Death Loop
Even with all the success that Arkane Studios has had over the years, I always feel that not enough gamers have experienced their magnificent games. Titles like Dishonored and Prey are, in my opinion, at the very pinnacle of single-player action shooters. When I saw the first CGI trailer for Death Loop I was initially disappointed, my yearning for Dishonored 3 was perhaps the root cause of this. However, when the gameplay trailer dropped I started to see how much potential this brand new IP could have. It seems the more I learn about Death Loop the more I’m convinced this will be another hit for Arkane.
You play as Colt, a deadly assassin who is trapped on the island of Blackreef in a never-ending time loop. To break this cycle you must kill eight specific targets by the stroke of midnight or the loop resets. Of course, the residents of Blackreef are very happy to be trapped in an endless soirée of delicious violence, these being folks of dubious moral integrity. The only way for this ceaseless party of carnage to end is if you succeed in your goals. One of these targets is another expert assassin called Julianna who is by far your most dangerous adversary on the island. In the gameplay trailer, you can clearly see the influences from previous titles with a superb mix of gunplay, magical abilities and traversal.
If there is one thing I absolutely love about the Watch Dogs series is how they infused multiplayer into the single-player game. Hacking into another players game world that is predominantly single player, especially when they are not aware of your presence, is something I find fascinating. It is equally intriguing then, that Death Loop will also play a fine balance between a single-player shooter and also allowing real players to invade your game. It isn't clear how exactly this will work but if anyone can make it gel, it’s Arkane. With the release date of the 21st of May right around the corner, this is one to set your sights on.
Elite Dangerous Odyssey
When Elite Dangerous first launched I jumped in and played for a good few months. In that time I was continuously impressed at how well put together this space simulation was. Even the mere task of docking in a space station felt solid and reliably weighty. However, with the lack of planet landings, I felt like this title was embarking on a long-distance evolution that I was happy to wait for. Jump to 2021 and we are about to see Elite Dangerous reach a state that I hoped it would back in 2014.
Landing on barren planets has been a thing for a while and the implementation of landing craft arrived in the last big update. With Odyssey, we will see many new additions to this seminal space sim, with the ability to actually walk around being at the top of that list. Not only that, but Frontier has worked ground combat into the formula, lending a little justification to the new on-foot perspective. From what I can see from the trailers, the first-person combat looks great with plenty of weapons and armour types to choose from.
My ultimate wish for Elite is to be able to descend onto planets with a full atmosphere, complete with forests, oceans, weather systems and even an ecosystem to admire. While games like No Mans Sky have already achieved this to a point, the more complex simulation that runs the Elite galaxy obviously needs a more substantial implementation. Regardless, this update might finally urge me to dust off my P52 Pro and once again dive into the void of space.
Farcry 6
I recently replayed Farcry 5 and it reminded me why I love this series so much. The Farcry games have always been good fun and Farcry 3 seemed to be the entry that cemented its popularity with more casual gamers. Vas was the star of Farcry 3 is deservedly one of the most memorable antagonists in gaming. It was also this game that nailed down the blueprint for future Farcry games. The last entry was packed with explosively encounters, top tier gunplay and all could be played in a surprisingly well-made co-op mode. So with the announcement of Farcry 6 expectations are high.
The trailer revealed that Giancarlo Esposito will occupy a major role in the story and it is also rumoured that it will be this entry that gives us the origins of Vas himself. The setting for Farcry 6 is a fictional island called Yara that seems to be inspired by a 1960s Caribbean paradise (although some clues suggest this is a modern setting just lost in time). The main protagonist is a freedom fighter from the same island and while we don’t know a great deal, it is confirmed that you can play as either male or female. From a smattering of screenshots available it is clear this game will once again raise the bar on visual fidelity. It will also be interesting to see how a Farcry game handles a full city and if it include more complex systems such as a police force.
Little Nightmares 2
It was perfect timing that the demo for this horror sequel dropped when it did. The first game was one I knew I wanted to play but only sat down to complete a few months ago. While the playtime involved was relatively short, the experience within had me thoroughly gripped in what could be described as a mixture of Resident Evil and Limbo.
In the second game, it seems we will be playing as a different character, a small boy who must navigate the terrifying world that was well established in the first game. You can already see refinements on the first outing and a few new mechanics in place. To be honest, the less I say about this demo the better. Just take my advice, grab your best pair of headphones, wait until dark and tiptoe into the moonlight. There are also a few deals floating around where if you preorder you get the first game for free. Little Nightmares 2 is out on the 11th of February so watch out for my none spoiler review closer the time.
Subnautica: Below Zero
Subnautica is one of the great early access success stories out there. It was released in a very early state and then assembled in front of our very eyes. It is this game (and a few other notables efforts) that gives me the confidence to say that early access can work very well. The premise was simple, you crashland (or is it crashwater?) on a strange alien world that is pretty much one big ocean. You must dive beneath the surface to gather resources, craft new tools to survive and do all this while not becoming lunch for the locals. The real journey was deep below your feet, waiting in the darkness and took every ounce of my courage to get there.
Subnautica Below Zero is set one year after the events of the first game. After disaster strikes at a research centre in the far north you are plunged into the deadly waters once more, albeit as a new protagonist and in a far colder region on the planet. Like the first game, the structure and story have changed quite a few times in early access. What I have seen leads me to believe this is already another sure-fire success in the making. There are, of course, new creatures to behold (swim away from while screaming) and a whole swath of gear and vehicles to try. While there is still no concrete release date, this is expected to get a 1.0 launch in the first quarter of 2021.
Gotham Knights
The Arkham games have been a joy to play, from the more stealthy and mysterious first title to the explosive conflict in Arkham Knight. Let’s just put the launch issues aside on PC, Arkham Knight was so good I played it twice back to back. The developers at Rocksteady Studios have always done such a good job of bringing the world of Batman to life with faithful depictions of its characters and some of the best combat systems ever seen. However, it is the team that brought us Arkham Origins that are making the next Batman inspired game.
The core idea of Gotham Knights is that Batman is dead and it is now up to his closest allies to pick up the mantle. Night Wing, Batgirl, Robin and Red Hood are the four characters available to the player. The developers have stated this can be a single-player experience or co-op if you have friends who wish to join you. We did see some fantastic multi-hero takedowns in Arkham Knight and this mechanic in a co-op should be a real crowd-pleaser. I just hope the addition real players into the mix doesn’t mess with that wonderful combat flow the Batman games are well known for.
The only real concern I have for this game is the RPG elements that seem to be creeping in the back door. In the gameplay trailer, we see that enemies seemingly have levels hovering above their heads and numbers rising as they receive damage. While not a deal-breaker this will certainly spoil some of the immersion for me. There are also some strong hints that there will be some type of loot progression system and that upgrading your character will be one of the key motivators. I can see where they are heading with this and it really reminds me of the directions that Ubisoft took with Assassins Creed Origins. I am always up developers trying new things, nothing ventured as they say. I also know that I miss the old style Assassins Creed games, so personally, I hope this doesn’t indicate we are seeing an end to the dedicated Batman titles.
Back for Blood
Valve are one of the most important companies in PC gaming and simultaneously a royal pain in the arse. They have made some of the most iconic titles in PC gaming but as a lover with commitment issues keep disappearing for years at a time (in a development sense anyway). With games like Half-life and Team Fortress they had the world at their feet, but that’s another article. The point is they also made one of the best co-op shooters of all time called Left for Dead which also received an even better sequel the following year: that was in 2009.
Back for Blood is being hailed as the unofficial Left for Dead 3 that we never got from Gabe and his merry men (and woman). What makes this even more prevalent is that Turtle Rock Studios is headed up by some of the original developers who worked on Left for Dead. The trailers show this game is sticking very closely to the original formula and that is a very good thing. Four players, hordes of ravenous zombies and a whole lot of bullets. Back for Blood is in close beta now and is set to release on the 22nd of June 2021.
Grounded
Survival games are ten a penny these days and it is sometimes hard to know which to pour your disposable time into. This is also made more difficult by the fact that each one takes many hours before they get going. Over the last few years, there have been some standout efforts, such as the excellent Don’t Starve (and it’s many variations). Grounded is also a very cool take on the survival formula, putting you in the sweaty trainers of four teens who have been miniaturised. You wake up in the back yard of what we assume is your house and must survive while figuring out just what happened.
The first thing you will notice is that this game is gorgeous. The team at Obsidian Entertainment have not wasted this setting at all. Everyday items like drink cartons and toys now tower above you like building-sized modern art. The many invertebrates that you would normally barely notice are now hideously large and seem to be interested in rearranging the food chain. What has been clear to me, even in the first build, is how solid this game is. The crafting and base building are all intuitive and well designed. The recently released koi pond has shown a consistent level of quality and expert world design. There is still a long development cycle ahead of this game but if you like survival games this one is a very easy recommendation. I will be updating my preview in the Oven as the new updates arrive in 2021.
I recently dropped a full preview for Grounded into the Oven, so if you wish to know more then dive over there and take a look.
Hell Blade 2
Someone recently asked me if reviewing games changes the way I play them: the simple answer is yes. When reviewing a game I tend to take a more methodical approach, testing the systems, physics, AI and anything that I can interact with. However, occasionally I hear about a game that I know should just be played with my analytical mindset switched off. Hellblade was one such game.
Senua’s journey takes her to the very edge of emotional breaking point and she seeks to find a lost lover. Through a mixture of impressive locations, exquisite animation and effects Hellblade really does make you feel like you are journeying into hell itself. However, it was the cacophony of sound effects and whispering voices that really amplified the feeling that your sanity was ebbing away with every footstep. Hell Blade 2 was a given and after seeing the trailer it is clear we are in for another magnificent (if traumatic) journey with Seunua.
The Ascent
In an alternate universe somewhere the word Cyberpunk should instantly induce feverish excitement as people talk about that masterpiece CDPR released in 2023. It was delayed for two years but all now agree it was well worth the wait. Unfortunately, we live in our reality where the same developers decided to push their creation out half baked and the whole project came crashing down around them. However, our hopes for a fully finished Cyberpunk game this side of the Rapture haven't been totally dashed because this year we should see another Cyberpunk title enter the fold.
The Ascent is being described as an action RPG that is played in an isometric point of view. What we have seen so far is plenty of the combat which looks both explosive and of high quality. The visuals are also looking great with a detailed cyberpunk aesthetic throughout. The developers are certainly hinting that there is more to this game than the combat but honestly by the looks of things; that would be enough for me. This game actually reminds me of the zombie shooter from years ago called Dead Nation, with maybe a little bit of Syndicate thrown in for good measure. With a solid co-op mode already confirmed this could actually be one of the better games to release in 2021. I will, of course, we looking to review this when it drops but for now, check out this gameplay preview.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
The glory days, I miss those. Remember when the likes of Blizzard, Bioware and Bethesda were great? In the last decade, we have seen many of these gaming titans fall from grace due to terrible management. In this long list of casualties one series, in particular, is especially galling and that is Mass Effect. The controversy actually started with the way Mass Effect 3 wrapped up the trilogy. An adventure based on making weighty decisions and seeing the consequences for those decisions play out; ended on a multiple choice. Then came Mass Effect Andromeda, while some aspects were fun, the technical issues and childlike writing left this darling series in the gutter. However, hope still remains.
In the last few months we have learned that there is another Mass Effect game in the works and based on the teaser it will be returning to the series roots. This could, of course, be Bioware desperately riffing on past glories, we shall see in time. In what was possibly the worst kept gaming secret in the last few years, the long-awaited Mass Effect remaster has finally been confirmed. This is not a reworking of the original games but a true remaster with up to 4K resolution and other visual improvements. My personal wish is that they have done more work on the first game, in particular, the Mako and the Citadel. Of course, if Bioware are being really nice to their fans they will have added a better ending to Mass Effect 3 which better represents the player’s choices. The good news is that the Legendary Edition does come with all the DLC for each game. If we get one game this year that comes out as it should, please 2021, let it be this one!