A number of hotly anticipated releases are making their debut in February, practically guaranteed to make any type of gamer happy. See what's in the pipeline with Gamers Heroes' 5 best games of February 2021. Oh, and we won't make you click through five pages to look at the entire list.
5 Best Games of February 2021
Bravely Default II
Developed by Claytechworks and published by Square-Enix, Bravely Default II transports players to the continent of Excillant. While there, players will follow the story of Seth, Gloria, Elvis, and Adelle as they fight for survival. The Brave and Default battle systems both make their return, and players will be able to defeat bosses to acquire character jobs. For fans of the original release, the development team has set out to make a game more similar to the original Bravely Default.
Bravely Default II will come out on February 26, 2021 for the Nintendo Switch.
Persona 5 Strikers
Combining Warriors-style play with the world of the JRPG Persona 5, Atlus and Omega Force's Persona 5 Strikers once again follows the story of Joker and the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. This combination brings with it real-time action combat and turn-based Persona-battling, promising a unique gameplay combination. Along the way players can take on side quests with the Requests and B.A.N.D. systems to get bonuses like stat increases.
Persona 5 Strikers will come out stateside for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on February 23, 2021.
Little Nightmares II
The puzzle-platformer horror adventure series Little Nightmares will make its return with the release of Tarsier Studios and Bandai Namco Entertainment's Little Nightmares II. Picking up after the protagonist Six escapes from the Maw, players will soon come across the boy Mono and traverse the decaying metropolis of Pale City. New enemies and characters can be discovered, such as the Hunter, the Teacher, the Bullies, and the Patients.
Little Nightmares II will come out for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on February 11, 2021.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
The long-running Ys series will get a new entry in February with the release of Nihon Falcom and NIS America's Ys IX: Monstrum Nox. Series mainstay Adol "The Red" Christin quickly gets detained in Balduq. While imprisoned, he meets Aprilis, who turns him into what is known as a Monstrum. Players will be able to use the "Gifts" this state brings to the table, including "Heaven's Run," "Hunter's Descent," "Crimson Line," and "Third Eye," among others.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox will come out for the PlayStation 4 in the United States on February 2, 2021.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Originally released on the Wii U, players will once again be able to join Mario and his friends with the release of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. The co-op gameplay, linear levels, and power-ups of the previous title are alive and well, but players can also play with friends via online multiplayer. Also included is Bowser's Fury, a standalone adventure that transports players to Lake Lapcat as they set out to overcome Fury Bowser.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury will come out for the Nintendo Switch on February 12, 2021.
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Cris Tales Gets Overview Trailer
Discover a few of the locales Crisbell and her unique pals will be exploring in Modus Games, SYCK, and Dreams Uncorporated's Cris Tales with the latest trailer for the game.
In this title, players will follow Crisbell on her journey to uncover the mysteries about her past as an orphan. This Time Mage must contend with the Time Empress, who is setting out to shape the world as she desires.
As players dive into its world players will experience conversation scenes that involve choices that affect the story and the overall world. Characters like Cristopher, Willhelm, JKR-721 and Zas will also make an appearance, each which has their own motivations and backstory.
Cris Tales has five major city hubs, each of which has its own architecture and citizens. Dungeons also make an appearance, which feature both random and scripted encounters. To face any and all dangers, turn-based combat with a turn order will be used.
Learn more with the trailer below:
Cris Tales – Overview Trailer
The game will launch this July for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Google Stadia. It will retail for $39.99.
Discover a few of the locales Crisbell and her unique pals will be exploring in Modus Games, SYCK, and Dreams Uncorporated's Cris Tales with the latest trailer for the game
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A new Dragon Quest journey awaits with the release of Square Enix's tactical RPG Dragon Quest Tact
The post Cris Tales Gets Overview Trailer appeared first on GamersHeroes.
Transporting players to the far reaches of space, Dylan Franks' 3D bullet hell Cosmic Zephyr DX features a one-on-one duel with a bevvy of bullets. The idea of hurtling through space while engaged in a battle for the ages sounds enthralling, but the execution here drops the ball in the most spectacular of fashions.
Cosmic Zephyr DX Review
A fast-paced title, players will hit speeds up to 300 miles per hour as they set out to take down their opponent that is looking to do the same. An endless supply of bullets is at your disposal, but your opponent has been blessed with the same ability. This premise certainly has merit – there's a reason the Touhou line of shoot-em-ups has persevered after all of these years – but the end result is an absolute mess.
Part of this has to do with the sheer amount of clutter the game displays at any given time. The background prides itself on constantly moving through blocky, multicolor tunnels every couple of seconds, obfuscating the action in favor of a flashy display. The same goes with the bullets characters fire – not only does your spread of gray bullets fill the screen, they can often hide the shots the enemy fires right back. Though the presentation is fairly barebones, these two factors make it next to impossible to keep track of what is going on. It's not like there is much to see with the characters though – the enemy is made up of a single blue sprite, and even your own character just glides along without much thought put into its design.
This is made that much worse with the fact that hit detection is absolutely shot. There were times where we racked up "combos" in the 600 range, while others where we missed shots that clearly should have collected. Oftentimes the opponent won't do much of anything, simply sitting in place and serving as an easy target. The AI is predictable to a fault, and though there are multiple difficulty settings, we found that the challenge varies from being too easy to nearly impossible. As a result, it is broken on a fundamental level, with victory or defeat being left to chance.
The entirety of Cosmic Zephyr DX's 13 levels can be finished in around 15 minutes. Players can vary things up with a number of different music tracks dubbed things like "diamond," "ambient," and "dance," but all come out sounding like generic, royalty free samples. Players' times, high scores, and best combos are also recorded, but there are no online leaderboards to share your prowess. There are also no achievements to speak of in this title.
Just be warned that these control problems extend to the menus as well. We used an Xbox One controller connected via Bluetooth, but both that and the keyboard would not acknowledge the most basic of inputs when we were trying to set things up. There would be times where the screen would quickly scroll through options, and other times where things would just hang in place like the title was frozen. The white text on a black background is far from demanding, so we are unsure what is causing this dissonance.
Cosmic Zephyr DX is unplayable. Between the nonexistent AI, the unpredictable mechanics, and the lack of polish, nothing works as it should.
Transporting players to the far reaches of space, Dylan Franks' 3D bullet hell Cosmic Zephyr DX features a one-on-one duel with a bevvy of bullets. The idea of hurtling through space while engaged in
Six months after being announced, Skeleton Crew Studio, Thomas Olsson, and Devolver Digital's Olija is now available on consoles and PC. Is this adventure worth taking, or should you look elsewhere
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The post Cosmic Zephyr DX Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.
Century: Age of Ashes looks to bring exciting, adrenaline-fueled dog fighting to an ancient era, one where dragons soar through the skies. This competitive third-person shooter brings together high-octane action and strategic elements together in a completely free-to-play experience. We had the opportunity to dive in and check out a preview of this title's upcoming Early Access release.
Century: Age of Ashes Preview
Century: Age of Ashes is a lobby-based, competitive multiplayer game that pits two teams of mounted dragons against each other in a battle to the death. While additional modes, maps, and classes are promised in the coming months, the current preview build features three playable classes, two maps, and two different modes of play.
Before diving into a match, players can work through the tutorial. This consists of a series of silent and brief videos introducing the various aspects of attacking, defending, managing stamina, and collecting pickups scattered around the map. While simple and lackluster, it's enough to bring you into Rookie Mode.
Rookie Mode is played on an open map, with some mountains and rocky terrain to split the teams apart. Each round, only certain abilities are available, allowing players to learn with restrictions in place and giving them time to adapt to each new ability as it's introduced. The other mode, Simple Match, is on a bigger, more extravagant map that features a huge castle on the shores of a large ocean. Both maps feature intricate tunnels and tough to navigate areas, alongside more open spaces for flat-out fighting.
The gameplay itself is familiar, but it does have a steep learning curve. Dragons aren't able to stop completely, but the fact that you can speed up, boost, and are slow to turn makes the challenge of flying and controlling each dragon a real art. Whether you're navigating through caves and tunnels or soaring above the ocean, being able to outwit and outmaneuver your opponents is the key to success.
There are currently three playable classes: Marauder, Windguard, and Phantom. Each class can use fireballs and fire breath – the two main avenues of attack – and has access to a number of class-specific abilities. The Windguard can rush toward a target ally and provide a quick shield boost, while the Phantom can turn itself invisible and lay down devastating mines in close-quarter spaces.
Defeating enemies, collecting power-ups, and winning matches all earn experience points and currency that can be spent on new equipment for both your dragon and class. All unlockables (both free and premium) are purely cosmetic; there is currently no progression system in place. There is a premium shop where you can buy dragon eggs, equipment, icons, and a variety of goodies, but it's not cheap. A legendary dragon egg will set you back about $20, although currently the premium store doesn't allow for purchasing items or currency. Each class can unlock and equip new dragons, dragon equipment, and character equipment – again, all purely cosmetic – but it nevertheless allows for a total of 11 different avenues of customization for each class.
So far, Century: Age of Ashes is a good start for an innovative concept. Impressive visuals and highly competitive gameplay stand at the forefront, but the lack of any meaningful progression and rewards will definitely not appeal to everyone. Without some level of skill or level-based matchmaking, new players may find the initial hours difficult and frustrating.
For those looking to check it out themselves, Century: Age of Ashes is scheduled to release under Steam Early Access in February 2021.
So far, Century: Age of Ashes is a good start for an innovative concept. Impressive visuals and highly competitive gameplay stand at the forefront but the lack of any meaningful progression and
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The post Century: Age of Ashes Preview appeared first on GamersHeroes.
R-Type Final 2 Gets Fourth Trailer Update
Get a new look at Granzella Games' R-Type Final 2 with the latest trailer for the game.
R-Type Final 2 will take players on a journey to strike down the Bydo Empire. Player ships in the title include Arrow Head, Dominions, Wise Man, Strider, Shooting Star, Grace Note, Albatross, Kiwi Berry, and Cerberus.
Learn more with the trailer below:
R-Type Final 2- fourth Trailer Update (Japanese ver.)
R-Type Final 2 saw a successful Kickstarter campaign, with 11,146 backers and approximately $1,260,485 raised as of November 30, 2020. Stretch goals reached include unified cross-region and cross-platform leaderboards, Ghost function in the gameplay, and subtitles in European languages.
The game will come out for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, and PC on April 30, 2021. The title will be available in both Japanese and English, and will launch with the Inaugural Flight Edition and the Limited Edition.
Discover a few of the locales Crisbell and her unique pals will be exploring in Modus Games, SYCK, and Dreams Uncorporated's Cris Tales with the latest trailer for the game
Get a new look at Granzella Games' R-Type Final 2 with the latest trailer for the game
The cavalry has arrived; get yourself the new Vetir Military Vehicle this week in Rockstar Games' GTA Online
A new Dragon Quest journey awaits with the release of Square Enix's tactical RPG Dragon Quest Tact
The post R-Type Final 2 Gets Fourth Trailer Update appeared first on GamersHeroes.
Vetir Military Vehicle Now Available in GTA Online
The cavalry has arrived; get yourself the new Vetir Military Vehicle this week in Rockstar Games' GTA Online.
For those looking to pick up the Vetir, it can be yours at Warstock Cache & Carry.
Business is booming this week in GTA Online – get yourself Double GTA$ & RP in the Diamond Adversary Series and Triple GTA$ & RP in Mobile Operations Missions.
Those who hit the ocean floor for 10 Hidden Caches this week can get themselves a reward to the tune of GTA$100,000 next week. If you fly out to Cayo Perico this week and complete the Cayo Perico Heist Finale, you'll earn yourself the Santo Capra Patterns Sweater on the house.
Make sure to swing by the lobby of The Diamond and give the Lucky Wheel a spin for a chance to win cash prizes, RP, clothing, and a myriad mystery prizes. This week's podium prize is the Grotti Cheetah Classic.
Players will be able to take advantage of the following discounts this week:
Kosatka Submarine – 25% off
Kosatka Submarine Upgrades, Mods & Customizations – 25% off
Mobile Operations Centers:
- MOC – 40% off
- MOC Weapon & Vehicle Workshop – 30% off
Vehicles:
- Cargobob – 40% off
- Nagasaki Stryder – 30% off
- Ocelot Ardent – 30% off
Finally, GTA Online players that connect their Rockstar Games Social Club account with their Prime Gaming account will receive the Kosatka submarine's Sonar Station on the house, along with GTA$200K simply by playing any time this week. Prime Gaming members will also receive 80% off of the Pegassi Osiris and 70% off the Progen PR4.
Discover a few of the locales Crisbell and her unique pals will be exploring in Modus Games, SYCK, and Dreams Uncorporated's Cris Tales with the latest trailer for the game
Get a new look at Granzella Games' R-Type Final 2 with the latest trailer for the game
The cavalry has arrived; get yourself the new Vetir Military Vehicle this week in Rockstar Games' GTA Online
A new Dragon Quest journey awaits with the release of Square Enix's tactical RPG Dragon Quest Tact
The post Vetir Military Vehicle Now Available in GTA Online appeared first on GamersHeroes.
Dragon Quest Tact Now Available Stateside
A new Dragon Quest journey awaits with the release of Square Enix's tactical RPG Dragon Quest Tact.
In this title, players will have to contend with the blights sweeping the world of Orchesterra as they set out to save the day. Joining forces with familiar Dragon Quest monsters, players will direct these foes in tactical battles that unfold on a grid-like map. New monsters can be recruited as allies, which can also be upgraded along the way.
For those that like a challenge, Battle Road features even more story content for those looking to learn more about their monster allies.
Learn more with the trailer below:
DRAGON QUEST TACT Free to Play Now!
The game is available as a free download with in-app purchases on iOS and Android devices. Text is supported in English, French, Traditional Chinese, and Korean. Those who download the game from now through February 28 at 11:59am PT will receive the iconic King Slime monster.
Discover a few of the locales Crisbell and her unique pals will be exploring in Modus Games, SYCK, and Dreams Uncorporated's Cris Tales with the latest trailer for the game
Get a new look at Granzella Games' R-Type Final 2 with the latest trailer for the game
The cavalry has arrived; get yourself the new Vetir Military Vehicle this week in Rockstar Games' GTA Online
A new Dragon Quest journey awaits with the release of Square Enix's tactical RPG Dragon Quest Tact
The post Dragon Quest Tact Now Available Stateside appeared first on GamersHeroes.
Six months after being announced, Skeleton Crew Studio, Thomas Olsson, and Devolver Digital's Olija is now available on consoles and PC. Is this adventure worth taking, or should you look elsewhere for some fun? Check out our review and find out.
Olija Review
Olija starts with a man named Farady setting out to sea. Farady is a lord in a town that is catching less and less fish. After a few weeks at sea, the crew encounters a giant storm and a colossal whale. Being more akin to Lovecraft's Dagon as opposed to an actual whale, the whale consumes the ship and drags it beneath the waves. When you wake up, you are in a different kind of land; a land of despair and hopelessness.
Not ready to throw in the towel quite yet, you set out to find your crew and to find a way out of this nightmarish world. You quickly find a compass that shows you a vision of a harpoon, a legendary weapon from this area. After acquiring the harpoon, you find out that the Rottenwood clan is trapping everyone here, and that you need three keys to escape. With a map and compass in tow, you leave the shantytown of Oaktide, seeking the creatures that have these keys. There is no in-game timer, but the game runs between approximately six to eight hours.
Olija is a 2D side-scrolling action-adventure game with some light RPG mechanics. Farady carries two weapons at a time, and one of them is the harpoon. You can use that to attack and bash enemies, or you can toss it into enemies. Once an enemy is impaled, you can then press the button again and warp to your harpoon and keep beating on them. My typical strategy was to use my harpoon to get me in close, then use the rapier as my secondary for quick strikes. The harpoon is excellent for closing distance, but it is very slow to attack.
There are two ranged secondary weapons as well. However, both require ammo that can be crafted or collected throughout the game. There is also a sword that let's you warp to it, which can make things a little crazy. You can use your harpoon to activate a trap or trigger, then warp to your sword and retrieve it before warping back to your harpoon to finish off an enemy. That might sound like a lot of work, but it is pretty simple once you are used to the control scheme. The combat is flashy, but is not overly complicated. It is also brutal, with limbs and gore flying all over the place.
In-between all this combat, you will be rested as Lord Farady in the makeshift village of Oaktide. Oaktide is where all the stranded sailors consumed by the whale go. It is a bleak place when you arrive, with sailors starving and waiting to die. As you get more keys and rescue your crew members, Oaktide becomes more and more lively. Soon they are cooking food (which you can eat to heal), making spears to defend the town, telling stories, and cheering your name. It is here that you can make hats, upgrade your maximum HP, and send a sailor off to collect resources for you.
The hat system is the main form of upgrading in Olija. Hats can give you a few different benefits, and you will need crafting materials to make them. You find these through combat, in chests, or when your sailors get back home. There are eight hats in total, and each does something different. One lets you charge up lightning as you attack, while another makes you resistant to acid damage. By the end of the game, you should have all of them unlocked. Admittedly there are a couple of stinkers in the bunch, but the right hat can make or break a boss fight.
There are a few things I don't like about Olija. Even though you pick up maps in the game, there is no actual map for you to look at. You also can't look at your inventory, which is really weird. You can see how many of a crafting material you have, but you can't scroll over to it and see what it is called. The checkpoint system is also brutal; there was one instance where I was facing a boss, and I really wanted to switch my hat so I could absorb lightning easier. I had two choices: beat the boss, or start a new game.
With Olija, what you see is what you get. It is well-executed for the most part and is an absolute joy to play. If this is your type of game, don't hesitate to pick this one up.
Transporting players to the far reaches of space, Dylan Franks' 3D bullet hell Cosmic Zephyr DX features a one-on-one duel with a bevvy of bullets. The idea of hurtling through space while engaged in
Six months after being announced, Skeleton Crew Studio, Thomas Olsson, and Devolver Digital's Olija is now available on consoles and PC. Is this adventure worth taking, or should you look elsewhere
Bloober Team, the developers behind critically acclaimed titles such as Layers of Fear, look to bring their signature brand of horror to the next generation with the release of The Medium
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & The Secret Fairy is Ryza's second jump into the gaming scene. Does she deserve a sequel, or was the first game enough? Check out this review and find out
The post Olija Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.
Top-Down Cyberpunk Adventure Glitchpunk Announced
For those looking for a new cyberpunk adventure, Dark Lord and Daedalic Entertainment promise to deliver with their new top-down action thriller Glitchpunk.
Tapping into the same vein as classics like Grand Theft Auto 2, Glitchpunk will have players shooting, brawling, driving, stealing and sneaking through its neon-soaked world. Trains, tanks, buses, motorbikes, trucks, and cars are all at your disposal, along with a massive arsenal of weaponry.
Players will need all the help they can get; frantic police chases await, along with 10 escalations of wanted levels to keep players on their toes. To immerse players into its world, a mature story with several endings, 12 different gangs, and four different cities will all be included.
Finally, to bring life into its world, its art style combines 2D sprites in a 3D environment to create a unique look. Players will also be able to tune into an in-game radio station that features news reports and commercials.
Learn more with the trailer below
Glitchpunk Announcement Trailer
The game will enter Steam Early Access in the first half of 2021. A playable demo of the game will be available on Steam during the Steam Games Festival that begins on February 3.
Discover a few of the locales Crisbell and her unique pals will be exploring in Modus Games, SYCK, and Dreams Uncorporated's Cris Tales with the latest trailer for the game
Get a new look at Granzella Games' R-Type Final 2 with the latest trailer for the game
The cavalry has arrived; get yourself the new Vetir Military Vehicle this week in Rockstar Games' GTA Online
A new Dragon Quest journey awaits with the release of Square Enix's tactical RPG Dragon Quest Tact
The post Top-Down Cyberpunk Adventure Glitchpunk Announced appeared first on GamersHeroes.
The King of Fighters XV's Benimaru Gets New Trailer
The Shooting Star Benimaru Nikaido will make his way to SNK's The King of Fighters XV as part of the new Hero Team.
Benimaru was born into a rich family, raised by his Japanese father and American mother. Electrostatics attacks are his speciality, mixed with shoot boxing that allows him to land thunderous kicks. Unlike previous entries, he watches over Shun'ei and Meitenkun on behalf of his friend and rival Kyo Kusanagi. For fans of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, his design was based off Jean Pierre Polnareff's character.
See this electrifying fighter in action with the trailer below:
KOF XV｜BENIMARU NIKAIDO｜Character Trailer #3 (4K)
Originally announced during EVO 2019, The King of Fighters XV is the second chapter of the 4th canonical saga for the series. Much like Samurai Shodown, this title will also use Unreal Engine Graphics.
The game will come out in 2021.
Discover a few of the locales Crisbell and her unique pals will be exploring in Modus Games, SYCK, and Dreams Uncorporated's Cris Tales with the latest trailer for the game
Get a new look at Granzella Games' R-Type Final 2 with the latest trailer for the game
The cavalry has arrived; get yourself the new Vetir Military Vehicle this week in Rockstar Games' GTA Online
A new Dragon Quest journey awaits with the release of Square Enix's tactical RPG Dragon Quest Tact
The post The King of Fighters XV's Benimaru Gets New Trailer appeared first on GamersHeroes.