Gamesmasterの May 2016 の目次

Got a favourite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle? Admit it, we’ve all got one*. Since the TV show and the comics first cowabunga’d onto the scene back in 1987 (!), the Turtles have become a cultural touchstone for a generation. Later this year Platinum Games, the Japanese master of third-person combat, takes the wheel of the shellraiser. We’ve uncovered all the secrets (of the ooze) over on p42. Speaking of cultural touchstones, we’ve been to distant shores (well, to LA) to get all the latest on the ever more impressively huge Final Fantasy XV. Even if you’ve drifted from the FF stable since the heady days of VII-X, you need to get this on your gaming sat nav. And that’s not the only big name returning bigger and better than ever…

I’ve been a gaming fan for around 20 years now and I’m disappointed with the way a lot of games are going. I’m a huge fan of the art of storytelling and many games have stories that can rival the greats of literature! (And I should know – I’m an English teacher!) But recently more and more seem to be cutting back (or just scrapping) their single-player stories in favour of multiplayer. Obviously online gaming can be great, but for me a game succeeds or fails based on its story and characters. Take the new Star Wars Battlefront for example. You have one of the most popular stories ever told as a backdrop, yet are trapped in a generic battle where it doesn’t really matter who wins or loses. With…

We’re not sure Pac-Man has ever looked quite as classy as this before – grab these cufflinks for yourself from Etsy seller StyledGents here: http://bit.ly/gmcufflink Just to secure his Pokémon fan cred, Sean also created this awesome t-shirt design featuring Deoxys! Want it on your chest? Head to: http://bit.ly/gmdeoxys. We almost passed out from cuteness overload when Kisumi (@kisumi87 on Twitter) sent in a pic of her hand-made Pokémon charms. GM fan Sean Hollyman’s cosplay of Pokémon Xatu is spot on… if a little creepy. Now that is a chainsaw! In her Lollipop Chainsaw Juliet Starling outfit, reader Rozy Richardson looks ready to take on a zombie horde in style.…

“WHAT IF CERTAIN GAMES REQUIRE THE UPGRADED MACHINES IN ORDER TO RUN AT ALL?” Rumour has it that Sony is beavering away on a new version of the PS4 – one that would include a more powerful GPU as well as the capacity to run games at 4K resolutions. And it seems that Microsoft has similar ambitions, as Xbox head honcho Phil Spencer recently used a public appearance to extol the potential virtues of ‘hardware innovation’ within the current console generation. But while the prospect of a more powerful PS4 or extra-fast Xbox One may be tantalising, the implications for players and developers aren’t entirely rosy. Whether it’s an all-new hardware SKU or an optional upgrade, this type of ‘hardware innovation’ fragments playerbases, stretches developers, and risks undermining the utility…

HAVING A BLAST Relive 2002 with the return of a platforming legend – Ratchet & Clank is out today! ST GEORGE’S SLAY You slayed a dragon, eh, Georgie? Big deal. We just battered Ornstein and Smough. HAMMER TIME Swap paint and poly cement for one easy download – Total War: Warhammer’s out now. MAYDAY, MAYDAY A three day weekend can only mean one thing – time for a gaming marathon. FORCE QUIT It’s Star Wars Day – celebrate with Battlefront and a bonfire of prequel trilogy merchandise. THE DRAKE OFF Following one last eleventh hour delay, the final chapter in the Uncharted story is here. DOOMTOWN Best limber up that trigger finger with a rigorous program of stretches – Doom is back. DON’T FORGET ABOUT IT Join us for Mafia…

Harbour The stormy skies of Harbour contrast with the sunny locations elsewhere. Armour shines and slick puddles reflect the action. Ambushes from behind shipping containers prove effective. Dam One of the game’s most striking stages, Dam is set at the foot of a huge, well, dam. Players scurry in its imposing shadow, weaving between the maze-like foundations as birds dart between surrounding pines. Foundation Foundation takes place in a gorgeous estate, where luxury white and gold courtyards butt up against sturdy metallic framework. The brutalist skyscraper in the skyline is a nice touch. It’s all very Gears. Gridlock Every map here is new, exceptGridlock. It just wouldn’t be a Gears game without this lonely u-bend of car-clogged road, a firm favourite for its balance. This screenshot is from Gears: Ultimate…

Format PS4 Publisher Sony Developer The Bartlet Jones Supernatural Detective Agency ETA Autumn Anyone’s who’s ever sat through a biology lesson knows that notebooks aren’t for stupid things like taking notes. They’re portals to other worlds: worlds where heads explode, the Queen’s got tentacles, and winged genitalia soar through scribbled skies. If only we could jump right in with an arsenal of ridiculous weapons and a few friends… This online-only arena shooter from David Jaffe, known for bringing us God Of War and Twisted Metal, lets you do exactly that. We hop mohawked brawler Johnny Savage through a tutorial area of obscene scrawls. Our guide? An anthropomorphic frog as likely to hurl vulgar insults at us and detail his frankly obscene personal habits as he is to offer advice. Ink-sanity…

Nathan Drake Not new, but with a fresh look, Nate’s sprouting a few grey hairs in his post-treasure hunting years. He promised Elena he was done with adventures, but lets her down by dragging Sully off on another trek. Sam Drake Presumed dead, ex-jailbird Sam Drake shows up at the start of the story to coax returning hero Nate out of retirement. He claims to have a lead on lost pirate gold, and needs his bro to help him. Rafe Adler Also seeking Avery’s gold, treasure hunter Rafe Adler is our main villain. “Rafe’s smart and very ambitious,” explains Naughty Dog’s Arne Meyer, who labels him as both charismatic and “interesting”. Nadine Ross Owner of the Shoreline PMC, Nadine is a South African merc hired by Rafe to beat Drake…

Format PC Publisher Paradox Interactive Developer Obsidian Entertainment ETA Winter In this isometric RPG, you are the bad guy. The form and style is distinctly old-school, but that twist makes all the difference: evil has already won, and rather than rebel against the status quo as a plucky underdog, you’re wilfully, gleefully upholding it. It’s Star Wars told from the Empire’s perspective, or Lord Of The Rings through the eyes of one of Sauron’s orcs. After a massive war of good vs evil doesn’t work out so well for the former, Kyros The Overlord sets the world in an iron headlock. You play an officer in his army, operating under the watchful eyes of the Archon Of Justice and Tunon The Adjudicator. Dialogue-heavy, you’ll primarily interact with the populace through…

Format 3DS Pub Nintendo Dev HAL Laboratory ETA 10 June The fleshy mouth vacuum is on a mission to save Dreamland from mechanised menaces – and by that we mean suck them into his mouth. There are 25 ingested powers for him and a few more for his mech, which transforms with propellers, buzzsaws, and wings. Tapping any amiibo to the screen imbues the benevolent pink blob with the relevant power. Plus there’s four-player co-op mode Kirby Clash in which you adopt different roles and use teamwork to thrash bosses.…

NAMED AFTER: Italian sculptor Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi LIKES: Science, technology, inventing WEAPON: Bo staff ROLE: The healer of the group, Donatello’s long-reaching staff and pizza-throwing skills mean he’s best kept out of arm’s reach of enemies whenever possible - his unique skill Pizza Power showers areas with slices of the Turtles’ favourite snack to top up everybody’s health bars. The team’s tech wizard, he can also call upon his ingenious inventions to help out in battle, whether it be flying saucer attacks, or creating a handy energy barrier to keep the team shielded from harm by pushing foes away. Break out his combo attack and a series of teleportation assaults discombobulate your enemies and rip apart their defences, leaving them ripe for a devastating follow-up bo staff…

THUNDERCATS Number one with a bullet - or should that be a scratch? - is the classic ’80s series Thundercats. A co-op brawler in the TMNT template would work perfectly, with each hero boasting their trademark weapons (Lion-O has his iconic Sword Of Omens, Cheetara wields a bo staff, Panthro sports nunchaku, Tygra uses a bolo whip) and unique abilities (Tygra’s invisibility skill, for instance, could be activated for a few seconds to get the jump on baddies). Throw in some Snarf minigames and this practically codes itself. SCIENCE NINJA TEAM GATCHAMAN Hot off the exhaust flames of Star Fox Zero (review on p76!), Platinum is ideally positioned to bring back the ’70s anime sensation better known in this corner of the world as Battle Of The Planets. Mixing space-based…

“Fantasy Iron Chef.’Enough said? Nope! Battle Chef Brigade is a hand-animated 2D action cooking and hunting game. It features fantasy chefs, including orcs, elves, and humans, who need to hunt dangerous monsters for ingredients. With those ingredients, before the critical eye of the judges, the chefs create culinary masterpieces in an intense tournament. Battle Chef Brigade pairs action-hunting and puzzle-based cooking, all as the round clock ticks down. It captures a cooking competition show in all its glory: the determined characters, the gorgeous dishes, and the frantic pace. If you’re seeking the finest filet of dragon, you’ll have to subdue the mighty beast yourself in the Kitchen Stadium Arena. You play as Mina, Thrash, Ziggy, and Kirin as they aim to join the Brigade, each with their own cuisine, combat…

Vistas There are more of them and they obviously look so much better. Also, each one tantalisingly reveals what’s to come. There’s a nice panoramic view from Majula, but none of the insta-share vistas we now use to butter our Dark Souls toast in the morning. Enemies Some enemies make a return from previous games, which can be sometimes fun and sometimes disappointing. Too often areas are made hard not through intriguing enemy mechanics, but by simply upping the number you have to deal with. Minutes before first death 11 24 Fast travel Easy to get around quickly, but pushing forwards is always complex and windy. Less complex, but still retains that sense of relief at finding a new bonfire. Lore We much prefer the clarity of the timeline here.…

It might only be a single player game but Hitman’s online nature means it’s got a lot more to offer than just offline-only fun. But while it adds plenty to the game it comes with a cost. Hitman’s connection maximises its replayability as you set up contracts for other players and chase each other’s scores. However, it means the game has an online and offline mode and the two aren’t compatible, with separate progress. The downside to that is that if you’re playing online and lose your connection for any reason, the game kicks you out there and then.…

How do you stop nausea in VR? Willans explains... “Previous triggers for motion sickness (latency, resolution) are no longer affecting the experience, so player comfort is now mostly in our hands. The context of the environment helps with the sense of presence – for Valkyrie, space is the perfect setting in which to deliver intense dogfighting combat, as we have no horizon lines. So when you’re engaged in 360 degree combat you don’t see yourself as upside down, or incorrect according to the basic laws of physics.”…

1 Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles (NES – 1989) In the year of the Turtles’ first arcade beat-'em-up, they mobbed the NES with platformin’ in mind. One player handled all four Turtles, yet it was harder than Krang’s android derriere. To the point of being aggravatingly unfair – but as the debut outing it was adored. The arcade game came next, and the NES managed one more in The Manhattan Project. 2 Fall Of The Foot Clan (Game Boy – 1990) The plot of this initial handheld side-scroller involved… yep, April doing her Princess Peach thing and being abducted by Shredder for about the 36th time. Despite tottering along as if badly hungover, the towering Turtle sprites were some mad graphical voodoo so early in the Game Boy’s life. Back From…

“I TOOK SOME CREATIVE LIBERTIES – HOPE I DIDN’T ANGER THE PURISTS!” Pixelated sprites in Perler beads, paper versions of our favourite retro characters, stained glass recreations of the original Pokédex: we love and celebrate it all. Yet nothing lights our nostalgia fires more than a tantalising glimpse of how old school games look in the Unreal engine. From Spyro The Dragon to The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker, in Unreal 4 we’ve seen it all. Or thought we had, until Orlando-based artist Jarlan Perez decided to recreate Ash Ketchum’s bedroom. “I’m a professional 3D artist with a passion for mechs, robots, and pretty much anything sci-fi,” explains Perez. “I love to tinker and find out how things work, which helps when creating new designs. During the day I’m…

1 DARK SOULS PC / PS3 / 360 Combining challenge, intrigue, and desolate beauty like nothing before or since. Essential. 2 THE LAST OF US PS4 / PS3 Naughty Dog brings all of its strengths to the fore, fusing engaging gameplay with stunning storytelling. 3 THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT PS4 / XO / PC An epic proposition that truly lives up to its promise. Engaging, mature, and unbelievably vast. 4 GRAND THEFT AUTO V PS4 / XO / PC / PS3 / 360 The most comprehensive sandbox going, full of wonderful distractions and typical Rockstar humour. 5 MARIO KART 8 Wii U Reinvention is what Ninty does best, and nowhere is that more apparent than in this joyous karter reborn. 6 JOURNEY PS4 / PS3 This intensely emotional trip…

This month we catch Ben Griffin flailing his arms about in Kinect Star Wars If you go in with the belief nothing can retroactively ruin the original films, not even the sight of Princess Leia dancing to a cover of Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Girl including the line “I ain’t your hologram girl” while the bald guy from Cloud City DJs, then the Xbox 360’s motion-controlled Kinect Star Wars is a laugh. You can embody a Rancor and smash Tatooine to bits, pilot your very own podracer using gestures to accelerate and brake, or Force-fling around droids with casual waves of the hand as Anakin. Sure, controls are spotty, but Galactic Dance Off is worth limbering up for.…

MANIAC OF THE MONTH! Hope the new Assassin’s Creed movie has people floating down the road and walking through walls, just like the game. Daniel Reid, Facebook VR is too expensive, will probably be very gimmicky, and if it gets properly supported (especially the Sony one) I will be very shocked. Kimberley Fraser, Facebook Triborg is the best Mortal Kombat chacter so far! Brian Hooper, @8589brian Can’t wait to get hold of PlayStation VR! Liam, @la986 All the best reviews of The Division highlight the random dog poo. Stuart Cullen, @FuryAC3 Stuck my Pokémon stickers on the fridge in the kitchen. My missus has gone berserk. Richard Skelton, Facebook My favourite bit in the Shenmue games is when the robot with the googly eyes gets booted up the bum. Ben…

MATT’S PICK Final Fantasy XV News that Square Enix is doubling down on a fresh wave of JRPGs with a whole new studio is music to my ears, but that’s not stopped me hankering after this behemoth franchise. Everything we’ve seen points to a game thrashing against the confines of its traditions, which is scary for fans, but has me keen to see and play more. PS4, XO, PC - Autumn ROBIN’S PICK Overcooked Co-op cooking is an underserved genre, if you ask me. My girlfriend and I have spent many a night running our virtual restaurant in Cook, Serve, Delicious, and Overcooked looks like it could fill a similar role. For all the gunfights and explosions in games, nothing gets my blood pumping quite like the frantic thrill of…

With remarkably extensive modding tools and full Steam Workshop integration, XCOM 2 has become an absolute wonderland of user-created content since its launch earlier this year – and it’s all just a couple of mouse clicks away, with no fiddling about with files and folders required. The only tricky part, then, is deciding which mods to nab. That’s where we come in – we’ve sorted the wheat from the chaff so you don’t have to, and picked out five must-have mods to enhance your XCOM 2 campaigns with more variety, convenience, and style. 1 STOP WASTING MY TIME This essential mod makes the game a faster, smoother experience by trimming out unnecessary pauses and repetitive dialogue, and speeding up animations. If you’ve ever wished your Gremlins would float around at…

Format PS4, PC Publisher Shibuya Productions Developer Ys Net ETA December 2017 Industry legend Yu Suzuki has revealed a tantalising smattering of new info on this long-awaited sequel, as well as releasing some gorgeous work-in-progress screenshots. The images represent our first proper look at the game’s opening area, showcasing the beautiful countryside that Ryo will explore in the opening hours. The setting is Bailu Village, a settlement within China’s Guilin region. Shenmue II’s cliffhanger ending unfolded close to this spot, so it’s clear that Suzuki is picking up right where he left off. Indeed, it seems as though barely a day has passed since the conclusion of the previous game. The glittering images are the product of seven-or-so months of active development on Shenmue III, and suggest Suzuki and his…

Format PC Pub Paradox Dev Paradox ETA 9 May Just our luck. Humanity creates a wormhole and ventures out into space only to find the same border disputes as on Earth – only now with thousands of alien races involved. This cosmic strategy from the makers of Crusader Kings II features fully procedural galaxies containing thousands of planets, and any one might hold an extraterrestrial race to argue with. There’s an extensive space ship customisation system, plenty of playable species to choose from, and 32-person multiplayer in which you each control empires.…

Format PS4, XO, PC Pub Chunsoft Dev Bandai Namco ETA 3 June Over 50 characters clash in this fighting game based on the popular pirate anime. Mostly it’s fast-paced one-on-one arena scraps showcasing entertaining super powers and flashy moves: Chopper the reindeer digs into the ground and explodes out, and Whitebeard launches opponents into the air while shouting “I’m Whitebeard!”. Trafalgar Law, Crocodile, Boa Hancock – the gang’s all here, and forming unlikely tag-teams to switch out when health’s low keeps the action intense and tactical.…

NAMED AFTER: Italian painter and architect Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino LIKES: Fighting, sarcasm WEAPON: Sai ROLE: You might think that picking ‘cool but rude’ Raphael is a clear indicator that you want to charge head first into every single battle and stay on an all-out offensive, but that actually isn’t quite the case. Sure, his team combo attack involves leaping high into the air and slamming down to the ground to create a Foot-upending shockwave, but unique ability Stealth Mode encourages more thoughtful, dare we say subtle, play. Trigger it and Raph turns completely invisible, letting him get the jump on enemies for a more powerful surprise attack from behind. The strongest damage dealer of the quartet, Raph’s also the slowest.…

NAMED AFTER Italian sculptor, painter, and poet Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni LIKES Pizza, surfing, jokes WEAPON Nunchaku ROLE As well as bringing the laughs, Mikey’s the support element of the squad. Sure, getting stuck in and whirling his nunchaku will smack the Foot around without giving them much opportunity to respond – he’s the fastest of the lot – but the most juvenile member of the TMNT has the most powerful unique skill of all: Cheerleader. Bust it out and he jams his fists into a pair of pompoms and unleashes a spirit-boosting pep rally to refresh everyone’s cooldowns.…

Format PC, Mobile Developer Atmos Games ETA August Web http://bit.ly/gmpinstripe With a new Doom on the horizon, Hell is very much in the gaming consciousness – though perhaps a one-man war against a million cybernetically-enhanced demons isn’t the most nuanced exploration of the afterlife. If you’re after something a little more thoughtful then this one-man Kickstarter success, telling the tale of ex-minister Teddy traversing Hell in search of his daughter Bo, may be more up your alley. Incredibly, developer Thomas Brush has been working on the project alone for nearly four years, and only relented to a little extra help on Kickstarter to get the project ready for release. The visuals are gorgeous as Teddy explores the surprisingly snow-covered realms of the underworld (looks like Hell finally did freeze over)…

0-39 Awful Avoid it as you would a bullet with your name on. 40-59 Poor Major issues here that won’t be solved with a hug. 60-69 Decent A mixed bag filled with sweets and sharp stones. 70-79 Good Some flaws, but still a very enjoyable experience. 80-89 Excellent Buy it, love it, thank us when you’re done. 90-100 Outstanding A rare and essential piece of brilliance. The small print: We rate games in comparison to what else is available on the same system, in the same genre, and for the same format at the time of release. So this year’s FIFA might score less than a FIFA from three years ago, but still be a better game. Because time, and our expectations, move on. Hey, you’re smart, you get it……

DARK SOULS (2011) A masterwork of design, taking the hub worlds of its spiritual predecessor Demon’s Souls and ramming its combat into a gigantic, challenging, and brimming world which took years to pick clean. Praise the sun, indeed. ARTORIAS OF THE ABYSS (2012) A new area was introduced for the PC version, and as DLC for consoles, in which we finally came face-to-face with hinted at hero-turned-baddie Artorias – and an awesome new secret in the Sif boss fight. DARK SOULS II (2014) Refined combat and a huge amount of fresh content made this just the thing to give us our Souls fix – though Dark Souls III really does put into sharp contrast the few faults that it did suffer from. Miyazaki’s absence was telling. SCHOLAR OF THE FIRST…

It’s well worth dipping into Star Fox Zero’s training missions to acclimatise to the different controls and handling models for each vehicle. Arwing lessons are mandatory, but the rest are optional – albeit recommended. Taking place in a virtual arena, they task you with flying through rings, collecting coins, and shooting balloons against the clock. Reach the target coin tally and the collectibles will refresh, inviting you to earn a higher score before time runs out. There are unlockable challenges for each, too: the Walker’s objective, for example, is a tough battle to prevent marauding spider bots from reaching the top of a tower.…

1 THE DIVISION  PS4 The eternal loot loop isn’t quite as… well, eternal as I’d like, what with the lack of late game raiding on launch, but I’m still having top fun replaying the story missions in hard mode. Matt Sakuraoka-Gilman, Editor 2 STREET FIGHTER V  PS4 I’m playing Rashid, and while I don’t really know what I’m doing, that does at least make my fighting style gloriously unpredictable. Ben Griffin, Senior Staff Writer 3 SHADOWRUN: HONG KONG PC I’ve dived back into the world of triads and trolls to check out the new free mini-campaign, and it’s been a joy exploring the rain-slicked streets again. Robin Valentine, Production Editor 4 HITMAN  PS4 I’m utterly rubbish at Agent 47’s brand of assassination, so half my time is spent waiting for…

Unbutton your winter jackets as Rainbow Six Siege’s second of four DLC packs shifts the action from Canada to the US, including a new map and two playable Operators. If the states don’t float your boat, hold on for packs three and four later this year – they’ll be focused on Brazil and Japan respectively. All those maps are free, remember, and the characters are unlockable with in-game currency.if that doesn’t sate your desire to shoot people with machine guns in scenic locales, check out the Eclipse pack for Call Of Duty: Black Ops III, which includes four new multiplayer maps, as well as your requisite slice of undead action with a new episode for Zombies mode. As ever, be aware that it’s releasing a little earlier on PS4, so…

GONDOLA BABY GONDOLA Use the excuse of it being one of the world’s most romantic cities, but the real reason you’re dragging your significant other to Venice is Assassin’s Creed II. Pop in headphones, get Jesper Kyd on Spotify, and wander the streets as Ezio would have done. No rooftop running though; stay safe. Find more at: http://bit.ly/gm_vn TEMPLE TANTRUMS We’re seriously jealous of Nathan Drake’s travels, in particular his Uncharted 2 trip to Kathmandu. It’s the capital of Nepal and filled with fascinating history. Plus, don’t worry, you won’t have to find the Cintamani Stone. For more, see: http://bit.ly/gm_ku DIAMOND CITY If you fancy seeing what Boston was like before the nukes of Fallout 4, why not take a trip to Massachusetts? You can walk the real life Freedom…

Getting steamed I have been using Steam for my PC gaming needs for over 11 years now and not really had any issues. My friend has not been so lucky. A few months back some random person managed to hijack his account and after a long battle with Steam support trying to prove he was the rightful owner, he got his account back. Now he has had it hijacked again, but this time Steam support actually helped the hijacker get the account. Apparently they contacted Steam support and said they had lost their phone and changed their email address and needed to change the security info on their Steam account, so with no checks at all the Steam support worker changed the security info there and then. It was that…

1 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Format Wii U ETA Winter Producer Eiji Aonuma recently promised this will be a “change in flavour” for the series. See p18 for more! 2 UNCHARTED 4 Format PS4 ETA10 May Just about time for one last epic preview before Drake’s latest adventure arrives – turn to p26 to check it out. 3 NO MAN’S SKY Format PS4, PC ETA 22 June 18 quintillion planets to explore? How are we going to find the time? Matt’s not even finished The Witcher 3 yet… 4 POKÉMON SUN AND MOON Format 3DS ETA Winter This celestial twosome has already got you more fired up than a Charmander after a spicy vindaloo. 5 DOOM Format PS4, XO, PC ETA13 May Shotguns come and go, but there’s only one…

5.1 Millions of PS4 and Xbox One units combined sold in the UK. That’s 1.6 million more than the last generation at this stage of their lifespans. 20 Wings to be consumed for MeatLiquor’s Wings Challenge to win exclusive Dark Souls 3 t-shirts, reportedly so spicy that the chefs wore protective goggles. 1 Million dollars in prize money up for grabs at the Halo World Championships final. A cool $500,000 is also available for the runners-up. 6 Days following launch that user Chaos 3SK took to max out everything in The Division. He dived into the game 41 seconds after the servers turned on.…

Silly-ambitious MMO Black Desert Online is special for several important reasons. Firstly, it’s maybe the best-looking game of its kind ever, featuring killer character models and a lush world that puts rivals to shame. And while it may advertise with shots of pretty ladies like a dubiously positioned browser game, it’s no con – they actually appear like that in-game. After the Kingdom Of Valencia inadvertently spreads the Black Death around, there’s conflict among the lands, and only you can restore them to their former glory by paying £29.99 and downloading the client. After six years in the oven, South Korean developer Pearl Abyss has finally opened the floodgates. What anarchy could we achieve? How much lore could we swallow before gagging? And just how weird can we make a…

BIT SHOW While the legacy of Patrick Moore as the GamesMaster remains unassailable, Dara Ó Briain will soon be taking his own crack at putting games on television as he hosts new show ‘Go 8-Bit’, coming to Dave this Autumn. The Irish comedian will challenge two teams of celebrities to demonstrate their gaming skills (or perhaps lack thereof). ASH BACK Julian Gollop, the mind behind the original X-COM games, has revealed his next project, ‘Phoenix Point’. In a cryptic tweet, he teased “turned-based tactical combat” and “world-based strategy”. It certainly sounds like a new take on the alien-busting formula – but can it stand up to Firaxis’ XCOM 2? NORSE CODE Thanks to a huge leak of concept art, it looks like God Of War 4 is definitely in development,…

Format PS4, XO, PC Publisher EA Developer Bioware ETA Spring 2017 The original trilogy may have had a murky corner or two, but its depiction of the Milky Way was mostly sleek lines, reflective surfaces, and tasteful smooching. Bioware’s follow-up, however, looks set to swap all that pristine futurism in favour of the grounded muckiness of a sci-fi Western, switching out the militaristic Shepard for an unnamed space cowboy. The current hot lead in fan speculation suggests that Andromeda will task players with finding a new home for humanity and her allies, striking out for unknown worlds as part of a ‘Pathfinder’ expedition. That premise suggests that Bioware is returning to Mass Effect’s roots, placing exploration at the heart of a series that’s progressively become more about waist-high walls than…

Format PS4, XO, PC Publisher Bigben Interactive Developer Frogwares ETA 27 May When a series reaches its eighth entry, it’s inevitable that the developer will want to make some changes to the formula. Frogwares is starting with the character models. Say goodbye to the slender proportions and angular features of old Sherlock, and whisper a sultry hello to the barrel-chested brawnster that is Sherlock 2.0. Other, less sexy, changes are also afoot – not least the introduction of all manner of narrative spookiness. A woman claiming to be a clairvoyant has moved in next door to Sherlock Hunk, prompting a cavalcade of heebie-jeebie happenings that will challenge the private detective’s hard-nosed rationalism. Then there’s Katelyn, the mysterious young girl who starred in the game’s latest trailer. “As many players already…

Format 3DS, Wii U Pub Nintendo Dev Nintendo ETA Summer This cute downloadable Wii U and 3DS puzzle/platformer is the first in Nintendo’s Mario Vs Donkey Kong series to feature amiibo support. Scan any Mushroom Kingdom figurine to receive the corresponding in-game toy. There are ten in all, from Yoshi to Bowser Jr, and each packs unique abilities with which to conquer each room. Along with main missions set in ghost worlds, airship worlds, and space worlds, you’ll also unlock a character’s themed world if you have that amiibo, not unlike LEGO Dimensions – but that does mean that if you want to see everything, it’s going to prove costly. GM Instant Reaction THRILL-O-METER A lovely showcase for your amiibo pals.…

Format PS4, PS3 Pub SEGA Dev SEGA ETA Summer This ’88-set prequel steps back to the time of perms and techno, once again set in Tokyo’s fictional Kamurocho area. Over-the-top brawling is par for the course, your protagonist pummeling people with motorbikes and decimating the carefully constructed interiors of shops. While largely concerned with angry multi-man fights, the Yakuza games have always prided themselves on authenticity, from noodle brands to music choices, so expect discos, casinos, and ha-ha-only-in-Japan shenanigans from Yakuza O.…

2004 VIEWTIFUL JOE Platinum Games’ roots stretch back to Clover Studio - a short-lived offshoot of Capcom that produced some of the most memorable games from the PS2/ GameCube era. First up was the PS2 port of the film-obsessed, 2D GameCube action masterpiece Viewtiful Joe (the same team had developed the original, too, albeit in-house at Capcom). 2007 OKAMI After three more Viewtiful Joe titles (a straight sequel, Smash Bros-alike Red Hot Rumble, and DS spin-off Double Trouble), Clover’s next game was an action-adventure steeped in Japanese folklore. Starring white wolf Amaterasu, its vast overworld, massive dungeons, and epic story meant it enjoyed favourable comparisons with The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess. GOD HAND Clover’s final game was directed by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, and was a cult-favourite 3D…

NAMED AFTER: Italian polymath Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci LIKES: Discipline, respect, leading WEAPON: Katana ROLE: As you’d expect from the team leader, Leo’s designed to be an all-rounder with no real weaknesses. His unique attack is Turtle Time, which slows down the action (presumably named because enemies are forced to move as fast as actual turtles?) to enable him to execute unstoppable moves without fear of incoming strikes. Pairing up with another mean, green, fighting machine, meanwhile, unleashes a whirlwind attack for a wide area of effect assault that hurts every enemy around him.…

#1 COOK, SERVE, DELICIOUS A stint on this PC and mobile game on an empty stomach is a recipe for disaster. Expect an immediate trip to Just Eat after your cooking escapades – layering lasagna, expertly adding sour cream to baked potatoes, and building skewers of juicy kebab meat. #2 PIZZA EXPRESS It might be fun to manage and organise a pizzeria, but the most joy in this PC sim comes from designing and naming your own pizzas. Fancy a slice of margharita? No? Peppegroani, perhaps? Not that either? It comes with a side of ghoulic bread… Truly the game of your cheese dreams. #3 DON’T STARVE There are a number of reasons to avoid Wilson’s adventures when peckish. It’s too stressful to play with low blood sugar, for one…

Minecraft’s all about creativity, individuality, and making your mark, so why on Notch’s green, blocky earth are you still wearing that boring default skin? It’s time to wrap yourself in a brand-spanking new layer of loveliness by following our Minecraft Master’s foolproof step-by-step guide. She’s a real stickler for procedure, you know – that’s why we call her JennyRated... 1 YOU’RE A SHOE-IN The first rule of Minecraft? Well, we’re talking about it, so it can’t be that. It’s getting yourself sorted with the right tools, of course. There are plenty of decent skin creators out there on the good ship internet. You could head straight on over to www.minecraftskins.com or, alternatively, www.minecraftskins.net – they both offer neat ways to satisfy your personalised epidermis needs. Our favourite site by far,…

Cemetery Of Ash Your starting area kicks things off with suitably grim panache, as you awaken in a knackered graveyard with robed rotters attacking you with fire arrows and knives. There’s also, in typical Souls fashion, a ruddy great ice salamander thing which you really have no business fighting right now. Best take the requisite selfies and get a shift on to the next area. Cathedral Of The Deep Here’s where we first get properly stuck. As in four painful hours of solid boss rushing. The area itself is brilliantly atmospheric, with shortcuts helping you navigate past constantly respawning undead and pointy-hatted thieves who fall on you from the ceiling. We really hope you have a good shield for when you reach the ramparts. Those mace knights hit hard. High…

1 The Broadsword might seem like your standard sweep-and-stabber, but look closer at that moveset. It’s very efficient, with forward rushing pokes when in narrow corridors and very quick, broad swipes when surrounded by foes. Pop a Heavy Gem on there to let it scale higher damage with strength and you’re laughing. 2 The Hollowslayer Greatsword, earned after defeating the second boss of the game, is a typically two-handed sword which does the hurt but without being ludicrously heavy. A great weapon to get you through a first playthrough, though you will have to think ahead in fights with the slower swipe speed. 3 The Winged Knight Twinaxes are the first of our two fave dual-wielded sets – but they’re not easy to earn. You need to best a blue…

Forget ocarina-wielding elves and Persian princes – Jack Joyce’s powers blow gaming’s other time-benders right out of the temporal stream. These five abilities are his bread and butter in combat– though we’ve missed off the Detective Mode-esque Time Vision (yep, Time Vision). 1 Time Stop freezes foes in a bubble – shoot it, and watch the bullets all hit at once when time resumes. 2 With Time Dodge, you can zip away at super-speed, then aim your gun for a few seconds of bullet time. 3 Use Time Rush to slow down time for everyone in the area, then run your fist into helpless foes. 4 In trouble? Throw up a Time Shield around yourself and watch enemy bullets stop in mid air. 5 Time Blast’s charged explosion sends enemies…

“IT’S A RARE REAL-WORLD MMO THAT MAKES SENSE DESPITE A LACK OF MAGES OR SUPERHEROES” “YOU DISCOVER ENGAGEMENTS IN CHRISTMAS FAIRS, METH LABS AND GRAFFITIED BASKETBALL COURTS” Format PS4, XO, PC (reviewed) Publisher Ubisoft Developer Ubisoft Massive ETA Out now Players 1-4 You’ve never seen Manhattan like this. Crows peck at mountains of trash bags, unlocked cars clog roads with hazard lights blinking, and people… well, there aren’t any. It’s haunting. Ethereal. You open the door of a dingy apartment block with the words ‘shelter inside’ scrawled on cardboard to an even stranger sight: loads of army men silently doing jumping jacks. That’s what happens when you give players emotes. It would be funny if it wasn’t so worrying, a sign this online shooter’s MMO-ness could kill the immersion it…

Awesome Boss! Final Fantasy X Format PS2 Developer Square Released 2001 Here’s a Sin that the Pet Shop Boys were never cut out to cope with. While major FF antagonists are usually human, FFX gave us the city-levelling airborne horror-whale that was Sin. To make it go nuclear you had to fly an airship into its mouth and face the world-class crazy parade within, including the ancient, parasitic summoner who created it. So yeah. Bit different that time. Classic Momen t! Extreme Format Spectrum Developer Probe Released 1991 Before their Shiny success with Earthworm Jim and MDK, David Perry and Nick Bruty were making the Spectrum do unfeasible things for Probe Software in this mad ballistic rainbow of a game. Pounding through the last stage in a screen-high walker had…

1 THE LAST OF US REMASTERED 2 JOURNEY 3 TOWERFALL ASCENSION 4 BLOODBORNE 5 RESOGUN 1 HALO 5: GUARDIANS 2 KALIMBA 3 FORZA HORIZON 2 4 SUNSET OVERDRIVE 5 ORI & THE BLIND FOREST 1 MARIO KART 8 2 SUPER MARIO MAKER 3 SPLATOON 4 BAYONETTA 2 5 SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD 1 HER STORY 2 GUILD WARS 2 3 DOTA 2 4 TOTAL WAR: ATTILA 5 KERBAL SPACE PROGRAM 1 FIRE EMBLEM AWAKENING 2 POKÉMON X & Y 3 ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW LEAF 4 LUIGI’S MANSION 2: DARK MOON 5 MONSTER HUNTER 4 ULTIMATE 1 TEARAWAY 2 PERSONA 4 GOLDEN 3 VELOCITY 2X 4 ZERO ESCAPE: VIRTUE’S LAST REWARD 5 GRAVITY RUSH 1 80 DAYS 2 FTL: FASTER THAN LIGHT 3 SORCERY 3 4 HEARTHSTONE: HEROES OF WARCRAFT 5…