Does Black Ops 6 deliver? Plus Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and more.
In case you haven’t noticed, we are well in the middle of video game release insanity for 2024, so we’ve rounded up 10 of the biggest titles in the last month worth looking into. Your wallet is not going to be happy…
1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, PC)
This year feels like a big year for Call of Duty. The first in the series to land on Xbox Game Pass at launch, there’s obviously a lot more eyes on the ever-popular shooter series, both in regards to quality and eventual sales performance. But while it’s obviously too early to tell on the latter, the franchise is certainly putting its best foot forward because Black Ops 6 is one of the best entries in years.
It all starts with the campaign, which easily outdoes last year’s rather lacklustre effort and packs in a healthy serving of bombastic thrills. The Black Ops series has always leaned more heavily into the espionage-inspired jaunts and this entry is no different. Levels often feel like you’re in the middle of a Bond or Mission Impossible movie and that’s a vibe that I absolutely gelled with. And once the cloak and daggers swaps out for pure action, developer Sledgehammer Games deftly handles that as well with the robust shooting mechanics taking centre stage.
But this level of quality isn’t exclusive to the campaign. It also carries across to the whole suite of modes across Black Ops 6. Zombies, for example returns back to its wave-based origins after the poorly received open-world format, and is all the better for it. If you’ve got a group of friends you’ll be impressed at how much meat there is to these undead bones, with two maps at play for the moment – Liberty Falls and Terminus. There’s plenty to soak in, from objectives, storyline and general coordination, but for some that might even be too overwhelming. If you’re not chatting through your approach your progress may very well stall, so I recommend playing with a well-established team.
Finally, there’s the multiplayer and much like the rest of the package it’s a beefy offering that’ll easily see you lose weeks to the grind. Yes, the Prestige system is back, and yes, there’s an absolute bevy of new maps and modes, but it’s all backed up by the new omnimovement inclusion, which just makes everything feel super smooth. Being able to sprint and dive in pretty much any direction is a game-changer and most noticeable in multiplayer allowing for all sorts of new tricks,
At the end of the day though, if you’ve become disenfranchised with the Call of Duty franchise, there’s a good chance Black Ops 6 will suck you back in.
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2. Dragon Age: The Veilguard (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, PC)
To say BioWare has had a rocky past few years is somewhat of an understatement, but if Dragon Age: The Veilguard is any indication, the studio seems to have regained its footing and then some.
Returning once more to the land of Thedas, you fill the unlikely boots of Rook, a completely customisable chap who must do away with a couple of corrupt gods up to no good. There’s some longstanding lore at play here but even as a relative Dragon Age newbie BioWare does well to ease you into the world-saving antics, meaning I never felt out of my depth.
Likewise assembling your team to duel the ultimate battle was engaging and impactful, especially thanks to pretty great cast of characters who you will quickly form a connection with. That said, the actual dialogue exchanges are bound to prove controversial, with a Marvel-style quip-heavy approach that I didn’t mind but can imagine will irk plenty of hardcore Dragon Age fans.
The move into more action-heavy combat will also raise eyebrows, but again I enjoyed its quicker pace, and it’s still not without a degree of strategy as you juggle key enemies, special cooldowns and the art of defence.
Combined, it makes for quite a different Dragon Age title, but one that still manages to shine brightly. It’s relatively polished, captivating and filled with a whole lot of content to sink into. What more can you ask for?
3. Super Mario Party Jamboree (Switch)
Believe it or not but somehow Super Mario Party Jamboree is the third Mario Party game to grace the Nintendo Switch, but the good news is that it’s without question the best of the bunch. That’s because Jamboree does well to embrace the core elements that make Mario Party so fun, while learning from the mistakes of the past.
Case in point: stars once again will set you back 20 coins instead of 10, making the whole process feel slightly more challenging and less trivial. This entry also fixes the relatively anaemic number of boards from the last few titles by offering up a much healthier seven this time around – five new and two returning favourites and combined they range from family friendly to dastardly devilish and I especially liked the
If you’re a hardcore Mario Party veteran, you even have the option to switch on Pro Rules this time around, which removes some of the game’s more random elements and gives the flick to many motion-heavy minigames. That said, the new Jamboree Buddies introduce a whole new level of randomness and chaos, by granting players a pal who can double your actions (like buying stars), although they can be easily swiped by competing players so expect plenty of arguments to ensue.
But chaos makes for great Mario Party antics and Jamboree delivers that in spades. Recommended.
4. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (PS5)
There’s some question as to whether or not Horizon Zero Dawn actually needed a remaster at this point in its life, but you can’t argue that this end result is positively stunning and should serve as a great jumping on point once the television series finally rears its head.
The extra grunt of the PS5 adds an extra special sheen to proceedings and as a result, brings it in line with the game’s incredibly pretty sequel. Rest assured, this is a game designed for a 4K OLED screen.
When it comes to content though, unsurprisingly not a lot has changed outside of the Frozen Wilds expansion being bundled in, but that’s by no means a bad thing. That’s because Horizon Zero Dawn remains a consistently engaging, highly polished outing well worth checking out. Discovering how to best new metallic beasts is a thrill thanks to strong combat mechanics, and getting sucked into the plights of Alloy remains a highlight.
If you’ve recently played Horizon Zero Dawn this remaster is difficult to recommend unless you’re a devout super fan, but for any newcomers to the series this is unquestionably the definitive way to experience the title. Plus, if you already own the game the upgrade will only set you back $15, which is by no means a bad deal.
5. Metaphor: ReFantazio (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, PC)
If you’ve been looking for one JRPG to enthral you for the weeks or months ahead, you needn’t look any further than Metaphor: ReFantazio. Crafted by many veterans from the Persona series, this is an absolute masterclass in the genre.
By ditching the classic Persona school-based setting in favour of a fantasy aesthetic, Metaphor is able to dive much deeper into far heavier topics like politics, race and religion than ever before. It allows for a story that focuses on a kingdom seeking a new king in a troubled time and as a result is able to play in a much more creative space. The tale is incredibly well written, complex and challenging in all the best ways.
But in a game that demands around 80+ hours of your time, the gameplay needs to hit as well, and it does. Turn-based combat might not gel for all gamers, but it’s done exceptionally well here and presents plenty of strategy, even if some of the enemies become a bit samey.
It’s all backed up by a strong visual style and absolutely bopping soundtrack, turning Metaphor: ReFantazio into an easy game of the year contender. Check it out.
6. Life is Strange: Double Exposure (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, PC)
Returning to the incredibly beloved tale of Max Caulfield was always going to be an incredibly risky endeavour for developer Deck Nine, especially considering they never penned the original chapters. As a result, double Exposure manages to successfully walk the the tightrope it built for itself, even if it doesn’t entirely stick the landing.
Set 9 years after the original game, Double Exposure sees Max lecturing at a fancy art school and power-free. That is until one of her new friends is murdered, leading her to discover a whole new powerset – one that allows Max to alternate between two timelines where the aforementioned murder either did or didn’t happen.
As you’d expect from a Life is Strange game, you’ll engage in plenty of conversations with multiple versions of characters as you hop between timelines, trying to build relationships while gradually solving the murder mystery at large. It’s pretty engaging but does lack a little depth the longer the story goes on.
There’s also plenty of choice-based gameplay but not every moment hits, including the slightly underwhelming conclusion. That said, there is a setup for more Life is Strange to come, so fingers crossed Deck Nine can find its footing once again.
7. Fear the Spotlight (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch)
The first title in horror specialists Blumhouse’s debut into video games, Fear the Spotlight is a surprisingly nostalgic treat.
It begins the way all too many classic terrors do: with a Ouija board experience gone wrong, leading buttoned up schoolgirl protagonist Vivian to search for her occult-obsessed friend after she goes MIA. What soon follows is a puzzle-focused stress-fest as you navigate your moon-soaked school creeping along hallways, solving riddles and avoiding a persistent baddie hot on your tail.
Atmospheric horror is the name of the game here but the nostalgic low poly visuals provide Fear the Spotlight with a creepy identity of its own and it’s all the better for it. I was totally engrossed in Vivian’s plight, but then being able to swap over to see Amy’s side of events was a neat twist. Sure, gameplay might be on the simpler side, but it doesn’t outstay its welcome and knows when to wrap things up.
If Fear the Spotlight is indicative of the rest of Blumhouse’s line-up, that’s something worth screaming about.
8. Sonic X Shadow Generations (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, Switch, PC)
After being stranded on the PS3, Sonic fans can rejoice at this enjoyable remaster headlined by the one and only Shadow the Hedgehog. Yes, just before the sultry antihero makes his big screen debut, Sonic X Shadow Generations goes all in on Shadow via a brand new campaign, using many of his prior outings as the foundation. Following alongside the events of Sonic Generations, Shadow’s antics are quite welcomed and do well to switch up the gameplay in both 3D and 2D from Sonic. It’s fast and frantic and a whole lot of fun.
Then there’s the other half of this package, which is essentially a remaster of Sonic Generations. The blue blur’s levels might not feel as new and exciting as Shadow’s, but they’re still some of the best in recent memory, so I’m glad the title is getting a bit more time in the limelight. It also looks a whole lot better, with my PS5 version really able to help environments pop as you whiz on by.
That ultimately leaves Sonic X Shadow Generations as a pretty great two-package deal. Perfect for fans or newcomers, this is a great deal for fans or newcomers who are sure to follow once the threequel film hits cinemas.
9. Pokémon TCG Pocket (iOS, Android)
If you thought your days of Pokémon card collecting were long gone, then you clearly haven’t felt the addictive itch of Pokémon TCG Pocket. Acting as a perfect vessel of nostalgia, this mobile gem smartly separates itself into two portions: collecting and battling.
The former sees a smart digitisation of the original Pokémon card experience, complete with tearing open a random selection of booster packs in your quest to collect all 150+ pocket monsters. A new pack becomes available every 12 hours, but completing daily missions earns currency that can be spent to help bring that timer down. It’s an incredibly appealing loop, and it won’t be long before you’re ripping packs in the hope of nabbing the rarest of the rare cards.
Then there’s the battle-focused multiplayer game stitched in and it does incredibly well to simplify a game that most kids were never bothered to learn. Battles are relatively quick (under five minutes), although there is clearly a firm meta already at play, meaning if you haven’t built a strong deck you may feel as though you’re constantly running into a brick wall.
Small issues aside, this is an easy contender for mobile game of the year.
10. Broken Sword – Shadow Of The Templars: Reforged (Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, XBO, PC)
This Switch remaster transforms the 1996 point-and-click adventure classic to a modern audience and does a damn fine job. For those unfamiliar with Broken Sword, it kicks off with a literal bang as American tourist George Stobbart is almost killed via a bombing at a Parisian café. What follows is an investigate adventure to discover the motive while uncovering some shadowy truths and it remains as engaging as ever.
The biggest change you’ll notice is the visual upgrade, which sees the original game’s pixelated backgrounds, characters and general environments given a significant glow up with new high-definition options.
What you end up with is a faithful recreation that truly shines on the Switch screen, especially if you have an OLED model, which really allows the colours to pop. Plus, fans of the original can easily switch between the different versions with the press of a button. Just don’t expect the same level of TLC with the audio. Also worth noting is that this remaster is focused on the original game and not the controversial Director’s Cut, so you needn’t expect any of the associated oddities.
Some particularly wordy puzzles and old-school design aside, Reforged is a great way to revisit some beloved gaming history.’
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