Looking for a brand new video game to play? Well we find out how Ring Fit Adventure stacks up against the gym, and get our hands on with AO Tennis 2, Audica, Patapon 2 Remastered and more.
Ring Fit Adventure (Switch)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvHELogbm2E
We were definitely not prepared for this one. Make no doubt about it, Ring Fit Adventure will have you sweating your ass off as you jump around your living room. Evolving the Wii Fit formula that printed money for years, this fitness adventure is much better at being an actual game this time around – with a relatively loose plot that tosses your silent character into a magical world fraught with danger.
Catch is, all your movements and attacks are made with real-life physical activity. Move forward by jogging on the spot and attack enemies by any variation of squat reps, planking or trying a few yoga poses without face planting. Simply put, this the nicest personal trainer you’ll likely ever have.
Don’t be an idiot and expect Biggest Loser-style results here, but Ring Fit’s actual intensity is surprising and genuinely makes exercise fun. That’s the most we could ask for.
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AO Tennis 2 (PS4, XBO, Switch, PC)
We’re no stranger to calling a spade a spade, and the honest truth is that the original AO Tennis… was a little bit crap. The good news though is that this locally developed sequel has made dramatic improvements from 2018 to provide one of the best tennis games in years.
The game still has a frustrating tendency to occasionally take control of your movement, but we still had plenty of epic rallies that led to Djokovic-inspired passive aggressive fist pumps when we were able to smash out a winner. The career mode also helps breathe some extra life into the package considering the licenced venues and characters are slightly limited.
The Switch iteration also has a slight blurry sheen on its visuals compared to its bigger brothers, but its still the perfect kind of experience to always have with you on the go all the same.
Alien: Isolation (Switch)
If you own a Nintendo Switch, chances are you know that some of the system’s larger, more intense ports end up coming off as badly as the awkward cousin your parents made you take to your year 10 formal. Surprisingly though, that’s not the case for Alien Isolation, which actually looks even better this time around.
The tale of Ellen Ripley (yep, the daughter of Sigourney Weaver’s bad-ass alien hunter) remains unchanged, which is perfectly fine because it’s an incredibly tense and terrifying journey that’ll have you reaching for new dacks on more than one occasion.
Patapon 2 Remastered (PS4)
Patapon 2 harks back to a time when Sony was no stranger to offering up truly whacky videogames. As such, this fan-favourite PSP series will see you controlling a god as you lead your unique tribe of black and white warriors into battle, all to the beat of a drum. Basic commands like moving forward and attacking all correspond to various button combinations that come across as beats of a drum.
It starts out easy but the rhythmic gameplay gradually amps up in difficulty as the game simultaneously ratchets up its complexity – granting you control over character creation, material gathering and more. If you’re after a unique PS4 experience, this is the best way to play Patapon 2, even if its cutscenes bizarrely haven’t been touched since 2008.
Audica (PSVR)
While Beat Saber had VR fans embracing their inner Jedi to hack and slash to the beat, Harmonix (the people that had every group of friends believing they were the next AC/DC with Guitar Hero and Rock Band) wants you to embrace the John Wick within you. As a result, Audica has you shooting at notes as they fly towards you, which is slightly more complicated than it sounds.
There’s a real learning curve to adjust to – especially as you properly adjust to such busy visual environments – it never feels unfair and will instead push you to get better. Thanks to a rocking soundtrack (even Billie Eilish is getting in on the action) and an incredibly addictive gameplay loop, Audica will have you happily navigating your way through the PSVR’s barrage of cables with childlike glee. Just make sure your arms are ready for a workout. Here’s some more PSVR games you can check as well.
Assassin’s Creed The Rebel Collection (Switch)
While there’s been no shortage of Assassin’s Creed games over the last decade (and one movie), fans have always held a soft spot for the swashbuckling, pillaging nature of Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag. Thankfully this collection remains as enjoyable as ever as you embrace your inner Jack Sparrow while hunting bad guys throughout the main campaign and all it’s single-player DLC, as well as Assassin’s Creed Rogue – a lesser known entry in the series from 2014.
Neither may be the prettiest belles of the ball, but together they sure as hell provide a lot of bang for your buck.
