A Real Goldmine
Mojang has confirmed that Minecraft, the incredibly popular brick builder, has passed 100 million lifetime sales worldwide, with an average of 53,000 copies sold every day since the beginning of this year. In case that wasn’t impressive enough, the game has also been purchased in every country on Earth – including Antarctica. “We’d like to offer our heartfelt thanks to every one of you who’s bought Minecraft over the past few years, no matter which platform you play on,” gushed Mojang in a public statement. “You really are the best.”
Still On The Horizon
One of 2016’s most anticipated PS4 games has sadly been delayed. Horizon Zero Dawn – the third-person action/RPG blend with robo-dinosaurs – was originally slated for the latter half of this year, but will now drop on March 1, 2017. “It wasn’t an easy choice to make; we know many of you have been anxious to play the game since we first announced it,” said Guerrilla Games managing director Hermen Hulst. “However, we also want to ensure that Horizon Zero Dawn lives up to the visuals and gameplay quality that our games are known for.”
Another Tale
If you’ve been craving some new adventure titles, Telltale Games has announced that two of its most awaited projects are on the way soon. Both Batman: A Telltale Game Series and The Walking Dead Season 3 are set to premiere around spring this year, with footage of the former expected any day now. In other words, get excited!
Review:
Doom(PS4, XBO, PC)
First released in 1993, the original Doom undeniably helped shape video games as we know them today, paving the way for first-person shooters. Understandably then, the franchise’s resurgence has a whole lot of pressure behind it. But while Id Software’s latest doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel all over again, it still manages to be an entertainingly old-school romp.
And old-school much of Doom’s game design is. Instead of the tactical, considered approach to combat many shooters now adopt, Doom encourages a rapid fire of reactions and movement. As a result, limits to both your inventory and sprinting have been tossed out the window, as have regenerating health and reloading. It’s a refreshing change of pace that constantly keeps you on the move – placing action at the forefront as you take on one demon at a time in exceptionally brutal fashion. That said, fighting these demons does tend to involve taking on endless hordes within a confined space until you’re finally allowed to move forward, which by the campaign’s halfway point, can start to feel a little samey.
Multiplayer tries to round out the package, but fans of the series will likely be disappointed, as many modern conventions are stirred in to varying degrees of success. Still, with vertically inclined maps, a good selection of weapons and close-quarter combat that resembles Quake, you’ll have a good time.
And this is true for much of Doom’s final product. It might not be a game-changer, but it’s incredibly enjoyable.
★★★★
Review:
Overwatch(PS4, XBO, PC)
Of all the companies within the video game industry, Blizzard is often considered one of the most influential. Simply map out its history and you’ll notice well-defined footprints on some of the most popular genres around.
The MMO was in many ways reshaped by World Of Warcraft, just as Hearthstone dominates collectible card games and StarCraft influenced the humble RTS. Now, the developer has crafted its most ambitious and addictive effort yet with Overwatch – finally placing its stamp on the first-person shooter and effectively turning it on its head.
The beloved kill/death ratio, for example, has been shown the door in favour of short, six-versus-six objective-focused matches. Comparisons will instantly be made with MOBAs, much like last month’s Battleborn, however Overwatch’s DNA is actually in line with more traditional shooters such as fan favourite Team Fortress 2. Like that classic, characters are eccentric and colourful, as are each of the 12 varying multiplayer maps. Most importantly, though, the whole experience runs at a silky smooth pace even when the battlefield turns into utter chaos.
At the heart of Overwatch’s charm is its roster – packing an impressive 21 characters who are split into four distinct classes, each with unique abilities. Offensive heroes are all about the aggression and speed – like Tracer and her ability to quickly teleport around the map. Meanwhile, defence-centric heroes handle crowd control with a healthy amount of sniping, tanks (like the cannon-wielding, leap-happy gorilla, Winston) are primarily about heavy weapons, and supports spend their time trying to lend their teammates a helping hand.
The key to your team’s success and one of Overwatch’s greatest hooks lies in experimenting with how the various play styles complement one another. After a few matches, understanding the strength and weakness of each character will become second nature – not just to determine how best to counter your enemy’s lineup, but to recognise your own team’s inherent limitations at any given moment.
Some may be disappointed to learn that there is no campaign in sight, especially considering the entry fee, but in all honesty it’s hard to complain too much when the core gameplay is this unabashedly entertaining. So round up a couple of friends, choose your favourite character and bid farewell to your free time. Such is the power of Overwatch.
★★★★☆
[Main Image: Overwatch]
