Tabla de contenidos para July 2016 en Gamesmaster

While videogames are all about escapism and breaking up the drudgery of contemporary existence, the very best stories in games have something to tell us about the shape of the world we live in. Our cover game this ish, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, has got a lot to say, about physical discrimination, the nature of man, and whether or not built in face-sunglasses are actually a cool idea. Get stuck into our extensive behind the scenes access, starting on p44. You can’t pull a real-life 360 at the moment without a new shooter cropping up in your scopes. From returning long-runners such as Call Of Duty and Battlefield (previewed over on p26 and p30 respectively), to the ultra-violence of Doom and the vim of Overwatch (reviewed on p60 and p74),…

Recently I borrowed Destiny from a mate as I thought I’d give it a go again after its mixed launch reviews. When loading, I found nearly all Year One content cut down and The Taken King DLC being my only option to play it without it feeling like a demo. After speaking with my mates who had the expansion and liked it, I tried it and found vanilla Destiny was gone. A year of feedback and improvements had succeeded – finally I had a worthwhile package of missions and addictive endgame hooks. It’s proof that games can get better – even if you pick up a bad game at launch, it might not be the same a year later. Dying Light and The Crew have both been helped by a…

MANIAC OF THE MONTH! In Hitman, on the Sapienza level, I left a body in a doorway and it did somersaults in mid-air! Daniel Climo, Facebook How about a Ferris Bueller RPG? Got to get your Speed stat up to make it home before mum and dad. Dunlop, @DunlopMZG I want to eat the dog food from Wolfenstein. MUD, @mhmmdbnzk The day Call Of Duty goes back to WW2 or does a game set in the Vietnam War, then I will be excited. Kurt Arne Strommen, Facebook They don’t make gaming hoodies for the bigger, more muscular type of man, they’re always too skinny. Lee Furniss, Facebook Where is Sega Rally for current-gen? Nobody knows they want it but they’ll all buy it if it comes out. Connor Brady, Facebook…

MATT’S PICK Battlefield 1 My regular shooter crew and I were left lukewarm by the lacklustre Hardline, but with DICE back in the saddle, this promises to be a return to the mainline destructo-combat which has kept Battlefield 4 ticking over for ages. Keen to see how the WWI setting plays out as I’m all about the upgrades and tinkering. PS4, XO, PC – 21 October ROBIN’S PICK Endless Space 2 Reviewing Stellaris has put me in the mood for space, and Amplitude, the studio behind this 4X sequel, has become one of my favourite developers in recent years. Endless Legend was one of the best ever entries in the genre, with incredible visuals, fascinating world-building, and unique mechanics – and I’m optimistic for Endless Space 2 to be even…

Topping the leaderboard this issue TALOS A STORY Philosophical chin-stroker The Talos Principle is set to receive a similarly scholarly sequel, according to developer Croteam. The studio’s chief technical officer Alen Ladavac made the announcement onstage at the 2016 Nordic Game Conference, although we’re yet to see a confirmed release date or any screenshots… PREPARE TO DICE More than £3.7 million has been raised on Kickstarter for a co-op boardgame of Dark Souls. Steamforged Games sought £50,000 to develop a punishing 1-4 player tabletop game based on the series – a target which it demolished in three minutes flat. The finished game is expected to ship in April 2017. WRIGHT STUFF The world’s most improbably honest defence attorney is set to return in September with the launch of Phoenix Wright:…

Format PS4, PS3 Publisher Atlus Developer Atlus ETA Spring 2017 It’s a series which in typical Japanese RPG fashion masterfully mixes the bizarre with the emotive, but Persona has always taken things a little step further on both counts. The same is set to be true of the fifth main entry, which, along with finally having a legit release date of 15 September in Japan, is starting to reveal itself to the world. Starring your unnamed, recently transferred, high school student protagonist, Persona 5 pits you and a bunch of your teenage pals against corrupt adults. Much like you would dive into your TV at night to tackle people’s innermost fears head on in P4, now your crew, dubbed the Phantom Thieves Of Hearts, seemingly dives inside people to perform…

Format PS4, XO, PC Pub Focus Home Interactive Dev Cyanide Studio ETA Spring 2017 HP Lovecraft may be a favourite among gamers, but when it comes to adapting the author’s work our industry often seems to be more interested in the tentacles than the mind-shredding dread. Enter Cyanide, with a slice of stealth role-playing that casts you as a private detective in 1920s Boston. Your investigations into a local murder soon uncover sinister spookiness, but we’re encouraged by the fact that the latest screenshots favour atmospheric settings rather than glistening fish monsters.…

Format PS4, XO, PC Pub Microïds Dev Microïds ETA 1 December It’s been 12 years since the launch of Syberia 2, and more than seven since the third instalment in Benoît Sokal’s acclaimed adventure series was first announced. Come 1 December we’ll rejoin returning protagonist Kate Walker as she travels alongside the nomadic Youkol people. Grateful for their generosity, Kate decides to help the caravan of travellers fulfil an ancient ancestral tradition: ‘the transhumance of the snow ostriches to the holy steppes where they can reproduce.’ Sure, why not? Sign us up.…

2026 DEUS EX: FALLEN ANGEL This tie-in novel explores Faridah Malik's murky past before joining Sarif Industries, working for a triad-affiliated aviation company in Hengsha. Upon discovering the shipping containers in a smuggling operation are actually stasis pods used for human trafficking, she leaves her old life behind and heads for Detroit. 2027 DEUS EX: ICARUS EFFECT Set both prior and concurrent to the events of Human Revolution, this novel centres on British Special Air Service operative Ben Saxon, who’s forced to work against his cyborg commando comrades when he’s contacted by a hacker collective who clue him in to the imminent assassination of an important political figure. DEUS EX: THE FALL Directly following Icarus Effect, this mobile game once again features former British soldier Ben Saxon, only now he’s…

“It’s the early ’80s and Camp Crystal Lake is welcoming a new batch of kids for the summer. Seven camp counselors arrive early to make preparations, but they aren’t alone. This camp has a curse. Did you know a young boy drowned here? That young boy was Jason Voorhees, and he’s back seeking revenge. As a counsellor your job is to stay alive and escape. Hide, use stealth, find items, and try to stand your ground. Broken vehicles scattered around the camp can be fixed, phone lines can be repaired, but just performing simple tasks can seem terrifying, as Jason Voorhees likely lurks nearby. As Jason your task is clear; kill everything. Special abilities will help you locate and stalk unsuspecting victims. Creative kills grant new abilities, helping you transform…

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……

Problem solving If the answer doesn’t involve fists and feet, it isn’t really a question to begin with. If you put something in front of Doom Guy, expect it to be destroyed instantly. Mr Blazkowicz has a bit more of a nuanced approach to conflict resolution which doesn’t always end in bloody, violent death. It usually still does though. Romantic interests He’s found the love of his life in the smooth contours of a fuel-guzzling chainsaw. A beautiful romance, in its own way. BJ isn’t blue thanks to a healthy relationship with an actual human female – even if it does breach patient-nurse protocol. Level of remorse -50% 70% Style A bit nondescript under all that armour, but you can’t knock his self-confidence. A chin like a tin of spam…

“SEEING THE LAND YOU UNITED GET RAZED BY A CHAOS HORDE HURTS IN A WAY FEW GAMES CAN MATCH” Banners tell you how strong the army is, what stance they’re in, and whether they’re suffering attrition (from extreme climates or corrupted lands). This shows your currently selected army. The yellow bar represents how many troops will be replenished next turn. It’s worse news when it’s red. Increase your attachment to heroes and units by giving them customised titles. Or you can just write ‘grim’ in front of their names, like we did. Here you can keep track of quests, technology trees, diplomacy, and more. It also has faction-specific stuff, like the famous Dwarf Book Of Grudges. Format PC Publisher Sega Developer Creative Assembly ETA Out now Players 1-4 We could…

Homefront: The Revolution also features an online co-op mode that enables groups of up to four freedom fighters to wage guerilla warfare together. It’s an inoffensive but ultimately lightweight addition, offering multiple character classes and a substantial arsenal of unlockables, but only six scenarios to tackle. The difficulty level of these Resistance mode missions is ratcheted up especially high, in what we presume is a bid to force individual operators to act as a close-knit revolutionary cell. In our experience, however, you’re more likely to just find yourself frustratingly overwhelmed, at which point you’ll likely want to move onto a multiplayer offering with a little more polish and a lot more substance.…

There are two ranks in Battleborn. Command rank determines what characters you can use, and character rank determines how you can customise them. Skins disappoint, merely alternate colour palettes with no extra accessories, and five extra Helix mutations only complicate things. Taunts are excellent (wrestler El Dragón does a three-count while Boldur shows his bum) but there’s only three apiece. Finally, increasing your command rank lets you purchase higher-tier crates containing modifiers, up to three of which you can slot into loadouts.…

First up is Escort, which requires an attacking team to push a payload on rails into the defending team’s base. Deaths in the late game here can prove fatal as the time ticks down, leaving plenty of scope for clutch victories from the brink of failure. Assault feels like a mini version of Rush from Battlefield, with the attacking team attempting to wrest control of two target points on the map, while Control has two teams fighting over a point at the same time. An extra Hybrid mode combines Assault and Escort, forcing attackers to capture a point before they can spawn the payload. Note that there’s no team deathmatch here – it just wouldn’t fit Overwatch’s style.…

The scale of Geralt’s travels in the idyllic region of Toussaint are enough to turn his hair white. A touted 30 hours long with a region similar in size to Novigrad, Blood And Wine is both The Witcher 3’s biggest piece of content yet and the two things you least want to confuse when cooking. While Toussaint is untouched by the ravages of war, it holds a dark secret behind colourful fauna, smiling townsfolk, and an atmosphere of carefree indulgence. You’ll need a level 34 character or higher to start, but it’s available whether you’re in new game+ or on your first run through, sending experienced outdoorsmen in pursuit of new weapons, characters, gear, and surreal monsters straight from the pages of a grim fairytale (including a wight that collects…

 Developer Origin “AN AUDIOVISUAL SHOWCASE THAT ABSOLUTELY DEMANDED A PC RIG WITH SOME CLOUT” Publisher Origin Released 1990 Format PC, 3DO, Amiga CD32, Amiga, Mega CD, SNES Get it GOG.com, Origin Store Concerned about the societal repercussions of all English state schools being converted to academies? Well, here’s some good news: by the time the 27th century rolls around, you’ll be able to graduate from academy straight into the cockpit of a laser-spitting starfighter at the heart of an interstellar warzone. This ground-breaking space sim said so, so it must be true. The origins If you’re wondering why anyone with an affinity for space dogfighting would choose a game that didn’t have the built-in emotional touchpoints of Star Wars, it’s because the classic X-Wing and TIE Fighter games were…

Awesome Boss! God Hand Format PS2 Developer Clover Studio Released 2006 The Mad Midget Five: not the most PC of boss battles, but then bonkers PS2 bruiser God Hand was not inclined towards such things. If you had an urge to unleash a rain of anime beatdown moves on a bunch of diminutive Power Ranger “douchebags” – who, to be fair, could quickly tag-team and ruin an unprepared opponent – then Clover’s final game was the one for you. Classic Moment! Pugsley’s Scavenger Hunt Format SNES Developer Ocean Released 1993 Not often mentioned among the 16-bit platformer classics, but it did whip up some eventful moments in inventive levels. Case in point: this one set inside a crystal ball, played in a round window with Granny (from The Addams Family…

BLOCKED OUT No, this picture isn’t monochrome by accident, this Nanoblocks Charmander is in Gameboy-style black and white. Only available in Japan, the individually-sold Pokémon also include Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle, and, if you buy all four, there’s enough left over pieces to craft a tiny, blocky Mew. CENTER OF ATTENTION In the new Kyoto Pokémon Center there are stacks of adorable exclusive Pikachus. The central display is the yellow cutie riding a Ho-Oh, and on sale are classically-inspired plushies wearing kimonos and holding fans or traditional umbrellas. SECRET SMILE Hang on, what’s happened to Squirtle’s face? Wait, that’s no Squirtle… The Transform Ditto series is stupidly adorable and only available in Pokémon Centers. The collection includes Pikachu, Clefairy, Bulbasaur, and Charmander. Just when you thought you had no more…

Format PS4, XO, PC Publisher Bethesda Developer Id Software ETA Out now 1 Armour up As a rule, never head into fights with anything less than 100% health if you can possibly help it. Doing so puts you at an immediate disadvantage. Unlike most shooters today there’s no regenerating health, so if you’re injured, focus on collecting armour pickups around the map. You can actually boost your health beyond the default, giving yourself a big edge in confrontations. Also, it seems obvious, but try and stick with at least one other teammate to confuse opponents with multiple targets. There’s safety in numbers, so when the match starts, don’t just run off on your own. Check where the majority of players are heading and tail them – you’ll likely pick up…

Welcome to GM’s carefully collated list of the most essential gaming experiences you can undertake right now. If even one of the 50 games on here has passed you by, get a shift on post-haste DARK SOULS III PS4 / XO / PC The first game might be closer to fans’ hearts, but this is Souls – and gaming – at its current-gen finest. 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…

6 Minutes it took the quickest player to assassinate Hitman’s first limited time Elusive Target contract. 34 Minutes it took for the first person to get a Silent Assassin rating on the Elusive Target contract. 9.9% Amount of players that managed to get the Silent Assassin rating by the end of the event. Surprisingly high – we didn’t think you lot were anywhere near that subtle. 53% Amount of people who successfully completed the contract. No saving or re-loading was allowed.…

KINGDOM COME Grab your sword and charge into some turn-based action in Grand Kingdom, out now. DAY OF THE DAD Brew your dad a tea to thank him on Father’s Day for raising someone awesome (that’s you). CORPS BLIMEY Resi purveyor Capcom has another stab at online shooting in Umbrella Corps, out today. PUT A RING ON IT Spined gaming icon Sonic The Hedgehog celebrates his 25th year. Gotta go fast! OLYMPIC AND MIX Mario & Sonic At The Rio 2016 Olympic Games sprints/cycles/swims into action today. DON’T GET BLOCKY, KID Bring the film to brick-based life with Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens, out now. BUST-A-GHOUL Does busting make you feel good? Then today is your day – the Ghostbusters game is out. BREAK THE HY-RULES Check out the…

Harlem Hellfighters This first African-American unit to fight with the US army was dubbed the ‘Hellfighters’ by German soldiers, while serving an incredible six months on the front lines. The Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen was the German ‘ace of aces’, recognised as the best pilot in the war – he won an unbelievable 80 air victories over the course of the conflict before being shot down and killed in 1918. Lawrence Of Arabia TE Lawrence is as close to a real life Indiana Jones as we’ll ever get. A practicing archaeologist at the start of the war, he eventually became a key figure in the Arab revolt against Turkish rule. Zeppelins Airships designed by Ferdinand von Zeppelin (no prizes guessing how they picked a name) that were used by…

Format PS Vita, 3DS Pub Aksys Games Dev Chime ETA 28 June This third (and perhaps final) instalment in the Zero Escape series once again sees you control a cast of characters who find themselves at the mercy of a mysterious masked villain – think Battle Royale meets Saw – but for the first time in the franchise’s dialogue-heavy history, the whole sordid affair will come at us fully-voiced. This means you’ll be able to hear every threat, argument, and revelation in a game that promises to conclusively wrap up the various narrative loose ends and mind-bending multiple endings of Virtue’s Last Reward.…

What’s the secret to great sound design? SSI think keeping it grounded in reality. When it’s done really well you don’t really notice it, because your brain is simply falling deeper and deeper into the experience. When everything is well mixed and well placed, it allows you to really experience the game. Done badly, the spell is broken immediately. In terms of the world, how do you go about creating a convincing futuristic soundscape? SSMaking it feel alive is important but equally important I think is making it recognisable. If it’s a city, I think we subconsciously look for sounds we would identify within a city. If those sounds are all there and play in the expected manner, then it starts to come to life. Ambience does a big part…

Format PC Developer Wube Software ETA Summer Web http://bit.ly/gmfactorio Ok, we know those pictures look scary, but trust us here. It might look like an overwhelming visual assault of industrial chaos but there’s something hugely compelling about the machinations of this production line-building indie. You’ve crash landed on an unknown planet packed with resources like iron, coal, stone, and copper, so what’s the best thing to do? Make factories of course, and the only way to do that is to craft swathes of burners and smelting stations so you can get electric power on the go and build even more. Oh, and the native species don’t really like that you’ve arrived. Go figure. Iron, man Factorio makes the crafting complexities of late-game Minecraft look like the contents of a bath…

 Format PS4, XO, PC (reviewed) Publisher Bethesda Developer Id Software ETA Out now Players 1-12 “SO BLISSFULLY CHAOTIC IT FEELS LIKE AN EXTENDED STAY IN THE MIDDLE OF A CYCLONE” Violence reigns supreme in this refreshingly old-school shooter revival. It’s how you fix technical problems (kick the computer terminal to bits), upgrade your armour (crush the energy cell into little pieces), and open doors (rip them right off their hinges). It’s both question and answer, yin and yang, and why, it turns out, the infinity symbol vaguely resembles a pair of fists. ‘Interact’ and ‘punch’ sharing the same button is no coincidence – this is a game where your response to everything is invariably destructive. And wow does it feel good. It’s worlds apart from contemporary first-person games – there…

Head off the beaten track and you’ll find all sorts of secrets. In a quiet corner of the Advanced Research Complex, for example, is a playable arcade cabinet called Super Turbo Turkey Puncher 3. The aim, as you can probably imagine, is to punch a turkey fast. Then there are the random pieces of metal rebar sticking out of the ground that, if struck, will open a door to reveal a classic slice of Doom straight out of 1993. Best, though, is falling into The Foundry’s molten metal and watching your character give a Terminator 2-esque thumbs-up, as if he knows now why you cry.…

Legendary Lords are immensely powerful hero characters who can swing battles in your favour. They can’t be killed, but you still need to keep them safe – if they’re wounded, they’ll be out of action for four turns. The only problem with this system is that it lacks the relief and joy of defeating a sworn enemy after a protracted war. Downing Grimgor Ironhide feels like less of an achievement when you know he’ll be back with another army five turns later. It’s undoubtedly a necessary system, but the lack of closure can occasionally make you feel like you’re trapped on a violent hamster wheel.…

Marquis This high-society sociopath is the roster’s rangey sniper, using a cane-turned-rifle to tag enemies from afar and generally fighting like he despises contact with every other living being. Which he does. Reluctant to come within 20 yards of the rabble, he pulls an adorable robot owl called Hoodini from his butler hat to scan foes and collide into them kamikaze-style, and unleashes a super-charged shot for his ultimate. Let the peons do the work as you sip tea and scope. Rath He’s got pale skin, fangs, and a receding hairline, but don’t you dare call master bladesman Rath a vampire because he so isn’t. This melee-minded Battleborn is all about wading in slashing dual blood-red katanas at point-blank range, then stunning mobs before wailing on them some more. Rath’s…

 Format PC Publisher Paradox Interactive Developer Paradox Interactive ETA Out now Players 1-32 “ANY SCI-FI TROPE YOU CAN THINK OF IS HERE, FROM ANCIENT RINGWORLDS TO CLONE ARMIES” According to Henrik Fahraeus, director of this space 4X, “science-fiction is history in the future”. Apparently that was all the justification that developer Paradox, previously known for its preoccupation with kings, knights, and ye olden times, needed to start reaching for the stars. Strategy-heads will know the studio as the team behind Hearts Of Iron, Europa Universalis, and the jewel in its crown, Crusader Kings; sweeping simulations that see you running a realm in incredibly realistic, detailed historical settings. Stellaris straddles a line between these and more traditional space 4X’s – for the uninitiated, that’s Civilization-like games that see you eXploring a…

1 Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi (PC, Amiga – 1991) With nothing to prove in tech terms, the sequel just topped up combat options and zeroed in on story: your hunt for absolution following the fate of the Tiger’s Claw. No branching narratives here, but clearing your name was incentive enough to fry more Kilrathi rotters. 2 Wing Commander: Privateer (PC – 1993) Not the first series spin-off or the last, but easily the best. The idea was to let you experience a familiar universe from a new perspective, as an independent pilot with free rein to pursue a life of legal trading or illegal marauding across the star systems. Much-loved by fans, and even span off its own sequel three years later – Privateer 2: The Darkening…

This month Matt pours himself a frosty highball of Dark Chronicle, on the rocks Its predecessor, Dark Cloud, was one of the games which highlighted the technical prowess of the PS2 back when it first launched, but it was only when this Level-5 JRPG follow up came along that we started to grasp what the Japanese studio was capable of. Huge, beautiful, and full of about a million different distractions to busy yourself with over the course of the adventure, it’s one of the most egregious missteps of the industry that there was never a follow up. Grab a digital copy of this once hard-to-find retro gem over on the PSN Store on PS4 right now. You’re welcome.…

Peripheral vision Is anyone else worried about the upcoming VR season? I myself have pre-ordered a PSVR but am concerned about the support it will (or will not) receive after launch. As someone who bought Kinect, Kinect 2.0, PS Eye Toy, PS4 camera, and PS Move (I know I’ll benefit from the PS4 camera and Move soon) and have seen them largely unused due to lack of support, I have to admit to being concerned that I could be purchasing a £349 dust collector after the first few months of awe. I am looking forward to playing my current games in the cinematic mode however. What are your thoughts? Will we see triple-A games on top of the new Star Wars Battlefront VR edition? Matt Hadfield, email That’s a lot…

1 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Format NX, Wii U ETA Winter 2017 We’ll be getting our greasy mitts on this for preview very soon, and we can hardly wait for a solid hands-on session. 2 FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE Format PS4 ETASummer 2017 This blast from the past has got you more excited than the actual new Final Fantasy game this month. 3 SHENMUE 3 Format PS4, PC ETA December 2017 We’re not sure the hype could be any higher for this series’ return. Maybe if each copy came with a solid gold Ryo? 4 MASS EFFECT: ANDROMEDA Format PS4, XO, PC ETA Spring 2017 Will it be a Shepard’s delight? Well, no, because he/she isn’t in it. But we reckon it’s going to be brilliant anyway. 5 HORIZON: ZERO…

Multiplayer survival games are always tough things to master. Games where long-time players regularly chew up newcomers, where ‘friendly’ translates to ‘I’m about to kill you and strip the carcass’, and regular and inevitable death usually entails starting the whole process again from scratch repeatedly. Rust is the worst of all that, a utopia for online douches to hone their craft. Our reporter played it so you don’t have to, and this is what happened... 30 SECONDS I start Rust as a reasonably attractive naked woman – one of Rust’s unique ideas is that gender, and either breast or penis size, is decided by your Steam ID. So, just like in real life, you get no say in the matter. The fact that this has infuriated many of its players,…

“IT CAN BE TROUBLING TO SEE OUR MEDIUM’S MOST TREASURED ARTEFACTS BEING TINKERED WITH” It’s easy to forget, given that it’s one of the most recognisable names in gaming, that there have only been four full instalments in the Doom series in the last 22 years. As such, the weight of anticipation carried by Id Software’s brand new offering was perhaps entirely unique. The studio was expected to deliver a game that was on the cutting edge of technology, could appeal to a mass audience, and in some fundamental way remained true to the spirit of a title released in December 1993. As such, it’s no surprise that Doom had a troubled development history, and it’s little short of a miracle that we’ve ended up with a game that arguably…

“I WANT PEOPLE TO PLAY OUR NEW GAME AND GO ‘WOW, I HAVEN’T SEEN COD CHANGE SO MUCH SINCE MODERN WARFARE’” Format PS4, XO, PC Publisher Activision Developer Infinity Ward ETA 4 November The roar and rumble of the Jackal jet is enough to tip you off that there’s something quietly fresh about Infinity Ward’s latest entry in the mammoth shooter series. As the nippy fighter climbs from Earth into the upper atmosphere alongside a small armada, there’s a whole fleet of ships whizzing through the air (or lack thereof), gliding past debris and spitting bullets at enemies, with tiny bits of scrap metal drifting away from points of impact. We’re in space and everyone can hear us scream in delight. You play Captain Nick Reyes in the game’s campaign…

Format PS4 Publisher Square Enix DeveloperTri-Ace ETA 1 July Something has happened since the heady Golden Age of JRPGs, when you’d polish off Final Fantasy VII only to have the likes of Alundra, Grandia, Vagrant Story, Wild Arms, and the like to fall back on. As time has moved on the genre has kind of stayed still, and we’ve been unable to turn to it for the same sense of grandiose scale, epic adventure, and charming characters as often as we’d come to expect in the past. Along comes Star Ocean to bring the magic back. There are a few tiny little quality of life features which immediately ensnare our attention. Characters feel physical in the world for a start, pushing aside other NPCs in towns as they brush past.…

“FAR REACH LETS THE OVERTHROWN EMPRESS FIRE A SPECTRAL TENDRIL OUT INTO THE WORLD TO PULL HERSELF INTO POSITION” Format PS4, XO, PC Publisher Bethesda Developer Arkane Studios ETA 11 November The last time we clapped eyes on Emily Kaldwin, she was a puffy-eyed ten-year-old with a murdered mum and a questionable haircut. And, if you had the skill and self-control to pursue a merciful path across nine missions of supernatural stealth action, little Emily could even wind up presiding over a golden age as Empress Of The Isles. Now, fifteen years later, that golden age is over. Kaldwin is a capable assassin driven by a ruthless determination to reclaim the throne that was taken from her. And her hair game is on point this time around, too. Because, whereas…

Format 3DS Pub Nintendo Dev Next Level Games ETA 2 September It’s safe to say that Next Level’s latest hasn’t enjoyed the most enthusiastic reaction from fans, but fresh footage suggests that there’s a sturdy shooter here. We watched a squad of four federation soldiers cooperate to clear out a labyrinthine compound that’d been overrun with aliens and automatons, with each carrying specialised gadgetry.if you’re a supportive type you can use repair capsules to fix your battle-scarred buds, or go for all-out damage with the classic super missile.…

Format PC Pub Luis Antonio Dev Luis Antonio ETA Winter Imagine a deeply sinister videogame version of Groundhog Day, and you have a flavour of Luis Antonio’s mysterious looking point-and-clicker. You arrive home from work one day to the sweet smell of dinner waiting on the table and the muffled sound of your loving wife humming absentmindedly from the shower. Within 12 minutes, this scene of domestic tranquillity has been shattered by shocking revelations and disturbing brutality. Once it’s over, time rewinds and you’re left to play the same 12 minutes over and over, attempting to apply your newfound knowledge to make some sense of the situation. You might snoop on your wife’s smartphone before she exits the shower, for instance, or pocket a breadknife from the kitchen counter, as…

“JENSEN’S AUGMENTATION SPECIALIST, VACLAV KOLLER, IS UNIQUE. PRETTY MUCH EVERY EXCHANGE HAD ME LAUGHING” VR SUPPORT Eidos Montreal is augmenting PC versions of Mankind Divided with a special post-launch addition: virtual-reality benchmarks. Not to be confused with the virtual-virtual reality of Breach mode, this tool is actually Oculus-Rift-enabled, allowing you to poke around Jensen’s safehouse in first-person reading the labels on his cigarette cartons like a disapproving landlord. There are four locations in all, including Koller’s equally messy digs featuring artificial limbs hanging from the ceiling, and while unconfirmed, they’ll likely be playable outside of the Rift, too. Environments that stand up to this intense scrutiny indicate an amazing attention to detail. This is the first direct sequel in Deus Ex history. What implications did this have in terms of…

#1 FIREWATCH The story of fire warden Henry in the Wyoming wilderness has one big problem, and it’s that you won’t be able to walk thirty seconds in any direction without taking a screengrab of artist Olly Moss’ visuals. And you can pick up a camera in-game and get real world photos sent to you of your snaps. Oh shoot… #2 EVERYBODY’S GONE TO THE RAPTURE Is there anywhere prettier than a rural English village complete with thatched cottages and Narnia style lampposts? Well, yes, one without any people and filled with mysterious glowing lights that might just let you unravel the mystery of its missing inhabitants. #3 DEAR ESTHER From the barren moors and beaches of a remote Hebridean island to the twinkling innards of crystal filled caves, this…

When building an effective base camp, you’ve got to include all the essentials. A bed. A crafting table. A furnace. A redstone-powered, light-up rainbow dancefloor. Yep, that last one’s absolutely crucial. Here’s your simple step-by-step guide to building your own personal disco and surviving the treacherous Minecraft night in style. 1 The first step is the most important: laying solid foundations. (Nothing crashes a party like falling through the roof of the flat below. Sorry, Mrs Hibbins.) Obsidian’s the toughest stuff you can find in Minecraft: take a hefty stack of the stuff and lay it out in a checkerboard formation. You can make your dancefloor as small or large as you like – and you can build this first layer discreetly into the ground if you’re not after a…

Possessed Engineer These guys are the result of an event that fused metal to their skin: jewellery, watches, and if they’re unlucky enough to be welding at the time, explosive canisters. Luckily it makes for a very combustible enemy. A bullet or two will ignite the bomb in their chest and send them whizzing off at speed, so take advantage by aiming them them into a crowd. Just watch out you’re not caught in the blast yourself. Revenant Former military operatives transformed into nine foot tall hideous freaks by way of cybernetic augmentation from corrupt scientists who no doubt subscribe to the ‘tough love’ theory of demon rearing. One of Hell’s most mobile denizens, Revenants will ruthlessly pursue you up, over, and down levels firing rockets while jetpacking around, so…

“INSTEAD OF EXPANSIVE WORLDS OR PERSISTENT LOOT, YOU GET SOMETHING PURER” One of the easier characters to pick up, Pharah’s jetpack allows her to soar into the air – but watch out for snipers scanning the skies. Zarya’s ultimate ability sucks all nearby enemies into one spot, perfect to combine with Pharah’s explosive Barrage attack. Reinhardt makes for a killer tank – slow, but capable of absorbing a ton of damage for the team. He also has a giant hammer, which, you know, helps. Playing as Lucio can be confusing at first. His Crossfade ability lets him passively heal or buff friends nearby, so stick close to your buds and stay alive. Format PS4 (reviewed), XO, PC Publisher Blizzard Developer Blizzard ETA Out now Players 1-12 Remember when shooters were…

Stellaris’ procedurally-generated species are a brilliantly characterful – and truly alien – bunch, brought to life by witty writing, the ethos and traits systems, and the game’s huge selection of beautiful 2D-animated portraits. Here are just a few of our favourite space-faring weirdos. 1 Despite being peaceful alien-lovers, the Natfankans quickly took offence to us and declared us their rivals after first contact. Fine, be like that then. 2 We found the subterranean Rax’Thalak living inside one of our planets. Luckily they’re surprisingly friendly, for cave-dwelling lizard freaks. 3 The Zracon talk to us like we’re little kids in need of guidance. Given the firepower backing their Fallen Empire up, we decide not to argue. 4 The Finu have the nerve to call us depraved, despite floating around bum-first and…

1 DOOM PS4 I’m very enamoured with the blazingly fast combat and brutal demon-slaying – but rather less so the slow and trudging traversal. First-person platforming can go do one. Matt Sakuraoka-Gilman, Editor 2 QUANTUM BREAK XO The numbingly dull TV show-esque cutscenes physically repel me away from my XO, but when Shaun Ashmore’s Jack Joyce is back on screen this is a solid sci-fi adventure. Matt Sakuraoka-Gilman, Editor 3 HITMAN PC I love testing the patience of Sapienza’s citizens in the latest episode. How will sunbathers react to my hazmat suit? What happens when I kick them into the sea? So much potential! Ben Griffin, Staff Writer 4 DARK SOULS III PC Freshly finished, I’m holding off on starting New Game+ in order to savour battering Lothric’s beasts with…