Metro Redux
Aug. 26th
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As a rule, I normally dislike HD remakes of games released in the last five years. It often seems unnecessary to me, and just reinforces how shitty this new generation of consoles really is by not including native backwards compatibility. However, the Metro Redux pack is something of an exception, at least half of it anyway, by being a completely new version of one of my favorite horror series in recent memory. Make no mistake, Metro 2033 Redux is a new game, and a great one to boot.
That really is the main draw of this pack, the reworked version of 2033. Sure, the game of the year edition of Last Light is nice, as well as the inclusion of a new exclusive game mode, but those are just window dressing on an already great game. The reworking of 2033 is something else, an absolute masterpiece of workmanship that understands the best and worst parts of the original game and smooths the whole experience out nicely. The AI is better, the action more violent, the guns more punchy, the stealth more not-terrible, and the snot launchers more manageable. All of this comes in a neat package, combining two great games for one low price. If you missed this hidden hit back in 2010, then do yourself a favor and grab this pack.
Dead Rising 3
Sept. 5th (PC)
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Like big, sweeping RPGs, I have a soft spot for zombie games. I love bashing, blowing up, and absolutely destroying the undead, and the Dead Rising series has always been among my favorite for this. The first game was a great proof of concept for fitting hundreds of enemies on-screen, while second entry expanded on the ideas while refining some of the rough spots. Dead Rising 3 is the sum of both parts, taking the greatest ideas from both games and combining them like so many fire axes and sledgehammers.
The sheer number of on-screen zombies is staggering, putting every other zombie game to shame. There's a great variety to them two, so the crowds look like actual crowds of zombies, not just the same 20-30 enemies repeated. There's a myriad of weapons to use and even more ways to combine them for hilarious results. Two words: dildo cannon.
The plot is your regular B-movie nonesense, with over-acting galore. It's fun enough, and doesn't try to take itself serious, plus it sets up the great boss fights. There's a tonne of customization, and plenty to see in the seamless open world. It's a zombie game for zombie gamers, and it's a great time.
Wasteland 2
Sept. 19th
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We have yet to see Fallout 4, which Bethesda insists they're working on. In the meantime, Wasteland 2 fills the post-apocalyptic void nicely, as well as the tactical turn-based hole that you didn't know you had.
Set years after the classic RPG, you play as a group of new recruits in the Desert Rangers, a peace keeping corps in the post-apocalyptic landscape of Texas and Arizona. Like most classic RPGs it starts you off with a simple mission that soon balloons into a grand quest. Along the way you'll meet the denizens of the desert, and probably shoot a lot of them.
Like the Fallout series it's loosely attached to, one of the main themes of Wasteland 2 is choice and consequence. You'll often be presented with a variety of choices, and the outcome of each will be radically different. Entire areas of the map will be inaccessible or completely different based on what you decide to do, and a minor choice can have far reaching consequences down the road. It's a game that demands multiple replays, and even then it's unlikely you'll see everything on offer.
Thankfully, the gameplay is great too. It's a tactical game, similar to the likes of the recent Divinity: Original Sin, or the Xcom games. You control your squad of up to seven, and dish out orders using Action Points. Combat is tough, with a great variety of ranged and melee, so using cover and aiming properly are a must. It's rewarding to come out on top, and some of the tougher fights will really make you work for that victory.
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
Sept. 26th
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For a long time people have been asking for a game based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft. We've seen his influence in games, mostly in the form of his most famous creation Cthulu, but he wrote so many stories that the majority of his works have gone untapped. We may never see a proper adaption of The Mountains of Madness or The Rats in the Walls, but Ethan Carter is certainly good enough that it could be considered one of his works.
The setup is that you're an aged detective with supernatural powers that decided to examine the disappearance of Ethan Carter and his family after the young boy writes you a letter. Your supernatural powers that I mentioned allow you to recreate crime scenes after piecing together the various clues. Position items just right and the scene comes to life in fragments. Place the fragments in the right order and watch the scenes play out, as well as the conclusion to them.
It's a dark and twisted tale, greatly befitting Lovecraft. There's dark rituals, unnamed beasts, ancient magics, and horrors man can't comprehend. The puzzles are challenging, and there's a great deal of things to do as you uncover the mystery. Anyone looking for a proper Lovecraft tale should consider giving Ethan Carter a look.
Check back Dec. 26 for the conclusion of the list.
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