Tabla de contenidos para January 2016 en Gamesmaster

It’s odd to think that these, the last words I type as we send this issue out to the printers, will be the first you, our humble readers, will gaze upon. Odd because while the GM team is still reeling around me, having pulled together the biggest feature in the mag’s long history, you’ve got it all to look forward to… Our cover feature this month is an absolute corker, boasting all the latest info and insight on 100 upcoming games over 30 packed pages. The big hitters are there, and, we hope, some others which you might not have on your radar quite yet, but you totally should. As if we’d clock off after that, though. We had enough left in the tank to kick any door within kicking…

Valve, the now-monolithic creator of digital distribution platform Steam and games such as Half-Life and Portal, has moved into hardware. PC gaming is something you normally do at a desk, but the developer wants to bring it into the living room with Steam Box (a series of small, console-like gaming PCs). Steam Link (which lets you stream games to your TV), and its own PC controller – an innovation-packed device that we’ve decided to submit to our rigorous testing regime. Where you’d expect to find a right analogue stick, there’s a trackpad. While it’s a weird feeling reaching over with your thumb and finding nothing there, the idea behind this unusual design is to make playing mouse-driven games on the sofa possible – and it really does work. Crucially, if…

MATT’S PICK Overwatch I’ve been blowing hours and hours of my lunch breaks into the beta, and the more I play the more of each character’s delectable affectations reach through and grab me. My current favourite is D.Va, whose hulking mech but fragile human body make for a wonderfully shriek-inducing tension double-whammy. PS4, XO, PC – Spring ROBIN’S PICK Street Fighter V I’ve had this brawling epic on the brain ever since proving myself (well, to a point) in our grand tournament back in issue GM297. I could do without the leery, gratuitous approach to the female fighters, but everything else about it is looking spot on perfect, and I can’t wait to get my stick-clutching claws on the finished product. PS4, PC – 16 February SAM’S PICK Quantum Break…

This Shepard-less sequel to the epic sci-fi RPG trilogy not only takes place hundreds of years in the future, but relocates to a brand new setting in the Milky Way’s neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda. It’ll be chock-full of new races to rendezvous with (and romance), powerful new technologies to wield, and massive open planets to explore. Mass Effect’s six-wheeled Mako returns freshly redesigned to be less… annoying, to help with that, so expect more planet-roaming geographical freedom than ever.…

Become lord of the ’saurs by rapidly evolving from nearly naked caveman to armoured trooper with access to advanced weaponry. This food chain begins with you plonked squarely at the bottom, eating berries and bashing bits of wood together to make spears, but scouring the archipelago turns up rarer resources for craftables deadly (sniper rifle) and delicious (steak tartare). Of course, it also turns up dinosaurs, but there’s strength in numbers. That’s why establishing groups helps combat the elements – elements here being mammoths, giant centipedes, and indeed other people. This is a multiplayer ascent of man set on fast forward. Crossed with The Flintstones.…

This Metroid-y side-on platformer has been in the oven since 2013, and in that time it’s just kept on growing. Aside from the gorgeous pixelated style, which now has new dynamic particles, easily readable hit effects, and other such action-centric features, we’ve also got whiff of multiple new areas. While central character Daltyn will eventually come to plunge into the depths of a mysterious cavern near to a snowy mining town, he’ll also explore forests full of fungal fiends and a lore-filled outpost. Discord aims for the story to be of the “play it, don’t say it” variety, which sounds very Dark souls-ish to us. We’re in.…

The series’ last entry taught caution above all, punishing overly-aggressive players with plasma fire and dead recruits. This time, you’re on the offensive, taking Earth back rather than defending it from invasion – and in our hands-on, we found ourselves able to be rather hotter off the mark. “A go-to mechanic [in the first game] was the move-and-turtle approach,” says senior producer Garth DeAngelis. “It’s still a good strategy, but we didn’t want it to be everything you do.” The new concealment system means every mission is a covert op. Until you enter the alien patrols’ red vision zone, they’ll have no inkling they’re under attack at all. “It incentivises players, it says ‘go ahead, move out, they don’t even know you’re here yet’,” explains Garth. “You can dash, as…

Cartman cracks wise early on in the announcement trailer that the boys can’t rest on their laurels as “the combat sucked” in The Stick Of Truth, but series creatorsTrey Parker and Matt Stone surely know it wasn’t the fights that we came to that game for. As long as the jokes keep firing faster than Cartman munches through Cheesy Puffs, we’ll be chuffed. If the boys manage to skewer the conventions of superheroes as well as they did RPGs, The Fractured But Whole – never change South Park – could very well be 2016’s funniest game. That Tony Stark definitely needs taking down a peg or two.…

What’s more surprising than a giant, naked, anime cannibal busting through your wall? Well, er, not much – but this announcement knocked us for a loop. Whilst 3DS title Shingeki No Kyojin: Humanity In Chains shackled us to tedious missions, the new action RPG offers total freedom. Using Spiderman-esque ‘Three-Dimensional Manoeuvre Gear’ to swing about an expansive sandbox, you can now strategise Titan takedowns in excruciating detail. Wave goodbye to your cel-shaded limbs, monsters (unless we’ve already lopped off both your hands, obviously).…

The moon has shattered and the consequences are dire: the tides are a bit funny, wolves are really confused, and gravity has gone all loosey-goosey. So runs the premise for this free-to-play FPS, which sees Cliff Bleszinski return to the madcap arena blasting with which he made his name. A raft of class-specific abilities and some seriously floaty physics allow for multi-tiered matchups, as assassins zip around on futuristic grappling hooks and skirmishers soar above the carnage on honest-to-goodness jetpacks. It’s all shaping up to be agreeably bonkers – let’s just hope the business model is rather more grounded.…

Okay, so voxel-based mining and crafting mechanics are hardly an exciting draw at this point, but there’s plenty to suggest that Square Enix’s expressive spin-off is more than just an attempt to cash in on industry trends. This isn’t some themed re-skin of Mojang’s blockbuster – it’s an adventure all its own that marries the classic, lovably cartoonish RPG world of the series with a layer of creative gameplay. Central to that effort is a surprisingly sweeping story, which will whisk players from continent to continent and task us with exercises in block-placing construction. Touch down in a disease-stricken vista, for instance, and you’ll be charged with building a hospital and setting out in search of doctors. Which is all fine and dandy, until you get into a dust-up with…

In the tragic aftermath of the original game’s release, which saw developer Ensemble Studios closed and disbanded, we largely gave up hope of ever getting a sequel. What a brilliant surprise, then, to see Creative Assembly take the reins on Halo Wars 2, bringing its sublime strategy sensibilities to the console RTS series. With a decade and a half of experience working on the excellent Total War games, it’s a studio that knows its stuff – get ready to watch from above as units of gleaming Spartans take on endless, swarming hordes of Grunts and Jackals.…

If there’s one thing the rise of Kickstarter has proved it’s that gamers have pretty damn good taste. Hyper Light Drifter is the product of LA-based developer Heart Machine and its head Alex Preston, and it took more than $640,000 on Kickstarter (way above the $27,000 Preston was asking for) to turn it into a reality. Now the Zelda-inpired action (A Link To The Past being the major touchstone) is just months away, and its slick pixel-art graphics and haunting, electro soundtrack make it a seriously exciting proposition. Playing as the Drifter, you’ll search crumbling ruins for powerful ancient technology, and a cure to the deadly illness consuming you.…

Formerly known as Project Setsuna, Square Enix’s latest RPG is actually set for a February release in Japan, but its western debut date on PS4 and PS Vita is, annoyingly, rather hazy. Telling the story of a girl fated to be sacrificed to appease a demonic army, and the oddball friends who travel with her, it’s the first game from Tokyo RPG Factory, a studio established by Square Enix with the sole directive of making great new RPGs. Now that’s a mission we can get behind.…

Look, if you owned a PS3 and didn’t play Valkyrie Chronicles the first time around, well… you’re just doing it wrong. This painfully under-appreciated JRPG was utterly brilliant, with a huge cast of characters vividly depicted waging war in a fictional recreation of Europe circa 1940. With the success of the recent Steam re-release, Sega has not only announced that the original will get the remaster treatment, but that it will return to the series with a brand spanking new entry. Azure Revolution doubles down on the painterly style of the original, with an all new rendering system to make the more vibrant colours, from lush greens to sky blues, pop beautifully. The unique take on real-time strategic combat is also back, though with a new feature allowing multiple members…

343 has the Master Chief, Naughty Dog has Nathan Drake, and Campo Santo has an out-of-shape Coloradan. After taking a job as a fire lookout in the Wyoming wilderness, our paunchy protagonist strikes up a walkie-talkie pow-wow with fellow wilderness watcher Delilah. That relationship is central to Firewatch’s gameplay and charm, with strong writing and charismatic voice performances already in place. Add an ominous mystery and bold, warm visuals to the mix, and you’re left with a game world that’s equal parts affable and enigmatic.…

They say that horror is as much about what you don’t see as what you do. That’s a maxim that The Deep End Games has taken very much to heart, casting its players as a blind woman who navigates her surroundings by means of cane-taps and echolocation. The result is a mechanically innovative and visually distinctive slice of fright, which Deep End’s creative director Bill Gardner describes as “a life-or-death game of hide and seek in the dark of an abandoned estate.” Sounds scary, sure, but there’s also something more contemplative at work here too, as the game examines the different ways in which we all see the same world, challenging players to experience life in someone else’s shoes.…

This surreal, supernatural adventure plays out as a series of playable short stories, each one touching on the theme of death in a multitude of different ways. Throughout the game you’ll find out about multiple generations of the Finch family, by wandering through the rooms of their house and reliving their memories. Developer Giant Sparrow – which previously worked on PSN hit The Unfinished Swan – promises each story has its own look and feel, each designed to cast more and more light on the clan and its frankly eerie history. One tale sees a young girl transform into an octopus creature and devour a boat full of sailors. And you thought your family was weird?…

What would you do with the power to summon Disneyland rides at will? Most of us would probably just let our mates have a free ride on the teacups and leave it at that, but spiky-haired chosen one Sora’s got more noble intentions. In this final chapter of the Dark Seeker Saga, he’s smashing huge Heartless bosses in the face with rollercoasters and neon pirate ships in his quest to stop Master Xehanort once and for all. Along with old friends Donald, Goofy, Mickey, and Riku, he’s on a quest to find the seven guardians of light and the ‘Key To Return Hearts’ to prevent the outbreak of a second Keyblade War. As you do. Ok, the story’s gotten a little away from itself at this point, but the explosive…

Shadowy horror isn’t exactly something we associate with this chainsaw-loving series, but that seems to be the direction the latest entry is heading. Gameplay footage shown so far sees new leads JD and Kait being stalked through a dark and stormy night by stealthy alien monsters, with a surprising amount of genuine tension building as the hunters descend. Just hug your Lancer if you get too scared.…

Fancy playing out your life, from birth to death, in huge, galactic constructions, built and maintained by the community, floating in an emergent, interconnected universe? That’s exactly the pitch behind this ambitious ‘simulation MMO’, created by Dean Hall, the man behind popular ARMA 2 mod-turned-game DayZ. And you won’t have to wait long to get your hands on it – it’s coming soon to Game Preview, Microsoft’s console-based answer to Steam Early Access. “We have the technology to create this universe,” says Hall. “But you — through Xbox One Game Preview — will govern its destiny.”…

Epic may be associated in the minds of many with rippling jawlines and sensual bromance, but the latest project from the Gears Of War developer replaces lachrymose bodybuilders with cartoonish craftsmen. So, choose from one of four colourful characters and whack stuff with axe and mattock to retrieve craftable materials. Then, by day, you’ll frantically shape all that steel and lumber into a sturdy fort full of traps and defences, and by night, your team will take up arms against the undead enemy at the gates. Think Minecraft meets Left 4 Dead, with just a dash of Day Z.…

The fact that it’s Team Ninja behind this Japanese mythology/history-aping actioner does not make it a foregone conclusion. This studio has parped out some honking tripe in the last few years, from the achingly mediocre Ninja Gaiden 3 to the offensively bad Yaiba. So how did Ni-Oh make it onto this list of awesome? It’s because Team Ninja is basically aiming to do for the samurai what it did for its namesake back in Ryu Hyabusa’s first outing. Add to that tantalising prospect the notion of a Dark Souls-ian vibe and a story based on a script originally penned by legendary film maker Akira Kurosawa, and you’ve got all the reasons you need to keep your blade sharp for this one.…

1 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim I put 215 hours into this one – I think that speaks volumes! 2 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas The three distinct islands/cities were awesome at the time. 3 Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag A beautiful-looking game, and sailing the Caribbean in your pirate ship is amazing. 4 Watch Dogs Hacking into people’s mobile phones and listening to their conversations is hilarious! 5 Just Cause 2 The biggest open world I’ve ever seen! The draw distance is humongous and really impressed me. Glen Britton, Facebook Disagree? Why not head over to our Facebook page and tell us what your top five would be!…

MANIAC OF THE MONTH! I don’t want new games – just the Aladdin and Lion King Megadrive games on PS4 with trophies! Rob Scatigno, @Scatigno1 I’ve watched Paladin Danse take out two Deathclaws by himself. It was glorious. Aaron, @AaronJNS Can’t wait for Super Star Wars on PS4, even though I’ll probably end up smashing my pad… Jarrod J Steel, @Becontreehammer Just got a trophy for killing cows in The Witcher! Sam Dyer, Facebook I want a game of The Thing, can you imagine what Creative Assembly would do with that movie? adderblack39, @adderblack39 I’ve got Fallout 4… other games aren’t relevant for an awfully long time now! Paul Wood, Facebook Episodic games are great – can really improve the story arc and adds anticipation for the next instalment. Daniel…

Bases are ace, and I’m not just saying that so I can make an ‘ace of base’ pun, however long it took me to think of it. They’re homes away from home, retreats at which to rest before the next fight. And they make games better. Metal Gear Solid V’s Mother Base features showers perfect for washing away all that blood and grime and guilt. Not only do warm dunkings offer cosmetic bonuses for Snake, removing the flies that accumulate when he starts to pong, but they raise his physical condition and reflex time as a result. If nothing else, it’s a nice symbolic bookend to each mission – I don’t feel it’s truly over until I smell like Garnier Fructis shampoo. As the only friendly location in the game,…

GOLDEN OLDIES PlayStation 2 emulation has arrived on PS4 with very little pomp and ceremony. It’s in a curiously limited form for now, restricted to a trio of aging Star Wars games, a few Grand Theft Autos, JRPGs Dark Cloud and Rogue Galaxy, The Mark Of Kri, and Twisted Metal: Black. It’s only a start, but hopefully we’ll see many more re-releases before too long. POWER TO THE PEOPLE Sony has taken a teeny bit of PS4 processor power that was previously reserved for OS functions and freed it up for game developers. The technical tweak followed a similar move by Microsoft. Sony also announced that Remote Play is heading to PCs and Macs. BUSTER MOVE Barbershop poster and all-round angstyboy Cloud Strife has joined the pugilistic menagerie that is…

Things that we know: Tetsuya Nomura, the man responsible for designing Cloud and co, is at the helm – and he’s revealed that there are many changes in store. We also know that Nobuo Uematsu, the genius composer behind the original game’s soundtrack, is not working on the project. Could this be a sign that the OST will be updated rather than wholesale changed? We hope so – those are some of gaming’s most classic ditties. Square has revealed that this will release in chunks, episodically, as rendering Midar and the rest in 2016-o-vision is a mammoth task. One thing’s for certain – waiting until 2017 for this unbelievable comeback is going to be difficult.…

Okay, so it’s not the return of Samus Aran we were all hoping for, forgoing quiet exploration altogether in favour of four-player co-operative missions and competitive sci-fi sporty stuff. But before you smash up your Varia Suit in a terrible rage, it’s worth noting that Federation Force is being developed by the studio responsible for the stupendous spook-fest that is Luigi’s Mansion 2. We’re hopeful, then, that it can deliver a distinct brand of ability-inflected co-op, even if a certain bounty hunter has been relegated to the spectator stands.…

Before Harmonix began its decade-spanning campaign to fill living rooms with dinky guitars, there was Amplitude, a controller-based rhythm game set to pounding electronic beats. Now, following a Kickstarter, it’s been resurrected with a whole new soundtrack, nifty HD visuals, and refined gameplay. “We were looking for new ways to develop games and thought that Amplitude would be a perfect experiment to see what crowdfunding felt like,” creative lead Ryan Lesser tells us. “Turns out it’s kind of awesome!”…

You’re back as supernaturally silly ninja Lo Wang, armed with a shotgun, katana, and an arsenal of naughty one-liners to reel off while chopping up hordes of squishy mutants. It’s not going to win any awards for subtlety, but when you can disembowel an eight-foot tumour monster with twin uzis, before shredding the offspring that spews from its quivering body, who cares? Expansive areas in which you parkour across rooftops and silently (but violently) assassinate foes break up the action, which is also playable in two-person co-op. Satisfyingly stupid fun.…

When understandably baffled protagonist Amy Ferrier, 20,000 miles from Earth on board a Lunar Transfer Station, asks after its missing crew, “That information is classified,” is the only response from the station’s coldly robotic AI. In this first-person adventure mystery, it’s your job to find out what’s happened. Like Fullbright’s last game, Gone Home, players excavate the story bit by bit, piecing it together through 3D artifacts, but zero-G sections and sequences in which holograms recreate past events promise to mix things up.…

Hate fighting games? Say hello to the most important entry on this list. Street Fighter V will bridge the gap between beginner and expert like no other entry in the series. If you’ve never understood the thrill of crisp, 1v1 combat, this is the place to start: simple to learn, but denser than Ryu’s velvety beard. It’s like playing a piece of art that wants to kick you in the eyes. And who doesn’t want that?…

Robin’s Pick! Come for the samurais and vikings, stay for the seriously meaty-looking one-on-one swordplay. The effect of sharpened steel on the human anatomy is represented with bloody authenticity in this first-person, sword-swinging scrapper. Combat here is all about looking into your opponent’s eyes and duelling to the death. That you needn’t worry about some dude in a bush sniping you in the back during it gives a thrilling immediacy to battles, which are made even more epic by the addition of hundreds of computer-controlled infantry tug-of-warring over territory.…

The good news? An adorable Lego incarnation of Scarlett Johansson. The bad? She’s in – as Black Widow, obvs – but all her lines are lifted directly from The Avengers and Age Of Ultron movies, rather than freshly recorded. If that’s the virtual equivalent of treading barefooted on a stray brick, instant healing comes via a cast of more than 100 characters from the flicks, comics, and cartoons that stretches even to cult favourites such as Squirrel Girl, Devil Dinosaur, and, er… Butterball, alongside the core Avengers team. TT’s story-levels-with-some-free-roaming-in-between format feels heavily templated, but let’s not pretend that’ll put us – and you – off siphoning this for every last un-Loki-ble (ahem) we can snap up.…

Telltale may have made the franchise its own, but we’re still excited to see other developers tackle the zombie-ravaged world of The Walking Dead. Details of this co-op FPS from the maker of Payday remain scarce for now, but footage revealed so far includes scenes of survivors running in terror from the shambling hordes, and even someone offing themselves to escape an undead munching. Well done Overkill – that’s exactly the level of bleakness we’ve come to expect.…

Take the peculiar sociability and spectacle of Journey, drape it in the grime and grey of The Road, and you’re left with something resembling Aurora44’s debut. CEO Derek Bradley describes the game as “an action RPG, set in a dark, unforgiving world. This is a place where you need to hold on to every foothold you get, which includes co-operating with other players out in the world and convincing them to join your town.” But while joining forces with another desolate wanderer might empower you to take on one of Ashen’s redoubtable foes, even the most skilled of travellers will find threat lurking in every corner of this sombre world.…

We’ll forgive you if you don’t remember the original Amiga classic – it is almost three decades old at this point – but this stylish remake deserves your attention regardless. Playing as monstrous mutant Aarbron, you’ll brawl your way across the side-scrolling world of Karamoon, disemboweling everything in your path. When we went hands-on last year, we found the blood-splattering combat satisfying and varied, with a surprising amount of depth packed into its system of blocks, heavy attacks, and guard breaks. It looks set to recapture the savage spirit of its predecessor, too, with original composer David Whittaker on board to create a new version of the first game’s haunting, tribal soundtrack.…

Tequila Works’ open-world adventure puzzler couldn’t look less like their last game, grim platformer Deadlight. This swaps growling protagonists and moody skies with a bright cel-shaded island and a young hero trying to escape its curse. A day/night cycle allows for creative puzzles with time-based solutions, so less of the usual third-person block-pushing, switch-hunting busy-work, and more emergent adventuring courtesy of an expansive environment. The world’s the star here, featuring crystal pools to paddle through, chalky cliffs to climb, poppy strewn fields where grass waves in the wind, and picturesque beaches to roam.…

Insert your own joke here about a series with the word ‘final’ in the title having some serious legs. This latest entry looks set to be the most spectacular yet, with a full open world packed with brilliantly strange, and some impressively huge, monsters and animals. The developers are listening to the fans, too – the game’s director Hajime Tabata has announced that, following a Twitter poll to gauge interest, Moogles will be added to the game. There you go – something for all the loyal kupo-heads out there.…

Sure, it’s easy to draw comparisons between Lilith Ltd’s horror debut and Hideo Kojima’s terrifying teaser P.T. Both games render deserted domestic spaces with photorealistic fidelity, both games use scripted scares to ramp up the tension, and both games leave you too frightened to cross the landing for a 2am tinkle. But Allison Road makes its own additions to the P.T. template, introducing an emphasis on exploration and environmental storytelling that’s more Gone Home than Silent Hills. And much like in Fullbright’s indie darling, you’ll be sifting through all manner of domestic detritus as you attempt to uncover the location of your vanished family. Unlike Gone Home, however, there’s always the chance your rummaging will be interrupted by a blood-soaked revenant.…

Loyal fans have had a long old wait for a new game in this classic space combat series, with the last entry on home consoles, Star Fox: Assault, released over a decade ago now. This year their patience will finally be rewarded, however, with this… prequel? Sequel? Reboot? ‘Reimagining’ is what Nintendo is calling it, but whatever it is, we can’t help but be intrigued by the potential of this grand return of one of our favourite franchises. We admit we were a little concerned by the awkward controls and muddy visuals when we went hands on last year, but we’re hoping the delay from winter 2015 to early 2016 is a sign that Nintendo’s listening to feedback, and getting a little more tightening up and polishing done ahead of…

While the 2008 original focuses on individual levels to run through, Faith’s return will expand into open-world territory, giving players an entire city to scamper, wall-run, and leap around in. That sort of freedom is also being applied to the combat, with Faith using her momentum from running to land some forceful punches. We hope the guards of the city of Glass have good dentists.…

From artists, composers, and designers behind Journey and Flower comes an equally tranquil, similarly captivating undersea adventure. You play The Diver who, with an unlimited supply of oxygen and a graceful Phelpsian swimming style, explores an increasingly magical sea. As you progress, you’ll float with schools of hundreds of tropical fish, ride giant manta rays, and navigate shark-filled caves en route to the heart of Giant Squid’s enigmatic ocean, while a simulated aquatic ecosystem plays out realistic behaviours and interactions around you.…

Hype dreams This month you lot picked your brains and sent in ideas for the perfect game… A new Super Mario Galaxy, but with Rosalina as the main protagonist! Lucas S. Robinson, Facebook A Star Wars game with massive planetary battles and different roles to choose from. It would have the ground combat of Battlefront, the tactical aspect of Empire At War, and the air combat of Rogue Squadron. All of them coming into play in huge combat scenarios with everyone playing their part. Sean Mike Hollyman, Facebook I just want a good new Sonic game… Sam Og, Facebook You play as Leon Kennedy, who has been tasked with rescuing the president’s daughter from a village in rural Spai... Resident Evil 4. Just, Resident Evil 4. Rob Manifield, Facebook A…

1 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Format Wii U ETA Winter It was only the briefest of glimpses, but that Nintendo Direct teaser has gotten you more excited than ever. 2 UNCHARTED 4 Format PS4 ETA18 March It looks like there’s Nathan you guys wouldn’t do to get your hands on Naughty Dog’s next instant classic. 3 DISHONORED 2 Format PS4, XO, PC ETA Summer This surprise entry snuck in at the last minute, knife in hand, and slashed its way to number three. 4 DOOM Format PS4, XO, PC ETA Summer Watch out all you cyber-space-demons – the GM fanbase is just itching to grab a gun and blow you away. 5 HITMAN Format PS4, XO, PC ETA 11 March For the second month running, this contract killer lurks in…

It may not be a particularly original sentiment at this point, but Nathan Drake is a terrifying monster of a man. He’s a career thief who gets his jollies by way of goon-murder, merrily flinging a crim from a cliff-edge before tossing out a pithy quip to no-one in particular. This is troubling behaviour. Lara Croft is little better, and while the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot attempted to account for her slaughterous actions, it’s all timid deer-hunting one moment and gleeful man massacre the next. In spite of your alarming alacrity for brutality, Lara’s heroic status is never in question. Movies, books, and television don’t seem to have this problem, and frequently present us with lead characters whose acknowledged misdeeds form a core part of the narrative. The issue, perhaps,…

GIFT OFF What shiny new games did Santa bring you this year? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter! TREAT FIGHTER Street Fighter’s Cammy celebrates her 42nd birthday – what wrinkle cream is she using? BAGPIPE DREAM Rustle yourself up some haggis, neeps, and tatties for a traditional Burns Night dinner. FAREWELL PLAYED Get on your party hat and wave a fond goodbye to the epic year of gaming that was 2015. BRAID LEADER It’s been a long wait, but Jonathan Blow’s epic puzzler The Witness is finally here. NEW YEAR’S PLAY 2016 is here! 12 months of great new games start now – check our feature on p24 for more. STAR AND AWAY It’s National Sci-Fi Day – the perfect excuse to load up your favourite space-faring game. BIRTHDAY…

The latest instalment in Square Enix’s blockbuster RPG franchise is seemingly split across three rather different outings for three different consoles. On PS4, the game will run on Unreal Engine, rendering adorable slimes with painterly flair. The 3DS version, meanwhile, will display full 3D on the top screen, and a 16-bit depiction of the same scene on the lower display. And then there’s the NX… The game was confirmed for the in-development system, and then quickly unconfirmed (see p18 for details!) – but we reckon that change of tune has more to do with a slap on the wrist from Ninty than any real shift in Square’s plans. With the new console shrouded in secrecy, it’s hard to say what this version of the game will be like. For all…

Following the runaway success of episodic adventure Life Is Strange, developer Dontnod is working on something with more… bite. Taking place in the aftermath of the Great War, it casts you as a military surgeon/bloodthirsty vampire Jonathan E. Reid. Now that’s synergy. The setting is London, at the height of the Spanish flu pandemic, and you’ll have the option to help or hunt your stricken patients. While draining a derelict might provide you with new vampiric powers, your indigent victim’s death won’t go unnoticed, with consequences reflected in the grimy game world.…

While retaining the depth and charm of its CRPG predecessor, Larian’s fantasy follow-up introduces a distinctive take on four-player multiplayer, where each party member pursues their own agendas. You might waltz into a settlement fuss-free, for instance, while your dwarf buddy is bounced by a bigoted guard, and as you explore the township your stout pal is left scrabbling for a secret secondary entrance. Soon, you could be working towards entirely different, even opposing, ends. This possibility demands that Larian produces a huge range of solutions to any obstacle, something that will have positive knock-on effects for solo players too.…

It was way back in the lawless yesteryear of 1998 that Rare released Banjo-Kazooie, and although gaming’s best-loved bird and bear duo may be gone, they’re far from forgotten. Not least by Playtonic Games, a studio founded by Rare veterans that’s dedicated to recapturing the vivid colour and distinctive humour of the golden age of 3D action-platformers. “So far we’ve recaptured insulting each other via email all day and consuming enough sweet food in a working week to give Godzilla diabetes,” explained creative lead Gavin Price when we quizzed him on the project. “If we survive the Winter, we’ll put in some collectibles, make the characters talk funny, and ask Grant Kirkhope to make some of his marimba tunes. Sorted.” Playtonic Games is optimistic then, and the team appears to…

With its technical alpha open (and free) to all, we’ve been able to watch this hyper-accessible fighting game get better and better with each patch, as it works towards its upcoming beta. You’ve got no excuse not to jump in, no matter what your knowledge of brawlers – the one-button special moves and intuitive combos make it easy for anyone to pick up, while still holding on to all that juicy tactical depth veterans crave. Just head over to http://bit.ly/gmthunder to get in on the ground floor of one of next year’s most exciting fighters.…

You control your critter crew directly in this 3D fighting game, rather than bark out orders like usual, and this results in faster and meaner fighting than any old Stadium scrap – the title’s resemblance to Tekken is no coincidence. The roster’s a mix of monsters old and new, featuring Lucario, Gengar, Charizard, Suicune, Gardevoir, Blaziken, Pikachu (rocking an adorable lucha libre outfit), and more, all boasting optional Mega forms. With Weavile’s fluffy fur and Machamp’s glistening pecs, these are the most detailed Poké-models ever seen, and at 60 fps, Pokkén Tournament touts the responsiveness necessary for hardcore fight fan appeal.…

Reasons Michael ‘Rayman’ Ancel’s latest is like nothing you’ve played before: 1) It gives you a world the size of Europe to explore, with no end goal or maps. 2) As an animal-controlling shaman, you switch into the body of any other creature as desired, then use it to fulfil tasks within the procedurally-generated Neolithic landscape. 3) By worshipping animal divinities, you evolve your character RPG-style. “The eagle’s perfect for scouting, the bear for brute force,” says Ancel. 4) Just in case you missed it: You can be a bear.…

If EVE Online’s high-stakes space skirmishes just don’t deliver the excitement you crave, CCP’s latest has got you covered. Strap on a PlayStation VR or Oculus Rift headset, hop into one of the game’s customisible crafts, and hold on tight as you engage in 360 degree, team-based dogfighting. “Better graphics, resolutions, and raw processing power have helped developers create bigger and more realised digital worlds with the goal of immersing players deeper into their stories,” explains Valkyrie lead designer Andrew Willans. “With VR, that sense of immersion and presence is taken to a level that gamers have been dreaming about for years.”…

The ’mons’ new mobile adventure, coming to iPhone and Android, uses locational software to map wild Pokémon in real time. You might step out of your house in Paris and discover a Pikachu five metres away, or find a Snorlax blocking a tunnel in London. You throw Poké Balls at them, and once captured, they’re yours to trade. Don’t expect a deep fighting system – this is more ARG than RPG – but if Niantic keeps microtransactions fair, it could be a unique and addictive collect-a-thon, one that encourages you to explore the real world. There’ll even be events, such as timed battles against legendaries and scraps between wild Pokémon, to get involved in. At this rate, Team GM might finally go outside long enough to get a tan.…

Time only moves when you do in this innovative indie shooter, and it turns out that this rather simple conceit facilitates all manner of freewheeling improvisational gunplay. You might enter a stage unarmed and outnumbered, for instance, only to weave your way through the crisscross of enemy fire, disarm an adversary, and take a leisurely moment to stand still and unload on his polygonal confederates. Move off and that stream of bullets will spring into motion, cutting down your slowpoke assailants. It might all sound a bit abstract, but it’s utterly accessible in practice, and the lethality of Superhot’s arsenal encourages a surprisingly considered approach to movement and combat. Following a promising prototype and a crowdfunding campaign, Superhot is shaping up to be an offbeat mix of FPS trappings, angular…

Ever wanted to get your hands on a mansion and live the rest of your life out in luxury? As its name suggests, Darkest Dungeon may give you the keys to your very own castle, but it does so in the knowledge that deep below its floorboards, the house of your dreams is actually infested with monsters that appear out of portals to who knows where. It’s your job, then, to explore the randomly generated dungeons in true roguelike fashion, and take them out. At least you’ve got a squad of heroes at your disposal, each with their own unique skills – including the newly revealed, shapeshifting Abomination.…

Ninja Theory’s PS4 exclusive doesn’t have the most typical protagonist. Senua is a Celtic warrior-woman, travelling through a world of ancient myth and engaging dark forces in weighty third-person sword duels – enemies which may in fact be manifestations of her own troubled mind. The developers hope to tackle mental illness with more tact and authenticity than it typically receives in games, with mechanics directly reflecting your character’s state of mind. It’s a topic we’d love to see approached with a more sensitive hand, and we can’t help but be intrigued by the dark, unsettling visuals.…

Not only was 2013’s Wrath Of The White Witch an absolute dish, it was also a mighty fine slice of RPG craft. Now in this PS4 sequel Level-5 is applying that vibrant Ghibli aesthetic to a fresh roster of characters, casting you as a king without a kingdom, aided by a strange visitor from another world. It’s characteristically cutesy stuff, sure, but in spite of the cheery trappings, this is no simplistic idyll. Malevolent forces abound, from treacherous usurpers to umbrous fey, and King Evan seems beset on all sides. In order to succeed, he’ll not only have to fight for the crown, but also prove himself worthy to rule.…

Golly gee-whizz, everything’s just wonderful in ’60s post-war paradise, Wellington Wells! All of its residents skip merrily about the procedurally-generated British city, high on nothing more than life and a substantial quantity of hard drugs. Oh, you’re not taking your prescribed dose of Joy pills? Then you’re a bothersome Downer, and you’ll have to blend in to survive, hunting down clues and crafting weapons whilst trying to appear as nonchalantly care-free as possible. Developer Sam Abbott explains, “It’s intended to be pretty challenging, as you have only one life and you’ll need to escape before time runs out.” Psychopathic neighbours wielding cricket bats! Potentially fatal overdoses! Creepy masks! Groovy! We definitely don’t want our mummies……

New location, new era, new Mafia. It’s 1968, and you – AKA Vietnam vet Lincoln Clay – have an open-world interpretation of America’s Deep South in which to avenge the murders of your ‘family’ members. Coolest element: differing mission approaches. You can stealth it up Hitman-style, blaze in à la Tony Montana, or mix and match depending your mood. (Clay seems to especially enjoy stabbing people in the face.) Punitive violence soundtracked by the Doors, Stones, and Hendrix? We’re in.…

CD Projekt Red’s still keeping largely tight-lipped about this upcoming open-world epic, originally announced back in May 2012, but what it has let slip is that it’s planned to be even bigger than The Witcher 3. Oof, yes please – just jam it right in our heads like a cybernetic implant, thanks. Even which platforms it’ll be coming to is secret for now, though we reckon it’s a fair bet you’ll need a current-gen console or an up-to-date PC to jump into this tale of frenzied cyborgs driven mad by their augmentations, and the ‘Psycho Squad’ elite police department who takes them on – and occasionally recruits them into its ranks.…

The inspiration behind this space-bound first-person adventure is more personal than you might expect. No, lead Adam Orth hasn’t ever woken up on a crumbling space station with no idea how he got there, but he did draw on his experience of feeling literally adrift after resigning from Microsoft and moving to a new city. Admittedly, that situation probably required much less The Martian-style improvised engineering and desparate scavenging for oxygen canisters than you’ll be doing in the game, but… y’know, it’s just a metaphor.…

Finally fully confirmed as both a Wii U game and a 2016 release, this much-anticipated sequel has us chomping at the bit to jump into its beautifully cel-shaded open world. Speculation continues to abound, however, as to whether the game will be cross-platform, as Twilight Princess was, with a version on NX once the mystery console launches. And speaking of Twilight Princess, the Wolf Link amiibo launched alongside that prior entry’s recent HD re-release will, Nintendo have teased, have some kind of functionality in the new game too. Will we be transforming into a canine once again in Link’s latest adventure, bounding on all fours across the expansive plains?…

This beautiful, top-down roguelike sees you exploring a strange island, and battling its malevolent inhabitants in brutal real-time bouts. Staying alive isn’t easy, and when a character kicks the bucket, they’re dead for good, meaning it pays to be careful as you creep through Below’s genuinely unsettling shadows, discovering its randomly generated landscapes. Its style reminds us of Capybara’s previous hit Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, but in sheer ambition it dwarfs that quirky mobile hit. The bleak world even puts us in mind of Dark Souls – never a bad sign in our book.…

It seems that spades are very much in vogue for travelling adventurers this season, and here we have another indie platformer that sees you eschewing the sword in favour of a sturdy shovel. But unlike Yacht Club’s pixelated peach of a game, Shovel Knight, Skytorn is a procedurally-generated affair, offering Metroid-style exploration in unique game worlds. And although your armament might be better suited to agriculture than attacks, there’s a focus on elegant combat augmented with all manner of acrobatic hops and evasive dashes. Given that Matt Thorson, designer of the excellent Towerfall, is on board, we’ve high hopes for some tight 2D fighting.…

When Keiji Inafune, the mind behind beloved blue robot Mega Man, helms a project, you’ve got to sit up and take notice – especially when it looks as unique as this mysterious Xbox One exclusive. Starring a desert wanderer scavenging for ancient technology alongside her trusty mechanical dog, it features characteristically memorable designs for its cast of cybernetic creatures. Each is powered by a strange, glowing core, seemingly halfway between a heart and a brain, that our protagonist can transfer from body to body as needed.…

Everyone’s favourite Lombax and Robot duo aren’t sticking to the ground for this retooling origin story – we’ve already seen them poking around underwater and dogfighting above the tropical trees of Pokitaru. So far, this PS4 debut for the classic series looks like it’ll have more variety than those tins of chocolate you get at Christmas. Plus, if the return of lush worlds to explore isn’t enough to get you staring impatiently at the calendar, then maybe Insomniac ratcheting up it’s signature playful weaponry might. We’ve got our eyes set on the gun that turns enemies into 8-bit sprites.…

Cheeky one here… We’ve played this game loads already, in its Japanese language form, which released out east back in June. Not only does it recapture the decades-refined combat system of Awakening, but it adds to it, with your own castle full of nattering party members to explore Dragon Age: Inquisition style, and a new battle arena-altering twist on magic which sees whole maps shift under your all-powerful strategising button taps. At it’s core, though, is that cast of fleshed out characters to discover, befriend, be betrayed by, and battle with. If Ninty can nail the localisation – and it almost always does – this is 2016’s JRPG to beat.…

It may be wearing the Mighty moniker, but make no mistake – this is the return of Mega Man. Keiji Inafune has spent decades designing and illustrating the plucky bot, and he’s also the man at the helm of this jazzy reimagining, which features that familiar blend of 2D platforming, nifty ability upgrades, and bold bursts of colour. The addition of a nippy dash move, which can be used to mow down stunned enemies, adds a certain speedy satisfaction to proceedings, while Inafune’s wide-eyed take on the sci-fi aesthetic remains as endearing as ever.…