We get our filthy mitts on Star Wars: Squadrons, Crash Bandicoot 4, Mafia: Definitive Edition, Tell Me Why, Hades and more!
Both Xbox Series X and PS5 are just over a month away, gamers. But before you go breaking open your piggy bank, there’s still plenty of new releases worth checking out. Allow us to highlight but a few, starting off with Star Wars: Squadrons…
Star Wars: Squadrons (PS4, XBO, PC)
Good, this Star Wars game is. EA knows that there is something inherently cool about zipping your way around a galaxy far, far away, so thankfully Star Wars: Squadrons does well to hone in on that without accidentally falling to the dark side. Set after the antics of Return of the Jedi, you’ll control opposite sides of the force as the New Republic tries to get a top-secret ship off the ground designed to take out the Empire.
It’s typical Star Wars fluff that admittedly isn’t all that engaging, but Squadrons is a great excuse to hop into the cockpit of classic Warsie vehicles like X-Wings, TIE Fighters and interceptors to engage in dogfights many kids dreamed of before nodding off to sleep. Mastering basic moment-to-moment gameplay feels mighty fine, but getting into the minutia of these crafts is immense and will take some getting used to.
Every button has a purpose and to be the best in the galaxy you’ll want to memorise it all. That’s especially true if you plan on tackling multiplayer, which almost feels like the main course here once the eight-ish hour campaign is over; the 5v5 online battles are chaotic adrenaline-fueled playgrounds.
There’s a hell of a lot of promise, so fingers crossed the multiplayer suite gets the love and attention it needs to succeed. Oh, and if you have a compatible VR set-up, that is 100% the ideal way to play – unless of course the Star Wars Squadrons‘ breakneck speed will give you a case of the voms…
Hades (Switch, PC)
Holy dooley Hades is an absolute bloody treat, let us say that right off the bat. This incredibly polished roguelike weaves a fascinating spin on classic Greek mythology where every character is a sexy/smouldering Bold and the Beautiful-type and thrusts you into the flamed feet of Zagreus – son of Hades, lord of the underworld.
Your goal is to hack and slash your way until you reach the surface and escape, hoping to join the likes of Zeus, Athena and Poseidon, who are claiming to welcome you with open arms.
But such a feat will not be instantaneous, meaning you will die many times over, gradually growing stronger to progress further and further with each run. Brought to you by the team behind hits like Bastion and Transistor, Hades is perhaps the developer’s finest work yet.
Combat is buttery smooth, the soundtrack is a banger and the game’s narrative and characters dig their hooks into you and never relent. We easily racked up 40+ hours in a week and yet we still crave more. Don’t sleep on this because it’s one of 2020’s best.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (PS4, XBO)
It’s been a hell of a long time between drinks for the ol’ bandicoot (22 years since the last numbered sequel, in fact), but what a return to form this is. Following on from the momentum of the N. Sane Trilogy, It’s About Time manages a perfect harmony between both old and new.
Much of this brand spanking new gameplay comes via Quantum Masks which grant you new abilities like phasing objects or parts of a level in and out of reality. These new ideas are thrown at you pretty quickly and will get your brain going into overdrive as you try to get a hold of it all.
But while frustration will likely ensue, it’s the good kind that actually makes you think about your approach to each level rather than quickly blast through it. What we’re trying to say is, don’t let the bright colours and cartoonish antics fool you, this is no kiddy game. So don’t be disheartened if you suck a bit, okay?
If you’ve long been a fan of Crash, this is arguably his finest outing yet, and with a veritable shit-tonne of extras to find and unlock, it’ll keep you busy for a long time.
Mafia: Definitive Edition (PS4, XBO, PC)
Now this is how you do a remaster. 18 years after the original Mafia blasted its way into the world with the tale of a humble cab driver turned underworld mobster, Hangar 13 offers up this remarkable attempt at transporting it to the modern age.
Right from the get-go, it’s apparent that this self-titled ‘Definitive Edition’ wants to remain respectful to the original source material while also adding in few bells and whistles where required. It’s a game that wants both the gun and the cannoli, but you know what, it damn near pulls it off.
You’ll have to endure the odd control quirk here and there – especially as you adjust to vehicle handling, but for fans of the original, this is unquestionably the best way to revisit one of the best mobster games ever made.
It’s worth noting that you can also pick this one up in the Mafia Trilogy should you want to try your hand at the following sequels, but word on the street is that they don’t have nearly as much TLC put into them as this debut entry.
Tennis World Tour 2 (PS4, XBO, PC)
We love a pun as much as the next person, so indulge us in this incredibly on-the-nose analogy. Tennis World Tour 2 was looking to score an ace, but has accidentally nipped the net just a smidge. It’s a marked improvement from its predecessor, but there’s still some ways to go before it nails a clean winner.
Handing over development to our own Big Ant Studios was a smart move, the team having already made serious strides with AO Tennis 2 earlier this year. As a result, player movement flows a lot better and the timing system packs a steep learning curve but, once you fall into the groove of it all, is satisfying to master.
Ultimately, we’re just a little perplexed at the introduction of a deck-building system – essentially allowing you to play certain cards to help alter matches with buffs like extra precision. It definitely adds more strategy to each match, we’d just have preferred the game’s fundamentals cop an extra coat of polish (especially in the visual department) before adding in another layer. Regardless, we’re excited to see where the series goes next.
Tell Me Why (PS4, XBO)
Dontnod have long been known to excel at narrative-focused, choice-driven experiences and Tell Me Why is but another feather in the developer’s cap. This time you control twins Alyson and Tyler Ronan who are reunited after a decade to sell their childhood home after their mother passes away.
Without giving too much away, this is hardly a straightforward process, and over the course of three episodes, the pair have to deal with more than they originally bargained for.
If you’re into more narrative-driven affairs, Tell Me Why is both engaging and emotional in all the right ways, but the choices could have had a bit more weight to them.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning (PS4, XBO. PC)
Diving into this remaster is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s still the cult classic action RPG fans fell in love with in 2012 – filled with all the fantasy fare you could poke a mystical stick at.
But on the other hand, many of the achievements we celebrated back then (like level design, combat, etc) are now commonplace in most western RPGs. What that means is that this Re-Reckoning is probably best enjoyed by the fans, while if you’re a newcomer, you might not see what all the bloody fuss was about.
There are a number of quality of life upgrades in place that make a return to Amalur a lot easier, but there’s also a bit lacking – especially in the visual department. Sure, things are now 4K, but this still very much looks like a 2012 game.
Accept that caveat and you’ll likely still have yourself an enjoyable time looting and booting.
