I barely ever play."
It was the standard mixture of Destiny 2 and AC Valhalla for Tuffcub, while Nick P played, finished and got the platinum for Demon's Souls. It's merely a "starter" Souls game in his opinion. There was also WWE Undefeated and he's been previewing Echo Generation.
And last and least, I had some fun trying (and failing) to team up for a run through Halo: The Master Chief Collection in co-op on PC this week, continued my Forza Horizon 4 adventure with some of the excellently silly Lego Speed Champions DLC, and soaked in the wonderful soundtrack of Haven while exploring the first couple hours of this intriguing narrative RPG.
Now it's over to you. What have you played this past week? Have you picked up The Game?
Endless Dungeon will test your mettle, coming to PC and consoles
Amplitude Studios has announced the newest entry for the Endless Universe, and that game is Endless Dungeon. Endless Dungeon is a roguelite game which will really test your skills of survival. The trailer makes it clear that you will die quite a lot as your squad journeys through an abandoned space station while protecting a crystal. There is an almost endless wave of monsters to fight through as you look for a way out. According to Amplitude this is and isn't a sequel to Dungeon of the Endless.
Endless Dungeon will be available on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch but there is no release window yet. Those who sign up to the Endless Dungeon mailing list will be given a free skin for when the game launches, though at the moment the skin will only be for the PC version of the game. At least for now is what Amplitude says. In our review for Dungeon of the Endless, Gareth wrote:
Evil West is a vampire hunting game set in the Wild West, out 2021
There is a certain image of the Wild West in people's minds, with frontier towns, bars with swinging doors, people riding horses, and lots of open space. There have been some twists on that setting though. Red Dead Nightmare brought zombies to the Wild West, while Cowboys vs Aliens added aliens. Now, Focus Home Interactive and Flying Wild Hog are adding vampires in the game Evil West, which seems to be have inspiration from Van Helsing and superhero movies.
In Evil West players take on the role of Jesse Rentier, one of the last remaining vampire hunters of his institute, and it is his job to push back the vampire threat so the United States of America can survive. The game will have a single player story but that can also be played in co-op so you can have a partner to crush vampires with/say "Pardner" based things to. Evil West releases 2021 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.
Source: Press Release
NieR Replicant gameplay trailer is all about the combat
During The Game Awards, Square Enix released a new gameplay trailer for NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…, and it was entirely focused on the combat of the game. As you could imagine from this being a NieR game there is a lot of slashing with swords, and use of powers to take out enemies. Have a watch of the footage below, which packs quite a lot of action in its one minute run time, and gives a glimpse at what players can get their hands on when the game releases on April 23rd.
NieR Replicant – or to give the remake its full title NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… – revives the cult classic action RPG from a decade ago. NieR was originally developed by Cavia as a spin-off from the Drakengard series, but with the curious decision to have two version in Japan – NieR Gestalt for Xbox 360 and NieR Replicant for PS3. This took the setting of NieR and changes the main character to make him a brother for Yonah instead of her father.
The remaster is an extensive one with developer ToyLogic doing a great job updating the game visually and their decision to record dialogue with the original cast of voice actors to now make the game fully voiced.
If you haven't played a Nier game before here is what Dom wrote in his review for NieR Automata.
NieR: Automata is the epitome of a sequel you didn't know you needed. The original NieR was itself a spin-off to the Drakengard series, and one that, whilst gaining a cult following, certainly didn't achieve the kinds of sales that most risk-averse publishers would consider worthy of a sequel. Yet here we are, with a second Yoko Taro-helmed NieR game, this time boasting the action-gaming heft of PlatinumGames firmly behind his uniquely dark vision.
Yoko Taro's unique storytelling ability has matched perfectly with the committed development culture at PlatinumGames, making NieR: Automata a mature and thought-provoking action-JRPG. Its tight combat and compelling narrative sets it apart from both its predecessor and the Drakengard series, and it's utterly essential for fans of the genre.
You can read the full review here.
Source: Press Release
F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch is coming to PS5, PS4, and PC in the Spring
It was back in July this year during the PlayStation Indies Initiative reveals that Sony confirmed that F.I.S.T: Forged In Shadow Torch would be heading to PS4. The game had previously been confirmed for PC. Now, a new trailer for the game has been released confirming that F.I.S.T: Forged In Shadow will also be getting a PS5 release, alongside the PS4 and PC versions. The game has also been given a release window of Spring 2021. The latest trailer shows some new gameplay including fast paced combat, and platforming sections. You can check it out below.
F.I.S.T is a metroidvania built around an arcade combat system and chaining together combo attacks. TiGames' Yang Xiang explained:
It is built around the trio of weapons Rayton brings with him into battle: the mechanised fist, drill and whip.
Each has its own unique features and combo chains. The fist is a good all-rounder with the easiest combo strings of the three. The drill is slower to deploy but deals out the most damage. In direct contrast, the whip isn't as powerful but is lightning quick and also boasts the furthest attack range. Yet you will need to become adept at using all three to survive your travels through the dense cityscape.
The game is set in a once peaceful dieselpunk city, its animal inhabitants having lived in harmony until the Machine Legion took over and plunged it into darkness. Rayton, the silent bunny protagonist is forced to act in order to save his friend, who's been kidnapped by the Legion.
Source: YouTube
Evil Dead: The Game is coming to PC and consoles in 2021
Saber Interactive and Boss Team Games have revealed Evil Dead: The Game, a multiplayer survival title based on the cult hit franchise. Looking at the early footage in the trailer it seems that the game play loop will be have similiarities to Saber Interactive's other wave based co-op survival shooter World War Z. Evil Dead: The Game appears to be using elements from all points of the franchise including the movies and the show Ash vs Evil Dead. You can check out some gameplay in the trailer below.
As you can see the rifle and the classic chainsaw will be used to fight off the dead as they come for Ash and the other characters. However, this is not just a co-op shooter as Evil Dead: The Game will also feature PvP modes. Evil Dead: The Game has been confirmed for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, and Switch.
Source: YouTube
Super Meat Boy Forever is out this month on Epic Games Store
Can you believe it has been six years since the first murmurings of Super Meat Boy Forever. The game original began life as a mobile specific game but as time went on Team Meat expanded the game and decided to aim for more platforms. In 2017, the studio announced that Super Meat Boy Forever would out in 2018. That did not happen. Then in 2018, Team Meat announced that Super Meat Boy Forever would be out in 2019. That too did not happen. Now, Team Meat has confirmed Super Meat Boy Forever will be out in 2020. On December 23rd in fact, which is less than two weeks away.
Super Meat Boy Forever will be available for PC via the Epic Games Store on December 23rd, and has a 10% discount applied to it. Release dates for other platforms and stores is yet to be confirmed. Steam currently lists the game for 2021, the PlayStation site has a TBC next to the release date, and there is no listing yet on the Microsoft store either for people who would want to play on Xbox consoles. We are sure to hear more after the Epic Games Store release.
Source: YouTube
Hood: Outlaws and Legends release confirmed for May 2021
Focus Home Interactive and Sumo Digital have confirmed that Hood: Outlaws and Legends will be released in May 2021 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. There are two release dates to be aware of though. If you pre-order Hood: Outlaws & Legends the release date will be May 7th, 2021. The general release date will be May 10th, 2021. The game was first revealed in August during the PS5 reveal event.
In Hood: Outlaws and Legends two teams of four, both outlaw gangs, compete against each other to find and steal treasures. Both teams also have to contend with the AI soldiers that are guarding the treasures. There are different approaches from going in face on or using stealth techniques to avoid detection and triggering the alarms. Along with the standard edition there is also a Year One edition of Hood: Outlaws and Legends. This version of the game will give access to three battle passes following the first free season.
Hood: Outlaws and Legends will make use of the DualSense controllers improve haptic feedback, and given the setting, plenty of emphasis will be put on how drawing back on a bow and arrow will feel compared to a DualShock 4. However, the developers have said, "we'll have more details to share later on how the game will be optimised for each platform," and that will include plenty of optimisations for Xbox Series X.
Source: Press Release
Cyberpunk 2077 makes one of the best arguments for Google Stadia yet
With the snap of a finger, Cyberpunk 2077 has just become one of the biggest hits of the year. With over 8 million pre-orders it's headed straight into the game sales stratosphere, dominating Steam's concurrent player counts, Twitch streaming and a large chunk of the games industry discourse. Some questionable marketing decisions and health and safety slip ups have done nothing to have diminished the game's initial popularity, but people tuning in for the first time are discovering that the base PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game are struggling to run the game in anything like a consistent manner.
The base console experience runs at somewhere between 720p and 900p, while the frame rate takes a consistent pummelling well below the targeted 30fps. It feels like this could be our first true taste of what a cross-generational, 'leave no-one behind' ethos will mean for the ageing consoles, and while first party developers are almost always able to extract the best from the hardware, it does leave question marks over if Microsoft's spoken policy can really hold up for third party games as well. Yes, the game boots and runs, but is this a true reflection of the developer's vision? You just need to look at the PC version of the game to see that it's not.
Google Stadia meanwhile is sitting pretty. Not only was it the simplest platform you could dive into Cyberpunk 2077 with thanks to its total lack of downloads – no 60GB day one patches here – but the performance is perfectly solid and far more in keeping with the game running on a mid-range PC.
Cyberpunk 2077 on Stadia also gives you the option of two different visual settings, letting you pick between a 60fps-targeting Performance mode at 1080p and a 30fps resolution-hunting Quality mode that chases 2160p. Either one of them sees Stadia putting out an attractive image that really helps to draw you into the world CD Projekt Red have created, and other than an occasional spot of rag-doll dead body weirdness, it holds together very well too.
In essence, it's an experience that will be comparable to the one you find on the new generation of consoles as they boost the game up to 60fps – the Xbox Series X also has performance and quality options, while PS5 simply targets 60fps at a lower resolution. All that without having to plonk down £450.
And again, there's the ease with which can play Stadia across an array of PC, Mac and Chromebook platforms as well as Android tablets and phones, simply using any standard controller that you can hook up to them. Hell, you can even play it with touchscreen controls if you really want to (I wouldn't recommend that last one). The point is, there's every chance you can play it on something you already own.
Obviously keen to induct more people into their streaming platform, Google are currently bundling in a free Premium pack which gives you a Stadia controller and a Chromecast Ultra when you buy the game.
Perhaps the strangest thing about the game's struggle on last-gen consoles is that Cyberpunk 2077 has been in development in some capacity since all the way back in 2012. That's before the PS4 and Xbox One even released, at a time when the Xbox 360 and PS3 still ruled the roost. CDPR have crafted a hugely detailed and technically challenging world, but having spent the first half of the generation developing and then optimising The Witcher 3 for the base consoles, it's a major failing that you have to have at least a PS4 Pro or Xbox One X to get relatively consistent results from Cyberpunk.
In terms of allowing you to play the biggest brand-new game of the moment, within seconds of purchasing it, Google Stadia is currently the clear winner here. There's no sign of the asset streaming bugs and woeful performance that seem to be causing problems for Cyberpunk owners with base PS4s and Xbox Ones. Of course, if you're lucky enough to have a PS5, Xbox Series X or a high-end PC you'll have a good time there too, but the Stadia option is a lot cheaper – and currently quite a lot easier – to get hold of.
Due to late release of review code for consoles, our full Cyberpunk 2077 review coverage will be published in the near future. Make sure to stay tuned!
Genshin Impact update 1.2 will add new area of Dragonspine, out December 23rd
miHoYo has announced that Genshin Impact's update 1.2 is called 'The Chalk Prince and The Dragon', with this new update adding the area of Dragonspine. Dragonspine is the first brand new area that is being added to Genshin Impact. As you may guess from the name this new area is mountainous that is south of Mondstadt, and it is always cold. As well as battling enemies in Dragonspine players will have to learn to keep warm in both combat and exploration. This will be measured by the new Sheer Cold bar. Dragonspine will be available from December 23rd.
Dragonspine contains the ruins of a lost civilisation, and brand new enemy types to contend with. Along with the new area two new five star characters will be available. Those are Ganyu and Albedo. Albedo will be one of the main characters in the 'The Chalk Prince and The Dragon' questline. Their aim is to find a legendary sword called the Festering Desire. Albedo is an alchemist who uses a sword and can wield geo power. Ganyu is a cyro archer and there is a sub quest to explore Ganyu's background too. In our review for Genshin Impact, Miquel wrote:
Capcom Arcade Stadium will revive retro classics on Switch in 2021
Capcom were among the many video game publishers who made announcements during this year's Game Awards show.
We didn't see anything truly earthshattering from the Japanese giant, with a new look at the upcoming Monster Hunter Rise. Capcom's love affair with the Nintendo Switch didn't stop there, however. We saw them go on to announce a fresh entry in one of their longest running video game franchises with the announcement of Ghost 'n Goblins Resurrection which will launch on Nintendo's hybrid handheld early next year.
Capcom then struck us with a secondary dose of retro game nostalgia by revealing the Capcom Arcade Stadium – a compilation of classic games coming in February 2021. It will launch with 32 familiar titles, most of them bundled into the three available 10-game booster packs celebrating specific arcade eras. Capcom released two new trailers showcasing their retro foster and some of the features being added.
What's particularly interesting here is that the Capcom Arcade Stadium isn't just dumping these games onto a new platform, they have local multiplayer enabled and other modern features listed in their press release below:
Capcom Arcade Stadium will allow players to bring home the electrifying thrill of an arcade with 32 action-packed classics, which includes a free download of 1943 – The Battle of Midway – and the original Ghosts 'n Goblins as a stand-alone add-on. Retro fans can then choose to purchase up to three different arcade packs that highlight a different era of Capcom arcade goodness, from '80s classics like BIONIC COMMANDO and STRIDER to '90s favorites like SUPER STREET FIGHTER II TURBO. Players can also purchase the all-in pack containing all three packs of 10 games in addition to the Ghost 'n Goblins stand-alone add-on for maximum retro nostalgia. This must-have collection will include (up to four-player) local multiplayer for the games that support it. Additionally, each title comes with a variety of options that can be adjusted such as Game Speed, Difficulty Level, Display Settings, Display Filters and various frames including a variety of 3D-rendered arcade cabinets. Each game also comes with a Rewind feature, allowing players to jump back in time to save themselves (or a friend) from any unforeseen dangers.
Here is the full list of games confirmed for Capcom Arcade Stadium:
- 1941
- 1942
- 1943
- 1944
- 19XX
- Battle Circuit
- Bionic Commando
- Captain Commando
- Carrier Air Wing
- Commando
- Cyberbots
- Dynasty Wars
- Final Fight
- Forgotten Worlds
- Ghosts 'n Goblins
- Ghouls 'n Ghosts
- Giga Wing
- Legendary Wings
- Mega Twins
- Pirate Ship Higemaru
- Powered Gear
- Progear
- Section Z
- Senjo no Okami II
- Street Fighter II: The World Warrior
- Street Fighter II' -Hyper Fighting-
- Strider
- Super Street Fighter II Turbo
- Tatakai no Banka
- Varth -Operation Thunderstorm-
- Vulgus
- Warriors of Fate
Source: Press Release
Oddworld: Soulstorm will be out Spring 2021 for PS5, PS4, and PC via Epic Games Store
Oddworld Inhabitants released a brand new trailer for Oddworld: Soulstorm during The Game Awards, with the footage showing some new shots of gameplay which looked rather nice. The trailer was not just used to give us more of a glimpse at Oddworld: Soulstorrm but to also confirm a release window for Abe's newest adventure. That release window is Spring 2021 when the game will be released for PS5, PS4. and PC via Epic Games Store.
Oddworld: Soulstorm was originally announced in 2016 during GDC. In 2017 the title sequence was released for Oddworld: Soulstorm. However, it wasn't until this year that a cinematic teaser was released, followed by a gameplay teaser. The game itself is a reimagining of 1998's Oddworld: Abe's Exodus but is also a sequel to Oddworld New N Tasty, which itself was a remake of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee. In the press release Oddworld Inhabitants announced that a playthrough of the Oddworld: Soulstorm would take around 15 hours, but if you want to discover all of the game's secrets then you can dozens of hours to get everything. The features of the game include:
- Narrative: A dark storyline with a twisted sense of humor that shines a light on the ironies that exist in the human condition.
- 2.9D: Epic environments with massive scale to explore by going into the world, rather than being limited to the traditional side scrolling platformer sense.
- Quarma (think Karma): Quarma is a real time feedback feature that reflects your actions in the game and will influence Abe, his followers, his abilities, and your score throughout the game.
- Scavenger's Economy: Pickpocket enemies, loot lockers, sift through trash cans to acquire resources. Exchange them at vending machines to get products that give you more agency in how you chose to conquer the game's many challenges.
- Crafting: Use scavenged resources and vending machine products to craft items to use as weapons or tools against characters and obstacles.
- Strength in Numbers: The more followers you save, the stronger the uprising becomes. Gift crafted items to followers. It's up to you to decide whether they will be aggressive or passive.
- Leaderboards: All levels offer a tallying system, leaderboards, achievements, and badges.
Source: Press Release
Crimson Desert's fantastical land of Pywel will be explorable on PC and consoles in 2021
During The Game Awards Pearl Abyss unleashed a five minute long trailer for its new open world game Crimson Desert. The trailer gives a look at a lot of content from Crimson Desert, including the a look of the continent of Pywel, melee combat, castle sieges, dragon riding, portals to different dimensions, magic, and a lot more. It seems that Pearl Abyss is looking to incorporate a lot into this massive open world. At the moment the game has been confirmed for PC and consoles, with the studio is aiming for a Winter 2021 release. The footage is all from Pearl Abyss' next gen engine. The studio also states that everything in the Crimson Desert trailer is from in game.
Now you have had a look at the world of Crimson Desert, you may be wondering what the story is actually about. Here is the official blurb from the developer itself.
A story of survival, Crimson Desert follows a group of struggling mercenaries and the many characters who cross their paths in the vast continent of Pywel. This is a world where heroes are made, but not without incredible hardship, pain and perseverance.
These mercenaries will have their tasks cut out for them as it seems a lot of people are out to fight them. The combat shows different factions with various fighting styles taking on the main character, named MacDuff, as well as fantastical creatures. Crimson Desert really does seem like a mixture of a lot fantasy games from the past decade. Crimson Desert will have a story focus but also contain some online elements though what those elements will be have not been extensively detailed outside of confirmation there will be multiplayer.
Source: Press Release
Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise Review
Nintendo seems to be going hard on fitness games at the moment. With Ring Fit Adventure, the free Jump Rope game, the original Fitness Boxing, and now this sequel sequel, the Nintendo Switch is one of the best consoles for those hoping to stay fit. Because of this though, it's natural that you expect a high standard from them. After all, anyone who's made it through a session of Ring Fit Adventure will be able to tell you just how effective that game is at getting you moving/making you feel like you're dying.
Fitness Boxing 2 is a very different style of fitness to the one presented in Ring Fit, but it is, unsurprisingly, the exact same kind of fitness offered by the first Fitness Boxing. When I say it's the exact same, I really do mean it in nearly every sense.
I know what I wanted from Fitness Boxing 2, and I also know what we got. Fitness Boxing 2 is an improvement on the original game, but only barely. It has a wealth of excellent accessibility options, wherein you can avoid motions you can't make and tweak other essential things, but aside from a couple of new instructors, some new songs, and some fancier graphics and UI, it's not really a new game.
It does add in things like a proper score function, which lets you build up a larger and larger score before entering a special mode where the levels go all chaotic and colourful, and the new areas are also quite nice, with each one being nice and vibrant, but it's all just window dressing. I wanted something a bit more from this.
Instead, Fitness Boxing 2 feels more like a continuation, and one in which some of the fitness aspects are rather off. For starters, the calorie counting is wildly off, and I'm saying this as somebody who was a personal trainer for five years. It tells you you're burning an average of around 10 calories a minute, but with my height and weight, I can tell you without a doubt that's not the case. I think it's probably closer to 3 or 4.
Then there are the difficulty settings. There are plenty of ways to change how hard a workout is, and while increasing the length of said workout is one of them, it's important to include others, like the intensity. Fitness Boxing 2 has difficulty settings, but all it really does is make the session longer, not actually harder. If you could make the workouts faster, or add in more exercises, it would be a far better experience, but you can't.
I find myself kind of annoyed with Fitness Boxing 2. There's still a good fitness game here, but it's not enough to push anybody that isn't new to fitness and feels stifled by a lack of more in-depth options around the difficulty.
Elite Dangerous: Odyssey launch set for early 2021, new gameplay shown
Frontier Developments temporarily brought the galaxy to a standstill with their newest trailer for Elite Dangerous: Odyssey.
The huge expansion for the celebrated spacefaring sim is due to launch in "early 2021" its Game Awards teaser giving fans a better look of what to expect when Odyssey finally comes to land on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One next year.
The footage shown gives us a glimpse of how Elite plays outside the cockpit as players band together to explore its myriad diverse planets. It isn't just exploration and resource gathering either, as we get to see some first person sci-fi combat.
Odyssey builds on the core Elite: Dangerous experience, encompassing all updates and expansions since its original launch back in 2015. Here are more details on the whopping expansion which comes with a launch price tag of £29.99. Those Elite fans wanting to get their hands on Odyssey as soon as possible can grab the deluxe edition for £39.99 granting them access to the alpha and beta tests. All pre-orders will unlock an exclusive cosmetic skin.
Here are more details on Elite Dangerous: Odyssey:
Elite Dangerous: Odyssey will allow Commanders to explore distant worlds on foot for the very first time, taking on new missions and engaging in intense tactical combat, seamlessly merging with Elite Dangerous' iconic cockpit experience players have come to know and love. Players will be able to customize their characters for ground operations with different specialized suits and gear options and meet with other Commanders in social hubs across the galaxy. These hubs will provide ideal locations to plan their next move, form alliances and acquire and upgrade new equipment.
Action takes on a new dimension in Elite Dangerous: Odyssey through multiple spheres of combat. Starships, ground vehicles and commanders collide during devastating air-to-ground firefights. Players will be able to choose from an array of weapons and gear to suit their own play style and try to gain a tactical advantage, but it will be up to them to choose between all-out guns-blazing action or taking a stealthier approach.
For more on Elite: Dangerous you can read our original review from when the game first launch.
Source: Press Release
Ghost 'n Goblins Resurrection announced exclusively for Nintendo Switch
During last night's Game Awards show we saw plenty of new games flexing on-stage alongside some returning beloved franchises, BioWare's Dragon Age and Mass Effect just to name two.
Capcom also appeared during the show with a trio of reveals, the most surprising of which was Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection. Launching exclusively for Nintendo Switch on February 25th, 2021, this is a brand new game in the long-running series.
Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection has a certain hand-drawn style which may take some time getting used to though promises a dose of nostalgic perilous platforming fun. This is the first new entry in the series for quite some time though the game's protagonist, Arthur, has made recent appearances in the Marvel vs. Capcom fighting games.
Here's Capcom's official description of their upcoming release:
The legendary platforming series rises again, as Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection marks the heroic return of the series, which debuted over 35 years ago. Paying homage to Ghosts 'n Goblins and Ghouls 'n Ghosts, the latest entry combines the franchise's action platforming gameplay with storybook-like graphics and challenging new obstacles. The new entry will once again follow the valiant knight Arthur as he runs, jumps and battles his way through eerie stages set in the Demon Realm, a demonic fantasy world. Arthur must overcome countless ghoulish foes on his quest to rescue the princess from the treacherous grasp of the Demon Lord. Brave knights will need to proceed with extreme caution as terrifying dangers await, including familiar enemies like Zombie, Skeleton Murderer, Pigman and Red Arremer.
Whether a longtime Ghosts 'n Goblins fan or a newcomer, Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection players can decide how perilous Arthur's journey will be by selecting one of three different difficulties: Squire, Knight and Legend. New to Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection is the Page mode, which allows untested apprentices to respawn on the spot with unlimited lives. To progress through the Demon Realm, Arthur must utilize everything at his disposal, from tried-and-true weapons like the Lance and Dagger to all-new additions like the Hammer and Spiked Ball. Arthur's updated arsenal also includes various types of skills and magic, allowing players to bring game-changing spells like Firewall and Thunderstorm into combat. Arthur will need to master each of the weapon types and magic abilities to overcome his battle against evil and restore peace to the land.
At The Game Awards, Capcom also announced the Capcom Arcade Stadium for Nintendo Switch – a compilation of retro games from their 80s and 90s catalogue.
Source: Press Release
Little Nightmares II demo live on Steam and GOG, coming to console in early 2021
Bandai Namco and Tarsier Studios have released a demo for the upcoming horror platformer Little Nightmares II, and at the moment it is available through Steam and GOG. Console players do not have to fear though as the demo will also be coming to PS4, Xbox One, and Switch at some point in early 2021. It will likely be around January since the release date for Little Nightmares II is currently penned for February 2021. What can you expect in this demo? The handy description is below.
Play as Mono and begin your journey towards the Signal Tower by making your way through an eerie forest. If you make it to the shack, you'll have a chance to free Six and work together to escape the Hunter.
Stefan had some hands on time with a preview build of Little Nightmares II, and he wrote:
Little Nightmares II looks set to pick up right where the original game and its DLC left off, filled with a thick atmosphere and creepy new situations to find yourself in. Would that it could come out this month in time for Halloween, we'll have to wait a few months longer until 11th February 2021 to continue the horrible little adventure.
Little Nightmares is something of a minor classic. Gorgeously gross and surprisingly inventive, it creates a genuine feeling of terror and tension. It's a bit odd to say a game that involves skipping over corpses is enjoyable, but it is, just don't blame Tarsier if you have nightmares.
You can read the full Little Nightmares review here.
Source: Twitter
Yakuza Remastered Collection and Yakuza 6: The Song of Life heading to Xbox Game Pass
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has confirmed that both Yakuza Remastered Collection and Yakuza 6: The Song of Life will be heading to Xbox Game Pass in 2021. Yakuza Remastered Collection includes Yakuza 3, 4, and 5. This means that all of the mainline Yakuza games with Kiryu Kazama as the lead will be on Microsoft's service for subscribers to play. Xbox Game Pass already has Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami 1 and Yakuza Kiwami 2 available.
We're excited to announce that the entire mainline Kiryu Yakuza saga will soon be available on Xbox Game Pass, Windows 10, and Steam!
The Yakuza Remastered Collection (Yakuza 3, 4, and 5 also available separately) – Jan 28, 2021
— RGG Studio (@RGGStudio) December 11, 2020
As you can see from the Tweet above the Yakuza Remastered Collection will be available from January 28th, while Yakuza 6: The Song of Life will arrived on March 25th. In our Yakuza 6 review, Miguel wrote:
Yakuza 6 is a beast of a game, and it sends Kiryu off in style. The graphical upgrades are mouth-watering, and the seamless interior exploration makes an already immersive world even more engrossing. Combat feels very different from any other Yakuza game, and while it's a little sluggish and unsatisfying at first, upgrades and stat buffs help make Kiryu feel like as much of a bruiser as he's always been. While some important side-characters don't get their moment in the sunset here, Kiryu Kazuma gets one last heart-breaking journey that parallels the highs and lows of his previous adventures. Kiryu may be gone, but with a new engine and flashy new combat, the Yakuza series is nowhere close to going away.
While Yakuza 6 may have been the end of Kiryu's arc is not the end of the Yakuza story. Recently, Yakuza: Like A Dragon was released bringing with it the new series protagonist Ichiban. In our review for Yakuza: Like A Dragon, Thomas wrote:
Source: Twitter
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure Review
2020 has been a garbage fire of a year for this planet's climate, with massive bushfires ravaging Australia in the first few months of the year, and then California this summer. With the report just this week that November was the hottest on record, it's likely that 2021 and beyond will see that garbage fire continue to burn unless we do something about it.
That is something that our protagonist Alba would no doubt like to avoid at all costs. The wider fight against climate change might not yet be on the mind of our 11-year-old heroine, but a wildlife adventure that's much closer to home and her heart very much is.
As Alba – in this case meaning dawn in Spanish, as opposed to meaning Scotland in Scottish – visits her grandparents on the island of Pinar del Mar in the Mediterranean you get to soak in this idyllic setting. With everything from sandy beaches and rice paddies to a nature park and a castle on the hill, the island has it all. The nature park, in particular, is one of Alba's favourite places.
Sadly, the park has fallen into disrepair, along with much of the rest of the island. Much to her annoyance and that of her best friend, Inés, the mayor has plans for the nature reserve, and they don't involve sprucing it up.
Instead, he plans to bulldoze the park and build a ginormous luxury hotel.
Although the mayor's announcement initially puts the residents on the back foot, you quickly see them wrestle with the dilemma of trading something they love for the promise of jobs and a boost to the local economy.
But you're an 11-year-old. You don't give a hoot about jobs and the economy. You just care about the park, the island and its animals, and since your grandparents have just given you a map, guide and a smartphone — equipped with a Pokédex-style app that lets you identify the wildlife around you — your mission is to show everyone what they'll be missing if they follow through with the mayor's plan.
You embark on an adventure to photograph, scan and document the 62 species of birds and mammals (plus one reptile), spread across the island's eight distinct biomes, each with its own unique endemic life. As you show just how diverse the island is, you open the eyes of the islanders to the just how precious what they have is.
This is the crux of the game: walking around, taking photos and trying to document everything you can. Fortunately, the island is pretty densely packed, and you can walk from one side to the other in just a few minutes — which is pretty impressive considering the land speed of a typical 11-year-old.
This all means that you can pretty much 100% the game in a mere three hours. That said, this isn't a game you're going to forget any time soon. Alba is the kind of game that sticks with you.
It has to be said: this game is ludicrously cute. It has all the good feels, and the way that Alba skips around the island is as heart-warming as it gets. Despite its small size, the island also feels genuine. From the graffiti to the posters adorning the buildings in the town, Pinar del Mar feels like a lived-in place.
It's also stunning to look at and capture. The camera's autofocus works as you'd hope, generating the right kind of bokeh that you'd expect as you view the world through a camera lens. I often found myself stopping to snap a sunset as I skipped down the road, just like I would if I saw it in real life.
Alba doesn't just take photos. She also helps sick animals, builds bird boxes, cleans up the trash littered around the island and repairs the local tourism boards. Once you've photographed a given species, you can print new signs for the wildlife information boards, further restoring the island to its former glory.
The more you clean up Pinar del Mar, the more likely the animals are to come out, helping further your quest to snap 'em all.
In short, you're basically a one-woman town hall who puts everyone else to shame with how useless they are.
As exemplary as this game is, it's not all gravy and there are some real quality of life improvements that could be made. First and foremost, when Alba pulls out her phone to take a photo, she plants her feet like Claire Redfield, and nothing short of Nemesis is going to make her move until she puts her phone away.
This lets the game down slightly. The inability to strafe half an inch to the left while taking a photo through a fence is frustrating as all hell. It only gets worse when taking a photo of something fast-moving, like a gecko or a bird that's darting around above your head.
Additionally, there are a couple of bugs here that could be ironed out. I've seen people staring through binoculars at a brick wall in front of their face and I've had the game freeze twice when accidentally nudging the mouse while using a gamepad. Neither is ultimately game breaking, but both are eyebrow raisers nonetheless.
Though this does bring me to the last thing that disappointed me about the game: a lack of actual bugs and the things that eat them. The island is suspiciously void of anything smaller than a gecko, and the gecko is the only reptile you see. Speaking to the devs, it turns out that the game was originally focused on bird watching, and evolved to include mammals, but going into macro photography and bug hunting was simply outside the scope of this game.
This all said, I would like to end with a point of genuine admiration. It needs to be said that the studio behind this game is putting its money where its mouth is. Despite being a small south-London indie dev, ustwo is donating money to Ecologi with each copy sold and each unique user on Apple Arcade, as part of project to plant one million trees.
And spoiler warning for the credits: they open with information resources from the United Nations and WWF on what you can do if you want to do more for your local environment. Classy move, ustwo.
BioWare tease the next Mass Effect game with a new trailer
BioWare and EA have teased their next Mass Effect game, releasing a sweeping teaser trailer that swoops through the galaxy to the sounds of radio communications and disastrous first contact.
The YouTube blurb reads:
Get a sneak peek at the next chapter of the Mass Effect universe. A veteran team at BioWare is in the early stages of what is on the horizon for the Mass Effect franchise, and we are excited to show you where we'll be heading next!
The teaser comes not long after confirming that a new Mass Effect was in development, the new shoved in with the announcement of the Mass Effect Legendary Edition trilogy remaster.
That remaster will take the original trilogy and update the textures, shaders, models, effects and technical features of all three. BioWare are modernising the games for newer machines, to give higher resolutions, better frame rates and enhance but not reimagine the visuals.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition will include the main single player and DLC from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, remastered and optimised for 4K on capable consoles. It will be out for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC in Spring 2021, with forward compatibility for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
It now seems that's setting the stage for the next chapter in the Mass Effect series, potentially cutting off the story of the ill-fated Mass Effect Andromeda. That game was a commercial flop and DLC that was planned for the game was scrapped. That said, the game got some decent reviews including an 8/10 from ourselves.
I found it hard to be excited during the opening hours of Mass Effect: Andromeda. It feels too safe, too much like what's gone before, but then it clicks. There's a moment where the galaxy opens up and you find yourself embarking once more on a huge mission across compelling, beautifully constructed planets, surrounded by memorable characters. Sadly the glut of technical missteps serve to cheapen proceedings, but this is still an adventure you don't want to miss out on.
Here's hoping the next big chapter in the Mass Effect series is easier to love.
New Among Us map revealed at The Game Awards – The Airship coming in early 2021
The new map for Among Us has been revealed at The Game Awards, where developer Innersloth picked up a couple of awards (and were totally adorable with their reactions and acceptance speeches).
Called The Airship, the new map is set on the Toppat Airship, with tasks like polishing diamonds and emptying trashcans. You'll have to take ladders to get around, while there's new mechanics like being able to choose your starting position after a meeting, and more.
The original post follows:
A new map of murderous shenanigans is coming to to cult hit Among Us is on the way, with developer Innersloth teasing a shot of what looks like a space ship command bridge and promising a full reveal at The Game Awards on 10th December.
Take a look:
Welcome to the official Among Us Twitter
Get all the news, peeks, and fun shenanigans here and become a part of the crew.
Here's a special look at the NEW Among Us map! (For your eyes only!!) (Don't show the impostors!!) pic.twitter.com/FrCkK7ZcnI
— Among Us (@AmongUsGame) November 18, 2020
The new map was previously discussed in an updated roadmap for the game:
New Map. We're hard at work on a new map (It's Henry Stickmin themed!). This map is currently looking bigger than Polus! The map will contain plenty of new tasks and will be available for free to all players!
Among Us has been one of the indie hits of the summer, despite actually having released all the way back in 2018. The game was discovered by Twitch streamers, with its paranoia-infused multiplayer making for a lot of fun and plenty of cross-channel collaborations. It helps that the game's really cheap at just £4.
The game is built for 4-10 players, with one or more players being an "imposter", and alien interloper who has to try and murder their way through the other players as they try to complete tasks. As murdered bodies are discovered, players report them and call a group meeting to bicker, accuse, and potentially kick someone out of an airlock. There's tons of options to customise lobbies and tweak settings to balance the game for your group,
In response to the sudden boom in popularity in August, Innersloth set back to work on their now very popular game. It had achieved moderate popularity originally, allowing them to start working on a sequel, but they decided to instead cancel the sequel and put more resources into supporting their now huge audience.
So, if you're a keen imposter or a mildly fearful human just wanting to complete their tasks, make sure to keep an eye out on what's next for the game at The Game Awards in December.
Source: Twitter
Disco Elysium is coming to PlayStation, Xbox & Switch with The Final Cut in 2021
The critically acclaimed RPG Disco Elysium is making the long awaited jump from PC to consoles next year with the release of the greatly updated The Final Cut version of the game.
Alongside the currently released PC and Mac versions, it will be out for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 from March 2021, before arriving on Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch in the summer.
Disco Elysium – The Final Cut takes the already hugely accomplished game and expands upon it with new political quests, more characters and full voice acting throughout the game.
The game picked up our Best PC Game award last year, with Jim describing it quite nicely.
Developed by Estonian newcomers, ZA/UM, it's a truly singular game yet one that can trace its roots back to the computer RPGs of old – we're talking Baldur's Gate, Planescape, and the original Fallout.
Game protagonists suffering from amnesia is a well worn trope yet here it forms the foundation of a bizarrely gripping story. One in which you – a bedraggled detective – wake up after going on a brutal bender with a murder mystery to solve.
The writing here is genuinely funny which helps as Disco Elysium artfully walks the line between visual novel and old-school RPG. Instead of outfitting your character with spells, armour, and abilities, ZA-UM has built a clever alternative that explores personality traits, inner thoughts, and the power of the mind, with a number of different ways to approach every scenario.
There will be both standard and collector's editions of the game, coming in partnership with iam8bit.
The Collector's Edition will include:
- Innovative 'Layers of the Id' Premium Box
- Hand-Painted 'Mind Totem' Vinyl Sculpture
- 190+ Page Hardbound Art Book feat. Oodles of Previously Unreleased Art and Stories
- Illustrated Fabric Map of the District of Martinaise
- Physical Edition of Disco Elysium with Reversible Cover, Housed in an Elegant Slipcase
- Region Free – Worldwide Compatibility
- Available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch
It will set you back an eye-watering $249.99, though.
Elder Scrolls Online next expansion is Gates of Oblivion
The Game Awards continues to be the show that keeps on giving, and Elder Scrolls Online is next in line for an exclusive trailer. This time we got to see what the next major expansion is going to be, and it's called Gates of Oblivion. What could it be referring to?
It's safe to assume that Gates of Oblivion is going to send us off to the parallel lands of the Daedric plane, and much like we headed underground through Greymoor's enjoyable campaign, it gives the developers at Zenimax loads of opportunity to craft some exciting new areas, landmarks and cities. Players have already headed off to Cyrodiil, the central setting for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, so this is the next step that makes sense, and will no doubt please long term fans.
Elder Scrolls Online continues to go from strength to strength, and is now available on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac and Stadia. There are plans to have specific versions for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S which will appear in the future, though for the moment you can enjoy the previous generation's versions via backwards compatibility.
We really enjoyed the last DLC Greymoor, saying "This is still the Elder Scrolls Online though, and if you've enjoyed it in the past, Greymoor is a fun experience that adds a worthwhile chunk of content to it. The well-written quests, the fun combat, and the often-impressive landscapes are unchanged here, and I can see Greymoor drawing in more Skyrim fans to the online world, even if it feels a little like a cover band version of the iconic title. Elder Scrolls Online deserves its position as one of the premier MMORPG experiences, and Greymoor upholds that, even if it doesn't quite do justice to Skyrim's vast legacy."
Gates of Oblivion will launch in 2021.
Housemarque's PlayStation 5 exclusive Returnal is coming out in March
The masters of arcade shooters Housemarque have announced the release date for their PlayStation 5 exclusive game Returnal. The game is out on 19th March 2021.
The game shifts down to a third person view, stepping away from pure arcade delights by wrapping a narrative around the action. Returnal delves into the mind of Selene, an Astra space scout who's trapped in a Groundhog Day loop on an alien planet.
It's a roguelite in structure, with exploration elements to go alongside the bullet hell of projectiles coming your way.
On PS5, it'll obviously look pretty fab, and loading times will be nigh on invisible, but you'll feel the difference on the DualSense with the Adaptive Triggers able to define a half squeeze to shift from aiming down sights and activating the alt-fire that each weapon has.
Returnal's out for PS5 on 19th March 2021.
It Takes Two gameplay revealed by A Way Out developer Hazelight – Out in March 2021
EA and Hazelight have announced that the fantastical co-op adventure It Takes Two will be out on 26th March 2021, coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
The game follows the troubled couple of Cody and May, a pair of humans who have been turned into dolls by a magic spell and trapped in a fantasy world… until they can sort out their relationship. They'll have to work together to overcome the many gameplay challenges ahead of them in order to return to their human forms. They also seem to be guided by the Book of Love, and anthropomorphised tome with a Mexican accent and "facial hair" made from tape.
Here's how Hazelight describe it:
From rampaging vacuum cleaners to suave love gurus – with It Takes Two, you never know what you're up against next. Filled with genre-bending challenges and new character abilities to master in every level, you'll experience a metaphorical merging of gameplay and narrative that pushes the boundaries of interactive storytelling.
I'm pretty sure I spotted a snippet of Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare in there…
Announced back in June, this is the next game from the developers of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and A Way Out, building on the co-op gameplay style that Hazelight and their outspoken figurehead Josef Fares have really embraced. This seems much more playful than their previous works though, and in terms of gameplay it blends split-screen views as found in A Way Out with more traditional shared-screen gaming as well.
As with A Way Out, the co-op adventure has to be played with another person, and so it's great to see them bringing back the Friend's Pass. While you can obviously play locally, the Friend's Pass lets you play online co-op with one purchase of the game at no extra cost.
Looking back at A Way Out review, I wrote:
After Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, I came into A Way Out with expectations of a fraught and trying prison escape drama. That's just the beginning though, and it soon transforms into a fun revenge flick. It doesn't have the emotional impact of Brothers, and there's some rough edges from the breadth of ideas that Hazelight include, but most importantly we just had a lot of fun.
You can read the full review here.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is coming to Xbox Series X|S in Summer 2021, but what about Xbox One?
The console release of Microsoft Flight Simulator has been something that Xbox fans have dreamt of for at least the last few month. Now, Microsoft have dropped a trailer showcasing the game's stunning recreation of the world and what's possible on Xbox Series X.
Microsoft Flight Simulator will be out for Xbox Series X|S in summer 2021.
That's great and all, but what about Xbox One? Wasn't Microsoft Flight Simulator meant to come to Xbox One as well?
For now, it seems that only Xbox Series X|S is confirmed, with the Xbox One sure to be a much bigger challenge for developer Asobo Studio to optimise the game for. That will be a big disappointment for those expecting the game on the last-gen console, especially the Xbox One X, which should be able to cope much better than the original console.
Ark II and Ark: The Animated Series announced, starring Vin Diesel
The jokes were flowing thick and fast while the trailer below was playing, what could it be? Horizon Vin Dawn? Stargate SG:Vin? Nope, it turns out Vin Diesel is going to star in Ark II, the sequel to Ark: Survival Evolved.
There no other details on the game but it does seem that that the sequel will have a bigger story element that the original title.
Alongside the sequel a new animated series was announced and it has one hell of a cast including Michella Yeoh, David Tennant, Gerard Butler, Karl Urban, Elliot Page, Russel Crowe, and of course, Vin Diesel.
The Fall Guys Season 3 reveal trailer is here – starting December 15th
Cuddly battle royale sensation Fall Guys is about to embark on its third season, sprinkling the game with a light dusting of wintry content to go with the festive cheer of the season.
Fall Guys Season 3 is out on 15th December for PlayStation and PC.
The winter update will bring with it 7 new levels to test yourself on, new obstacles to deal with, and over 30 new skins to unlock through wins and playing.
So what's the point in playing this weekend? Well, you can try to get through the last few levels on Season 2 with its medieval theme, which will certainly be helped by the Double Fame points that are currently being handed out. Or maybe take a break so that the winter content will all feel nice and fresh?
We awarded the game an excellent 8 our of 10 in our review earlier this year. Here's how I summed up my time with the game:
Full of cute and cuddly jelly beans bumbling into each other in a race for the crown, Fall Guys is just about the most wholesome battle royale imaginable, and a whole lot of fun.
Fall Guys was made available for free on PlayStation Plus back in August and quickly became it's most-downloaded complimentary game. It was a huge success on PC as well, though, selling millions of copies and becoming a staggering success for Mediatonic.
Season revealed, exclusively for PlayStation 5
Coming exclusively to PlayStation 5, Season is a gorgeous looking game, all about exploring and capturing the world on a bicycle road trip…. before the world is washed away in a cataclysmic event.
Coming from Scavengers Studios, it's a big change of pace from their battle royale game Darwin Project, but it's wonderfully evocative and the artwork is sublime in its anime styling.
You'll journeying on bicycle exploring the world for the first time, while also collecting artifacts and memories as you go.
We look forward to seeing more from this game soon.
Dragon Age 4 is coming, and it's simply called Dragon Age
As we already know Dragon Age 4 is on its way, fittingly, two years after its announcement at the same event, The Game Awards has confirmed that Bioware's next title is still going to be Dragon Age 4. However, it's forgoing the number and instead it looks like it's just going to be Dragon Age. Presumably that's intended not to put new players off from getting in on the action, but either way, if you're a fan of RPGs you should definitely put this one right at the top of your list for the foreseeable future if it wasn't there already.
The reveal trailer doesn't give much away, giving us some pleasant cinematics of bow wielding warriors, and fighting against dragons, demons and dark spawn against some suitably fantastical backdrops, including our old favourite, the lava filled cavern. We do see the return of Elven mage Solas which should please Dragon Age fans, while the voiceover tells us that "It's time for a new hero, no ancient hand, no legacy" so perhaps we're going to have a new unnamed, ordinary central character who's swept up in all sorts of shenanigans.
Dragon Age: Origins was the first game in the series, releasing 11 years ago, and remains on my all-time favourite RPG list. Dragon Age II is not on my list, but it did release a couple of years later in 2011. Things greatly improved for 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition though, and if you have Game Pass or EA Play you can check it out right now. In fact, forget about reading this, go and download it and prepare yourself for the new Dragon Age. You'll thank me later.
Bioware have seen some of their top staff leave recently – hopefully that's not going to hurt Dragon Age, but their recent run of games; Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem, haven't hit the same highs as the company's earlier work.