Tabla de contenidos para November 2017 en Gamesmaster

It’s no secret that we’ve got a soft spot for Mario around here. And do you know why we love him so? It’s not because of his boundless enthusiasm, or his dashing moustache, or even his skill at traversing pipes. It’s because all his games are just so bloody good. So you’d better believe that a mainline Mario platformer coming to Nintendo’s best console in years has us excited. Excited enough to create a massive cover feature, complete with hands-on impressions and an interview with producer Yoshiaki Koizumi? Yes, precisely that excited. Flip over to p22 to get stuck in. That’s not the only treat we’ve got for you this issue, either. We’ve also delved into the world of gaming comics (and brought some pages back with us for you…

Am I the only one not excited about another foray into WWI or II? This year Call Of Duty is going back to an era I was grateful to leave. I suppose I’m a older gamer at 33, but I remember with fondness the many World War-based games that were a staple of the PS2 and in the early days of the PS3. Practically every shooter took us into history. The amazement I had when faced with storming the beach on the D-Day landings, watching my Allies fall around me as I took pot shots at machine gun bunkers and cowered behind tank traps. Fast forward many games and a change of series or two and I was blown away by Call Of Duty’s take on these historic wars, but…

Knights Of The Old Republic deserves to be continued. It paved the road to Mass Effect and quite frankly we never got a good RPG Star Wars game afterwards. Mohamed Ahmed, Facebook Breath Of The Wild is my first The Legend Of Zelda game, and it’s easily one of the best games that I have ever played. Thomas Conneely, @T_Dog109 Fire Emblem Awakening is the best RPG ever. Great story, great characters, a deep combat system, and beautiful animations. What more could you want? Rory, @Schnurrburt_ It’s a mastapiece, here comes the money people, it’s Knack 2 baby. Knack 2 for the PS4. 10/10 GOTY, it’s gonna sell millions, possibly more! Knuckles Knuckle, @CMrSaturn The most anticipated game of 2017 is clearly Quantum Break running in 4K on the Xbox…

FLASH GIT Make sure the lights are turned on for this one – The Evil Within 2 is on sale today. ELEX-TRIC Fantasy, sci-fi, and jet packs unite in madcap mash-up ELEX, out now. PARK AND WRECK Fart-based superhero RPG South Park: The Fractured But Whole arrives. EAGLE-Y AWAITED The Assassins are back in business in Assassin’s Creed Origins, on sale today. STRICTLY MUM DANCING Grab your leg warmers and boogie home from the shops with a copy of Just Dance 2018. A-HEAD OF THE GAME Teach Bowser the meaning of cap-ital punishment in Super Mario Odyssey. ALT-FIGHT It’s Nazi-punching time! Take on their awful regime in Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. CULT FOLLOWING Head to the shops and grab yourself another action-packed GM – 323’s on sale now!…

1 Hat Cappy is a shape-shifting entity who morphs into various items of headwear, and while he can snag coins, damage foes, and even transfer other organisms’ power to Mario, his most impressive talent is sitting on Mario’s head all day without moving so much as a single hair out of place. Perhaps Cappy is stuffed with hair gel. 2 Gloves Mario started wearing rich cotton gloves in Super Mario World and hasn’t taken them off since, not even to sleep. Apparently the spotless mitts are to make his movements easier to see when jumping, but we think Mario’s just covering for a serious incident with super glue. At least he can take hot trays from the oven any time, anywhere. 3 Nose Miyamoto originally gave his creation a massive…

Factory foreman Mario’s Cement Factory (1983) One of Mario’s earliest and most soul-destroying occupations saw him opening hatches to prevent cement containers from overflowing. Like any entry-level job he was overworked, underpaid, and always looking at the clock. Don’t worry, Mario, those days are long behind you. Boxing referee Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! (1984) Mario traded dungarees for a bow tie to preside over fights for the World Video Boxing Association, brushing shoulders with King Hippo, Piston Honda, and Mike Tyson himself. If nothing else, it proved the English-mangling plumber could count to ten. Doctor Dr Mario (1990) A dangerously unqualified Mario took lives in his trembling hands for this Game Boy puzzler about throwing pills at viruses. Where exactly did he earn his medical degree? Worryingly, when you prescribe the…

Koizumi: “I would like to try capturing Mr Miyamoto and being him for a bit. There are times when I really don’t know what he’s thinking, so it would be nice just to be able to jump inside and see.” Robin: “I’d possess the Internet. Imagine – all of human knowledge at my fingertips! And a lot of nonsense too. But with me in charge, maybe we could finally get to work cleaning it all up.” Rob: “It would have to be a race car or something really fast. Perhaps a Porsche 911 turbo or a Koenigsegg Regera. It’d be like playing Forza all day, every day… but in real life!” Ben: “Time. Unlimited cosmic power. The ability to see everything that has ever been and will ever be. Past,…

Under the sea Bayek can swim everywhere, and you’ll find treasure if you hold your breath long enough. “There’s a lot of secrets to find. A lot of true historic sunken temples. Egypt is not just desert…” Parkour life Every city has a different flavour. “Memphis is about elevation and being able to go down fast, while Alexandria is more about the rooftops and staying on the rooftops. It’s more of a classic AC-feeling city.” Get lost No collectible or puzzle is pointless. “You’ll find that there are these papyrus in the world. These papyrus, the idea is that they’ve been left behind. These are really cool little puzzles that help you explore Egypt.” X factor Playing Origins on Xbox One X? You’re in luck. “On the Xbox One X…

Format PS4, PC Publisher Deep Silver Developer Ys Net/Neilo ETA Winter 2018 After 17 years, Lan Di was probably pretty confident he’d got away with the murder of Iwao Hazuki back on Dreamcast. But he shouldn’t be so sure now. A new trailer for Shenmue III shows our revenge-seeking hero, Ryo, fighting fit on PS4 and PC. But not everybody’s been crying tears of joy. First, let’s just recap what the game is. Shenmue is a mega-budget, super-detailed action-RPG from legendary game director Yu Suzuki, where you walk and street-fight around suburban Japan, trying to piece together information about the identity and whereabouts of your father’s killer. The game started life as the ‘Virtua Fighter RPG’, and that’s still a fitting description, despite it becoming its own game. By the…

Format PC Publisher Ubisoft Developer Blue Byte ETA Winter 2018 The long-running Anno series of time-hopping real-time strategy games lets you build dream colonies in the likes of 15th-century Venice, under the ocean 50 years from now, and even on the moon. This latest entry heads for one of the most volatile eras on Earth this side of the Mount Vesuvius eruption: the Industrial Revolution. It’s here you’ll construct massive and meticulous cities at the height of England’s reign as the world’s most powerful top hat enthusiasts, setting up thriving businesses, managing your economy, conducting diplomacy, flexing military might, and establishing global trade networks on which the sun never sets. That is, unless you block it out with all your factory smoke. While your story begins in Merry Old Blighty,…

Format PC Pub Failbetter Dev Failbetter ETA Spring 2018 Become head of a cult in this story-driven digital card game. You start with a few funds and a mysterious package from a benefactor, before playing an action and placing the corresponding card. Then you place an object, such as a Murmuring Amulet, or Moment Of Contentment, to perform all manner of acts, like haggling over mystic tomes and turning disciples into burglars. But watch out for private investigators, occult rivals, and your own self-destructive appetites! Ok, it all sounds utterly inscrutable. The writing, though, is genius.…

Format PC Pub Microsoft Dev Relic ETA Summer 2018 The warchief of historical real-time strategy games returns over a decade on from 2005’s Age Of Empires III. Beginning with a wagon, a few villagers, the ever-present threat of smallpox, and no toothbrushes because they hadn’t been invented yet, you’ll gather resources, train units, build structures, and research the technologies needed to thrive. Early footage shows off Native Americans, British Redcoats, Romans, and more, indicating a broad sweep of history is yours to conquer like a murderous Doctor Who. Developer Relic has real RTS pedigree in Company Of Heroes and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War III, writing on its blog, “We can’t wait to tap into our strengths as a studio to fuse historical context with deep strategic gameplay, and to…

#1 FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE GAME It’s time to kill your friends with none of the gloopy mess that’s difficult to explain to your flatmates when they go to use the blender. Whether you’re in control of Jason Voorhees himself or a not-so-helpless counsellor, going to camp has never been this much fun. #2 DARKWOOD If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a horrific top-down surprise. If the name didn’t give you enough of a clue, seriously intense survival horror awaits in the forest at night. Like Silent Hill meets Don’t Starve, daytime is fine, but when the sun goes down Darkwood is a nerve-shredding experience. #3 OBSERVER Venturing into sci-fi territory after the madness of Layers Of Fear, Bloober Team is back with another intimidating…

 Format Switch Publisher Ubisoft Developer Ubisoft ETA Out now Players 1-2 “YOU’LL SEE 80-FOOT BUBBLE WANDS, AND STATUES OF RABBIDS READING ON THE TOILET” With hindsight, the appearance of Shigeru Miyamoto at Ubisoft’s E3 conference was a clue. The sight of Mario’s creator standing back-to-back with Ubi president Yves Guillemot, both wielding Kingdom Battle’s curiously Mega Man-esque arm cannons, made it clear this was something more special than your average collaboration. The pride of its publisher, and the approval of Miyamoto, were well-placed: somehow amid this collision of wildly different worlds, the pieces slot together quite beautifully. More miraculously still, it may have sold us on the Rabbids as a force for good. No, really. results in the Mushroom Kingdom and the world of Rabbids merging. It’s not a smooth blend,…

Arenas are scattered across the world, and offer the chance to batter other characters in return for some potent rewards. Chests and piles of bodies supply additional items, and skeletons patrol the fringes, looking for a chance to take out one of the duellists themselves. Combat isn’t the whole of the game, but the arenas are a great way to improve characters’ attributes, and bring a welcome touch of focus to a game that, although linear, quickly fills up with so many quests you can feel lost, reading your journal every time you switch on just to get a handle on what to do next.…

1 HALO 5: GUARDIANS 2 FORZA HORIZON 3 3 KALIMBA 4 QUANTUM BREAK 5 GEARS OF WAR 4 1 THE LAST OF US REMASTERED 2 UNCHARTED 4: A THIEF’S END 3 HORIZON: ZERO DAWN 4 JOURNEY 5 BLOODBORNE 1 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD 2 MARIO KART 8 DELUXE 3 ARMS 4 SPLATOON 2 5 SNIPPERCLIPS 1 TOTAL WAR: WARHAMMER 2 GUILD WARS 2 3 DOTA 2 4 THE SIMS 4 5 CRUSADER KINGS 2 1 POKÉMON SUN AND MOON 2 FIRE EMBLEM FATES 3 ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW LEAF 4 MONSTER HUNTER GENERATIONS 5 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: A LINK BETWEEN WORLDS 1 HEARTHSTONE 2 DEVICE 6 3 80 DAYS 4 SORCERY 4 5 MONUMENT VALLEY NOVEMBER 2017 97…

It may be a smaller, budget-priced spinoff, but it’s every bit as good, if not better, than any other Uncharted game you care to mention. It’s got the jaw-dropping locales, blockbuster spectacle and a truly despicable villain we’ve come to expect from the series, but that’s not to say there aren’t any tweaks and changes, not least in its protagonists. By teaming up fan-favourite Chloe Frazer with Uncharted 4’s Nadine Ross, we have a leading duo more than worthy of taking up the mantle from Nathan Drake. Indeed, Chloe and Nadine’s complex relationship is the driving force of this adventure. Elsewhere, there’s the series’ largest level to date, a pseudo-sandbox with multiple objectives and a wealth of trinkets to find. It’s another typically strong showing from developer Naughty Dog, where…

ROBIN’S PICK Monster Hunter: World The series has always fascinated me, but with Monster Hunter: Generations, I was put off by the technical and control limitations of the 3DS. Now it’s coming to more powerful machines, I’m ready to dive in. No loading screens between map sections? Buddy, you’ve made a sale! PS4, XO, PC – Spring 2018 BEN’S PICK Middle-earth: Shadow Of War The preview build I played this month showcased awesome improvements to the Nemesis System. In it, I summoned a troll bodyguard to help me assault a keep, but during battle he betrayed me and joined his troll brethren, and I ended up fighting two trolls. That’s the last time I trust an evil ancient creature who not long before wanted to drink my blood. Alliances in…

POISON MUSHROOM Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels (1986) Emerging from item blocks, these toxic ’shrooms caused you to shrink back to your default size. If you already were small, they killed you. Worst power-up ever. BUNNY EARS Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992) Rabbits can’t float, but touch a carrot in this quirky Game Boy platformer and you could hover by fluttering your ears. CLOUD FLOWER Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010) This plant gave Mario dominion over the cloud – and we don’t mean unfettered access to shared pools of configurable resources – easily exploring the Fluffybuff galaxy. DOUBLE CHERRY Super Mario 3D World (2013) A fruit causing instant double Mario was born when a developer made a mistake with the placement tool and inadvertently created two…

PAPER MARIO He lost an entire dimension to play this paper-thin dopplegänger. That’s Christian-Bale-in-The-Machinist-like dedication. BABY MARIO Despite his infant form, this wailing sprog can capably play sports, drive go-karts, and even smash foes with mallets, as evidenced in Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time. SHADOW MARIO This anti-social alter-ego ruined Super Mario Sunshine’s Isle Delfino by slathering it in graffiti. He was revealed to be (spoilers) Bowser Jr in disguise. Give him an ASBO. COSMIC CLONE Introduced in Super Mario Galaxy 2, these shadowy duplicates mimic Mario’s every move, even dying when he does. Creepy. We prefer the French name: Clone Chaotique. MANGA MARIO A manic-eyed Mario starred in Super Mario-Kun, a monthly comic retelling classic adventures with a few embellishments. The Super Mario World arc, for instance, features…

LAKITUS The cloud-riding turtles first appeared in Super Mario Bros flinging spiny shells from the sky, but they took on a less spiky role in later games. Lakitus have umpired tennis matches, fished kart racers from plummeting to certain death, and in Super Mario 64 one even controls the camera for you. Without Lakitus, who knows where Mario would be? Probably walking into a wall. PROFESSOR ELVIN GADD In Super Mario Sunshine the diminutive professor creates a water-spewing backpack called FLUDD, or Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device, allowing Mario to blast enemies, hover on jets, and boost across surface tension. Gadd’s other innovations include the Poltergust 3000 from Luigi’s Mansion, Mario Party 4’s Gaddlight, and an automated coffee shop in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. POLARI Rosalina’s advisor and the…

Format PC Pub Fatshark Dev Fatshark ETA Autumn 2018 Join forces with up to three other players and take on an endless sea of rat-men. Where they have teeth and claws, you have a variety of melee and ranged weapons to overcome their ratty forces. The first played out as Left 4 Deadmeets-Warhammer, with a layer of RPG mechanics over the top, and while details are still thin on the ground for this sequel, we’d expect more of that winning formula. Early screens, though, suggest you’ll be getting out of the city and into the wilderness this time.…

Format PC Pub Iceberg Dev Davit Andreasyan ETA Autumn Jonathan awakes in a dank and dirty prison cell. How did he get here? How can he get out? Is this all a horrible dream? And when did he last have a tetanus shot? That’s what you’ve got to figure out in Iceberg’s psychological horror. The bulk of it consists of exploring the rusty confines of incarceration and trying not to lose your mind. Solve reality-bending puzzles, dodge evil prison guards, and encounter all manner of unsettling imagery, like infinite hallways and phantom convicts. We want our phone call.…

“Re:Legend is an all-encompassing RPG-simulator hybrid with strong monster raising and multiplayer features. Washed ashore on the island of Vokka, you must build and expand your village through a huge variety of activities while collecting and raising adorable monster-like creatures called Magnus. All Magnus are tameable and come with unique skillsets that may help you with farming, combat, or travel. The way you care for them will influence how they grow, and some may even evolve into entirely new forms. Re:Legend is best enjoyed with friends – up to three other players can join you on an adventure to discover what kind of Magnus live in the various regions of the island, or spend some time helping out around the village. While there are many tasks and quests available, players…

1 MARIO + RABBIDS KINGDOM BATTLE SWITCH Between its infectious enthusiasm and surprisingly challenging strategy battles, this hybrid beast has become my favourite Switch game so far. Robin Valentine, Editor 2 DESTINY 2 PS4 Who cares about Light level? With his hot pink Sparrow, flower-patterned robe, and neon green boots, my robot Warlock is seriously fabulous – and that’s what really matters. Robin Valentine, Editor 3 UNCHARTED: THE LOST LEGACY PS4 With the ability to digitally alter expressions in the photo mode, I’m going back over scenes again and again like George Lucas did with the Star Wars trilogy. Ben Griffin, Senior Staff Writer 4 HORIZON ZERO DAWN PS4 After obtaining the Shield-Weaver armour, I’m running around getting revenge on all the robot animals as a near-invulnerable survivalist. Ben Griffin,…

He may have the widest head in comics this side of MODOK, but Black Manta’s no joke. Between his eye lasers, harpoon gun, jetpack, and impressive collection of knives, he’s a deadly addition to Injustice 2’s roster. Just get ready to hear a lot of intros about how much he hates Aquaman. He’s available now, and will be joined later this year by crossover characters Raiden (from Mortal Kombat, not Metal Gear), and monster-hunting demon-man Hellboy. Middle-earth: Shadow Of War’s adding an extra character too, with its Forthog Orc-Slayer DLC out in time for launch. This friendly orc is a tribute to developer Michael Forgey, formerly an executive producer at the studio, who sadly died last year of a brain tumour, with all profit from sales going to his family.…

AROMA ROUND Here it is. The scent that might just follow your favourite ’mon. Gametee’s Grass Type candle is just what you need for a peaceful night relaxing before getting up bright and early for a catch-’em-all adventure. Apple blossom and berries? We’re in. SOUL SURVIVOR Thankfully now unavailable to buy, the 20-Year Anniversary Diablo Collector’s candle promises that it smells of ‘burned souls reaped in the world of Sanctuary.’ Oh. Yum. Just what your room should smell like after a gaming session. We might just go to IKEA and pick up some not-so-deathly GLIMMA instead. SPIRIT BLOOMING NICE Want to know what Wormspore smells like? “Mossy with citrus tones” is the answer. Discover the aromas of your favourite Destiny planets with this five-candle official set, complete with a Ghost…

Through the Rift So I decided to jump onboard the VR bandwagon and took advantage of the summer Oculus Rift promotion. I’d previously tried out my brother’s PS VR, and was suitably impressed, but couldn’t see the long term appeal. I can now say I can. People doubting the longevity of VR need to maybe go back and try it again. I am very impressed with the Rift and its touch controls which make the gameplay experience more immersive than I first thought. I know the overall cost of owning a VR device like this or the PS VR/HTC Vive can be offputting, but man it’s worth it. I enjoy scary games and can usually get through most when playing normally on my TV but by God it’s more terrifying…

THE LAST OF US PART TWO Format PS4 ETA Winter 2018 We dread to think what the Clickers look like now they’ve had a few more years of going mouldy and… mutate-y. Our guess: bloody ugly. SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY Format Switch ETA 27 October You’re right to be so excited about this one, people – and you can find out why in our huge cover feature over on p22. RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 Format PS4, XO ETA Spring 2018 A horse, a ten gallon hat, and the vast, rolling range of the Wild West before you… It’s the stuff gaming dreams are made of, it really is. SPIDER-MAN Format PS4 ETA Summer 2018 Remember in the cartoon when he grew a bunch of extra arms, and then turned into a…

10% According to Tsunekazu Ishihara, CEO of the Pokémon Company, Pokémon Go currently features only 10 per cent of the content the company has planned for it. 30,000 At launch, online action game Absolver had around 30,000 concurrent players – sales-wise, it’s publisher Devolver Digital’s biggest game launch ever. 8m At time of writing, Blizzard’s ‘Rise & Shine’ short film, filling out Overwatch’s Mei’s backstory, has over 8 million views. 10m PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has sold over 10 million units since its launch into Steam Early Access earlier this year.…

RETRO BROS Grab your legwarmers and book in for a poodle perm, Switch owners, because Nintendo is bringing the 1980s back. Specifically it’s bringing a series of ’80s classics to Switch, starting with the original, non-Super (but still rather special) Mario Bros., which will be out by the time you read this. Vs Super Mario Bros., Vs Balloon Fight, Vs Ice Climber, Vs Pinball, Vs Clu Clu Land and Punch-Out!! will follow. IT’S FUR CHARITY After a summer of disasters, Blizzard has released this year’s World Of Warcraft charity pet early. Shadow The Fox is on sale for £10, and the fee is split between the American Red Cross Disaster Relief, and the International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies. LEGENDARY Cult classic Okami is coming to PS4,…

Japan, 1980. A young Shigeru Miyamoto has plans for a game based on Popeye, but Nintendo can’t secure the license, so the designer fills in the gaps with Popeye surrogates. Pauline plays Olive Oyl, and Donkey Kong the Bluto stand-in desperate to kidnap her. The original look of Mario – or ‘Jumpman’ – was defined by limitations in tech: he had dungarees to make his arms more visible, and a hat to save on modelling hair. Once development finished, Donkey Kong motherboards were slotted into the refurbished cabinets of Miyamoto’s earlier flop, Radar Scope, and the game sold 60,000 units in the first year. As for the name? Mario was named after the company’s landlord, Mario Segale, who was immortalised forever after bursting in on a Nintendo meeting angrily demanding…

DORRIE Dorrie is the friendly Plesiosaur from Super Mario 64 who endlessly paddles around an underground lake in Hazy Maze Cave. Clearly not made for the water, in the 3DS port Nintendo gave him goggles. Cute. KURIBO SHOE First appearing in Super Mario Bros 3, this massive wind-up boot lets Mario hop across spikes. In Super Mario Maker there’s even a stiletto variant. But who is this footwear for? Are there unseen giants stomping around the Mushroom Kingdom? ICE SKATE Goombas ride ice skates around Snowball Park in Super Mario 3D World, but Mario can commandeer them and zip away across the ice like an Italian Dean, from Olympic-gold-medal-winning British figure skating duo Torvill and Dean. HORSE Mario’s love for equines knows no bounds. He races them in Mario Sports…

Millennium Falcon We all know the Millennium Falcon’s key asset: speed. The ability to overcharge your weapons system for some extra punch and fire off a round of concussion missiles comes in handy too. Slave I Bounty hunter Boba Fett’s uniquely shaped ship is all about power. It’s able to dish out as much damage with its powerful seismic charges as it’s got the capacity to take, thanks to its sturdy hull. Scimitar Fans of stealth will want to get in the cockpit of Darth Maul’s Scimitar. It comes equipped with a cloaking device that allows you to temporarily turn invisible and ambush your enemies. Black One Poe Dameron’s ship has an ability that sends out a radar-like pulse, highlighting enemy ships for your teammates. The lovable BB-8 is on…

 Format PS4, XO, PC Publisher Capcom Developer Capcom ETA Winter 2018 “ONE REASON THIS IS CALLED ‘WORLD’ IS THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER” After bashing a Great Jagras into submission with our hammer, we return to base with a sack full of parts to prepare for a tougher challenge. We craft a swish new set of Jagras armour, switch out our hammer for a set of dual blades, and treat our hunter to a hearty meal to boost our attack and defence before heading out to hunt our next target: the Anjanath. Monster Hunter veterans will have noted this all sounds familiar. There have been concerns from fans that this sequel is dumbing down the series to appeal to new players. Certainly, one of the reasons Capcom…

Format PC Pub 1 Bit Studios, Dev 1 Bit Studios, ETA 17 October The studio behind This War Of Mine has crafted an even bleaker survival game, one in which you’ll need more than a thick coat to brave. It’s all about making impossible decisions as you manage the last city on Earth. Will you put children to work or ban child labour outright? Experiment on the sick (bad) or let them crowd up hospitals (also bad)? Although you’ll develop steam power to make shelters, facilities, and homes, all the steam on Earth can’t decide ethical quandaries for you. There’s no right answers here: only very cold ones.…

Fancy hearing how Assassin’s Creed’s Ezio met the Mona Lisa? Itching to get inside the mind of a Dark Souls boss? You might want to check out a videogame-based comic or two. Perfect for those mourning the loss of manuals, or who demand a bit more flavour than a Wikipedia entry, licensed game fiction is instrumental in fleshing out characters, expanding worlds, and introducing wild new story arcs, all in visually distinct art styles. Titan Comics features some of the best in the business. Part of Titan Publishing, a purveyor of official game, film and TV fiction since 1981, the initiative runs strips based on everything from Quake to Blood Bowl. So join us as we explore four of its books, based on the endlessly enveloping universes of Assassin’s Creed…

Format PS4, XO, PC Dev Hollow Tree Games ETA Spring 2018 Web http://bit.ly/gmshapeoftheworld How do you describe Proteus, Journey, or even Flower? No words do those experiences justice. Sure, you walk, you wear a scarf and walk through the sand, and you’re, er, a petal, but those games are far more than words could convey. Well, prepare to slide Shape Of The World into the ‘Indescribable’ category with them. A journey through a world of colour and music, this unique adventure unfolds and grows around you. “Since I was a kid, getting lost has been a favourite experience of mine,” ex-Gears of War 4 developer and lead on the project at Hollow Tree Games, Stu Maxwell, explains. “When I became old enough to venture away from…

Co-op returns to the Knack universe, allowing a pal to jump in as a second, bluer (his colour, not his language) Knack. Playing with a friend, or perhaps with your children, would probably help make some of the more tedious sequences more bearable, but that’s true of almost any game. There doesn’t appear to be much considerable difficulty scaling when a second player jumps in, so it might be worth jumping up to one of the more challenging difficulty settings if you’re planning to play this with a grown-up pal.…

One of the most enjoyable modes this year is Random Selection, a long forgotten mode where your team will be randomly generated from four different bits of criteria you set for it. It’s been a while though, so here’s a handy guide for your first few games. 1 It’s tucked away in the Play Now menu. However, it does get a big square in there, so you can’t miss it. 2 You’ll still choose a team, but only for their formation and their kit. Then you choose your criteria. 3 The game then randomly generates a squad for you, giving a flashy introduction for the three best players. 4 You can nab one player from the opposition and protect one of your players. But so can your opponent... 5 Finally,…

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD Switch / Wii U Nintendo casually revolutionises the open-world genre with perhaps the best launch title ever. Explore, fight, and cook your way across Hyrule. GRAND THEFT AUTO V PS4 / XO / PC / PS3 / 360 Rockstar’s most detailed, immersive cityscape yet serves as the backdrop for a brilliantly explosive, multi-layered crime saga. THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT PS4 / XO / PC An unbelievably vast fantasy world, where grim adventure – and brilliantly mature, engaging storytelling – lurks around every corner. THE LAST OF US PS4 / PS3 Naughty Dog’s greatest triumph yet: the dark and truly cinematic tale of Joel and Ellie, two survivors in a dying world. DARK SOULS III PS4 / XO / PC Weighty, impactful…

Q1 The game known in the west as Super Mario Bros 2 started off as something very different in Japan. What was it called originally? A) Kabu Prince B) Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic C) Super Haikan Adventure 2 Q2 When was Mario’s first appearance in a videogame? A) 1989 B) 1985 C) 1981 Q3 Who was the main villain of 1989 Game Boy classic Super Mario Land? A) Tatanga B) Wart C) Wario Q4 How many golf games has Mario appeared in? A) 6 B) 7 C) 8 Q5 Who invented the FLUDD in Super Mario Sunshine? A) Doctor U Reeka B) Mr Splashstein C) Professor E Gadd Q6 Of the seven party members in Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, only one is optional – which one? A) Admiral Bobbery B) Ms Mowz C)…