Table of contents for December 2017 in Gamesmaster

Now this is a packed issue (as if the cover didn’t clue you in to that already). It’s a magical time of year for games – huge releases round every corner, and the whiff in the air of an amazing new year to come. What could be better? Rest assured, we’ve bottled that mystic atmosphere, distilled it into a sort of wonderful jam, and smeared it all over every single page. We’ve pushed Far Cry 5 to its very limits in our latest hands-on, all while grilling the man behind its big, mad story, and we’ve got a huge, lovely feature to show for it. We’re ready to answer the big questions other mags wouldn’t dare raise – such as ‘can you set a cow on fire with a blowtorch?’…

Still loving the mag, keep up the good work! Why do you think Nintendo don’t create enough stock of the mini consoles they produce? I know it creates demand, but they sell like hot cakes so why would Nintendo want to give money to all the scalpers?! I managed to get myself a Mini SNES and unlock Star Fox 2! I must say the reality of playing it wasn’t quite as good as I had imagined… I can see why it never got released as it was pushing the FX chip and the SNES to the absolute limits and made it run very slow and choppy! In fact, most of the games I remembered so highly haven’t stood the test of time. Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough…

I think GM’s reviews should have no score. While controversial when other publications have done it, I think it really makes you digest the review content. It’s all opinions anyway. Antony Jarvis, @Jarvisio The only thing about me that I’d call mythical is my ability to scoff a Ben & Jerry’s and still have room for more. Benjamin Abbott, @thewordyben Vampyr is going to be a brilliant game. The idea of a vampire going around London saying “Bloody ’ell!” Dick Van Dyke-style is great! Daniel Climo, Facebook Hugely impressed with Mario + Rabbids, way better than it has any right to be and genuinely funny too. Adam Wiper, Facebook When will Telltale Games work on a Blade Runner series? It has a lot of potential!!! Scott Jones, @1STMETALGOD Red Dead…

ROBIN’S PICK Dragon Quest Builders 2 Square Enix has yet to confirm a Western release for this sequel, but assuming it does reach our shores eventually (and it’ll break my little heart if it doesn’t), I’ll be right on it. Where Minecraft’s never quite clicked for me, the first DQ Builders’ more structured, mission-based approach to crafting was just my thing. And what a perfect game to take with me on the go on my Switch! Switch, PS4 – Spring 2019 BEN’S PICK Star Wars Battlefront II Ah, Jar Jar Binks. Objectively the funniest Star Wars character. He’s the Seinfeld of sci-fi, and if I have one request, it’s to play as him here. We already have Darth Maul waging canon-shattering dust-ups with Rey, Yoda flying spaceships, and Han Solo…

NARRATIVE DIRECTOR JEAN-SÉBASTIEN DECANT Before his role on Far Cry 5, the Ubisoft Montreal developer worked on Far Cry Primal, Rainbow Six Siege, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Heavy Rain, and Far Cry 3. That’s one impressive CV! GM: What, for you, are the core principles of a Far Cry story? Jean-Sébastien Decant: I think, at first, it’s attached with the setting. We have to find a setting that’s going to be a good bedrock for a survival story. So, it’s about survival, it’s about a place that… it’s kind of a frontier where you find people that are stuck there either because they grew up there, or because they wanted to be in a remote place. So, survival, frontier, and people that want to live on the site.…

“YOU STEP INTO THE SPURS OF ARTHUR MORGAN, A MEAN, DRIVEN OUTLAW WHO’S CHASING DEBTS” Format PS4, XO Publisher Rockstar Developer Rockstar ETA Spring 2018 The most astonishing chunk of Wild West real estate you’ve ever seen. A devilish new outlaw who comes across as part Jesse James, part Boba Fett. A final (fingers crossed!) release date of Spring 2018. Rockstar’s epic old-timey sandbox is almost upon us, and our trigger fingers are itchy for frontier fun. The cowboy CliffNotes from Red Dead Redemption 2’s latest footage? It looks increasingly certain it’s a prequel to 2010’s melancholy adventure. Train robberies appear to play a big role. The open world is the most visually varied and spectacular sandbox Rockstar’s ever designed. Oh, and you won’t be playing as a young John…

Format PC, Mobile Pub Amanita Design Dev Amanita Design ETA Spring 2018 First announced in late 2016 with little info or fanfare, this strange-looking game had a suitably odd lead-up to its next round of publicity. A Twitter account with the handle @chuchelchuchel started tweeting in July, trickling out a series of bizarre, often Photoshop-laden posts until the first proper trailer came along in early October. Chuchel is the next game from Amanita Design (of Machinarium fame). We can’t quite decide if the little… thing you’ll be controlling is cute or disturbing, with its rotund, furry-looking body, huge round eyes, and four skinny limbs like a spider’s legs, but the game itself is packed with potential. Distinctive and superb art design combines with the unique and surreal soundtrack to create…

Format PS4, XO, PC Pub Starbreeze Dev Double Fine ETA Summer 2018 No, it’s not some sort of cruel dream; we really are getting a sequel, and Double Fine has now created and revealed the first playable chunk of game, which the devs say is about an hour and a half long. Based on a piece of concept art, it still needs a lot of tweaking and refining before it’s a final, shippable level. That’s far from obvious; it already looks great, contains a fairly large area, has plenty for Raz to jump and clamber over, and even already has powers and a levelling-up mechanic. Plus a goat! We’re somehow even more excited now.…

1986 METROID Where it all began (Xanadu wept). 1987 CASTLEVANIA II: SIMON’S QUEST With added maps, whips and XP. 1988 BLASTER MASTER Overlooked cosmic gem. 1994 SUPER METROID Flashy automap and awesome arsenal. 1996 THE DIVIDE: ENEMIES WITHIN Forgotten Metroid homage. 1997 CASTLEVANIA: SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT Messy, kitsch, timeless. 2004 METROID: ZERO MISSION With added navigation guidance. CAVE STORY Birth of indies, rebirth of Metroidvania. 2008 CASTLEVANIA: ORDER OF ECCLESIA Definitive handheld Castlevania. 2009 SHADOW COMPLEX Metroid in the modern day. 2010 VVVVVV Minimal, anti-gravity Metroid. 2012 DUST: AN ELYSIAN TAIL Pretty backgrounds, deep combat. 2013 ROGUE LEGACY Castlevania meets roguelike. GUACAMELEE Metroidvania goes to Mexico. 2015 ORI AND THE BLIND FOREST Moon Studios’ masterpiece. AXIOM VERGE Metroid tribute, with added glitching. 2016 SALT AND SANCTUARY Dark Souls in…

Format Switch Developer Numizmatic ETA 2018 Web http://bit.ly/gmlightfingers When we first saw those hipster-packed Switch trailers, we were cynical. Surely no one in 2017 would bring a console to a rooftop party? While there are fewer mason jars, the truth is we’ve all become Switch lifestyle shots. Impromptu Mario Kart 8 sessions are the norm, and local multiplayer has never been so accessible. Thankfully there’s a slew of indie devs making the most of this pick-up-and-playability. First on your ‘Can’t wait to share’ list should be Light Fingers, an interactive board game that unfolds a beautiful mechanised world at the roll of a die. “The Switch was Nintendo sticking to its roots, understanding its audience and bringing people back together,” explains programmer, lead designer, and artist Hubert Bibrowski. “Making two…

Races can start out with the circuit totally dry. Then you get some spots of rain, with damp tarmac following. Before long, the whole track is awash with slippery kerbs and dastardly puddles that’ll make you aquaplane off the track if you don’t treat them with respect. Unlike in some racing sims, there’s still a decent amount of grip during wet weather races, but the car will fishtail much more easily. In some cars, like the Formula Ford, you can pull off some ridiculously fun drifts. Who says you’re not taking the race seriously? Aren’t you supposed to drive sideways?…

Straight from the good old days, when judo chops were legal challenges, come icons, each with three card variants representing different stages of their careers. Trace Ferdinand’s trajectory from youthful speedster to defensive general, or Henry’s positional switch from Juventus winger to Arsenal striker. They change appearance too: 2002-era Ronaldo has that weird front-wedge haircut, for example. Pele’s best with a 98 rating, and elsewhere there’s the likes of Shearer, Viera, Schmeichel, Owen, Shevchenko, and Gullit. Prime variants are available intermittently throughout the year during #ThrowbackThursdays. The rest are up for grabs any time.…

Ammunition is in short supply in the surreal, STEM-built world of Union. This sequel features a new crafting mechanic, however, so you’re able to make your own from the materials you find in the world. Of all the things you can make, gunpowder is the biggie: you can convert it straight to bullets for your handgun or shotgun, and it’s used in virtually every other recipe too. You can make ammo on the fly, but it’s best to find a safe house that has a workbench, because crafting there costs fewer resources. Our advice? Grab absolutely everything you see, from fuses to bent metal pipes, because it’s all going to be useful for something. Oh, and look out for glowing plants — their herbs make medical kits. You willneed those.…

TOMB RAIDER The pair of headphones you’d expect to find in an Egyptian tomb – if Pharaohs cared about audio quality – these 18-carat-gold Assassin’s Creed Utopia cans are from Focal and French jeweller Tournaire. There are only 10 sets worldwide, and they’ll set you back €50,000… And the Bayek head is extra. LOOKING SHARP Thankfully more affordable, Razer’s Destiny 2 Man O’War headphones will turn you into a true Guardian. With 7.1 virtual surround sound and a 3.5mm jack for using with both PS4 and Xbox One as well as PC, you’ll be cranking up the 50mm drivers as high as possible to hear Graviton Lance in action. POKéBALL GOOD What’s the best way to make yourself feel like you’re in a Pokéball? Halve one and put one side…

Taking cues from classic detective stories like Chinatown and The Untouchables, LA Noire plunges you into the corrupt world of 1940s Los Angeles as detective Cole Phelps, where you solve cases of Traffic, Homicide, Vice, and Arson. Though some of the subplots can be hard to follow, each individual case makes for an interesting mystery. Though the game features fun driving and shooting sections, you’ll spend most of your time searching for clues which you can use to interrogate suspects in a compelling system that you’ll try your hardest not to screw up on. If you didn’t check this game out when it first released, I highly recommend you grab the upcoming remaster as it’s a fantastic and hugely underrated title that deserves your attention. And if this review hasn’t…

25 Beloved fight game series Mortal Kombat is 25 years old this year. That’s right, it’s been a quarter of a century of decapitations, spine rips, and ‘get over here’s. 7m Over seven million players have now tried out Epic’s new building-focused shooter Fortnite, a number surely boosted by its popular new ‘Battle Royale’ mode. 38 The Divinity: Original Sin 2 speedrun record has been set at 38 minutes. YouTuber Onin has achieved quite the feat. 4m Ubisoft will be buying back four million of its shares as part of its ongoing efforts to fight off a hostile takeover by Vivendi.…

STEALTH MASTER Master Chief has infiltrated Xbox One X! If you’re lucky enough to own one of the costly consoles, you probably won’t want to take it apart – but that’s just what José Antonio Pontón, a reporter for Unocero, a Spanish technology YouTube channel, did, when he visited Microsoft’s campus. He discovered an etching of Master Chief riding a scorpion marked on the board – something most of us will never see. SWITCHING UP Two well-loved games are now on Switch. First, spooky mystery Oxenfree is sure to please lovers of a good story. But be careful with the second: farm sim Stardew Valley will suck up whatever spare time you thought you had, and the spare time you hadn’t realised existed. GRAPHIC FIGHTS We’re big fans of Nintendo’s…

MOLE Mines litter the route ahead. There’s no way through. Until, that is, you summon your good pal Mr Resetti from Animal Crossing to deactivate them from beneath! In addition, he could dig behind enemy lines and leave lots of small craters to trip over. OCTOPUS Diddy Kong Racing’s Bubbler could bind Far Cry 5’s enemies’ arms behind their backs and squeeze under barred doors to open them from the other side. Its most feared technique would be sitting in corridors and leaving a trailing tentacle to trip over. FIREFLY Having a swarm of Skyrim’s Torchbugs at your disposal would be amazing. You’d throw them flashbang-style, and use them to search for lost ammo down the back of the sofa. Also, you’d be able to explore the deepest, darkest cave…

Arthur Morgan Redemption 2’s recently revealed star sure seems to have a ruthless streak. When he’s not holding up bank managers, or threatening young men who have just lost their father, Morgan looks a real sweetheart. Dutch van der Linde Last time Dutch was the fallen hero, a good man corrupted by greed who lost the principles he once fought for. In RDR2, the gang leader is extra paranoid, though he and Morgan seem close. Bill Williamson Another corrupt outlaw John Marston tracked and slaughtered on behalf of the government in the original Redemption. Bill pops up only to get stabbed in the hand in the second trailer. Female outlaw We don’t know her name yet, but she runs with Morgan’s gang. Seeing as she’s the one who stabs Bill,…

Format PS4, PC, PS Vita Publisher Square Enix Developer Square Enix ETA 15 February 2018 If teaming up with Noctis and co in Final Fantasy XV’s new multiplayer expansion is too westernised for your tastes, grabbing a buddy or two and following the adventures of Randai, Primm, and Popoi in this 3D remake of a 1993 SNES classic might be right up your old-timey street. Secret Of Mana is fairly standard RPG fare, involving exploring monster-laden areas and wandering around towns purchasing items and conversing with the local populace – albeit now with voiceovers and an extra dimension to the graphics. In fact, compare the two versions side-by-side and you can see just how faithfully recreated this souped-up entry is. Like the original, the game opens with Randai adventuring with…

Format PS4, XO, PC Pub Bandai Namco Dev Arc System Works ETA Feb 2018 Bandai Namco’s visually stunning anime fighter continues to impress. Beating people to a pulp is great fun, of course – er, within the context of a videogame, we mean – but what about those who want a bit of storytelling action? Well, fear not! A story mode has been confirmed, as has the involvement of the Androids 16, 17, and 18. But that’s not all! Yamcha and Tien will be playable, and new character Android 21 has also been introduced, her design supervised by none other than Dragon Ball daddy Akira Toriyama.…

#1 WEST OF LOATHING It might look like something you’d doodle in the back of your jotter in school but don’t be fooled, West Of Loathing is a hilarious, in-depth RPG. Pick your class, head out into the detailed open world, and turn up the rollicking soundtrack. All the fun of Westworld without waiting for HBO. #2 LIMBO Spiders? Check. Hideous head worms? Check. LED signs that murder you? Also check. It’s besides the point but who on earth would want to see this in full colour? Taking fifty shades of grey to a whole new horrifying level, even replaying Limbo is a disturbing shadowy gift to your nightmares. #3 HIDDEN FOLKS How do you make Where’s Wally even harder? Make it monochrome and have everything move. Adriaan de Jongh’s…

“THIS IS SWITCH’S SECOND BONA FIDE CLASSIC, AND MARIO’S BOLDEST OUTING IN 20 YEARS” Format Switch Publisher Nintendo Developer Nintendo ETA Out now Players 1-2 Everyone’s favourite dungaree-clad dude has been a jumping jack-of-all-trades down the years. Occasionally he pops up as a kart-racing speedster. Other times he’s a suspiciously agile tennis player. And on extra rare occasions, you may even catch him impersonating a puzzle-solving GP with a questionable doctorate. Yet it’s only now the iconic Italian can claim to have starred as a cap-wearing tyrannosaur. Welcome to Super Mario Odyssey: the second bona fide masterpiece to hit Nintendo Switch, and the plumber’s boldest outing in two decades. Much of the credit for this revitalised new direction can be credited to Cappy, the sentient top hat Mario meets five…

“IN SHADOW OF MORDOR YOU WERE BUILDING A ROWDY GANG; HERE YOU’RE BUILDING AN ARMY” Format PS4 (reviewed), XO, PC Publisher Warner Bros Dev Monolith Productions ETA Out now Players 1 This sequel starts off familiarly. As you scurry around Minas Ithil, capturing towers, getting back into the dance of combat, and doing missions for people you struggle to care about, you’ll question whether the Middle-earth series had peaked with 2014 sleeper hit Shadow Of Mordor. But a couple of hours in it reveals a widened web of systems that embed you deeper than ever in the chaos of orcish politics. You see, Shadow Of War really hammers home that this series is about orcs. The protagonist, Aragorn knock-off Talion, and his elf-wraith sidekick Celebrimbor are just a convenient tool…

“THE RESULT WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE 3D PLATFORMERS OF THE PLAYSTATION 2 ERA” Developer Naughty Dog Publisher Sony Released 2001 Format PS2 Get it PSN, eBay As studios go, Naughty Dog is one of the most consistent and illustrious in gaming. Yet, at the start of the PS2 era, the studio had a point to prove as it bid goodbye to Crash Bandicoot, who started its legacy. Swapping one mute lead character who runs around a variety of environments for another might have felt like a safe bet, but Jak was far more ambitious than his older brother. The origin Plans for the game began in 1998, when it was dubbed ‘Project X’ and had just two programmers working on it, while the rest of the studio focused…

Not sure which games to grab? Trust the experts (that’s us) to shine a light of clarity through your fog of confusion. Over this spread you’ll find GamesMaster’s 100 per cent scientifically accurate and indisputable list of the greatest games on modern machines – updated monthly – as well as the top five most vital exclusives on each of the major platforms. Pick one of these up and, buddy, you’re going to have yourself a good time. 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…

Motor mouth With the announcement of four new racing games coming out soon, (Need For Speed Payback, Project Cars 2, The Crew 2, and GT Sport) we will be spoiled for choice over the next six-ish months, And as a massive petrolhead, I am quite looking forward to three of them. However, that got me thinking: where will racing games be in ten years time? Many people know that petrol- and diesel-powered cars are becoming a thing of the past, With the introduction of a new electric breed, many of our favourite cars are being discontinued or turning green, Statistics show that by the year 2025, every single petrol-powered car will be extinct, electric will take over. Volvo have said that they will only make electric cars by 2019, and…

RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 Format PS4, XO ETA Spring 2018 You lot are more excited than a cowboy at an all-you-can-eat baked bean buffet for this one. Read the latest story details over on p30. STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT II Format PS4, XO, PC ETA 17 November It’s so close now you can practically taste the blaster bolts. We’ve already played the hell out this saber-swinging sequel – you can read all about it over on p34. SPIDER-MAN Format PS4 ETA Summer 2018 Peter Parker’s a true journalist’s journalist – barely ever in the office, loads of powerful enemies, and all his articles are about himself. DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ Format PS4, XO, PC ETA February 2018 Screaming, mad hair, and senseless destruction – but enough about GM’s deadline week, this anime…

DUTY CALLS Take a trip back to the 1940s with COD: WWII. No ration card or gas mask required. BLUE BLAZES Sonic and his furry pals race onto a console or PC near you in Sonic Forces today. VENGEANCE IS STREET Bring down a cartel using your amazing driving in Need For Speed: Payback. ATTACK THE BLOCK Time-travelling, multi-world superheroics? It can only be Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2. DETECTIVE MODE Time to reopen some old case files with LA Noire Remastered, out today. FUR NOW Treat your virtual people to some pets with The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs expansion. STAR PRIZE Star Wars: Battlefront II is the big release of the month. Sign up with the Empire today! FIRST PRIZE Time to pick up GamesMaster issue 324 –…

THE SOUTH PACIFIC An unnamed South Pacific archipelago was the setting for Far Cry’s first outing. Its picturesque beaches, forests, and canyons soon gave way to treacherous mines and research labs, where a mad scientist named Krieger conducted hideous experiments in genetic engineering. AFRICA The sequel set aside connections to its predecessor and took you to a central African state embroiled in a fierce civil war. Faction leaders, mercenaries, and arms dealers clashed over blood diamonds, further plunging the place into turmoil. Plus mosquitoes gave you malaria. THE ROOK ISLANDS Back to paradise we went for Far Cry 3. Its tropical islands were situated between the Indian and Pacific oceans. Not only did you have pirates to deal with following a skydiving expedition gone wrong, but crocodiles, leopards, and cassowary.…

Great Jagras This giant iguana will be the first major monster most people encounter. The poor thing looks like it’d rather lie around in its own filth than fight, but a monster hunter’s gotta hunt monsters, as they say… Barroth A heavily armoured monster that hangs out in the desert. During our battle with one of these beasties, it eventually fled to a body of water, where it slowed us down with a sticky clay attack. Sneaky. Anjanath Aka Turkey-Rex: The toughest quest monster we fought has nostrils that expand when it’s angry, fire-breath, and fins that sprout from its back. (Nope, we’re not sure what they’re for either.) Diablos Formidable winged dragon that has the same demonic horns on its head as on its tail. Can turn up at…

“A GIDDY SATISFACTION COMES FROM USING POWERFUL ABILITIES THAT HIT MULTIPLE OPPONENTS” Format Switch, PS4, PC Publisher Square Enix Developer Tokyo RPG Factory ETA 23 January 2018 Lost Sphear (no, that’s not a typo) is the latest project from Tokyo RPG Factory – developer of the equally oddly named I Am Setsuna. A strange title isn’t the only thing this game has in common with Setsuna, though: it has the same dazzling art style, top-down perspective, and ‘active time battle’ combat system as its spiritual predecessor. This second offering from the studio introduces a brand-new world, with a more upbeat tone. The bright colours make Lost Sphear’s autumnal surroundings feel more spirited and inviting, and while there is still a sombre aspect to the narrative, it’s offset with a sense…

Format XO, PC Pub Microsoft Dev Rare ETA Spring 2018 The latest update on Rare’s seafaring multiplayer adventure asks a rather philosophical question: what happens when you die? While the answer is relevant to the game rather than the real world, the answer is interesting nonetheless. When you die, you’ll take a journey on the Ferry Of The Damned back to the living world. Other players will join you in this limbo, allowing you to chat with or mock them. Your ship and treasure, meanwhile, stay where they are, vulnerable to destruction and looting. Eep!…

Format PC Pub Finji Dev Finji ETA Summer 2018 A post-apocalyptic world, interesting art style, survival mechanics, dogs… this procedurally-generated adventure ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of people. The basic idea is to get your squad to survive this unfriendly world by any means possible which, you may not be surprised to learn, often involves hitting other people over the head with things. It’s been in First Access at itch.io (so totally different from Early Access) for a while, but will be heading to Steam next year. One to watch if you want to practise for the end of the world.…

“The Swords Of Ditto is a compressed action RPG that gives you a new adventure every time you play it. The layout of the world, the characters within it, and the challenges you find are different for every story you play. The deeds you accomplish in an adventure change how the next is formed, with everything you do becoming the tale of the next world’s Hero Of Legend. The people of the island of Ditto will be quick to celebrate you if you vanquish evil, but if you die, then that world is lost, and Ditto is plunged into 100 years of darkness! Take up the role of the Sword Of Ditto, the hero that rises every 100 years, and defeat the evil Mormo with outlandish weapons such as a…

Odyssey may be made up from a plethora of expertly designed sandbox worlds, but the game also does an excellent job of using 2D space. Most kingdoms you encounter during the galaxy-roaming journey house warp pipes that will transform Mario into his former 8-bit self. The resulting side-scrolling sections look fantastic contrasted against the luscious 3D environments, and their inclusion shows that despite the advance of technology, Nintendo has never forgotten its icon’s beloved platforming roots.…

There’s been controversy surrounding micro-transactions and DLC in Shadow Of War, culminating in Warner Bros making the Forthog DLC (dedicated to executive producer Mike Forgey, who recently died of cancer) free, after questions over where the charity funds raised from it were going. Micro-transaction content is accessed by a dedicated ‘Market’ button in the menu, where you’ll find war chests, XP boosts, and other clicker-type stuff. It’s fairly unintrusive, and the currency used can quite easily be earned in-game. That said, it inevitably means that the online Fort Conquest mode at higher levels will involve a lot of ‘pay-to-win’ players, which taints one of the game’s best new features.…

“VEHICLE COLLECTION TIERS MEAN YOU NEED TO PLAY THE GAME A LOT TO GET SOME OF THE BEST STUFF” Format XO (reviewed), PC Publisher Microsoft Studios Developer Turn 10 Studios ETA Out now Players 1-24 If you told someone that this was Xbox One X doing its thing, they’d be impressed. But it isn’t. Microsoft’s new wonder machine wasn’t quite yet available for this review, so what you’re looking at here is a standard Xbox One game. To say it’s impressive is an understatement. With dynamic weather, screen-filling effects, and 60fps update intact, this is the most technically-proficient racer yet. The thought of it looking even better on the new machine is making us drool on our desks. But such technical prowess is only half of the story: Forza 7…

The ability to zoom in and out of the battlefield has been streamlined so you can access a top-down aerial view if you keep rolling the mouse wheel back. This has many advantages, as you can quickly see the layout of your army, but simplifies the graphics so much you’ll be itching to zoom back into the thick of things as your armoured cavalry slams into a regiment of peasants. On the world map things work slightly differently, and you’ll need to get your head around the dichotomy of the control schemes to avoid swinging the camera wildly in the heat of battle.…

1 PICROSS S SWITCH This clever crosswords-with-counting puzzle game has somehow managed to trick me into finding numbers fun, a feat never achieved by any of my maths teachers. Robin Valentine, Editor 2 MIDDLE-EARTH: SHADOW OF WAR PC I’ve really made a friend in orc captain Norsko. He’s shot me full of crossbow bolts, I’ve burned all his skin off. We’ve been through some stuff, you know? Robin Valentine, Editor 3 WINDJAMMERS PS4 This competitive frisbeethrower has got my wind well and truly jammed. There’s surprising depth beneath its totally radical aesthetic. I’ve even started wearing tiny shorts. Ben Griffin, Senior Staff Writer 4 FIFA 18 XO I’m addicted to wheeling and dealing players in Ultimate Team to build fat stacks of non-existent coins. If only I had that financial…

Any excuse to return to the excellent Horizon Zero Dawn is very welcome in our book, so this month’s release of the Frozen Wilds DLC campaign has got us rather excited. This new adventure will take you to the chilly home of the Banuk tribe, beyond the northern mountains, to solve a dangerous mystery. That’s right – you’ll visit a new area, with its own machine creatures to fight, weapons to find, abilities to unlock, and more. Sadly, this is apparently the only expansion planned for the game – a ‘complete edition’ bundling this and the base game is planned for early December. (We’ll let you off this time, Guerilla, but only if you promise you’re hard at work on the sequel…) You’ll be able to grab the definitive version…

1 Keef The Thief (PC – 1989) Before the studio became Sony’s golden goose, Naughty Dog was just two men, Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin. After a few games under the title of JAM Software (that’s Jason and Andy’s Magic), the duo changed their name and released this tongue-in-cheek RPG with (prepare your jaws) EA. It was scrappy but helped lay the template for the irreverent humour in ND’s games. 2 Way Of The Warrior (3DO – 1994) This Mortal Kombat-esque fighting game with grisly fatalities is one of the few in the studio’s back catalogue that isn’t fondly remembered. Maybe it’s down to the fact that it looks a lot like Mortal Kombat, or the fact that characters are called things like Crimson Glory and Nikki Chan. Top marks…

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 SPLATOON 2 4 MARIO + RABBIDS KINGDOM BATTLE 5 ARMS 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…

Most orcs have found their arch-nemesis already. They’re the lucky ones. These lonely hearts from Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War? Well, they’re still searching for soul mates to engage in mortal and bloody combat with, bless them. What do you think, would you give any of them a chance to become your life-long hated enemy? Norsko The Funny One Self-summary: I’m very much the Chandler of my keep. I promise I’ll make you cackle like a goblin. What I’m doing with my life: Trying to break into the stand-up scene. It’s very competitive, and hecklers are brutal. A lot of them carry spears. The first thing people normally notice about me: My wicked sense of humour. I’ve got this hilarious bit on corpses. You should message me if: You want to…