It’s been almost three years since the Meta Quest 2 released, yet it’s still a fantastic piece of kit for virtual reality fans. The Meta Quest Gaming Showcase took place last week, and if the wealth of announcements were anything to go by, there’s still plenty of steam left in the VR tank. Until recently, I’d not had the pleasure of testing out the hardware, and with the third iteration of the Quest announced, it seems a great time to see what the Quest 2 is like, given it’ll almost certainly be discounted. My only foray into VR was at the hands of the PSVR, and I can safely say this is hands down a much more user-friendly experience. Not only that, but the games available and how they play have given both me and my family some memorable nights in.

If you’re not familiar with the Meta Quest 2, it requires very little set up. While the battery life for the headset isn’t as good as it could be, all that’s needed is to turn it on, set your spatial boundaries, and grab the controllers. There aren’t countless wires and things to plug in. Simply turn it on and away you go. The clarity in the visuals is excellent, and when you start to explore the store, it’s clear that there’s so much to choose from regardless of the kind of experience you’re after.

Meta Quest TV offers a ton of videos for you to immerse yourself in, whether you want to stand in front of the Rockefeller Center in New York, walk through the cherry blossoms in Japan, or hop on a rollercoaster or two. These bitesize experiences allow you to see the world from the comfort of your own living room, providing countless possibilities for people of all kinds. Take my mother, for example. She’s physically unable to go out much or travel too far due to an illness she’s had for most of her life. It was rather emotional letting her try the headset and see her reaction to standing at the top of the Empire State Building.

These short detours from the games of the Meta Quest 2 are a great way to show off what virtual reality is in 2023. Although the Meta Quest 3 was just announced, there’s still a lot of worth in this platform, and that’s thanks in part to the games available. I’ve been playing some incredible titles on the system, and I’d like to touch on a few here. Pistol Whip makes you feel like John Wick, dodging bullets whilst firing off a few rounds of your own, all done to a pulsing EDM soundtrack.

Red Matter 2 was perhaps the most impressive in terms of what you can do, as it allowed you to play through an interesting science fiction narrative while getting to explore space from the comfort of your own home. You can float across space stations, solve puzzles, pick up crates and other objects, scan the environment, and more. It harnesses the capabilities of the Meta Quest 2 in ways I never felt possible, and it’s definitely one of the games I’d suggest you giving a go if you’re interested in buying one.

I’m a huge fan on Steven Wright’s Peaky Blinders, and I can’t tell you how wide the smile on my face was when I booted up The King’s Ransom and walked through Small Heath to the tune of Nick Cave’s Red Right Hand. As a gangster in early 20th century Birmingham, it was one hell of an experience. Tommy Shelby offered me a cigarette, I dodged a bunch of gunfire from shady characters after meeting up with the headstrong and loveable Aunt Polly, and saw other familiar sites and characters from the hit TV show.

Perhaps the greatest game I’ve played so far was Beat Saber. I know I’m probably not telling you anything new here, but it’s such a simple yet addictive game. Hit colourful blocks on the beat with two lightsabers, duck under and around walls, and make sure you’re doing it all to the rhythm of one of the title’s songs. I was also impressed by the amount of DLC you can get. Lady Gaga, Green Day, and Billie Eilish song packs are all available, and the recently released Queen collection is a must purchase.

I understand games can cost a bit, but the Meta Quest 2 store offers a ton of demos to allow you a chance to try before you buy. Superhot is tons of fun on console, but being in that world is such a cool thing to experience, and you can try out a demo for it if you like. There’re other free pieces of content on the store, such as a Jurassic World app that lets you watch two videos, stepping into the scenes of the park and get up close with Blue the raptor.

Another stunning addition to the catalogue is Mission: ISS. In it, you get to move around the International Space Station in zero gravity, and it’s unlike anything I’ve played. Being thrust into these unfamiliar places is why virtual reality is successful, but the Meta Quest 2 allows you to do so with ease, both in its set-up and the easy-to-navigate store. There’re still tons of games and apps I want to try, but from what I’ve seen so far, it feels like the perfect time to get your hands on the hardware.

Whether you’re after fun gameplay or opportunities to see things you’d never normally see, the Meta Quest 2 is by far one of the coolest bits of kit on the market. The visuals are clear and detailed, the interface is easy-to-use, the set-up is straightforward, and the amount of content in 2023 is staggering. With new games focused on Stranger Things and Ghostbusters soon to come out, there’s no greater time to bite the bullet and give VR a go, specifically through the Meta Quest 2.

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We’ve been lucky enough to be spending the last few weeks in virtual reality, and a list of the best PSVR2 games so far have been on our minds. It’s a massive launch, with some interesting titles that could be described more as experiences, lots of older titles that have been updated with features only the PlayStation VR2 can boast, and even some brand new exclusive titles.

This list, while not exhaustive, is based on what we’ve played here at GodisaGeek and is ongoing. There’s yet more corkers on this list of best PSVR2 games already, and I’ve finally had chance to play two of the biggest launch titles in Gran Turismo 7 and Resident Evil Village, so they’re covered in this list, too. Oh and since we know that people love review scores, while these aren’t our traditional full scored reviews, we’ve slapped a score at the end of each game, just to make people happy. Aren’t we nice?

Oh also, check out our first review round-up of the best PSVR2 games, right here.

Best PSVR2 games: Gran Turismo 7

What’s that you say, a fully playable version of Gran Turismo 7 on PlayStation VR2? Yes, that’s what we have here. The game is basically like playing it on a huge cinema screen until the race starts, whereby you’re put into the reasonably priced (or not) car of your dreams, with the opponents and tracks you’d have if you were playing it just on a TV. It’s fast as you like, responsive, and some of the hills you go over will have you leaving your lunch behind due to the camber of the road. It’s exactly what I wanted, and aside from getting a wheel, the best VR racing experience you can have on PS5, and easily one of the best PSVR2 games, as well as one of the best racers this generation. There’s little to say other than: if you have PSVR2, play this game. (10/10)

Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded

An already great VR experience has been levelled up with reloaded here. For those that don’t know, this is the distillation of those arcade classics like House of the Dead, but in crystal clear PlayStation 5 virtual reality, with haptic feedback on the triggers (that makes you very scared when you are frantically reloading as a zombie approaches), a new art style, better visuals overall, extra levels, challenges, guns, perks, and everything you’d think a re-release should have. It’s superb fun, and while it doesn’t have the authentic voices, you won’t care when you’re shooting the shit out of zombies galore with a fully max-upgraded pistol. This is one of the best PSVR2 game so far, and the one I keep coming back to, it’s just that much fun. (9/10)

Startenders: Intergalactic Bartending

Startenders offers something a bit different. Closer to the Job Simulator games that used to showcase VR back in the early days, this one puts you behind the bar at your local; if the local was in space, and you were serving aliens. All manner of drinks need making, but you’ll be cleaning glasses, blending fruit, adding carbonation (fizz), and mixing everything up. You’ll even have to go and make your own tools (like the juicer) with your welding station. It’s good fun, but needs a little bit of tweaking to get the positional stuff right, and needs a bit more room for a stationary VR game than I’d like. If you like titles like Vacation and/or Job Simulator, this’ll be right up your street, and has a good feel to it, with plenty of “jobs” to keep you going for some time. (7.5/10).

Best PSVR2 games: No Man’s Sky

The amount of work that’s gone into No Man’s Sky in VR is just astounding. You’d think it’d be like any other “first-person” port of a game, but Hello Games has added so much to No Man’s Sky to make it feel like it was always this way. Getting hold of things requires picking them up; getting into a car or ship means learning how to control it physically, and even getting out means you have to manually open the door. There’s a satisfying feel to the multi-tool, and the haptics on the headset will also vibrate when needed. This new version looks stunning, and flying around above your base has never look so good in Virtual Reality. The work the developer continues to do on this one never ceases to impress, and it’s a game you could lose silly amount of time to, even in VR. (9/10).

Resident Evil Village

While the original game isn’t the best Capcom has ever produced, it was a stellar first-person entry. Here, the horror is right in your face, and it’s terrifying. In some ways this makes it harder to play. Holding a torch and sneaking through dark spaces, hearing enemies nearby forcing you to feel on edge almost all the time. Weapons feel tactile, and have individual reloading methods closer to the real world, and while that might slow you down, the one-to-one aiming method means that even the squirrelly Werewolves are easier to track and get headshots in on.

There’s some peculiarities when it comes to the scenes that were designed where control is taken away, and you can offset this by viewing them in a cinematic mode instead of VR first-person viewpoint, but aside some oddities (mostly early on) with hand positions, collision detection, your arms being weird floating tools, and weapons warping back to your inventory, but you get used to them pretty quickly. Resident Evil Village is another virtual-home run for Capcom’s series, just like Resident Evil 7 was. Oh but why it’s a free DLC item instead of a simple update, I’ll never know. (8/10)

So there you have it, after spending so much time in PlayStation VR2 our heads hurt, that’s the best of the bunch that we’ve played so far. Make sure you read our full PlayStation VR2 review, as well as our Horizon Call of the Mountain review, and check out our YouTube Channel to see these games in video format, and this very article with footage of all the lovely games.

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We’ve been lucky enough to be spending the last few weeks in virtual reality, and a list of the best PSVR2 games so far have been on our minds. It’s a massive launch, with some interesting titles that could be described more as experiences, lots of older titles that have been updated with features only the PlayStation VR2 can boast, and even some brand new exclusive titles.

This list, while not exhaustive, is based on what we’ve played here at GodisaGeek. There’s some genuine classics on this list of best PSVR2 games already, with two of my personal favourite titles being re-upped for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation VR2, so without further ado, let’s get to the list. Oh and since we know that people love review scores, while these aren’t our traditional full scored reviews, we’ve slapped a score at the end of each game, just to make people happy. Aren’t we nice?

Best PSVR2 games: Moss & Moss: Book II

While there was nothing “wrong” with Moss or Moss: Book II (grouped together for obvious reasons) to begin with, whether you played on the original PSVR, or Meta Quest, etc, they’ve been given a fresh lick of paint and some extra features that, while not “game-changing”, really add to the overall immersion. For example, the extra fidelity gained from the 4K headset (and be prepared to hear that a lot in this list) really do just make the clarity so much better.

You can lean in and see your little mouse friend Quill up close, and it’s a beautiful game, full stop. Moreover, the haptic feedback is used early and often in the actual headset, so when an eagle swoops over the top of you, it’s felt physically. It might be argued, in fact, the headset vibration is overdone, as it will shake you whenever you let Quill die, but it’s a reminder of a cool feature, and it’s just a lovely game full stop. It may not be Astro Bot, but it’s as close to a VR platformer as we’re getting for now. (Moss 8.5/10, Moss: Book II: 9/10)

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition

Whether you love Star Wars or not, Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge is just a damn good VR game. It’s not the longest (at around four hours), and it may not quite have as much “Jedi stuff” as you’d want, but again, it looks stunning, has fantastic feedback throughout, and even if you aren’t au-fait with the universe, you can be impressed by the attention to detail. Also, it’s a fun shooter with some cool ideas, like the ability to throw out droids that will support you from the air. If it weren’t for the fact that the controls are slightly out of sync with the standardized fare I was used to in VR, it’d be a contender for best launch title. (8/10)

Best PSVR2 games: Horizon Call of the Mountain

As the major first party launch title, you’d expect this to be here. But it’s perhaps on the list for reasons you wouldn’t expect. Truth be told, the use of the new features is a little underwhelming when compared to other games on the list, but the visuals are out of this world. Seeing a Tallneck tower over you in detail, or sneaking around caverns away from Watchers is something you will never quite get used to.

Detail is everywhere, from the character’s faces if you try to break the VR and reach out to them, or the skylines that are as beautiful as they are daunting. The climbing isn’t quite right in this one, and feels as though it’s a bit “baby’s first VR steps”, but with accessibility options galore, it genuinely is an impressive first step into VR for Horizon, and hopefully we get more of this. (Read our full review here)

Puzzling Places

It may seem an odd choice, but Puzzling Places offers something few of the best PSVR2 launch titles do: a zen moment of calm. Rather than putting the user in peril, this game is about picking a 3D picture and being in the moment, relaxing, and putting together a 3D jigsaw puzzle. Whether it’s a snooker hall or a place out in the wider world somewhere, Puzzling Places is just… nice. Couple this with the fact they add new puzzles each month and you’ve a nice place to relax whenever you need it. It’s simple, but relaxing, and an easy recommendation. (7/10)

Kayak VR: Mirage

Matching up to Puzzling Places and its feeling of Zen is Kayak VR. A startlingly realistic rendition of Kayaking that matches the reality of being in a small boat out at sea. If you know how to move, it’ll surprise you how well it reacts, and there are even rocks you can physically push off to get moving. With interesting locations, pretty scenery, and weather that can be turned up or down, this is both a good workout if you want it, and a nice serene place to relax. (7/10)

Best PSVR2 games: What the Bat?

From the makers of What the Golf? I knew this would be pretty ridiculous. It’s closer to a title like WarioWare than anything else, as you go through increasingly madcap and bizarre mini moments playing as a person with baseball bats for hands. Whether it’s brushing your teeth or trying to play shapes as a baby, you’ll quickly realise having bats for hands is a bad thing, and would make life very hard. I particularly enjoyed the nods to What the Golf? Within What the Bat? Which genuinely made me laugh. While you’ll need a bit of room to move in order to fully appreciate this one, it’s worth it for the laughs alone. (7/10)

Rez Infinite & Tetris Effect: Connected

I’ve grouped these together because, quite simply, if you like one you’ll love the other. With the immersive nature of the haptic feedback on the headset, both Rez Infinite and Tetris Effect come to life like never before. With Rez, the PSVR2 controllers will vibrate in time to the music, and after each level the headset will pulse and vibrate as you transition through digital space. Likewise, Tetris Effect reacts to every movement of a Tetromino as you move them faster and faster, all the while the music and environment merging to make a truly magical experience.

Both of these games feel like a reason to play in virtual reality. Both are exquisitely designed, offering replayability, incredible music, and fast, responsive motion. And, of course, both benefit from the 4K nature of the new headset. If you’ve never played them, buy both. If you have, even having experienced them on the previous generation of Sony’s hardware, still buy both. Rez and Tetris Effect are both among the very best PSVR2 games the platform has to offer. (Rez Infinite 10/10, Tetris Effect: Connected 10/10)

So there you have it, after spending so much time in PlayStation VR2 our heads hurt, that’s the best of the bunch that we’ve played so far. Make sure you read our full PlayStation VR2 review, as well as our Horizon Call of the Mountain review, and check out our YouTube Channel to see these games in video format, and this very article with footage of all the lovely games.

The post The best PSVR2 games | Reviewing the best PlayStation VR2 games so far appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

I’ve been around for a while. I’m what some people like to call a “gamer of a certain age”. There aren’t many video game adaptations I haven’t seen, from Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat through Bob Hoskins’ Super Mario Bros. Jason Statham hamming it up in Dungeon Siege, and Doom, a car crash that Karl Urban’s career somehow survived. But genuinely, honestly, really, really – I have never seen a video game adaptation like The Last of Us.

I’ve only watched the first episode. 80 minutes of what will become a full series. For those who know the game, this first episode ends at a very early point in the overall story and so there’s a long way to go, but I can honestly say that I couldn’t look away.

Now, look, okay, I’ve been on record saying that Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us is one of my favourite games. I’ve written about it before, covered versions of it. It staggered me over and over again. Not just with its gameplay but with the depth of raw emotion in the performances. It’s Troy Baker’s finest moment, in my opinion, but he leads a cast that never brings anything but their A-game.

So how do you translate that into another medium without diluting it? How do you write and make something that hooks the people who know the story already? Well, you do it like this.

Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) have performed a near miracle. It may not be 100% perfect to non-fans (my wife, for example, was slightly put off by just how bleak the world is) but this is apocalypse TV in a post-The Walking Dead world. I’d say most people watching will be expecting the bleakness.

But the truth is; the bleakness is essential. It’s absolutely, utterly mandatory, because without the bleakness you can’t possibly appreciate what the story is truly about: hope. It’s a story about hope. Redemption. Survival. Companionship.

In a world ravaged by the victims of a brutal fungal infection, Pedro Pascale takes the role of Joel Miller, a smuggler and survivor who has spent 20 years just staying alive. He takes on Ellie, played by Game of Thrones’ Bella Ramsay, a girl who may hold the secret to ending the infection. Together they cross the US, avoiding the infected, the military, and gangs of deadly raiders.

In episode one you barely even see the infected except for the night of the outbreak, shown around a third of the way in. The rest is spent establishing the new world and introducing the characters of Joel, Ellie, Marlene, and Tess. The pacing is exquisite, but the sets and costumes, the atmosphere, steal the show. The grime is set in deep, the sense of all-pervading gloom sinks its claws in early and holds on tight. This is no emotional rollercoaster; it’s a grim descent into a world that has forgotten almost everything it used to stand for and it shows. It bleeds out of the walls of every shot.

But it may be the performances that make it work so well. The casting is spectacular. Pedro Pascale and Bella Ramsay bring the leads to life in a way that goes a step beyond just playing a role. A great big moon-step beyond it. Pascale is Joel. I won’t take away from Troy Baker’s performance here, but watching it unfold in live action is genuinely uncanny. And as for Bella Ramsay… well. She was born for this role. She embodies Ellie with an adolescent awkwardness and teenage impetuosity that makes her as instantly likable as Ashley Johnson does in the game. Anna Torv is another scene-stealer, bringing a rugged, ruthless edge to Joel’s sometime partner, Tess.

Before this though (and, look: spoilers… in case you want to skip this paragraph), the opening third is utterly stolen by Nico Parker’s Sarah, Joel’s daughter who is tragically lost in the initial outbreak. Her warmth and charisma build up a vision of pre-Outbreak life that makes it all the more devastating when the world ends.

The Last of Us is relentlessly grim, moodily shot, and fantastically well put together. This is now the new bar for video game adaptations, and it proves, once and for all, that it is possible to translate a game into a TV show – even one as widely beloved and talked over as The Last of Us. It’s early days, for certain, but episode one utterly captivated me. I know much of what’s to come (though Druckmann stated that a lot has been altered in the interest of keeping the audience invested and surprised) but even with the burden of all that knowledge, I can’t wait to see it unfold all over again.

The Last of Us is available on HBO in the USA, or Sky Atlantic in the UK.

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From Overwatch 2’s initial announcement all the way back on in 2019 it’s been a long wait, but the Overwatch 2 closed beta has finally been released. This also means that changes are here, so we’re going to look through seven of the most important changes to Overwatch 2, and what they mean for the game going forward.

5v5

The single largest change to Overwatch 2 is the removal of a tank bringing it to a 5v5 scenario and, honestly, it feels like how Overwatch was supposed to be. With the extra tankiness of the single tank due to passive abilities and reworks, it keeps the teamwork aspect of Overwatch, whilst also having more freedom across maps and being able to flank for more kills. This means it does feel as if games are more easily won through individual skill, but teamwork is still imperative to the game. In addition the game feels much more open and less cluttered than Overwatch 2’s predecessor which is a very welcome feeling.

Orisa’s rework

In the original Overwatch, Orisa is known to be one of the most tedious heroes to play against with her immense utility and her part in team compositions such as double shield. In Overwatch 2, Orisa has had a complete redesign, removing her shield and halt ability. Replacing them are her Energy Javelin and her Javelin spin. The energy Javelin is a projectile that Orisa throws at enemies which deals damage and a short stun; however, if the Javelin throws the opponent into a wall, the damage is increased.

The Javelin Spin is an ability that consists of Orisa spinning her Energy Javelin giving her extra forward momentum, and an effect that pushes back enemies in her face which gives her even more killing potential and opportunities for taking space on the battlefield. The biggest change however, is the changing of her ultimate ability, Supercharger. Supercharger has been changed out for Terra Surge. Terra Surge pulls in enemies within a certain range and the longer you hold her ultimate for the higher damage is does with maximum damage being 250hp.

The new mode: “Push”

In Overwatch 2, the removal of “assault” paves way for a new game mode: Push. Here, you fight for control of a robot that pushes a type of wall to either side of the map. This is a welcome addition bringing a fresh feel to the game with new maps and different playstyles.

In comparison to the assault mode that was removed, it feels much quicker and fluid to play in. No stagnation and 8-8 draws on Temple of Anubis anymore, and rather a quick end to end battle which keeps your attention and makes you want to play more.

Doomfist’s rework

Doomfist was a hero that was either loved or hated, with not much in-between. In Overwatch 2, Doomfist has made a role swap to tank, which many players were sceptical about. However after playing the beta, the scepticism over the role change is gone. Doomfist is a tank that brawls and can retain a similar playstyle to when he was in the damage category, just without the higher damage capabilities.

Doomfist loses his Rising uppercut in Overwatch 2, instead, he gains an ability called Power Block. This gives Doomfist a 90% damage reduction and can charge his punch. A new ability within Doomfist’s rocket punch is that he can charge it to gain a further distance whilst punching and dealing more damage and increasing a stun duration when the enemy hits a wall.

The new hero: Sojourn

After a long wait after the release of Echo, finally, a new hero is coming to Overwatch in the form of Sojourn. She is a new damage hero with great mobility in one of her abilities, Power Slide, and damage potential with her primary fire being a projectile dealing 9 damage a shot at a very high fire rate. Her secondary fire is her signature railgun which charges up based on damage you do with her primary fire. The railgun does 130 damage on a bodyshot when fully charged, doing 250 with a headshot meaning that you can get some devastating kills with it.

Her second ability is called “Disruptor shot” which is an area denial ability that deals a maximum of 200 damage and slows you whilst in its area of effect. Whilst a slowing ability sounds like it would be painful to deal with it is fairly easy to walk out of and should be used to close off angles or to push people into areas where they may be an easy kill. Sojourn’s Ultimate, “Overclock”, plays off her railgun, where her railgun charges nearly instantly for nine seconds which can allow for hero plays and fight winning shots.

Removal of Crowd Control abilities

One massive change for Overwatch 2 is the near total exclusion of crowd control abilities. This allows for more freedom on the map and a more engaging and fair feeling experience. For example, Cassidy’s flashbang has been changed to a magnetic grenade that deals 130 damage if stuck. Mei’s primary freeze has also been changed and instead of freezing you, it’s now a 100dps weapon that also slows slightly. This removal of Stuns allows for more fluid gameplay and in addition makes it so that tank does not become a role that is obsolete in the face of a team composition that contains multiple characters with a stun.

Role Specific Passives

With the removal of Crowd Control comes the introduction of role specific passive abilities. For the Tank role, the passive (called Tank), reduces knockback effects at the tradeoff for receiving less healing and damage. This allows for front lining potential for all tank characters and provides a safe anchor for the whole team. For the Damage role, all DPS heroes have a movement speed increase which allows for heroes such as Genji to move in quickly and get a kill and potentially escape quicker without using his dash. However, the passive is effective based on what hero you are playing, so on Widowmaker this passive may not really come into effect very often. For the support role, all supports get a passive heal after 2 seconds of not taking damage at 15hp per second. This allows cooldowns such as Ana’s biotic grenade to be saved to save low health teammates rather than to survives vs flankers in some scenarios.

Overwatch 2 is currently in beta on PC, it’s coming to consoles as well at a later date.

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Recently updated to the Godfall: Ultimate Edition, the game was first released as a ps5-launch title in November 2020. It’s an action looter developed by Counterplay Games and published by Gearbox Software. In it you play as Orin, last of the godlike Valorian Knight in the world of Aperion. Equipped with twelve Valorplates that alter his appearance, gender and fighting style, Orin embarks on a quest to save his kingdom from the hands of his mad brother, Macros.

In his original review, Adam said:

The combat is just so good, and the draw of smashing enemies with such thunderous force was always compelling. Yes, under it all it’s a grind-based loot game, but it’s a very good one and makes so few of the missteps its contemporaries make. Out of the box this game doesn’t need major loot overhauls, or huge redesigns: it’s not ashamed of what it is, and it does what it intends very well, and because of all of that, it’s one of the biggest surprises of the year.

Since release it has seen a number of updates, including the Fire & Darkness expansion and the Challenger Edition.

The Godfall: Ultimate Edition features all of the existing content as well as a plethora of new features and quality of life improvements. Not only can you instantly boost your character to max level and get stuck right into the endgame, you can also play through the entire campaign with new cutscenes, story beats, and dialogue that enhance the narrative.

The huge Exalted Update (launched for free alongside the Ultimate Edition) adds new features to combat, including a knockdown recovery move that keeps the pace high during fights. There’s also a host of new cosmetics for your weapons, armour and shield. New cosmetics for each of the twelve Valorplates allow you to customise your look to a greater degree.

Despite a mixed reception at launch, Godfall has gone onto great success, fuelled by consistent player engagement and regular updates and tweaks by the developer. Following the launch of Godfall: Ultimate Edition, GodisaGeek got the chance to speak to Game Director, Dan Nordlander of Counterplay Games, about Godfall’s post-launch success, as well as the future of the title.

GIAG: After a slightly rocky launch, Godfall has gone from strength to strength. What do you think has been the key factors in that success?

Dan: Godfall was a hugely ambitious game for us and it was a great honor to be a PlayStation 5 launch title, but we also heard the community when they offered us insight on how they would like to see the game improved. Listening to the fans, analyzing the data, and then of course going down our internal wish lists were the three factors that drove all of the changes and additions we’ve made since launch.

GIAG: Are there plans to extend the story campaign, in a similar fashion to say, Destiny 2?

Dan: Destiny is a live-service title, whereas Godfall is a more traditional, all-inclusive package. That said, we did broaden the campaign, world, and story with the Fire & Darkness DLC expansion released last year. Additionally, the free Exalted Update comes with a host of story enhancements like new cutscenes, more NPC interactions, contextual loading screens and new Macros dialog. At this time, we have no additional updates to share about potential further expansions to Godfall’s story.

GIAG: Where do you see Godfall in 3 years? Is it a universe you intend to expand on?

Dan: That’s something we’re talking about now so we don’t have news to share at the moment. All I can say is that our team loves this universe.

GIAG: How difficult is it to balance a game like Godfall and maintain a happy medium for both solo and co-op players?

Dan: We’re ultimately focused on letting players have fun and feel badass doing it, no matter how they choose to play the game. We think both the single-player and co-op experiences in Godfall succeed at exactly that.

For more experienced players we provide plenty of options to increase the challenge (and also the loot!), including harder difficulty settings, dynamic endgame modes, and the newly added Exalted Tower of Trials that has even our most hardcore testers sweating profusely [laughs]. For those looking for a more casual experience – Godfall’s missions do come with difficulty settings that decrease enemy health making the combat a bit more forgiving.

GIAG: Are there any plans to bring a PvP mode into Godfall?

Dan: No. Godfall was strictly envisioned as a story-driven single-player and co-op experience.

GIAG: Given the structure, people are surprised Godfall has no season pass? Is this something that’s likely to change or a deliberate stance?

Dan: This was a very, very deliberate stance. This is not a live service game. We have hundreds of cosmetics in Godfall: Ultimate Edition but they can all be unlocked by simply playing the game as you did in the good old days.

GIAG: Godfall looks incredible. What were the key inspirations for the aesthetic?

Dan: Godfall first and foremost built off the mixture of sci-fi and medieval that we really loved from our first game, Duelyst. So we took that and the vibrant colors to the next level to ensure they jumped off the screen on next-gen consoles and the latest range of PC graphics cards.

Beyond that, our team drew not only from our experience on titles like Destiny, Titanfall, God of War, and Halo, but also from beloved sci-fi and fantasy series such as Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive, Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law, and Isaac Asimov’s Foundation.

GIAG: Will you ever introduce new Valorplates to the line-up? Or perhaps skins that change the appearance beyond colour schemes?

Dan: We have 12 Valor Plates in the game already, and our goal is quality over quantity. That’s why we introduced Valorplate Shards in the Exalted Update, which gives each Valorplate four unique skills, three passive abilities and generally makes each of them much more distinctive and rewarding to play.

As for cosmetics, we have a ton of skins in the game that are far more than color swaps. Our art and lore teams have done a fantastic job of creating some truly awe-inspiring alternate Valorplates models, including the all-new Ascended and Exalted Valorplates, to the point that it’s hard for me to decide what I’m going to wear for a night out on the town in Aperion. [laughs]

Godfall: Ultimate Edition is available on PS5, Xbox Series S & X, and PC via Epic and Steam

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With only a couple of weeks until Pokemon Legends: Arceus at the time of writing, Pokemon fever has fully taken over all my senses. I can’t think of anything except the adorable monsters I’ll be forcing into combat soon, and that means I’ve been asking myself the big questions. Which Pokemon would I most want to own in real life? Which Pokemon game is my favourite? Who should play Ash in a live action Pokemon movie? All of these are extremely important questions to spend hours thinking about, but none of them are quite as critical as deciding on the top ten starter Pokemon of all time.

In Pokemon Legends: Arceus, three starter pokemon from different prior games will be the options you have for your first monster of the game. It may not seem like a huge difference, but it’s a small twist that I find really interesting. Before this month is over, new and returning trainers will be picking between Cyndaquil, Oshawott and Rowlett, and for many it won’t be an easy choice.

The ten best starter Pokemon of all time

We all remember that crucial moment. Starting up our very first Pokemon game and facing the toughest decision a 10 year old can imagine. Three Pokeballs lie on a table, and somehow you have to choose which enclosed critter will accompany you for the next thirty hours. Every one of these special monsters have captured the hearts of millions of gamers young and old, and I have decided to take on the gargantuan task of choosing the ten best.

Before I start I should probably clarify what I mean by best. This isn’t necessarily a list of the most statistically powerful Pokemon, nor is it necessarily a list of the most popular. These ten Pokemon are simply the ones I think are a combination of the most aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable to train. You are more than welcome to disagree with me, and I happily welcome all other Pokerankings.

10. Squirtle

Okay I know this is probably the position that will upset the most people, but I personally don’t think Squirtle is god’s gift to Pokemon. With a cheeky personality in the anime and a badass cannon firing evolved form in Blastoise however, it does still deserve a place on this list. Any starter Pokemon from Red and Blue is going to set off all of the 90s kids nostalgia glands though, and it’s hard to deny that this water turtle is an iconic Pokemon that has stood the test of time.

9. Froakie

The most modern Pokemon on this list, Froakie took the Pokemon world by storm in X and Y thanks to its fantastic combination of the humble frog and a badass ninja. The evolved form of Greninja was so popular that it made its way into Super Smash Bros, happily flinging its water shuriken at all your favourite Nintendo characters. With a glorious Water/Dark typing when fully evolved, choosing yourself a Froakie simply made playing through the fantastic X and Y even better.

8. Totodile

The fact that Gamefreak was able to create a crocodile as intensely adorable as Totodile absolutely astounds me. This happy little Water type doesn’t stay cute for long though, and before you know it the ferocious Feraligatr will be tearing through Team Rocket faster than you can say “lunch time”. With a plethora of water moves and some handy biting abilities, I was always happy to have a Totodile with me. If Gold and Silver hadn’t had such fantastic starter Pokemon, I’d never have left New Bark town without this toothy cutey.

7. Cyndaquil

One of the reasons I didn’t always choose Totodile back in Gen 2 was because of this lovable flaming echidna/porcupine hybrid. This pure fire type doesn’t do anything too exciting from a moveset standpoint, but I just love how it looks all the way from a defenseless little shrew to an imposing Typhlosion. If you love your fire types and are starting Gold, Silver or Crystal, you’ll be more than satisfied with this hot option. 

6. Mudkip

So, I heard you like Mudkips? Before becoming an early internet meme, Mudkip was a fantastic choice for a Gen 3 starter. Mud fish might not be my first choice when I think of appealing animals to take inspiration from, but Mudkip makes it work. With one of my favourite type combinations in Water/Ground and access to all manner of powerful moves, there are very few Pokemon I’d rather have in my team. 

5. Turtwig

The first grass type starter of the list comes in hard with this bulky buddy. Turtwig is a defensive powerhouse, combining grass and ground to surprise any pesky fire foes who think they have the advantage. If you bought Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl and didn’t grab yourself a turtle with a leaf on its head, I personally think you made the wrong decision.

4. Torchic

This tiny bird may look innocent enough, but it’s anything but a liability when it comes to battle. Don’t expect a majestic flying type when it evolves though, as this bird grows up wearing some massive flares and is ready to kick the stuffing out of anything in its way. In a game full of some seriously sluggish fire Pokemon (including a literal slug)  having a blazing fast Blaziken by your side can be a real asset.

3. Chikorita

Possibly the most adorable Pokemon on this whole list, this lovable grass type starter is a delight to train. Once evolved it may look like a gentle giant, but with access to lots of status inflicting moves and healing most Mon will struggle to take it down. If the idea of a happy plant dinosaur isn’t doesn’t make you immediately jump on Chikorita in Gen 2, I just don’t know how we can be friends.

2. Charmander

Probably the most popular starter Pokemon of all time, with good reason. Charmander just has a timeless design, from its beginning as an adorable little flame-tailed dinosaur all the way to the massive winged lizard it becomes. Access to fire and flying moves gives it plenty of options for a variety of foes, and being able to use the HM Fly was a god send in the early games. Charmander and its evolutionary line are just undeniably cool, and if you haven’t ever dreamt of flying on the back of a Charizard you might be dead inside.

1. Bulbasaur

You never forget your first, and Bulbasaur was mine. With a bulb on its back and a mischievous grin, it didn’t take me long to decide that my very first Pokemon was going to be this Grass/Poison powerhouse. I never once regretted my decision, especially because in Red and Blue most starter Pokemon didn’t demand much in the way of strategy. While Charmander and Squirtle were firing increasingly large jets of flames and water at each other, my Bulbasaur was taking advantage of status effects and health draining seeds to wear down the toughest opponents. As time has gone by, the poison typing of Bulbasaur and its evolved forms has only gotten better thanks to the addition of fairy types that can’t handle the toxicity. It may not be the most popular choice, but to me Bulbasaur will probably always be the greatest starter Pokemon of all time.

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I have had one of the strangest, and most life changing years of my life. For the first time in a long time, I have been both reflective and forward thinking. I joke a lot on our podcast about health issues, and always say that games are a mainstay in my world. And while I’ve both torn up the rule book and also written a new one for myself, games have kept me safe and sane throughout 2021. Like last year, games have again been a welcome and required respite from all of the noise, trauma, and terror out there. Thank heavens for games.

Despite everything, we’ve had so many excellent games this year. I’ve had a list running all year, as usual, but when others had been saying “I’m worried about my top ten this year” before the Summer had even hit, I already had a full ten with honourable mentions. I’ve had so much fun and I seem to be finishing more games per year than ever before. The lacklustre Call of Duty and Battlefield releases are two titles I haven’t even touched yet (aside the 2042 beta, which I didn’t like at all), but on the other hand, Halo Infinite brought back a multiplayer mode I really loved. So let’s get started with some mentions to those that didn’t quite make the ten.

Honourable mentions

Monster Hunter Rise was both a game I loved, but also was massively disappointed in. A terrifically playable title let down by being on hardware that couldn’t push the game on from Monster Hunter World. I wanted improvements on that fabulous experience, but it was more of a sideways step. Many will disagree with me, but I want more from the market leader. Despite that, a great, fun multiplayer experience when you get down to it.

Outriders is probably a game most won’t even remember. A simple third-person shooter that adds powers and is essentially a looter-shooter that is a live service game without the live service. Tremendous fun, brutally difficult at times, and just an all round good time.

Death’s Door is a surprise to me. The previous title from the dev was decent, but lacking a lot. Death’s Door was just fun from start to finish. Lovely visuals, responsive controls: what’s not to like?

New World was so close. Literally until I was forced at gunpoint to play Life is Strange: True Colors, this was on my list. If it weren’t for the fact it feels as though the developer is constantly sabotaging itself, I think it might even be on the list still. I finally found my MMORPG, only, it’s more grindy than anything else. It’s a podcast game, and that’s fine.

Hitman 3 feels like it came out more than a year ago. It’s the best Hitman IOI has ever made, let down a bit by not sticking the story-landing, and having a very weak final level. Dartmoor is the best level in the series. It’s more playable, better looking than ever. It might be forgotten in the melee, but I love Hitman 3.

10. Life is Strange: True Colors

Well, this one is a surprise for me, right? After listening to our GOTY podcasts, you might wonder how this has happened. But I managed to squeeze an entire playthrough in, and I loved it. I don’t think it’s the best story by any stretch this year, but it has some wonderful characters. It’s jagged around the edges with sudden load screens that kill the immersion at times, but it’s so nice and pleasant to play.  It was an extra special surprise to see one of the previous characters from Life is Strange back in True Colors as a mainstay, and the relationships are believable and interesting. It looks great, too, and has a killer soundtrack. It’s possibly even brought me back to a genre I thought was long behind me.

9. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin

The best Pokemon game that Game Freak never made. I didn’t play the first title in the Stories spinoff series, but this is a Pokemon game in all but name. It has addictive collection mechanics, that pure “gotta catch ’em all” is on fire here. But more than that, this has one of the best turn-based JRPG combat systems in bloody ages. It’s moreish, and while the story is generic, the combat encounters were a constant surprise and made me want to keep going. I liked Rise, but this is the best Monster Hunter game that Capcom has put out, for me.

8. Scarlet Nexus

Few will remember this, but once upon a time a game came out called Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy. Back in 2004, the combat there felt revolutionary, and like an idea that a thousand developers would borrow for their own title. But nobody seemed to. Why? I’ll never know. But Scarlet Nexus is a full on anime-story with combat to die for. Launching the environment at enemies via psycho-kinetic powers? What’s not to love? Throw in the fact you have two full stories that are different to one another and this is a massive game that you get more than your money’s worth out of. Glorious.

7. Knockout City

Speaking of glorious, Knockout City was the first sign I was maybe back into multiplayer for 2021. It’s a shooter, really: not a dodgeball game. A debut from Velan Studios in terms of new IP, but one that just came at the perfect time. It felt, and still feels, different to almost every other multiplayer game out there. It’s a game I’m surprised constantly at, especially that it’s published by EA, was free to try, and even came to game pass. Please play this game. Having interviewed the developers, this is a labour of love, and it’s so, so fun to play.

6. Halo Infinite

If Knockout City made me think I was back into multiplayer, Halo Infinite cemented it. Incredible combat in both the single and multiplayer components, gameplay that rewards skill and playing the objective: yes please. The campaign gives you that grappleshot which is just fun from the moment you first use it, until you hang up the controller and watch the credits roll. It doesn’t quite stick the landing, and has the issue that every power or ability after the grapple isn’t even close to as useful, fun, or frankly, good. But even then, if you can teach me a skill in minute one that I still enjoy using in hour 13, I’m a happy boy.

5. Tales of Arise

I have never liked a “Tales of” game before. I’ve tried, lord knows I have tried. They always look nice, and have all the JRPG stuff I usually am so in love with, but the combat just never did it for me. Tales of Arise is a ridiculous game. It’s a huge risk and it pays off in spades for Bandai Namco. The combat is more like Devil May Cry than it is Tales of Anything. Combos, movesets, and the fact you can play the entire game as whichever of your party — all of whom have WILDLY different combat mechanics — is just… mind blowing. Tales of Arise is a triumph in a similar way Halo Infinite is: it’s brave of a developer to take a phenomenally popular series and alter it, but it pays off. Bravo.

4. Psychonauts 2

I don’t want to get too down into the weeds on things here, but Pyschonauts 2 is a wonderful game because of the lessons it teaches, and the motifs involved. It’s all about mental health, all told, and I alluded to it at the top of this article: I’ve had a lot of rough times this year. I wrote about how the game deals with mental health in a tender and respectful way for NME, and I urge you to read that. Aside from all that, it plays like a sequel to a ten year old game should. Improvements everywhere, brilliant design, great audio and visuals. I love this game, and am so glad it finally came out.

3. Metroid Dread

I’ll make no secret of being a fan of the genre, but Metroid Dread is an absolutely marvelous example of why its beloved. Fast moving, both classical in how you get powers, but also developer MercurySteam varied up the order of powers for the first time. On top of that, the story gets wild at the end, with Nintendo allowing a third-party to write a tale that has massive ramifications for the entire series. The perfect length, the best feeling, amazing design work, and we didn’t even know it existed until halfway through the year. Awesome.

2. Forza Horizon 5

It always makes me laugh when people say “but it’s just a driving game”. We can all be reductive sometimes, it’s never personal and it’s just the easiest way to use the language we’re given. But Forza Horizon 5’s language is simple, and one word: it’s the language of “fun”. It asks nothing of you other than to have a good time. Want to drive endlessly around Mexico doing nothing but listening to the radio? Cool. Not up for racing, and instead want to smash through everything in sight or break through speed barriers? Also cool. How about massive jumps, every discipline of race you could want, multiplayer that is fun even including a battle royale? Forza Horizon 5 is an astonishing achievement that is as perfect a racing game as I’ve ever played. Even after pouring over a day of my life into it, I’m not done with it. It’s just a racing game? Cool.

1. It Takes Two

This game should not exist. It’s the feeling I’ve had ever since I finished playing it the third time. I played with Chris White for preview, then review. Then I played it through with Chris Hyde, and Adam Carroll. I almost felt jealous hearing Lyle and Mick were playing it without me. This game is a truly, truly special experience. It’s up there with Super Mario Odyssey, and honestly, if I had to pick between them… well, I don’t know how I could do that.

Every single level has a new mechanic. That mechanic is never used again. How did this happen? Also, how was it allowed to happen? How did EA let a developer do that? Every mechanic IN each level could be a full indie game of its own making. This game should not exist. I remember being at the preview event for this one, and Josef Fares explaining he wanted “no shiny shit” (collectibles) and that his inspiration was a Nintendo platformer. It shows. There was that story as well where he offered to pay people who didn’t like that game. Honestly, I get why he was that confident. It Takes Two is a masterpiece. Against all odds, it exists, is brilliant, and to be completely frank with you, it’s been top of my list from the moment I first played it. 

If you’ve made it this far, well done. I just wanted to add a small note of thanks on the last piece of content on the site for 2021. I cannot ever express how much gratitude I have to the people who support us via Patreon, a Twitter share, or just the odd watch, read, or listen. You’ve changed my life in a way I never thought imaginable. So, fuck it, trite but true, I wanted to say thank you, and I hope whatever your 2021 brought you, next year is better, and brilliant. Much love.

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I remember going into this year thinking that it might be quite a slow one in terms of game releases. Looking back, I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s been over six years since I joined God is a Geek, and every year it keeps getting better. Not only do I get to play games for a site I dearly love, I’ve made friends across the country with guys I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. Our GOTY deliberations are just a small part of why I adore this job. Coming around to do this list, however, is perhaps the most important thing I do all year. Games are so important to me, as they are to most of you. Compiling this list is a pleasure, because I can look back on the games that made me happy and gave me an escape when I needed it the most.

2021 has been one of the worst years of my life. I’ve faced challenges like never before, and have had weeks where I didn’t think I could ever move on from. I’ve been so low, and felt so alone. Saying that, many of these games have kept me going. Kept me moving on and helping me to focus on something other than the heartbreak I’ve had to endure. I don’t mean to get heavy this early on, but I have so much to thank video games for. Much like I have the guys at our site to thank for. They’ve been a rock to me in the hardest of times. Finally, I have to thank you guys, the readers, viewers, and consumers of our website. Without you, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing. Anyway, I’ll wipe away the tears and stop being so sappy because I want to celebrate a fucking glorious year of gaming.

Honourable Mentions

Hitman 3 was one of the first games I played this year. While it doesn’t really do anything different, it gave me new environments to play with, and new targets to assassinate. The story wasn’t particularly special, but who cares when you’re electrocuting snotty old women and drowning scumbags in vats of wine? I adore the gameplay in Hitman, and the final entry in the trilogy was as outstanding as the other two, if not more so.

Life is Strange: True Colors was not a game I thought would make the honourable mentions by the time 2021 rolls out. Don’t get me wrong, I adore the original. However, I kind of fell off them. I didn’t feel the same connection as I did with Chloe and Max, and seeing the trailers before release, I thought it’d be a similar thing with Alex. Thankfully, True Colors was exceptional. The story was gripping, and the characters all felt important, especially Alex.

Resident Evil Village didn’t quite live up to the hype, but I had tons of fun with it. Resident Evil 7 was a fantastic return to form for the series, and while Village was more action-orientated, I still had a blast. I’m not keen on where the story went, and those Chris Redfield moments towards the end were so out of place. Despite the hiccups, it had some great puzzles, and the setting was one of the best so far.

Little Nightmares II felt like a much-improved version of the first game. The puzzles were well-executed, and the visuals were gorgeous. I remember at the time feeling surprisingly moved by the story, and some of the scenes were powerful and reflective of today’s society.

Shin Megami Tensei V was one of my first forays into the series. From the dark yet gripping story to the addictive combat, Shin Megami Tensei V was a magnificent JRPG. At times it provided a steep challenge, but the progressive party system and colourful cast of characters gave me plenty of hours of enjoyment.

10. Monster Hunter Rise

My obsession with Monster Hunter Rise lasted for a solid month. In that time, I woke up and turned my Switch on, then played it for hours. As other games game out, I fell off pretty hard. However, in that time, I adored everything about it. I’m not a big multiplayer guy, but I would join strangers to slay the array of monsters on a daily basis. Capcom might not have reached the levels of quality seen in Monster Hunter World, but that addictive gameplay loop was back once again. With some magnificent combat and a constant craving for the hunt, Rise’s hold on me may have been short, but I loved every second.

9. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

It may have been rough around the edges, but Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy was such an enjoyable game. The way the characters interacted throughout and grew as a team. The diverse combat among the whole cast. The acting. The story. The entire experience. With it’s surprise drop at E3 2021, I honestly thought it would be an average step into the Marvel universe, but I was happy to be proved wrong. Star-Lord’s journey from space pirate to fearless leader was accompanied by some of the finest storytelling ever seen in a Marvel game.

8. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

I had never played Super Mario 3D World on the Wii U, so when I finally got to play on Switch, I could see what all the fuss was about. It came at a time when I needed Mario the most. It had a host of colourful and creative levels, with a perfect balance of challenge and fun. Playing Mario Mondays with the team made full use of it’s bonkers multiplayer, and it gave me some great times with the gang. Bowser’s Fury was a new game that made me wish it was much longer. It blended 3D World with Odyssey, and it gave me hope that the future of Mario is looking bright.

7. Halo Infinite

Coming in right at the end of the year, Halo Infinite was the perfect stamp on a packed 2021. It gave me chills, and presented the fluid and tight gameplay the series was known for. Even though 343 didn’t make Halo 3, it put me back in that game and made me feel the same way I did back then. Infinite made me fall back in love with Halo. The grapple hook was perfection, and the gorgeous level design gave me hours of happiness. Not only is the campaign exquisite, the multiplayer did the honour of making me look good. I always thought I was pretty decent on Halo, and spending hours battling strangers around the world only strengthened my belief. All in all, Halo infinite was a solid return to form for the series, and a fitting narrative for Master Chief.

6. Deathloop

I wouldn’t say I was particularly excited to play Deathloop, but after a few hours, I was hooked. My God, what a game. It felt so good to play, and the concept felt fresh. Not only was it so enjoyable, the back and fourth between Colt and Julianna was brilliant. The range of Arcane powers made each new loop feel different to the last. Playing as Colt gave me hours of fun, but even the multiplayer component was a blast. I always got frustrated when someone entered my game, but the feeling I had when eliminating Juliana was unmatched this year.

5. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

I’m a sucker for Ratchet & Clank. Rift Apart not only looked incredible, but the gameplay was so damn good. There were so many different guns to unlock. Every time I got a new one, it gave me a brand new way to play. The platforming elements offered tons of different challenges, and many of the gun fights were varied and exciting. The portal mechanic was another cool feature that was never used too much. The story might have been pretty basic, but I loved Rivet. She had a heart-warming narrative that gave the whole game a boost.

4. Far Cry 6

Far Cry 6 came at a time when I needed a big distraction, and boy did it deliver. I’ve always loved the Far Cry series, and Dani Rojas’ journey in Yara was fantastic. The missions offered huge explosions and plenty of gun fights. Roaming around and finding side missions and other stuff to do took up so much time that I’d be on it until the early hours of the morning, completely losing track of time. The story might not have reinvented the wheel, but there were some fantastic performances, especially from Giancarlo Esposito. Ubisoft created a stunning setting with plenty to keep me engrossed that I still play it now.

3. Forza Horizon 5

While I do review a lot of racers, I rarely continue playing after I’ve slapped a score on them. Forza Horizon 5 was perfect. The handling of each car offered just enough difference to make the 250 plus vehicles feel different. There are tons of races and challenges, an awesome soundtrack, and a great sense of community few games get right. The setting of Mexico was stunning, too. It was the perfect game to dive into for twenty minutes or twenty hours. You could spent as much time as you wanted with it and always find something to do.

2. Scarlet Nexus

I’d not even heard of Scarlet Nexus at the start of the year. However, it was almost my favourite game this year. It offered two branching stories that intertwined with one another. The combat consistently evolved throughout the campaign and made full use of the controller. Every time I thought they’d perfected the fighting, something new was introduced. Not only is it so good to play, the story and characters felt fleshed out and so well-written. I was hooked until the credits rolled, and never felt bored. Not only that, but the monster design and environments were some of the best I’ve ever seen. I’ll champion this game forever, and it’s going to take something special to beat this as my favourite action RPG of all time.

1. It Takes Two

Where to start with It Takes Two. I honestly can’t praise this game enough. From the moment I played through the preview with Adam Cook, I knew this was going to be something remarkable. It never faltered with its platforming. Every joint mechanic felt important and fresh right until the end. Whether I was fighting off hordes of bees, trying to kill a stuffed elephant, or taking in the sights of a ski resort in a snow globe, It Takes Two gave me hours of memories. I’ve not seen this calibre of platforming since Super Mario Odyssey, and even then, this beats it hands down.

The story was at times heart-breaking, but it was also filled with a lot of hope. Divorces can be painful, especially for the children involved. Hazelight were sensitive to this, and highlighted how tough it can be for the children involved. As for May and Cody, their relationship evolves throughout It Takes Two. You see their flaws, their strengths, and that love that once burnt bright between them. To make such a remarkable game that can both be funny and moving takes real talent. It Takes Two deserves all the praise, and it fully deserves to sit at the top of many GOTY lists.

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“All the games are being delayed” they said. “There’ll be fewer big games to enjoy” they said. And whilst it’s true that a cursory glance at the releases coming up in 2022 does make many fans salivate, that certainly hasn’t made 2021 a barren year. Far from it. There have been plenty of incredibly good games to sink your teeth into this year.

For me personally, I’ve enjoyed quite a mixture of experiences. And ultimately 2021 has surprised me. There are a couple of games on this list I knew would be there back in January, but mostly it’s filled with titles that have caught me a bit off guard. There are franchises or genres I’ve not experienced until this year. As well as a few titles which have been far better than I could have hoped them to be. And then there are the unknown quantities which have delighted me too.

And so for me, 2021 has been about gaming joy and discovery, and I can’t really ask for much more than that. So here are those games, my best of the year. Enjoy!

Honourable Mentions

Knockout City: On the face of it looks like another street sports game, but its simple yet superb design, gameplay variety, and accessible learning curve make this a great game to play with mates and is really different from everything else out there.

Super Mario 3D World & Bowser’s Fury: Take what is already a great multiplayer Mario platformer. Add online multiplayer functionality. And then add a unique experience in Bowser’s Fury that manages to feel fresh but grounded in Mario’s 3D roots and you’re on to a winner.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: An absolutely stunning-looking game showcasing the PS5 grunt. Sprinkle over some good platforming, shooting, level design, and overall fun and you’ve got a really enjoyable package.

Control: Ultimate Edition: Bringing together the main Control experience and the DLC is one thing, but next-gen hardware frees Control’s frame rate issues and allows it to blossom into the awesome mind-bending experience that Remedy intended.

NieR Replicant: I’ve wanted to scratch the NieR itch ever since Automata blew me away. Replicant brings a fresh experience to us in the West, that’s full of great characters, action, and a twisting story that leaves you guessing until the end.

10. Death’s Door

Who’d want the job of a Crow eh? Working all day reaping souls with not even a moment’s thanks from your boss upstairs. Good thing then that things properly kick off when someone steals your next assignment. Things unravel and require you to go on a glorious isometric adventure. With smooth fluid movement attached to decent combat, set in a charming, if slightly disturbing world, Death’s Door really is a bit of a gem. It looks and sounds nice too and offers just enough of a challenge to keep you engaged without ever feeling unfair. It’s not the longest game, but there’s plenty to do whilst you’re playing, and proof that good things do indeed come in small packages.

9. New World

I’ve never dared step foot into an MMO before and if you’d told me that not only would 2021 would be the year that I did, but also that it’d make my top 10 I’d have laughed in your face. But New World sucked me in, sucked me in good. And despite my fifty hours or so with the game, had I not forced myself to play other games as the year came to a close, I’d have happily surrendered many more. The world always feels full and alive, with plenty to see and do, be that simple grinding or wandering off to complete a quest. It’s also an incredibly zen game where you just exist in your own bubble or with friends and enjoy the time together. The next quest or milestone is always achievable and pretty much everything you do contributes to something making the draw to keep going even greater. Well played Amazon, well played.

8. Deathloop

It’s hardly surprising coming from Arkane Studios, but Deathloop oozes class. The overt orange and black aesthetic, and intentional musical tones are only drowned out thematically by the superb main characters of Colt and Julianna. Their interactions always land and add a layer of entertainment to a title that already refuses to take itself too seriously. Deathloop manages to nail its loop mechanic by making repetition different and interesting. And it also has the bravado to offer you the option of solving Deathloop’s mystery in any order you wish, which keeps things fresh and unique to the player. Throw in a tactical element with varied weaponry, loadouts, and Slabs with crazy fun abilities to humourously torture the denizens of Blackreef, and you’ll find yourself smiling loop after loop.

7. Psychonauts 2

Not for the last time on this list, I find myself coming to a series for the first time. I hadn’t played the original Psychonauts game, but I was still intrigued to see how a sequel to a fifteen-year-old game would land. The answer is: incredibly well. Psychonauts 2 offers a bit of everything, there’s decent platforming, upgrade trees, collectibles, a hint of Metroidvania. But all that revolves around a story that was quite interesting even for me as a newcomer and characters that despite looking ridiculous, keep you engaged. It also deals with facets of mental health, emotions, and respect in a really sensible way, without ever letting its zany style stop or clash with it. It’s a delicate balance that somehow sticks the landing, creating an enjoyable, endearing experience. Well worth the 15-year wait!

6. Scarlet Nexus

Scarlet Nexus is one of those games that when you try to explain it to someone you’d be met with weird looks, and people shuffling away from you quite quickly. Set in a pseudo-futuristic world where the entire civilisation revolves around people’s brains is weird enough. Then there are the enemies known as Others, which are a hideous amalgamation of the natural and the synthetic. But it’s so fun to play, as the combat feels incredibly satisfying. The combination of traditional melee attacks, with psychokinesis, means you’re always surveying the landscape for bits and pieces to launch at enemies, comboing up for more damage. And when you land a powerful special attack courtesy of a QTE, you feel like a badass.

It’s Devil May Cry type endorphins when it lands, and the great thing is Scarlet Nexus knows how to build it up over time. You’ll keep unlocking more combo or ways to tackle foes as you progress, giving you more options to take down these weird-looking enemies. It’s incredibly cathartic and hugely rewarding. Well worth anyone’s time who’s not yet jumped into this one.

5. Monster Hunter Rise

Yes it’s not Monster Hunter World 2. Yes it launched without a satisfying single-player ending. But Monster Hunter Rise was such an enjoyable experience for me this year, I just couldn’t put it down for weeks. True enough a lot of the core gameplay remains the same – which is fine by me – but the new additions to this title in the franchise were a lot of fun. The Wirebug, once I got to grips with it, helped me out of the pinch of battle, and became a mainstay for general traversal. And the environments themselves suddenly opened up in more ways than ever as you went off hunting for long-lost treasures, almost forgetting your behemoth prey for a moment.

But, perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s the hunting of monsters where Monster Hunter Rise really shines. Taking down new and familiar creatures either alone or with a group of mates, continues to be as fun as ever. New ways to use weapons and combo them keeps things fresh, and the feeling of success after 45 minutes of chipping away when that Monster finally falls is glorious. I await the Sunbreak expansion with baited breath.

4. Metroid Dread

A game that no one knew existed until May this year, ends up careering its way towards the top of the list. Metroid Dread from Mercury Steam who after cutting their teeth in the franchise with Samus Returns, are back with a whole new entry in the franchise. And it’s clear they’re hitting their stride in this area. They clearly understand what makes a brilliant 2D Metroid experience: superb movement and dexterity, fluid, well-designed, interconnected levels, and combat that feels responsive and satisfying. All present and correct in Metroid Dread, but the experience goes beyond that.

The EMMI sections provide the titular Dread to perfection as you try to escape these relentless foes before ultimately finding the weaponry to take them down. It offers superb light and shade from relaxed exploration to frenetic scampering through the specific zones. And a special mention to the detail Mercury Steam put in this game, from different situational effects that remind you of Breath of the Wild to the additional scenes added in for those speedrunners who sequence break the game. It’s a superb package and gets everyone playing and talking about Metroid again, which can only be a good thing.

3. Forza Horizon 5

Put down those pitchforks people, and just embrace the fact I’ve never played a Forza Horizon game before. Yes I know I missed 4 which was set in the UK, and that was great. But here I am, a Horizon virgin, losing my plates with Forza Horizon 5. And wow, what an experience it has been. In many ways for me, Mexico feels like the perfect setting for a Horizon game. The carnival party atmosphere and aesthetic that oozes throughout is perfectly synonymous with what Forza Horizon 5 is all about. It’s a game that just wants you to enjoy yourself, to have unashamed fun, no matter what that looks like. If you want to race into the night, you can do that, if you fancy scouting the area for hidden boards and barns, then you go right ahead. Even if you just want to experience every single road in the game, Horizon 5 lets you and rewards you for your effort.

Everything is so seamless and, frankly, allowed. There are no rules on how to play, when or what. You find your own fun, and options are literally around every turn. The car variety is superb, giving you plenty of options to mess around in, and you may have noticed but it’s bloody beautiful to look at too. Mexico is an awesome sandbox playground to explore with intense variety and diversity from lush jungles areas, to mountains, sand dunes or city streets. It’s been my go-to “chill out” game when I just want to relax and enjoy myself this year. So whilst this is my first Forza Horizon game, if they make more, it certainly won’t be my last.

2. It Takes Two

It’s difficult to know where to start with It Takes Two, really. A co-op-only experience created by a team led by the sometimes Marmite Josef Fares could be enough to have some people tuning out. But what they’d be missing out on is one of the most enjoyable experiences of the year. It’s a compendium of superb individual moments that end up delighting and resonating with you long after they’re over. The attention to detail here is frankly staggering, often bordering on the unnecessary. Hazelight Studios demonstrate not only a high level of competency with It Takes Two, but a level of understanding and awareness of what games can and should be.

Seemingly traditional or predictable mechanics like a hammer and nail provide the perfect case study as two why this game is so special. It starts with just hammering switches and nailing platforms in place. Then it’s about using the hammer to swing on nails that are shot in the wall, as extra platforms. It culminates in a boss battle using all these mechanics and more. Oh and obviously Mae can also hammer Cody into the floor, for no other reason than it’s funny. In many ways, it’s reminiscent of Super Mario Odyssey in what it does, but for me, It Takes Two “out-Odyssey’s” Odyssey, in that it takes unique ideas, but their multi-functional execution makes them more wonderful than ideas in Mario’s epic.

And It Takes Two keeps doing this throughout its entire runtime. It’s chock-full of special, memorable moments that delight you. It’s got wacky random minigames or ways to randomly kill each other. There’s even a section where you can construct a photo scene just to see the polaroid outcome and nothing else. That and the myriad gaming references and homages throughout and the subtle humour in the writing and character interactions, it truly is a treat. It’s a game that you can’t help but enjoy and appreciate for all that’s inside it. A game for gamers made by gamers that just brings joy to everyone who plays it.

1. Tales of Arise

It was a tough, close fight between Tales of Arise and It Takes Two for the top spot, but for me, Arise just edges it. The Tales series for me has been one of mild disappointment over the years. Not because they’ve been bad games, but because entries in the series have failed to live up to my first foray into the franchise, Tales of Symphonia on the GameCube. I thought at that point I’d found a new series I’d fall in love with. I consumed so much of Symphonia, the characters, the lore, the world, even the original video animation, and I loved everything about it. Nothing has come close since, and in all honesty, I wasn’t expecting Tales of Arise to buck that trend, but I was so pleasantly surprised.

What elevates Tales of Arise is that it excels in so many areas. The combat is the first area to mention in that it feels so fluid, satisfying, and a real upgrade from what has come before in Tales games. What starts as a simple, ground and aerial combo mechanic, quickly becomes about identifying enemy weaknesses, and building separate meters to unleash powerful solo or coop attacks. All of which in the roaring heat of battle (supplemented by superb rousing music) are so satisfying to land, before you quickly, and seamlessly divert your attention to the next unlucky foe. In many ways, it’s reminiscent of Scarlet Nexus in its combat, but the way you can tailor and combine your experience across six unique characters makes Tales of Arise just that little bit more satisfying.

The world is interesting and diverse, as is the lore of the warring Dahnans and Renans, and the 300-year history that has led to the here and now. The main characters themselves though, and their arcs, interactions, and main story beats, are where I really fell in love with this game. Shionne, and her isolated past, unable to physically feel human companionship, or Alphen with his unique abilities, unable to help those around him he cares about most. Even Dohalim, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, fights with a dark past, and an overbearing burden of responsibility that doesn’t even end when the credits roll. It’s a cast that really feels like they grow together, in an organic way. But also it’s refreshing that whilst there are payoffs, the end is not just a happy ever after. Reminiscent of Tolkien’s “Scouring of the Shire”, there’s a realisation here that long-fought wars and differences aren’t resolved the instant the big bad is defeated, and it’s nice to see a game approach the realism of this head-on.

It’s an experience that I enjoyed from start to finish. My GOTY. The Tales series is back to its best, and this fan couldn’t be happier.

The post GOTY 2021: Chris Hyde appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

Another year down, another huge pile of games to sift through and try to, somehow, put into order. Quite unlike me, I’ve spent hours and hours tweaking and changing my GOTY list this year. Usually I find it’s locked in pretty early, but 2021 has been hugely tumultuous for me. And not just in terms of games and gaming, either.

As I’ve bounced from pillar to post professionally and personally, games have, as ever, been my anchor point. But that’s half the problem: I’ve thrown myself into so many this year that even now I worry I’ve forgotten something. I’ve also stepped outside of my comfort zone more than once with games I never thought I’d play, some of which have made it onto this very list. Still, as they say in certain circles, variety is the spice of life. Read on for my personal top ten of 2021, with a few honourable mentions to kick us off.

Honourable Mentions

Kena: Bridge of Spirits was a game I always knew I was gfoing to love. The initial reveal won me over, and that it had more than a whiff of GameCube classic Beyond Good & Evil about the aesthetic was enough to catch my eye. Playing it, I found myself smiling more than I did at most other games this year. It has its down moments, sure, but on the whole it’s a beautiful, heart-warming adventure.

F.I.S.T: Forged in Shadow Torch has a very silly title. It also has a very silly premise: a hard-as-nails rabbit revolutionary taking on an army of cybernetically enhanced dobermans with a giant mechanical fist. I mean, what? Thing is, though, it works. One of the year’s best Metroidvanias (and there have been a lot, including an actual Metroid game), it surprised me with just how likeable it turned out to be.

NEO: The World Ends With You is one of those games I was talking about that took me outside of my usual comfort zone. I rarely touch JRPGs these days – I often find I don’t really have the time to invest in their stories, and so I tend to avoid them. NEO: The World Ends With You just caught my attention. I can’t even remember why, but I’m glad it did. It’s one of the most effortlessly enjoyable games of the year

Humankind surprised me a little. I went in expecting another civilisation sim with a fancy gimmick and came out having thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. It’s not as deep as, say Age of Empires 4, but in a year that has seen a considerable amount of similar releases, it stands out due to a unique mechanic that lets you blend multiple civilisations together without concern for historical accuracy. A solid, addicitve title.

Tales of Arise almost made my top ten. Almost. Having never played a Tales game before I wasn’t as bowled over by the improvements it made to an established formula, but I did begin to fully invest in its world and characters. Even without the superb dynamic between main characters Alphen and Shionne, I still would have gone head over heels for it’s incredibly fluid and exhilarating combat.

10. Far Cry 6

Despite my predictions to the contrary, at least one Ubisoft game makes it onto my list every year. And for the sheer sense of fun and shenanigans, Far Cry 6 has managed it in 2021. We can mumble and grumble all we want about “familiar formulas”, but the fact is it still works. Just. While the whole concept might be ready for an overhaul, I still had a tremendous amount of fun tearing it up in Far Cry 6. The story itself treads ground we’ve trodden before, for sure, but the amount of things to see, steal, destroy and discover in Ubisoft’s sandbox is impressive nonetheless.

9. Outriders

This one had my attention from the word “go”. A sci-fi looter shooter in an apocalyptic world filled with monsters and mayhem and space magic? Sign me up. While People Can Fly didn’t get everything right, they introduced us to their universe in the right way. As Outriders slowly makes the transition we always knew it would and becomes more of a live service game, I’m only getting more and more excited for its future. Despite playing the story through 3 times on 3 different platforms, I’m still digging the endgame and that sweet gameplay loop of killin’ and lootin’.

8. Forza Horizon 5

I’ve heard this called a “pefect game” and it’s hard to argue with that label. I rarely play driving games, but it had me hooked just from its bombastic, OTT intro. Not being a fan of the genre, I maybe don’t give it the props others have and will – but the argument that there’s very little it could have done bigger or better is a hard one to turn aside. The sheer wealth of cars, events, and secrets, coupled with a gorgeous, sprawling open world filled with things to do is a powerful draw, even for non racing afficianados.

7. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

I will admit to knowing and caring very little about the Guardians of the Galaxy until James Gunn’s 2014 movie put them on the map, and intreoduced them to the MCU in spectacular fashion. My first impressions of the gameplay reveal for Square Enix and Eidos Montreal’s new game were a little off though. I had the same feeling as when I first saw Marvel’s Avengers revealed with all those strange, strange faces and voices. But for some reason, it seems to matter less in GOTG. The strong personalities of the characters and the exceptionally good story are enough to throw those concerns right out the window, while its mix of exploration, fun and unblievably good music are enough to silence any other issues I might have with its admittedly uneven technical performance.

6. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin

For the longest time, this one sat at the top of my list. I went into it with no prior knowledge of the previous game, almost expecting a weirdly-niche spin-off that would turn me immediately cold. I was very, very wrong. Wings of Ruin is absoutely packed with heart and charm. It is quintessentially Monster Hunter, while also out performing Pokemon in the monster-collecting stakes. And the combat, too, which is an exceptional twist on standard turn-based JRPG dust-ups. Very nearly 2021’s most charming game, even if they do insist on calling a 15-foot-tall armour-plated killing machine a “monstie”.

5. Deathloop

Moving into the second half of my list, I’m reminded just how many games have used the time-loop mechanic this year in one way or another. And I’m hard-pushed to many at all that did it better than Deathloop. More than that, though, this is Arkane at their finest, using skills they honed developing the Dishonored games to create a brand new world packed to the eyeballs with detail and personality. From the incredible aesthetic and soundtrack to the stellar writing, it’s an incredible adventure that sees protagonist Cole and his fast talking nemesis Julianna do battle across an island caught in a constant timeloop that sees them living out the same chaotic conflict day-in and day-out. It’s a mesmerising, unique experience.

4. Monster Hunter Rise

Having come into this series with the advent of Monster Hunter World, I’m still considered a noob. A couple of thousand hours invested in this franchise is but a drop in the ocean to die-hard veterans. And yet, it says something that World, and by extension Rise, were the games that finally got their hooks into me. I sometimes wish Rise wasn’t developed as a Nintendo Switch exclusive. Seeing what was done with World in terms of graphics and performance is still a little awe-inspiring, and RIse feels almost held back by its hardware. And yet, it’s still dizzyingly fun to play, alone or with friends, and I can’t wait for the upcoming expansion in 2022.

3. Returnal

I’m not the most skilled gamer out there. Anyone who knows me will tell you that. But I do have perseverance. I do have staying power. It’s how I made it through all the Souls games, through Bloodborne, through countless pretenders. I love a challenging roguelike with a solid central premise as much as the next slightly self-hating masochist. But this year’s Returnal had me genuinely on the fence about whether to just jack it in over and over again. I’m not saying it’s the hardest game ever; it’s not. But success is largely dependant on getting the right loadout and knowing what to do with it.

I found Returnal tough, yes, but something about its world and protagonist, the understated story and its compelling mystery, kept me going. I need to know why Selene was on that planet, why she was foreced to keep reliving death after death. And I was hooked, on the fluid, almost flawless movement and combat, and the stunning environments and enemy design. A true triumph for Housemarque and one of the PS5’s genuine must-have titles.

2. Halo: Infinite

I have a confession to make here: part of me actually believed this might not be that good. After that initial reveal left me a little cold, I struggled to feel the hype. Despite being a Halo fan since the launch of Combat: Evolved all those years ago, I wasn’t overly enamoured by Halo 5: Guardians and thought this might be the game to finally lose me. Boy howdy, was I wrong. Jumping into the multiplayer beta blew the cobwebs right off. As I tore around in Ghosts and Warthogs and slammed sticky grenades onto the face sof my friends and enemies, I felt like I’d come home.

And when I finally got to play the campaign, I fell completely and utterly in love. The open world is amazing – vast and yet busy, not just an endless checklist of things to find but a broken paradise filled with stuff to see and explore. The story, too, is epic, bringing the Chief back in spectacular fashion but also, crucially, giving him much more to actually do. 343 Studios have hit the reset button with this one, and it’s so, so good to be back.

1. It Takes Two

As we’ve said several times in several ways, this is a game that has no right to exist, let alone to be this good. I didn’t even bother with it at first, so convinced was I that it just wasn’t my bag. But hearing my colleagues at God is a Geek tell me repeatedly what I was missing, I finally gave it a run in time for the annual GOTY deliberations and holy shit – it’s phenomenal. This is a game that I shouldn’t like: a colourful, cutesy platformer with a backstory that could easily have been saccharine sweet. A game about living dolls navigating fantastical versions of real-world environments like bedrooms and gardens. How could this possibly end up being my favourite game of 2021?

It’s simple really. It has more heart, charm, and pure unadulterated love than anything I’ve ever played. And I don’t mean the love of the characters; I mean love for videogames. LIke Astro’s Playroom, It Takes Two feels like a love letter to the medium. Josef Fares and Hazelight didn’t set out to make just one game. They set out to make all the games they’d ever wanted to make in one go. It’s something that shouldn’t possibly work, a mish-mashed hodge-podge of titles and styles and genres that nerve stops delivering new experiences, new mechanics, new feelings. I played it through with my daughter in just four sittings and have never laughed or shouted as much through a co-op game. If its cliche or hyperbolic to refer to a game as magical, I’m sorry that I’m not sorry to say that It Takes Two is exactly that: pure, unbridled, video game magic.

The post GOTY 2021: Mick Fraser appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

Game of the year is a special time for all of us in the industry. We get to celebrate some of the best titles after a year of covering them for our jobs. You may have already read the top ten list we’ve published, but it’s time to dedicate a full article to the winner. This is the game of the year for 2021, congratulations to It Takes Two. Below are the comments from our team explaining how and why this decision was made.

Game of the Year 2021: It Takes Two – Adam Cook

This game should not exist. It’s the feeling I’ve had ever since I finished playing it the third time. I played with Chris White for preview, then review. Then I played it through with Chris Hyde, and Adam Carroll. I almost felt jealous hearing Lyle and Mick were playing it without me. This game is a truly, truly special experience. It’s up there with Super Mario Odyssey, and honestly, if I had to pick between them… well, I don’t know how I could do that.

Every single level has a new mechanic. That mechanic is never used again. How did this happen? Also, how was it allowed to happen? How did EA let a developer do that? Every mechanic IN each level could be a full indie game of its own making. This game should not exist. I remember being at the preview event for this one, and Josef Fares explaining he wanted “no shiny shit” (collectibles) and that his inspiration was a Nintendo platformer. It shows. There was that story as well where he offered to pay people who didn’t like that game. Honestly, I get why he was that confident. It Takes Two is a masterpiece. Against all odds, it exists, is brilliant, and to be completely frank with you, it’s been top of my list from the moment I first played it.

Chris White

Where to start with It Takes Two. I honestly can’t praise this game enough. From the moment I played through the preview with Adam Cook, I knew this was going to be something remarkable. It never faltered with its platforming. Every joint mechanic felt important and fresh right until the end. Whether I was fighting off hordes of bees, trying to kill a stuffed elephant, or taking in the sights of a ski resort in a snow globe, It Takes Two gave me hours of memories. I’ve not seen this calibre of platforming since Super Mario Odyssey, and even then, this beats it hands down.

The story was at times heart-breaking, but it was also filled with a lot of hope. Divorces can be painful, especially for the children involved. Hazelight were sensitive to this, and highlighted how tough it can be for the children involved. As for May and Cody, their relationship evolves throughout It Takes Two. You see their flaws, their strengths, and that love that once burnt bright between them. To make such a remarkable game that can both be funny and moving takes real talent. It Takes Two deserves all the praise, and it fully deserves to sit at the top of many GOTY lists.

Game of the Year 2021: Chris Hyde

Seemingly traditional or predictable mechanics like a hammer and nail provide the perfect case study as two why this game is so special. It starts with just hammering switches and nailing platforms in place. Then it’s about using the hammer to swing on nails that are shot in the wall, as extra platforms. It culminates in a boss battle using all these mechanics and more. Oh and obviously Mae can also hammer Cody into the floor, for no other reason than it’s funny. In many ways, it’s reminiscent of Super Mario Odyssey in what it does, but for me, It Takes Two “out-Odyssey’s” Odyssey, in that it takes unique ideas, but their multi-functional execution makes them more wonderful than ideas in Mario’s epic.

And It Takes Two keeps doing this throughout its entire runtime. It’s chock-full of special, memorable moments that delight you. It’s got wacky random minigames or ways to randomly kill each other. There’s even a section where you can construct a photo scene just to see the polaroid outcome and nothing else. That and the myriad gaming references and homages throughout and the subtle humour in the writing and character interactions, it truly is a treat. It’s a game that you can’t help but enjoy and appreciate for all that’s inside it. A game for gamers made by gamers that just brings joy to everyone who plays it.

Mick Fraser

As we’ve said several times in several ways, this is a game that has no right to exist, let alone to be this good. I didn’t even bother with it at first, so convinced was I that it just wasn’t my bag. But hearing my colleagues tell me repeatedly what I was missing, I finally gave it a run in time for the annual GOTY deliberations and holy shit – it’s phenomenal. This is a game that I shouldn’t like: a colourful, cutesy platformer with a backstory that could easily have been saccharine sweet. A game about living dolls navigating fantastical versions of real-world environments like bedrooms and gardens. How could this possibly end up being my favourite game of 2021?

It’s simple really. It has more heart, charm, and pure unadulterated love than anything I’ve ever played. Josef Fares and Hazelight didn’t set out to make just one game. They set out to make all the games they’d ever wanted to make in one go. It’s something that shouldn’t possibly work, a mish-mashed hodge-podge of titles and styles and genres that nerve stops delivering new experiences, new mechanics, new feelings. I played it through with my daughter in just four sittings and have never laughed or shouted as much through a co-op game. If its cliche or hyperbolic to refer to a game as magical, I’m sorry that I’m not sorry to say that It Takes Two is exactly that: pure, unbridled, video game magic.

Lyle Carr

My partner and I love playing video games together, whether it’s blasting zombies in Left 4 Dead or sailing the Sea of Thieves. After over a decade of playing games together, no co-op experience has ever impressed us as much as It Takes Two. No two sections of this platforming adventure are the same, with creative idea after creative idea flung at you as you try to get back to your daughter. One moment you’ll be riding frogs about a garden, the next you’ll be playing a Diablo style dungeon crawler.

Perhaps the most impressive thing though about It Takes Two is how playful it is. Mini games you can play against your co-op buddy litter the fantastical worlds, from a simple Whack-A-Mole game to curling or even a full game of chess. Alongside all this joyful interactive optional content, playing through the game is a delight. The platforming is tight, the gameplay beyond varied, and the power ups you get encourage you to work together in truly wondrous ways. I know I’m going to be replaying this game with my partner regularly for the rest of my life, and I cannot wait.

Congratulations to Hazelight Studios and It Takes Two for being the best game of 2021!

The post Game of the Year 2021: It Takes Two appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

It’s easy to dismiss story as something that isn’t a crucial part of video games, after all some of the all time greats contain next to no narrative. But the right story in the right game can create something magical, and 2021 has more than proven that.

Life is Strange: True Colors told an emotional story of loss, It Takes Two showcased relationships and parenting in a whole new light, and The Forgotten City used time mechanics to develop characters and narrative in new and interesting ways. Of all the games this year though, the one with the most surprisingly effective story was without a doubt Psychonauts 2.

The original Psychonauts was full of colourful characters and hilarious writing, but the actual narrative was never really the highlight. In its sequel Double Fine weren’t content with making another charming platformer, and instead told a story of the struggles of its characters, the history of the Psychonauts, and ultimately of overcoming your emotional baggage. 

Set immediately after the events of the first game, Raz is flung into his first adventure as a full fledged Psychonaut intern when it becomes immediately apparent that he’ll be doing more than making coffee. With an ancient evil awakening and your long suffering mentor in need of help, it’s up to you to uncover the root of the incoming danger and jump into a few minds along the way.

It’s in these brain-based worlds where you first realise that Double Fine have a message about mental health they wanted to include in Psychonauts 2. In the setting of the mind of someone who, like all of us, has some emotional baggage, it only makes sense that mental health issues would be a part of the game. Enemies represent these real world issues, like Anxiety, Regret and Doubt, and need to be tackled to proceed through your host. How you deal with these problems is really clever, as your arsenal is creatively implemented to mirror how to overcome these hurdles in day to day life. A big scary panic attack can only be damaged by using your time power to “slow down and take a breath”. It’s beautifully handled, and more thoughtful than you’d expect from a 3d collectathon platformer.

What’s perhaps most impressive about Psychonauts 2 though is that it doesn’t let the mental health elements of the game define it. You’d expect a game about anxiety, loss and panic attacks to be a po-faced affair, but Psychonauts is still charming, mostly lighthearted and often hilarious. Psychonauts 2 is at its core not a game about mental health, it’s a game about a psychic child going on a radical adventure that happens to respectfully touch on the emotional issues and needs of its characters.

It’s also worth remembering that Psychonauts 2 is a sequel, and one that continues the story of a beloved cast of characters with absolute mastery. Beginning the game mere moments after the ending of the first was an incredibly bold decision, but with an entertaining recap and a fantastic intro level you’ll feel like you never left. Characters you know and love like the wacky genius Ford Cruller, your love interest Lilly and even Raz himself are explored in far more detail, with back stories fleshed out and relationships developed in a heartwarming manner.

Many of the new characters you meet are members of the original Psychonauts, who after making a huge mistake that cost them one of their members and closest friends went their separate ways. As you need to unite them to overcome the threat of Maligula, you’ll need to dive into their brains and help them confront their demons from the past. One member Bob is just feeling isolated, and when exploring his brain you begin on a literal desert island. Helping all of them through their issues was as touching as it was rewarding, and probably my favourite part of the game. 

Even the villains in Psychonauts 2 are just people who are suffering. Dealing with the emotional pressure of horrendous situations has made them become something they don’t want to be, and by confronting them you can show them that isn’t the only way forward. Some of the final moments of the game are the most impactful as you discover that you aren’t just facing a cartoon bad guy, and Double Fine absolutely sticks the landing and delivers the rare feat of a fantastic ending.

Psychonauts 2 is a game about the issues we all face in life, people in pain, and how we can overcome issues with the help of others, it just happens to be wrapped up in a colourful world full of psychic children and bacon jokes. It isn’t often that such an emotionally resonant story can be told with such comedy and whimsy, but the fact that Psychonauts 2 does just that is why it’s our Best Story of 2021.

Special mention goes to Life is Strange: True Colors, Tales of Arise, It Takes Two, and The Forgotten City.

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Warning: This article contains spoilers for Deathloop.

This year’s GOTY 2021 Best New Character discussion was a strange one, to be sure. One of the characters discussed was a romance-obsessed sentient book, for example, the two others were among the best elements of their respective games. But we found the one and two spots oddly tied for a while.

The relationship between Colt Vahn and Julianna Blake is so deeply intrinsic to Deathloop’s very core that it’s hard to take one without the other. However, as protagonist, and therefore the player’s cipher on the mysterious island of Blackreef, Colt eventually won the round, with Julianna coming a very, very close second.

In a year that has been very strong for gameplay but not as hot for story, Colt may at first seem an odd choice for Best New Character. After all, much of what he says and does is a reaction to what the world – and most importantly, Julianna – throw at him. But while he always has a quip ready to fire, voice artist Jason E. Kelley imbues him with an everyman believability that ensures he possesses that one super important trait for a character like him: relatability.

It’s different for other FPS protagonists. No one worries too much about relating to the Master Chief, or whichever blank personality canvas is leading any given stage of a Call of Duty campaign. But Colt’s earnest cluelessness, ingrained by his sudden amnesia and at-odds with his finely-honed military-trained instincts, make him immediately deeper and more sympathetic. Even when the action starts and you’re blasting foes away left, right and centre, Colt’s voice over reminds us that he’s out of his depth if not fully out of his comfort zone. He knows combat – but he usually likes to know who, and why, he’s fighting.

The dynamic between him and Julianna is effortlessly compelling and interesting. It reveals facets of his character that give us a better understanding of him. I admit to being as sure as everyone else that they were former lovers before the reveal (which I experienced a fair way in to the story thanks to Deathloop’s malleable narrative). Their chemistry owes itself to bitter history, the almost playful way she torments him makes one thing clear: she knows him. Deeply. And at this point, far better than he knows himself.

That Colt remains a creature of instinct for so much of the story allows to see the real Colt, a man in an impossible, deadly, supernatural situation, taunted by a lethal aggressor who knows him inside and out. That he’s played with such a vibrant, likeable sheen by Kelley just adds to the feeling that we, the player, must look after him in some way.

Kelley himself says of the character: “The thing that drew me to Colt was that you have this guy who immediately knows that he’s very capable and sure of himself but has no clue what’s going on. He barrels into it, chest out, guns blazing, asking questions and he has a sense of humour about it through the entire journey. That’s what I really keyed in on. That sense of stoicism that he has, coupled with his sense of humour, which would pop out in the weirdest places.”

By the time the big reveal came around for me, I had already begun to question what I thought I was sure of. Who was Lila – and what could Colt have done to a former lover that was so bad she wanted to kill him over and over again, time after time, in an endless loop of violence and death. And then you find out: she wasn’t his lover, but his daughter, and her animosity towards him comes from her belief that she abandoned her and her mother, Lila.

He didn’t, of course. Not intentionally. Colt was part of a top secret military outfit called Operation Horizon; part of the first group to discover Blackreef and its bizarre temporal properties. That he left wasn’t his choice: if nothing else, running away from anything is shown to be something Colt is strongly against. He’s a soldier, a fighter, and deep down, a character who intends to do the right thing.

With Julianna caught between almost being addicted to vengeance and needing to stop him breaking the loop, she’s the perfect antagonist. But there’s more to it. Colt wants to break the loop to be free; but in killing the Visionaries, the seven (well, nine, including him and Julianna) individuals who keep Blackreef going round and round in time, he might potentially let loose that destructive power on the world beyond the island.

Is she capable of such altruism, or is she really just that vindictive? The true ending, only achieved if Colt kills his daughter and then himself, finally breaking the loop, reveals that she has the capacity to walk away. Did Colt bring her to that, or has the fun gone out of killing him if she knows it will be the last time?

Arkane Studios are amazing at building worlds. Just go and play Dishonored, any of them, and you’ll see that. Even Prey, which fell a little flat for some, takes place in an exceptionally well-realised game space. They’re not sandboxes, exactly, but the freedom they offer the player makes them close to it. But they also offer Arkane the freedom to tell stories with subtle references and details, such as the outfits Colt and Julianna wear, or the emails on Colt’s computer.

These details reveal facets of Colt’s personality and history that are both obvious and quietly understated. The former include his military background and training, elements of his character that are worn on the sleeve for all to see as he blasts his way across the island. But there are smaller, subtler traits that make an impression because they’re not shouted.

That Colt just happens to be bisexual is never made into a major plot point or revelation; it’s never used to spin any kind of agenda or even used as a storytelling vehicle. In fact, if you don’t pay close attention to the flavour dialogue and, in particular, one very personal song dedication from Blackreef’s resident DJ and Visionary, Frank Spicer, you might miss it altogether. Maybe this is just how I interpreted it – after all, Arkane are known for leaving things just vague enough for player opinion – but either way, it shows once again that Colt is more than just a blank canvas to let us shoot things.

Ultimately, Colt Vahn is our favourite new character this year not just because he’s funny or capable or likeable, but because he has a sense of depth that isn’t often seen in FPS protagonists. He is more than just his relationship with Julianna, more than just his ethnicity or sexuality, more than just his military background, the clothes he wears or the skill with which he wields firearms. He’s a person, masterfully brought to life by Arkane and Jason E. Kelley, and absolutely deserving of the accolade Best New Character of 2021.

Special mention also go to Julianna Blake (Deathloop), Shionne (Tales of Arise), Kasane (Scarlet Nexus), and Dr. Hakim (It Takes Two).

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These days, graphics seem to take a back seat more and more when it comes to praising video games. We’ve seen what can be done with minimalist style in games like SuperHot, while 8 and 16-bit pixel art has made a massive comeback over the last few years.

And yet 2021 has been a year full of great-looking games, from Tales of Arise to Scarlet Nexus, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and the gorgeous Kena: Bridge of Spirits. But one game in particular stood out for its use of visuals to create an oppressive, unwelcoming atmosphere that also managed to be somehow beautiful at the same time.

Housemarque’s Returnal is a dark game, one that weaves light and shadow through a world steeped in decay. Entropy has taken hold, and the planet Atropos is all but dead. From shadow-wreathed forests that stir with the passing of unseen alien stalkers, to sand-blown deserts baking under a relentless sun, or the submerged ruins of an ancient civilisation where the deep, sepulchral darkness is pierced by distant pocks of light.

But this is the studio that brought us Resogun, a stunning shooter that dazzles with its use of light and dark. And thus Returnal shatters its shadow with stark bursts of colour. Plants that glow with an eerie pale light, or leaping, chittering beasts that tear apart the gloom with bioluminescent tendrils and gleaming projectiles. It remains an excellent choice to showcase what the PS5 could do, running such insanely busy and beautiful stages at such an effortlessly smooth pace.

As a third-person bullet hell shooter, Returnal is able to fill its screen with such riots of colour and beauty that they become distracting. Death masked by spectacle. As protagonist Selene, it’s our job to pick our way through these alien hellscapes and ignore that mesmerising aesthetic. We’ve an objective to follow, and we know what horrors hide behind the swamp lights. But it’s hard to be standoffish when it all looks so damn good.

Selene’s model is detailed and believable. This isn’t your usual videogame protagonist. No exposed flesh, incongruous make-up job or wind-swept hair. She’s a middle-aged woman, singularly unremarkable in her appearance. And that’s not meant as a negative. She’s attractive, well-drawn, perhaps even beautiful – but that’s my point. Her appearance is not the focus of her character. She spends the whole time in a space suit, allowing the world around her to command our attention.

The stark contrast between the first two worlds in particular is so extreme it’s almost jarring. Games like Monster Hunter are famous for sending the player to vastly different biomes, but this isn’t the same. Because the danger in each world is just as relentless, the initial comfort you may feel of finally stepping foot outside that cloying, claustrophobic forest is replaced very quickly by a sense of agoraphobia. You want to go back in, to the tight, comparative safety of the flora.

It’s a clever move on Housemarque’s part. Give you what you think you want in that moment, only to have it be no safer, no more secure than what you’ve previously known. Returnal is able to do this because it maintains a very clear atmosphere, even when the aesthetic changes. Even under the red-tinged sky of that barren desert, the enemies and their projectiles remain vivid and distracting.

In a year of games that have either embraced an almost child-friendly style (Rift Apart, It Takes Two, Kena, Lost in Random), or stayed true to the realism that has made them successful (Call of Duty: Vanguard or Death Stranding: Director’s Cut), Returnal stands out by not only being vividly unique but also staggeringly good-looking throughout, and for that reason it’s our number one pick for Best Visuals in 2021.

Special mention goes to It Takes Two, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Scarlet Nexus, and Kena: Bridge of Spirits.

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When you listen to our GOTY 2021 deliberations for Nicest Surprise – and you absolutely should – you’ll notice that we don’t actually talk very much about It Takes Two before crowning it the top spot. On the face of it, that might seem strange, but really it’s for two key reasons. The first was the unanimous agreement we all had that it was the nicest surprise we’d experienced all year, and therefore no need to argue or discuss it. And the second was that to really get into the nitty-gritty of why it’s so special – and therefore surprising – you need to really delve into the detail. And given just how special It Takes Two is, we didn’t want to blow our proverbial load mid-way through Day 1.

It Takes Two begins as, ironically, a story of realism and sorrow. A couple at a crossroads in their relationship, discuss separation, only for their daughter to beg for their love to be rekindled. Through a moment of true sadness and a sprinkle of Pixar-type magic, the parents find themselves turned into toys, and have to work together to get back to their daughter. And they’ll do that by way of anthropomorphic books, vacuum cleaners, squirrels, and even toy elephants.

But the devil, as I mentioned before, is in the detail as to why this game is so special. Wry smiles begin to form right from the off, as you notice the silly way Cody moves or the bizarre way he performs his double jump. You’ll notice the little tit-for-tat exchanges between Cody and Mae, occasionally funny, but always believable for a couple at this point in their relationship. The incredible detail in the environments, elevate them from otherwise rudimentary levels to mini-worlds that feel alive, lived-in, almost illogically real.

And then these tiny details bubble up, to create something more. Dr. Hakim is introduced, to his soon to be recognised trademark guitar-string sound, complete with a thick accent and overbearing puns. But before long you realise his role is not just attempted comic relief but a conduit to change. For Cody and Mae to be at this point, the point of separation, simply needing to work together won’t change anything. They need a supporting nudge, maybe even a shove in numerous directions and the wonderful Hakim does this with panache.

So on to the adventure we go proper, and Cody and Mae have to work together. We’re treated to the first of many “dual abilities” which showcase Hazelight Studios at their very best. The first is a hammer and nail, but there will be numerous others to find on later levels. Each has their own unique mechanics, that affect the world around you in different ways as you progress. But they also work cleverly together to provide different traversal options and puzzle-solving ideas. And then they also allow for varied boss fights where they are used in different ways to overcome them. They’re then abandoned for future levels in a boldness you’d expect to see in a Nintendo game, so confident are they of their ideas, and so polished are they in their execution.

But there’s more. Smattered throughout It Takes Two is so much content that is borderline inconsequential. But it’s done in such a way that it brings a smile to your face every time. By creating varied and interesting worlds, it’s a game that begs to be explored. And often will reward players that venture off the beaten track for a while. You might find anything from a switch that does nothing, despite begging to be pushed simply for existing. You’ll find random machines that exist simply to kill the other player in jest. And then there are the minigames which serve no other purpose than to provide a joyful respite from your adventure and try and better your coop partner in a variety of wacky scoring scenarios.

As well as all that, it’s also full to the brim with gaming references. But just to be clear when I say gaming reference, I don’t simply mean a poster in the distance, that if you squint at it hard enough, it kind of looks like the Triforce from Zelda. No, I mean full-on playable sections of the game that pay homage to classic genres and recognisable moments throughout gaming history. Myself and others here at God is a Geek were left literally speechless (perhaps aside from the odd exclaimed expletive) at some of these. And what’s more, they were enjoyable, well-executed sections in their own right, which added to the overall experience, rather than feeling tacked on for fan service.

It’s also clear that Hazelight Studios know what it’s like to play a game. It’s clear they know how to delight and surprise, and also have an eye for different ideas and what makes different genres or minigames fun to play. But other little touches also made a big difference too. A generous checkpoint system meant mistakes weren’t punished, and you could get right back in the action. And levels were often so well designed, that there was rarely any need for backtracking, and if there was, there was always a speedy way to do it, that was considered by the developers.

If it feels like at this point that I’m simply listing a lot of separate little plus points of It Takes Two, it’s because that’s exactly what this game is. It’s the very definition of a game being more than the sum of its parts. The difference here is that every single one of those parts is glorious, enjoyable, smile-inducing, and fun. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, it throws something else at you and you’re there again, dumbstruck at what is unfurling on screen, in the best possible way.

And the thing to remember on top of all of this is you didn’t expect any of it. No one who begins It Takes Two knew what to expect, not really. Not the detail to which the game goes to, and that’s what makes it so surprising. Often the question you keep asking yourself of Hazelight Studios is “Why did they do that?” and often the answer is “Because they wanted you to have fun.” Which, whilst sounding reductive, is 100% on the money. It Takes Two was the Nicest Surprise of 2021 by far, for all the unexpected joy it brought, over and over again.

Honourable mentions also go to Tales of Arise, Scarlet Nexus, Psychonauts 2, and Knockout City

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When you look back over the years, few heroes are as important as Master Chief. The Xbox needed their own mascot. Nintendo had Mario and Link. PlayStation had Crash Bandicoot and Sackboy. When Microsoft launched the original Xbox in 2001, Halo was their first big title. Along with the launch of the console, Master Chief was there in the beginning, shipping with thousands of consoles around the world. Now, 20 years on, we await the release of the sixth main entry in the Halo saga.

So much has happened since the cybernetically enhanced super soldier first started shooting up members of the Covenant and driving Warthogs like a motherfucker. We’ve seen many other key characters enter the world of video games, from Solid Snake and Kratos, to Marcus Fenix and Aloy. With so many phenomenal games flooding the market every year, is Halo still relevant? Do people still care about the Master Chief? Does anyone actually want another Halo game?

Is Halo still relevant?: The legacy of Master Chief

For many, Halo 5: Guardians was a former shell of what made the series so special. Even with Halo 4, it felt like the shine on the green suit of the Chief was slowly getting old and dirty. The joy from light and tight gameplay fused with the freedom players had controlling Microsoft’s golden boy was waning. Regardless of the ill feelings gamers had towards Halo, there’s no denying how impactful and important the original trilogy was. Personally, and that is what this article is about, I enjoyed what 343 did. They weren’t quite as good as the first three, but they still held my interest.

Despite 343 Industries playing it safe with Halo 5: Guardians, the next instalment has a lot to prove. Watching the first trailer at E3 2018, I got goosebumps. I mean, it’s the Master Chief! No matter what I thought about the previous titles, when that music hits and the familiarity of watching Halo in a new setting kicks in, the hype instantly took control. Since then, the release date has been delayed. Originally a launch title, we’re still without it, but it’s so close now, we can almost taste it.

Happy memories

I have a lot of fond memories playing Halo. Obviously, the first time with Halo: Combat Evolved was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Halo 2 built on the spectacle of the original, and provided one hell of a sequel. I played both of them with my dad, and we had a great time exploring this special new world together. After a night out drinking, I played the entirety of Halo 3 with my friend online, nursing a hangover but having a fucking blast. These memories will be with me forever, and they are part of why I’m still excited to play another main entry in the Halo series.

Wondering whether or not Halo is still relevant really comes down to the individual. If players didn’t want another Halo, it wouldn’t be made. If interest was lacking, 343 would turn their attention elsewhere. With a solid online multiplayer, my only concern is that that is where the focus will be going forward. The technical Test of the free-to-play aspect of Infinite has seemingly gone down well. That said, I hope it means there’s not less of a focus on the campaign. A lot of people including myself are still invested in the story of the Master Chief.

Is Halo still relevant?: Love conquers all

Although little is known about the story in Halo Infinite, it is said to be “much more human,” according to Microsoft. The Master Chief is said to play more of a role as well. Massively important, if you ask me. With Cortana’s rampancy in full effect and her controlling the Guardians along with the majority of AI, John-117 has a lot to do. Their relationship has been at the heart of everything. Whether they’ve been trying to obliterate the Flood or destroy the Didact, Chief and Cortana have been the bread and butter throughout.

Whether led by nostalgia or hope for a satisfying end to the ‘Reclaimer Saga,’ I believe Halo is more than relevant in 2021. It’s been one hell of a ride for Master Chief. Slaying hundreds of aliens, uncovering the mysteries of the Forerunners, and saving the digitised woman he loves, the world’s most loved Spartan still holds a huge place in my heart. Halo is one of the most popular series of games for a reason. Although many may play for the multiplayer, I am more invested in the story. When Halo Infinite releases, I am going to be right there, saving the galaxy once again. Thanks for the memories, Chief!

This article was originally published on Aug 9, 2021.

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So the Expansion Pack has arrived bringing N64 games to Nintendo Switch owners. Fittingly, for a console that has historically had a few issues around successful emulation, there have been a few teething problems which hopefully get rectified soon. The lineup out the blocks has some great choices. The astonishing Sin & Punishment is arguably worth the admission price alone, and it was a nice surprise seeing Koei’s little known Winback getting the nod, as many UK gamers will not have sampled its cover-based shooting charms.

We already know that there are more N64 games Nintendo Switch on the horizon, but what as-yet-unmentioned titles would you like to see on the service going forward? Here I give you my ten and a bit selections and why I would like to see them hit Switch Online down the road. I have tried to think a bit outside the box here, so don’t go expecting Pierce Brosnan and Golden Eyes, or anything like that.

Blast Corps (Rare, 1997)

Rare had a magical relationship with the console, and indeed there was nearly more than one of their offerings in my little selection. Blast Corps was their N64 debut, and remains a highly original, unique experience that cannot be easily categorised. Best described as a hybrid between a strategic puzzler and a balls-out symphony of destruction, Blast Corps sees you take control of one of a number of demolition vehicles to clear a safe pathway for a runaway nuclear missile carrier. There are stacks of levels, loads of secrets, and a compulsive gameplay loop that allows you to revisit levels once they have been cleared to maximise your scores and times, earning medals and glory along the way. It stands up really well to this day, and would be a tremendous addition to this library. The soundtrack, which increases in intensity to match the action onscreen, is also splendidly bonkers.

Ogre Battle 64 (Quest Corporation/Atlus, 1999)

It may not have made it to Europe, but this splendid tactical role player previously hit the Virtual Console, so there is no reason why they shouldn’t consider dusting it off as one of the N64 games on Nintendo Switch as they have with Sin & Punishment. Almost endlessly customisable, and a huge challenge, this remains one of the best examples of the genre to this day. It was originally housed on a huge cartridge, and it looks absolutely stonking. There is a sweepingly epic storyline, and a real time combat system that sees you taking control of up to fifty units at a time. It never feels overwhelming. Arriving at a time where the Gamecube was on the horizon, this is one of the best games that many people never played. Nintendo – get it done and bring this N64 game to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack.

Mischief Makers (Treasure/Enix 1997)

Heralded as the first time that artisan game-lords Treasure had worked on a piece of Nintendo hardware, this was actually a joint effort with Enix before they got into bed with Squaresoft. It is classically Treasure, mind; deceptively complex, with a crazy amount of depth, batshit control scheme, and boss battles that defy the conventions of the genre. The core mechanics of the game involve your protagonist being able to grab, shake, throw and manipulate scenery, items and even enemies in order to progress. It takes a few levels to get your head around how it all works, but really starts to hit its stride once the mental bosses start to show up. It is unlike any other platformer on the system, or indeed anywhere, and would be a joy to revisit.

Castlevania/Legacy of Darkness (Konami, 1999)

The N64 Castlevania titles get a lot of unwarranted hate. I have included both of them, as they both came out during the same year. There is little to choose between the pair. The first release is probably slightly tighter in terms of level design, and a streamlined experience. Legacy of Darkness comes off like an enhanced remix, added a new Werewolf transformation, and has some genuinely pant-soiling sequences. To this day I cannot enter a hedge maze without a lingering fear that I am going to be pursued by a Frankenstein’s monster with a chainsaw arm. These games had the unenviable task of following Symphony of the Night canonically, but also dropping during an era where the world was going loco for 3D Zelda. For me, the first two 3D entries in the lauded series are great fun, and perhaps for the first time add a very real gothic sense of dread and survival horror tropes. It also features skeletons riding motorbikes, and let’s face it we all need a bit of that in our lives. Would play again/10.

International Superstar Soccer 98 (Konami, 1999)

After they had rendered every other Super Nintendo football release obsolete with their 16-bit classics, Konami took the already ace Deluxe and retooled it in 3D for the 64 in 1997. So good was the first N64 ISS, that even Shigeru Miyamoto piped up to acknowledge its majesty. In fact, at the time, the only criticism most reviewers could level its way was the lack of licensed players and kits. Released to coincide with France 98, yet still not actually fully licensed, the follow up is nonetheless easily the premier sports title for the console, and remains so much fun to this day that I would take it over any modern FIFA as a couch based multiplayer romp.

It does have the real players, with their respective stats and abilities albeit misspelled. This means the smirk inducing likes of “R.Faggio”, but also an astonishingly close Scotland squad, where Tosh “Mckinley” joins Colin “Hendrie”. You also got a moody face off between Ravanelli and “The Guv’nor” Paul Ince on the cover. The “Scenario” mode, which has been pinched and evolved in modern sports titles, remains a fave as you get thrown into precariously balanced situations that you need to score or defend your way out of. Nothing would be better than to relive that summer of 98 on the Switch.

Pilotwings 64 (Nintendo/Paradigm Entertainment, 1996)

Just like the 3DS, the N64 featured a Pilotwings as a launch title, and it was fantastic. The laid-back flight sim gameplay is a great way to spend an afternoon, floating around the colourful, stylised islands in three classes of aerial transportation that all control intuitively. As well as maximising your best rankings on the breezy selection of stages, there are also some killer minigames – in particular Cannonball which involves the always fun act of flinging folk at a target for the best points tally possible. One of the best ways to enjoy Pilotwings is the free flight mode which allows you to explore the many secrets of your environs, as the jazzy soundtrack warbles along like a pornographic movie. Paradigm cut their teeth making real flight sims for people like Lockheed, and clearly their grasp of the physics of flight are at play here. This one has never been rereleased, and therefore would be a welcome future drop as one of the N64 games Nintendo Switch could show off.

Beetle Adventure Racing (Paradigm Entertainment, 1999)

Sticking with Paradigm, they teamed up with EA to release one of the most fun – and least remembered racing titles of the era. With classic arcade gameplay reminiscent of some of the Need For Speed titles, this eschews a varied list of licenced supercars in favour of the loveable VW Beetle. But that doesn’t mean a lack of velocity – this one moves along at a right old lick which still impresses today. Best of all is the fact that as per the title there is an exploratory element and it feels like a driving adventure rather than a straight up racer. There are some cracking set pieces and it is just a bright, bold, joyous riot from start to finish. Throw in a battle mode, enjoyable multiplayer and some genuinely hilarious unlockable cars, this one deserves a modern revisit. The whole EA thing may make it tricky for this one to happen, however.

Mystical Ninja Starring Geomon (Konami, 1997)

Any 3D platform adventures on the system are going to be cruelly judged against Mario and Link, which is why a lot of PAL folk never played the sophomore Western Geomon, and one of the reasons why a boxed copy of this bad boy will set you around a ton on eBay. The 2D Super Nintendo Mystical Ninja is one of the finest games on the system, and was wildly popular at the time after receiving rave reviews. On the 64, Geomon doesn’t quite hit the same heights but this is still a killer platform adventure that has bags of laughs and some innovative FPS sections. The surrealist take on a sci-fi tinged feudal Japan, knowingly offbeat script, selection of bonkers minigames and unlockables and unforgettable soundtrack make the small flaws like dodgy camera and uneven platforming easy to ignore. It would be great to spend some more time in its charmingly nonsensical world once again.

Pokemon Stadium 2 (Nintendo, 2000)

It would require a bit of jiggery-pokery – or should that be Jigglypuff-pokery – but if Nintendo could shoehorn all of the stuff that Stadium 2 allowed you to transfer into the game from your handhelds, then this pure battle riot would be an incredible addition to the modern N64 lineup. This is Pokemon in its purest distillation. No annoying storylines, just pure monster on monster battles in the all new setting of White City. It looks great, appeals to the card-carrying collectors and old school heads like me, and would sit beautifully alongside Pokemon Snap on my Switch.

WCW/now Revenge (Asmik/AKI, 1998)

People bang on about No Mercy, but in my eyes the true king of N64 wrestling titles was this million-plus selling classic, which came along at a time where WCW had never been more popular. It absolutely piledrove Acclaim’s weak WWF tie ins, and featured the hottest talent on the planet at that time – the super cool heel nWo faction, and the on-fire, undefeated powerhouse Bill Goldberg. Crucially, a lot of UK based fans found it harder to access the WCW product, so bought this in their droves to vicariously live out their Ted Turner based fantasies.

It plays like a dream with an intuitive grappling system, has a roster that is deep and varied, and has recognisable arenas and events to battle in. Due to Vince McMahon and Peacock owning the rights to most of what played out onscreen, the likelihood of this happening is about the same as me dethroning Roman Reigns, but a boy can dream, right? Even if it is about N64 games Nintendo Switch.

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You have seen the best Dreamcast games – now let’s look at some of the other delights you can play on Sega’s final console. Some of these you will have heard of; some you may be less familiar with. It highlights what a tremendous console the Dreamcast was for casual sports titles, fighters and unique shooters. If there are any titles you think I have unfairly omitted from this list, get in touch in the comments or on our Discord, it would be great to hear from you.

10. Bangai-O (Treasure, 1999)

Proving once again that they made games like nobody else, artistes Treasure ported their ultra limited Nintendo 64 shooter to the Dreamcast to great acclaim in 1999, including, incredibly, an EU release. A multi-directional shooter with wonderful super deformed retro graphics and a penchant for enormous, missile related explosions, this one narrowly missed my top ten by a cat’s whisker.

9. Border Down (G.rev, 2003)

Feeling like a posthumous release, Border Down is comfortably the best horizontal shooter on the system. Put together by an ex-Taito team who had previously had a hand in classics RayStorm and G Darius, Border Down itself was heavily influenced by Metal Black. Ironically, G.rev raised the capital to make this banger by freelancing on Ikaruga and Gradius V. This paragraph tells you all you need to know about the pedigree of those that created this 2003 belter. The concept – you begin at an easy difficulty level, or “border”, and descend into increasingly harder borders each time you are killed, gives this one a unique feel. It has a simple beauty to the way it looks, and plays as smooth as a lightly greased chinchilla pelt. Tremendous. G.rev also made the superb Under Defeat, a vertical shmup that also landed on the ‘Cast.

8. Sports Jam (Sega, 2000)

Sadly this one didn’t get a release in the EU, which is a shame as it is a great multiplayer arcade minigame selection that sits nicely alongside the likes of Decathlete and ESPN Track and Field, short, sharp slices of sports action that are great fun to play and try to best your scores. These snippets could be nearest the pin in golf, draining three pointers from the edge of the D, or even executing a bicycle kick in “soccer”. You can run the gamut of events or just test yourself four at a time, and its terrific fun.

7. Marvel vs Capcom 2 (Capcom, 2000)

As it was crafted on Naomi hardware, its no surprise that this is the premier home version of Capcom’s bonkers crossover hit. You know the score. 56 characters, insane tag team action, that special comic book appeal. Its great – apart from the ridiculous soundtrack which makes kicking Spider-man’s head in feel like you are trapped in a jazz-funk fever dream.

6. Sword of the Berserk: Guts Rage (Yuke’s, 1999)

Surely the best-named title for the system, this one has a bit of a cult following and is a slept-on hack and slash actioner based on the popular Berserk manga. It has an enormous sword, loads of arcing rivulets of blood, a bestiary of nightmarish enemies, and an antagonist whose name sounds like “Ballsack”. There is much to love. Like Shenmue, this one does go to the QTE well a little too often, but this doesn’t make much of a dent in your sword swinging violence time.

5. Cannon Spike (Psikyo/Capcom 2000)

Another cult fave that was criminally ignored upon release, this one commands top dollar in the second-hand market and has the sad distinction of being the last European release for the platform. Cannon Spike is an arena-based boss rush which plays out like a souped up Smash TV. Capcom fans won’t need telling that the title is one of Cammy’s special attacks in the Street Fighter universe, and that is because she, along with other Capsule stalwarts like Arthur, BB Hood and Mega Man are amongst the quirky playable roster. This is a fun arcade shooter, with some creepy looking enemies to take down, including some cockroaches that made me want to spew.

4. The King Of Fighters Dream Match 1999 (SNK, 1999)

There a loads of SNK fighting games available for the platform, including Garou: Mark of the Wolves and Last Blade 2, but my personal recommendation is this confusingly named port of KOF classic 98: The Slugfest. Not only does it play beautifully, the backgrounds have been re-done in 3D, making it the best version of a great team based fighter on the system.

3. Dynamite Cop (Sega, 1999)

See also: Zombie Revenge. Essentially Die Hard Arcade sequel without the shoehorned-in license, this is a typically bonkers Sega-style beat ‘em up with some crazed weapons (Streets of Rage 4 was NOT the first time you could beat someone with a giant fish), breezy run time and great arcade feel. Zombie Revenge is very similar, but has zombies in it.

2. Giant Gram 2000: All Japan Pro Wrestling 3 (Sega, 2000)

Sega really shit the bed with their WWF Royal Rumble game, which felt like it was barely even there. Elsewhere, Acclaim’s WWF and ECW licenses are fondly remembered by Attitude Era fans. But they, lets face it, were crap. Meanwhile in Japan, puroresu fans got a great Fire Pro game, and this – which is easily the best wrestling game on the system, and for me one of the best of all time. Simple arcade sensibility, a rock, paper, scissors system to mimic the to and fro of a bout, and a wonderful array of legendary Japanese and gaijin stars, this is a banger which stands up well today. I would go so far as to say it is better than the heralded No Mercy (@ me!), and has some great and instantly recognisable character models. Never has it been more fun to live out your fantasy of Big Van Vader and Dangerous K kicking each other’s brains in.

1. NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC (Midway, 1999)

This his was an arcade sports return to form for Midway and one of the best times you can have with friends on the system thanks to its corking multiplayer and riotous stylised b-ball action. I still cannot get my head around why they didn’t just use the original NBA Jam name, as that is exactly what you get here. Cheap and easy to find, there is no reason not to own this.

The post The 10 best Dreamcast games you probably haven’t played appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

Much has been written about the Dreamcast, in terms of what could have been, its decline, and why it failed. The reality was a perfect storm of trouble for Sega. A lack of support from big hitters like EA; a poorly executed advertising budget; and of course consumers who perhaps understandably felt that the console was snake-bit. There was a mistrust of this new hardware, which followed Sega CD, 32X, and Saturn with their libraries. Particularly in the case of the latter, couldn’t stack up against the PlayStation. Sega knew that the PS2 would destroy them if they backed themselves in that bout. Therefore, they decided to bow out of the console game forever, in order to live on.

The sad thing about all this is that many gamers didn’t get to experience what a wonderful machine the Dreamcast was. Many UK folk’s interactions with the Dreamcast brand would have been watching Thierry Henry parade the logo on his shirt in his debut season at Highbury. Those who did own or play one, and particularly those who, like me, grew up in and around amusement arcades dominated by Sega, found the Dreamcast an unforgettable machine. I find myself returning to its catalogue of exceptional titles again and again. I am going to lay out what I think are the top 10 best Dreamcast games released for the system.

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The top 10 best Dreamcast games: 10. Soulcalibur (Namco, 1999)

For most people, this was the one that even from attract sequence alone, made them want to own a Dreamcast. The PlayStation may have had a fabulous port of Soul Edge, but its Namco System 12 sequel upped the ante in just about every department. It looked mind blowing in its ultra-polished DC form. Any list of essential games for the system has to have this perched on top of the pile. It took an already wonderful game and improved it aesthetically and in terms of content and playability. All these years on it is still smooth as silk and a landmark fighter.

9. Power Stone 2 (Capcom, 2000)

In an ideal world I would have included both Power Stone games in this list, but the sophomore Naomi arcade port is the Godfather Part II of 3D multiplayer fighters. With a rich and diverse roster of sumptuously designed and resolutely Capcom-AF characters, Power Stone 2 is an absolutely astonishing piece of work. It’s utterly bonkers stages, some of which have multiple phases, have to be seen to be believed and still surprise and delight as much as they ever did. Best of all the gameplay is a never-boring riot. It has a zillion different weapons and environmental modifiers to discover. It is a crime that Capcom have not revisited this franchise.

8. Skies of Arcadia (Sega, 2000)

There aren’t many JRPGs on the DC, and it feels bad not to mention the ground-breaking Phantasy Star Online. However, you simply cannot look past Skies of Arcadia when it comes to the genre. It is the very best the platform has to offer. Skies was Sega’s ode to classic role-playing tropes with a wonderful stylised crew of unforgettable characters, terrific English localisation, and a genuine spirit of sky faring adventure. Still standing the test of time to this day, this two-disc wonder is an essential get for the discerning ‘Cast buff.

The top 10 best Dreamcast games: 7. Ikaruga (Treasure, 2001)

Treasure’s spiritual sequel to STV/Saturn classic Radiant Silvergun is a videogame that transcends the medium. It’s a true work of art that still blows me away every time I revisit it. The legendary developer doubled down on the themes of light and shadow seen in Silhouette Mirage and transferred the mechanic to a mesmerising vertical shoot ‘em up which allows you to reverse the polarity of your craft to negotiate your way through a unique two-tone bullet hell.

Projectiles and enemies are either dark or light, and you are able to flip your craft and align with either side. In white mode you are stronger against the black enemies and can absorb any projectiles of your own colour to build a crushingly powerful charge attack, and vice versa. It makes for an incomparable experience as you learn how to beat each stage by deciding whether to take risks or play it safe. Once it all clicks it becomes an almost zen experience, helped by the stunning visuals and soundtrack.

6. Crazy Taxi (Sega, 2000)

The best pure arcade game of its era, you know the drill with this one – high octane, day-glo cab simulator with a slamming punk soundtrack. Nobody has ever topped or come close to emulating this kind of game in the ensuing years. It is just classic Sega simplicity, taut design and just one more go appeal. The Dreamcast is easily the best way to play this one. Not only is it arcade perfect, it has the option to sharpen the visuals via either a VGA box or one of the modern workarounds. This helps an already great looking game look the absolute nuts. A law should be passed that anyone owning the final Sega console needs to be packing a copy of this, lest they be sent down a salt mine.

5. Virtua Tennis 2 (Sega, 2001)

Hitmaker were at it again and again during this period. Virtua Tennis was an arcade *ahem* smash, and one of the best sellers for the Dreamcast, early doors. Its sequel amps everything up, with more playable characters; a new slice shot; better visuals; and on the Dreamcast, a staggering single player World Tour mode that is chock full of super-addicting mini games. It allowed you to level up the stats of your created characters and take them along for a calendar year of tennis tour events. It plays like an absolute dream with a great learning curve and that superb balance between arcade fun and real-sports sim. Essential.

The top 10 best Dreamcast games: 4. Shenmue (Sega, 1999)

If one game summed up the glorious failure of the Dreamcast, then it is Yu Suzuki’s epic labour of love. Costing an arm and a leg to make, the finished product remains a stunning achievement that has influenced modern gaming in many ways. It has also spawned loads of excellent sailor-based memes. Pioneering the open worlds that we now take for granted across many platforms, Shenmue is a slow-burning revenge movie played out in an approximation of real time. There is so much to discover in its charming world, including entire versions of previous Suzuki arcade classics; some ace knock-down; drag-out brawling using a version of the Virtua Fighter engine; a cool as hell Timex watch; and a cocktail-guzzling Santa. Credited with initiating the trend in QTE scenes in gaming, it is perhaps the ultimate flawed masterpiece. I see.

3. Jet Set Radio (Sega, 2000)

Smilebit formed out of the ashes of Team Andromeda, and their follow up to Panzer Dragoon Saga couldn’t have possibly been any more different! Best described as a cross pollination of Tony Hawks (which, I may add, still plays like a dream on the DC) and Crazy Taxi, this cel-shaded masterpiece sees you grinding your way around a Shibuya-influenced urban landscape, tagging rival gang territory, and indeed rival gang members themselves. It featured design work from seminal Style Wars graffiti artist Eric Haze, lending it an artistic credibility few games can claim to match.

Like most cel-shaded fare from this era, it still looks amazing, and the gameplay holds up just as well. There are a few differences across the regions to note. Some American-themed stages were added to the US release, along with a few nu-metal tracks from the likes of Rob Zombie somewhat incongruously shoehorned in. In Europe, we received the welcome addition of a couple of bangers from legendary Beastie Boys affiliate Mixmaster Mike and chill old school rap crew Jurassic 5.

2. NFL 2K1 (Sega, 2000)

Visual Concepts had form for developing sports titles for the 16 and 32 bit generations. These included instalments of the all-conquering Madden and NHL juggernauts. For many years, EA were the only show in town when it came to pigskin, but that changed in 1999 when Sega obtained a licensing deal with the NFL. It let them have a crack at making a gridiron title for their powerful new console. During the Dreamcast era, the 2K series absolutely handed John Madden his ass. The first game was a sensation, but the ultimate pure sports sim on the ‘Cast is the 2K1 iteration, which improved on every aspect of its predecessor and gave us an NFL game so tasty that some fans swear by it to this day, with well populated servers still up and running.

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The top 10 best Dreamcast games: 1. Metropolis Street Racer (Bizarre Creations/Sega 2000)

The spiritual successor to the excellent Project Gotham racer franchise, Bizarre can lay claim to the best arcade driving sim on the Dreamcast. With an economical but terrific selection of cars, a points scoring system that awards “kudos” for style, and some wonderful real-life street racing venues, this still looks and plays like a dream all these years later. There are so many cool touches, such as the way the console will pick up the time of day you are playing and will reflect that in-game, the proto-open world feel, and the radio stations you can select, curated by Richard Jacques.

The post The 10 best Dreamcast games of all time appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

It’s been a while since I’ve checked out some of the HyperX lineup, and boy am I impressed. We got sent a big box full of goodies, from keyboards to mice, charge-kits to headsets. And given that everyone loves a good peripheral, I thought I’d round them up and explain to you why I’m so impressed with pretty much everything HyperX has to offer in its current 2021 lineup.

Along with what we think of each product, there’ll be the price, so if you like the sound of it, you can work out if the bank balance can withstand the impact this month. Also, don’t hate me for this, but some of these are potentially excellent stocking fillers. There, I said it. Sorry.

Chargeplay Duo (£29.99)

Chargeplay Duo was looked at by Chris Hyde.

Batteries are at a premium in most houses, they seemingly disappear as quickly as they get bought. And nothing is more frustrating than running out of juice on an Xbox controller and not being able to find any replacement batteries. The HyperX Chargeplay Duo is a solid solution, offering a stand and rechargeable packs for two separate Xbox controllers. They’re compatible with both Xbox One and Series X|S controllers, making them a solid investment for either generation. Setup was incredibly simple, and the battery pack and casing fitted together easily and tight to the controller.

The controller fits nicely into the charging station itself, and a full charge lasts a long time too, even if you don’t have a second controller to be charging in the meantime. The docking station lights confirm when controllers are charging and when fully charged so there are no surprises. In fact the only difference you’ll really notice is a slight protrusion on the back of the controller to allow the battery pack to connect to the dock and charge. But honestly it’s barely noticeable and well worth it for completely retiring the need for batteries to charge your controller.

HyperX Pulsefire haste (£34.99)

I have been using a Hyperx Pulsefire mouse for a long time, namely the Pulsefire Surge, which is actually marginally cheaper than the haste is. That said, the Surge is a lot older now, and it really does seem it. The first thing noticeable about the haste is how lightweight it is. It’s 59 grams, for those wondering, and going back to my Surge feels like I’m moving three of them at once. Despite how light it is, it feels sturdy and while it’s not wireless, I’ve always preferred a wired mouse for gaming. It has a HyperFlex USB cable and a split button design, and is fully customisable with the HyperX NGENUITY software, which we’ll come onto a bit later. For a budget mouse, this thing is killer.

HyperX QuadCast Mic (£96.99)

For a long time, Blue have ruled the roost when it came to the entry level and above podcast or streaming microphone. But lately, I’ve seen more and more people using the HyperX Quadcast mic. Part of that will, sure, be the fact it looks way cooler than pretty much anything else on the market. It has RGB lights all over it, potentially making people think it looks like fashion over function, but that’s far from the truth. With a capacitive mute button on top you won’t hear any massive “Clonk!” when someone mutes their mic, and the gain control is at the bottom, offering a smooth motion to also reduce any unwanted noise. Like most mics of its ilk, people will use it wrong and have it too far away from them with the gain up, but get the gain down and get in close, and this is a super USB mic. Not only does it sound great, the functionality is just better thought out, and with a built in pop filter and shock mount, this is just a brilliant entry level (or slightly above) mic for podcasting or streaming.

HyperX Alloy Origins 60 (£109)

Speaking of lightweight… The HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is not that. A heavy duty feeling keyboard, it feels small but expensive. You’re paying for quality here, but for those not used to a small-form keyboard, what I’d say is that while there will always be a period of adjustment, the mechanical nature meant I was used to how it felt right away, and despite the smaller form nature, it actually has good spacing between the keys.

To operate the “missing” functionality in term of appearance, it’s simply a case of using the “function” key to find the things that’d otherwise have their own button. It’s a great keyboard for those who can’t stand laptop keyboards, as well, and it’s definitely becoming a part of my setup in that respect.

HyperX Cloud II Wireless (£149)

I’ve saved the best for last because, frankly, this headset is absolutely incredible. For the money, it’s a beast. The battery life is superb, the audio quality is crystal clear, while retaining the bass you’d want. Crucially, they’re great for using when doing long edits, or long sessions, because they’re comfortable even with wearing glasses. With the HyperX NGENUITY software you can mute your mic, or even check battery levels, but you can also get into the EQ of how your headset sounds. The mic is about as good as you can get for a headset of this price range, and honestly, it’s become my main headset.

It’s the biggest surprise of the pack, and is especially good for music, allowing subtleties to ring through that you can’t hear on other headsets. Mic-monitoring is available as well, and really the only negative is that it feels very much a PC-headset. It does work with Switch and PS4, but it’s clearly designed for PC use, which is fine with me.

The post The current HyperX lineup is absolutely superb appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

Metroid and Samus. Dark, unsettling atmospherics, gnawing, creeping feelings of unease, isolation, fear. These are words seldom employed when talking about first party Nintendo titles. But then canon Metroid games are relatively few and far between when viewed alongside the day-glo adventures of Mario and co. Or even the fantasy adventuring of Link. Generally speaking, when Metroid makes a return to a Nintendo machine, the sense of overwhelming, claustrophobic peril ramps up. Dread is perhaps the most aptly named entry yet in the storied franchise. It perfectly encapsulating the feelings and emotions that can be stirred into life each time Samus Arun steps into the fray. What is it that makes the 2D platforming of the Metroid series so special? And what can we look forward to from MercurySteam’s new game this October?

With influences drawn from the nightmarish illustrations of H.R Giger, and seminal sci-fi horror Alien, Samus was two outings deep before my first dalliance with the series. In its iconic oversized box, Super Metroid was and remains an utterly stunning achievement. A platformer that completely retains its ability to impress perhaps more so than any other 2D game of all time. It didn’t just build on the first two games structure to establish the conventions of what is now referred to as Metroidvania. No, it created something that had never been seen or experienced on a Nintendo console. From the moment the game boots, there is that palpable sense of, well, dread.

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Metroid: isolation for Samus on a Hostile planet

Fuelled by Kenj Yamamoto’s stellar sound design, you vicariously live through the experience of surviving in complete isolation on a hostile planet. tThe fact this is a two-dimensional platformer is irrelevant. It is easy to suspend your disbelief and place yourself inside the mechanised suit Samus wears. You can imagine the fear and trepidation of exploring Zebes. At the time, legendary UK magazine Super Play quite rightly described Super Metroid as “more of an experience than a game”. It absolutely stands the test of time in the way that only the very upper echelon of the genre can. And like Konami’s jaw dropping Symphony of the Night, remains a title that I can revisit all these years later and still pick up on things that I had missed or forgotten about.

There would be a long wait before next encountering Samus outside of a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate review arena. The Game Boy Advance has a hell of a catalog of superb titles, but not many can compete with the brilliance of what R&D1 accomplished with Zero Mission and Fusion. The latter was a remake par excellence of the NES original. It married the features of the modern titles to the time-honoured exploration. And in doing so it created something that felt fresh and new, and looked astonishing. Better still was Fusion, which once again brought our old pal dread to the table. Samus was pursued around a haunting bio-science laboratory by shape-shifting alien parasites.

Metroid and Samus: Linear or open

Choosing a slightly more linear approach, Fusion is a terrific handheld game with a genuine feeling of unease in not knowing exactly what the creepy X Parasites are going to do next. Nintendo were extremely generous in giving away both Fusion and Zero Mission for practically free as part of the Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors Program. This allowed a whole new generation of fans to enjoy their charms.

Fast forward another decade and a bit, and Nintendo put a shout out to MercurySteam, the team who so capably made what is still the best 3D Castlevania title, and impressed with it’s 2.5D platforming counterpart Mirror of Fate for the 3DS. What EPD and the Madrid-based firm came up with was the blinding – and, for my money, slept-on – Metroid: Samus Returns. Like Zero Mission, this is a turbo-boosted re-imagining of an early entry in the canon – namely Metroid II for the original monochrome Game Boy.

3D visuals and onto Dread

Introducing modern Metroid tropes and gadgets and a great new combat system, this 2017 release also looks and sounds stunning. It even made great use of the stereoscopic 3D. Nintendo were so pleased with the way MercurySteam understood and inhibited the spirit and conventions of the series, whilst bringing a modern vibe, that they farmed out the development of the next Samus outing to it.

The suffix “Dread” has been floated around for a number of years. It first surfaced as a proposed Nintendo DS game that never came to fruition. Series overlord Yoshio Sakamoto clearly understands the emotive feel of his work. He described how he wanted to double down on the sensations of fear that we all felt not only during the bleak exploration of Super Metroid. But also being tracked down by the SA-X in Fusion. What we have to look forward to is a brand new adventure. It’s set directly after the events of the aforementioned GBA classic, and essentially the fifth mainline platformer in the chronology.

Metroid Dread’s storyline

The storyline alone, when combined with what we have seen in the trailers, are enough to generate a very real sense of dread. Thinking that the X Parasites have been eradicated, the Galactic Federation are surprised to receive an anonymous video transmission that states this is not the case, and that the ominous parasites are very much alive and well on the planet ZDR.

When a batch of exploratory EMMI robots are sent to investigate, but mysteriously vanish, it is time for Samus to don the iconic suit and investigate. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that these sentient robots have become something far from friendly. No doubt thanks to some X-related tomfoolery. Samus is vulnerable to these powerful, possessed mechs. So she has to employ stealth and parkour to survive in her first new 2D platformer for 19 years.

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Footage shows a high octane, dynamic Samus able to employ the free aiming of Returns. There’s also a number of smoothly implemented manoeuvres, including a parrying/counter attack and a running melee. The EMMI robots look like a wonderfully heart-racing addition. Somehow anthropomorphic, insectoid and animal all at once. Their relentless pursuit of Samus looks incredibly intense. It reminds me of being tracked by Nemesis in Resident Evil. Hopefully it fully lives up to the name. I cannot wait.

Metroid Dread is out the same day as the Nintendo Switch OLED, October 8, 2021.

The post Metroid Dread looks like high octane Samus action, and I can’t wait to play it appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

Nintendo’s golden era period is up for debate. Some people I know will often yearn for their drunken student days where Goldeneye was the lifeblood of an evening in front of the telly. Others will remember carrying a Game Boy everywhere. Or if you are really old like me, you may have happy memories of playing Super Mario Bros in an actual arcade. One thing is for certain however, whichever era you care to mention – Intelligent Systems will have had a hand in it, along with the best WarioWare games. Look at their rapsheet and you will see a recurring thread of excellence, particularly the early to mid-2000s.

During this period, sometimes working alongside R & D1, Intelligent Systems dropped a run of nearly twenty utter bangers across a variety of consoles. Among this astonishing list of titles was a new franchise for idiotic anti-hero, Wario. Based upon a mode from obscure Mario Artist: Polygon Studio for the ill-fated 64DD, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! was a breath of fast paced, bonkers fresh air that had the ability to elicit a smile of pure gaming joy from even the most skeptical killjoy. Not only is Wario the perfect evil clownish dork to inhabit this universe, but Intel came up with a supporting cast of characters that all bring something to the table and are recognisable to Nintendo fans to this day.

The best WarioWare games, ranked!

The madcap stupidity and humour on display in the franchise is surprisingly deep and subversive. It walks a balance beam between off-the-wall Japanese insanity, irreverent comics and cartoons, and alternative, abstract Western comedy. It was a huge, instant success critically and commercially and birthed a franchise that is about to see its latest release hit the Switch.

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In honour and in fervent anticipation, I would like to break down what I reckon are the five best WarioWare games thus far, and why you should go and play them now, regardless of any cost or inconvenience.

5. WarioWare D.I.Y.

Series overlord Goro Abe is such a dude. He realised whilst making his own microgames with his team, they were having a lot of fun. But he also recalled how his own experiences of videogames that allow the player to develop their own DIY fare could be frustrating, complex and for him often ended in giving up. He surmised that fans would enjoy being able to participate in the creation of Wario-based microgames, as they are more simplistic and easier to produce.

Thus the seeds of WarioWare DIY were planted. And after experimenting with the Wii, the touch screen DS was settled upon as being the console best suited to a creative package. D.I.Y succeeds in that as per Abe’s vision, it makes the work of invention bags of fun. A tutorial that is as comprehensive as it is amusing guides you by the hand, and allows you to start banging out micro-joints using a wealth of tools, stamps, paintbrushes and sounds. There is also a core WarioWare game within the package that offers the thick end of a hundred game.  All locked into specific character themes, that can also be edited and played around with. At the time, you could send your creations to mates. And there was even a Wii tie-in which allowed you to add games from the DS to the white-wanded wonder.

Best Warioware games: 4. WarioWare Touched/Twisted

A launch title for the DS, Touched! was a short but very sweet collection of excellently presented, and masterfully implemented micro and mini games. It was also one of the first things I ever played for the touch screen wonder. Making full use of the microphone and stylus tomfoolery, this one will have you tapping, blowing and laughing your way through nearly 200 stages. It features the tremendous 9 Volt retro NES themed levels. It showcases in both the main game and the “toy” unlockable side hustles the true potential of the capacitive touchscreen.

I have lumped this in with Twisted, as the gyro-controlled Game Boy Advance corker was developed in tandem with its DS counterpart. Featuring a genius rumbling NEC-designed gyro within the cart, this one has you literally flipping and spinning your handheld around to accomplish tasks such as emptying bins, flying paper planes (a series mainstay) and washing dishes. It will work on any of the Nintendo handhelds with a GBA slot. But it can even be played in a Gamecube if you can work out how to spin the thing around. Between them, these two games pushed the limits of what a handheld console could do, in classic Nintendo innovative style. Did I mention it also features Wario in his Wario Man superhero guise? Easily one of the best WarioWare games!

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3. WarioWare: Gold

The natural evolution from the previous titles in the list. Gold is a Greatest Hits package that arrived at a time where the Switch was the new kid on the block. So Gold suffered sales-wise as a result. This is a shame as it is an essential 3DS purchase that conveniently splits the huge number of microgames into separate categories. You’ve got button and d-pad controlled like the original GBA game. There’s all-action gyro motion sensor bonkers like Twisted. And touch and mic fun games like your, erm, Touched! It cribs nice elements from the lesser parts of the Wario universe, like the ace Sneaky Gamer mode (from the otherwise underwhelming Game & Wario) which features 9 Volt in a panic-inducing effort to conceal his late-night gaming exploits from his old dear.

There are so many modes, so many unlockables. But also so many laughs that make this a stonking and often overlooked title. It also has a shed-load of voice acting for the first time in the series. This includes a virtuoso performance from Charles Martinet, who injects the titular anti-hero with a gleefully villainous comic menace. Perhaps best of all, you can unlock a tool which allows you to overdub your own voice into the character introductions. Of course this has all of the swearing and idiocy potential you can possibly imagine.

Best WarioWare games: 2. WarioWare: Smooth Moves

Some of the best fun you can have on a Wii. This remains along with Excite Truck and Konami’s slept-on Eledees, one of my favourite motion controlled experiences for the machine that didn’t involve a Wii Sport. The microgames are well chosen, as well. The controls work perfectly, it looks fantastic, and the storyline is amusing and well written. Overall the package has genuine cross generational party appeal. I love this game dearly and have fond memories of watching my games-hating older relatives gleefully swinging the remote around and guffawing at the insanity of it all.

The tutorial lead-in screens have to be seen and heard to be believed. There’s easy listening muzak, and a laconic, sumptuously delivered narration. I can remember them absolutely folding me up back in the day. And a cursory search on YouTube shows that they are just as funny, incongruous and brilliant as I remembered. You can pick a Wii and this game up for peanuts these days. And I strongly recommend that you do so.

1. WarioWare, Inc: Mega Microgames!

Where it all began, and still the best, most pure expression of a maniacal cartoon villain. When it dropped on the GBA, this was a game changer. An iconic release that all future WarioWare titles steal from, remix or rework in some way. Simplicity is key here: you never have to do a great deal. But every button press or directional movement means something, whether you get it right or wrong. Like the best games, it is seldom that it is not intuitive and obvious what you need to do. Dodge! Stop me! Pound!

A madcap soundtrack, lots of menacing laughter, and a likeable plot underpinning everything. There are over 200 classic micro-bangers here. There’s also some minigames spinning off from the core like Paper Aeroplane Chase, that have become as synonymous with the series as the bogey sniffing, baseball-twatting or flea-magnifying. Quite simply, this is a magnificent achievement. The super Gamecube remake added multiplayer, but this is the original and best. Why not invest in a ‘Cube and a GBA player, and play them both? There you go, definitely one of the best WarioWare games.

WarioWare: Get it Together! is out for Nintendo Switch on September 10, 2021.

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You wouldn’t know it from the somewhat lackluster way the series has meandered in recent years. But the original Monkey Ball is hands-down one of the greatest games SEGA ever produced. Perhaps my most yearned-for era in terms of exercising restraint in the retro purchases department. It was another spectacular high point on the NAOMI hardware.

Seriously though, go and have a look at the full list of Naomi games. Stop salivating, and then consider selling a kidney to purchase them. It was a great system, with some unique games. Samba De Amigo had the maracas, but Monkey Ball’s beautiful stand up cab was fitted with a splendid analogue joystick fashioned like a banana. And it had gameplay so perfectly pitched and balanced that it was even used once in a clinical trial to improve the dexterity and concentration of actual surgeons.

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Monkey Ball marble madness

Taking a cue from classic maze-negotiating rollerball fare like Marble Madness, but switching it up so that you tilt the world around your spherical avatar, impossibly handsome Amusement Vision big cheese Toshihiro Nagoshi dreamed up the inertia-based roll ‘em up as he wanted to prove to the world that you could still have success with a simple, low budget arcade game. He was on to something, as the game was a monster hit. It was instantly upgraded and ported to Nintendo’s GameCube, where it became one of the finest launch titles for any console, ever.

As with nearly any successful mascot-y property, Monkey Ball has been done to death over the years. The quality control hasn’t been great. Motion controls, balance boards, 3D platforming tie ins, etc. The addition of an unnecessary jump move and boss fights are just some of the diminishing return-inducing additions we have seen. I would even go as far as to say there hasn’t been a genuinely great entry in the franchise since 2005. And even then that in itself was the Deluxe remaster. Although it isn’t technically a new game, the upcoming Banana Mania looks like it is about to thrust Ai Ai and co right back into the spotlight. Hopefully it’ll give fans old and new an opportunity to visit some of the dizzying early peaks of the series. But why should you be excited in 2021?

Simple Monkey Ball

The appeal of Super Monkey Ball is in its simplicity. The arcade game and subsequent Gamecube port and sequel understood this, and represent the purest distillation of Nagoshi-san’s vision. You roll your ball, you collect your bananas, you reach the goal. It is possible to enjoy it in so many ways. Speed runners love it, but it is also one for the meticulous score obsessed. It is also a great time for younger gamers. Seldom has it been more obvious what you have to do in a game. There isn’t really any need for a tutorial.

Mania includes all of the main stages from the first two titles, and the Deluxe compilation. This means that you get a gorgeous looking approximation of 300 mind-bending courses to roll through. The graphics have been given a great HD makeover. Tere are tons of customisation options, extra characters, and even proposed future DLC.

Monkey minigames

Minigames have been another feature of the many Monkey Ball sequels over the past two decades. The Wii era games predictably followed the trend of the period. Here it went absolutely bonkers with a staggering fifty side hustles. Mania brings just the dozen that were originally included in the Deluxe package, with competitive and co-operative local multiplayer.

This is great news as there is a lot of fun to be had here. Monkey Fight is a simple yet riotous battle to send your opponents over the edge of the stage with power-uppable boxing gloves. Meanwhile, Monkey Target is a Pilotwings-esque glider affair that is absolutely terrific fun. Monkey Golf, Race and Bowling are, as you can imagine, completely logical minigames for a speedy monkey or other anthropomorphic creature encased inside a sphere. And, accepting the genius suggestion of Alan Partridge, you have a spot of Monkey Tennis.

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Monkey mania

All of this is going to come with the booming vocal bombast of Brian Matt-Unh, the announcer from the O.G games. This is just to place a nice cherry on top of an already enticing Monkey sundae.

As I have mentioned, the first brace of Monkey Ball titles for home consoles were some A-grade party fun times for all. They had razor-sharp physics and gameplay that stands the test of time quite unquestionably. If the fundamental mechanics are intact and the controls live up to the splendid yellow stick of the Gamecube, then there is every chance that Banana Mania could be one of the surprise comeback success stories of 2021. I for one cannot wait to find out.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is out on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch on October 5, 2021.

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I was born in 1979, and had the kind of liberal parents who allowed me to be scarred for life early doors. And I mean that in a good way, of course. I was allowed to absorb pop culture, films and art however I chose. This comes a fair way to explaining my lifelong love of action and sci-fi flicks, as my formative years were a golden age dominated by Arnie, arcades, Rambo, board games, pirate videos and American wrestling.

One of the iconic franchises from back then also gave me my lifelong fear of being impregnated and subsequently cocooned by an acid-blooded Xenomorph. Alien, and indeed Aliens, was everywhere – even well into the early 90s. I can remember buying the novelisations, glowing green egg on the cover, and a tie-in Kenner board game at car boot sales. I remember the wildly popular Games Workshop tabletop classic Space Hulk borrowing more than a little from the Giger-esque beasts with their Tyranid Genestealers. And then there were the games.

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Best and worst Aliens games: Twenty in total

There have been nearly twenty dedicated Aliens titles over the years. You can easily double that if you include the crossovers with Predator, the pinball tables and the many more board games. In fact, the reason I am sat here writing this is because there is another one on the horizon. And it looks like it could be rather good indeed. With the Left 4 Dead-esque Aliens: Fireteam Elite on the horizon, how can you best whet your appetites with some Aliens classics? And which ones should you avoid like an approaching facehugger?

First up, one that was routinely disowned by David Fincher. It also had a gestation period that had script changes out the wazoo. Alien 3 was never going to live up to the high octane space marines actioner that preceded, nor recapture the tense thrills of the original. Nonetheless, particularly in its re-assembled 2003 cut, it is a superb looking example of brutalist sci-fi. And it spawned not one but three-and-a-bit noteworthy games.

Alien 3: SNES & Mega Drive

The Genesis/Megadrive and Super Nintendo/SNES are the two versions of Alien 3 that will be most familiar, and are against the clock run and gun platformers, standard issue tie-in territory at the time. Both are damn fine 90s fare. But the Nintendo version edges out the Sega counterpart in the aesthetics stakes. It does, however, fall behind when it comes to longevity and gameplay.

Both titles do a great job of capturing the foreboding, nihilistic feel of the movie, whilst using artistic license to introduce a shitload of weapons and explosions. Even the lesser powered consoles of the time like the NES and Master System had a half decent Alien 3. And an honourable mention goes to the top down Game Boy adventure, which is far better than it has any right to be.

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Best and worst Aliens games: The gun?

Action platforming is one thing, but in the grand 1992-93 roll-out of Alien 3 game ubiquity, the real deal was Sega’s ridiculously fine, and hilariously titled Alien 3: The Gun. This one did exactly what it says on the bezel. A two-player light gun classic, it’s one of the best cabinets of its kind from any era. Eschewing the skinhead Ripley in favour of two space marine types, you face wave after wave of aliens, robots, facehuggers and eggs, and, ultimately, the spectre of human greed in a splendid twist ending. It looks great, has a genuinely unsettling soundtrack, and even features digitised swearing.

They tried this approach again in 2006 with Aliens: Extermination. It was good, but it can’t hold a torch to its Fury-based forebear. Rounding off the third movie in the series is its inclusion as one third of 1996 classic Alien Trilogy. Like most FPS of that era, it feels cumbersome and limited now. But like Medal of Honor and Goldeneye, we all played the hell out of this back in the day and it remains a fine use of the license.

Doom but with Facehuggers

Essentially Doom with extra facehuggers, this remains a muddy looking charmer. Going back a bit further, there were very few dedicated Alien (1979) videogames. A Pac-Man clone for the Atari 2600 in 1982 and a strategy title for home micros in 1984 hardly set the world ablaze. With its emphasis on action over slow burning dread, Aliens was always going to suit itself more to action. Much like Alien 3 would spawn multiple titles, Aliens had two very different games released between 1986 and 1987 that are like chalk and cheese in comparison.

With a none-more-1980s title, 1986’s Aliens: The Computer Game was released for home computers to poor reviews. Much like portmanteau horror films boomed in the 70s and 80s, minigame-based licensed tie-ins dominated the home gaming market for a long old while. Some of these, like this one, were very poor.

Aliens: The Computer Game

Thanks heavens then that in 1987, Software Studios got their hands on the license and created Aliens: The Computer Game? Yes, that’s right. Despite the predecessor being a wet turd of a game, they still retained the same title and tagline. If you managed to pick up the correct version then you got to play the first genuinely great example of an Aliens game. Do be careful though, as I once got my fingers burned in a car boot sale C64 cassette mixup.

It’s a first-person maze crawler with a brilliantly simple design. Somehow it retains the power to unsettle the player with jump-scare moments and a gradually heightening sense of tension. I loved this one back in the day, and so did the critics. It genuinely captures the feel and structure of the movie, right up to the final confrontation with the Queen.

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Best and worst Aliens games: Enter Konami

First encountered whilst holidaying in France in 1990, Aliens (Konami, 1990) is another arcade game that dresses things up with a bit of flamboyant, colourful artistic license, and biodiverse Xenomorph types that are not actually in any of the films. Imagine if they remade Gremlins: The New Batch but with Aliens. Yeah, it’s that kind of thing. It does capture the feel and essence of the franchise, though. And has an oddly blonde Ripley donning the iconic Exosuit – and is decent run and gun.

Truth be told, Konami did better arcade games than this around the same era. But this remains a playable slice of coin-op nostalgia. If you really want to get stuck into a genuine classic Alien-featuring arcade game, then look no further than Capcom’s 1994 CPS2 belter Aliens Vs Predator.

Getting modern with Aliens

It came at a time when they could do no wrong in the belt scrolling department. It was a high point for their hardware and packed in more action and weapons than you can shake a xenomorph’s tail at. There has been near constant calls for it to be re-released. But sadly due to its licenced nature, it joins the similarly brilliant Cadillacs & Dinosaurs and Punisher in being emulation only options if you aren’t packing a JAMMA harness and loads of money. It remains the best AVP game, with an honourable mention for Aliens Vs Predator (1994) for the ill-fated Jaguar.

Let’s get a bit more modern, then. Aliens: Infestation (Nintendo DS, 2011) is a superbly presented Metroidvania affair. It even has some excellent comic book art from industry legend Chris Bachalo. It’s essentially the game that Alien 3 could have been if it had taken more cues from Super Metroid. This is well worth revisiting, but commands a hefty price in the secondhand market. Zen Pinball are fantastic, and of course there were a clutch of Alien related tables in 2016. These are as well-designed and fun to play as you expect from the renowned flipper experts.

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Best and worst Aliens games: Isolation

Last but not least we have Creative “Total War” Assembly’s well-received Alien: Isolation (2016). This is a scary, atmospheric first-person survival sci-fi horror. It might be a bit too long, but it features plenty of excellent spooky space station exploration.

In terms of what to avoid, then I would have to single out the one obvious big-time Alien faux pas. Yes, it’s Gearbox Software’s terrible Colonial Marines from 2013. Colonial Marines even got panned for false advertisement. But here we are. The game was essentially a stillborn chest-burster with inferior graphics and performance than its press demo content. It has crap AI, a hypermasculine, bullshit plot full of irritating characters, and cheap production values. This was a shameful effort and a low point for the series, especially given the technologically advances available.

We live in hope that Aliens: Fireteam Elite can provide us with another bug-shooting high point.

Aliens: Fireteam Elite is out on August 24, for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox formats.

The post The best (and worst) Aliens games so far appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

Despite having an on-or-offline world of current gen entertainment at my fingertips, as well as a Raspberry Pi that enables me to access a treasure trove of retro goodness, I am still very much a sucker for the old-school physical act of playing an honest to goodness arcade game in its physical form. There is something magical about the whole experience – from the bezels and art designs of the cabinets, to the CRT screens, and the often-punishing difficulty. And of course the social aspect that was part of my formative gaming years as a child.

Back in the day, arcade cabs were everywhere. Takeaways, newsagents, working men’s clubs, cross channel ferries, bowling alleys, fairgrounds. And of course seaside resorts and holiday destinations. These were all places you could find them in abundance. Nowadays, even dedicated amusement arcades are barren in terms of actual traditional coin-ops. Instead preferring prize-incentivised fare, with occasional sub-par driving and light gun games. Enthusiasts of a certain age can now buy, collect and customise machines in their own homes for personal enjoyment. But mainstream arcades are only really a thing in Japan, or select pockets of big cities.

Re-live your youth in a new arcade

Thankfully, some entrepreneurs have cottoned on to the fact people like me still love to experience and re-live their youth. Dedicated independent businesses housing classic arcade machines are popping up all over the place. The latest to open its doors in my locale is the Insanity Retro Gaming in Poole. Along with an excited eight-year-old, my editor and I, two men old enough to know better, sampled its wares recently. Is it worth your time and money?

It’s located on an industrial estate in the lovely seaside town of Poole. Insanity combines a pay-per-session amusement arcade with licenced food and drink, and their own retro gaming shop. You pay a set fee for a three-hour session, and are given a wristband and carte blanche to play all of the titles inside. Obviously this means they’re all set to free play. In an excellently laid out two-story industrial unit, there are a selection of titles spanning the gaming ages. Prime, dedicated driving cabs are present and correct with well-maintained Sega Rally 2, Super Hang-On, Crazy Taxi, a fun HD Nascar experience.  But best of all: Taito’s rollicking Chase HQ sequel, Special Criminal Investigation.

Calibration and collection

An impressive Star Wars Battle Pod was hugely popular particularly with the younger visitors. This one offfered an immersive enclosed experience. It reminded me so much of playing the vector-based Star Wars in a similarly sized cabinet way back in the Eighties. Light gun fans are catered for with Time Crisis 3, Aliens Extermination, House of The Dead 2, and a very nice vintage duo in Operation Wolf 3 and Lethal Enforcers II: The Gunfighters. Sadly, a huge, non-operational Silent Scope took up a large piece of real estate. This would be a recurring theme, as Sega’s incredible Virtua Cop was playable, but the calibration was off rendering it a frustrating experience.

There are some beautiful dedicated machines to play. The slept-on 1991 Spider-Man brawler, a duo of Nintendo stalwarts in Mario Bros and Popeye, Capcom’s groundbreaking Side Arms, Double Dragon II, a lovely Time Pilot and of course the ubiquitous Space Invaders are all fine examples. It was a genuine pleasure playing the simplistic, nails-tough Wonder Boy in its intended format for the first time since I holidayed in France about 28 years ago.

Modern with your retro

I got most excited at the prospect of playing the most left-field PCB in the whole joint. Featured just as you walk in, R-Type Leo had me salivating as it was the first time I had ever seen it in an actual arcade cabinet. Disappointingly, the joystick was faulty, meaning that it was unplayable. So-bad-its-good Sega legend Altered Beast was also one I was looking forward to romping through, too/ But there was an issue with the start button that meant you can only start with two players. Upstairs, a dedicated Street Fighter II had a sub-par joystick rendering it a frustrating experience.

There are playable home consoles on offer, with the likes of Super Smash Bros and Tekken joining an old Xbox 360 demo pod. There are also a few of the modern Arcade1Up cabs dotted around. But my overwhelming feeling is that there are too many niggles with the machines, and some glaring omissions. I expected at the very least a handful of competition-standard fighting games. I was crying out for a KOF, a Darkstalkers, or a more modern Street Fighter. There are no candy cabs, and a distinct lack of decent Sanwa sticks or buttons, or similar. There’s no hori shmups, no Capcom belt scrollers, and glaringly, not a Neo Geo MVS in sight. We overheard one patron berating the lack of an Outrun 2. This is another cast-in-stone classic that no arcade should be without. Hell, even the original OutRun would have done!

A new arcade: Price, food, and more

The entry price is quite expensive for what is actually on offer. Particularly if you are a genuine arcade nerd like I am. Kids will relish being able to repeatedly enjoy the larger more spectacular offerings without pestering parents for change, though. As a parent, I am all-too aware of how much cash a kid can burn through with pound-a-pop cabs. I walked away feeling a little bit disappointed. With a few extra inclusions this place could be a must-visit. On the plus side of things, their well-stocked retro shop, whilst a little disorganised (alphabetize or DIE!!) has some gems and is fun to explore.

The staff were all lovely, and the food was absolutely excellent, and good value – a kids burger meal dwarfed the same offering from certain golden arched establishments, and was destroyed with fervor by my lad. Being licensed, it also serves alcohol, with bottled beers, wines and spirits all keenly priced. Everywhere was spotlessly clean, with hand sanitizer everywhere, and staff regularly cleaning the sticks and buttons. The facilities were also maintained to a high standard. The venue can be hired out for parties, and there are regular events and promotions. It is undoubtedly a cool place to hang out, and with a bit more attention to the quality and selection of games is somewhere I would love to come back to, preferably with a designated driver, so I could have a few brews whilst bashing some buttons.

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Mario may be a plumber by trade, but he is best known as a platformer-cum-racing kart driver. He forms the backbone of Nintendo’s golden first party output. But like many gaming mascots over the years, the mustachioed icon has also been used in a variety of extracurricular pursuits, with mixed results.

Looking back, Mario and his Mushroom Kingdom pals have been involved in over thirty sports titles. The most recent being Mario Golf: Super Rush. Here, I am going to look at a few of the very best Mario sports games (and the very worst, too) that have graced our Nintendo systems.

Mario Strikers: Charged (Wii, 2007)

Next Level Games, who would go on to make the scorching Punch Out and Luigi’s Mansion sequels, had already had a crack at an arcade soccer title two years earlier, with the undercooked Super Mario Strikers. It’s sequel was much better, and perhaps the ultimate evolution of 1990s arcade footy sims like Super Sidekicks and Hat Trick Hero. Only it featured teams constructed of Mario characters, and simple, easy to follow gameplay that was perfectly suited to multiplayer.

Thanks to what was at the time Nintendo’s best ever matchmaking system and netcode, this was for many the first foray into online play with the white-wand wonder. Easily one of the best Mario sports games of that era.

Verdict: GOOD!

Mario Hoops: 3 On 3 (Nintendo DS, 2006)

When you think of partnerships between Nintendo and Square Enix, the obvious title that springs to mind is the impossibly brilliant Super Mario RPG. Rather than revisit the cross pollination of turn based JRPG and Mario goodness, they instead made a surprising left turn and went for an oddball stylus controlled basketball affair. With an emphasis on power ups rather than basketball skill, wildly overpowered Final Fantasy characters, and a limited number of poor minigames completing the package, even the charm of Mario and co, and a terrific soundtrack cannot save this one.

Verdict: BAD!

Mario Superstar Baseball (Gamecube, 2005)

Nintendo took the savvy step of working with Namco to produce this excellent, now extremely expensive entry in Mario’s sporting oeuvre. Past masters at producing great arcade baseball titles with their Pro Yakyu series, the Pac-Man overlords really hit it out of the park with a great looking, surprisingly deep, and often genuinely funny home-run of a sim. It plays well, but it also has a bit of a story running through it featuring perennial ne’er do well Bowser causing all manner of mischief.

The Wii sequel, with the benefit of motion controls, should have been excellent. Instead it fell dismally short with misfiring accuracy and no online play. It was criminal that the original only received a limited PAL run, as it is crucially slept-on and deserves to be played.

Verdict: GOOD!

Mario & Sonic At The Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U, 3DS, 2016)

This one had a huge number of recognisable Mario and Sega characters. It also had a solid foundation to build on from its fun predecessors. But the officially licensed 2016 tie-in suffers from a lack of gameplay options, a reliance on over-familiar button mashing events, and some weak inclusions like the Strikers Charged-lite soccer, and the dog-rough beach volleyball.

It eschews the motion controls entirely, which ends up being a bad thing. And while there is no denying it looks the part and has fun but limited appeal in multiplayer, this is not recommended.

Verdict: BAD!

Mario Golf (Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, 1999)

I think the original Everybody’s Golf for PS1 is one of the best sports games of all time. So it is no surprise to learn I also adored the Camelot-developed approximation of the sport starring Mario and friends. Starting a long association between developer and Nintendo, the original Mario Golf stands up even today. This really is one of the best Mario sports games of all time.

It’s a superb simulation that sprinkles world class environmental and physics parameters with just the right amount of Mushroom Kingdom magic. Equally great on N64 or GBC, this is one I still go back to regularly. And it remains the purest, no-nonsense entry in the series even now. it’s a classic title to play with mates and a few beers. It’ll be interesting to see if the new one becomes that, too.

Verdict: GOOD!

Mario Sports Superstars (Nintendo 3DS, 2017)

Rather than focus on producing one single sport and doing it well as they have done many times, Camelot climbed into bed with Bandai Namco and delivered a surprising clunker with this multi-game package that bites off more than it can chew. Oddly, tennis and golf are both present. But they’re weak and watered down efforts. And these are two sports the developers have literally shown us they can do a hundred times better.

Soccer tries for a bit more realism compared to the Strikers series. But it just doesn’t hit the mark at all. Weaker still is the baseball, which will have you inwardly justifying the eye watering price of a PAL Superstar Baseball on eBay. Curiously, the horse racing event is the clear pick of the five sports on offer, featuring a combination of tactical racing and Pokémon style bonding with your nags.

Verdict: BAD!

Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, 2000)

Camelot repeated their golfing success with the absolutely sublime Mario Tennis. This one hit N64 and GBC with aplomb the following year. It came at a time when the N64 was the king of couch multiplayer. It combined the arcade ferocity and superior physics of SEGA’s equally dope Virtua Tennis to the quirks of the Mario universe, and was a spectacular four player experience.

Using just two buttons to execute myriad shot types, and with wildly different characters each offering different play styles, it is easy to pick up and very satisfying to master. The GBC even threw in a mild RPG mode, for goodness sake. Like the OG Mario Golf, this remains the definitive entry in the series for many. It also introduced Waluigi into the world, and for that we are eternally grateful.

Verdict: GOOD!

Honorable mention: Super Mario Spikers (Unreleased, 2007?)

It doesn’t so much sound bad but more badass. Spikers was a cancelled effort being worked on by Next Level Games in the mid 2000s. This was initially proposed as a straight up volleyball throwdown for Mario and his buddies. But things took a turn when the Canadian developers decided to introduce elements of pro wrestling into the mix. This was due to their prior work on an unreleased project they had worked on for WWE.

Several concept images and animations did surface. But it was consigned to the bin after Nintendo decreed that the levels of violence on display were too much. Don’t be expecting a Mario MMA game any time soon, then. What do think are the best Mario sports games of all time? Let us know on Twitter, why don’t you?

The post Mario Sports Games: The Best vs Worst Showdown appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

Its strange to think that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has developed such a strange legacy, with as many decrying it as the black sheep of the franchise as eulogising its ethereal, dream-like beauty. Going back ten years I vividly remember getting my hands on a build of it for the first time at an event in London. I knew it was going to be special. I could feel the spirit of the franchise envelop me and send goosebumps coursing along my arms as I wielded young Link’s arsenal in my hand. It looked and felt different. Magical. Sadly the only picture I can find from this day is of a Tanooki suit Mario staring at my editor’s arse.

Many now cite difficulties with the Motion Plus controls, and pick at the structure, the art style, and everything else in between. Strange because at the time of release it was almost universally acclaimed. This wasn’t a prime piece of art that was misunderstood at the time, like, say, Pinkerton by Weezer – mauled by the critics yet held as a touchstone of emo twenty years later. Skyward Sword was a great game, and now it is about to get even better. So why is it going to be essential in 2021?

Nintendo have a great track record with remasters

Simple as. Look at how many other Zelda titles have been remade or reimagined with tremendous success, and great additions. Wind Waker HD made me cry salt tears of joy with its fast travel mechanic. 3D Ocarina and Majora was mighty purdy, but the gyro controls worked a treat. Link’s Awakening was a slam dunk. This one is in great hands.

The motion controls were never as bad as you thought

Yeah, I said it. Anyone moaning in 2021 just wasn’t swinging the remote right back in the day, not recognising the nuance, swinging the damn thing around willy-nilly. Played with grace, timing and patience, the humble Wiimote is a mighty weapon. Piloting the flying scarab beetle was frankly much more fun than any experience I have had of the succession of drones my kids have had as presents. And capturing insects remains the best side hustle in any Zelda.

All the motion controls will be retained on the HD remaster, whilst also allowing less adventurous swordsmen, or Switch Lite owners, to play using bog standard controls. Bring it on!

Skyward Sword in 2021: Enhanced frame-rate! HD Graphics!

60FPS! Enhanced framerate! Graphical overhaul! That’s Skyward Sword in 2021!

Listen. Back in 2011 I though this game looked beautiful, it had (has) a hazy Miyazaki-esque fever dream feel, it borrowed from many a Ghibli classic whilst still feeling proper Zelda. The only time I wondered about improvement was when I saw someone running the thing through an emulator in HD, at which point I cursed my lack of IT ability and cried at its beauty, again. The Switch remake is going to give me this feeling all over again.

Skippable stuff

For those who don’t like to enrich their lives with the colourful dialogue of its rich tapestry of denizens, you can now skip through dialogue the same way my editor scans through my writing before publishing it. Equally, you can now skip cutscenes too. Both of these inclusions will appeal to those who found this a hard-going nuisance originally.

Skward Sword HD: Streamlining!

It may seem small, but the inclusion of character names when you speak to them is a great addition. What with the number of side quests you have, and the many citizens you talk to. Gone too is the ridiculous way a full description of collected items will repeat itself throughout the game.

Skyward Sword in 2021: More new stuff

Want the option of additional in-game hints courtesy of your anthropomorphic sword buddy? You got ‘em. You want to return to Skyloft at the drop of a hat without the ball-ache of finding a bird statue? Then shell out the thick end of thirty quid for the slightly more expensive than normal amiibo, good buddy. Why wouldn’t you play Skyward Sword in 2021?

It’s still one of the best games in the series

This. THIS! Skyward Sword is a wonderful game, and always has been. It has an otherworldly, alternate universe feel to it that is quite at odds with everything that has preceded it. It is the quirky hinterland betwixt Ocarina and Breath of the Wild, whilst never really completely feeling like either. The gadgets are unique and mystifying – the flying beetle in particular one of the best in the entire franchise.

The world is unlike any other that our green tunic wearing hero has ever set foot in, and the dungeons are as radical and astonishing as he will ever have to puzzle his pointy eared ass out of. Best of all, anyone coming into this having not played the original will be getting it will all of the above thrown on top of an already very enticing package. Ten years on from the first time I swung Link’s virtual sword, I still feel the same. Experience it with me again.

The post Why You have to Play The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword in 2021 appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

With the rumour mill powering into overdrive as we approach E3 2021, eyes will be on the big presentations for some big surprise. And with Nintendo announcing their own presentation on June 15, 2021, at 17:00 BST, it got us thinking here at God is a Geek what that surprise could be. Move over Breath of the Wild 2 and Metroid Prime 4, we’re thinking BIG with a show-stopping announcement of Mario Kart 9. You heard it here first, maybe.

But just what could a brand-new Mario Kart game on the Nintendo Switch actually look like. We don our thinking caps (that are only sometimes made of tin foil) and postulate what we could expect from a new Mario Kart title

Everyone is here!

Mario Kart has had rosters that have grown over time, with 43 characters available on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. And it wouldn’t be completely out of character for Nintendo to pull a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate-type reveal and announce every character from the series is now available to race in the latest title.

It means your favourite forgotten heroes could finally return to the racetrack. Anyone pining over Donkey Kong Jr. since his time on the original Super Mario Kart could finally be in luck. Or if R.O.B. was more your cup of tea, from Mario Kart DS, then your prayers would be answered.

Bolstering rosters feels like the easiest addition to this type of game – as we’ll discuss more later – and so it’s not inconceivable that every character in the history of the franchise could return. I think it’s also safe to bet that there would be more surprise new characters announced as well. Given their recent addition to Mario Golf: Super Rush, it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see Pauline, Chargin’ Chuck, and King Bob-omb included, especially given the former has already been included in Mario Kart Tour.

Create your own tracks

Whilst this may feel like a bit of a naff suggestion, stay with me on this one. Yes, it’s true that it can be difficult to really execute proper track creation, but I think now could finally be the time where it can be done in a competent way. We’ve come a long way since the random track generators of F-Zero X, and there have been signs recently of Nintendo considering the idea of creator content more and more.

Aside from the obvious Mario Maker comparisons, there was the Dungeon Creator mode in the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening recently too. And arguably Nintendo’s biggest nod to this possibility is Game Builder Garage where Nintendo has clearly considered what tools it would need to provide users to create fun and inventive experiences.

As such it’s not too much of a leap to move to creator courses in a new Mario Kart game. Friends could share and race around their own tracks for bragging rights. And whilst an increased track selection is always on the cards with a new Mario Kart title, having players able to create their own would be a big bold new step.

Improved online options and experience

As I type this, I breathe a heavy sigh. In 2021, I shouldn’t have to be saying that a new game should have a great online experience. But this is Nintendo and things always seem more protracted than they need to be. A new Mario Kart title should be the game that really grabs the Nintendo online experience by the scruff of the neck and drags it into the here and now.

An experience that is fast, that allows you to connect with friends quickly and simply is paramount. Menus that are intuitive and options that allow for a race full of friends, and not just a limited group of four.

There is such a large fanbase for Mario Kart, with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe being the best-selling game on Switch, selling an eye-watering 35 million units to date. There’s plenty of people who love the series, and it should be paramount that Nintendo irons out letting them play together online.

Rubber banding options

One of the most contentious points about Mario Kart is its rubber banding. The mechanic whereby racers behind catch up with those in front more easily. It’s a delicate balance that coupled with the items available to a racer in a given position, can drastically alter how Mario Kart feels to play.

At times, it can go from a racer, which tests racers, but ultimately the best racers still end up on top, all the way to being a random potluck who crosses the finish line first. There are arguments for both ends of that spectrum depending on who you speak to. Normally those looking for leaderboards and bragging rights want the former, whereas those just looking for multiplayer fun, prefer the latter.

There’s no right answer, which is why being able to tweak the level of rubber banding present, as well as tailor the item loadouts – similar to how you can on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – is critical. Letting people agree on the settings before they race means no one is upset, and everyone gets the Mario Kart experience they want.

Mario Kart as a service

Perhaps the most contentious one on the list, but by no means a dirty phrase or that unlikely either. Having Mario Kart as a service actually makes a lot of sense. People can pay for the base game and then enjoy that, but a new Mario Kart game could be monetised well for those interested in additional options.

You could easily add new outfits to racers, as well as new paint jobs or skins to karts. There could even be new karts altogether. Branching further afield you could even have unique characters and tracks locked behind additional paywalls.

Whether it’s done through a season pass type mechanic, or simply through microtransactions, it does make a lot of sense. I think a lot of people would welcome the opportunity to extend their Mario Kart experience by playing more tracks or as more characters too if the cost was kept to a reasonable price.

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Supermassive Games has launched a new gameplay trailer for their upcoming horror title House of Ashes. House of Ashes is the latest in their The Dark Pictures Anthology, following on from previous standalone titles Man of Medan and Little Hope. It gave us a closer look at what we can expect from this latest installment. Here are five key things that we learned from the House of Ashes trailer.

1. We’re going deeper underground

The Dark Pictures Anthology mixes up the settings of its horror titles, and House of Ashes is no different. This time, our band of protagonists is stuck underground in Iraq. Following a skirmish on the surface, a freak earthquake leaves the five controllable characters stuck deep down. They are away from rescue, and seemingly separated right from the outset. The lack of light instantly provides the eerie atmosphere that veterans of the series will be used to.

2. The enemy of my enemy is my friend

There are also two main differences of note in the cast of protagonists this time around. Firstly, they aren’t all friends or known to each other from the start. In both Man of Medan and Little Hope, the characters are known to each other, and relationships are fairly cordial. However the majority of the cast this time is made up of US soldiers, but also an Iraqi officer, known as Salim, who on the surface would have been an enemy of the others. But, to survive their predicament they will need to work together and forge bonds with unlikely allies.

The other key difference is that these characters are all military personnel. This not only affords them weapons to use in a pinch but also the training and athletic prowess that goes with such positions. Previous titles have focussed more on the vulnerability of the cast, groups of young inexperienced people, or in the case of Little Hope, some older and trailer members too. It will be interesting to see how the fear is captured given the protagonists now seemingly have more odds stacked in their favour.

3. A real threat

What was interesting is that the gameplay trailer and the commentary from Will Doyle, Game Director at Supermassive Games implied that what is waiting for our heroes underground is a very real and disturbing threat. The use of the term “nest” implies a living, breeding group of an unknown enemy that must be overcome if we want to make it out alive.

Veterans of The Dark Pictures Anthology will know that this certainly feels like a slight departure – arguably for the better – from Man of Medan and Little Hope. If anything the small scrawny fingers of the enemies we see in the trailer have more of the Wendigo about them from Until Dawn. And any comparison to that much-loved title is a welcome one.

4. Tailor your horror challenge

QTEs in any genre are a bit of a divisive mechanic. Some enjoy them, others loathe them. Some find them too challenging, whilst others find them a too simplistic way of completing more complex gaming actions. The Dark Pictures Anthology has always had QTEs and has dabbled with different levels of difficulty for them. More recently it has erred on the simpler side of the difficulty curve. This catered to those wanting to experience the story rather than get bogged down in inputs and fast reactions.

However, others have bemoaned this easing difficulty. So for the first time in House of Ashes, you can set the speed of the QTEs. It means each player can have the experience of this divisive mechanic just how they fancy it.

5. Next-gen scares

For the first time in the series, House of Ashes will have enhanced versions for next-gen consoles. That means that PS5 or Xbox Series X|S owners will enjoy enhanced graphical fidelity whilst being scared out of their skin. Dark and dingy caverns have never looked this good. You will still be able to play The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes on Xbox One and PS4 if you don’t currently have a newer console. The game will also be available on PC.

Those are 5 things we learned from the House of Ashes trailer. You can check out the full video below:

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes will launch on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S later in 2021.

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Is Monster Hunter Rise friendly for newcomers? Well, you’ve probably heard this a lot, but I’ve never been able to get into the Monster Hunter games. I’ve always liked the idea of taking down huge monsters in epic battles, but Capcom’s ridiculously successful series isn’t known for being particularly newcomer friendly.

The first entries I tried were the Monster Hunter Freedom games on PSP. Then I tried again on the Wii, and finally put some hours into World when it hit GamePass. I thought I’d hit my limit when it came to learning how to hunt big beasties, and then along came Monster Hunter Rise.

Monster Hunter Rise: Newcomers welcome?

I told myself there was no point trying again. I’d wasted hours trying to enjoy a series that wasn’t for me, and spent a bunch of cash for the opportunity. Monster Hunter was not for me, I’d learned my lesson and made the sensible decision to play something else. The mind was strong, but it turned out the flesh was weak.

I blame the wonderful GodisaGeek Discord community for this. For months, staff members and patrons alike talked about how they couldn’t wait for Rise. Playing demo after demo and loving every minute. The Monster Hunter channel was a hive of activity, and once launch came I couldn’t take it any more.

Rise started like any other game in the series. I made a character (albeit with the addition of a gross long dog in need of a serious makeover) and got ready to fail at swinging around a huge bit of metal. Fortunately I made the sensible decision to see what weapons were especially beginner friendly this time around, and grabbed a sword and shield.

The tutorials and first few missions went well, and killing a few small lizards and picking herbs was made all the more fun thanks to Wirebugs. In case you’re not one of the 6 million who bought Monster Hunter Rise, these handy little insects are essentially grappling hooks. Shooting your way up cliffs is such a fun way to navigate a map, as well as coming in handy to dodge attacks.

Brick walls and big monsters

I was worried I’d hit a brick wall when it came to taking down my first big monster. The deliberate pace of Monster Hunter combat has always been a struggle for me, and with all the consumable items available to me I felt out my depth. With my trusty sword in hand and a few potions around my waist, I went into battle and something amazing happened. I won! After a grueling battle with an extra large dinosaur, the scaled behemoth fell to the ground and was ready to be cut up for parts.

I now understand why Monster Hunter fans are so passionate about these games. Going after an extra large beast, learning its attacks and finally toppling it is an incredible feeling. I’d soon learn that every one of these oversized animals is totally unique, and every time I chose a new one to go toe-to-toe with I watched their intro video with glee.

I think what helped me get into the Monster Hunter loop in Rise is the difficulty. The hunting missions are definitely difficult, but not so much that you need to know how to use every mechanic from the jump. As long as you can swing a weapon and dodge roll with decent timing, you’ll be fine for the first couple of hours.

Eventually though, I realised I’d need to do a little bit more to make it through the game. I crafted the best weapons I could while refusing to grind, learned some snazzy combos in the training area, and even began trying to learn what items do. Getting to learn at a pace that suited me was exactly what I needed to become a Monster Hunter fan, as I know that if I tried to master every system from the start I’d have lost interest.

Monster Hunter Rise newcomers: Great sword, great game

There were a few fleeting moments where I thought Rise might not be my cup-of-tea. I tried to switch to a Great Sword and a Bow for a few missions and instantly regretted it, and the less said about the tower defense Rampage missions the better. In the end though, I just found myself enjoying almost everything about this potential Game of the Year contender.

Once the credits rolled I thought that’d probably be the end of my hunting adventure. I’m not someone who usually aims to craft the perfect gear to take on the toughest foes, so at 15 hours playtime I figured I’d got enough value out of the game. But before I hung up my sword and shield, I decided I might as well see what playing online is like.

Playing Monster Hunter Rise online is an entirely different experience. While I enjoyed the careful dance between man and monster in solo missions, gathering up 3 other warriors and diving madly around an oversized bunny is chaotic and fantastic. Despite having a great group of people to potentially play with, I’ve only played with randoms so far and have still had the best time.

If you haven’t managed to get hooked on Monster Hunter yet, I can say from first hand experience that Rise could well be the game to do it. You don’t need to spend hours reading tutorials to have fun, but there are plenty of deep systems to dive into if that’s your jam (and plenty of guides here to help you along the way). If your on the fence with Monster Hunter Rise and need a push, this game really could be the one to get you started on this truly special series.

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Milestone has been the leader in motocross racing simulation for a long time now, thanks to cornering the market with series like Ride, Moto GP, MXGP, and Monster Supercross. Their recent efforts have lit up the next-generation of gaming. However, they’ve turned their hand to arcade racing with the upcoming Hot Wheels Unleashed. We were given an exclusive hands-on with the game, and our early impressions are glowing. The handling is tight, the courses are crazy, and the cars on offer provide a welcoming throwback to the toys we played with as kids.

Hot Wheels Unleashed: Superb handling

The first thing noticeable about racing was how responsive the handling is. Milestone know exactly how to get it right, and they’ve done it again in Hot Wheels Unleashed. Although the calibre of control is second to none, there’s a much larger slice of fun thanks to the tracks and cars that feature. Whilst it has been some time since a great Micro Machines game existed, it filled me with happiness revisiting my youth racing with these cars. I was always a fan of Night Shifter. This car had everything: a neon orange chassis and wheels, a dynamic body, and the cool as hell Hot Wheels logo on the side.

Racing around the different tracks with Night Shifter offered a smooth experience. Whilst you have tight corners to manage and smooth straights, there were other challenges, too. Drift feels amazing, and by using it at the right time, getting around corners looks and feels great. There are speed boosts to hit, both on straights and on corners, offering moments to break away from the competition. Some tracks had spider webs to slow me down as well as the AI. Others had huge jumps that needed to be timed right or else flying off the course was a given. Finding ways to balance control and speed not only provided a sense of skill, but it also became an enjoyable part of the process.

Nitro blends thrill and chaos beautifully

Another cool element to racing was using Nitro. Building it up happens gradually as you race around each track. Once a square on the gauge is filled, the ability to fly past opponents becomes another weapon in your arsenal. Knowing when to use it for the best often comes with becoming familiar with the tracks. After a while, though, Nitro is the best tool at your disposal. Some cars might not have the best acceleration, but they aren’t as tricky to handle. Whilst this is an arcade racer, there’re many layers to taking on each race. Finding the right car isn’t as simple as picking the nicest looking, it’s about making sure the statistics work with the player’s play-style.

Hot Wheels Unleashed: Looking great

It’s also worth noting how good Hot Wheels Unleashed looks. It’s still in the pre-alpha stage, yet cars look fantastic. The lighting bouncing off the bonnet and the intricate designs of each car looks gorgeous. Tracks for the most part resemble the orange plastic courses like the toys, but the various obstacles along the way give each course a distinct look. Dragons, spiders, and the garage the game takes place in all have some lovely design choices. I cannot wait to spend more time exploring Hot Wheels Unleashed to find secret areas, new cars, and different tracks.

Despite being in such an early development stage, Hot Wheels Unleashed is wonderful. Fans of the toys are going to blow a gasket as they choose iconic cars to race with, such as Night Shift, Dragon Blaster, and Sharkruiser. As for the racing itself, Milestone has managed to utilise their experience to provide a fun experience that blends strategy and skill with some crazy tracks filled with surprises. I’ve missed this type of racer. It blends my love of the Hot Wheels toys and video games excellently. I’ve got a great feeling about this going forward, and I can’t wait to play more.

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To say I’m a Pokemon fan would be an understatement. Ever since I traded my first Jigglypuff on the playground, I’ve been hoarding these adorable monsters. I haven’t missed a game in the franchise since its inception, so with New Pokemon Snap there’s a few of the pocket monsters I want in the game, and with it arriving at the end of the month I’ve been thinking of nothing else.

The original game was a truly unique experience. Getting to see all of the critters in their natural habitat was delightful, and made the world of Pokemon feel all the more tangible. With 151 pocket monsters at the time, it was only natural that some wouldn’t be featured in the game. Now there’s a grand total of 898 Pokemon, I know not all of my favourites will be in the sequel. It’s obvious that we’ll see plenty of Pikachu, Charmander and the gang roaming the lush environments of the Lental region, but here are 10 obscure Pokemon I hope are in New Pokemon Snap.

Paras

This little mushroom bug has always had a place in my heart. Despite being around since day one, Paras has never been much of a game seller. It could be because it’s because Paras was the first Pokemon with three 4x weaknesses, or maybe people just don’t like parasitic fungal crabs.

After being cruelly shunned the first time around, New Pokemon Snap could be Paras’ breakout moment. Imagine spotting some mushrooms in the distance and assuming they’re part of the scenery, only to notice it’s a lovely Paras as you get closer. Simple and effective.

New Pokemon Snap monsters: Lanturn

Anglerfish are cool in theory, but horrific up close. Fortunately Game Freak realised this in Gold and Silver, and created this big goofy fish. This Water/Electric type Pokemon has been a staple in my team for years, due to having access to a nice array of moves and being so darn huggable.

It seems reasonable to assume there’ll be some water based levels in New Pokemon Snap, and who better to inhabit them than my boy Lanturn. There’s an opportunity here to have Lanturn’s antenna poking out the ground, requiring a savvy snapper to throw some food its way to unearth the bulky blue predator.

Tropius

Tropius is a dinosaur crossed with a tree that can fly. The fact that this Pokemon hasn’t taken Pikachu’s crown sooner is criminal. Since its debut in Ruby and Sapphire, Tropius has been largely ignored by pretty much everybody and I struggle to understand how this was allowed to happen.

I’ll admit that Tropius might not be easy to hide in New Pokemon Snap, but not every monster needs to be cleverly tucked away. Watching that majestic dinosaur fly majestically through the air, chin bananas swaying in the breeze, would easily make a few “best moment of 2021” lists.

Bidoof

I’ll be the first to admit, Bidoof is not a cool looking Pokemon. As one of the first wild foes you encounter in Diamond and Pearl, it isn’t the strongest of Pokemon either. But ever since my partner named his Bidoof after me, I’ve grown to love the useless little beaver.

With the remakes of the fourth generation of Pokemon games coming at the end on the year, now could be a good time to build some hype by putting Bidoof in Snap. I’d love to watch a group of these simple little critters building a dam, while staring blankly into the distance.

Combee

There’s a bit of a leaning towards bug type Pokemon in this list, because I just can’t get enough of my insect friends. Combee is a living piece of honeycomb, and if that doesn’t get you excited I don’t know what will. Well known for only evolving if female, many trainers in Gen IV were left frustrated by their entirely useless male Combees.

This one belongs in New Pokemon Snap due to their general adorableness. But Combee would be an exciting addition to the game if included in a hive setting. Combee can connect together when threatened to form a huge wall, too. And I think this mildly horrific structure made of honey faces would be a welcome addition to the game.

New Pokemon Snap monsters: Rotom

Since we only had 3 ghost types total when the original game launched, the New Pokemon Snap monsters could do with beefing up via a few extra spooky monsters. I think the electrical ghost Rotom and all its ridiculous transformations would be perfect for this.

In its standard form Rotom is not particularly exciting, but when possessing household objects this little ghost is just top tier. I just really want to take photos of a haunted washing machine and lawnmower, and honestly is that too much to ask?

Trubbish

I understand that not everyone is going to think that a living bin bag is particularly cute or cool. It does have a great name though, and punishes people who litter by following them. We could do with more Trubbish in the world! Although according to the Pokedex their smell can put you in hospital.

It’s not be the most picturesque location, but an urban stage full of poison and litter is what we need to see. Trubbish is a damning statement on our society, and just might save the world if put in New Pokemon Snap.

Vanilluxe

Apparently all the best Pokemon of the 5th generation were inanimate objects come to life. Bin bags might not be appealing, but who doesn’t love ice cream! There are three of these ice type Pokemon, but we really only need the deluxe double cone version in the game.

Of all the Pokemon on this list, I think that Vanilluxe actually has the most chance of appearing. There aren’t a huge amount of icy monsters to choose from yet. Also, watching an ice cream float around a frozen cave seems like a good time.

Buzzwole

From the most likely Mon to appear in New Pokemon Snap to the least likely. As much as I think this buff mosquito man is just perfect, I reckon that making kids take photos of flexing insects is just a little too weird.

The sheer number of muscular poses you could get snaps of means Buzzwole really should be in New Pokemon Snap. We’ve all dreamt of being the photographer at a bodybuilding show, so why not recreate that with fictional animals?

New Pokemon Snap monsters: Falinks

This list wouldn’t be complete without my favourite Pokemon from the most recent games. Falinks is made up of six little dudes who stand in a line and punch stuff. And I just think they’re lovely.

Since they are six circular fighters grouped together, Falinks could stack up in a variety of ways. This could include different poses in the New Pokemon Snap monster lineup. They could even start separate, and need coaxing together to get a tougher picture on a later level.

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Monster Hunter World saw a surprising amount of crossover events in its time, giving players the ability to craft some awesome armour inspired by other popular video game characters. Horizon Zero Dawn, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Assassin’s Creed: Origins, and Devil May Cry were just some of the crossovers to feature, giving players a reason to dive back in and take part in the various events.

With that in mind, there’s a good chance Monster Hunter Rise might be willing to do the same. With it being a Nintendo Switch exclusive, we might even see some crossovers from some Nintendo franchises as time goes on. Of course, I let my imagination wander a little, which led to myriad possibilities for what kinds of armour I’d like to see down the line, as well as weapons, monsters, and even Palico and Palamute skins. Below are just some of the crossovers I’d love to see once Monster Hunter Rise picks up steam over the coming months.

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Monster Hunter Rise Crossovers: Honorable Mentions

Diablo 3: Imagine going toe-to-toe with hell’s greatest demons? There’re so many that it would be hard to pick one, but Belial, Adria, or The Butcher would be amazing. Not to mention all the insane armour sets on offer.

Astral Chain: PlatinumGames’ Astral Chain was a huge success on Nintendo Switch, and some of the armour you got to wear was beautiful. The Raven Armour would be particularly cool to wear in Monster Hunter Rise, and having the X-Baton as a weapon could do some real damage.

Persona 5: There’s not a lot you could do with Persona in Monster Hunter Rise, but one particular skin would be awesome for your Palico. If you didn’t think of it the moment you saw Persona mentioned, I’ll lay it out for you in one word: Morgana.

The Legend of Zelda

When you think of iconic Nintendo characters, there’s no-one more important than Link (maybe after the chubby plumber at least). Throughout The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you could purchase plenty of new armour and outfits to aid you in your quest to defeat Ganon. I’d be happy if you got to wear his blue, white, and gold outfit. But I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to don his famous green attire.

Also, given how his Master Sword is integral to Link, there would be a high chance this would also feature. It seems like a given that if Rise does intend to do more crossovers, then the Zelda franchise would be at the top of the list. They’ve already done one in Monster hunter Generations Ultimate, so there’s a high chance we’ll see it in Rise as well.

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Pokémon

Plenty of games inspire dreams of armour and weaponry to feature in a Monster Hunter title. But what about the skins for both the Palicos and Palamutes in Rise? Imagine, riding around on Arcanine, Rhydon, or Tauros as you hunt down the monsters whilst being accompanied by Meowth, Evee, or even Pikachu? There are tons of other Pokémon that could feature, giving Capcom plenty of options when it comes to which skins to use. I can’t imagine there’ll be any Pokémon to fight, given the time it would take to design and create them in Rise, but a simple skin would be an awesome edition.

Castlevania

The Belmont Clan in the Castlevania series are without a doubt the most important characters within the metroidvania games. Responsible for slaying Dracula, the Belmonts all have definitive looks that would work in Monster Hunter Rise. That said, I’d rather see the likes of Simon or Trevor appear. With the popularity of the Netflix animated series, now would be the perfect time to see them branch out into other games.

Trevor Belmont’s expertise with a whip and a short sword would make for excellent battles, and his signature look could lead to some awesome armour, especially his cloak. Simon Belmont would also be a great choice, particularly as he’s been seen recently in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Either way, Castlevania would be a great crossover in Rise, and I’m all for it. Final thought: how about Ceberus or Dracula’s second form from the Symphony of the Night prologue making an appearance as monsters. Oooooh.

Monster Hunter Rise Crossovers: Fire Emblem

Fire Emblem is prime estate for a Monster Hunter crossover. There’s the option to use the house uniforms or Sword of the Creator from Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Or what about bringing back the Marth inspired gear or Blademaster sword and shield from Monster hunter Generations. One of the biggest issues with using Nintendo-themed content is that Monster Hunter Rise might be releasing on PC further down the line, so these kinds of crossovers might never see the light of day. Still, it’s always nice to dream, isn’t it? The choices for weapons are infinite as well. Areadbhar Insect Glaives, or Claude’s Failnaught Bow, anyone?

Dark Souls

When you think of top notch armour, weapons, and monsters, nothing quite reaches the quality of the Dark Souls franchise (except Monster Hunter, of course). Can you imagine witnessing a battle between your hunter and Darkeater Midir or Manus, Father of the Abyss? Approaching these creatures with caution would obviously be the best approach! But having Wirebugs at your disposal, and the ability to ride monsters would add a completely new dynamic to the game. Throw in some Ornstein, Black Iron, or Havel armour and wield the Dragon King Axe or Moonlight Greatsword would be EPIC! Who’s with me? Let’s go knock on Capcom’s door and make these Monster Hunter Rise crossovers happen!

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Ever since Princess Peach, Mario, and Bowser first appeared in Super Mario Bros. back in 1985, there has always been a deep connection between the three characters. On the surface, it has always seemed like Mario and Peach were Nintendo’s power couple, but when you look behind the curtain, maybe it was only a rouse. At the end of Super Mario Odyssey, Peach has finally had enough of both of them, choosing to reject both Mario and Bowser’s advances in favour of heading back to the Mushroom Kingdom alone. Who could blame her? After 35 years, maybe the princess just wants a bit of freedom.

Almost every game that features Mario has seen the plumber head off on an adventure to save Princess Peach, more or less exclusively from Bowser’s clutches. However, what if she was never truly kidnapped? Back in the original title, Peach was known to have great magical abilities, as she was the only one who could return the Mushroom Kingdom back to normal and break Bowser’s spell. Also, in Super Princess Peach on Nintendo DS, she showed off her magical parasol and how her emotions help utilise some impressive abilities. Why would someone with such power need a plumber to rescue her? Whilst it appeared the original story was solely about her rescue, there’s a good chance Peach and Bowser had began to form quite a close relationship. Whether due to Stockholm Syndrome or a genuine attraction, signs in later games showed that there was more going on that we first thought.

In Super Mario Sunshine, there’s a moment where Bowser Jr. tells Mario to leave his “Mama” alone. He then says he won’t let Mario take “Mama Peach away.” The Princess looks shocked, and as she questions whether or not Bowser Jr. is her son or not, he says that his daddy has told him all about it. Bowser had also told him that Mario was the one who had kidnapped Peach, and not the other way around. As the kids say, WTF?? OK, at the end Bowser Jr. does say his father lied, but it was Peach’s lack of denial that begs the question, what if she really is Bowser Jr.’s mother? Peach and Bowser have spent a lot of time together over the years, and a relationship between the two is not out of the question.

I’ve always believed Bowser is just misunderstood. I’m not saying that stealing Princess Peach from the Mushroom Kingdom is the right way to go about it, but Bowser’s softer side was evident in the Paper Mario series. In Paper Mario on the N64, Princess Peach and Twink discover Bowser’s secret diary, and inside it reveals how he is in love with her. Whilst he says he kidnapped her, he writes, “I couldn’t be happier, diary! I hope she likes me…” Aww, how sweet. Yes, his methods are unconventional and downright wrong, but he loves the princess. Maybe if King Koopa went about it differently, like, I don’t know, asked her out on a date instead of stealing her, she might say yes?

Whilst Mario has spent a fair amount of time fighting Bowser, the two do have a somewhat love/hate relationship that has allowed them to at least see eye to eye at times. I mean, you’ve played Mario Tennis and Mario Kart, right? Where’s the hostility between them? They just want to play a friendly game of tennis, or race around a few tracks to kill some time in the Mushroom Kingdom. It’s clear there is more to their friendship, and even in Paper Mario: The Origami King, Mario saves him in the early stages when he could’ve just left him to rot in the cellars under Peach’s castle. They’ve got a lot of history together, but one thing’s for sure, they both have a soft spot for the Princess.

It seems like Mario and Peach are destined to be together, but the plumber has had feelings for other princesses over the years. Maybe Peach is just sick of his bullshit by the closing moments of Odyssey that she wants to rid herself of Mario once and for all. Back when Mario was simply known as Jumpman in the Donkey Kong arcade game from 1981, he was trying to rescue Lady from the clutches of the hulking gorilla. That Lady was in fact Princess Pauline, eluding to the fact that Mario was actually in love with her in the very beginning. They meet up in Odyssey, but the love is clearly not there anymore. However, despite past relationships, it’s obvious that Mario loves Peach. He’s taken her on dates in Paper Mario, and they even went on holiday together to Island Delfino in Sunshine, but Peach doesn’t quite show the same dedication to him.

Whilst Mario has appeared to make his feelings known to Peach, she rarely shows any emotions, and does little to reciprocate those feelings. She does kiss Mario on the nose for rescuing her, but I believe she sees him more as a friend. After Mario whacks Huey with a hammer in Paper Mario: Color Splash on the Wii U, she introduces herself as Princess Peach, then says, “and this is my…friend Mario.” Whether that pause symbolises her refrain from revealing her true feelings, or means that in that moment she finally realises that she sees him as more of a friend, it’s a somewhat embarrassing moment for him. Mario has been friend-zoned.

Whatever your thoughts on what’s going on between these three and who Princess Peach does love, it’s clear that it’s not as simple as you may have first thought. We haven’t even talked about Luigi’s feelings on the princess. There are many other signs throughout the 35-year history of the Super Mario Bros. games that points to one of many outcomes, but one thing is certain, Peach is more than some Princess that needs saving. She’s a strong and confident woman that doesn’t need anyone to be happy, and definitely not a plumber and a roided-up turtle.

The post The complicated love triangle between Mario, Bowser, and Princess Peach appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

Well, folks, Magnamalo is tough. Having jumped into the second Monster Hunter Rise demo a few days early, I’ve spent a bit of time getting my arse kicked up and down the Shrine Ruins by the big purple brute and I can tell you, he’s no picnic. With the new hunt set to “Advanced” difficulty and with a timer of just 15 minutes, it was always going to be a challenge, but nothing prepared me for how hard he hits. I was getting two-shotted repeatedly, and with a large map, no fast-travel because we’re in the demo, and such a long trek back to him after a cart, time is truly of the essence here.

As many of you will know, old Mags is the flagship monster for Rise, and is integral to the game’s central Rampage event, which sees multiple monsters converge on Kamura Village, necessitating something between Monster Hunter World’s siege events and good old-fashioned tower defence, wherein you and your squad will have a certain amount of time to set up defences before taking on multi-stage battles of two, three or possibly more waves.

The second demo is the same as the first in that you have all the same load-outs and buddies, and can only play the hand you’ve been dealt in terms of skills and gear (and, crucially, it retains the 30-hunt limit). As such, it’s not wholly representative of the experience we’ll have in the game – and thank the gods for that. I attempted the fight with multiple loadouts, but unsurprisingly had most success with my main weapon, the Charge Blade. I find the dodge evade just a little slow in Rise, and for a big guy Magnamalo moves super fast – it was definitely beneficial to block a lot of the time as opposed to evading.

At range, he’s lethal, and will continuously spit balls of hellfire at you that don’t track, but are incredibly accurate if you stand still for too long. When enraged he thrums with the same neon pink energy that he’ll use to create massive splash damage. He doesn’t really move like anything I’ve faced so far, with his closest comparison being Zinogre. He favours tail-slams, full body rolls and lightning fast strikes that can easily take 70 to 80% of your health in one go. At this point your best chance is to get some distance and heal up because he will combo your ass into the mud.

But he’s not an Elder Dragon or Rise’s equivalent, and you can use traps, etc, for some breathing space. While I’m still getting to grips with the new Wirebug Silk-bind moves, which we’ve recently learned can be switched out to customise your moveset, it comes in handy to mount him or take advantage of any other mountable monster if you get the lucky opportunity.

If the demos have shown us anything it’s that we still have no real idea how it’s going to feel to get to grips with the finished game. There’s so much we don’t know, or have had partial information on, or have even been shown but won’t appreciate the mechanics of until we play it. Magnamalo is the same. The new demo grants an opportunity to see this awesome new beast in action, but doesn’t tell us much about what it will truly feel like to face off against him when we’re accordingly geared.

What I will say is that he’s an incredible fight. His colours, moves and battle music create a wonderful atmosphere but, similar to Stygian Zinogre and Namielle from Monster Hunter World, I really want to fight him all lit-up at night time. His colours feel just a little wasted against the soft green backgrounds of the Shrine Ruins.

Still, we don’t have long to wait now to get our hands on the full game. It will be released on March 26 on Nintendo Switch, and we’ll all be able to dive in alone or with our squads to save Kamura from the Rampage. After facing Magnamalo, I’m glad of a few more weeks of practice.

The post Monster Hunter Rise – New Magnamalo Demo isn’t messing around appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

I, like most normal people, am not overly fond of spiders up-close. At a distance, they’re fascinating, but when I find myself in the same room as one I have trouble adopting a “live and let live” attitude. And if they come within a certain distance, well, it’s them or me, quite frankly. It’s not all creepy-crawlies, I should add. Just spiders. And moths, actually. In fact, moths are worse. They can all get in the bin.

The painfully laboured point I’m attempting to make is that I’m not a big fan of spiders and, while I can admire their handiwork with spun silk, I’d rather sit in a bathtub filled with raw eggs for an hour than share a bed with a spider. Whenever I choose to consume media containing the many-legged shits (such as video game bosses, B-movies starring David Arquette, or my two joint-second-favourite Marvel movies) I do so knowing fully what I’m getting into. And sometimes, I don’t mind willingly weirding myself out.

Which is why I was disappointed that, despite a number of perfectly suitable locales, I never got to hunt or be hunted by a Nerscylla in Monster Hunter World. Now look, before you immediately start waving placards telling me to play the earlier ones, I will offer the pre-emptive counter that, well, I don’t want to. I was never much of a fan of the DS (and no, I won’t hand in my “Gamer Card” ell-oh-ell), and even when I attempted to play ports on the Wii and Wii-U, I gave up fairly early on because I just couldn’t be arsed to wrangle my brain into learning the obtuse controls. Of course, this was in a time before Dark Souls had taught me the importance of gitting gud, so that may have been part of it.

But World got my attention immediately. And, while the Veterans out there may well roll their eyes and shake their heads at my “paltry” thousand hours, it’s the first time Monster Hunter really hooked me in. Sadly though, by the time I reached Iceborne, nothing scared me anymore – even the last few offerings. Furious Rajang was just another screaming rage-monkey; Alatreon was a pretty mechanical fight, and Fatalis was… well, Fatalis just drove me nuts. Nothing gave me the shivers that Odogaron did the first time I faced him, or thrilled me quite as much as taking down Nergigante solo for the first time.

Having fallen in love with World’s roster, I became curious about past favourites and began reading back on the lore and features of previous games – which is how I stumbled upon Nerscylla, an arachnid like “Temnoceran”, able to spin webs and move incredibly fast. And it looked terrifying, especially to someone like me who, while not exactly arachnophobic, is still super disturbed by the movement and actions of our little spindle-legged neighbours.

I mean, I get why there was no Nerscylla in Monster Hunter World. For a start, the skeleton isn’t in the game – by which I mean the frame work that governs the shape, movesets and gestures of the various wyvern breeds (Yuan Garuga and Rathalos, for example, share skeletons). To put in a monster that moves and acts so differently from the others would be incredibly tricky, and I get it.

So you can imagine how happy I was to learn that Monster Hunter Rise features the return of the Temnoceran with new monster Radna-Kadaki, a beastie that not only spins webs but slings lava around too. Good luck killing this one with fire. From just the few brief shots of it in the trailers, it has me hyped. Huge stabbing legs, too many eyes, shrouded in web, wreathed in fire. Makes me shiver just thinking about the thing.

I was excited anyway, of course. A new Monster Hunter game in a post-World, er, world, is a hype-worthy prospect for me and many others, but the inclusion of something that has the potential to really creep me out is thrilling. In fact, a few of Rise’s monsters are pretty disturbing. Khezu, for example, with its pale fleshy skin and long neck, Somnacanth and its oddly expressive face, and Bishaten, which, yeah, is just weird-looking.

Regardless of these others, though, the main event for me is the Radna-Kadaki. I really want to be afraid to step up to the fray again, to have that feeling I had the first time I faced Doggo or Nergi on my own, and particularly the feeling I had when I first beat them. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being scared shitless facing off against a towering monstrosity; in fact, it’s one of the things I’m most looking forward to in Monster Hunter Rise.

Monster Hunter Rise will be released exclusively on Nintendo Switch on March 26 2021.

The post Why one particular new wyvern in Monster Hunter Rise has me excited appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

Mario has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I can recall the moment I became acquainted with the plumber back in the late 80s, when my parents bought me an NES with WWF WrestleMania Challenge and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. One of my best friends wanted to borrow TMNT and I was pretty much done with it at the time, so I borrowed his copy of Super Mario Bros., and the rest as they say, is history. Over the last three decades, I’ve spent hundreds of hours exploring the Mushroom Kingdom and fighting off Bowser and his goons, and whilst there have been times when Mario and me haven’t quite had the quality time we used to, I’ve felt myself falling deeper and deeper in love over the last five years.

Now, I don’t want to bring the mood down, but it’s worth mentioning just how I came to play Mario games more and more recently. As some of you know, I suffer with mental health problems. I’m not ashamed of it, and to say it can affect me greatly on certain days is an understatement. Over the last couple of years it has become a huge burden on my everyday life. I won’t go into the ins and outs, but I can find it hard to disconnect from it. One day I’ll just go from morning to night without it affecting a thing, and others it’ll swallow me whole, chew me up, and spit me out. The thing about depression is that it’s emotionally and mentally crippling. You can’t just snap out of it or find an instant fix to the way you’re feeling, no matter how good your life is or how much you’re loved.

I have a fantastic family and a bunch of great friends, but you can’t just switch it off. I often turn to video games as a form of escapism, as I’m sure many of you do. From the age of about sixteen, I more or less chose to exclusively play more mature titles like Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil, and Fallout. Mario became that friend you promise to keep in touch with after college, but never do. We went our separate ways for a while, but every now and again we’d bump into each other and hang out for a coffee, until our lives split off once again.

Mario Kart Double Dash and Super Mario Galaxy were about the only Mario titles I played a lot of. I missed out on the whole Wii U era, and never managed to play Super Mario Sunshine or Super Mario Galaxy. Through my twenties, I was more into playing games with a heavy storyline or plenty of guns and gore. It wasn’t until my kids were old enough, and I became a part of God is a Geek that I fell in love with Mario all over again. My eldest daughter asked for a Nintendo DS about five years ago, and we bought her Super Mario 3D Land on it. We played loads of that game together, and it reminded me how wholesome the franchise is, but also how incredible Nintendo is at creating video games.

Before the coronavirus, I went to Windsor tons of times to preview Nintendo games, and I’ll never forget how it felt to play Super Mario Odyssey for the first time. It felt like a breath of fresh air. The gameplay felt new, it looked amazing, and the nods and references to the plumber’s legacy reminded me why I adored Mario in the first place. September 2017 was when I first began to experience anxiety and depression, and the symptoms it gave me were horrendous. I suffered (and still do) from continuous brain fogs, immobilising worry, problems with my memory, and carrying out day to day tasks effectively. It was all new, and I was terrified, but Super Mario Odyssey offered me a friendly face. It reached out its hand to me and refused to let me walk in the darkness.

When I finally got to play the full game, I adored every minute. I felt safe, and for the first time in months, I felt happy. I can never thank Nintendo enough for that. Super Mario Odyssey is so much more to me than just a video game. From that moment, I began to absorb anything Mario-related because it allowed me to escape into a world filled with vibrancy, pure fun, and unbridled joy. There’s one moment in Odyssey I remember so fondly because it hit me just how special the game was, and how important it was to my mental health. When visiting the Wooded Kingdom, I found the boombox and watched Mario dancing away, doing his best to bust some moves that didn’t look like anything other than a dad at a wedding. I broke down in tears. In that short moment, it hit me just how important that game was to me.

There are still a few games I’ve yet to play, such as Luigi’s Mansion 3 and the recently released Super Mario 3D All-Stars (if only for Sunshine), but pretty much every other game is stored safety on my Switch. Last year when my house was burgled and my Switch was stolen, I’d just started playing Odyssey again, meaning it was in my console, meaning those fuckers took it away from me. I got it back, but it broke me. I still leave the light on downstairs when I go to bed, and ever since I’ve struggled to get a solid eight hours of sleep a night. Losing my Switch and the few games I had lying around was so upsetting, more so because they were some of the Mario games I adored.

In the last week, I’ve played through Super Mario 3D World and Bowser’s Fury on Switch, finishing them both in a couple of sittings. I’m now going back through to collect all the green stars and Cat Shines because I’m having such a blast in those worlds. I’ve got a much better handle on my mental health now, more than when I played Super Mario Odyssey for the first time, but even now it helps me to feel good. There are no other games that have this kind of impact on me, and I doubt there ever will. Mario has been like a best friend, a therapist, and a platform to escape the bad days all rolled into one. I don’t know what I’d do without him, and I hope that in some way, he knows that.

The post Me, Myself, and Mario: How one plumber saved my life appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

I’ll admit right away that I’m quite an odd man. I’ve been known to have some weird perspectives and even weirder gaming obsessions. After all, I’m known as the guy with an unhealthy obsession with flowers on Animal Crossing time and time again. And if that wasn’t enough of a red warning flag, my compulsion for storage on Astroneer should have been another. I like things “just so”, to be neat and tidy and as they should be. Overbearing control and organisation aren’t normally sub-genres that get people’s juices flowing, but they do for me. And now I’ve discovered Satisfactory by Coffee Stain Studios, and my word, does is scratch this unique itch I have. So much so, in fact, that I can’t stop thinking about it.

The pleasure that comes from Satisfactory is in its progression. You land on a planet – the blank canvas to paint your perfect automated picture – with simply the rocket you land in and a suit to keep you alive. Not one to rest on sentiment, your first task is to scrap your landing ship to give you the components you need to build a scanner to locate the local iron ore. After having looted enough you can build a base of operations, and the start of your mechanical operations. Once this mighty structure is built, I imagine this is where you should expect to see the game’s title screen appear, like in so many games these days. The adventure for all intents and purposes, starts now.

Once the metaphorical dramatic music has faded and the associated zoomed-out panning camera has returned to first-person perspective, things can continue. Satisfactory provides prompts to what to do next to slowly build your empire. These mini-tasks when completed unlock more things to build and enhance your current ways of working. One of the earlier unlocks for example is a Robo Miner which can be placed on those iron ore deposits to save your tired hands from chipping away at them yourself. You can busy yourself with other tasks and simply come back later to fill up on that precious ore.

Pretty much all tasks of refining materials can be done by hand at the Crafting Bench meaning you can take that iron ore and use it to craft ingots. These can then be reworked to craft a variety of other materials, such as iron rods, plates and even screws to provide you with an ever-growing inventory to tackle the requirements for the next of Satisfactory’s milestone tasks. And so you create, and you unlock, to create more and unlock more and expand your repertoire. This, in its most reductive state, is Satisfactory’s core progression loop, but the reality of what else you can unlock and the impact it has is so much more than that.

Because where Satisfactory really shines is how those new unlockable upgrades make you feel. I can now replace my Robo Miner with a fully functioning Mine that works much faster, and I can build a Smelter to craft those ingots so I can be busy with other things. And then, the game-changer, conveyor belts, are unlocked, and I realise I can link the two, so that ore goes from the ground, straight into my Smelter, and then I can even conveyor it to a Storage Container for when I need it later. Materials are automatically made for me, so they’re on hand for the larger milestone requirements of later unlocks.

It’s incredibly easy to do as well, with intuitive controls to be able to place belts just where you need them and to go where you want them too. You can even raise their height should you need space at ground level for other things. Once I got the knack there was no stopping me, I was placing them like an engineer unleashed. And that’s when you suddenly realise what this whole game is about. It’s about three simple words:

“But, what if?”

“But what if I split my conveyor belt so that some of my ingots went to making iron rods, and the rest went to making iron plates?”

“But what if as well as automating iron production we also did it with the copper deposits that are over the other side of that ridge?”

“But what if we built a bridge over that ridge?”

Satisfactory then becomes a title about realising what’s possible. You’re given a bevvy of tools as you progress which give various options for how to automate and improve your production. The limits are literally your imagination. I’ve not even considered using the conveyor lift yet for example, but I’m sure it’ll solve a problem when I’m faced with an awkward cliff edge at some point. It reminds me of Automachef in many ways, but on a much, much grander scale.

And what’s clever is how your mind is shifting, evolving to the possibilities too until they become second nature. Getting everything linked up with conveyor belts was so, well, satisfactory the first time I did it. But everything was placed all over the place and inefficiently laid out. When building a new production centre around some other iron deposits, everything was designed in my head from the outset, with a clear plan of where resources were needed to automate the materials that would come in handy. The result was a better laid out group of buildings working together efficiently.

It’s true that Satisfactory is a game for the geeks, the efficiency nerds, the people like me who like things “just so”. I’m constantly thinking how you could automate things to help make the progress to the next milestone be achieved that little bit faster. And I’m doing that when I’m not even playing, I’m even doing it now whilst I write this, wondering whether a new configuration of mines and smelters might produce a better output.

It won’t be for everyone, but I can’t help but smile at Satisfactory almost constantly. I smile at everything working, systems I created from thoughts, made into reality. Little pieces of digital materials chugging along on conveyors as they should is the fruits of my labours, and I can’t wait to see what I unlock next and where the next step on my Satisfactory journey takes me. I can only imagine with eager intrepidation what my next “but what if?” moment will be.

The post Satisfactory could be your next gaming addiction appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

With the release of Monster Hunter Rise fast approaching, I’ve been reminded of the hype I felt for the Iceborne expansion for Monster Hunter World. I came into the franchise at World, and my thousand hours in that game are dwarfed by the time clocked up by veterans of the series who’ve been playing since the very beginning. But I fell in love all the same – and in fact I fell in love because World was so accessible, because I didn’t feel I needed a Sherpa guide and two extra thumbs to get to grips with it, because it felt immediately mainstream on the home consoles instead of just Nintendo’s handhelds and hybrids like those that came before.

But despite how incredible I feel World and Iceborne are – and to put this in context, it’s one of my top 5 games of the entire last generation – my hype and anticipation for Rise is different. It comes from a different place. Because unlike in 2017, I now have a ten-year-old son who plays Monster Hunter World Iceborne.

My son has an incredible imagination. It rivals my own at his age, and he conjures up the richest back stories and tapestries from whatever he’s playing. World is no different. It inspires him to charge around the house with a plastic sword and shield, to shout things like “Diablos!” and “Chubs!” (that’s his palico, by the way) at random times of the day. It’s part of the reason I encourage him to play, because it fuels an imagination that I will nurture in him for as long as humanly possible.

It’s not about how long he’s in front of a screen (our house, like many, has rules and limits), it’s about how long I can keep him chasing his own adventures before the doldrums of real life get their hooks in. It’s about time spent laughing online with his friends or elbowing me on the couch when I come in clutch in Fortnite and blow his tower down for a laugh (I mean, I’m his dad; if I can’t bust his chops now and then, who can?).

Many gaming parents with kids of a certain age will know what it’s like to feel like an MVP every time you pick up a controller to join your child’s game. I walk into a game of Fortnite with them like a WWE fighter strutting to the ring with Puff Daddy’s Come With Me playing through the loud speakers (and the fact I still call him “Puff Daddy” probably reveals why still being classed as an MV-anything is so important to me). The fact that my son can obliterate me in a 1 V 1 makes no difference; when Dad’s playing alongside him, it’s off the frickin’ chain.

But I digress. My point here (and I have one) is that I’m less hyped for Monster Hunter Rise because of how much I’ll enjoy it (though I fully expect to lose months to it) and more because for the first time, we can sit on the couch and hunt together. With several Switches in the house, we’ll be able to embark on the quest to stop the Rampage as a team.

At the time of writing, Monster Hunter Rise has 30 confirmed large monsters, 9 of which are new and many of which are returning from the series entries that came before World. There are currently more monsters that we’ve never faced before than the ones we have. That alone is exciting. But the thrill of learning new weapons together (we’ve vowed to go into Monster Hunter Rise with our least-used weapons, at least to start), and exploring a whole new world of danger and adventure – these are moments we’ll have together. These are moments where his imagination is fuelled not only by the games, but by our interactions. Who knows, maybe I’ll run around the house with a big plastic Insect Glaive and my wife will start to strongly consider the choices she has made.

Because more so than the other consoles, the Nintendo Switch has the power to bring families together. We spent weeks through 2020 tending an island community together in Animal Crossing, I’ve spent the last few weeks guiding him through Dragon’s Dogma, sprawled on the living room floor in our own world. When Rise launches in March, we’ll be doing it all again, plunging back into an adventure together, father and son, armed with pure imagination.

It says as much about the power of gaming – and I do believe it has a power – that brings people together as it does about my hype for Capcom’s new title. If, like me, you view games with a reverence that goes beyond play things and pastimes and hobbies, elevating them to the level of art, interactive inspiration that can build connections between friends or strangers, between parents and children, between siblings. I’ve never been a “footie” dad, my thing has always been gaming – and so I’m grateful that my eldest boy shares that interest. It brings us closer and keeps us there, and I know he’s just as hyped as I am for March 26, and the opportunity to strap on a great big axe and go a-huntin’ with the old man.

The post I can’t wait to fight through Monster Hunter Rise with my son appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

The current roster for WWE 2K Battlegrounds is insane. The content drops 2K are putting out bring even more of your favourite WWE Superstars from past and present into the fray, making sure no-one has been left out. With the WWE 2K Battlegrounds third wave, some of the greatest to ever step foot in the ring have been selected, including Razor Ramon, Sting, and “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair. I feel as though I’m on cloud nine playing 2K Battlegrounds now. Not only are there tons of new additions to the roster, there is also a wide selection of outfits to select from, and new Battleground arenas to help you create some unique places to fight in.

The third wave is a nice mix of WWE legends and current performers. One of the greatest additions are the Street Profits, Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford. These two perfectly compliment each other as a tag team, with Ford being a highflying target man, and Dawkins not only bringing the smoke, but the power as well. Fandango has been doing a stunning job in NXT as part of a tag team with Tyler Breeze, so it’s great we finally get to lace his boots, too.

Chad Gable is a future star, but he’s already cemented himself as a great in-ring performer. WWE just needs to realise his full potential and stop using his size as a gimmick because it doesn’t do him any favours. Seamus has had a bit of a resurgence on Smackdown over the last year, and I’m so glad we can now play as him, especially as he has the mohawk as an outfit option. The last main roster addition is Sami Zayn. As El Generico, Zayn flew across the indie circuit and made himself famous thanks to his matches with Kevin Owens. In WWE, I still believe there are great things to come for him, but in terms of his involvement in WWE 2K Battlegrounds, he’s a lot of fun to play as.

As for icons of the business, they don’t come any bigger than Ric Flair. The 16-time world champion is still on RAW now, showing how much his influence has been on the business. The stylin’, profilin’, limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin’ and dealin’ son of a gun comes with red or light blue trunks, and he’s every bit as good in the game. Bret Hart is also considered by many to be the best there is, and his pink and black gear or Canadian hockey outfit looks great on him. Locking in the Sharpshooter is as satisfying as it is to watch, and he fits right in to the roster.

The Outsiders Scott Hall and Razor Ramon led WCW to dominate professional wrestling in the latter half of the 90s, thanks to the nWo. However, before they did, they were huge players on the World Wrestling Federation scene. As Razor Ramon, Hall was one of the coolest, and his ladder match with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania X is the best match I’ve ever watched. As for Diesel, he was a big guy that could wrestle, which is something a lot of giants can’t do. Big Daddy Cool became WWE Champion, and it was such an awesome thing to see because he worked damn hard for it.

Sting was the ultimate badass anti-hero during his late WCW phase. He looked a lot like Brandon Lee’s The Crow, and carried a black baseball bat with him wherever he went. He was a talented performer, an even better character, and being able to play as him in WWE 2K Battlegrounds is something I didn’t see coming. Rowdy Roddy Piper was another icon (I know, there are a lot of these in the third wave). He was a master on the mic, and a pivotal figure in WWE during the early 90s and late 80s. He comes with his blue trunks, but you can also unlock his kilt and white t-shirt as well.

The final Superstars to talk about in the third wave are Rezar and Akam aka the Authors of Pain. These two guys were an unstoppable force in NXT, and even though their call-up didn’t see them head in the right direction before being let go, they had so much potential. Being able to right the wrongs done by Vince McMahon in regards to their career in WWE 2K Battlegrounds feels like the right thing. I’ve played as them quite a lot, and I’d have to say they’re on a par with The Usos as my favourite tag team to play as.

I honestly can’t think of many WWE Superstars I’d want in WWE 2K Battlegrounds now. I hope we get to see some NXT guys join the game, such as Johnny Gargano and Karrion Kross, or main roster guys like Keith Lee and Matt Riddle. 2K Sports has managed to make this something so much bigger than I’d expected, and I’ll keep on playing, creating, and taking advantage of the sheer size of the roster.

The post Back to the ring #2: A look at the third wave of WWE 2K Battlegrounds DLC appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

Now that EA Play via Xbox Game Pass is completely free with a subscription to the Microsoft service, there are tons of fantastic games available for you to play. Whether you’re in the mood for some free-running, fancy exploring the cosmos with a lightsaber in hand, or just want to cruise around in some sexy cars, there’s something for everyone. We take a look at 10 games you should definitely download through EA Play and start enjoying right now.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

The story of Cal Kestis and his journey to remember his Jedi routes after Order 66 is filled with excitement. As you travel all over the Star Wars Universe to relearn your Force powers and take out the Empire, you’ll meet a range of interesting characters, and see some of the most fleshed out planets yet. From Darth Maul’s home of Dathomir to the Wookie world of Kashyyk, there are some beautiful visuals on offer, and with a layered combat system that never gets boring, it’s definitely one to check out if you’ve yet to do so.

A Way Out

If you’re looking to play something with a friend online, or introducing story-based multiplayer to someone who is relatively new to gaming, A Way Out is the perfect choice. Following two inmates who’s lives intertwine in a gripping and emotional way, A Way Out manages to blend stealth, action, and puzzles into one small yet satisfying package. It’s a surprisingly dense game, where the story carries on beyond the prison escape, with a twist that is hard to see coming.

Dead Space

Visceral Games’ Dead Space is regarded as one of the best survival horrors of all time. It’s hard to disagree, as Isaac Clarke’s job of repairing the Ishimura’s communications takes a horrendous turn for the worst. Genuinely terrifying and stressful to play, Dead Space made damn sure you were never able to feel safe or breathe a sigh of relief due to the constant threat of the alien hordes. You could use telekinesis, cut body parts off, and shoot the aliens to holy hell, making every second of your time a roller coaster of exhilaration and anxiety.

Titanfall 2

EA did everything they could to make Titanfall 2 a global hit, and whilst it didn’t reach the heights of other Respawn titles, it wasn’t down to shoddy gameplay. Movement was fluid, gun-play was dreamlike, and the level designs allowed you to feel free despite the linear path you followed. The single player offered a short but sweet campaign, letting you take plenty of Titans out for a stroll, and the multiplayer was a ton of fun to boot. It’s a shame we may never get a follow up, but thanks to EA Access you can go and play this one right now.

Sea of Solitude

Changing the pace slightly, Sea of Solitude is void of machine guns and aliens, but there’s a different kind of enemy throughout the story. You play as Kay, a young girl who turns into a monster and must try and understand what has happened to her. Not only that, there’re other characters you meet who aren’t what they seem, and with a simple puzzle approach and stunning visuals, the emotionally hard-hitting tale of Kay will leave you thinking about it long after you’ve finished it. It’s not an obvious choice to download on EA Play via Xbox Game Pass, but it’s certainly one you should make.

Burnout Paradise Remastered

Driving through the streets of Paradise City is one of the most liberating experiences you can have in a video game. Not only does it have a killer soundtrack (Avril Lavigne, baby!) and a vast selection of cars, it also provides you with plenty of ways to race, along with opportunities to destroy other cars and settings all around the beautifully crafted city. Burnout Paradise Remastered also comes with all the additional downloadable content, so you’d be mad not to download this to your console.

Mass Effect 2

Before I start gushing about Mass Effect 2, the entire trilogy is available on the service for Xbox One, so if you’ve never experienced one of the greatest space operas of all time, Bioware’s three-part saga is a must. Mass Effect 2 features a superb story, and depending on how you play through the game, it could end up with some horrific consequences. I’ll never get over what happened to me and my crew, but your story could be different (I sincerely hope so!). The various planets are diverse and interesting, characters have some fantastic dialogue and personalities, and the gameplay is much more advanced than the first.

Unravel Two

Whilst Coldwood Interactive’s debut may have split opinion, its sequel was so much better. Visually, its gorgeous, with photo-realistic backdrops and vivid colours. It also has – in my opinion – the best local co-op I’ve ever played. Teaming up with another Yarny, you must make your way through myriad of puzzles that constantly vary in difficulty which never fail to challenge you. It also has a powerful story that isn’t expected, and it is something you and a friend can experience together.

Mirror’s Edge Catalyst

You may have just spat out your tea, but I have to give credit to EA and DICE for this beautiful game. Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is a free running masterclass, giving you the freedom to run around the stunning city and take down the bad guys once and for all. It’s the only game I’ve never fast travelled in, fundamentally because the movement is so satisfying. Implementing attack patterns into the way you make your way around adds to the joy of Catalyst, making it one of my most underrated games of the last 10 years.

Star Wars Battlefront II

Now that Star Wars Battlefront II features multiple maps across all three trilogies, it feels like the ultimate Star Wars game. Whether you’re firing blasters, wielding lightsabers, or using the Force, there’s something for everyone. Battles feel authentic, with full-scale wars happening all around you whilst you play your part. From Kamino to Geonosis, Tatooine to the Death Star, there are various maps and modes to take part in, and lots of characters for you to control. It’s a no-brainer for downloading on EA Play via Xbox Game Pass.

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Where do you even start? In years gone by this “last article of the year by the boss” has delved into pathos, but I think in truth we’ve had quite enough of that in 2020. Sure, as a key worker I feel I’ve grown an even stronger distaste for “my country” than ever before, having to stand and watch people clap for key workers, while six months later they won’t even let them out at a junction, and let’s face it, nobody has been paid better or given anything even close to an actual legitimate “thank you”. But, look, despite it all, gaming has given a respite. Not a welcome one, a needed one.

Next-gen console launches kept me sane and busy, and frankly, this has been one of the strongest years in gaming for a very long time. Industry practices may not have changed, and I do think we’re a long way from being anywhere close to effecting real change in an industry that refuses to grow up, but the respite of playing these wonderful creations; these labours of love, the biggest open worlds that absorb us and transport us, or the smallest indie games that touch us in a way that feels deeply personal… games are tremendous. They are an escape, an important work because of it, and this list hopefully celebrates that in some small way. Thanks for your support this year, and every year, and please remember to tip your postman, binman, milkman, or delivery guy: they’re fucking knackered and your small “thank you” will make them smile for hours, and fall asleep feeling like they’re worth something, because trust me, they don’t feel worth an awful lot this year.

Honourable Mentions

Deep Rock Galactic: Came from nowhere, missed it entirely in early access, dominated my thoughts for months at a time. A truly brilliant co-operative experience that has unique classes and feels just superb to play. You’ve heard enough, by now, of the team and I extolling its virtues: just fucking play it please.

Wasteland 3: If I had a list of “games I wish I had time to get back to”, this one wins it. Brilliantly written, enormously deep, engaging, and varied. Jesus wept, what a game. Please pause time so I can get back to it and finish it.

Half-Life: Alyx: One of the best VR games I’ve played, only marred by how many people talk it up like it’s revolutionary. It’s not, other games with smaller budgets have tried the gameplay Valve achieved here, but importantly, this is HALF-LIFE, and it changes the history of those games and sets up a new one.

Demon’s Souls: a lesson in how to remake a game, from top to bottom it’s basically perfection, and the only reason it didn’t crash into my top ten is that I just simply ran out of time to get through the damn thing, and that it’s still obtuse and awkward to play with friends.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2: Again, an incredible remake that I played hot and heavy and then moved on from. I don’t have quite the connection to this that others do, but I did play it back then and, christ, it still plays well. Here’s hoping they add to this template and we get more.

10. Marvel’s Spider Man: Miles Morales

Where the first game felt bombastic and like it had “big Marvel” behind it, Miles felt personal and human. He’s a young lad, learning his trade, and it’s even reflected in how he moves around New York. Aside the story jumping off a cliff at the end, this is a hugely enjoyable popcorn game. One thing that I feel Insomniac still don’t get much credit for, is the combat in these games. You build upon it as you play, unlocking skills to add to your arsenal, but there are few modern games that make you feel as badass as Miles Morales does. Stringing together obscenely high combos, maintaining an air juggle, or just continually keeping yourself in the air: these are the things you’d expect from a Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, but Insomniac nails it here. Oh and those load times and visials? Woof. What a superb glimpse of things to come for a new generation of gaming.

9. Streets of Rage 4

How did they manage this? How did they make Streets of Rage feel better than it does in my head? How did they make a soundtrack that feels like it has both moved on and not aged at all. All those questions are things I can’t answer, but I played through this multiple times, and rarely for me, twice in single sittings with friends. 2020 has been a year that I got back into playing with people online more often, and Streets of Rage 4 feels as rewarding to play with friends as it does offline. Even the art style which initially put me off, ended up being something I loved. It probably stands out on the list as the shortest or, perhaps, most simple game, but this is a series I have always adored and it’s back on track now, finally.

8. Astro’s Playroom

There was a moment this year where I had decided not to review Astro’s Playroom. It’s a pack-in game, and one that everyone gets if they secured a PlayStation 5, so it felt like it wasn’t needed: you’d play it, you’d love it, what was the point in me critiquing a thing that everyone got free anyway? But I changed my mind when it made me choke up. It took me back to my childhood, my parents getting me a PSOne, my (long-gone) dad trying to play with me, and it reminded me of how I got my kids into gaming. Astro’s Playroom feels amazing to actually play, and it’s a phenomenal introduction to the DualSense controller, but its as much a nostalgia piece as it is anything else. I adore this, and the decision to write a full review was easy: this game is important, one of 2020’s best.

7. Immortals Fenyx Rising

If you’d told me that Ubisoft had a game in my top ten this year, I’d have believed you. But I always assumed, given how much I loved Watch Dogs Legion, that’d be the one. Immortals Fenyx Rising is more than derivative. It’s not homage, it’s borderline IP-theft at points, even down to how it ends. This is Breath of the Wild: there’s no way to sugarcoat that. But honestly? I don’t care. It has quality of life improvements and it knows it’s a game. It respects my time, and wants me to play my way. I find very little to complain about with Immortals, and to be honest, I even quite liked the humour and story. Easily the biggest surprise of 2020 in gaming.

6. Hades

Almost a mirror image of Immortals, if you told me a Supergiant Games joint would be in my top ten, I’d have said “of course it will be”. A unique adventure that has an entirely new take on storytelling within its genre, Hades is both warm and funny, yet it plays like a monster. It’s so good in the hands, it’s like the Titanfall 2 of roguelikes. No two runs feel the same, every line of dialogue is pristine and perfect, and nothing about it feels superfluous. I’ll concede there are games in my list that can be guilty of stretching themselves too thing, or perhaps taking liberties with your time, but Hades is perfect at what it does. I have no idea how Supergiant top this, but they’re four for four in my books now. What a studio.

5. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

I’m a sucker for a visual style, and Ori (like the game before it) has it to spare. A touching story that’s, sure, been done before, but like Hades it plays so incredibly well. Tight controls, loads of upgrades, and a game I managed to one hundred percent complete. Indeed, I’d have played more on Switch and Xbox Series X, but I was “done” with it before it hit either of those consoles. In truth, some of the skills are under-used, and it launched in a bit of a state, but everything else is just so compelling that I couldn’t put it down. I nearly gave up on the 100% when I couldn’t find one item, but I still went back and did it. Not many games can boast an “Adam Cook 100%” record, which goes some way as to explain how special this one is.

4. Yakuza: Like a Dragon

When you spend hundreds of hours with a series that has one main protagonist, creating a new playable character that resonates and is liked by veteran players is not an easy task. Doing that while switching a series that’s run over a decade to an entirely new genre is an astonishing achievement. Ichiban Kasuga and his pals are so likable and interesting, and having new places to explore helps, but the turn-based combat feels like a change they made thinking entirely of how to please me. Like a Dragon is funny and humble, it’s also endearing and moving. There’s so much to love about this game, and I truly hope they keep exploring this route, because even though the turn-based JRPG-combat is great fun, it does take a ridiculously long time to get going, and there are tweaks that could be made. I adore everything about this mad, lovely, brilliant game. Bravo.

3. Final Fantasy VII Remake

There was a time where this wouldn’t have made my top ten. Sitting and listening to the music on the title screen made me feel warm and almost tearful. One of my favourite games of all time has been remade, it’s here; it’s real. And for 30 hours I was in love. Everything about it: the visuals, audio, and finally a non-turn based combat system in a Final Fantasy game that feels amazing. Then… then they started to change the story, mess with things, and move things around. And for weeks, I was… almost angry. I wanted more of the game, I wanted to play the “rest of Final Fantasy VII”, but… as time passed, I started to feel better about it. The angry fan of that original game realised the original game was still there, and that the narrative changes, while not always a rip-roaring success, were brave, offering a chance for me to get more of FF7 for many years to come. I can’t wait for what is next, now, and I’ve accepted this brilliant game is something new, perhaps in time something even bigger.

2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

All I wanted from a Switch Animal Crossing was HD visuals. I got that, and I got more to boot. I got a community that still thrives today. I made deeper connections with people I barely knew who I’d now call friends. I got my entire family playing a game. I got my boys back, sat in the room with me, sharing an experience, despite being teenages. I got my wife playing a game, perhaps for longer than even I did. I know there are issues, I hear the complaints: but I don’t care. New Horizons is what you make of it. New Horizons is about your patience, your time. People think they have to play every day, and I did for a while, but it doesn’t hate you if you don’t. If I could have a joint winner, this would be it, but I make the rules, and those rules are a list is a list is a list. Bloody rules. Animal Crossing has rules, too, and I’m happy to play by them.

1. The Last of Us Part II

I think The Last of Us Part II is an important milestone in video game design. Like God of War, it takes chances and does things differently. In terms of storytelling, no, The Last of Us Part II isn’t perfect, but the chances it takes are things I’ve never seen a game do. The direction, the lingering on some things and not others, the audio design: it all adds up to being something bigger. It knows, and the people behind it know, that you will be angry at the mid-way point, but they also know you’ll trust them and go with it, to see where you end up. They know about your affections, they know about your loyalties, and they know that you will walk away without feeling “happy” after you finish it. It’s all calculated, it’s brilliant, and it’s moving in a way few games are. You will be jaw agape, staring at your own reflection as a black screen shows you the truth. Part of me wants to see more of where Naughty Dog goes with this, but it feels done. This universe feels done.

The Last of Us Part II is one hell of an achievement, from the smallest details to the flaming mess of a conclusion before the epilogue. The violence within the world holds a mirror up and says “this is what happens when you don’t let go”, and it starts with a crescendo and ends a whimpering mess, begging: please met me go. Please. Let me move on. Let me go. I don’t know if a game could ever make me feel as miserable as The Last of Us Part II did, but I don’t see that as this horrible negative. Games should be able to move you in all directions, and what Naughty Dog has achieved here is unparalleled. I knew when I’d finished it, nothing would top it, and here we are: the best game of 2020 is The Last of Us Part II.

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It’s been a phenomenal year for video games. We’ve seen the next generation heralded in in November, but we’ve had some of the best technically sound, visually impressive, and satisfyingly fun games to play throughout the last twelve months. It’s been hard to pick just ten, but after much deliberating, we here at God is a Geek have done it. Below is a celebration of gaming in its many different forms. There have been so many to choose from that even some superb titles are missing. We’ve included the final paragraphs from our reviews, plus fresh incite as to why these games deserve to be in our GOTY 2020 top ten list. Believe us, it’s been difficult, but we hope you agree that the following games deserve to be here.

10. Astro’s Playroom

“With Astro’s Playroom being a pre-installed game for new system owners, you’ll almost certainly play it, but I implore you to finish it: fully see the credits. The other new games aren’t going anywhere, so explore every nook and cranny and see the other Astro Bots referencing games from PlayStation history. There’s something for everyone here, and some pretty obscure references, too. It was a lovely trip down memory lane, yet Astro’s Playroom is incredibly futuristic and worthy of anyone’s time. What a delightful thing to include with every PS5.”

It’s amazing Astro’s Playroom was bundled in with the PlayStation 5 for free. Not only does it showcase the features of the new DualSense controller, it celebrates the PlayStation in all its glory. The levels all focus on one of the four previous consoles before the PS5, with some great gameplay and plenty of references. Death’s Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima, Tekken, and Bloodborne are just a few of the references on offer, and the final boss fight is perhaps one of the coolest things seen in recent memory.

9. Demon’s Souls

“So much of Demon’s Souls 2020 impresses. From an atmosphere that fully consumes you to the fluid combat, nightmarish enemy design, superb world-building and level design, and the sound direction that you need to hear to believe. It may not feel as harsh and unforgiving in this post-Dark Souls world as it did in 2009, but it’s still a steep challenge that will test newcomers and even veterans of From’s later work.”

Demon’s Souls on PS5 shows off just how impressive the PS5 is. It looks unreal, with intricate details wherever you look, and a score that captivates you from the moment you begin to play. The opening cutscene sets the scene beautifully, and once you start to play, it’s incredible how it feels both familiar and new. Bluepoint Games are amazing at what they do, and after playing Demon’s Souls, the world is their oyster. The game is superb in every single way. If you want a challenge and are a Dark Souls obsessive, there really is no way you should be ignoring this one.

8. Streets of Rage 4

“Streets of Rage 4 is wonderful. Everything from the combat to the soundtrack is crafted with a great respect to the originals, providing a fresh take on the popular series. With plenty to unlock, including characters and tracks from the original trilogy, there’s lots of replayability value, and with the added Battle Mode, you’ll never be without anything to do. It’s the perfect length, never outstaying its welcome, but quite honestly, I could play this forever and never get bored.”

It’s amazing how the Streets of Rage series is still relevant in 2020. The previous entry released 26 years ago, yet Streets of Rage 4 makes it feel as though it was only yesterday. Whilst it manages to do much of the same, it reinvents itself to stay fresh. The combat is excellent, the new characters aren’t just throwaway additions, and the level design is out of this world. Seeing familiar faces and Easter eggs you may very well miss unless someone points them out to you (thanks, Mr. Cook) allows your nostalgia to remain intact, whilst getting swept up in the gameplay provides countless playthroughs until the skin on your thumbs starts to wear away.

7. Immortals Fenyx Rising

“Immortals Fenyx Rising is an excellent adventure with challenging and inventive puzzles, a wonderful combat system, and a rich world ripe for exploring. The dialogue is funny, poignant, and thrilling, with a story that explores every facet of the human condition in a way that is relatable for everyone. It does share many similarities with BotW, almost shamelessly so at times, but this is without a doubt its own game, and the experience Ubisoft Quebec has in making open-world games is on show throughout. I guess it depends how much you love Breath of the Wild, and whether you can get past many of the same ideas without feeling a little cheated. It offers a different spin on the stories of Zeus and his children, sweeping you up with its spellbinding tale and beautiful, charming world.”

Sneaking in at the last second made everyone involved in the GOTY deliberations redo their lists to make sure Immortals Fenyx Rising was in there somewhere. It combines complex puzzles, varied combat, and a gorgeous world to provide such an engaging experience. Although it takes a lot from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it’s still a charming and exciting adventure that actually does many things better than Nintendo’s masterpiece (In Chris W’s opinion, don’t attack the team!).

6. Yakuza: Like A Dragon

“I instantly fell in love with Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Whilst the amount of time spent watching and not playing might put some players off, it does eventually open up and let you explore what the game has to offer. There are plenty of opportunities to fight, and so many mini-games and side missions that you’ll never find yourself stuck for something to do. The story is excellent, and the characters who populate it all have an important role to play. Ichiban is such an interesting character, and whilst I was unsure how I might feel being someone other than Kiryu, Ryu Ga Gotoku has introduced an equally compelling protagonist into its crazy and chaotic world of the Yakuza franchise.”

Moving away from the story of Kiryu was a massive step for Ryu Ga Gotoku to take, but it pays off almost instantly. Ichiban is the perfect choice as the new protagonist. In many ways he’s different from the Dragon. He wears his emotions on his sleeves, he makes mistakes, and he’s a nerd, something we can all relate to. Using turn-based combat in a series that has always relied on its beat-em-up mentality was a bold move, and utlising the Jobs system actually makes it more fun in a lot of different ways. The writing is excellent, managing to blend serious themes with the absurd on multiple occasions, and is never afraid to step out of its comfort zone.

5. Final Fantasy VII Remake

“Final Fantasy VII Remake is simply stunning. It’s a mesmerising video game from start to finish, and even in its many slower moments there’s humour to be found, or scraps of character, or Easter Eggs for the observant fan. It’s sadly not perfect, but it’s more than I could have hoped it would be, and a staggering masterclass in remaking something beloved for a new – and old – audience.”

It’s still a surprise to see Final Fantasy VII Remake in shops. After five years of relative silence, it only seemed to ramp up in the year to its release. Die-hard fans of the original were worried about whether it would live up to the hype, and newcomers were excited to see if it played as good as it looked. The speculation finally ended in April, and players around the world got to see exactly how fantastic it was. It fleshed out the story significantly and added a lot more than previously seen in the original. The visuals were more than impressive, and the combat was layered and challenging, offering plenty to get stuck into.

4. Ghost of Tsushima

“Ghost of Tsushima is a landmark game that blends its narrative and visuals perfectly, and has delicious, satisfying combat to boot. It does everything in its power to stay true to the greats of Samurai cinema, paying tribute to Akira Kurosawa by creating a mode dedicated solely to his style. Turning Kurosawa Mode on gives you a black and white filter with a gritty edge akin to his landmark movies, something the game never needs but is made better for having the option. The Stand-offs are great, and the way you’ll cut through Jin’s enemies will take your breath away. Traversing mountains and buildings can be clumsy, and the story takes a while to get going, but Ghost of Tsushima is a breathtaking experience that feels like nothing else I’ve played before.”

It’s hard to know where to start with Ghost of Tsushima. There hasn’t been a world this year as beautiful or as inviting, with combat that consistently improves the more you play. It’s incredibly stylised, with nods to filmmakers like Akira Kurosawa and Zhang Yimou in the way battles unfold and the stunning island comes to life. The story might not be one of the best of the year, and Jin Sakai is far too stoic to relate to, Tsushima still managed to captivate players like nothing else that had come before it.

3. Hades

“There’s a wonderful lightheartedness to a lot of Hades that can, every now and then, take a darker turn. The atmosphere is on point, the music is excellent, and the gameplay itself is incredibly satisfying. For a roguelite it’s surprisingly giving in terms of buffs, progression, and player aids, which will make it much more accessible for newcomers. While the Switch version doesn’t utilise the touchscreen controls or offer anything “new” that the PC version doesn’t, it’s still absolutely worth grabbing if you have the chance. Utterly addictive and endlessly playable, with a late game element that will keep you coming back for a very long time, Hades is simply one of the best and most likeable roguelites available on PC or Nintendo Switch.”

Hades featured in the majority of our discussions for various categories in our GOTY, mainly because it has so many feathers in its cap. It manages to tell an interesting story, especially given the roguelike genre doesn’t always do this. The gameplay is easily the most satisfying this year, and Zagreus is such a good character it keeps you playing for hours. With a range of combat options and different enemies to fight against, Hades deserves to be on our list for a multitude of reasons.

2. Animal Crossing New Horizons

“I won’t apologise for sentimentality in a world that is ever increasingly moving towards anonymity and the cold. If you are looking forward to Animal Crossing: New Horizons as a long term fan, know that this is everything you could have hoped for, which is to say it’s more Animal Crossing with quality of life improvements on what might be the best console Nintendo’s ever put out. It’ll sell millions, earn new fans, and top play counts for years to come. Knowing my family will be playing this together for a long, long time, makes me feel like everything is going to be alright, and goodness, what more could you ask for?”

I don’t know where we would be without Animal Crossing New Horizons in our life, giving us an escape from the real world and allowing us to connect with friends and family around the globe. Checking in on our residents, building a life for them and for us, and getting into a routine became some of the many reasons it captivated millions of us. It also helped those that don’t necessarily play video games to find a new hobby and play with others in the same house via local play. Much of the GiaG team spent hours playing with loved ones in its chilled-out world, and gave us an experience that was nothing like anything else this year.

1. The Last of Us Part II

“There are things here that will leave you stunned. You will put the controller down and wonder “can they do this in a game?”, and then when you’ve gotten over that, Naughty Dog will up the ante again, and again, and again. You will see things and go places that you never thought a game would go. It will bend you to its will and change your feelings as you play. You will feel anger, sadness, elation, fear, and everything a truly magnificent piece of art should elicit from you. Make no mistake, The Last of Us Part II is art, and despite my misgivings about its conclusion and that it maybe, just maybe, outstays its welcome, it’s still an absolute masterpiece.”

It comes as no surprise that The Last of Us Part II is our game of the year. Adam Cook nailed it when he said it “will leave you stunned.” The story takes turns that few would have been as brave as Naughty Dog to take, even within the first few hours. Joel and Ellie’s story in the first game was about protecting the ones you love at any cost, but this sequel makes you question everything you thought you knew about those that we chose to protect. Abby won our best new character, and rightly so. She starts off as the villain, but over time we realise we might be entirely wrong about her.

Everything from the original has been improved upon, including the gameplay to the visuals. Gustavo Santaolalla’s music is breathtaking, emotive, and subtle. There are so many powerful moments in The Last of Us Part II that it’s hard to pick one that stands out above the others. All art is subjective, but nobody can deny that the risks Naughty Dog took with this game paid off, regardless of how you felt about the ending. It provided tears, laughter, fear, and every other emotion on the spectrum, never once being afraid to give us the best version of itself.

The post The GodisaGeek Game of the Year 2020 Top Ten List appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

It’s hard to talk about 2020 without acknowledging just how shit it’s been. The pandemic has knocked us, collectively, for six, and has revealed a side to our nature that no one wanted to admit existed. And yet, and yet, it’s not been all bad. We’ve seen tyrants toppled and medical barriers broken, we’ve seen communities come together even when it felt like the governments in charge had lost the plot, and we’ve seen an outpouring of human emotion, good and bad, like we’ve never seen before. And through it all, one thing has sustained so many of us: games. Simply, games. As film industries struggle under unprecedented restrictions, gaming has become even more of an escape than it was before, and 2020 has been a stupendous year for new releases, not just because of the advent of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Rather, it’s because we’ve needed games more this year – and they haven’t let us down. I could have made a list of fifty incredible titles, maybe more, but alas that’s not the way it works. So instead, along with a handful of honourable mentions, here is my list of the ten best games of 2020.

Honourable Mentions

Ghostrunner: I went back and forth a lot while playing Ghostrunner, but not ever becasue of the quality of the game itself. Rather, I just found it harder than a tin of titanium bastards. I’ve since watched people speedrun it in half an hour when it took me 14, which is humbling. But I love it. It’s gorgeous, fast, impeccably designed, and doesn’t throw false challenge at you with forced rogue-like mechanics.

Star Wars: Squadrons: It has been a fairly good year for Star Wars, all things considered. The second season of The Mandalorian has done incredibly well, and a few strong VR offerings have reminded us how fun this universe can be to play games in. But Squadrons is different – for one, it’s a combat flight sim, and a damn good one at that. It tells a solid story, but also happens to be an incredibly playable and well-made game. And the VR contingent is absolutely fantastic.

Crusader Kings III: Most people I know probably won’t have even played Crusader Kings III. It’s certainly niche, and one exclusively for the thinkers and planners, the methodical ones. Which makes it even stranger that I clicked with it so quickly. I’m anything but armchair smart, and I have the patience of a hyperactive budgie in a grain silo, but I fell in love with the scheming and skullduggery of Crusader Kings III.

Wasteland 3: This one almost, almost made the top ten. Wasteland 3 is an astoundingly good game, with an incredible sense of humour, deep mechanics and a world that begs to be explored. Mixing RPG and turn-based strategy to maximum effect, it’s one of the year’s big surprises for me.

Nioh 2: Team Ninja’s sequel takes the deep combat systems of its predecessor and adds a strong loot game and some fantastic RPG elements – but more than that, it tells a coherent, sometimes touching story at the same time. An utterly mesmerising action game.

10. Gears Tactics

I wasn’t expecting a lot from Gears Tactics, I’ll be honest. The franchise isn’t particularly well known for its deep strategy, often asking for little more than the calculations required to chainsaw an enemy clean in half. And yet The Coalition pulled a blinder with Gears Tactics. In a year filled to the brim with tactical turn-based strategy games (seriously, count the damn things), it presented what amounts to a full on Gears of War game from a top-down perspective. It’s so fast-paced the turn system barely bothers you, and it captures every ounce of atmosphere from the aesthetic to the music to the balls-out action of it all. Deep customisation, interesting skill trees for each class, and varied, meaty missions come together to produce one of the year’s most enjoyable shooters.

9. Desperados III

Desperados III is just excellent. I could leave it at that, to be honest, a succinct enough explanation as to why I love MiMiMi’s tactical western shooter. Almost unique (there a few similar titles, such as the developer’s own Shadow Tactics and Commandos, and the recent Partisans 1941), it presents each mission as a puzzle with multiple solutions. It features an array of colourful, interesting characters, each with abilties so unique to themselves that they genuinely change the way you look at each mission, and a selection of vast, intricate sandboxes in which to wreak mayhem as John Cooper and his band of vigilantes. There are few more satisfying tactical games, and the inclusion of the replay cam at the end of each level that shows all your deaths, kills, pick-ups, saves and loads is a masterstroke. As challenging or as easy going as you want it to be, Desperados III deserves to be played by any fan of tactical shooters, the Old West or solving problems with your six-shooters.

8. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Ubisoft have had one of their best and worst years in 2020. Beset by accusations that have seen their organisation shaken to the highest levels, they have a long road to walk before they can fully win back the public trust – if it’s possible at all. And yet, they’ve also managed to put out some of the year’s most enjoyable games – a feat that should be credited to the development teams, rather than the suits who run the show. And you can’t disparage a lot of the work they’ve done with titles like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Further evidence, if indeed it was required, that the old Creed is dead, Valhalla follows the open-world RPG route of Origins and Odyssey, but changes the way it handles fundemental elements like the loot system and the side-quests. Yes, it’s still a busy checklist of a map, but it’s filled with points of interest now, places you’ll want to explore, secrets you’ll want to find. It has its share of Ubisoft Jank, but it’s also charming, gorgeous and, crucially, compelling.

7. Hades

After a long stint in early access, Hades finally celebrated its full release this year on PC and, surprisingly, Nintendo Switch – and the world fell in love. Many had played it on PC (including myself), and watched it grow and evolve, but it found favour with the newcomers who had never dipped a toe in its glorious waters thanks to the percieved dangers of early access. A rogue-like that feels challenging but not punishing, Hades is the story of Zagreus, son of the titular Lord of the Underworld, who dreams of escaping Hell and joining his family on Mount Olympus. But Hades’ greatest strengths may not even lie in its stellar combat, but rather in the way it weaves its story even through your many failed runs, opening new conversations and dialogue options, revealing new secrets with every death that make you feel rewarded simply for playing, whether you succeed or not. This coupled with the perfectly paced character progression and, yes, that stellar combat I mentioned, make it one of the best games of 2020, and one of the Switch’s absolute must-plays.

6. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Far more than just an addition to 2018’s incredible Marvel’s Spider-Man, the more compact and focused Miles Morales tells a great story of its own while giving its new lead time to shine ahead of the full-blooded sequel we know is on the cards. Miles himself is an endearing and lovable main character, and while the small cast of villains is hardly the strongest ever assembled, it once again changes up the story to surprise fans of both the comic universe and the MCU to produce something that feels like its own entity. And the power of the PS5 delivers some gorgeous visuals, with some of the finest detail I’ve seen in a game world. Absolutely wonderful.

5. Final Fantasy VII Remake

There was a moment early on when playing Final Fantasy VII Remake that I had to stop and just appreciate the fact that I was finally experiencing it – that I was finally going to return to Midgar, to the oversized boots and silly hair of Cloud Strife, the star of perhaps my favourite game of all time. My love for FFVII is such that I won’t even replay it: I don’t want my natural aversion to retro games to sour my strongest gaming memories – which was what I was afraid of when playing the Remake. That somehow Square Enix would mess it up, pour murky pondwater over my rose-tinted glasses and somehow lessen my love for the original with all their swanky new features, but if anything it made me appreciate those memories more.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is an exceptionally good video game, one that consistently surprised and moved me even though I was always sure I knew where the story was going. It takes a great deal from its source of course, but adds enough to it that not only does the original remain reverent and unsullied, but the Remake feels like its own entity. If there’s a complaint, it’s that some of story and the side content feels a little like filler – but that’s a minor gripe next to the improved writing, character development, dizzying combat and staggering visuals. An absolute treat for fans and newcomers alike.

4. Cyberpunk 2077

Arguably 2020’s most controversial game, Cyberpunk 2077 is nevertheless the game I’ve had the most overall fun with this year. Lucky enough to be able to play on a decent PC, I haven’t experienced many of the more game-breaking bugs others have seen. Beyond occasional visual glitches and texture pop, I’ve had a mostly untarnished experience – and as such, I became utterly, completely immersed in Night City.

I found a game that let me play how I wanted to play, that gave me multiple options to tackle objectives how I saw fit, and introduced me to a stunningly beautiful yet knowingly grim vision of the future. The writing repeatedly impressed me, and the main characters felt real to me, the detail in the environments and the character work making me care about the world and its people – and the way it handles the story and side quests, weaving them in and out of one another, is fantastic. And as for Keanu Reeves’ turn as the hard-worn Johnny Silverhand, former rock star turned cyber ghost trapped in your protagonist’s head – well, I loved every minute of my time with him.

3. Demon’s Souls

Wow. That was the first thing I said as the Demon’s Souls remake began. It was the first game I played on the day my PlayStation 5 arrived, and what a way to welcome in the new generation. Bluepoint Games have done an incredible job, recapturing everything – everything – that made the original a cult classic, but making it feel more accessible, more playable, and more hauntingly beautiful than ever before. The use of light and sound to tell stories through the environment is possibly unmatched, its grim world dripping with an atmosphere that feels hopeless, dangerous, insurmountable – and still managing, somehow, to issue a challenge it’s impossible to ignore.

There were moments while playing through it that I was transported back to the 2009 original, remembering how I felt trying to get through it then, before the “Soulslike” was even a thing, before there were speedruns and boss guides all over the internet, when it was entirely unknown and simply pushing through it was reward enough. Never has there been a remake so complete and yet so respectful of what made the original so beloved.

2. Immortals Fenyx Rising

If you had told me last year that this game was going to make my GOTY list, I’d have laughed you out of the room. For what it’s worth, I don’t dislike the title – it’s no more generic than Gods & Monsters would have been, and in fact is more indicative of what this game is. Because it’s the story of Fenyx, a lovable protagonist helping Greece’s ancient Pantheon regain their power in a world that borrows heavily from Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. And when I say “borrows heavily from” I mean outright copies at times.

There are elements that are almost brazen, but at the same time Fenyx brings quality of life improvements to the formula made possible by the benefit of hindsight. And it tells what feels like a more cohesive story, filled with genuine humour as well as high advenure. And my god, it’s the first Ubisoft game I’ve played in years that feels not just polished but impeccably free of the usual jank that plagues their games. Immortals Fenyx Rising is a beautiful, charming epic.

1. Ghost of Tsushima

To say I’ve been captivated by Ghost of Tsushima would be a gross understatement. I’ve been enthralled by it for months. Even having to walk away from it to review so many other titles since its summer release, I’ve always returned to its staggering world. Jin Sakai may not be the most compelling protagonist of the year, but his journey from loyal, honour-bound Samurai to hard-bitten guerilla warrior is an incredible tale. At times I simply got lost in the world, and the truth is that the story takes just a little too long to grip – but when it does, it doesn’t let up. By the final hours, everything I had done, everyone I had helped, every life I had saved, came together to produce a thrilling final third that had me close to tears as the credits rolled.

But more than this, Ghost of Tsushima takes risks that shouldn’t pay off but do. The lack of a lock-on button in combat forces you to be aware of the enemies encircling you, and spreading so may collectibles across its map leads you to see every inch of it, and soak up its breathtaking splendour. An immersive, deep and rich open world combine with the year’s best combat system and some of the most consistently polished gameplay I’ve seen to produce the best game of 2020. Well done, Sucker Punch, you deserve it.

The post GOTY 2020: Mick Fraser appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

Honestly, 2020 has been a real shit show for many of us, and I don’t want to bang on about the fucking virus or any of the other shortcomings of the year. I just want to start this list by saying a big thank you to every one of you who has helped me get through it. Whether you gave me a simple comment about liking one of my reviews, to the donations you made after my house was burgled, it has meant so much to me. To everyone at God is a Geek, you guys mean the world to me, and if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be sitting here typing about the games that gave me a much-needed escape during such a difficult year. If I’ve learned anything in the last 12 months, it’s that there is plenty of good in the world.

It’s been a great year for video games, too, but I don’t need to tell you that. It’s hard to believe we’re at the end of another #GIAGGOTY podcast. It’s one of the many things I love about being part of this website, and even though we might not all agree, there’s nobody else I’d rather do it with than the fine folks at GiaG. Back to the games, though. Everything in the list below has been exceptional, and even though there are so many other games I loved playing this year, these have to be the best of 2020. Whatever has transpired this year, the video games have been absolutely fantastic.

Honourable Mentions

Cyberpunk 2077: There are far too many bugs to even consider putting this into my top ten, but they didn’t stop me from playing. I was obsessed with the neo-futuristic setting, the engrossing story, and Keanu Reeves, obviously. I can’t help but think how things would be different if CD Projekt Red had approached its release differently. Instead of putting out a finished game, they released a broken, glitch-ridden open-world RPG, but I still sank fifty hours into it.

Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1 + 2: I felt like I’d been transported back twenty years when I booted this up. Everything about it felt exactly the same, but it reminded me just how fucking fantastic it was. One of my favourite levels from the original two games was the school from THPS2, and as I listened to Blood Brothers by Papa Roach whilst breaking into the gym, I couldn’t help but fall in love with it all over again.

Final Fantasy VII Remake: By the end of the year, I thought this was going to be sitting right at the top of my list. It’s as faithful as it could be yet it throws in so much more. The only reason it sits in the honourable mentions is that there were so many other great games. I adored the combat, the visuals, the story, and the amazing work Square Enix has done to bring this all-time classic into the present day. Sure, it took some risks, but I believe they paid off in the end.

Fuser: I’ll never forget how refreshing it felt to play Fuser for the first time. For starters, the tracklist is banging. DMX, Ace of Base, Evanescence, and 50 Cent are only a fraction of the music featured, but sliding in different tracks from each song to make one cohesive mix is something I’ll never forget. It’s colourful and inviting, and has a great sense of community to it.

Hades: I’ve been toying with the idea to slip this in at number ten, but thanks to a last-minute obsession with Gears Tactics, it has just missed out. The addictive nature of Hades is one of the reasons I adore this game. You can play it for ages, or just a small pocket of your time thanks to the accessible nature of the roguelike elements to it. Zagreus is such a cool protagonist, and the gameplay is so much fun. Visually, it’s one of the best this year and I’m so glad I got to play it before the year is out.

10. Gears Tactics

I’ve only started playing this in the last few weeks, but I’m glad I did. Gears of War is one of my favourite series of all time, never failing to give me chills whenever I step foot in the shoes of Marcus or Kait. Gears Tactics feels very much like a Gears game, except it takes the form of a turn-based strategy. I’m a big fan of Gabe Diaz, and although the story isn’t as revolutionary as those featured in the main series, it’s still interesting. The gameplay is superb, always offering you plenty of options on the battlefield to take out the Locust hordes. It’s simple to grasp and there are a lot of moving parts that help to make the action feel exciting and explosive. There’s plenty to love if you’re a fan of what The Coalition does, but it also feels very much like a traditional Gears game.

9. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

I was fortunate to play plenty of Valhalla before release thanks to a couple of preview events. It was clear after a few hours that this was going to be something I thoroughly enjoyed. Assassin’s Creed has always been a franchise close to my heart. Sure, they’ve had a few missteps, but on the whole, the core games have been incredible. Whilst grubby ninth-century England might not match the bushy and bright environments of Origins and Odyssey, it’s still a dense world filled with so much to do. Eivor is a superb protagonist, becoming someone I genuinely cared about. The portrayal of Vikings is exceptional, the score is authentic and moving, and the combat is the best the series has seen so far. All in all, Valhalla is a wonderful step into an unfamiliar age that Ubisoft managed to nail in every way.

8. Streets of Rage 4

The Mega Drive was my entire childhood. I played so much of that console when it was in its prime – more so than any other, and Streets of Rage was my game of choice. Its sequel was just as good, but the third was a massive disappointment. Playing Streets of Rage 4 for the first time was like stepping into a time machine. Whilst it felt very similar to the original, the combat had been drastically built upon, offering new moves and specials to make the action one of the finest elements of it. The co-op is silky smooth, and although it doesn’t take long to blast through the story, there’s plenty of replayability thanks to the various characters to play as, all the unlockable stuff to chase, and the satisfying gameplay.

7. Spider-Man: Miles Morales

I’m on my second playthrough of Miles Morales, and that’s after getting 100% on my first. I thought it would be fairly similar to Marvel’s Spider-Man, and whilst that’s slightly true, the Venom moves add a new layer to the gameplay. With even more abilities at your disposal, the union of combat and movement is the best I’ve ever seen. Playing on PS4 is great, but the power of the PS5 improves the visuals dramatically, and the haptic feedback improved my enjoyment no end. Although it’s a comparatively short offering, I feel like Insomniac Games are building towards something great. Combining Peter Parker and Miles Morales for the next game seems like the logical step forward, especially if the post-credits scene is anything to go by.

6. Astro’s Playroom

Harnessing the power of the PlayStation 5, Astro’s Playroom managed to not only give us a fun platformer, it reminded me exactly why I fell in love with the PlayStation in the first place. From countless references to many of the great PlayStation games (God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, Tekken, and Death Stranding), it is also a celebration of each console Sony has released since the original. Levels are built around each of the four consoles, with a final boss fight that has to be one of the coolest I’ve ever seen. Collecting relics and unlocking parts of the murals is still keeping me playing. I’ll never forget the way my kids faces lit up when they held the controller and walked through the sandstorm bit in Cooling Springs. They couldn’t believe it. This is how I felt back in 1996, and it’s how I feel now. What a game, what a console.

5. Yakuza: Like a Dragon

I’ve been playing Yakuza games in one form or another for almost fifteen years. Their ability to blend drama with humour is unparalleled, and Yakuza: Like a Dragon is no different. I worried that after Kiryu I might feel differently, but Ryu Ga Gotoku have once again outdone themselves. I kind of wish the entire series had included turn-based combat because it is so much better than the combat of old. Harnessing the magnificence of the Dragon’s Quest series did Like a Dragon a huge favour. I’d love to see Ichiban’s next adventure to continue with the JRPG elements as some of the moves are mind-blowing, and the Jobs system is unlike anything else I’ve seen before. The story is also fantastic as it manages to blend some genuine moments of emotion with the bizarre.

4. Immortals Fenyx Rising

I had high hopes for this even when it was still called Gods and Monsters. It looked like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild set in Greek mythology, but I never expected it to be quite as good as it is. Yes, it borrows a ton from BotW, but it also manages to do a lot of things differently. For starters, the voice-acting is exceptional. It pokes fun at itself and has plenty of funny dialogue, but at its core is a story about someone destined for greatness, trying to step out of their brother’s shadow. Then there’s the combat. My God, the combat. As you start to unlock Godly Powers, the game opens up, giving you the freedom to fight in a multitude of ways. Whether you are using your massive hammer or your bow to dispatch enemies, there are so many options at your disposal. The puzzles in the world and deep down in the Vaults feel fresh every time, and when you finish off one of the bigger ones, there’s no feeling quite like it. You earn your progress in Immortals Fenyx Rising, and when you step up to fight Typhon at the end, it feels like the momentous encounter it was meant to be.

3. Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima tells a deeply personal story about its protagonist Jin Sakai. Although it starts off slowly, things eventually start to pick up, and the history behind the Sakai clan takes centre stage. Although the main story is great to play through, there’s a lot to do outside of that. Side quests see you uncover more about the supporting characters, and the Mythic Quests are superb. It oozes style, whether it’s the gorgeous world itself or the way the cutscenes unfold in a variety of ways. It has a deep Skill Tree that covers everything from your skills to your weapons and armour, and the way you go about upgrading everything never stops from being exciting. I’ve recently gone back to it to sweep up all the collectibles and fully upgrade Jin, as well as play the phenomenal Legends mode. It may not be the best PlayStation exclusive of the year, but it’s still a phenomenal piece of work.

2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Reflecting on Animal Crossing: New Horizons gives me such a warm and comforting feeling. No game has ever made me feel such happiness, and as we celebrate the Christmas season, I’ve been doing so with my islanders. As you know, my Nintendo Switch was stolen this year, and with it went my island. Whitehaven was gone forever, and I would never ever see it again. The prospect of putting another 200 hours into a game seemed off the table, but when I finally got one back, that’s exactly what I did. I may never see my Drago or Clay again, but I’ve managed to find solace in my new island. It manages to make you feel wanted, always offering you a smile and a place to go when things get tough in the real world. Enjoying the daily grind of collecting fossils or shaking trees to get my items never gets old, and having a place so positive to escape to for a few hours is the perfect kind of therapy. I have a lot to thank Nintendo for in my life, but Animal Crossing: New Horizons is at the top of the list.

1. The Last of Us Part II

I feel like there’s nothing left to say about The Last of Us Part II that I haven’t already said. When a game comes out and affects you in such a dramatic way, it’s hard not to spend every hour thinking about it. Thinking about the choices you made, thinking about the deeply emotional story, thinking about the faces you’re never going to see again. When Joel died, it felt like a piece of me did as well. I related to him more than most characters, especially as I saw a lot of his personality and the choices he made in me, especially during the first game. I was a new father back in 2013, and I understood why he did what he did, and why he would do anything to save Ellie, even if it was at the cost of so many other lives. Having to then watch the girl he raised become a monster – a shell of everything she was before – was crushing. It’s a masterpiece in storytelling and game design that should be used in every single argument someone makes about the relevancy of single-player games in today’s market. Whether you liked it or not, everything about The Last of Us Part II showcases a gifted team of developers, musicians, and actors, and it will stand out as the greatest game of not only 2020, but the entire generation.

The post GOTY 2020: Chris White appeared first on GodisaGeek.com.

I never would have thought that by the end of this year I’d have spent nearly 200 hours playing Fortnite. Epic Games’ hugely popular battle royale has always been something I’ve wanted to get into, but to be able to enjoy it you need other like-minded people to pour hours of their free time into. One day earlier in the year, my eldest daughter and I decided to jump into Duos. It had been a good few years since I’d actually played Fortnite, so the map had changed a lot, old weapons were replaced with new ones, and everything I’d known didn’t exist anymore. Even though I felt like a small fish in a very big pond, I really liked what I saw.

Evie had only heard her friends talk about it, but they were all pros who’d been playing together for ages and she felt left out. I wanted to play something with her where we connected as father and daughter on a whole new level, and find a new point of conversation that would help to keep us close. She’s getting to an age now where she’s not playing with toys anymore. She’s not a young kid who wants the new doll for Christmas, let alone even believes in Santa anymore. This new venture was beneficial for the both of us, but what actually happened became much more than spending time together playing a video game.

It’s remarkable how a game like #Fortnite still manages to surprise after so long. Follow us at https://t.co/O0c68ZaTQu pic.twitter.com/KPUTJb9qer

— GodisaGeek.com (@GodisaGeek) July 11, 2020

Every new Season introduced to Fortnite provides plenty of content, whether you’re buying the Battle Pass or not. Free-to-play games always come with caveats, but this one doesn’t. Yes, you have to buy the Battle Pass if you want the new skins and every new item upon reaching a new level, but the game is still playable for free. You can play as much of it as you want. You can still level up. You can still play with friends on different platforms and you don’t need PS Plus or any subscription service to do so. The pass itself costs 950 V-Bucks, which can be purchased currently for £6.49. That’s incredible value for money, especially as you get so much content for it.

The greatest season without a doubt this year has been Nexus War. It brought Marvel into the game in a big way. Not only could you get skins of Iron Man, Doctor Doom, She-Hulk, and Wolverine, but the island featured places such as Stark Industries, Doom’s Domain, and the Ant Hill for you to run around in. There were tons of Easter eggs hidden in the map, and countless back bling, harvesting tools, and icons that could be unlocked. The final battle against Galactus that was teased throughout the season was also one of the most exciting moments of the year.

Evie and I had already spent around a hundred hours playing Nexus War when my youngest daughter, Hollie, started to take an interest. We introduced her into our team and it added an entirely new dynamic to the way we played. Bearing in mind she was only seven at the time, we were getting Victory Royale after Victory Royale, and I’ll never forget the time we got seven in a row one evening. After hundreds of hours of us all getting to level 100 and beyond, we stood on top of the hellicarrier as the end of the season counted down. It was a surprisingly emotional moment for me. To me, Fortnite is more than just a game. It’s a moment in time where my girls and I were sharing some of our happiest memories together.

Fortnite brought my kids and I together in a way I’ll be eternally grateful for. We still play a lot of it, especially with the new season kicking off recently. Epic Games have something that welcomes players of all skill levels together and constantly pushes the boundaries of what can be done with a ‘free’ game. For all the victories that were stolen from us in the dying moments and the times we argued about what to do or where to go next, we were damn good, and we had a blast.

My eldest daughter has recently got herself a boyfriend, so her time playing with me has dwindled in favour of playing Fortnite with him. I’m fairly sure he was one of her friends who had asked her to play at the start of the year, but she didn’t know enough about it, and hadn’t even played Fortnite at that time. Although she’s spending much more time on it with him than me, I like to think I helped her get to where she is. Every now and then she’ll ask to play with me. We’re not spending nearly enough time together anymore and I get it. She’s growing up and she’s needing me less and less, but she still wants to jump back into Fortnite with me every other day. As a father, it’s a tough transition and I never knew how hard it would hit me, but I’ll always have the year I spent playing Fortnite with her and nobody can take that away from me.

Honourable mentions in this category: Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Deep Rock Galactic, Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War, Risk of Rain 2.

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