By GameSpot Staff on May 17, 2018 05:31 am
What's Coming In 2018
While 2017 had its share of great games on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch, 2018 is also going to be filled with a wealth of exciting new experiences. Notable standouts include Red Dead Redemption 2, Super Smash Bros., Kingdom Hearts III, Crackdown 3, God of War, Octopath Traveller, and more. With so many games to keep track of, we've compiled all the biggest ones coming in 2018 (that we know of, as of the end of 2017). Click ahead to get a glimpse of all the biggest new games coming in 2018. In this gallery, we're looking ahead to the games we're most excited about. If you're curious about the biggest games to play in 2018 on specific platforms, check out our individual features highlighting the most anticipated PS4 games, Xbox One games, PC games, and Switch games. Of course, there's also an assortment of platform exclusives coming in 2018. If you're curious about what exclusives are on each platform, you can check out our features on Xbox One exclusives, PS4 exclusives, PC exclusives, and Switch exclusives.
A Way Out
A Way Out is the next game written and directed by Josef Fares, one of the creative forces behind the excellent Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. For those who may have missed it, Brothers gave you control of two characters, both controlled simultaneously and independently via the analogue. As a result, it featured challenging, but rewarding platforming and puzzles, and a heartwarming story to boot. Like Brothers, A Way Out leans in to the idea of telling the story of two characters and allowing you to experience them concurrently. This time, however, the two characters are prisoners trying to escape from jail and eventually live out their lives on the run. To successfully put their escape plan into action, both characters will need to work together to, for example, distract a guard while the other scopes out a route or acquires a tool that will aid them. Developer Hazelight Studios has said A Way Out will feature multiple characters to interact with, and the solutions to their problems aren't obviously prescribed. This encourages communication between the two players, who can be playing together on a couch or over the internet. From a gameplay standpoint, A Way Out is an intriguing prospect, but we're more interested in seeing its handling of storytelling.
Crackdown 3
Crackdown 3 was first announced at E3 2014 and planned for a 2016 release, but a delay pushed it back to November 2017. It was then hit with a another delay following its bold showing at E3 2017, and now it's set to launch at an unspecified date in spring 2018. Crackdown 3 is going to be one of the Xbox One's marquee exclusive games, featuring immense levels of environmental destruction in an open world--an evolution of the previous games in the series. However, there will be a difference in how this is handled between single-player and multiplayer. The mass destruction in multiplayer relies on server-based cloud technology which will provide the grand spectacle in online games. On the other hand, the single-player campaign will be more tame, akin to a Just Cause. This open-world action game focuses its narrative on taking down criminal syndicates similar to the original Crackdown. We can expect plenty of superhuman abilities for strength and speed, along with an arsenal of weapons and vehicles. It's apt to compare it to Grand Theft Auto or Saints Row, but Crackdown separates itself by instilling the feeling of being a true superhero.
Detroit: Become Human
Detroit: Become Human is the next immersive story-driven game from director David Cage and developer Quantic Dream, best known for Heavy Rain, Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy in North America), and Beyond: Two Souls. The script supposedly took Cage over two years to write and, as the name suggests, the game takes place in a futuristic version of Detroit. It follows the journey of three androids. Kara gains sentience and escapes the factory she was built in. Meanwhile, Connor is designed to hunt down rogue androids like Kara. Finally, the third protagonist, Markus, is a freedom fighter who is devoted to freeing other androids. Like Heavy Rain before it, many major characters will live and die based on player decisions, and the story will continue to progress accordingly. Those who enjoy strong performance-driven characters in their video game stories should definitely keep their eyes on Detroit: Become Human.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Matching the style and over-the-top action of the Dragon Ball Z series has been a challenge for past games. The upcoming Dragon Ball FighterZ, however, looks to be the exception, pushing the trend of average DBZ fighters aside and bringing the series to new heights. Coming from Arc Systems Works--the same developer behind Guilty Gear Xrd, BlazBlue, and Persona 4 Arena--the new game is not only looking to be a faithful adaptation of the series, but also one of the most exciting fighting games of 2018. Featuring characters from across the entire Dragon Ball Z series, and even some references from Dragon Ball Super, FighterZ is a mash-up that pits characters in intense 3v3 battles that will level environments and push the fighters to their limits of power. Moving away from the 3D arenas of Raging Blast and Xenoverse, FighterZ brings the action to the traditional 2D plane--and it looks all the better for it. With characters pulling off high-powered, screen-filling moves, and performing split-second dodges to get the upper hand against their enemy--no frame of animation feels wasted in Dragon Ball FighterZ. There's a greater level of detail here that the past games weren't even close to replicating from the TV show. Anyone who's watched Dragon Ball Z knows that it's got a style all its own, and FighterZ lovingly recreates many of the series' most iconic moments in its core mechanics. With more characters yet to be revealed, along with a surprisingly robust Story Mode, there's definitely more to this fighter that remains to be seen. But what's been shown thus far looks to be everything a DBZ fan could hope for in a game.
Far Cry 5
When reflecting on the Far Cry series' past locales, Far Cry 5's rural America seems like a refreshing and evocative choice for Ubisoft's first-person shooter series. Between the sprawling farmlands and dense forests of the fictional region known as Hope County, Montana, the place is primed to make the most of Far Cry's open world and emergent gameplay. Far Cry 5 also promises to continue the series' tradition of featuring memorable antagonists. As the leader of a doomsday cult known as Eden's Gate, Joseph Seed looks to be as calculating as 4's Pagan Min and as fanatical as 3's Vaas. What makes Far Cry 5 all the more promising is how it adapts fan-favorite features like Far Cry 4's cooperative play and Far Cry Primal's animal companionship. Along with a wealth of vehicles and weapons plus untamed animals you can turn against enemies, there shouldn't be a shortage of creative ways to take down Eden's Gate.
Ghost of Tsushima
With the superhero-inspired Infamous series, Sucker Punch Productions proved itself capable of creating beautiful, vast open worlds packed with gameplay opportunities. Its next title, Ghost of Tsushima, looks set to leverage the experience it has accumulated from other projects to deliver something completely different. Set in 1274, Ghost of Tsushima casts players as one of the last remaining samurai as he faces the ruthless Mongol Empire. What makes Ghost of Tsushima interesting is the idea that, to succeed, you will have to cast aside traditional samurai methods, and the codes that govern them, in favour of stealth and subterfuge. This means Ghost of Tsushima is essentially a story about the birth of the ninja, and the idea of an open-world stealth game is a very exciting prospect, especially for fans of Metal Gear Solid V and those begging for a new Tenchu. Although Sony and Sucker Punch haven't outright said Ghost of Tsushima will be released in 2018, it's believed the game has been in development since 2014, when Infamous: Second Son and Last Light launched. That means it's been in development for around three years, so there's a good chance the game will launch in 2018.
God of War
The upcoming God of War is a drastic departure from the style and tone of previous games in the series. Its somber, more deeply personal narrative, new combat mechanics, and aged version of series protagonist Kratos each contribute toward what looks to be an exciting new direction for the series. Taking place many years after the destruction of the Olympian gods, Kratos now lives with his son Atreus in a hostile world ruled by Norse gods. He lives in peace, but when his role in the destruction of Olympus becomes known, the Norse gods plot to kill him, forcing Kratos and Atreus to embark on an adventure for survival. While only a few trailers have been shown of God of War so far, it's already shaping up to one of the most exciting games in Sony's lineup for 2018. And with God of War II director Cory Barlog at the helm, the game could also be one of the finest in the series.
The Inpatient
The Inpatient looks to be an enjoyable experience in two areas. First, as a PlayStation VR title, it aims to scare you on a subconscious level, using psychological horror and binaural audio to worm its way into your deepest fears. Second, it serves as a prequel to 2015's choice-driven horror game Until Dawn, with the same writers and director at the helm. Set 60 years before the events of that game, you'll take control of a sanitarium patient out to reclaim their missing memories. Voice recognition and player choices affect how you interact with the other residents of the asylum, changing how the story ends. January isn't traditionally a month associated with horror, but The Inpatient is still staking a creepy claim.
Kingdom Hearts III
It's hard to count the number of reasons to be excited for Kingdom Hearts III. Maybe it's the 13-year gap between Kingdom Hearts 2 and the next numbered sequel. Maybe it's the most recent trailer for a Toy Story world, the first in the series to be based on a Pixar movie. Maybe it's because the series will be coming to Xbox for the first time, letting a whole new player base experience the Disney/Final Fantasy crossover magic. No matter the reasoning, Kingdom Hearts 3 is going to drop you into the climactic battle of the game's Dark Seeker saga, bringing together plots and characters from the many spin-offs the series has had in the interim. Along the way, you'll get to explore a batch of brand-new worlds--Rapunzel and Big Hero 6 stages have already been teased--and battle Heartless with an array of powers seemingly based on real-world Disney theme park attractions. It's hard for any game to live up to more than a decade of hype, but Kingdom Hearts 3 aims to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the war between darkness and light.
Monster Hunter World
The last few Monster Hunter games on 3DS have been terrific, and they've introduced a whole new group of players to one Japan's biggest franchises. But Monster Hunter World is poised to take the series even further. On PS4, Xbox One, and PC, the game will obviously look better than any previous version of the game, but it's the refinements in gameplay and online multiplayer that have a chance of finally pushing it into the mainstream. For the first time, you'll be able to jump into other players' hunts mid-game, meaning you can help out friends (or receive help when you need it most), without going through a lot of complicated preparation. There's a more convenient training hall that lets you easily experiment with weapons and that lays out various combos and strategies. And best of all, the game will have worldwide (although not cross-platform) multiplayer. Given how helpful and supportive the Monster Hunter community is as a whole, jumping into a game and finding fellow adventurers to take down monsters with should be easy. Make no mistake, Monster Hunter World still seems like it's going to be a complicated, complex game. But as titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne have shown, there are plenty of players who are looking for a challenging experience as long as it's equally rewarding. And with this iteration of Monster Hunter, newcomers will have a better chance than ever before to understand what makes fans so passionate for hunting.
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
After the generally positive reception of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, it was not surprising that its sequel, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, earned the rare spot as a "One more thing..." reveal to close out a PlayStation Experience 2016 keynote. Between the original game's heartfelt story, involving combat, and Studio Ghibli-crafted cinematics, there was a lot to love. Revenant Kingdom looks to recapture the first game's charm and engrossing gameplay, despite the array of changes in this sequel. The shift to a more active battle system looks to address the arguably complicated and cumbersome combat from the first game. Add to that a Pikmin-inspired minion system that buffs your hero for added advantages. Furthermore, Studio Ghibli is uninvolved this time around, although former Ghibli character designer Yoshiyuki Momose returns. More significantly, Joe Hisaishi returns as music composer. Given how he's provided the music to all of Hayao Miyazaki's films (save for The Castle of Cagliostro), it's hard to doubt that Revenant Kingdom will feel like an unofficial Ghibli production.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
2017 was very good to fans of old-school, Baldur's Gate-style RPGs. Divinity: Original Sin II earned a rare 10/10 on GameSpot, and Pillars of Eternity II was announced and fully funded in the less than a day. Going into 2018, Obsidian is set to deliver on its promises of "truly living cities [and] more freedom to explore the open world." In addition to building out the world and story of Pillars of Eternity II, the sequel will also introduce an expansive multiclassing system, which will allow players to build unique characters that tie both into personal playstyles and stories. But it's the expansive worldbuilding and D&D-inspired gameplay hooks that seem the most exciting. In GameSpot's Pillars of Eternity review from 2015, we described the first Pillars as an "original fantasy universe, as well as with combat details that reduce frustration and keep the tempo moving." As long as Obsidian can build on those core elements that worked and refine the less-polished aspects of their previous isometric outing, Pillars of Eternity II seems like it'll be another RPG hit.
Octopath Traveler
Octopath Traveler on Switch evokes the qualities that are bound to please fans of classic Japanese RPGss. Its "HD 2D" pixelated visual style offers a unique take on the much-used JRPG aesthetic, combining 16-bit style character sprites and textures with polygonal environments and high-definition effects. Combat is involved and utilizes weakness exploitation much like the Shin Megami Tensei games. And its ensemble cast of playable characters even calls back to early SaGa games. There's already plenty of strong characteristics at play that make Octopath Traveler a promising adventure. It's worth noting that the game is being worked on by Tomoya Asano, a Square Enix veteran developer who served as a producer on both Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy IV for Nintendo DS, Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, Bravely Default, and Bravely Second: End Layer. While we've only gotten a demo of the game since its initial announcement, we're eager to see what else it has to offer. Heck, we're still curious what the game's final name will be, seeing as Project Octopath Traveler is technically a working title. Time will tell.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Out of all the games coming in 2018, Rockstar's follow-up to Red Dead Redemption is arguably the most significant. The developer's other major franchise, Grand Theft Auto, is a cultural phenomenon, and even in 2017, over four years since it was first released, Grand Theft Auto V continues to be one of the best-selling games in the US every month. The first Red Dead Redemption was a critical success, driven by a powerful story and an inviting open-world. But what's most intriguing is finding out how Rockstar will integrate the elements that have made GTA Online so pervasive. Owning a garage full of crazy vehicles and high-tech weapons make sense in GTA's city environment, but what is there to spend so much money on in the Old West? Or will Red Dead Redemption 2 focus primarily on its standalone single-player story with the online multiplayer used as a fun, but secondary, amusement? This sequel has a lot to live up to, and succeed or fail, the story of Red Dead Redemption will be one worth following closely in 2018.
Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves has been in Microsoft's deck for quite some time, since it was announced at E3 2015, but it's set to see the light of day in 2018 with an official release. This pirate-themed first-person action-adventure focuses on multiplayer across islands and the open seas. The game is shown to have range; there's a lot going on from ship battles and navigating the seas to digging up treasures and hoarding loot. It sports a beautiful, easy-going aesthetic with a cartoonish vibe and lax physics. But that doesn't negate the intensity of large-scale battles at sea with cannonballs flying overhead or the sense of panic when trying to nail down a shot from a one-round flintlock pistol. The game isn't limited to PvP, as NPC enemies layer PvE scenarios into a shared world. Sea of Thieves is also one of the few cross-play games between the PC and Xbox One platforms, which should help sustain player count. If early gameplay is any indication, players will be building up their own characters for the long haul; this will hopefully instill more personality into a game already oozing with charm.
Skull & Bones
Ever since the release of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag in 2014, there existed an audience of fans who yearned for the series to return to or iterate upon the fantastic naval combat from that game. While Assassin's Creed Rogue expanded on those mechanics to some degree, it wasn't the true successor everyone craved. Enter Skull & Bones, Ubisoft's direct successor to Black Flag. Aside from offering a traditional single-player-focused campaign, the game also offers 5v5 multiplayer modes where you and four others fight other player-controlled ships for loot. While the reveal of Skull & Bones is an exciting step towards a new series that follows in the tradition of Black Flag, it also represents a divorce of naval combat from the expectations of future Assassin's titles. Seeing Ubisoft deliberately decide to split the two into separate franchises is certainly one the most exciting aspects about Skull & Bones.
Spider-Man
While Marvel is currently trouncing long-time rival DC when it comes to their respective film universes, it's an altogether different story when it comes to games. DC characters have had an impressive run of good to great games in recent years, with highlights including Arkane's hugely impressive Batman Arkham series and the well-received Injustice fighters. In contrast, poor Marvel fans have had little to crow about when it came to high-quality, big-budget games on PC/consoles (outside of Capcom's MvC series). But Insomniac Game's upcoming Spider-Man exclusive for the PlayStation 4 might finally end the long drought. Though it's not specifically tied to Marvel's popular film universe, Spider-Man for the PS4 still looks like its getting the core of the character right: spectacularly athletic, remarkably swift, and unbelievably high-flying, Insomniac's take on Spider-Man looks to be, well, Amazing. It's about time for another great Spider-Man game, and we're hoping this fits the bill.
State of Decay 2
Perhaps the most exciting feature of State of Decay 2 is one that was sorely absent from the first game: multiplayer. The first entry in Undead Labs' and Microsoft's zombie survival game was a surprise hit, delivering a vast open-world with a robust survival gameplay and the unsettling, ever-present threat of zombies descending on you at a moment's notice. It seems like a setup that would allow players to connect with each other to collaborate, but that wasn't the case. In State of Decay 2, Undead Labs has taken inspiration from Dark Souls for its multiplayer component, giving people the ability to fire a flare into the sky to summon help. Through drop-in and drop-out cooperation, players can come together to fight the undead horde or scavenge materials and build fortifications. Of course, there's also the survivors hanging around in the wasteland, all of which are crucial to your safety. With a massive number of skills and personality types for the player to develop and nurture, these characters become essential to ensuring that their burgeoning community can not only live another day but also ensure the little family you've built thrives. Like the multiplayer, Undead Labs is doubling down on role-playing aspects of State of Decay 2, making for a sequel is giving fans pretty much everything they asked for, which is exciting.
Super Smash Bros. (Switch)
Super Smash Bros. is coming to Nintendo Switch, which Nintendo announced by way of a cool teaser trailer. And you won't have to wait all that long for it: it's coming later this year. Aside from a brief shot of characters, which includes Mario, Link, and both Inkling boy and girl, not much is known about the game. Details have been scarce, so there's speculation that this release could either be a completely new game or a port of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
By GameSpot Staff on May 17, 2018 05:09 am
Tips To Build Your Chances Of Survival
While you might be familiar with the battle royale genre--games that stick one player (or a small team) on a map where they fight against others to be the last one standing--Fortnite: Battle Royale is a bit different. The game takes the basic premise of the genre and adds its own twist that changes everything: You can instantly construct stuff like walls and stairs, allowing you to build fortifications to protect yourself and create your own tactical advantages. Fortnite drops you onto an island with 99 other players, and the last player (or team) left alive wins. Though it's similar to games like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, plenty of small differences make Fortnite into a very distinct experience. Knowing what to carry, when to shoot, and what to build are essential if you're going to be the last person alive on the island. You won't find a tutorial in Fortnite: Battle Royale, so when you drop onto its island, all you have are your wits and whatever you can find along the way. Here's everything you need to know to get a strong start--and maybe survive long enough to find yourself a minigun. Got any tips you don't see here? Let us know in the comments below. And if you're already a Fornite: Battle Royale veteran, check out our advanced tips guide, the six biggest mistakes that beginners make, and our guide covering all the things that we wish we knew before playing the game.
Pick Your Landing Zone And Avoid Other Players
Fortnite: Battle Royale starts with 100 players dropping out of a vehicle (in this case, a flying bus) onto an island below that's littered with weapons. Check your map at the outset and watch the flight path carefully--where you land is your first big decision in Fortnite, and it can help you get off to a fighting start. Your first order of business is weapons, and if you're new to the game, you'll also want to try to avoid other players. Weapons are mostly found inside buildings, so pick a drop location with a few structures, but try to avoid major settlements or towns along the flight path early on. Those places have great gear, but also attract a ton of players; you'll want to avoid a fight straight off until you've gotten a little more comfortable with the game. Usually, it's best to hold off jumping for a few seconds to pick your spot and stay away from the largest pack, which usually jumps as soon as the doors open. You can also set waypoints on your map screen, making it easier to locate any structures or settlements you've got in mind for looting. You'll start your jump by skydiving, but at any time, you can follow the onscreen prompt to deploy your glider. Flipping to your glider early will make you fall slower, allowing you to cover much more distance. Use this to get away from other likely drop points that other players might be headed to, but don't take too long--the faster you hit the ground and gear up, the better. Be sure to keep an eye out for other players dropping nearby as you head down, to avoid getting ambushed or falling into a fight. Your goal is to survive, so as you're learning the ropes, it's best to let other players take each other out, rather than go looking for a battle.
The Storm Is Your Greatest Enemy
Like PUBG, Fortnite matches are dictated by "the circle"--or, in this case, "the storm." Near the start of each match, a large circle will appear on the map in a random position, dictating the eye of the storm. Outside of this circle, the approaching clouds will damage and kill you. A timer in the corner of your screen notes when the storm will contract, creating a new, tighter circle. Over the course of the match, the storm will close in more and more, shrinking the play area on the island and forcing everyone closer together until only one (or one team) remains. This means that paying attention to the circle's location and the timer are your top priorities. You can't just run to the center of the first circle that appears in a match and stay there, because smaller circles won't always have the same center point. Often, the movement of the circle means you'll have to make a run for it to escape the storm, leaving you vulnerable to attack. Always keep the circle in mind, and know where you need to be. The best practice is to get there quickly and carefully.
Gather Resources First
When you first land on the island in Fortnite: Battle Royale, you'll be armed only with your melee pickaxe. You can fight people with it... but that's not especially effective, and will get you killed against pretty much any other weapon. The pickaxe's main use is for bashing through structures and gathering resources, the latter of which is one of the first things you want to do--provided you're far enough from other people that it won't immediately draw attention. Breaking up anything causes a commotion; for instance, you might destroy some vehicles to get a decent bounty of metal, but you risk triggering its alarm and broadcasting your location to other players. To start: Smash walls, structures, and (especially) trees, and gather yourself at least 300 units of wood. This will supply you with key materials that can keep you alive. If you switch to the building menu, you'll see that you can cycle through a few structures, like floors, roofs, walls, and stairs. You'll need resources to build those things, so gather materials quickly before taking off toward the circle. It's much safer taking time to gather materials in the early game than it will be later on, and you can smash just about anything to get the wood, brick, and metal necessary to make stuff.
Practice Building (Especially Under Fire)
With your resources in-hand, you'll want to spend your first few matches learning the ways that buildings can help you. Building structures is Fortnite's claim to fame--and using structures creatively will get you out of trouble, help you traverse the map, and provide cover in a firefight. You don't want to be building constantly, but you need to get comfortable with the system, so that you can make whatever you want as fast as possible when things get hairy. The build menu lets you choose a structure, its material, and its location very quickly. Once you click the button to start building something, it constructs itself automatically. This means that even under fire, building is a viable option: If you start to take fire, you can lay down a wall ahead of you to absorb some of the incoming bullets while you use it as cover and shoot back. Ramps get you over otherwise impassable terrain and can help you create instant high ground that give you an advantage over other players. It's a system that you definitely shouldn't sleep on, because it can give you serious advantages. Just note that structures make noise as you're constructing them, and messing around in the build menu can leave you vulnerable. Player structures are also visually very conspicuous. The various materials have their pros and cons, too; brick and metal sound like the stronger materials at first blush, but using them in construction takes longer than wood, and they can be tougher to find. In touch-and-go battle situations when you need immediate cover, wood is usually the right call, while brick and metal are better saved for endgame fortifications when you expect to be in tougher fights.
Gear Up
As soon as you hit the ground, it's time to hunt for weapons, so head into a building and grab whatever's there. All your usable items go into one of five inventory slots, located on the bottom of your screen (that goes for guns, as well as health and support items). You'll want to get armed with whatever you can find straight away--but don't be afraid to drop things in favor of better weapons. Weapons come in several varieties. You'll find close-range shotguns and long-range assault and sniper rifles, as well as pistols, SMGs, and occasionally rocket launchers and more. Weapons also have rarity classifications: Weapons with white auras around them and white icons in your inventory are the most common and also the weakest; green are uncommon and a little better; blue are rare and better still; purple are epic; orange are legendary; and gold are mythic. As a general rule, the higher the tier of the gun--and the better it is. Rarer weapons are often more accurate and more powerful, and come with add-ons like silencers or scopes. Swap out more common guns for rarer ones during the course of the match to increase your firepower. You'll find a lot of these rarer guns in treasure chests, which are hidden in buildings. These are indicated by a glowing gold light and a humming sound, but they're usually hidden behind walls that you might have to destroy (or attics that you'll need to build stairs to reach). Always try to seek out chests, as they have valuable gear--such as bandages and shield potions--as well as guns. You'll definitely need all the supplies you can get if you want to be a contender in a match's late game.
Keep Quiet
The large scope of Fortnite: Battle Royale's island means that players can spread out quite a bit. Finding other people and avoiding detection are two of your main concerns in a given match, because it's easy to get ambushed or taken out from afar. Especially as matches go on and the play area contracts, you'll be closer to players--and they'll be able to hear you moving around, building, and shooting. Sound and silence are essential tools to victory, and good speakers or headphones is highly recommended to help you get a bead on what's happening around you and locating the source of sounds. Running is a noisy way to move around, and sprinting is even louder, and even kicks up some dust behind you. You can reduce your movement sounds by crouching and moving more slowly, but note that even rotating your character creates the sound of footsteps. Doors also make a ton of racket, but in Fortnite, you'll often find it's possible to jump through a window and avoid doors entirely. You'll also want to avoid shooting unless absolutely necessary, as the sound is like raising a flag on your location--although silenced weapons help with that issue a great deal. Finally, gathering resources with your pickaxe and building stuff makes a lot of noise, often for an extended period of time. These are essential to survival at Fortnite, but always be aware that when you smash or build things, you might be giving away your location.
Don't Fight Unless You're (Pretty) Sure You Can Win
Firefights in Fortnite, as in other Battle Royale games, can start out looking like clear victories and quickly become disasters. Your greatest advantage at all times is surprise, but you only have one life to live. This crucial fact means that often, it's better to ignore another player and stay hidden (if you can't get the jump on them), rather than attack them and risk losing it all, even when you have great weapons. Aiming in Fortnite is a little harrowing as well, which can make actually hitting other players tough at any kind of range. First off, you'll want to pick the right gun for the job: Up close, even a fairly common-level shotgun can be devastating with a headshot, while further away, assault rifles and sniper rifles can take people out before they know what hit them. Take your time, line up your shots, and make sure your opponent is within range so that you take them down before they can react. Survival is your most important goal, so use discretion: If you're not confident you'll be able to take down whoever's in your sights quickly and cleanly, you're probably better off letting them go.
Be Careful In The Open
Players used to PUBG know that the game often consists of sprinting across open ground, trying to get to a closing circle. In Fortnite, moving into the open is just as harrowing, because the cartoonish art style makes you more visible at a distance--and you can't get any lower to the ground than a crouch. This means picking your path when you move in the open is an essential skill to learn, and the players who live the longest typically minimize their time in the open or move smartly to different positions to avoid getting caught. First, use structures and cover like cliffs and boulders to your advantage, to protect your back or sides and limit the areas you have to keep an eye on. Next, move quickly while in the open, and carefully and slowly when you're in cover. The human eye is built to detect movement, so you're safest when you're not in motion. You can occasionally hide among pine trees or in bushes to make yourself even tougher to spot. You'll also want to make use of Fortnite's third-person perspective to position your character to peek around corners and through doorways before you enter them, and avoid walking into an ambush (or right into someone hiding in a corner, out of your line of sight). Another quick tip: Close doors behind you. It's an easy way to make it less obvious that you're in a building, and this makes it tougher for other players to track you.
Drink Shield Potions As Soon As You Find Them
Health in Fortnite: Battle Royale is divided into two types: your player health, which is a green bar on the bottom of your screen, and your shield, which is a blue bar--each topping out at 100 points. Shield depletes before health, and when your health is gone, you're dead. You won't start the match with a shield, however, so you'll have to find one. Treasure chests are the places where you'll often find health items--and in particular, blue shield potions. These take up a space in your limited inventory, and since you won't start the match with a shield, it's usually best to drink these as soon as you find them, as your shield lasts until it takes damage. Shield potions come in two types. Larger shield potions give you 50 shield points, and can be stacked twice to double your health; smaller shield potions give you 25 shield. Only the larger potions can push you up to 100, though: If you use two small shield potions, you'll top out at 50 shield points. Note that shields won't protect you from falling damage, so take care of yourself. If you can find health items like bandages and medkits, you'll likely want to hang onto them for later use (bandages give you 15 health to a max of 75, while medkits will heal you fully). A rarer healing item called Slurp Juice--which comes in a purple bottle--replenishes your shield and gives you back health over time at a rate of one point per second for 25 seconds, making it more versatile in a sticky situation. Even rarer Chug Jugs are also extremely useful, fully restoring your health and shield, but requiring 15 seconds of your time to use.
Watch For Player Buildings
As matches wear on, you're likely to start seeing player fortifications. The good news is that player buildings are usually square, blank, obvious towers... so you'll usually see them from a distance. They're great indicators of where players are staked out, so if you ever spot a tower or other fortification, you should absolutely approach it with caution--it usually means someone's waiting with a scoped rifle, hoping to take down passersby. Often, when you're on the ground and spot a tower, it's best to keep clear of it. Usually, fortifications suggest that players are well-stocked and ready for a fight from a distance--and if they're up high, they typically have a line-of-sight advantage. If you're looking to fight someone in a tower or other structure, you're going to want strong weapons. The newly added minigun can chew up materials like wood and brick pretty well, and tough-to-find rocket launchers can absolutely devastate fortifications. You should always try to bring the right tools for the job. Fall damage can play a big part in some of these fights. If you can destroy the bottom of stairs or the supports of a tower, you might be able to collapse it altogether, so pay attention to how you can use the environment and the construction to your advantage.
Never Trust Cover
No cover in Fortnite is foolproof. Just about everything in the game is destructible--not just player-constructed fortifications. Even buildings on the map can all be wrecked with the right weapons; locations that feel safe generally aren't, and every wall can be destroyed in the middle of battle. This means that even when you're hiding out or grabbing cover in a firefight, you should always be prepared to move, strafe, run, and otherwise do your best to avoid fire. Walls won't save you--and especially late in the game, the likelihood of someone bringing along a rocket launcher or minigun to a battle increases tremendously. Those things annihilate cover pretty easily, so learn not to rely on it. Mobility is often your greatest ally, so jump and build to give yourself additional advantages in battle.
Be Careful When Looting Defeated Players
Fights in Battle Royale games are almost always close calls that fill you with adrenaline, and taking down another player always comes with a rush of relief. Don't let your guard down, though; every time you fire your gun, you announce yourself, and the loot that players drop when they die makes those locations targets for other players. Immediately after winning a fight is when you need to be extra-careful. Instead of rushing up to a dead player and going through all their gear (which can leave you very vulnerable), it's often better to take a beat, grab cover, and survey the situation. Other players might be attracted to the gunfire or spot the loot as you're on your way to grab it, allowing them to get the drop on you. Similarly, you might be able to use the dead player's loot to get the drop on them. Being careful is key to survival in Fortnite: Battle Royale--so play smart, and always expect another player lurking nearby. The same goes for the supply drops, which occasionally get ejected into the sky by the party bus as it flies overhead. The drops have great loot, but almost always attract a lot of attention, so approach them carefully.
Use This Time To Learn
Most of these tips are geared toward teaching you how to keep yourself alive in Fortnite, and it can be tempting at the start to hole up inside a building deep in the circle with the first gun you find, trying to outlast everyone else. You might even find yourself getting into the top 10 players in a match without firing a shot. It's worth it to experiment in Fortnite: Battle Royale, especially early on. Learn your capabilities and get a handle on how other people play the game. In other words: Go get yourself killed. Finding good weapon locations, discovering how to use buildings effectively, and getting used to how guns handle in firefights is all part of what it takes to win in Battle Royale games. Fortnite matches pit you against 99 other players, so the likelihood that you're going to lose is extremely high. Embrace it, and use your first matches to build skills rather than hide out in an attempt to win. You'll do better in the long run when you start to learn the ins and outs of the game, as well as what you're comfortable with and how you can best succeed. You can also spectate other players once you're dead, which can clue you in on how more experienced players approach the game--it's a highly useful learning tool.
By GameSpot Staff on May 17, 2018 05:05 am
Whether they're direct continuations that carry on the events of the previous game or unrelated follow-ups that share a general theme, gamers love--and love to hate--video game sequels. While you can argue that the emphasis on sequels seems to overshadow the creation of new, original IP, sometimes sequels produce unique experiences in their own right. Like the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild--the characters and themes are the same, but the game was a refreshing take on the entire open-world genre. Sequels are a huge part of game development, but most creators shy away from revealing what they have in the works too early. With E3 2018 coming up, there are potentially some big-name sequels primed to be revealed. So in this feature, we've gathered together our wishlist of games that deserve sequels, or unannounced games that potentially could be announced at this year's E3. Some are a little more far-fetched than others; Grand Theft Auto VI, outside of Rockstar Games seeming like it always disappears off the face of the planet, is going to happen someday soon. Bethesda will likely make an Elder Scrolls 6, and there are already rumors circulating of a new Bioshock. But Bloodborne 2, Bully 3, and Portal 3? Those aren't necessarily guaranteed. This isn't a definitive list of every game that we want a sequel to, but it represents some of the titles the GameSpot editors feel most strongly about and would love to see appear at E3 2018. What unannounced games do you hope get a surprise announcement at this year's E3 or other gaming event? Let us know in the comments below! Otherwise, be sure to keep up on our upcoming E3 2018 coverage. You can get up to speed on the big press conferences through our E3 2018 schedule.
Animal Crossing | Switch
Nintendo hasn't said explicitly it's working on a Switch version of Animal Crossing, but one is almost definitely in the works. With Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp on mobile last year, the company only whetted the appetite of fans who want a full-fledged entry in the relaxing life sim. And although Pocket Camp is surprisingly robust for a mobile game, it's still missing many of the most important elements of the Animal Crossing franchise: a large list of collectible wildlife, the ability to write letters and notes to your townsfolk, and customization options for your villagers' catchphrases. Pocket Camp is Animal Crossing in spirit, but not quite in execution. But that mobile release does seem to portend that the next chapter on Animal Crossing, this time on Switch, is imminent. Nintendo has stated that the core purpose of its mobile games is less about making money and more about keeping people engaged with its core franchises. For Animal Crossing, all that's left is the follow-through. What new features a Switch release of the game could bring is anyone's guess, but we imagine a large roster of potential neighbors and a more active way to connect and interact with other Animal Crossing players online. | Justin Haywald
BioShock 4 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
Where the original BioShock launched to praise from fans and critics alike, the third and most recent game in the series--BioShock Infinite--divided opinion somewhat when it came out in 2013. While some--including our own reviewer--loved it, others felt it turned the series too far towards shooter territory, and the story felt muddled. Time, then, for a new game in the series to unite everyone behind BioShock once again. One that can bring BioShock back to what everyone loved in the first place--its mystery, its atmosphere, its storytelling, and yes, its inventive powers--while also taking it to new frontiers. We've now done underwater and above the clouds; perhaps BioShock 4 could deliver another shock to our systems by taking us to space? | Oscar Dayus
Bloodborne 2 | PS4
From Software's Bloodborne forces Souls players to step outside of their comfort zone; to stop peeking at horrors from behind a shield and instead charge headfirst into them. Its gameplay focuses on bluster and brutality, but feels like a delicate dance of sword swings, explosive gunshots, and timed dashes. However, what really elevates Bloodborne is Yarnham, the mysterious gothic city where disease-ridden inhabitants wander around squalid streets, mindlessly attacking all that approach. It's also a place where science clashes with faith, factions battle over ideologies, and the presence of an unseen cosmic evil pervades. Bloodborne was both critically and commercially successful and, most importantly, fans of it are desperate for more. From Software recently teased a new project that adopts the studio's distinct style, but the use of the phrase "shadows die twice" could be hinting at something entirely new. A new From Software game is exciting, but we can't help but hold on to hopes of returning to the Bloodborne universe. The sweet blood, it sings to us. | Tamoor Hussain
Bully 2 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
Leading up to Bully (2006), Rockstar had been best known for hyper-violent games like Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, and Manhunt. Then the developer adapted many of the core tenets that made those games great to craft an earnest, yet over-the-top tale of a troublemaker thrust into a private boarding school. Stereotypical cliques filled the student body at Bullworth Academy and painted a lively caricature of high school. It was your job as Jimmy Hopkins to navigate the dangerous waters of Bullworth and try not to get kicked out, all while trying to become the baddest, most respected fool on campus. Getting to class on time (presented as minigames), getting in fights, and causing all sorts of mischief makes up most of the game, but Bullworth and its surrounding town is also a believable place full of life. Not many games have topped the soundtrack's funky basslines and whimsical xylophone melodies either. Despite being twelve years old and one of Rockstar's best games, it never got a follow-up (although it was remastered). There have been rumblings throughout the years of a possible sequel; producer and lead writer Dan Houser said he had ideas for a Bully 2 back in 2013, and concept art believed to be tied to a sequel was shown last year. That's the extent of our hopes, though. Rockstar's portfolio has evolved since 2006: GTA continues to succeed, Red Dead emerged as a huge franchise, and LA Noire showed that action can take a back seat to story. With a resume like that, it's a lot of fun to imagine what Bully 2 could be.| Michael Higham
Bushido Blade 3 | PS4, X1, PC, Switch
Bushido Blade was a 3D, one-on-one sword-fighting game for PlayStation that was uniquely unforgiving. With no health bars, landing a clean hit on your opponent meant a crippled limb, if not instant bloody death. Tension was the name of the game, where every standoff was a strenuous task of reading your opponent, playing mind games and exercising quick reflexes. It was also a game concerned with maintaining honorable disposition and respecting your opponent. Bowing formally before a match, fighting fair, and never stabbing your opponent in the back was encouraged, and enhanced the game's zen-like appeal. But, you could also do the exact opposite: throw dirt in someone's face, kick them when they're down, and run frantically through the game's large, open arenas to search for an environment that could put your opponent and their choice of weapon at a disadvantage--a bamboo thicket could restrict naginata slashing maneuvers, a deep river could mask the movements of your katana, for example. Although Bushido Blade got a sequel in 1998, there hasn't been a a game in the last 20 years that has successfully come close to matching its understated qualities and strict mechanics. Its nearest neighbour today would be Nidhogg, if Nidhogg could be slowed to a snail's pace. In a post-Dark Souls era where players celebrate pure, unforgiving game experiences, a true Bushido Blade sequel with online competitive multiplayer is just the thing Square Enix should think about bringing back. | Edmond Tran
Diablo 4 | PS4, X1, PC
While Blizzard had a rough start with Diablo 3, they made great strides with improving the game in the years since its release. Once the expansion Reaper of Souls launched, Diablo 3 had earned its spot as one of the most impressive loot-focused action-RPG games on the market. Even now, regular updates are still ongoing, and with successful launches on PS4 and Xbox One, there's plenty of loot to go around for would-be adventurers traveling through Tristram and the underworld. Though Blizzard is still going strong with Diablo 3--along with Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and Hearthstone--the developers should look to the future of loot-oriented action-RPG games and get started with Diablo 4. The series scratches a certain itch that not many other games can, and Diablo 4 can take advantage of the second-wind the series has experienced in D3's post-launch life. | Alessandro Fillari
Elder Scrolls 6 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
There's no question that Elder Scrolls 6 is happening--Todd Howard has said as much a few times now. But between myriad ports of Skyrim and Elder Scrolls Online's recent Morrowind expansion, the questions are: "What kind of game will Elder Scrolls 6 be?" and, "Where will it be set?" The series has already explored several regions of Tamriel, but there are still places we haven't been: the Argonians' Black Marsh and the wooded region of Valenwood, just to name a few. But perhaps it's time to leave Tamriel behind and explore the rest of the world of Nirn. Yokuda is a continent destroyed by an unknown cataclysmic event. Could that be a chance to marry the gameplay of Elder Scrolls with the story trappings of Bethesda's other premiere RPG franchise, Fallout? Another possibility is the land of Akavir: a continent that rivals Tamriel in size, populated by four new races at war with each other. That covers the Elder Scrolls trope of multiple factions, and thanks to several mentions throughout the franchise, we already know that those four races--snow demons, snake people, monkeys, and tiger dragons--are important to the history of the world. Plus, it's easy to fit a fancy Roman numeral into the title, as Bethesda already did once with Obl(iv)ion. Elder Scrolls: Aka(vi)r, anyone? | Tony Wilson
Elite Beat Agents 2 | Switch
There's no reason to think that a sequel to Elite Beat Agents is in the works, but with the newfound success of Nintendo Switch, the quirky rhythm game from developer iNiS is a cult classic that's due for a revival. EBA was actually a localization of the cheerleading game Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (which got a Japanese sequel on DS), but while the two versions are the same gameplay-wise, the soundtracks and overall themes were changed drastically to make the series fit into a Western archetype. But either way, both versions were solid games that took advantage of the DS' touch screen to let you tap out rhythms in time to the music. Ports of the originals would be great for a new generation of gamers to experience, though it's likely the music licensing deals make that a difficult process. But a new version of the game that takes advantage of either the traditional controls or the unique joy-con capabilities of the Switch would be delightful--maybe a Just Dance-style game that tracks your hand movements as you go through the game's on-screen choreography? | Justin Haywald
GTA 6 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
The last Grand Theft Auto game doesn't feel like it came out almost five years ago. Of course, that's partly due to the fact that its roll-out across Sony and Microsoft's consoles and then PC took three years. But it's also because the game is still consistently in the top 10 best-selling games of every month (here it is as number 10 for December and number 6 for the best-selling game of 2017). Although the GTA games are known for their multi-layered, single-player stories, GTAV's continued success is primarily driven by its multiplayer GTA Online mode. A sandbox set in GTAV's world, the game has captured such a large portion of Rockstar's resources that the long-ago promised single-player expansion has been dumped. But surprisingly, it's both not something that gamers seem to be clamoring for, and it hasn't affected the adoption of the game sales-wise. GTAV casts a long shadow, and it'll be interesting to see how its open-world model will affect the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2. But it'll also be worth keeping an eye on how it affects the inevitable GTA VI. At some point, V's popularity will start to wane and we'll get another entry in the GTA world. But will this next game be a multiplayer-only experience that borrows both from elements that make GTA Online such a continuing success and other popular online games like Destiny 2? Or will GTAVI be a return to the single-player narrative with an even more robust online mode that just happens to exist alongside it? It's also worth noting that the gap between GTAIV and GTAV was only five years, so it's possible a new chapter in the rampant crime saga might be closer than you'd expect. | Justin Haywald
Horizon: Zero Dawn 2 | PS4
Despite exclusively making shooters for its first decade-and-a-half of existence, Guerrilla Games tried something very different with Horizon: Zero Dawn, and it more than succeeded. Guerrilla's debut open-world effort was impressive on a number of fronts, including its Monster Hunter-style combat and gorgeous visuals. But as with the first entry in any series, it had a number of areas that stand to be improved. Although combat encounters could be intense and memorable, that was only really the case at range--melee combat was simplistic and boring. Navigating anything but flat surfaces could be a frustrating chore, particularly in comparison to Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which made climbing so effortless. The bulk of the narrative, while interesting, was told through exposition dumps where you'd stand around and simply listen to someone talk. Improvements to these areas, combined with Guerrilla continuing to amaze from a technical standpoint (which we got a taste of with Zero Dawn DLC The Frozen Wilds' improved snow effects), would make Horizon 2 something really special. | Chris Pereira
Metal Gear Solid 6 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
After Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima left Konami in 2015, fans began to question the series' future and whether a new entry would be warranted. Months passed until publisher Konami finally revealed the next game in the long-running franchise: a survival-focused co-op spin-off with zombies, called Metal Gear Survive. As you'd expect, fan backlash was understandably negative, as it seemed diametrically opposed to the series' lineage. At the same time, it left questions as to whether or not Konami would ever develop a true successor or reboot. While a new mainline Metal Gear Solid game not directed by Kojima raises alarms for hardcore fans, it's difficult to rule out how awesome it would be if Konami managed to let an ambitious studio build upon the series' foundations or provide a completely new vision of what Metal Gear can be for its sixth entry. After all, a Metal Gear game doesn't necessarily need Kojima to be good or interesting. You need only look to franchise spin-offs like Metal Gear Rising and Metal Gear Solid (GBC), which each played incredibly well despite lacking Kojima's involvement. But imagine the possibilities of what Metal Gear Solid 6 could be: a game starring The Boss during WWII, that Grey Fox spin-off we always wanted, or maybe an entirely new game starring a fresh face mercenary/government agent in a far-future, post-MGS4 world? The Metal Gear series' universe is ripe with characters and concepts that could be used to create a fascinating new entry in the tenured franchise. Regardless of whatever shape or form it takes, we're hoping Konami takes full advantage of Metal Gear's rich history for whatever it has in mind for the series now that Metal Gear Survive is out. | Matt Espineli
No One Lives Forever 3 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
Even before the saturation of first-person shooters in the mid-to-late 2000s, there were so many great single-player FPS games on PC. Medal of Honor: Allied Assault and the original Call of Duty were staples of the genre, but nothing had quite the charm of No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way. For those not familiar, imagine the grandeur of James Bond and the absurdity of Austin Powers wrapped in an espionage tale with the highly capable operative Cate Archer at the helm. This was the foundation for a well-crafted shooter set in the Cold War era that took you across the world for hilariously ridiculous missions. Anyone who played it will never forget its incredibly adorable soundtrack, which so perfectly captured the campy spy theme. That was 2002, and 16 years later, little-to-no hope is out there for Cate Archer's return. NOLF 2 and its predecessor The Operative: No One Lives Forever are cult classics, but over time, the rights to the franchise went into a sort of limbo. Both games were developed by Monolith (known for the recent Middle-earth games), but were published by Fox Interactive. Fox was acquired by Vivendi, which merged with and separated from Activision. However, Monolith is now under Warner Bros. So, who the hell knows which company can even revive the series. Regardless, we're holding out hope that this series lives to die another day. | Michael Higham
Portal 3 | PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Why hasn't this happened already? Portal and Portal 2 are masterpieces, with the 2011 sequel successfully expanding on the first game's amazing puzzle game base with an intriguing story, improved script, and more diverse environments. A third game would surely be even better. It wouldn't even have to do much! It's been long enough that just more Portal would likely be satisfactory for a lot of people. But this is Valve we're talking about. As we all know, this company doesn't just make games for the sake of it. The developer even seems happy to almost troll its own fans by allowing other companies to use the Portal license in their own games: the past few years have seen Rocket League and Lego Dimensions recieve Portal-related content, and last year we even got a full game crossover with Bridge Constructor. And yet, still no proper sequel. We might be waiting a long time for Portal 3. If only those wormholes allowed us to travel through time... | Oscar Dayus
Silent Hills | PS4, Xbox One, PC
Despite game director Hideo Kojima's very public departure from Konami, the company is still seems adamant about supporting the auteur's Metal Gear series. Kojima was also tied to the next game in Konami's Silent Hill franchise, and while that project (a collaboration with film director Guillermo del Toro and actor Norman Reedus) is canceled, Konami has publicly stated that the Silent Hill franchise will continue on at some point. And despite Konami's issues, Silent Hill is still a tortured video game location that we'd want to visit again. Spanning multiple developers and a wide range of protagonists, the series is uniquely positioned for a follow-up that doesn't strictly adhere to the games of the past. And a success with the long-running horror franchise could potentially mitigate the disastrous PR left by Kojima's departure. It seems like a sure thing that Konami will get around to making another entry in the franchise, and even though it would've been fascinating to see what a horror mashup between Kojmia and del Toro would have been like, we'll likely get a taste of that in Death Stranding. The next Silent Hill will be a new creature, but what form it takes has yet to be decided. Hopefully, it can return to its critically acclaimed roots, and avoid being another average spin-off like Downpour and Book of Memories. | Justin Haywald
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic 3 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
Though there have been many games that have taken advantage of the Star Wars brand to great effect, one title in particular has stood out for many fans of the storied franchise. Bioware's narrative-focused RPG Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic followed the adventures of an up-and-coming Jedi and their crew as they explored the galaxy, thousands of years before the rise of the Empire. At its time, it was a rather seminal game for the Star Wars series. Instead of shoehorning new characters into established lore and repeating moments from the films, this RPG title told its own story with a memorable cast of characters. While KOTOR had two sequels, one of which was the moderately successful MMO The Old Republic, there's been a yearning for a third game focusing on the single player experience with modern visuals and systems. However, much has changed with the Star Wars IP in recent years, and making a direct sequel isn't so clear cut. With Disney having acquired the Star Wars license, while also jettisoning much of the material from the 40-years of expanded universe fiction--including the plot of KOTOR--a follow-up would have to be a reboot. While this may draw the ire of hardcore fans, this also presents a wonderful opportunity to tell fresh stories with new characters. A Star Wars RPG seems well overdue, and with Bioware a part of EA--and with the publisher currently possessing the exclusive rights to produce Star Wars games--the timing seems perfect for the original developers to return to the Star Wars universe. Which should totally happen sooner, rather than later. | Alessandro Fillari
Super Mario Maker 2 | Switch
Mario Maker was one of the last hurrahs for Wii U owners, and what an event it was. It offered a chance for people to get creative with one of gaming's greatest icons, share Mario levels they've created online, and browse through thousands of levels made by other passionate players across the globe. If you followed game culture in 2015 and 2016, you probably saw plenty of people sharing videos of tremendously difficult stages being bested by skilled (or lucky) players; a testament to the game's widespread popularity and its effectiveness as a game creation tool. The Wii U GamePad touchscreen made the process of creating and editing levels a breeze, and all it takes is one look at your Switch to realize that it's built for a game like Mario Maker. Given that Switch's online environment is still a work in progress, it's understandable why Nintendo isn't rushing to make it happen, but given the massive Switch install base (relative to Wii U), it's easy to imagine that we'll see the next Maker game sometime down the road. | Peter Brown
Super Mario RPG 2 | Switch
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars blessed the SNES back in 1996, where our franchise favorite characters banded together to fight common enemies throughout the Mushroom Kingdom… in the form of a turn-based RPG. Squaresoft had created Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, and Secret of Mana by this time, but to wrap its refined RPG elements in the Mario universe made for one of the best mash-up/collaborations ever. Bowser was driven out of his castle, Peach was fed up with being held captive, and newcomers Geno and Mallow joined Mario in an adventure through new places that gave a nod to what we've seen in previous Mario games. What tied everything together and ingrained this game into our memories was the catchy, joyful soundtrack full of songs with layered instrumentation. You've probably heard the infectious "Beware the Forest Mushrooms" before. And shout out to those that fought Culex to the rearrangement of Final Fantasy IV's boss battle theme. Paper Mario, and its follow-up The Thousand Year Door, are incredible games in their own right, but are essentially spiritual successors separate from the world that was built in Legend of the Seven Stars. In this day and age however, the appetite for Mario spin-offs is strong; we got a tactical strategy game with Rabbids, and a remake of Superstar Saga on 3DS just in the last year. A proper follow up RPG should be on the shortlist for future Switch games. Of course, this is just wishful thinking given that there are no rumors, leaks, or cryptic messages from Nintendo that would indicate a true successor to one of its greatest games. | Michael Higham
By GameSpot Staff on May 17, 2018 05:03 am
Dream Fighters
With E3 2018 fast approaching, hype is starting to build over the inevitable showcase of the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Switch. Naturally, this has us pretty ecstatic, and we're already speculating which characters we want to return or debut to the game's roster. While characters who have been in past entries, like Ice Climbers and Falco, are obvious choices for our staff's most hardcore fans, we're also eager to see characters from other Nintendo franchises and third-party games make appearances. Can you imagine how awesome it would be if the latest Super Smash Bros. features characters, like Crash Bandicoot, Captain Toad, Shovel Knight, or King K. Rool? With so many possibilities, here are the 20 characters we want to see the most in Super Smash Bros. on Switch. Currently, we don't know if the upcoming game will be an updated version of Super Smash Bros. Wii U or an entirely brand-new game. If it is a port, it could follow the model of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which offered a slew of new features on top of including all existing DLC. There are plenty of other Wii U titles that deserve a second chance on Switch as well but Smash Bros. is undoubtedly the most obvious candidate. Nintendo has remained ambiguous about what form this game will take. Which characters do you want to appear in Smash Bros. for Switch? Let us know in the comments below. In recent news, a Super Smash Bros. Switch tournament is going to be held at this year's E3.
Captain Toad
Super Smash Bros. rosters are generally dominated by the expected heroes and villains. What I want to see is another character like Animal Crossing's Villager who is a little more unconventional. Captain Toad may seem harmless, but the idea of him transforming into a fighter who can go toe-to-toe with Bowser, Ganon, or precious Mario (you know Captain Toad hates him and his proclivity for jumping and hogging the spotlight) would get me more interested in the Switch edition of Smash than anything else. While sure to be just one part of an expansive roster, making Captain Toad playable in Smash would help to provide Switch's Treasure Tracker re-release with some additional attention. He may not have the makings of a prototypical fighter, but to me that's what would make him more interesting. I'd be curious to see how Nintendo finds a workaround for his inability to jump--maybe he could throw his backpack into the air before leaping. He has a variety of tools and abilities at his disposal in Treasure Tracker (a pickaxe, an off-screen turnip gun, the ability to pull things out of the ground) that could be leveraged as weapons in Smash. And imagining a matching Treasure Tracker stage--one that messes with camera perspectives--is even more exciting. Captain Toad may not have the glitz and glamor of other names, but his unique nature would make him a worthwhile member of the roster. | Chris Pereira
Crash Bandicoot
Crash never made it into PlayStation All Stars, but he deserves a chance to throw down. With the N. Sane trilogy making its way to Switch, I think it's time for everyone's favorite marsupial to do the same. Crash's moveset is so easy to envision: spinning attacks, throwing wumpa fruit, and a Final Smash that slaps a golden Aku Aku mask on his face, charging him up like some kind of Australian Super Saiyan. If Crash were added to the roster, elements of his games could also be incorporated into the Smash universe. Maybe a standard mask could be picked up by anyone. Maybe the game's signature crates could be added to Smash's group of containers like barrels and party balls. One thing's for sure: making Crash a playable character should also mean Coco joining as an assist trophy. Let's talk stages. The Crash Bandicoot series has been all over the world, from the Great Wall of China to Ancient Egypt to a crazy techno-centric future. Why not take the "warped" mentality of Crash 3 and have fighters bounce between those crazy locations? I can already picture Neo Cortex floating around in the background of the outer space phase of the map. | Tony Wilson
Toon Zelda/Tetra
The Smash Bros. series has seen many Links: Young Link, Toon Link, regular Link, and now, what looks like Breath of the Wild Link. But there's only one Zelda. Zelda/Sheik is one of the standout characters, of course, but it's time for something new. Tetra is a badass pirate queen with a sword, and her Princess Zelda transformation has a bow with light arrows--among other possible weapons. (Her Hyrule Warriors incarnation has a pistol, for example.) She's scrappy, she's sassy, her pirate ship is already a Smash stage, and she already has an Amiibo. Even if she didn't transform like her standard counterpart, Tetra or Toon Zelda would both make sense among the ranks of the top Smash fighters. And it's about time. Plus, I just really want Wind Waker HD to come to Switch. | Kallie Plagge
Ice Climbers
The Ice Climbers were introduced in Super Smash Bros. Melee as representatives of the NES era of Nintendo's history. As a single entity, Popo and Nana were different from the other fighters; if the NPC-controlled Ice Climber was knocked out, you could still fight, just without team moves. Fighting as them was just really...well, cool. Popo and Nana got shafted in Smash 4. Supposedly cut due to the 3DS' limited processing power (and the fact that there probably won't be another game in their series soon, if ever, so they weren't a high priority), the Ice Climbers only appeared as a trophy. But the Switch solves one of those problems, at least! And if what Masahiro Sakurai says is true, and the Ice Climbers were fully functional in the Wii U version, it's not too much to ask to bring them back in the next Super Smash Bros. | Kallie Plagge
Geno
Since his debut in Super Mario RPG, fans have been clamoring for ♡♪!? (also known as Geno for those who struggle to pronounce his true name). While a true Super Mario RPG sequel will likely never happen, there is hope for the badass Star Road warrior to appear in Smash. When Nintendo started to release character announcement trailers for the Wii U and 3DS versions, I'd sit on the edge of my seat hoping he'd be revealed every time. When it came to the final DLC character reveal, Nintendo found a way to get my hopes up, only to crush them instantly. They showed off Geno, but not the way anyone wanted. We were told Geno was available...but as a Mii Gunner costume. While I was happy to see they acknowledged his existence, it was still disappointing to see he was still not a playable fighter. If he were to be added, he'd make an excellent ranged fighter and a welcome roster addition compared to the influx of sword-based fighters in recent games. Geno Beam (or even Geno Flash) would be perfect as a charge attack and Geno Whirl could be used similar to Samus's missile with the side-B attack. For a Final Smash, Geno Blast would look gorgeous as rays of light come flashing down to devastate his opponents.While I know deep down that it's a long shot, I'm still hoping that somehow he'll find his way onto the roster. With the inclusion of Square Enix's Cloud in the most recent version, the door is now open for Geno. I, for one, am eagerly awaiting his arrival. | Gajan Kulasingham
Isaac
One of the most exciting aspects of every Super Smash Bros. release is seeing which forgotten Nintendo characters the developers have plucked from obscurity and added to the roster. Not only is it fun to see old mascots completely reimagined on a modern console, but in many cases, an appearance in Smash Bros. heralds a revival for their series--as was the case with Kid Icarus after Pit appeared in Brawl. While Golden Sun may not be as well-known as some of Nintendo's other franchises, I'd still love to see its main protagonist, Isaac, join the fray. Despite his brief tenure in the spotlight (only three Golden Sun games have been released thus far, the latest of which starred not Isaac but his son, Matthew), Isaac is perfectly suited for Smash Bros. thanks to his special abilities. As an Adept, he's capable of wielding Psynergy, magic-like abilities that would form the basis of his moveset. To further set him apart from other fighters, he could equip different Djinn during a match, which would alter the Psynergy spells at his disposal. And for his Final Smash, Isaac could call upon one of Golden Sun's many other over-the-top summons, such as Judgment, to deliver a devastating, screen-consuming attack. Moreover, Isaac isn't a complete stranger to Smash Bros.; he appeared as an Assist Trophy in Brawl, so it would hardly be a stretch for him to make the leap to playable character. The Smash series may already have a glut of swordsmen on its roster, but I think Isaac has enough unique skills in his repertoire to make a great addition--and if it would help pave the way for a new Golden Sun game on Switch, so much the better. | Kevin Knezevic
King K. Rool
For every great hero, there is a villain that helps define them. For Batman, there is the Joker. For Mario, there is Bowser. And for Donkey Kong, there is King K. Rool. The Kremlings leader has been around since Donkey Kong Country and has frequently opposed the Kongs. Being such an iconic foe to a popular Nintendo character makes his absence in Smash Bros quite perplexing. If King K. Rool were to be added, he'd easily be classified as a heavyweight character--of which there is a significant need in the Smash Bros. games. With so many smaller, faster characters in the game, adding more powerhouse fighters would definitely be a welcome addition. He'd even have a vast array of costume options based off his various appearances in the DK Country games, such as Kaptain K. Rool, Baron K. Roolenstein, and King Krusha K. Rool. As for attacks, he has a wide amount of gadgets at his disposal, which could be attached to his basic attacks. This could make him a fun powerhouse character capable of dealing significant melee damage up close but also have the option of utilizing ranged attacks. I'd be excited to see him added, but I'm honestly surprised he hasn't been in a Smash game already. | Gajan Kulasingham
Crono
The Chrono series, outside of the thoroughly excellent DS re-release and the not-so-good PC port, has been silent for a long time. But aside from the business and development reasons that the seminal RPG only received one semi-sequel in Chrono Cross, a character crossover with the next Smash Bros. actually makes some weird sense. The biggest argument for Crono is that Cloud was playable in Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS. The protagonist from Final Fantasy VII is a staunchly third-party character from a Final Fantasy game that never came to a Nintendo console, so there's at least a precedent for that level of crossover. The Final Fantasy VII Remake gives a reason to elevate Cloud's profile (so maybe Aeris or Tifa would be a more-likely candidate). But Crono is such an outstanding character from developer Square's past and its long-running relationship with Nintendo. The other reason that Cloud makes a good fit is that, despite being yet another character with a sword, his reliance on multi-character attacks mean that he'd have his own unique identity, moveset, and visual flair. Crono is a long shot character, especially since unlike Final Fantasy, there isn't an official high-definition 3D model of the character available. But who would've guessed that Cloud, Ryu, and Bayonetta would ever be in a Smash game? | Justin Haywald
Professor Layton
The austere professor with his oversized hat may sound like an odd fit for Smash, but as an iconic representative of puzzle gaming on the DS, Professor Layton is long overdue for a spot on the SSB roster. The best examples for how Layton would work in a fighter is Phoenix Wright, who made an appearance in various Vs. Capcom fighting games, or a character like the peaceful Animal Crossing Villager. Not having a ready-made assortment of combat abilities doesn't rule out their effectiveness in a wacky game like Smash. And as we've seen from several of Layton's adventures, he's an accomplished fencer, so he's ready to throw down with a weapon when the situation calls for it. And Layton could also introduce fun, interactive stages that play off his previous adventures. Hand-drawn village backgrounds that open up to unlock puzzles, and maybe the characters on the screen would have to try to solve some of the simpler ones in order to avoid hazards from hitting everyone one the screen. Layton has been a dream addition to Smash for me for a long time, and figuring out how he'd fit into the game doesn't feel like a terribly difficult puzzle. | Justin Haywald
Ridley
As Samus Aran's arch-nemesis, the Space Pirate leader Ridley seems like a perfect candidate to go head-to-head with the Metroid hunter in the Smash Bros. arena as a playable fighter. Aside from the intergalactic bounty hunter and the Metroids that she hunts, the fire-breathing boss is one of the most recognizable characters in the series--who seems to always survive the last battle by the skin of its razor-sharp teeth. Despite never having been playable, Ridley has already made several appearances in past Smash games, most notably as a boss in Brawl's Subspace Emissary story mode. It's about time that Samus' nemesis became a playable character, and Ridley's fighting style, which is focused on fast, hard-hitting moves, along with a large set of wings that give it great speed and agility, can make Ridley a welcome change from the other heavy-set characters like King Dedede, Bowser, and DK. Moreover, Ridley's many appearances throughout the Metroid series also opens up the opportunity to let players choose from different incarnations of the character. I mean, who wouldn't want the chance to play as the cybernetically enhanced Meta-Ridley to battle Samus in one of the Metroid-inspired levels? | Alessandro Fillari
Tharja
Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS has no shortage of Fire Emblem characters. To be honest, by the time Corrin and Roy rolled around as DLC I was starting to get sick of them, however, Tharja could add something unique to the roster. Unlike Roy, Marth, Lucina, and Ike, Tharja is a Dark Mage and she could specialize in ranged-attack spells. Sure, Corrin and Robin had a fair amount of medium-range attacks, but in most cases, you'd still want to keep your foes close. Tharja could utilize a flashy set of dark spells to deliver powerful blows from afar, and quick on her feet to escape close range fighters. The likelihood of Tharja coming to Smash is slim, but I think she would add much more character and personality to the roster than Robin and Corrin did. | Jake Dekker
Kass
While Breath of the Wild was very much Link's show, there was one character who always knew how to make his presence known throughout the young(ish) champion's quest throughout Hyrule--and it always started off with the faint sound of an accordion in the distance. Kass, the traveling storyteller, could spin a memorable yarn about Hyrule's past, but I'd like to think he can also hold his own in a fight against other Nintendo characters. While we don't ever see Kass fight, that certainly hasn't stopped Nintendo from turning normally passive characters--like Wii Fit Trainer or R.O.B.--into powerhouses on the battlefield. As a member of the bird-like Rito tribe, Kass has the natural gift of flight, potentially making him an agile character in a fight. However, his true gifts lie with his accordion and oratory talents. Much like in Breath of the Wild, Kass can use the power of song to grab the attention of anyone nearby as they listen to him tell the tale of the surrounding environment. While this may seem a bit gimmicky, Super Smash Bros. tends to shine most when it comes to characters that has a specific purpose. And often times, those characters prove their worth and find an audience among fans. And I for one think that Kass has the potential to prove himself on the battlefield. | Alessandro Fillari
Waluigi
If Waluigi can't get his own game, he should at least be added to the Super Smash Bros. roster. Wario has been playable in two previous Smash games, but Luigi's rival, Waluigi, has never been included. Now is the time. Waluigi has already made appearances in Smash as a collectible trophy and assist trophy, and in Brawl, Luigi has a black and purple color swap to make him look similar to his arch-rival. If he's already a part of the Smash universe, then making him playable is an easy transition. Smash Bros. on the 3DS and Wii U had plenty of Nintendo heroes on their rosters and not enough villains. The Switch version's roster could only benefit from adding another fun, fan-favorite antagonist like Waluigi to liven things up with his personal brand of mischief. Throughout the years, his popularity has only been growing. He's sassy, cunning, relatably self-hating, skilled, and ridiculous. Just think about how campy and glorious his taunt would be. It's Waluigi time. | Chastity Vicencio
Shovel Knight
Shovel Knight hits things with a shovel. I want to hit Kirby with a shovel. Honestly, it's as simple as that. Shovel Knight has been one of the best 2D throwback platformers in recent years, a game that perfectly captures the spirit of the NES era while making smart tweaks to make it more palatable for modern sensibilities. That's an excellent fit for a fighting game that oozes Nintendo spirit if you ask me. The game features a wide variety of upgrades that Shovel Knight (who can be male or female) can utilize to take down foes, so there's more than enough options to make Shovel Knight a distinctly interesting Smash character if brute shovel force isn't enough. And look--he's already got an Amiibo, so that's basically his ticket to ride. It's Shovelling Time! | Edmond Tran
Rex
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was one of Nintendo's biggest games of 2017, so it would only be fitting to see it represented in the newly revealed Super Smash Bros. for Switch. Naturally, the most logical choice for a Smash fighter from the game would be its protagonist, Rex, but just as in his own adventure, he should come with a few Blades in tow to make him a truly unique addition to the roster. Whereas Shulk (Smash Bros.' other resident Xenoblade character) is able to use the Monado to grant himself different buffs, Rex could derive his abilities from the Blade he currently has equipped. Like Pokemon Trainer from Brawl, he could swap between the Blades during a match, with each granting him a different set of special attacks. Of course, Pyra would be his primary Blade, but he could also have two others--such as Roc and Nia--at his disposal, just as in Xenoblade Chronicles 2. And for his Final Smash, Pyra could transform into Mythra to rain down a powerful Sacred Arrow attack over the entire field. Not only would Rex be a fun addition to the roster, but Xenoblade Chronicles 2 would make a fitting basis for a new stage. The game is filled with beautiful vistas and fantastical fauna, which could make for some rather interesting stage hazards--imagine having a match interrupted by a powerful Named Monster that forces all players to temporarily team up with each other to take down. As the face of one of Nintendo's most ambitious Switch games to date, Rex certainly deserves a spot on the Smash roster. | Kevin Knezevic
Falco
This might seem like an odd pick considering Falco will most likely be in the game, but as a diehard Melee fan, I want the Falco of old. Super Smash Bros. Melee is my most played game of all time, and Falco was my main man...err...bird. I liked him because of his side-A attack, which acted as a super strong KO kick that would send players flying off stages at moderate percentages. Newer revisions of Falco changed his kick to a much less effective arm-swinging swipe move, which isn't nearly as potent. Falco's shine was also very useful in Melee. Players could use it to perform combos, but later revisions had the shine shoot out of him, which removed these abilities. He's just not the same. As a die-hard old-school Falco fan, I just want Nintendo to return Falco to his glory days. | Jimmy Thang
Star Wolf
Even though Melee is my most-played game of all time, I didn't particularly care for Brawl when it came out. I didn't like the slower pace of the game, and the inclusion of tripping didn't help either. One character that I did love, however, was Star Wolf. His skillset matched with my playstyle perfectly. He has a strong side-A that could finish people, decent recovery moves, an effective arial game, and is equipped with a stunning projectile laser. I was dismayed to hear that he wouldn't be in the Wii U version, considering Nintendo doesn't often remove characters from Smash. I'm hoping Star Wolf makes a comeback and retains his moves. | Jimmy Thang
Snake
Super Smash Bros. has always a been cool way to have a bunch of your favorite Nintendo characters fight it out, and the idea easily invites other game characters to join the fight. But back in 2008 my wildest dream came true. Often said as a joke amongst my friends I always wanted a character from Metal Gear, my all time favorite series, to show up and that is exactly what I got with Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It was show time. Snake is an interesting character mostly due to the fact that he is one of few realistic-looking individuals in a roster of cartoon-y ones. He pulls a lot of his attacks from Metal Gear Solid 1 and 2, but a lot of his mannerisms come from Metal Gear Solid 3. He is a very range-heavy character, but if someone gets in close, he still has a lot of great tools at his disposal to even the playing field. He is a fun character to play with lots of tricks, and I really enjoy all of the small details they put in for fans of the MGS series. They could even incorporate some new stuff from MGSV; maybe just change him to be Punished Snake! From his silly codec taunt conversations about all of the characters to his vast arsenal of weapons rivaling any of the metal Gear games, Snake deserves to come back to Smash. | Ben Janca
Porky Minch
Technically, Porky has already made an appearance in Super Smash Bros.; in Brawl, he was one of the boss characters that Ness and Lucas face while fighting in the Subspace Emissary. But that only proves that he make an excellent addition to the fighting game roster. Although Giygas is the Big Bad in Earthbound, Porky is the malevolent being's willing accomplice. And as the Earthbound sequel, Mother 3, shows, Porky is a resourceful villain who's able to rise above his previous failures to become even more powerful and dangerous. And his appearance in Smash could also bridge the gap between his sniveling uselessness in Earthbound and his powerful but decaying form in Mother 3--a Porky that's just coming into his own powers but also relies on sophisticated gadgetry to pummel his foes. Most of all, I just want Porky in the game so that there's another direct Nintendo connection to the Earthbound/Mother series. I still haven't given up hope of a Western release of Mother 3...and the Switch would be the perfect console to get that long-awaited port. | Justin Haywald
The Champions Of Hyrule
The reveal trailer for Super Smash Bros. on Switch all but confirmed that Link from Breath of the Wild will be in the game. But I hope Nintendo will include more Breath of the Wild characters, like the Champions: Revali, Daruk, Urbosa, and Mipha. It would be awesome to see them all added into the game as four separate characters, but realistically, I could see Nintendo making them a single character slot--similar to Pokemon Trainer from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Having the ability to play and freely switch between Revali, Daruk, Urbosa, and Mipha sounds complicated to implement. After all, having access to four separate movesets seems like it would be both a mechanical and balancing nightmare, but I'm holding out for the possibility of the Champions being playable. Imagine launching an opponent upwards into the air with Revali's Gale, and then switching to Daruk to smash them down with his Boulder Breaker. You could even have Mipha revive you if you happen to accidentally get launched out of a stage. There are a ton of cool possibilities available for the Champions, and given Breath of the Wild's financial and critical success, they ought to be put in the game in some form. At the very least, I hope Nintendo incorporates their moves into Breath of the Wild Link's moveset, or creates an entire stage devoted to them and their Divine Beasts. | Matt Espineli
By Kallie Plagge on May 17, 2018 04:44 am
Top Tier
PC gaming has been around for quite a while, but it only continues to improve as technology gets more advanced and as more and more great games come out. But because so many games do come out on PC (especially Steam) all the time, it can be hard to know what to play. To help you out, we went back a few years and rounded up the best PC-exclusive games. For this feature, we included some (but not all) of the PC games that received a score of 8 or higher on GameSpot, with priority going to games that were nominated for awards at the end of their release years. To narrow the scope further, we only picked games that released in 2013 or later--sorry, CS:GO. Many of the games that released during this period are some the best release on the platform. You can spend tons of hours in classic CRPG-style games or immerse yourself in more narrative-driven indie adventure games. Suffice to say it, there's plenty of high-quality options available to you. What PC games from 2013 onward do you love the most? Let us know in the comments below. And for more PC recommendations, be sure to check out our new show, Steam Punks, where we pick out a few hidden gems on Steam for you to try each week. You can also see our list of the biggest PC games to play in 2018 for more of what's to come.
Battletech -- 8/10
"Battletech is a game that selfishly takes its time to be meticulous in every respect, and pushing through the density and idiosyncrasies of its many, slow-moving parts can be tough. But if you have the will to decipher it, albeit, at a deliberate and punishingly plodding pace, you can find yourself completely engrossed in its kinetic clashes. Battletech's intricate components ultimately foster a fascinating wealth of nuanced systems that build a uniquely strenuous, detailed, and thoroughly rewarding tactical strategy game." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran
Total War: Thrones of Britannia -- 8/10
"Thrones of Britannia is an exciting experience despite the cuts to integral components of the Total War series, such as city planning hinging on military needs, specific building customization, and expanded intrigue options. But this has given Creative Assembly room to focus on enhancing parts of the strategy experience that aren't quite as impenetrable to newcomers, and to allow the series to return to some of the beloved parts of previous historical games to balance out its newer, slimmer form. While there are minor issues with AI, and pacing suffers when you've comfortably gotten the upper hand, this is still a worthy and engaging contribution to the Total War stable that has successfully taken its cues from history's winners and losers alike." [read the full review] -- Ginny Woo
Far: Lone Sails -- 8/10
"Lone Sails is a transfixing, lovely experience, one that takes recurring indie game tropes and does something unique and fun with them. It's short enough that you could play through it in a single two or three-hour session, but it will likely stick with you for a long time. I can see myself going back in a few months just to revisit the ship, like checking in on an old friend." [read the full review] -- James O'Connor
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire -- 8/10
"Deadfire is dense, and it isn't a small game, easily dwarfing its predecessor in terms of scale. There's a lot to do, and it's easier than ever to get lost in the little stories you find, without following the arcs that the game has specially set out for you. Still, it's worth taking your time. The richness of Deadfire takes a while to appreciate, and like the brined sailors that call it home, you'll be left with an indelible attachment to these islands when you do finally step away." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Frostpunk -- 9/10
"Frostpunk is among the best overall takes on the survival city builder to date. Its theming and consistency create a powerful narrative through line that binds your actions around the struggle to hold onto humanity in uncertain times. Hope is a qualified good, but you may not always be strong enough (or clever enough) to shelter that flame from the cold." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Into the Breach -- 9/10
"There is so much strategic joy in seeing the potential destruction a swarm of giant monsters is about to unleash on a city, then quickly staging and executing elaborate counter maneuvers to ruin the party. Into The Breach's focus on foresight makes its turn-based encounters an action-packed, risk-free puzzle, and the remarkable diversity of playstyles afforded by unique units keeps each new run interesting. It's a pleasure to see what kind of life-threatening predicaments await for you to creatively resolve in every new turn, every new battle, and every new campaign. Into The Breach is a pristine and pragmatic tactical gem with dynamic conflicts that will inspire you to jump back in again, and again, and again." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer
Divinity: Original Sin II -- 10/10
"From lonely farmhouses through pitched battles with gods in far-flung dimensions, Divinity: Original Sin II is one of the most captivating role-playing games ever made. Its immaculately conceived and emotion-wrought fantasy world, topped by brilliant tactical combat, make it one of the finest games of the year thus far, and it has to be regarded as an instant classic in the pantheon of RPG greats." [read the full review] -- Brett Todd Note: Divinity: Original Sin II is coming to PS4 and Xbox One in August.
Total War: Warhammer II -- 9/10
"With Warhammer II, Total War doesn't reinvent anything so much as it iterates on the ideas that made the first so special. At its heart there's still the marriage of Total War's big-scale strategy and Warhammer's precise tactical play. But, through a thousand tiny tweaks, they've refined the experience into one of the most intriguing and exciting strategy games ever." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
The Red Strings Club -- 9/10
"From the game's opening piano chords, The Red String Club's futuristic exploration of themes regarding human emotion, strong writing, and exciting situations create an experience that is deeply gratifying. The cast of relatable, three-dimensional characters elevate the stakes of every bullet fired, secret divulged and cocktail poured. They are flawed and dangerous, but also convey admirable human characteristics that feel inspirational. The Red Strings Club is a tense adventure about a cast of characters that endanger themselves for goals that aren't necessarily guaranteed, a rewarding journey into the human soul, and a game that pushes the limits of what a point-and-click adventure can do." [read the full review] -- David Rayfield
Civilization VI -- 9/10
"Civ 6 has a few rough edges, but they're pushed far into the periphery by spectacular strategic depth and intricate interlocking nuances. Any frustrations I experienced were immediately eclipsed by my desire to continue playing. Just one more turn, every turn, forever." [read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth Note: Civilization VI's latest expansion, Rise and Fall, received an 8/10 on GameSpot and adds "several key features that both complement and change up the base game." You can read our full review for more.
Endless Space 2 -- 8/10
"4X space sims have long been known as the territory of the serious strategy gamer, but Amplitude has broken away from the pack here. Outstanding depth and tactical challenge have been preserved, although not at the expense of the strong storytelling needed to emphasize the sense of awe and wonder in galactic exploration that's always been a huge part of the genre's appeal. Amplitude has done a masterful job combining these two elements into a single game, where the quests and strategy and politics and economy are all tied into a whole much greater than the sum of its parts." [read the full review] -- Brett Todd
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III -- 8/10
"An odd chimera of its forebears, there's a lot in this fast-paced RTS that's a little bit off. Parts of the interface don't work sometimes, inter-match army management is half-baked, and the micromanagement needed to use the game's signature hero units effectively doesn't jibe with the extensive base-building you'll need to support them. But those problems fall away when you're in the heat of battle. Dawn of War III builds and maintains an organic tension that yields huge pay-offs, and there's nothing else quite like it." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Hacknet - Labyrinths -- 8/10
"The feeling of playing Hacknet in a dark room with headphones on and being absorbed by its engrossing puzzles and soundtrack--full of heavy beats and filthy synth sounds--feels as close as you can get to the Hollywood hacker experience. The puzzles are uniquely challenging without feeling inaccessible, and the Labyrinths expansion takes the formula further by integrating deeper investigations and adding more puzzle variety. Despite the stumbling climax and steady learning curve, Hacknet - Labyrinths is one hell of a ride that leads you down the rabbit hole and back again." [read the full review] -- James Swinbanks
Orwell -- 8/10
"Orwell is a hard experience to pull back from, even as the dirtiness of your job sinks in. It uses simple mechanics to tell a complex and engaging story, one that feels particularly relevant right now. This is a game where your choices matter and resonate, and which will leave you with plenty to think about once it's over." [read the full review] -- James O'Connor
World of Warcraft: Legion -- 9/10
"With Legion, it's hard to remember when WoW's narrative and questing were ever this strong before. Time will tell if Blizzard will serve up a healthy dose of new content to keep the expansion and game alive (a la Mists or Lich King) or if it will suffer the fate of Warlords of Draenor, but right now (about a month after the expansion's release) Blizzard has proven it can still craft an MMO experience as well as--if not better--than anyone else." [read the full review] -- Don Saas
Quadrilateral Cowboy -- 9/10
"Quadrilateral Cowboy succeeds in astonishing ways: It makes you feel like an incredibly accomplished computer hacker and agent of espionage. It creates an eccentric, thorough world that feels good to exist in and creates characters you can empathise with, despite the lack of a clear plot thread. Quadrilateral Cowboy presents you with a spectrum of moments, and each moment makes you feel great." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer
Total War: Warhammer -- 9/10
"When you're in the middle of a siege and you're coordinating an assault with a friend, Total War: Warhammer approaches perfection. You'll be tested on all fronts and asked to manage complex battles with broad, nuanced outcomes. Every system and piece feeds into others, and your choices make all the difference. It's a triumph of real-time strategy design, and the best the Total War series has ever been." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Offworld Trading Company -- 9/10
"It's a bit chilling to think that in Offworld you're playing out the same obsessive pursuit of capitalism that led to the fall of its finctional Earth--an event hinted at in tutorial dialogue--yet it's so recklessly entertaining and biting with its satire that I couldn't help but get lost. When combined with truly deep and intricate strategic options, Offworld is a revelation. It's almost unparalleled in the genre. Each and every game is thrilling. Every moment is a challenge. And the brutality of the free market ensures that you can never rest on your laurels, less you be quashed by the invisible hand." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Devil Daggers -- 8/10
"Most of the time, Devil Daggers finds elegance in its simplicity. By stripping the pomp of many modern shooters, it reveals the complexity beneath, molding the fundamentals into something exhilarating, something always worth one more try." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak -- 9/10
"Homeworld was always about loneliness. It was always about clarity and focus. Kharak isn't new in that regard, but it is special. It shows us that when you get things right--and excel--that formula isn't easy to exhaust. Kharak does its part to add to that, though. Its use of voice acting and efficient visuals is a brilliant addition that's far from superficial. It helps narrow the scope of what you need to manage, so that it can load you up with as much as your brain can handle. It's a fast, daunting experience that's tough to shake, making Kharak as intoxicating as Homeworld has ever been." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
That Dragon, Cancer -- 9/10
"It's virtually impossible to not bring one's own biases into That Dragon, Cancer, because death and disease are universal. Just as it's impossible to quantify whether the exploration of those two heavy topics is worth the time and considerable emotional energy, it's impossible to truly quantify the immeasurable value of being able to not just forever present the best version of a person to the world, but being able to earn his presence in every way his parents did." [read the full review] -- Justin Clark
The Beginner's Guide -- 8/10
"The Beginner's Guide is an absorbing journey into the thoughts and processes involved during the creation of a video game. It succeeds in helping you understand and sympathize with game developers as artists and people. It equips you with important tools to perceive and think about both video games and other mediums in intelligent ways. It's a game that lives up to its namesake--it's the beginner's guide to the meaning of video games." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer
Her Story -- 8/10
"We have an intimate level of knowledge about this woman in the wake of her own personal tragedy, and the strength of Her Story as a narrative experience is that even as the right clips put the truth in sharp relief, your ability to uncover it is both satisfying and horrifying. This feat of intelligence and insight sticks with you long after the credits roll." [read the full review] -- Justin Clark
Interloper -- 8/10
"Interloper distills the core elements of every good RTS and adds a little extra to put it over the top. No matter if you love or loathe traditional real-time strategy, the deep tactics and puzzle solving crammed into a nicely condensed package here come highly recommended." [read the full review] -- Brett Todd
The Stanley Parable -- 9/10
"The Stanley Parable is both a richly stimulating commentary on the nature of choice in games (and in other systems, too, like our workplaces and our families) and a game that offers some of the most enjoyable, surprising, and rewarding choices I've ever been confronted with in a game. Going the wrong way has never felt so right." [read the full review] -- Carolyn Petit
Arma 3 -- 8/10
"ARMA III is a game with few modern counterparts. The influence of Operation Flashpoint isn't felt in many current games, even the modern OF, leaving the ARMA series to lead a charge accompanied by Red Orchestra, Iron Front, and too few others. With that uniqueness comes a dedicated community willing to overlook the flaws because they crave a kind of tension and large-scale teamwork unavailable anywhere else. You should consider joining that crowd. ARMA III is a beast. It occasionally flails and moans, but once you learn how to balance yourself upon it, it gives you a marvelous, turbulent, and memorable ride." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Dota 2 -- 9/10
"The original Dota was an unexpectedly powerful blend of clashing genres and disparate elements that ended up taking over the world, and Valve's successor retains the original rules and characters while adding in a cheery free-to-play model and slick production values. The experience of playing Dota changes day by day--some evenings will be exhilarating, while others will kick your morale to the curb--but there are few games as worthy of your time investment as this. Those who choose to commit to Dota 2 will find many happy hours within this immaculate update." [read the full review] -- Martin Gaston
Antichamber -- 8.5/10
"There are moments in Antichamber that remain with you long after you've uncovered your last clue and solved your last puzzle. What has been created within its barren walls is supremely intelligent and wildly inventive, and Antichamber doesn't give up its ideals for the sake of accessibility. The few spells of frustration are fleeting and never compromise Antichamber's powerful achievements in design and style. 'Every journey is a series of choices,' you're told at the beginning of your adventure. You should choose to begin yours in Antichamber: it really is quite unlike anything else." [read the full review] -- Mark Walton
By Kallie Plagge on May 17, 2018 04:35 am
Best of the Best
It's been over four years since the launch of Xbox One, which means over four years of games! As such, it can be hard to decide what to play. From exclusives to the top multi-platform games to indies, there's a lot to choose from--and even though people joke that the Xbox One has no games, that's just not true! We've picked out the best Xbox One games so far. This includes many of the games that received an 8 or higher on GameSpot, and we've prioritized games that were nominated for our Best Xbox One Game list in the years those games released. It also includes Assassin's Creed: Origins, which was one of GameSpot's top Xbox One games of 2017 due to its performance on the Xbox One X. While there are plenty of new games, we haven't included the hundreds of backwards compatible games on Xbox One, which includes many original Xbox and Xbox 360 favorites. Xbox also has a subscription service called which lets you download and play a selection of over 100 games that varies slightly from month to month. For more Xbox One games, see our roundups of the best cheap games on Xbox One, and make sure to check out our gallery of the Xbox One exclusive games confirmed for 2018 as well as the biggest Xbox One games of 2018 for everything coming to the console.
Monster Hunter: World -- 8/10
"Ever since the title was first announced last year, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large." [read the full review] -- Ginny Woo
Celeste -- 9/10
"It's a testament to convincing writing and ingenious design that after playing Celeste I felt like I'd been on the same journey as Madeline. Her struggle is one made easy to empathize with, her low points painful to watch, and her high notes exhilarating to experience. Her tale is delicately told and beautifully illustrated, confidently coalescing with the satisfying, empowering game it lies within. Not bad for a game about climbing a mountain." [read the full review] -- Oscar Dayus, Staff Writer
What Remains of Edith Finch -- 9/10
"Developer Giant Sparrow managed to strike the delicate balance between joy and sorrow in 2012's The Unfinished Swan, but What Remains of Edith Finch transcends even the latent sadness of that game, finding the beauty--even sometimes the fun--in what's always fundamentally a tragedy. It's not often that a game's plot slips past the bitterness of grief to finally get to the acceptance, but that's the triumph in What Remains of Edith Finch. Ultimately, if the game has any resemblance of a moral, it's that the bravest, most beautiful thing every one of us does is choose to keep going, despite knowing what's coming." [read the full review] -- Justin Clark
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus -- 9/10
"The New Colossus never lets you forget who and why you're fighting. Nazi brutality is on full display, from the blown-out, irradiated remains of Manhattan to each of the resistance members, who all carry mental scars if not physical ones. You're never given a chance between cutscenes, missions, and even downtime on the U-boat to lose sight of the Reich's cruelty. Wolfenstein's tense gameplay elevates this further by giving you the power to truly resist--and come out of each battle ready for another fight." [read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Sonic Mania -- 9/10
"Sonic Mania methodically uses its sentimental appeal to great effect, but in the process, it heals the wounds inflicted by its most disappointing predecessors and surpasses the series' best with its smart and interpretive design. An excellent 2D platformer, Sonic Mania goes beyond expectations, managing to be not only a proper evolution of the series' iconic formula, but the best Sonic game ever made." [read the full review] -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Cuphead -- 8/10
"Everything you've heard about Cuphead is true. It is a difficult side-scrolling shooter with relentless boss battles that demand rapid-fire actions and reactions. Think for too long, and you won't stand a chance against the game's toughest enemies. Battles may only last three minutes at most, but they feel far longer when you know that you can only absorb three hits before you have to start from scratch. When you are navigating your way around bullets, smaller enemies, and pitfalls, while simultaneously trying to damage your primary target, toppling Cuphead's imposing bosses is both a monumental and rewarding task." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Assassin's Creed Origins -- 7/10
"Assassin's Creed has undergone many changes in its long and storied history, and Origins feels like the first step in the start of a new journey. It has its fair share of problems, but the vision for its future is one worth pursuing." [read the full review] -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
Stardew Valley -- 9/10
"On the surface, Stardew Valley is a game about farming, but there are more adventures awaiting curious players beyond cultivating a rich and bountiful garden. From mining and fishing to making friends and falling in love, Stardew Valley's Pelican Town is stuffed with rewarding opportunities. As modern day woes give way to pressing matters on the farm and within your newfound community, Stardew Valley's meditative activities often lead to personal reflection in the real world. It's a game that tugs at your curiosity as often as it does your heart." [read the full review] -- Mary Kish
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard -- 8/10
"By the end of the campaign, I was ready for the game to be over, but that's okay. RE7 ends just as it starts to outstay its welcome, and after the fact, I felt like I'd survived a truly harrowing journey. The boss fights may be slightly inconsistent and certain sections might drag after a while, but RE7 is still a remarkable success. It has a clear vision and executes it with impressive patience and precision. By returning to horror, Resident Evil has once again become something special." [read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth
Night in the Woods -- 9/10
"Both intensely personal and widely relatable, Night in the Woods doesn't just tell a story--it gracefully captures complex, often unpleasant feelings and experiences. From the quiet melancholy of doing nothing on a rainy day to the emotional vacuum of severe depression, I felt deeply, sometimes too deeply, while wandering through the cartoon-animal version of a small Midwestern town. Its witty writing and character development keep its crushing existential themes grounded, making Night in the Woods one of the most evocative games I've played in a long time." [read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Overwatch -- 9/10
"Overwatch is an exercise in refined chaos. There are multitudes of layers hiding beneath the hectic surface, and they emerge, one after another, the more you play. This is a shooter that knows how to surprise, one that unfolds at a frantic pace, one that takes a handful of great ideas, and combines them into something spectacular." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Battlefield 1 -- 9/10
"EA DICE splendidly interprets the early 20th century as a world in technological transition while humanizing the war's participants through well crafted, albeit fictional, narrative vignettes. Combined with an enthralling multiplayer component, the overall result is the studio's best work since Battlefield: Bad Company 2." [read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion
Titanfall 2 -- 9/10
"Titanfall 2 demonstrates a vitality that its predecessor couldn't. Whereas the first Titanfall kept up its breakneck pace throughout the entirety of every match, Titanfall 2 understands that sometimes, dialing things back for a few moments can make the long run much more enjoyable. In many ways, Titanfall 2 feels like the game Respawn should have made in 2013. It's a fantastic sequel. It's a fluid shooter. It's a spectacular game." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Dishonored 2 -- 8/10
"Any time I'm given a choice between stealth and action, I go stealth. I love the hold-your-breath tension of hoping a guard didn't spot you and the hard-earned triumph of executing a perfectly timed plan. Dishonored 2 delivers that sneaky satisfaction, arming you with stealth essentials like hiding bodies, peering through keyholes, and silent takedowns. But it's also an incredible engine for gleeful chaos, one so engrossing and amusing that I kind of accidentally beat the entire campaign raining hilarious, elaborate death on my enemies." [read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth
Forza Horizon 3 -- 9/10
"With Forza Horizon 3, Turn 10 and Playground Games affirm the series' status as the driving game for everyone. The new emphasis on off-road options isn't at the expense of traditional races, thanks to the sheer volume of activities. All the while, Playground Games' calculated kitchen-sink design philosophy and rich reward system persistently tempt you to explore beyond your comfort zone, whether it's gifting your first Ariel Nomad buggy or reminding you that stunt races can impress thousands of fans. Enhancing your own brand might feel like a strange motivation to hit the road, but pulling off sick e-drifts on a mile-long series of curves makes the PR work worthwhile." [read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion
Inside -- 8/10
"This is a beautiful, haunting, and memorable game, a worthy follow-up to Limbo. Its puzzles, although rarely difficult, are engaging complements to the story. The real achievement of this game, though, is the way that it crafts its narrative: detailed environments convey the bizarre world that you travel through; introspective moments are filled with minimalist sound design and just the barest touches of music; and the things you must do to complete your journey force you to confront the realities of humanity, freedom, and existence." [read the full review] -- Alex Newhouse
Dark Souls III -- 8/10
"Dark Souls III is a game of valleys and peaks, down through dungeons and up over castle walls. It's a plummet into places we shouldn't be--an escape from places we don't belong. But of course, we fight our way through the darkness, and find our way out. There are a few stumbles along the way, but in the end, Dark Souls III is well worth the riveting climb." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt -- 10/10
"Where the Witcher 2 sputtered to a halt, The Witcher 3 is always in a crescendo, crafting battle scenarios that constantly one-up the last, until you reach the explosive finale and recover in the glow of the game's quiet denouement. But while the grand clashes are captivating, it is the moments between conflicts, when you drink with the local clans and bask in a trobairitz's song, that are truly inspiring." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Halo 5: Guardians -- 8/10
"Halo 5: Guardians is fueled by new ideas and propelled by some of the boldest changes to this storied franchise yet. Some of these changes fail, but others succeed, and although Halo 5 falters at times, it whisks us through black holes and across war torn tropical islands at a rapid pace. We can only surrender to its velocity." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Rise of the Tomb Raider -- 9/10
"Rise of the Tomb Raider's first shot pans over the vast, foreboding landscape we'll soon come to know. In many ways, it functions as a promise on the part of Crystal Dynamics: there are big things ahead of us. And at the end of Lara's journey, after we've seen her through this adventure, and experienced everything the world has to offer, it's clear that promise was kept." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Ori and the Blind Forest -- 9/10
"It consistently surprises you with new tricks: gravitational divergences, new ways to move through its spaces, and carefully designed levels that require you to think quickly and respond. It is not as snappy as, say, a typical Mario platformer, seeking instead a broader gameplay arc stretching across a single, interconnected world. It's a superb and thematically consistent approach that allows Ori and the Blind Forest to build joy on a bed of heartache, adding a new layer of mechanical complexity with each ray of hope." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain -- 10/10
"There has never been a game in the series with such depth to its gameplay, or so much volume in content. The best elements from the past games are here, and the new open-world gameplay adds more to love on top. When it comes to storytelling, there has never been a Metal Gear game that's so consistent in tone, daring in subject matter, and so captivating in presentation. The Phantom Pain may be a contender for one of the best action games ever made, but is undoubtedly the best Metal Gear game there is." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Fallout 4 -- 9/10
"Fallout 4 is an engrossing game that lures you in with mystery and the promise of adventure. Its wretched wasteland can be captivating, and you never know what odd person or settlement lies around the next bend. Fallout 4 uses its dark world as a canvas for exciting combat and gripping stories, and when you dig deeper into its post-nuclear-apocalypse version of Boston--defending yourself from violent scavengers and using your wits to climb social ladders--you become attached to the new you, and ultimately invested in the fate of your new world." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor -- 8/10
"This is a great game in its own right, narratively disjointed but mechanically sound, made up of excellent parts pieced together in excellent ways. I already knew what future lay in store for Middle-earth as I played Shadow of Mordor; I'm hoping that my own future might one day bring another Lord of the Rings adventure as stirring as this one." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Dragon Age: Inquisition -- 9/10
"Inquisition's characters and world recall the grand gestures of the original Dragon Age, even though the game as a whole is so structurally different to its predecessors. It offers the thrill of discovery and the passion of camaraderie. It features a glee club called The Sing-Quisition, and a dwarf with writer's block. It establishes connections with its world in big ways and small, with the sight of a titanous temple and the smirk of an Orlesian commander in love. Dragon Age: Inquisition is a wonderful game and a lengthy pilgrimage to a magical world with vital thematic ties to one we already know." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition -- 8/10
"Lara herself is so well crafted that I grew attached to her exploits and was sad to say goodbye when the credits rolled. And the exquisite visual design is so breathtaking that I continually found myself staring at the scenery instead of pushing onward. Tomb Raider is a great reinvention of this enduring franchise that made me eager to see where Lara goes in her future." [read the full review] -- Tom McShea
Forza Motorsport 5 -- 9/10
"All of this combined makes Forza Motorsport 5 an outstanding improvement to an already excellent racing franchise. It's far more than just a great racing sim, or a gorgeous showcase for the types of feats the Xbox One hardware is capable of. This is a game built on the romantic thrill of motorsport in all its forms, and that love for its subject matter is all but impossible to resist." [read the full review] -- Shaun McInnis
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag -- 9/10
"There's an incredible scope to what you can do in Black Flag, with a level of harmony between its component parts that encourages you to try it all, and a story that keeps you invested throughout the whole thing. If there was ever any question that Assassin's Creed needed something ambitious to get the series back on track, Black Flag is that game and then some." [read the full review] -- Shaun McInnis
By Matt Espineli on May 17, 2018 04:24 am
The Best Switch Games So Far
The release of the Nintendo Switch over a year ago marked the beginning of an new era for Nintendo. With The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as its major launch title, the Switch quickly rose to the top of console sales charts and dramatically increased Nintendo's revenue. And in the year since its launch, there has been no shortage of fantastic games coming to the hybrid console, from huge first-party games like Mario and Kirby to indie darlings like Owlboy and Celeste. The library only seems to be expanding and improving with every consecutive release. In this feature, we're taking a look back at the best Switch games so far. This includes games that have received a score of 8 or higher on GameSpot since the console's release, as well as reviews for new games and updates to reviews of older games that were ported to Switch. Check out our choices for the best games released on the Switch. And with the console's library continuing to expand, make sure to check back often as we update this feature over the coming weeks and months. For an analysis of Nintendo Switch's first year, be sure to read our retrospective feature discussing the console's various successes and failures. In addition, you can also check out our features detailingall the Wii U games we ported to Switch, 13 things we want to see from the console.
Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze -- 9/10
"Tropical Freeze isn't a heavy-hitter from Nintendo in the same way Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey are, but it's a fantastic platformer that's bursting with creativity and expertly designed challenges. It's tuned just right--always tough but rarely frustrating--to ensure that even the most common moments feel great. If you missed out when the game first debuted back in 2014, give it a shot today. It easily stands the test of time." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Bayonetta 2 -- 10/10
"But it's a challenge you'll want to experience again as soon as you put down the controller. Bayonetta 2's combat is so expertly constructed, and its presentation so joyously insane, that you'd have to try so very hard to get bored of it all. In a year filled with the promise of ever more elaborate experiences on all the shiny new hardware, that Bayonetta 2--a homage to classic game design and escapism--should be the most fun I've had playing a game all year is unexpected. But maybe it shouldn't have been. After all, its predecessor still stands as one of the finest games of its genre. To have surpassed that with Bayonetta 2, and to have created a game that will be remembered as an absolute classic, is nothing short of astonishing." [Read the review] -- Mark Walton
Celeste -- 9/10
"It's a testament to convincing writing and ingenious design that after playing Celeste I felt like I'd been on the same journey as Madeline. Her struggle is one made easy to empathize with, her low points painful to watch, and her high notes exhilarating to experience. Her tale is delicately told and beautifully illustrated, confidently coalescing with the satisfying, empowering game it lies within. Not bad for a game about climbing a mountain." [Read the full review] -- Oscar Dayus, Staff Writer
Dragon Quest Builders -- 8/10
"The excellence of Dragon Quest Builders illustrates the versatility of this 30-year-old franchise as much as it speaks to the engrossing appeal of Minecraft-inspired creation. The story-advancing draw of quests goes hand-in-hand with the depth of a crafting system that cleverly uses monster drops as some of the game's building tools. Whether you want to focus on completing assignments or build with no specific purpose, the game is feature-rich enough to suck up untold hours, even if this happens to be your first Dragon Quest experience." [Read the review] -- Miguel Concepcion, Editor
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim -- 8/10
"The original version of Skyrim is still an immense, engrossing RPG, and the quality, number, and variety of its quests makes it as easy to become lost in its world as ever. With the addition of Zelda-themed gear that's actually useful--and the fact that you can play anywhere--the Switch version of Skyrim is a great excuse to revisit a much-loved RPG." [Read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Golf Story -- 8/10
"It can take a little while for the narrative to ramp up in Golf Story and for you to feel like you've really cultivated the skills of a champion, but based on the sheer scope of what the game delivers, there's likely something for everyone to enjoy whether their shtick is mini-golfing or terrorising delinquents with frisbees. It has successfully captured the trappings of yesteryear's RPGs, and the witticisms and idiosyncrasies of the characters you encounter are a great palate cleanser between rounds. Switch has had a swathe of indies hit its eShop recently, but if you're looking for something that'll give you satisfaction in terms of an interesting story and a rewarding mechanic, then Golf Story is certainly par for the course." [Read the full review] -- Ginny Woo
Gorogoa -- 8/10
"Few games take the concept of altering reality to as artistic a level as Gorogoa. This labor of love made chiefly by one developer is a gorgeous and intriguing puzzle game that works because of its stunning art and intelligent puzzle design. Far from a traditional game, Gorogoa is a slow and methodical trip into the surreal." [Read the full review] -- Jason D'Aprile
Kirby Star Allies -- 8/10
"Star Allies is yet another Kirby game, but it's up there with some of the best. It's an artistic showcase, and a great opportunity for co-op platforming. The one real complaint you can levy at it is that it gates off its more challenging aspects, but the fact that they are present to begin with will please anyone who's grown weary of the series' painless platforming." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild -- 10/10
"No matter how gorgeous its environments are, how clever its enemies are, and how tricky its puzzles get, the fact that Breath of the Wild continues to surprise you with newfound rules and possibilities after dozens of hours is by far its most valuable quality. It's a game that allows you to feel gradually more and more empowered yet simultaneously manages to retain a sense of challenge and mystery--which, together, creates a steady, consistent feeling of gratification throughout the entire experience. Breath of the Wild is a defining moment for The Legend of Zelda series, and the most impressive game Nintendo has ever created." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle -- 9/10
"Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle exudes off-beat optimism that never dissolves. It's a consistent delight, no matter how challenging the road becomes, because Kingdom Battle's unique turn-based tactics system is in every way a pleasure to engage with. Coupled with the annoyingly infectious allure of Rabbids, and the always delightful, colorful world of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is an implausibly engrossing formula that is positively challenging and endlessly charming." [Read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, Editor
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe -- 9/10
"For Mario Kart fans, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe might look like more of the same with small Double Dash-inspired tweaks. But thanks to a series of updates both big and almost unseen, it's the version of Mario Kart to get. If you don't own a Wii U or skipped out on Mario Kart 8 the first time around--or even if you've played it before--Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is worth your time. It plays beautifully on Switch in both handheld and docked mode, and its core racing is as exciting as ever. And, most notably, it completely revamps the original's lackluster Battle Mode, rounding out an already great racing game." [Read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Mr. Shifty -- 8/10
"Mr. Shifty isn't a huge game in terms of length, but the three- to four-hour campaign is ample. It's like a shot of adrenalin, offering an exciting, intense experience, and it's easy to forgive the game's performance flaws when it so consistently makes you feel like a badass." [Read the full review] -- James O'Connor
NBA 2K18 -- 8/10
"NBA 2K18 is a hardcore sports simulation. If you want to get good, you have to put in the work. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to improve your skills no matter how you want to play. And the fact that there's so much to do is a bonus, because on the court, NBA 2K18 is also an amazingly well-crafted experience." [Read the full review] -- Seth Macy
Night in the Woods -- 9/10
"From beginning to end to epilogue, Night in the Woods is ultimately open to individual interpretation. How you relate to it depends on your own experiences and choices, including Mae's dialogue and who you decide to spend time with. Though its charming and angsty story works well on its own merits, it's special because of how it prioritizes conveying emotion over telling a straight narrative." [Read the review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Owlboy -- 9/10
"Owlboy is consistently charming and surprising, and when its final act doubles down on every front, it's bittersweet to see it end. As you relish the outcome of the final battle and watch the closing cutscene, you can't help but reflect on the beginning of your adventure and how far the world and its inhabitants have come. You'll never be able to play Owlboy for the first time again, but the memories of its magic moments stick with you. This is more than a treat for fans of old-school games; Owlboy is a heartfelt experience that will touch anyone with an affinity for great art and storytelling." [Read the review] -- Peter Brown, Senior Reviews Editor
Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 Plus -- 8/10
"Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 creates an exciting dynamic where ghosts are still dangerous, but the overall game is more forgiving than the original--and it's more entertaining as a result. Arcade ports tend to be games we play in short bursts--mostly for the nostalgia factor. Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 certainly relies on that nostalgia to a point, but it handles the classic game in a way that plays with expectations to surprise you. It's the same game enhanced in the right directions to be make an old concept fun, innovative, and challenging all over again." [Read the review] -- Jason D'Aprile
Puyo Puyo Tetris -- 8/10
"Overflowing with colorful personality, Puyo Puyo Tetris revels in its weirdness. It provides solid versions of both puzzle games and merges the two in bizarre, frantic ways that adds a fresh dash of style to these long-running series. With an array of game variations spanning single-player, along with on- and offline multiplayer, it's an incredibly meaty package that should satisfy gamers for a long time to come." [Read the full review] -- Jason D'Aprile
Rive -- 8/10
"Rive is demanding, but it pushes the kind of near-thoughtless play that shoot-em-ups strive to achieve. When faced with an onslaught of enemies and environmental hazards, you'll have to think fast or die. Rive also doesn't run all that long, but what's here is excellent, top-notch action, and the game delivers some of the most memorable moments in a shoot-em-up in years." [Read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Rocket League -- 9/10
"For people new to the game, they have a lot to look forward to regardless, as it's one of the most fascinating sports games in memory. Nevermind if you don't like soccer or couldn't care less about the growing esports community. Rocket League is a unique game that redefines the concept of what a sports game can be, and Psyonix continues to support it with new content on a regular basis. It's been around for a while, but now that it's on Switch, there's no better time to give it a shot." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment -- 8/10
"Specter of Torment is a finely-crafted 2D platformer that is satisfying in all respects. Simply controlling Specter Knight--flying through the air and slicing through enemies--is a joy in itself, and being able to push your ability to control these skills in overcoming the game's cleverly-designed and challenging levels is always an exhilarating feeling. Specter of Torment is a focussed, polished, and satisfyingly challenging game that's well worth experiencing whether or not you've had the pleasure of playing Shovel Knight." [Read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, Editor
Sonic Mania -- 9/10
"Sonic Mania methodically uses its sentimental appeal to great effect, but in the process, it heals the wounds inflicted by its most disappointing predecessors and surpasses the series' best with its smart and interpretive design. An excellent 2D platformer, Sonic Mania goes beyond expectations, managing to be not only a proper evolution of the series' iconic formula, but the best Sonic game ever made." [Read the full review] -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Splatoon 2 -- 8/10
"At first glance, Splatoon 2 seems very similar to the first game. But all the small changes, and even the bigger ones in single player and League Battles, make for a fresh take on the already unique shooter. If you played a lot of the original, the sequel has enough to keep you coming back, and if you're new to the game, it's a fantastic place to jump in." [Read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Stardew Valley -- 9/10
"The sheer number of things to accomplish in Stardew Valley can keep you interested beyond the original three in-game years you need to reach the end of your story--you may just want to start over rather than continue on. You'll work quite hard to gather enough money for your first horse, so that you can quickly move to the mines to get a mineral to complete a bundle at the community center. It's all centered around whatever it is you want to accomplish that day. And that's truly what makes Stardew Valley such a lovely experience, it encourages you to go out and be the best you can be, in whichever task that brings you the most joy. Stardew Valley motivates naturally, with blissful optimism." [Read the full review] -- Mary Kish
SteamWorld Dig 2 -- 9/10
"Every advancement Dig 2 makes to its story and mechanics strengthens your initiative to progress. There's an overwhelming sense of momentum that runs through the adventure; as if developer Image & Form sifted the original in a pan, removing its redundancies while expanding upon what made it so fun to persistently play. In your quest to acquire every upgrade and explore every nook and cranny, there's no shortage of hidden collectables to discover. And with post-game content that unlocks after you unearth every secret, the desire to keep digging intensifies. Dig 2 manages to not only be an exceptional successor, but a great adventure in its own right. Where the first game was a diamond in the rough, Dig 2 is a polished jewel." [Read the full review] -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Super Mario Odyssey -- 10/10
"Odyssey is sustained beyond its major milestones not only through colorful worlds and hidden challenges, but through the sheer joy of controlling Mario, who's never felt more responsive or dynamic in action. Even with everything new that's been introduced, Nintendo's forward-thinking platformer retains the series' classic handcrafted appeal, which is even more impressive when you realize how densely packed each kingdom is. Mario's latest outing is big, bold, and bursting with new ideas, and like Breath of the Wild, is another instance of Nintendo going above and beyond to redefine our expectations. It's a shining example of refined creativity, and another crown jewel for Switch that is without equal." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
By Matt Espineli on May 17, 2018 04:23 am
The Best Around
It feels just like yesterday, but PS4 launched over four years ago, and a ton of games have come out in that time. As such, it can be tough to sort through all of them and decide what to play. Luckily, we at GameSpot have played tons of PS4 over the years and have more than a few recommendations to start you off with--whether you're a new PS4 owner or have had the console and are just looking for something you might've missed. In this feature, we've collected the best PS4 games so far. This includes many of the games that have received an 8 or higher on GameSpot, and we've prioritized games that were nominated for our end-of-year Best PS4 Game lists. Check out our choices for the best games released on the PS4. And with the console's library continuing to expand, make sure to check back often as we update this feature over the coming weeks and months. For more PS4 games on a budget, see our roundups of the best cheap games on PS4, and make sure to check out our gallery of the PS4 exclusive games confirmed for 2018 as well as the biggest PS4 games of 2018 for everything coming to the console.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life -- 8/10
"Yakuza 6 reins in its scope, but doubles down on what has made the series great. It's a unique and fascinating representation of the modern Japanese experience, worth playing even if you're a newcomer. The narrative is dramatic and sincere, and the game's endearing characters--coming from all walks of life--are interesting studies. The world is dense and rewarding to exist in, the dynamic combat system stays exciting even after you've kicked the crap out of five thousand enemies, and perhaps most importantly, Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life serves as a fulfilling conclusion to the turbulent, decade-long saga of its beloved icon, Kazuma Kiryu." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, Senior Editor and Video Producer
God Of War -- 9/10
"In many ways God of War is what the series has always been. It's a spectacular action game with epic set pieces, big-budget production values, and hard-hitting combat that grows more feverish and impressive as you progress. What may surprise you is how mature its storytelling has become. Like Kratos, God of War recalls the past while acknowledging the need to improve. Everything new it does is for the better, and everything it holds onto benefits as a result. Kratos is no longer a predictable brute. God of War is no longer an old-fashioned action series. With this reboot, it confidently walks a new path that will hopefully lead to more exciting adventures to come." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Bloodborne -- 9/10
"The finest treasures are found within the city of Yharnam and the forests, lakes, and purgatories beyond it. Only Bloodborne would be so bold as to bury an entire factional player-versus-player mechanic within an optional region, which is in turn buried within a series of oblique steps you might miss if you aren't exploring every nook and cranny, or ignore the game's enigmatic hints. I finished Bloodborne in less time than I did Dark Souls II, yet I treasure it more in spite of its few missteps. In death there is life, and in blood, there is redemption. More hyperbole, yes, but for a game this theatrical, only hyperbole will do." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Monster Hunter: World -- 8/10
"Ever since the title was first announced last year, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large." [read the full review] -- Ginny Woo
Celeste -- 9/10
"It's a testament to convincing writing and ingenious design that after playing Celeste I felt like I'd been on the same journey as Madeline. Her struggle is one made easy to empathize with, her low points painful to watch, and her high notes exhilarating to experience. Her tale is delicately told and beautifully illustrated, confidently coalescing with the satisfying, empowering game it lies within. Not bad for a game about climbing a mountain." [read the full review] -- Oscar Dayus, Staff Writer
What Remains of Edith Finch -- 9/10
"Developer Giant Sparrow managed to strike the delicate balance between joy and sorrow in 2012's The Unfinished Swan, but What Remains of Edith Finch transcends even the latent sadness of that game, finding the beauty--even sometimes the fun--in what's always fundamentally a tragedy. It's not often that a game's plot slips past the bitterness of grief to finally get to the acceptance, but that's the triumph in What Remains of Edith Finch. Ultimately, if the game has any resemblance of a moral, it's that the bravest, most beautiful thing every one of us does is choose to keep going, despite knowing what's coming." [read the full review] -- Justin Clark
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus -- 9/10
"The New Colossus never lets you forget who and why you're fighting. Nazi brutality is on full display, from the blown-out, irradiated remains of Manhattan to each of the resistance members, who all carry mental scars if not physical ones. You're never given a chance between cutscenes, missions, and even downtime on the U-boat to lose sight of the Reich's cruelty. Wolfenstein's tense gameplay elevates this further by giving you the power to truly resist--and come out of each battle ready for another fight." [read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Sonic Mania -- 9/10
"Sonic Mania methodically uses its sentimental appeal to great effect, but in the process, it heals the wounds inflicted by its most disappointing predecessors and surpasses the series' best with its smart and interpretive design. An excellent 2D platformer, Sonic Mania goes beyond expectations, managing to be not only a proper evolution of the series' iconic formula, but the best Sonic game ever made." [read the full review] -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Stardew Valley -- 9/10
"On the surface, Stardew Valley is a game about farming, but there are more adventures awaiting curious players beyond cultivating a rich and bountiful garden. From mining and fishing to making friends and falling in love, Stardew Valley's Pelican Town is stuffed with rewarding opportunities. As modern day woes give way to pressing matters on the farm and within your newfound community, Stardew Valley's meditative activities often lead to personal reflection in the real world. It's a game that tugs at your curiosity as often as it does your heart." [read the full review] -- Mary Kish
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard -- 8/10
"By the end of the campaign, I was ready for the game to be over, but that's okay. RE7 ends just as it starts to outstay its welcome, and after the fact, I felt like I'd survived a truly harrowing journey. The boss fights may be slightly inconsistent and certain sections might drag after a while, but RE7 is still a remarkable success. It has a clear vision and executes it with impressive patience and precision. By returning to horror, Resident Evil has once again become something special." [read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth
Night in the Woods -- 9/10
"Both intensely personal and widely relatable, Night in the Woods doesn't just tell a story--it gracefully captures complex, often unpleasant feelings and experiences. From the quiet melancholy of doing nothing on a rainy day to the emotional vacuum of severe depression, I felt deeply, sometimes too deeply, while wandering through the cartoon-animal version of a small Midwestern town. Its witty writing and character development keep its crushing existential themes grounded, making Night in the Woods one of the most evocative games I've played in a long time." [read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Overwatch -- 9/10
"Overwatch is an exercise in refined chaos. There are multitudes of layers hiding beneath the hectic surface, and they emerge, one after another, the more you play. This is a shooter that knows how to surprise, one that unfolds at a frantic pace, one that takes a handful of great ideas, and combines them into something spectacular." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Titanfall 2 -- 9/10
"Titanfall 2 demonstrates a vitality that its predecessor couldn't. Whereas the first Titanfall kept up its breakneck pace throughout the entirety of every match, Titanfall 2 understands that sometimes, dialing things back for a few moments can make the long run much more enjoyable. In many ways, Titanfall 2 feels like the game Respawn should have made in 2013. It's a fantastic sequel. It's a fluid shooter. It's a spectacular game." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Dishonored 2 -- 8/10
"Any time I'm given a choice between stealth and action, I go stealth. I love the hold-your-breath tension of hoping a guard didn't spot you and the hard-earned triumph of executing a perfectly timed plan. Dishonored 2 delivers that sneaky satisfaction, arming you with stealth essentials like hiding bodies, peering through keyholes, and silent takedowns. But it's also an incredible engine for gleeful chaos, one so engrossing and amusing that I kind of accidentally beat the entire campaign raining hilarious, elaborate death on my enemies." [read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth
Dark Souls III -- 8/10
"Dark Souls III is a game of valleys and peaks, down through dungeons and up over castle walls. It's a plummet into places we shouldn't be--an escape from places we don't belong. But of course, we fight our way through the darkness, and find our way out. There are a few stumbles along the way, but in the end, Dark Souls III is well worth the riveting climb." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt -- 10/10
"Where the Witcher 2 sputtered to a halt, The Witcher 3 is always in a crescendo, crafting battle scenarios that constantly one-up the last, until you reach the explosive finale and recover in the glow of the game's quiet denouement. But while the grand clashes are captivating, it is the moments between conflicts, when you drink with the local clans and bask in a trobairitz's song, that are truly inspiring." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Rise of the Tomb Raider -- 9/10
"Rise of the Tomb Raider's first shot pans over the vast, foreboding landscape we'll soon come to know. In many ways, it functions as a promise on the part of Crystal Dynamics: there are big things ahead of us. And at the end of Lara's journey, after we've seen her through this adventure, and experienced everything the world has to offer, it's clear that promise was kept." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain -- 10/10
"There has never been a game in the series with such depth to its gameplay, or so much volume in content. The best elements from the past games are here, and the new open-world gameplay adds more to love on top. When it comes to storytelling, there has never been a Metal Gear game that's so consistent in tone, daring in subject matter, and so captivating in presentation. The Phantom Pain may be a contender for one of the best action games ever made, but is undoubtedly the best Metal Gear game there is." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Fallout 4 -- 9/10
"Fallout 4 is an engrossing game that lures you in with mystery and the promise of adventure. Its wretched wasteland can be captivating, and you never know what odd person or settlement lies around the next bend. Fallout 4 uses its dark world as a canvas for exciting combat and gripping stories, and when you dig deeper into its post-nuclear-apocalypse version of Boston--defending yourself from violent scavengers and using your wits to climb social ladders--you become attached to the new you, and ultimately invested in the fate of your new world." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor -- 8/10
"This is a great game in its own right, narratively disjointed but mechanically sound, made up of excellent parts pieced together in excellent ways. I already knew what future lay in store for Middle-earth as I played Shadow of Mordor; I'm hoping that my own future might one day bring another Lord of the Rings adventure as stirring as this one." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Dragon Age: Inquisition -- 9/10
"Inquisition's characters and world recall the grand gestures of the original Dragon Age, even though the game as a whole is so structurally different to its predecessors. It offers the thrill of discovery and the passion of camaraderie. It features a glee club called The Sing-Quisition, and a dwarf with writer's block. It establishes connections with its world in big ways and small, with the sight of a titanous temple and the smirk of an Orlesian commander in love. Dragon Age: Inquisition is a wonderful game and a lengthy pilgrimage to a magical world with vital thematic ties to one we already know." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
NBA 2K17 -- 9/10
"Despite its few drawbacks, NBA 2K17's excitement for basketball is contagious, and it's hard not to get wrapped up in it. Apart from the lacking 2KU mode and stiff recreations of commentators, the rest of the game looks great and plays even better. After finally devoting a significant amount of time to one of these games, I now see why it's such a well-regarded series, and it makes me wish that every sport got the same treatment that basketball does in NBA 2K17." -- Mat Paget
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag -- 9/10
"There's an incredible scope to what you can do in Black Flag, with a level of harmony between its component parts that encourages you to try it all, and a story that keeps you invested throughout the whole thing. If there was ever any question that Assassin's Creed needed something ambitious to get the series back on track, Black Flag is that game and then some." [read the full review] -- Shaun McInnis
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End -- 10/10
"Uncharted 4's gameplay pushes the narrative forward, the narrative feeds off its gameplay, and every detail coalesces to create something bigger. Uncharted 4 bounces between set pieces and personal moments with such grace, with such skill and poise and affection for its characters, that you don't mind when the guns stop firing, and the smoke clears, and Nathan gets a moment to breathe." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Until Dawn -- 8/10
"I didn't expect to have so much fun with Until Dawn, and the depth with which my choices mattered and affected the final outcome encouraged repeat playthroughs. The visuals can be wonky at times, but in the end Until Dawn succeeds in being a thoughtful use of familiar mechanics, a great achievement in player-driven narrative, and a horror game you shouldn't miss." [read the full review] -- Alexa Ray Corriea
The Last Guardian -- 9/10
"It isn't clear whether or not The Last Guardian means to be frustrating at times--if it's a concerted effort to test your patience for a lovable-yet-stubborn creature. Your affection for Trico and sympathy for both characters blossom nonetheless, culminating in an enrapturing series of revelations that cements your attachment to their personalities. Trico is the undeniable star of the show, exhibiting believable physicality and emotional range, but the boy is a valuable lesson in how to be patient and resilient when faced with unforeseen challenges. When the book closes on their story, it's hard not to open it up again and begin anew. The trials you overcome endear you to both characters, but the emotions Trico elicits make you want to give it another chance--to be the patient, effective partner it truly deserves." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Rocket League -- 9/10
"The joy of Rocket League rests on the countless plans that are conceived and discarded every other second in any given match. Trying to predict where and how the ball will bounce next is a game within the game. Despite the use of cars, Rocket League emulates the emotional surges typical of The Beautiful Game, such as the rush of an unexpected fast break or a well-timed header into a goal. With Rocket League, the promising concept of combining two wonderful things--cars and soccer--is equally magnificent in execution. You can't say the same thing about, say, combining cake and fruit to make fruitcake, as the comedian Jim Gaffigan observed." [read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice -- 8/10
"Hellblade's most notable achievement is the handling of an incredibly sensitive subject matter within an engaging and well-crafted action/adventure game. At its heart, the story is about Senua's struggle to come to terms with her illness. In the process, she learns to find the strength within herself to endure, and to make peace with her past. And in a profound and physical way, we go through those same struggles with her, and come away with a better understanding of a piece of something that many people in the world struggle with." [read the full review] -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
MLB The Show 18 -- 9/10
"Sony's flagship baseball franchise has never been better. With its best-in-class controls and visuals, and impeccable attention to detail for the small stuff, MLB The Show 18 is worth catching for any baseball fan." [read the full review]
Horizon: Zero Dawn -- 9/10
"This is the first departure from the Killzone series for developer Guerrilla Games, and though you might think the team took a risk by stepping out of its FPS comfort zone to create a third-person open-world action game, you'd never know it was their first rodeo. For every minor imperfection, there's an element of greatness that recharges your desire to keep fighting and exploring Zero Dawn's beautiful and perilous world. Guerrilla Games has delivered one of the best open-world games of this generation, and redefined its team's reputation in the process." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Nier: Automata -- 9/10
"Thanks to Platinum Games' knack for riveting and gratifying combat, Automata is Yoko Taro's most exciting game to date. The combat mechanics click after hurdling a low learning curve, and the end result is a skillful dance where balletic dodges complement wushu-inspired aggression. Moreover, this multi-ending trip is generously peppered with surprises and revelations, as well as easter eggs that call back to the first game and the Drakengard series from which Nier spun off. It's a meaty, often exhilarating trek that showcases Platinum Games' and Yoko Taro's unique blend of genius." [read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion
Persona 5 -- 9/10
"Within Persona 5 is a complex set of interconnected gameplay mechanics, and in almost every aspect Atlus has executed on its vision exceptionally, barring the pacing issues towards the end. At every turn, it presents something to marvel at, whether it's the fluid combat, vibrant world, or the many memorable characters. It's a game I could talk about for hours; I haven't mentioned the ability to connect to the Thieves Guild, which lets you see how other players spent their day or ask them for help answering questions at school. Or the thumping acid-jazz-infused soundtrack that I've not been able to get out of my head. Or even just the joy of seeing how it stylishly transitions between menus. But that encapsulates why Persona 5 is a game that shouldn't be missed. It's stuffed to bursting point with gameplay ideas and presentation flourishes--there's an overwhelming level of artistry in every part of Persona 5, making it a truly standout entry in the series. It's a refined, effortlessly stylish RPG that will be talked about for years to come." [read the full review] -- Lucy James, Video Producer
Madden NFL 18 -- 9/10
"Overall, Madden 18 marks an unusually large shakeup in a series that, due to its annualized releases, rarely features much more than small, iterative changes. The Frostbite engine allows the game to reach new levels of realism in its visuals, and EA has put a lot of effort into constantly evolving the game to keep it in line with real-world events. But it is the Longshot story mode that defines Madden 18. Some of Longshot is unnecessary spectacle, but its lasting value comes from the humanity that it brings to the game. The moments of vulnerability and sincerity between Devin Wade and Colt Cruise during the story are worthy of celebration and give the overall game a weight that Madden hasn't had before. And if that's not enough to entice you, it's also simply a terrific football game." [read the full review] -- Alex Newhouse
Far Cry 5 -- 9/10
"Despite some brief irritations and missed opportunities with its narrative, spending time in the world of Hope County remains absolutely delightful. Far Cry 5 boasts a wonderfully harmonious flow to its adventure, with its smart changes to exploration, discovery, and progression distinctly bolstering the enjoyment of creatively engaging and experimenting with its spectacular open world." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, Senior Producer/Editor
Transistor -- 8/10
"Transistor is always a good-looking game, but in these instances, it demonstrates a rare knack for combining its visuals and music to powerfully convey both narrative information and tone, driving the story forward with Red's own unwavering resolve. So in the end, yes, Transistor is a fun action role-playing game with a neat combat system, but beautiful moments like these make it more than that. They make it a game with a soul." [read the full review] -- Carolyn Petit
Yakuza 0 -- 8/10
"Unless you have a strong aversion to violence, sex, or middling graphics, you owe it to yourself to give Zero a chance. Its story will surprise you, its inhabitants will make you laugh at every turn, and its ambitious scope will redefine how you think about open-world games. It's a fascinating adventure no matter how you approach it, and it's proof positive that a game can be wildly inconsistent yet remain a great experience." [read the full review]
Inside -- 8/10
"This is a beautiful, haunting, and memorable game, a worthy follow-up to Limbo. Its puzzles, although rarely difficult, are engaging complements to the story. The real achievement of this game, though, is the way that it crafts its narrative: detailed environments convey the bizarre world that you travel through; introspective moments are filled with minimalist sound design and just the barest touches of music; and the things you must do to complete your journey force you to confront the realities of humanity, freedom, and existence." [read the full review] -- Alex Newhouse
By Matt Espineli on May 17, 2018 04:21 am
Against All Odds
Not all games receive positive fanfare upon their announcement or in the lead up to release. Heavy skepticism can follow a game for one reason or another. Sometimes it occurs due to a game being a drastic shift from past entries of a long-established franchise. Other times it's a prolonged development cycle that colors our expectations, typically resulting in cynicism or apathy. While there are games that ultimately fall in line with our worst expectations, there are plenty that manage to defy the odds. Everyone loves a good underdog success story, so we've compiled 15 of the most amazing games that defied widely held skepticisms and turned out to be great after all. What are some of your favorite games that defied expectations? Let us know in the comments below. Otherwise, be sure to keep up on our upcoming E3 2018 coverage. With all the successes you read about here, be sure to keep an open mind to whatever this year's big show might have in store. You can get up to speed on the big press conferences through our E3 2018 schedule.
DMC: Devil May Cry
When Ninja Theory's Devil May Cry reboot DmC: Devil May Cry was first revealed in 2010, people were understandably skeptical. It drastically redesigned the look of the frontman Dante, ditching the brash demon hunter's silver hair and red-leather in favor of a modern look and angsty demeanor. The change in art direction was instantly polarizing, resulting in a devout group of hardcore fans boycotting the game before it even released. Others worried the combat system wouldn't hold up to the high standard of quality set by past entries; Ninja Theory perceived lack of experience being the main culprit. While an early demo helped reassure some fans, expectations nevertheless remained low for others. However, when DmC eventually released in January 2013, the game was welcomed with positive critical reception and solid sales. At the time GameSpot gave the game an 8/10, and said: "DmC pulls off that unlikely reboot trick of feeling fresh and inviting while still holding onto what made the original series so appealing and so special." Despite its quality, some fans still rallied against DmC, going as far as petitioning to President Obama to remove the game from store shelves. However, the game continued to receive praise well after its initial release, and it's often cited now as one of the best entries in the franchise. DmC even received further acclaim with its subsequent remaster edition on PS4 and Xbox One. It just goes to show that looks can be deceiving.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
When Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle was first leaked, nobody thought it was going to be an exceptional game--much less a good game. When Nintendo fans saw an arm cannon-touting Mario accompanied by Ubisoft's polarizing Rabbids, they lamented the possibility. It seemed like another disastrous mini-game collection waiting to happen; people wished it wasn't true. Flash forward to E3 2017 and everything changed. When Shigeru Miyamoto took to the stage during Ubisoft's E3 press conference brandishing an arm cannon, it seemed like everyone's worst fears were about to come true. And then the game was shown: Rather than the mini-game collection that most people expected it be, Mario + Rabbids was in fact a turn-based tactical strategy experience. It was a shocking surprise that nobody saw coming. Initial first impressions towards Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Rush were strong, and a positive reception followed into its release. GameSpot called it an "implausibly engrossing formula that is positively challenging and endlessly charming." Mario + Rabbids is an undeniably compelling game, and one of the most shocking and surprising entries in this list.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
When Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance debuted at the Spike Video Game Awards in 2011, it was a bit of a shock. Formerly titled Metal Gear Solid: Rising, the spin-off looked far more over-the-top than the initial version shown at E3 2009, which featured a tone and style reminiscent to mainline Metal Gear games. This was because the game was now being developed by Platinum Games, a studio most known for its work on fast-paced character action games. It turned out that the team at Kojima Productions weren't able to design a game completely based around the initially proposed "cutting" mechanic, so Platinum Games stepped in to pick up the pieces. While the studio was well-regarded for its games, there was skepticism from hardcore MGS fans over whether or not the studio could meet the series' standard of quality in both gameplay and narrative. Some fans felt its style sharply contrasted existing games in the series. Despite these reservations, Rising managed to live up to the series's legacy in all the right ways. Its stylish violence and hard rock soundtrack somehow seemed right at home in the occasionally ludicrous Metal Gear universe, proving that there was more to the franchise than Snakes and espionage. While Rising still has its detractors, it remains a substantial game well worth playing.
Until Dawn
It's all to easy for horror movies to unintentionally step into the realm of cheesy. Whether it's poor acting, rough special effects, or sloppy editing, there's so much that could potentially sap a scene. The same can be said of horror games, so the odds were stacked against Until Dawn from the start. Making matters worse, the game was originally announced as a first-person PS3 game with Move controls. No one really cared when it blew past its release date, and when it was re-announced as a third-person PS4 game, most people shrugged. Such a turbulent development cycle almost always spells bad news for a finished game. And then Until Dawn launched--and it was fantastic. The setting was creepy, the characters were interesting, and the narrative twists kept on coming. It was like watching a really good horror movie, but with the outcome under your control. Not bad for a game that seemed doomed from the beginning.
Doom (2016)
The Doom franchise had been largely dormant for the better part of a decade when id Software and Bethesda revealed what their plans were for the newest entry, simply titled Doom. With Doom 4 having been in development hell for years, our first good look at the new game showed what appeared to be a gorgeous technical demonstration--but one that suggested the game might be nothing but a gratuitous gorefest. While it's certainly no less violent than we were led to believe, Doom offers a shockingly enjoyable campaign. Multiplayer feels like an afterthought, but that is really of no concern because the single-player side proved to be one of the best first-person shooter experiences in years. Doom embraces some classic elements of shooters while integrating more modern concepts, like a progression system that allows you to upgrade weapons and your Praetor suit. Better yet, Doom offered what felt like a modernized version of classic FPS gameplay. Hiding behind cover for your shield to regenerate or relying on AI companions isn't what Doom is about; it instead focuses heavily on its shooting and movement. In a refreshing take, it forces you to stay on the move at all times in combat, making use of the environment and risking close-range melee kills (which restore health and ammo) to stay alive. The game is at its best when played at a high difficulty, where the combination of deadly enemies and the fantastic, intense soundtrack create a sense of urgency that can make Doom feel almost like a hybrid of arcade-style shooters and horror games. Despite the early concerns, Doom turned out to be a special game after all.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Coming off of a console generation that was littered with cheap, cash-in superhero games, many of us weren't expecting much from Rocksteady's Batman game. Sure it looked pretty and hearing Kevin Conroy reprise his role as Bruce Wayne was a huge plus, but aside from the fantastic Sunsoft-made games, the caped crusader didn't have the best track record when it came to video games. Boy, we couldn't have been more wrong. Borrowing design philosophies from Metroid, Arkham Asylum gave us a dark, detailed setting to explore, with certain pathways closed off until you acquired the proper gear to access them. The developers clearly understood Batman's long and rich history, and it could be seen around every corner, as well as in the gadgets and abilities you gained along the way. However, the best part of Arkham Asylum was that you truly felt like Batman. You would stalk criminals from the shadows, leap off tall buildings, disarm enemies with your batarang, and you were even able flex your muscles as a detective. Arkham Asylum wasn't just one of the best games from the last generation, but one of the best games ever made.
Watch Dogs 2
Watch Dogs was a bit of a disappointment for those expecting it to be a revolutionary next-gen game. Its hacking premise captivated us, but in execution, it was fairly limited. The visually striking appearance of protagonist Aiden Pearce fascinated us. Beneath the vigilante's gruff exterior were interesting motivations, but he ultimately failed to be memorable. That's not to say that Watch Dogs was an awful game for these reasons; rather, it simply failed to live up to the promise of its initial reveal, managing to only be a decent open-world game and not the masterpiece that many had envisioned it in the lead up to its release. Flash forward to its sequel. Announced shortly before E3 2016, Watch Dogs 2 spurred trepidation in those burned by its predecessor. But not all people were so incredulous; after all, the original did have its share of fans. However, it was difficult to ignore the air of skepticism surrounding Watch Dogs 2 pre-release. Certain aspects of it seemed promising: hacking would be expanded, its protagonist's narrative background covered themes not seen in most action games, and its setting of San Francisco and Silicon valley was a perfect fit for the series. And Watch Dogs 2 overcame the odds. Instead of trying to make good on the high expectations that plagued the original's pre-release, the game focused on developing its own sense of style, while expanding upon the mechanics of its predecessor. GameSpot said the game "is a step up from the first game's dreary rendition of Chicago, and even though Watch Dogs 2 can't go toe-to-toe with genre heavyweights, it's hard to walk away from its fun-loving attitude and exuberant cast." The game didn't reach the sales of the original, but it managed to firmly establish Watch Dogs as a promising and worthwhile franchise.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
After the critically acclaimed Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, Zelda fans were eager to see what the next game in the franchise would be. But when Nintendo inevitable showcased the next entry for GameCube, titled The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, fan response was deeply mixed. The vibrant cel-shaded visual style was a far cry from the more realistic style depicted in Ocarina of Time and the tech demo teased at the Space World 2000 event. Many had grown to accustomed to the visual precedent set by Ocarina of Time, so to not be able to see it displayed in a next-generation Zelda game disappointed many of series' most ardent fans. Unfortunately, this widespread skepticism followed Wind Waker to its release, affecting its sales. Despite receiving glowing critical reception, it sold much less than previous Zelda games. The poor sales can likely be attributed to anxiety among fans that Nintendo was losing its edge by focusing on games for children, as opposed to the more mature-rated games developed by its competitors. However, Wind Waker has since garnered acclaim among fans, often cited as not only one of the best Zeldas, but one of the best Nintendo games of all time. Time often heals the deepest of wounds, and Wind Waker is no exception.
Hitman
For fans of the Hitman franchise, little faith was left after Hitman: Absolution. A series known for exercising your creativity with a limited toolset in cleverly designed levels resorted to a simpler stealth-action template when Absolution hit in 2012. Hitman: Blood Money, which came out in 2006 had been hailed is the best example of what a Hitman game should be, until we got the full picture of 2016's entry. It's a bit tricky to talk about 2016's Hitman game due to its episodic rollout. Even after the first episode, some fans remained suspicious, but once we had the chance to play through the second episode, Sapienza, we started to unpack the game's full potential. Each level was a huge playground where permutations of in-mission events unraveled and prompted players to adapt to emergent conditions to assassinate the necessary targets. The additions of challenges, escalation missions, elusive targets, and seasonal events uplifted the already great foundation. Replayability was at the heart of Hitman's lasting appeal and IO Interactive fostered that by continually supporting the game and giving you new reasons to jump back into missions you already finished.
Metroid Prime
When a beloved franchise makes a dramatic shift from its original style, it's natural for it to be met with skepticism and worry. This appeared to be the case leading up to the release of Metroid Prime for the Gamecube back in 2002. We had become so attached to the side-scrolling exploration that the change to a first-person adventure-shooter hybrid seemed to be a decision made to chase trends, rather than to benefit Metroid as we knew it. However, developer Retro Studios, in collaboration with Nintendo, captured the essence Metroid by creating a 3D world full of wondrous secrets, intense boss fights, and foreboding atmosphere. Metroid Prime retained the core conceit of the franchise by gating sections of the game behind the requirement of certain powers and upgrades. But what Prime really nailed down was the environmental puzzles and uniquely challenging enemies that filled each region. Chozo lore was scattered across Tallon IV, the planet Prime takes place on, which gave a rich sense of world-building without being too in-your-face about it, and the light ambient electronica soundtrack set the tone for wandering a hostile planet alone. In 2018, the control scheme of Metroid Prime is the probably the only aspect that hasn't aged well. A remaster of the Prime trilogy came out for the Wii and implemented the motion controls from Corruption which are much more fluid, but still aren't ideal today. Regardless, Metroid Prime represents an evolution of one of Nintendo's biggest franchises that stayed true to its retro roots while taking a step forward into the modern era.
Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy XV had a lot going against it well before release: major delays--the game was originally slated to release on PlayStation 3 back in 2006; changing directors--Tetsuya Nomura was swapped out for Hajime Tabata after several years of development; and, most alarmingly, the game started out as an offshoot title to Final Fantasy XIII's world. Originally titled Final Fantasy Versus XIII, the rebranding to a mainline Final Fantasy titled involved significant reworking of the plot, characters, and the game's mythos to take on its new identity. Yet FFXV's eventual release was an open-world triumph. GameSpot's Peter Brown praised the "impressive open-world that's equally beautiful and haunting." And the PC version of the game specifically made a stunning game look even better. While FFXV seemed like a game destined for either vaporware status or just flat out cancellation, the game continues to get new content and expansions even in 2018. And with the continual updates and content additions, FFXV is not just a game that surpassed our expectations, it's a better experience today than when it originally launched.
The Last Guardian
Having the well-known creator leave their parent company halfway through a project is generally not a great sign. So it seemed when, after five years of development on The Last Guardian, director Fumito Ueda left Sony and founded his own company. However, Ueda stayed on as a creative consultant for the game, leaving the technical aspects of The Last Guardian's development to Sony. Some delays are due to a team taking more time with a project and adding necessary refinements, and while those postponements often lead to immediate disappointment, they're generally considered an overall positive. But when a project's delays stretch for years and is punctuated with drama behind-the-scenes, the game that comes out is all too frequently a disappointment (see high-profile flops like Duke Nukem Forever and Daikatana). Add in The Last Guardian's shift from PlayStation 3 development to PlayStation 4, and it seemed unlikely that the game would even be released much less be any good. But Ueda's vision ultimately shone through the fog of negativity, providing players with a gorgeous, mysterious world to explore and a heartfelt narrative between the young, helpless protagonist and a cat-like, winged beast. The Last Guardian went on to earn a 9/10 score in our review with Peter Brown writing, "Your affection for Trico and sympathy for both characters blossom nonetheless, culminating in an enrapturing series of revelations that cements your attachment to their personalities."
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Before Wolfenstein: The New Order, it seemed like the World-War II-set shooter series had a difficult time trying to justify itself. With its predecessor Wolfenstein (2009) receiving mixed reviews and lackluster sales, enthusiasm for a follow-up was a low. Because of this, developer Machine Games (made up of ex-Starbreeze devs) wanted to switch things up by offering a more story-driven shooter set in an alternate-1960s under the rule of The Third Reich. In the reveal trailer for The New Order, an older Blazkowicz wielding two shotguns faces off against a squad of nazi-robots--complete with Jimmy Hendrix's cover of "All Along The Watchtower" blaring in the background to set the tone. Now an alternate-history narrative, there was a general worry that Wolfenstein would be moving to a setting that films and other games have ventured out to countless times. Moveover, Machine Games' focus on having a more relatable and nuanced Blazkowicz in the midst of his Nazi-killing rampage seemed almost counter to the series' pulpy action and set-piece moments--like facing-off against a gun-toting mecha-Hitler. But as it turned out, The New Order had a certain level of self-awareness when it came to managing its action and its story's tone. In keeping with tradition, the reboot was still an immensely satisfying run-and-gun shooter focusing on taking out Nazis in gruesome fashion. But underneath all that was a surprisingly earnest narrative about B.J. Blazkowicz and his reflections of a life in wartime--and what it said about his own mental well-being. Along with a set of memorable side-characters, The New Order features plenty of moments that channel Tarrantino-esque flair and moments of action--most of which were played to the tune of German covers of famous Rock-n-Roll songs. And all this happened while still showing an incredible amount of humanity and thoughtfulness to B.J. Machine Games' reboot turned out to be a pleasant surprise that showed the potential of what a new setting could offer, and how an old-school shooter can still feel fresh when given the right chance.
Sonic Mania
For years the Sonic series chased the legacy of its early games, often delivering experiences that failed to capture the spirit that made the 16-bit originals classics. Whether it was by getting wrapped up in story or putting too much emphasis on speed instead of level design, the newer games felt lost. However, this all changed with Sonic Mania, a sequel designed to be a throwback to Sonic's first few games, created by people who knew exactly what that ought to look like. Designed and developed by members of the Sonic fan-hack community, Sonic Mania exudes passion and reverence in its recreation of nostalgic visuals, sounds, and levels. But the game isn't content with senselessly regurgitating the past; rather, it expands upon the familiar with new ideas of its own and delivers plenty of inventive concepts that diversify and build upon the series' fast-paced level design. Sonic Mania is smart and interpretive in its approach, leveraging the strengths of its design and visuals to craft not only the best Sonic game ever made, but an amazing platforming experience overall. Sonic Mania turned out to be a huge success, managing to sell over one million copies across all platforms. Its success has even paved way for an enhanced version of the game featuring additional characters and modes, which is slated for release this July.
Sleeping Dogs
United Front Games' Sleeping Dogs experienced a prolonged and difficult development, which began in early 2008. The title was pitched as an open-world game incorporating dark tones with elements of comedy, similar to an HBO crime drama. However, publisher Activision felt it could be made part of its True Crime franchise. As a result, the game was revealed as True Crime: Hong Kong in November 2009, but due to issues in development, it was delayed. The extended development negatively impacted the project. Stiff competition from contemporary open-world franchises, like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, reduced hopes of the game's success based on the investment Activision was already putting into it. This inevitably lead to the game's cancellation in 2011 and massive layoffs at United Front Games. Despite its cancellation, the project didn't meet its end. Rather, publisher Square Enix stepped in to purchase the rights to the game, allowing the project to finally reach people's hands. Renamed Sleeping Dogs, the game released in 2012 to positive reviews. GameSpot's Carolyn Petit gave the game an 8/10 and praised its melee combat, varied mission design, and alluring atmosphere. While Sleeping Dogs' sales didn't meet Square Enix's expectations, it remains a fantastic open-world action-adventure in its own right that defied the odds and survived what seemed an inevitable cancellation.
By Chris E. Hayner on May 17, 2018 04:15 am
How Krypton is freeing itself from decades of Superman mythology
The arrival of Krypton on Syfy comes at a time when comic book TV is redefining classic superheroes that have been the focus of attention for almost a century. Whether it's the way Gotham is tackling the Batman mythos or the continuously growing universe of heroes on Arrow and The Flash, it's anything but business as usual for DC comics on TV. That's what makes Krypton so interesting. While it tells the story of Superman's family and his home planet, it's set generations before the Man of Steel is even born. While it may sound like that makes for a boring story given fans know Superman's story goes, this is a show that's not really concerning itself with comic book canon thanks to the arrival of a time-traveling Adam Strange (Shaun Sipos). GameSpot spoke with the cast of Krypton during a group interview to discuss the ways it deviates from Superman's typical canon and what it means for the future of the series. Make sure you give Krypton a shot when it airs Wednesdays at 10 PM ET on Syfy. For even more on Krypton, Comicbook.com talked to star Colin Salmon about his inspirations for the iconic villain Zod, and how he was influenced by Michael Shannon's depiction of the character in Man of Steel.
1. Adam Strange's time travel changes everything
The very notion of somebody coming back in time from the modern day is bound to make you think it will completely alter the timeline. With Adam Strange, that is absolutely the case. "The second Adam Strange comes back into time," star Cameron Cuffe (Seg) says. "The timeline is irrevocably changed. Things could change and things do change." Executive producer Cam Welsh agrees, explaining, "I think because now that Adam Strange has traveled back in time, the timeline that we know from canon has now changed. That's really what's built into the premise of the show is can you rewrite history, and what are the dangers that can come out of that."
2. Adam also provides Seg with a link to future generations of the House of El
Thanks to Adam's arrival, it provides evidence to Seg of his family's future, which will no doubt shape how he views his own fate. "[Adam has] been there, he's been to the future, he's from the future. He knows Clark, he's met Clark," Cuffe says. "Clark is his friend. Having this guy on Seg's side, it makes him listen and it plays into the ideas that Seg does hold deep down, but [that] feel very far removed from who he is."
3. The Zod family may not be so bad after all
The introduction of Lyta-Zod (Georgina Campbell) as a love interest to Seg was an interesting choice, given the bad blood between the Houses of El and Zod by the time Superman is born. As Campbell explains, though, Lyta is really nothing like the infamous General Zod--at least not yet. "I think like all young people she has that idea that she wants to change things, and she wants to be different, and she wants to rebel against her parents," she says. "And she's very emotional, as you are when you're young, and she's in her first love and all that sort of thing. So I think it's quite interesting over the series looking at how that develops and how things change. And also that question of, as you get older, do those things start to fall away?"
4. In fact, could the House of Zod be the source of morality Seg is lacking?
Tyrannical, Lyta is not. She's merely a young woman trying to do what's right in the world--something Seg could learn a thing of two about. "She's a way more moral character than Seg is," Cuffe admits. "She in many ways is Seg's moral core, and he learns so much from her."
5. The wild card that is Nyssa Vex
While Superman fans have met the ancestors of a lot of these characters before, there is one piece of the puzzle that is a total mystery, and her name is Nyssa-Vex (Wallis Day). She's a mysterious character who could swing toward good or evil. However, her family has no notable place in Superman canon. Though, perhaps, that's going to change due to Adam Strange altering the timeline. As Day tells GameSpot, her character does have a motive and it's one that will be revealed sooner than later. "As time goes on yes definitely she definitely does lean one way and again at the end, we're not quite sure if that was genuine, we don't know but I can tell you for sure in this season she definitely does lean towards one side," the actress teases.
6. There are no heroes and villains
The comic book history of Superman is filled with absolutes--there is good and there is evil. Superman is unabashedly good as he works to save the world from the likes of Lex Luthor, General Zod, or any other forms of ultimate villainy that come his way. Krypton is a different story. Instead of dealing with good vs. evil, it operates somewhere in between. "There are no goodies and baddies. No one in this show is putting on a costume and fighting crime. There is no freak of the week," Cuffe says. "Everything is changed at the end of every episode. The status quo changes, the relationships change, there are consequences to every action, so even when you win, it's at a cost. Also, there are wonderful shades of gray. We have no villains on the show, there are no heroes on the show, everyone believes they are doing the right thing." That's how you wind up with Superman's ancestor being a conman or the House of Zod having the moral high ground. It's taking what fans recognize as the norm and turning it on its head, constantly shifting alliances.
By Matt Espineli on May 17, 2018 04:13 am
Going Battle Royale
After the smash success of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite, battle royale games are quickly evolving, moving past the genre's humble beginnings as mods for large-scale survival games, like ARMA 2 and Minecraft, and into new territory. This year alone is packed with a slew of new battle royale games that aim to push the genre further by expanding its most well established tenets. To keep you informed of all the latest games in the genre, we've compiled 14 of the biggest battle royale games releasing in 2018. While there's plenty of battle royale games out there, we've decidedly narrowed it down to the ones most worth looking into this year. Many of the latest battle royale games are expanding upon it by throwing new mechanics into the mix. Some games add in spectator elements and dynamic environmental effects, while others are taking the experience to VR. It's exciting to see how some developers are pushing the genre to entirely new directions. There are also battle royale games this year are opting for a more traditional approach. Games like Europa and Mavericks: Proving Grounds are sticking to the last person standing approach but across different scales and with additional mechanics, like dynamic environmental effects and higher player counts. These games offer veteran players fascinating situations to test their skills. Regardless of what you prefer, it's safe to say that there is likely a new battle royale game for you. But which one are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments below. And be sure to check back often as we update this feature with even more new battle royale games as they get announced.
Battlerite Royale
Battlerite Royale is an upcoming mode for the team-based arena brawler where 20 players fight on a map 30 times larger than the game's standard arena mode map. You can play solo or as a pair, with 27 distinct heroes to choose from. The rules are standard fair as a battle royale game: drop in, gather supplies, kill people, and come out as the last person alive. Platforms: PC | Release Date: Summer 2018 (Standard Game is Available Now)
Maelstorm
Maelstorm offers an interesting spin on the battle royale genre. Rather than take on the format of a first-person or third-person shooter, the game focuses on naval combat in a fantasy setting. You're pitted against 15 other players in a a battle to be the last "ship" standing. While you fight off other players and NPC ships, there are also sea monsters to worry about that'll attempt to sink you. And if the game's premise isn't enough to pull you in, it also offers progression and loot systems to keep you invested in and outside of battle. Release Date: Available Now via Steam Early Access
Egress
Egress is an RPG battle royale game with a Soulsborne-like combat system. It's set in an alternate universe that combines visuals elements from Victorian-era architecture, Lovecraftian mythology, and Retrowave. Release Date: TBA 2018
H1Z1 | PC (PS4 and Xbox One Versions Coming Soon)
Formerly known as H1Z1: King of the Kill, H1Z1 is the battle royale version of the zombie-survival sandbox game, Just Survive. It pits 150 players against each other in a last-man-standing deathmatch; players can choose to play solo, with a partner, or in groups of five. In addition to the game's standard battle royale mode, H1Z1 features a mode called Auto Royale, where four players drive a car into battle, collecting power-ups in order to emerge the last team driving. Platforms: PC | Release Date: Available Now
Proxima Royale
Proxima Royale is a sci-fi-themed battle royale where up to 60 players duke it out in a last "robot" standing conflict on an alien planet. The game is in early access, having had a few closed alphas over the past month or so. Release Date: TBA
SOS | PC
SOS offers something unique: it requires a microphone, and your social skills and sense of showmanship will be put to the test. Each player has to present themselves in an interesting way to stand out and earn the favor of a live audience. Each game is broadcast live online via the social gaming platform Hero, with spectators voting on possible in-game events like supply drops or bombing runs. The main goal is to find one of four relics spread across the map, and then signal for extraction and make it onto a helicopter. This sounds simple on paper, but 15 other players are also striving to accomplish the same goal, and with only a few seats on the helicopter, you're going to need to be clever and ruthless if you want to survive. Release Date: Available Now via Steam Early Access
Paladins: Battlegrounds | PC, PS4, Xbox One
Paladins: Battlegrounds is a 100-player battle royale standalone expansion of Paladins: Champions of the Realm. It takes on qualities similar to other battle royale games, but attempts to redefine them by introducing mechanics from hero shooters, with myriad playable characters, each with their own unique skills and abilities. Release Date: TBA 2018
The Darwin Project | PC, Xbox One
The Darwin Project is a third-person competitive multiplayer battle royale game with more of an emphasis on survival than its competitors. In order to win, you must endure extreme weather conditions, while tracking opponents and setting up traps in order to be the last one left alive. It's most noteworthy quality is that it incorporates reality TV show elements into its gameplay, like spectator interaction and a show director who controls varying aspects of the arena. Release Date: Available Now via Steam Early Access and Xbox One Game Preview program
Mavericks: Proving Grounds | PC
Mavericks: Proving Grounds is an first-person battle royale game where up to 400 players do battle in a highly dynamic environment. For example, you can set fire to a map, tactically spreading it to others parts of the map to either damage other players or cut them off. In addition, the game promises more intelligent mission systems, social hubs, and a player-driven narrative that informs your experiences playing the game. Release Date: TBA 2018 (Beta opens Summer 2018)
Islands of Nyne | PC
Islands of Nyne is a sci-fi-themed first-person battle royale game that's more skill-driven than its competitors. Based on how well you play, you'll earn special armor sets and weapon skins for your character. There's also a player betting system, which allows you to use in-game credits to place bets on individual players or teams during a match to win more equipment or skins. Release Date: TBA 2018 (Currently in Closed Alpha, which you can get into by pre-ordering the game)
Dying Light: Bad Blood | PC, PS4, Xbox One
Dying Light: Bad Blood is a standalone battle royale-esque expansion of the critically acclaimed Dying Light. It seems an almost unexpected release, but apparently it was made by developer Techland due to numerous fan requests. In Bad Blood, six players are dropped into random locations around the map in a race to acquire enough samples from several powerful infected zombies. As you take down these special zombies, you'll collect samples and potentially level up your character--boosting their health, agility, and attack power. The first one to acquire all the samples and escape in the evac chopper wins. Release Date: TBA 2018 (a Global Playtest is schedule for sometime this year, which you can sign up for via the Dying Light website)
Europa | PC
Europa is Chinese publisher Tencent's contribution to the battle royale genre. Unlike its competitors, the game will feature real-time weather, underwater exploration, environmental kills, and destructible cover. Whether Europa releases anywhere besides China remains to be seen. Release Date: TBA 2018 in China only
Survival Games: Battle Royale | PC
Survival Games: Battle Royale retains the genre's tried and true premise, but provides some twists of its own. Maps are procedurally generated and you must keep track of your stats and hunger as you fight to be the last one standing. In addition, the game sports a map editor that allows you design your own custom battle royale arenas. Release Date: Available Now via Steam Early Access
Stand Out: VR Battle Royale | PC (Oculus Rift, HTC Vive)
Playing a battle royale game in VR sounds like a huge challenge, but developer raptor lab is looking to make it happen with Standout: Battle Royale VR. In order to survive a match, you'll literally have to crouch down to avoid enemy and lean in and out of cover to get a clear line of sight on opponents; you can even reach out and snatch a magazine from a player's hands. Release Date: Available Now via Steam Early Access
Recent Articles:
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment