By GameSpot Staff on Dec 20, 2018 11:30 pm
Our Personal Favorites From 2018.
Though GameSpot's countdown of the top ten Best Games on 2018 is complete, with Red Dead Redemption 2 taking the number one spot, we've still got plenty to talk about for the year that was 2018. It was a particularly interesting time for gaming, offering up an impressive amount of indies, AAA titles, and remasters of classic games. Whether it was a massive open-world adventure game, or a more intimate puzzle-platformer that pulls on your heartstrings. Just like in 2017, GameSpot is here to present our picks for the 2018 Editor's Spotlight Awards. Pulling together write-ups from the staff across the globe, we're taking the time to highlight some of our favorite games that really struck a chord with us. Though these games didn't make it into our top ten, they're still noteworthy in their own right. In the list below, there were a lot of special games this year across all platforms--PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One--that offered a unique kind of experience that left an impression on us. Some of these highlights include indie-platformer Celeste, the involved crime-drama Yakuza 6, and Dragon Quest XI, the first console-based entry in the long-running RPG series to hit the US in more than a decade. If you want see which titles made it onto our list of the Best Games of 2018 across various categories, as well as our look back on the year that was 2018, be sure to visit our Best of 2018 hub. With that said, kick back and take some time to read our thoughts on some of our favorites from this year. Did any of your personal picks make it on this list? If not, give your favorite game a shout out in the comments below.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey | PC, PS4, Xbox One
Traditionally I'm a fan of dense RPGs coupled with challenging turn-based combat, but this year one of my favourite games was one that put up no boundaries between myself and unfettered fun. In fact, it actively pulled them down. For instance, upgrading Leap of Faith at level 20 in Assassin's Creed Odyssey eliminates fall damage. This is a microcosm of everything I learned to love about the latest Assassin's Creed entry. It's a game that doesn't want to get in your way. You can respec your abilities at any time for a minimal fee, money and loot are abundant, you can climb almost anything you want with no stamina bar dragging you down, and you're free to head in any direction at practically any time. Assassin's Creed Odyssey is acutely aware it has a breathtaking world to show off. As a massive ancient history buff, it was overwhelmingly exciting to see the sprawling ancient Greek cities, meet the heroes of the time, and climb towering historical monuments. Odyssey is a game with far too much game in it and a multitude of missions which will keep you occupied if you want to play it all year. That said, it will also begin to grate if you're a completionist like me who likes to cross off every objective. Underneath all of that fat, though, is a genuinely great experience with an intriguing central plot, a heap of colourful characters to meet, a beautiful world that will swallow you up with all it has to offer, and a soundtrack I can't stop singing along to. Kassandra's strength, wit, and charm shines through every step of the narrative and her strong characterisation and physicality amplify the story's highest and lowest moments. In a year of games that were uniquely challenging or dramatic, Odyssey is the game I can't stop coming back to for sheer reliable fun. I think I might have to get that 'Misthios' tattoo after all. | Jess McDonell
Celeste | PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Matt Makes Games achieved something quite magical in 2018: in Celeste it made a piece of art that dealt with a sensitive topic in a deft and mature way while simultaneously and simply being A Good Video Game™. This delightful little platformer was amazingly satisfying--if difficult--to play, with varied obstacles, environments, and abilities. But what marked Celeste apart was how it portrayed protagonist Madeline and her mental health struggles, which are masterfully depicted through gameplay and in dialogue. Exquisite writing mean Celeste is easy to empathize with--her struggles thereby feel even greater and her successes even sweeter. That's before you mention the beautiful art style and soundtrack, which help this wonderful world come alive and make it a pleasure to immerse yourself in. Celeste truly is one of 2018's greatest games, and you should absolutely play it. | Oscar Dayus
Destiny 2: Forsaken | PC, PS4, Xbox One
I definitely didn't think I'd be writing this in the year of the Traveler 2018. Ever since the first game launched, I've had a love-hate relationship with Bungie's shared-world shooter. The gunplay is great, the world is huge and weird, and the grind is horrible. Destiny 2 alleviated a lot of what was so frustrating about the first game, but after two big missteps in Year One with the Curse of Osiris and Warmind expansions, I thought I'd forever be playing Destiny 2 for my job, and never really enjoying it too much. Forsaken changed that. It finally feels like Bungie is finding its footing with Destiny 2. In its second year, Destiny 2 is filled with content that changes week to week, and there's a lot more variety in the grind that makes tuning in every Tuesday a lot more fulfilling. New modes like Gambit and the limited-time events such as the Haunted Forest in the Halloween-themed Festival of the Lost and the space-baking activities in the holiday-themed The Dawning are helping keep things fresh. Generally, there's enough to do in Destiny 2 right now that you can just do what you want, if you want, when you want. But the thing I'm loving the best is that Bungie is finally, slowly, embracing Destiny 2's weird side. The endgame area called the Dreaming City is full of dimension-hopping monsters and metaphysical intrigue, and there are tons of story tidbits to uncover. Destiny's world has always been filled with really interesting stories, but they've usually been relegated to ancillary materials like weapon descriptions and tough-to-find lore drops. Now, Bungie is starting to slip those stories into the game. The developer finally feels a bit more willing to embrace the strange and fun ideas that have been in the game all along, and I love it. With Forsaken, it finally seems like Destiny 2 is figuring out what its creators really want it to be. It's hitting a stride in gameplay that makes revisiting it over and over again feel like a journey, more than a treadmill. And I'm completely on board with the game embracing its stranger side and bringing more of its vast lore into the game. Bring on all those weird stories, Bungie--I want to hear (and play) them all. | Phil Hornshaw
Dragon Ball FighterZ | PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Dragon Ball was one of the shows that inspired my love of anime, and fighting games were instrumental in igniting my obsession with video games. Sadly, for as long as I've loved both, my dream of the two coming together remained unfulfilled. The history of Dragon Ball games is, for the most part, one of uninteresting brawlers that at best function and at worse are obvious cash grabs. That is until 2018, when Dragon Ball FighterZ was released. Developed by Arc System Works, a studio with a proven track record of creating intricate, rewarding fighting games, FighterZ is a love letter to Dragon Ball created by people who are clearly fans of it themselves. As a long-suffering devotee, it gave me everything I could ask for, from impeccable visuals that bring a new level of vibrancy to the world of Dragon Ball to dozens of niche references the make up each character's moveset. Every aspect of FighterZ reciprocates the reverence I have for the series, and it's an absolute joy to see the care and attention that it has been given. But beyond that, FighterZ is an accomplished game that takes the frenzied action of the manga and anime and transplants it into the framework of a 3-on-3 fighting experience. It's mechanically deep and layered in the way fighting game fanatics love, but at the same time the barrier to picking up a controller and making outrageous Dragon Ball things happen is very low. Sure, it may have a forgettable story mode and a less than intuitive lobby system, but those are small stumbles in an experience that otherwise Kaiokens its way into being the best Dragon Ball game ever created. | Tamoor Hussain
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age | PC, PS4
One of the things that stuck with me when playing through Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age was how it wholeheartedly embraced the tone and formula of a classic RPG adventure. Though many role-playing games in recent years actively tried to reinvent familiar trends and mechanics and apply them to different settings, DQXI's upbeat nature and adherence to the more traditional style of fantasy epic was something that I not only admired, but also found surprisingly refreshing. Over the course of Dragon Quest's 30 year history, the series always stuck close to its classic adventure roots, only wavering ever-slightly when certain entries--particularly the MMO Dragon Quest X--call for a change. In isolation, the premise of DQXI is rather quaint, if somewhat well-worn by genre conventions. Playing as a long prophesied hero, you'll band together a merry crew of rogues, wizards, and warriors to defeat an encroaching evil that puts the fate of the world at risk. It's all very familiar, however the legacy that this game brings--along with its challenging turn-based combat gameplay, a wealth of side-quests, and a charming story filled with fun characters--helped push it to become my favorite RPG experience this year. This particular game is also the best the series has looked to date, bringing Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama's expressive and endearing art style to life in a more pronounced way. There were moments during exploration, which DQXI offers up in droves, where I had this heartwarming feeling inside--likely due to how vibrant the world itself was and how close-knit my hero and companions had become throughout the expansive journey. Despite some particularly dark and stressful turns in the story, there's always a strong undercurrent of optimism and hope throughout, which not only made it a game that felt worthwhile to dive into, but epitomized the best of what the Dragon Quest series is all about. | Alessandro Fillari
Far Cry 5 | PC, PS4, Xbox One
Far Cry is consistently one of the best-selling franchises in all of gaming, but--to paraphrase the late comedian--it doesn't get much respect. Sure, the games receive admirable review scores, and the usual small controversies spark a flurry of editorials, but Far Cries come and Far Cries go and the gaming world moves on. That's largely because--even when they travel back to prehistoric times--these titles stick closely to the formula established in 2012 by Far Cry 3. That remains true with Far Cry 5, but I can't find it in my heart to complain. I had a hell of a good time this year exploring Hope County, Montana and gunning down members of the apocalyptic Eden's Gate cult. The game world is sprawling and filled with outposts to clear, stunt races to win, animals to hunt, prepper stashes hidden behind environmental puzzles, and much more. This is a game that gives you the keys to semi trucks and helicopters and all but begs you to destroy them in fiery explosions. Does Far Cry 5 have anything interesting to say about the world we live in now? Almost certainly not. Does that matter? Not when the game is this much fun. These are heady times. Sometimes shutting off your brain and exploring a digital amusement park is all the remedy you need. | Chris Reed
Forgotton Anne | PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
If you've ever watched a Studio Ghibli movie and wished you could live through it, then you'll love Forgotton Anne. Between the game's character designs and the type of story it tells, you'll wonder if ThroughLine's debut title is secretly a forgotten Hayao Miyazaki work. You play as the titular Anne, a young woman who lives in a parallel universe where all lost objects from our world end up and gain sentience. Anne is the only Enforcer, someone who keeps the peace by using a device that can suck the life out of others. She's tasked with stopping a rebellion that's trying to prevent her master from building a bridge to our world--a seemingly straightforward conflict that turns out to be anything but. Forgotton Anne is a strikingly gorgeous side-scrolling adventure game, both when it comes to visuals and music. However, the game's selling point is its story, which naturally evolves depending on how you handle each situation. Is it worth taking the time to deescalate a mob when people might get hurt, or would it be better to threaten the agitators into compliance? You could also just kill everyone or ignore the crowd and walk away. No matter your choice, it will affect others' perception of Anne. Even off-handed remarks can have unforeseen ramifications at the eleventh hour. | Jordan Ramee
Gris | PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
When I play games, I tend to get very wrapped up in the process of exploration. Talk to everyone, check every corner, try every door--I'll slow my progress to a halt if it means finding one last collectible. So at first, it was hard to give myself up to Gris. I first noticed Gris because of its stunning watercolor art style, and it's definitely one of the most visually impactful games I've played all year. But its most breathtaking beauty is in how it plays. It's not a platformer that challenges your skills or tasks you with hunting down scores of collectibles; it simply asks that you flow through its ethereal world and allow yourself to go where it takes you. Sometimes, that means taking a leap of faith off a ledge, not knowing if you'll ever make it back to where you'd been--but sure that you'll find something beautiful when you land. Aside from a few slightly tricky environment puzzles, moving through Gris' world is more incidental than intentional. You need to collect motes of light to progress, but getting them is almost always a consequence of following the path that beckons you rather than seeking them out. Even if you do "miss" something by taking the left path rather than the right one, you're not missing anything at all; you'll always end up where you need to be. There's a peacefulness in that, and while it's not the same kind of beauty that drew me in, it's what will stick with me the most. | Kallie Plagge
Iconoclasts | PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Iconoclasts was the first game I reviewed this year, and while other big games have since taken up my time, I could never quite shake the impact it left upon me. A vibrant 2D Metroid-like adventure, Iconoclasts puts you in control of mute protagonist Robin, a mechanic hunted down by a corrupt theocracy. What begins as a deceptively simple side-scrolling action game quickly unfurls to reveal a wave of complex puzzles and a heart-wrenching narrative. While playing Iconoclasts is a joy, the story is what hits me the most. Its depiction of grief is realistic and powerful, never shying away from exploring the cast's emotional issues. There's a real sense of growth, with each character transcending their wit-laced dialogue and evolving into people with affecting, relatable plights. But it was my interactions with these characters as Robin that were the most significant. Robin's endless strength in the face of a world dominated by religious and political corruption--not to mention her own emotional issues--served as rays of hope in the darkness. When I witnessed Robin's willingness to help even in moments when it clearly inconvenienced her, I was compelled to push her through it, if only to see how she might hope to restore the wounds inflicted by the world's atrocities. The inevitable conclusion gutted me, but it left me hopeful. Pain and fear often throw us into doubt, but Iconoclasts reminds us how important self-sacrifice and empathy can be in aiding those around us who may feel weak, cynical, and alone. The unwavering, unspoken compassion and grace Robin exhibits unexpectedly furthered a resolve within me to try to help others, reminding me why we aren't solitary beings. And it's that encouraging notion that makes Iconoclasts one of my favorite games of 2018. | Matt Espineli
The Messenger | PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Back in 2014, Yacht Club Games took the gameplay of Mega Man and Duck Tales, and merged them together with were, at the time, stand out game design elements to create something truly special. For 2018, it was Sabotage Studio modernizing the design elements of Ninja Gaiden that created an incredible new gaming experience in The Messenger. And, as a huge fan of platform games ever since the NES days, this was something I had to check out. Similar to Ninja Gaiden, you control a ninja set on a quest to stop evil. However, unlike Tecmo's classic platformer, you earn an additional jump anytime you swing your sword and connect with an obstacle or enemy. From here, the game is a somewhat traditional platformer, but, similar to Shovel Knight, instead of lives, you'll lose currency for each death. The gameplay is consistently excellent, with level layout and enemy placement always well thought-out and at times challenging, but never overtly-so. And while all of this is designed well, it's the writing, and a major plot twist halfway through the game, that steal the show. While elements of this twist are shown in the trailer, I don't want to spoil too much of it, as it's really worth experiencing for yourself. The writing is hilarious, consistently pointing out and making fun of video game tropes… even occasionally tying directly into the gameplay itself. I found myself regularly laughing out loud and falling in love with the Shopkeeper for all of his antics. Between this brilliant writing and modern take on a traditional platformer, The Messenger is easily one of the best platform games of the past few years, and a game both new and veteran players can enjoy alike. | Dave Klein
Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden | PC, PS4, Xbox One
Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden was one of several December releases that blindsided me right in the middle of our Best Of The Year discussions. I was scrambling to find more time to play it because its premise and execution is so strong, a refreshing twist on tactical turn-based strategy that introduces significant elements of stealth and exploration, forcing you to rethink your habits. If you're fan of the genre, you'll likely begin to approach Mutant Year Zero skirmishes head-on like a game of XCOM--but that's not an approach that keeps you alive for very long. Mutant Year Zero puts an emphasis on careful planning, sneaking, hiding, and setting up ambushes. The key to being successful lies in how diligent you are in scouting the area, how patient you can be in waiting for guards to move on, and how well you can plan set up surprise ambushes to whittle down enemy forces. It's a great, compelling mix of real-time stealth and a wonderfully slick execution of the style of turn-based tactics popularized by Firaxis. Of course, that's not to neglect the game's fantastic execution of a distant, overgrown post-post-apocalyptic world. The mutant animal/human hybrids are fascinating characters, and their sincere but amusing speculations of a long-lost human society are amusing. The scarcity of materials to help keep your team well-equipped and the high stakes of combat enhance the feeling of desperation. 2018 has been a great year for strategy games--Into The Breach, Battletech, Frostpunk, Civilization VI: Rise and Fall, and numerous Paradox expansions--and Mutant Year Zero, whose thematics and mechanics come together in a superb package, is another that shouldn't be missed if you love tactical strategy. | Edmond Tran
NHL 19 | PC, PS4, Xbox One
As a lifelong ice hockey fan and fan of sports video games in general, the NHL franchise has always appealed to me. NHL 19 in particular is my favourite of all sports games of 2018, and one hockey fans should absolutely check out. The game hooked me right away when I learned it would feature an outdoor pond hockey mode where you play 1v1v1 battles on frozen ponds inspired by real-world places. Having grown up skating on lakes, ponds, and rivers in the northeast United States, it was such a rush to be able to finally do this in a video game. And now that I live in sunny Sydney, Australia, where there is no outdoor ice, it certainly gives me a huge hit of nostalgia every time I play it. NHL 19's pond hockey debut wasn't perfect, and I would like to see it grow and evolve with future instalments, but I still had a blast decking out my character in a beanie and sweatpants and cutting up the ice with friends. NHL 19 also made a major stride forward this year with the introduction of legendary players like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, who appear in period-accurate clothing and gear--and this includes Gretzky's untucked jersey. Some of the very old players even have wooden sticks and don't wear helmets. It's a great nod toward authenticity and a representation of classic-era hockey. The best part of NHL 19 is how it controls, creating a feeling of player embodiment that is unparalleled in sports games in my eyes. Completing a crisp tape-to-pass feels great, the action of crunching an opponent with a big-time bodycheck will make you glad you're home and not on the ice, and once you've had enough practice, deking opponents with well-timed toe drags and blowing past a defender is so very satisfying. NHL 19 has been out for a few months now, so if you own a PS4 or Xbox One and you're into ice hockey, you can pick up one of the best sports games of 2018 on the cheap--and you really should. | Eddie Makuch
Octopath Traveler | Nintendo Switch
I was quite critical of Octopath Traveler's short-story structure when I reviewed it earlier this year, chiefly because I struggled to grow attached to the characters or their bite-sized sagas. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. I still feel that way today, yet when I reflect back on the games I enjoyed the most in 2018, Octopath Traveler is a natural fit on my list of favorites. And even though I don't love the end result of its narrative design, I have grown to appreciate the risk involved with deviating from the norm, and wouldn't mind if the team gave it another shot in the future. If you haven't played Octopath Traveler and you have an inkling that it might be up your alley, it's definitely one to prioritize. It has an excellent soundtrack and a fascinating retro-meets-modern look. The combat system pushes you to be creative, and quite often you're forced to execute complex patterns spells and attacks when facing bosses--demanding fights that can last upwards of 30 minutes. Octopath Traveler may not nail every facet that I normally look for in an RPG, but its stronger qualities make it easy to recommend, especially to anyone with a fondness for 16-bit console RPGs | Peter Brown
Persona 3: Dancing In Moonlight | PS4
For me, there's no comfort game quite like Persona 3: Dancing In Moonlight. My love for rhythm games, Persona 3's cast, and the music born from the 12 year-old RPG's history all come together masterfully. A simple, yet exhilarating rhythm system makes you a part of the music with clever note patterns that sync perfectly to the beat, melody, or vocals. Sometimes you're keeping up with all facets of a track as the notes seamlessly transition to line up to different parts of these beautiful, layered songs. Dancing In Moonlight works because it leverages one of Persona's greatest strengths: its soundtrack. I still get chills hearing the melodic-punk remix of "Heartful Cry" as it punches with raw, emphatic instrumentals; it feels like a recontextualization of the hard-fought battles Aigis endured throughout Persona 3 FES. Having a full, remastered version of "When The Moon Reaches For The Stars" makes my memories of Gekkoukan High's after school activities feel fresh again. The theme song "Our Moment" is written as a sentimental ode to those who still hold the strenuous, heartbreaking journey with SEES dear. Even songs unique to Persona 3 Portable come to life with bold, new arrangements. I could literally call out every single song (including the background music in menus and social events) and explain their impact, which is also a testament to the powerful work of series composer Shoji Meguro. It's not just the superb tracklist that got me in my feelings; the recreations of Persona 3's wonderful crew in new 3D models struck me in an unexpectedly profound way. Everyone is voiced by their original actors, and reimagined in a modern art style that breathes new life into characters I feel like I've known for a lifetime--and Social Events top it all off since I basically get to hang out with them again. Even though there's a vast library of great games installed on my PS4 that I still haven't finished, I keep getting pulled back into P3D. I've landed perfect combos on the highest difficulty with several challenge modifiers in nearly every song, yet I'm still drawn to doing it all over again. It's more than just a silly fan-service game. Despite Persona 3's dark, somber tone, Dancing In Moonlight is a celebration of the many things that made that RPG so special. | Michael Higham
Rival Megagun | PS4
I'll be honest in saying I've spent far too much of my childhood among the blinking lights of arcade cabinets, shooting enemy ships to oblivion until my pockets ran dry of quarters. While those days have all but vanished, Rival Megagun brings me right back to them, as you can almost taste the nostalgia dripping from every facet of its aesthetic. The detailed sprite work almost encases the game in some sort of shmup time capsule, and the pulsing music would be fit for any coin-op establishment. The real star here, though, is the head-to-head gameplay. Pulling from games like Twinkle Star Sprites and Tetris Attack, Rival Megagun sees you facing off against a fellow gunship, sending drone ships, mines, homing missiles, and laser barricades at your opponent, just to name a few. While dodging the hellscape of bullets launched at you might seem familiar, there's a surprising amount of depth imbedded into the game. Keeping up your combo meter, choosing power-ups, and deciding how and when to use your bombs all make a difference in the heat of battle. Rival Megagun also satisfies a power fantasy that I never knew I wanted fulfilled. By shooting down enough ships to fill up a power meter, you'll get a chance to transform yourself into a giant ship and face off against your opponent on their side of the screen, triggering an intense ship-to-ship battles that'll leave the victor thirsty for more. Everything about Rival Megagun feels like it was made with shoot-em-up fans in mind, and it's exciting to play a game that cherishes its genre's history just as much as it expands upon its formula. | Joey Yee
State of Decay 2 | PC, Xbox One
Upon release, State of Decay 2 emerged as broken and battered as the zombies that filled its world. Leaving aside the mechanical bugs and world-clipping glitches that would become the stuff of GIF legend, an array of UI issues also filled Undead Labs' suburbia. Survival and item management should have been key conceits--instead, they were frustrating chores. Several months and numerous patches later, State of Decay 2 has become one of 2018's boldest games. It's still extremely flawed, to be sure: poor dialogue combines with spotty AI to make some of my least favorite characters in recent memory. But Undead Labs has made so many quality-of-life improvements that it's hard to complain. Interacting with survivors, switching to other allies, and trading items have become painless affairs. There's more room to appreciate the harsh, flexible world on display here. State of Decay 2 is a testament to the power of emergent storytelling, a school of design that's become a buzzphrase in recent years thanks to AAA titles embarcing it. Undead Labs offers as little guidance as possible, choosing instead to provide the player with survival systems and an open-ended world before getting out of the way. I almost never followed objectives in the traditional sense. Instead, I created my own. I spent four hours seeking a new outpost. I combed the Midwestern map for skilled survivors. In one case, I set out to find our lost vehicle in the middle of the night with just a rookie ally by my side, worried she would slow my veteran character down. She survived. My veteran didn't. Moments like these are what make State of Decay 2 so memorable--specifically because I created them, in the sandbox Undead Labs provided me. It takes skill to make a memorable story. It takes daring to let players do it themselves. | Mike Mahardy
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life | PS4
As someone who played through the entire Yakuza franchise in 2018, it's no surprise that Yakuza 6: The Song of Life hit me so hard. The series has always been great at delivering gripping drama, and this game is the culmination of everything that has led up to this point. While a number of endearing characters have made a lasting impact throughout the overarching plot, the Yakuza series has always been about Kazuma Kiryu's journey, and The Song of Life is a fitting final chapter for his story. Kiryu has endured so much over the years and he carries all that baggage with him while trying to solve another mystery involving his adopted daughter Haruka and her infant child Haruto. Using the new Dragon Engine, the seedy red-light district Kamurocho never looked so good, and it also paints the beautiful picture of the new location of seaside town Onomichi. More importantly, the detail from the new visuals is put to great use with the characters. Expressions and emotions are conveyed with stronger impact, elevating one of Yakuza's greatest storytelling strengths. It also wouldn't be a Yakuza game if it weren't for the charming and absurd side activities that make for genuine laugh-out-loud moments. These aren't just silly for the sake of being silly, but they still manage to build upon Kiryu's character, a man who can't help himself from reluctantly helping those in need. The best example being how Kiryu gets roped into dressing up and acting as the town's adorable mascot Ono Michio, eventually inspiring the local kids to be strong. There's also karaoke, managing a baseball team, and making friendships with bar patrons and hostesses. Rarely does a series follow one character for seven full games spanning most of their adult life, but Yakuza has done that amazingly. Kiryu may have always had that hard-boiled attitude, but it never wore thin. He's taken down crowd-after-crowd of bad guys single-handedly, but his story is one that I'm happy to have found and experienced entirely. | Jean-Luc Seipke
Yoku's Island Express | PC, PS4, Xbox One
If you told me one of my favorite games of 2018 would be a Metroidvania-slash-pinball game starring a beetle who delivers mail, I'd ask you to stop filling out Mad Libs in the office. But that crazy combination of mechanics totally works. Yoku's Island Express manages to make Metroidvania cliches feel fresh by changing how you navigate and making your abilities more than just simple power-ups. Sure, you can explore minute portions of the map by rolling along the ground, but any vertical movement is achieved by using one of the many pinball flippers found across the island. Launching yourself up mountain paths, between branches, and through the clouds high above terra firma is thrilling--especially when you might hit a bumper along the way. Where a typical Metroidvania can fall into a rut of finding a new power-up and backtracking, Yoku's Island Express makes exploring every nook and cranny exciting by making each zone a new pinball table; you won't just be high-jumping your way across platforms here. That said, Yoku's power-ups do give you new ways to explore. For example, the Dive Ball lets you sink underwater, and the Sootling Leash serves as a grappling hook. While these abilities may sound cliche, their place in the game's lore makes them much more fun to discover. The Sootling Leash is composed of an actual Sootling, a dust-like creature that lives on the island. Its attraction to flowers is what lets you hook onto buds in the environment and swing around. All these elements come together into a hybrid game the likes I've which I haven't played before. Marrying pinball to Metroidvania tropes makes exploration fresh and exciting, and twists on standard power-ups makes new abilities feel special. I totally recommend a trip to this island. | Tony Wilson
By GameSpot Staff on Dec 20, 2018 11:30 pm
The adventure of a lifetime!
Do you like going on grand adventures? Do you like to jump over perilous obstacles, race against the clock, and test your instincts in the heat of battle? If you answered yes, my friend, it sounds like you are into action-adventure games! Less a specific genre than a broad category, action-adventure is a bit of a catch-all, but it definitely doesn't include games focused on puzzles, sports, or narrative alone. If you're after games that put twitch gameplay front and center, usually alongside a compelling story to inspire you, then the list of games below is sure to contain a lot of options for you to consider as you head into the holiday season and the new year. These games were all reviewed by GameSpot in 2018, and earned high-scores, 8 and above; we've organized them by score and in alphabetical order. While reviews are the opinion of a single writer, the GameSpot team at large has also come up with a list of what the group agrees are the year's ten best games. It's no surprise that there are plenty of action-adventure games among the group, including two remarkable PS4 exclusives: God of War and Marvel's Spider-Man. When God of War arrived, everyone agreed that it was a momentous revival of an aging action-adventure series. As much as it bucked the trends we all grew to expect from the series, it also owned them to fuel the plot. It's one of the smartest sequels in memory, and a fantastic game that was executed remarkably well. The same can be said of Spider-Man, which, in the hands of Insomniac Games, was driven by a near pitch-perfect swinging system that made the open-world structure of NYC a blast to zip through. As a character, Peter Parker also felt relatable, and by skipping the oft-told origin story, we were allowed to dive right into his day-to-day struggles as both a teenager and a superhero in disguise. 2018 also saw the release of Dead Cells. This 2D side-scrolling adventure is punishingly difficult at first, but the more you play the more clear your character's potential and the world's threats become. Not a game to let you get too comfortable, the randomized aspect of level layouts and equipment drops during repeat attempts to beat the game ensure that you're always on your toes, no matter your experience level. For a look at all of the games that made our top-10 list for 2018, head on over to the Game of the Year 2018 hub. If you want to jump straight to our Game of the Year, don't expect us to spoil it here! Open this page for the big reveal, and a special message from the team behind the game.
Bayonetta - 10/10
Bayonetta 2 arrives on Switch with everything intact from the Wii U version, but with the added convenience of portability and a more consistent frame rate, making it the definitive version of the game. Thanks to the confident execution of seemingly unbridled creativity, Bayonetta 2 remains a game that shouldn't be missed, just as it was when we first reviewed the game on Wii U. -- Peter Brown & Mark Walton [Full Review]
Ashen - 9/10
Ashen does more than enough to differentiate it from other Souls-like games. Although its combat utilizes the same stamina-focused mechanics, the inclusion of features that promote a sense of community with the game's characters makes for a wholly different experience. It's frustrating to spawn and see that your computer-controlled partner has a weapon that doesn't complement the one you're using. However, even when playing with NPCs, your allies' efforts to assist you in battle cause you to care about the fates of the colorful cast of people you meet on your journey. The relationships you forge define your adventure through Ashen, and helping your new friends is a powerful motivator that drives you forward through the game's beautiful world. -- Jordan Ramee [Full Review]
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. -- Oscar Dayus [Full Review]
Dead Cells - 9/10
Even if you can't make it all that far, Prisoner's Quarters is simple enough that you'll have plenty of opportunities to "bank" cells for the aforementioned upgrades. That gives you a sense of constant progress, even when you bomb a run. In fact, the only real issue with the adventure is that some of the better upgrades can take substantially longer than they should. It stalls progress in the mid-game a bit and can lead to a feeling of grinding your wheels. Besides that, though, Dead Cells is a phenomenal effort to blend together some very disparate genres into a tight, cohesive whole. It's one of the better examples of how to remix ideas without losing their individual strengths. -- Daniel Starkey [Full Review]
Diablo III: The Eternal Collection (Switch Port) - 9/10
Diablo 3 is a game about long term goals accomplished in short, thrilling bursts. It's rewarding and subtle. It's flashy and boisterous. I have spent six years enjoying it, and will likely spend six years more. As far as video games go, that's a long time--I came into the Eternal Collection expecting a eulogy for one of my favorite games. Instead, I stumbled upon a celebration. -- Mike Mahardy [Full Review]
Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze (Switch Port) - 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. -- Peter Brown [Full Review]
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. -- Edmond Tran [Full Review]
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. -- Peter Brown [Full Review]
Gris - 9/10
Gris understands intrinsically how magical video games can be and continually pushes your imagination until you're almost bursting with joy. The ways in which it reinvents itself as you gain powers and dive ever deeper into this world is truly special, and just as it knows exactly when to pull back the camera or introduce a new song, it's keenly aware of when it's time to say goodbye. Like a comet streaking across the sky, Gris is full of wonder and beauty and leaves you with a warm glow in your heart. -- Tom Mc Shea [Full Review]
Guacamelee 2 - 9/10
Everything about Guacamelee 2 comes off as smarter and more thoughtful than the first game, even while indulging in its self-aware shenanigans and Rick & Morty-esque dimensional hijinks. The game never stops finding new ways to hook you in, to the point that even the most painstaking and intensive playthroughs feel like they just fly by. Saving the numerous timelines in Guacamelee 2 is just as much about partaking in a marvel of devious, meticulous game design as it is about saving Juan and his family from peril. -- Justin Clark [Full Review]
Hollow Knight (Switch Port) - 9/10
Hollow Knight feels exceptional because so many of its smaller, expertly designed parts fit so well together over an extraordinarily long adventure that could easily have fallen prey to poor pacing. But its expansive enemy roster and routinely surprising areas and platforming challenges ensure that your journey through this fallen bug kingdom is one you're unlikely to forget. Hollow Knight offers a surprisingly large and harrowing adventure, and it's a treat that every bit of it is just as divine as that last. - Alessandro Barbosa [Full Review]
Iconoclasts - 9/10
When Iconoclasts' end credits begin to roll, it's bittersweet to see the journey come to a close. After solving every puzzle and witnessing the finale of its poignant narrative, you can't help but reflect on the growth of its characters and your impact onto the world. The game will shock and surprise you with how gripping its story is, and it's likely to do so again in subsequent playthroughs of New Game+ with your expanded knowledge of character histories and events. Iconoclasts may be a callback to the style and mechanics of old-school games, but it's also a sincere and compelling adventure that anyone with respect for fantastic storytelling and 2D-action can enjoy. -- Matt Espineli [Full Review]
Owlboy (Switch Port) - 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. -- Peter Brown [Full Review]
Red Redemption 2 - 9/10
While Red Dead Redemption was mostly focused on John Marston's story, Red Dead 2 is about the entire Van der Linde gang--as a community, as an idea, and as the death rattle of the Wild West. It is about Arthur, too, but as the lens through which you view the gang, his very personal, very messy story supports a larger tale. Some frustrating systems and a predictable mission structure end up serving that story well, though it does take patience to get through them and understand why. Red Dead Redemption 2 is an excellent prequel, but it's also an emotional, thought-provoking story in its own right, and it's a world that is hard to leave when it's done. -- Kallie Plagge [Full Review]
Yoku's Island Express - 9/10
Yoku's Island Express takes two unlikely genres and combines them into one playful, natural experience. The game's audio and visual design is simply joyous and the large game world seamlessly combines its pinball puzzles with some brilliant level designs. While traversing the large map does get frustrating at times, Yoku's Island Express' main quest never drags, and with its slate of fun abilities, quirky supporting characters and a generous amount of optional content, Yoku's Island Express is a unique journey that's refreshing and just straight up fun. - Alexander Pan [Full Review]
Assassin's Creed Odyssey - 8/10
Despite this, Assassin's Creed Odyssey's ambition is admirable, which is reflected in its rich attention to detail for the era and its approach to handling the multi-faceted narrative with strong protagonists at the lead. While its large-scale campaign--clocking in at over 50 hours--can occasionally be tiresome, and some features don't quite make the impact they should, Odyssey makes great strides in its massive and dynamic world, and it's a joy to venture out and leave your mark on its ever-changing setting. -- Alessandro Fillari [Full Review]
Attack On Titan 2 - 8/10
Despite its slow start, Attack on Titan 2 offers exciting gameplay along with a deep and intriguing plot that, melodrama aside, tugs on the heart strings. It's well-paced and offers some impressive spaces to move through. The unique combination of the movement and combat mechanics combines with a gripping story to make Attack on Titan 2 one of the more surprising releases of the year. -- James Swinbanks [Full Review]
Chasm - 8/10
Even when its flaws are obvious, Chasm is a well-crafted adventure, and during the more than 12 hours I spent playing through my first time, I got lost only once. That's a huge bonus in a genre where getting lost is often the most frustrating aspect. Even after I finished, I was eager to venture forth on a new adventure, to test my combat mettle against harder foes and find the one secret that eluded me the first time through. It's a shame the randomization of the world isn't that big of a deal and the challenge could be better balanced, but the superb combat and visual design ensure your time with Chasm will be well spent. -- Tom Mc Shea [Full Review]
Dark Souls Remastered - 8/10
While Dark Souls Remastered on Switch possesses some odd quirks and isn't as technically impressive as its current-gen counterparts, it still retains the heart of what the original game is all about. To this day, Dark Souls remains a watershed moment for the action-RPG genre. Getting to re-experience many of the game's most nerve-wracking and iconic moments can be satisfying in its own right, but coupled with the Switch's flexible playstyle, this equally haunting and triumphant game becomes an even more involved journey. -- Alessandro Fillari [Full Review]
Dragon Quest Builders (Switch Port) - 8/10
The flexibility to mold the land and vanquish endearing monsters on a large screen and on the go offers a welcome level of convenience the PlayStation versions lacked. While this is obviously a benefit of all Switch games, the involving nature of Dragon Quest Builders, particularly the sense of player ownership in carving the land to your liking makes this game a strong match for the Nintendo platform. -- Miguel Concepcion [Full Review]
Fist Of The North Star: Lost Paradise - 8/10
Lost Paradise may replicate the Yakuza series' format, but it's filled with a passion for FotNS that makes it fantastic all on its own. While previous games based on the property have adapted its story and characters with some success, few have managed to not only nail the style and tone but redefine what's possible with its world and characters. RGG Studios has done a splendid job at evoking the justice-fueled power fantasy Kenshiro represents, succeeding in revealing more about the historic and beloved character in amusing and unexpected ways. -- Matt Espineli [Full Review]
Full Metal Furies - 8/10
Full Metal Furies is primarily a brawler, and a good one that promotes teamwork instead of button-mashing. But it's also a very hard puzzle game, one that challenges you to perceive each level, as well as the game's mechanics and characters, in new ways. It's a shame most of the Furies are so two-dimensional throughout the main campaign--especially Meg, who's arguably the most lovable of the bunch--but the story is consistently witty with its humor and an absolute joy to watch unfold. And while coming up with strategies to handle new enemies and piecing together the clues for each puzzle is fairly difficult at times, it's a rewarding and deeply satisfying challenge. -- Jordan Ramee [Full Review]
Hitman 2 - 8/10
The addition of other minor mechanical changes--like concussive weapons, a picture-in-picture enemy activity alert, and visible security camera sightlines--help to improve Hitman 2 overall as a dense and accessible stealth assassination game. -- Edmond Tran [Full Review]
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition - 8/10
Hyrule Warriors is a delightful, bizarre outing that opens up the Zelda series, taking us places we've been before, just with thousands of monsters and awesome, screen-clearing magical attacks. -- Daniel Starkey [Full Review]
Kingdom Come: Deliverance - 8/10
It's an impressive and unflinching look at the medieval era that transports you inside the compelling story of a real person caught in the middle of a civil war. As such, this is one of those rare, memorable games that stays with you long after you stop playing. While quirks and bugs can certainly be frustrating, none of these issues interfere much with the unique and captivating nature of the overall experience. -- Brett Todd [Full Review]
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. -- Peter Brown [Full Review]
Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 & 2 - 8/10
In a way, the entire collection itself is the museum--an entire series, with all its beauty and its blemishes, on display for its audience to judge and assess years later. Parts of this legacy have aged horribly, but they're still undeniably a piece of Mega Man X history. We've been told that the upcoming Mega Man 11 was greenlit thanks in part to fan interest in the original Mega Man Legacy Collection. If Capcom follows with a proper sequel to Mega Man X, this compilation provides valuable lessons on what the series is, what it isn't, and what it can be when given the chance. -- Steve Watts [Full Review]
Minit - 8/10
Minit's lives might only last 60 seconds, but its extremely well-thought-out world design and engrossing loop of progress make it a curse-filled adventure that is worth dying the world over for. Its throwback to classic visuals aren't done for aesthetic alone, as none of its gameplay systems scream antiquity. It's a slickly presented adventure that continually manages to surprise you with every new area you uncover or item you procure, pushing you to pick away at its seams to uncover every drop of what it has to offer. With a delightful ending and more promised after its first run of credits, Minit is far more than just a collection of seconds. [Full Review]
Monster Boy And The Cursed Kingdom - 8/10
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom not only pays faithful homage to Wonder Boy, particularly The Dragon's Trap, but by refining the solid foundations of its spiritual predecessors with modern affordances, it becomes a rich platforming adventure in its own right. With a well-realized world filled to the brim with secrets and excellent platforming mechanics that always keeps things interesting, the Cursed Kingdom is a place you will want to discover every corner of. -- Alexander Pan [Full Review]
Monster Hunter: World - 8/10
Ever since the title was first announced, 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. -- Ginny Woo [Full Review]
Moss - 8/10
It's a testament to just how well Moss understands PlayStation VR and works with the device instead of trying to bend it to a will it was never designed for. Moss wouldn't feel right without it at all, and its many strengths are married to the interactions that only full immersion can manufacture. Unsurprisingly, then, Moss is easily one of PlayStation VR's best titles to date, even if it's a little too eager to get you in and out of its world. -- Alessandro Barbosa [Full Review]
No Man's Sky NEXT - - 8/10
At its absolute best, No Man's Sky is a measured, gentle experience where you are rarely the agent of change, but a perpetual visitor who's constantly dwarfed by the magnitude of a universe neutral to your presence. It is not your job in these stories to colonize the universe. Your job is to comprehend it. Your job is to recognize the spirituality in it. The primary gimmick of No Man's Sky, since day one, has been awe. The best things about the Next update feed that gimmick. While features like multiplayer and base-building certainly put more proverbial asses in seats, they're also the least memorable additions to an otherwise thoughtful experience. -- Justin Clark [Full Review]
Spyro Reignited Trilogy - 8/10
The Reignited Trilogy is the best kind of collection that not only brings a beloved series up to current visual standards but also proves just how well-built the original titles were. Granted, the originals were done by a little studio called Insomniac, and it's not exactly surprising something that team did is a fine example of the genre. But the Reignited Trilogy's developer, Toys for Bob, deserves major kudos for bringing Insomniac's vision to life in the way we could've only dreamed in 1998. -- Justin Clark [Full Review]
The Messenger - 8/10
The Messenger takes the best parts of the action-platformers it takes influence from and reinterprets them well. With clever writing, well-designed levels, and balanced difficulty curve, the game continuously hooks you with enticing skill-based challenges and satisfying payoffs. Your character might have an immediate imperative to delivering a world-saving scroll, but the journey there is definitely one to savor. -- Alexander Pan [Full Review]
The Missing - 8/10
The Missing is smaller and more mechanically conventional than Deadly Premonition or D4, but its components remain focused on distinctly a Swery game: a dark, idiosyncratic experience that tells a deeply personal story that's as confronting as it is sincere. It is absolutely not for everyone, but as the game reminds us, there is nothing wrong with that. -- David Wildgoose [Full Review]
Unravel 2 - 8/10
With only six chapters that run roughly 30 minutes apiece, Unravel Two doesn't last long, but it's a game where the time you have is meaningful, memorable, and downright pleasant from beginning to end. -- Justin Clark [Full Review]
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. -- Edmond Tran [Full Review]
Yakuza Kiwami 2 - 8/10
The tale of Tokyo and Osaka, Kiryu and Sayama's partnership, and Kiryu and Goda's rivalry remains one of the Yakuza's best stories, and Kiwami 2's minor missteps don't affect the heart of that experience. The modernization of its presentation and its mechanics elevate it, making it absolutely worth revisiting or experiencing for the first time. -- Edmond Tran [Full Review]
By Meg Downey on Dec 20, 2018 03:13 am
Our first look at the new Neil Marshall helmed Hellboy reboot has come a day early in all of it's splashy, monstrous glory. The first Hellboy movie since Guillermo Del Toro's Hellboy: The Golden Army in 2008, fans are equal parts excited and apprehensive for this new take on their favorite demonic hero--especially since the tone of this initial trailer doesn't seem all that new to begin with, with a few notable exceptions. The roster of characters populating the new world is almost entirely new, with some conspicuous fan favorite absences like the amphibious Abe Sapien who has not been announced or, as far as we know, cast for the movie at all. The rest of the more monstrous members of the BPRD as well, like the ethereal Johann or the Roger the homunculus are missing in action as well, replaced by other characters from the Hellboy comics pantheon like Alice Monaghan and Ben Daimio. In fact, if you're strictly a fan of the Del Toro movies, there's a good chance the only characters you'll recognize from this trailer are Hellboy himself and Dr. Trevor Bruttenholm--but that's far from a bad thing. After all, who doesn't love expanding their comic book horizons? And to help you do just that, we've compiled a list of every character we were able to spot in this first trailer--and one we know to expect, but didn't see.
David Harbour as Hellboy
Surprise! The first trailer for the Hellboy reboot prominently features Hellboy himself. Who could have guessed? Based on the first trailer, we can expect the Hellboy we all known and love without many surprise twists or turns--he's a surly, hulking demon with a massive Right Hand of Doom and has perpetually shaved down horns--and though he may look like a monster, he acts like an extremely normal person. This is largely because he was raised from childhood on Earth by Dr. Trevor Bruttenholm, one of the BPRD's (the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense) founding members after being accidentally summoned by a cabal of Nazi occultists during World War II. Hellboy's backstory is a little mythologically complicated in the comics canon (his mother was a human witch and his father was a duke of Hell named Azzael), and it's uncertain based on the first trailer just what is or isn't being adapted this time around. Chances are, we can expect some of the historical flavor to come into play care of the movie's main villain, Nimue aka The Blood Queen, but how much we'll see of Hellboy's own past remains a mystery. We can assume, thanks to a brief glimpse of Nazi soldiers in the trailer, that his WW2 summoning, care of the ill fated occult Ragnarok Project experiment, will probably remain the same, but whether or not it will be engineered by Rasputin (yes, that Rasputin) in this version of events is anyone's guess.
Ian McShane as Dr. Trevor Bruttenholm
Dr. Trevor Bruttenholm was a British academic and member of the British Paranormal Society during WW2 which lead him to Rasputin's Ragnarok Project and the summoning of Hellboy. Bruttenholm rescued baby Hellboy from the chaos and took him in, becoming like an adopted father to him before going on to join the BPRD with his son in tow. It seems like Hellboy and Bruttenholm have some level of disconnect over their BPRD involvement, based on the trailer. Hellboy seems to resent being treated like a weapon--though he apparently continues to work for the organization regardless. Given Ian McShane's age relative to the apparently modern setting of the movie, it seems like there might be some adjustment needed to make the timeline work correctly if Hellboy is indeed keeping his WW2 origin story.
Milla Jovovich as Nimue the Blood Queen
Though the title may make her seem like a vampire, Nimue is actually a witch--maybe the most powerful witch in history, dating all the way back to Arthurian legend where she was close with Merlin and known as "The Lady of the Lake." We only see a couple of brief shots of Nimue in the trailer, but it's enough to understand that whatever she's planning, it has potentially catastrophic consequences. Interestingly, there are also a few shots of giant, dragon-like monsters which may also be Nimue in a different form--she was transformed into a beast in the comics before she was ultimately defeated--but it's too early to tell if that's actually what's happening in those scenes or not.
Sasha Lane as Alice Monaghan
Hellboy's lady companion this time around is not the pyrokinetic Liz Sherman, who is conspicuously absent from any and all casting announcements, but another BPRD agent named Alice Monaghan. Alice actually wasn't a member of the BPRD in the comics, but a human that Hellboy rescued from the Doaine Sidhe as a child. Her time spent in the fairy realm slowed her aging and gave her some insight into the realms of magic, which she eventually used to become a sort of honorary guardian over the fairy kingdom. It looks like Alice is getting a major overhaul for the movie, however, given how much of the fighting we her doing--expect to see her considerably changed.
Daniel Dae Kim as Ben Daimio
Ben Daimio's one of the easiest new characters to spot in the trailer, so you probably don't need any help picking him out of a line up--and if you do, the horrible facial scarring will certainly help. Daimio's a seasoned BPRD agent who joined the team after having risen through the ranks of the military. It was a pesky brush with death and mysterious resurrection that brought him into the supernatural fold. Though he's technically a human, Daimio is also a were-jaguar (sort of--he's got a mythical jaguar spirit inside of him, don't worry too much about it) who transforms under extreme stress. We don't know whether or not Daimio's jaguar powers are going to make themselves known for this movie or not, but the presence of his facial scarring would indicate that it's definitely a possibility.
Douglas Tait as Gruagach
Blink and you might miss him in this trailer, but we do get our first look at Gruagach of Lough Leane for a few fleeting seconds. He's the giant boar-ish looking monster man skulking around Nimue and fighting Hellboy in a church. Though you'd never guess it from his completely understated presence in this first look, Gruagach is actually a pretty central figure to not only Nimue's story in the comics, but to the origin of BPRD agent Alice Monaghan as well. He's a vengeful magical creature, one of the Doaine Sidhe fairies, who blames Hellboy personally for a whole laundry list of humiliations and defeats in his past.
Missing in Action: Thomas Haden Church as Lobster Johnson
Perhaps the biggest named and confirmed character missing from the trailer is Lobster Johnson, a character who's place in the Hellboy mythos is actually a little bit tricky to sort out. He's, essentially, an in-universe fictional comic book hero who was the star of pulp serials set in 1930s New York. Hellboy was a huge fan of Lobster Johnson stories and, eventually, learned that he hadn't been so fictional after all and was, in fact, based on a real man who was now an extremely powerful ghost. Where exactly this will place Lobster Johnson in the reboot is completely up for debate. Will he be a flashback character to flesh out the BPRD's history? A little bit of in-universe fictional flavor? Something else entirely? Your guess is as good as ours.
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