END OF YEAR 2017 / #10
TAcTICS VIDEO GAME INSIGHTS AND ANALYSIS
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It’s about more than just looking at what’s on the surface...
TACTICS EDITOR IN CHIEF Ryan Janes
CONTACT US tactics@fancensus.com +44 (0)1628 483 554 Fancensus 99 High Street Marlow Bucks SL7 1AB
What a twelve months the industry has had! While every year has its highlights, 2017 has felt so stuffed with them I’ve no idea where to even begin. It’s proving particularly tough writing this introduction without sounding too hyperbolic but when you sit and reflect on everything that has passed there’s little negative to really say. So what better way to see out the year than by looking at what it had to offer. In this issue of TACTICS we break the releases and events down month by month - everything from the launch of Resident Evil 7 right through to Xenoblade Chronicles 2. The big events including E3 and Gamescom. See just how big 2017 has been starting on page 10. Rounding off our 2017 coverage we offer a list of our favourite games of the year. The ten experiences that stood out as the best gaming had to offer... of course in our opinion. This is on page 18. We’ve also got our usual breakdown of the previous month’s PR and social media. Which games have the public been watching on YouTube? Has the Xbox One X launch been the talk of the press? Check out the results on page 6. When you’re done there there’s also two more review breakdowns and a rather interesting 2017 infographic to finish the issue off. And that just about rounds off our final issue of 2017. Phew! I suppose now we must look on to the future and I for one can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store. So what else is there left to say other than Merry Christmas to our readers and happy new year! See you next year!
Ryan Janes
DECEMBER 2017 / #10
TACTICS
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This Month In Tactics...
6
Monthly Leaderboard PR Leaderboard YouTube Leaderboard Twitter Leaderboard Facebook Leaderboard
10 A Look Back at 2017 Will 2017 be Remembered as one of the best in gaming?
18 Top 10 Games of the Year TACTICS List the best 2017 had to offer
19 Review Rundown Call of Duty WWII Xenoblade Chronicles 2
21 2017 Review Standings 22 Still To Come in 2018... A Taste of What Awaits in the New Year
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TACTICS
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17 DECEMBER 2017 / #10
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TACTICS
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Monthly Leaderboard PR Activity
November 2017
With the manic month of October over, November would dial things back a little in terms of big releases. Despite this though the quantity of PR showed no signs of slowing. Rather unsurprisingly Star Wars: Battlefront 2 would claim the top spot (just), likely a result of both the game’s launch as well as the controversial topic of its microtransactions. December will be interesting to see if the launch of the Star Wars movie will help this game maintain a strong presence. The Xbox One X made its debut in stores this month too, falling just shy of the top spot. It appears the console is off to a strong start both in terms of sales and PR but will it continue this momentum leading up to Christmas?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6
TACTICS
STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT 2
6,000
XBOX ONE X
5,900
CALL OF DUTY: WWII
5,100
DESTINY 2
3,500
OVERWATCH
2,800
PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS
2,700
NINTENDO SWITCH
2,600
ASSASSIN’S CREED ORIGINS
2,200
XENOBLADE CHRONICLES 2
1,800
POKEMON GO
1,700
YouTube Activity
November 2017
Call of Duty WWII dominated the YouTube chart this month, its total view count across all monitored channels over double that of its closest competitor. It’s quite amazing the continued support the series sees over YouTube from media and key influencers alike. EA saw its two November releases, Need for Speed Payback and Star Wars: Battlefront 2 land in the top performers of the month placing sixth and seventh respectively. It’s interesting to see the former receiving more views than the latter especially considering how strong the Star Wars IP is at the moment. Cuphead rounds off the list in tenth - an impressive feat for a game released in September let alone one from an indie studio.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
CALL OF DUTY: WWII
349 M
FORTNITE
155 M
FIFA 18
137 M
LINEAGE 2 REVOLUTION
137 M
SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY
133 M
NEED FOR SPEED PAYBACK
84 M
STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT 2
81 M
PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS
66 M
ASSASSIN’S CREED ORIGINS
55 M
CUPHEAD
37 M
DECEMBER 2017 / #10
TACTICS
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Monthly Leaderboard Twitter Retweets
November 2017
Similar to the PR chart this month, it appears the public have caught Star Wars fever, the game topping the Twitter retweet chart too. The force was also strong with PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and the Xbox One X though, both products not far off of Battlefront 2’s figure. Other November releases Sonic Forces and Need for Speed Payback managed to crack the top ten this month. The former’s sixth place finish is hardly surprising given SEGA’s success with their Sonic the Hedgehog social media accounts as of late. Mixing announcements with self-referential and joke posts has been a good move for the series. Cuphead still battles it out proving its found a dedicated audience on social media placing fourth this month. In a month full of big AAA releases it’s quite amazing to see this indie developed game standing strong.
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TACTICS
STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT 2
152K
PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS
148K
XBOX ONE X
140K
CUPHEAD
73K
DESTINY 2
42K
SONIC FORCES
32K
FIFA 18
31K
SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY
25K
NEED FOR SPEED PAYBACK
20K
FORTNITE
20K
Facebook Shares
November 2017
Just as it claimed the top spot for Twitter, Star Wars: Battlefront 2 would also do the same on Facebook, albeit with a much stronger lead over its nearest competitor. Despite the ongoing discussions of microtransactions surrounding the game, it doesn’t appear to have stopped it’s dominance of social media. Despite not landing a top ten spot on the Twitter chart, Call of Duty: WWII shoots its way into second place for Facebook shares. This franchise may not be the juggernaut it once was, but it still manages to create huge waves with press and social media each year. Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon represent the 3DS this month, the device slowing down to make way for Nintendo’s newer, shinier console - the Switch. It just goes to show though that no matter what device the series is released on, the fans will follow.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT 2
223K
CALL OF DUTY: WWII
151K
XBOX ONE X
52K
PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS
49K
DESTINY 2
43K
ASSASSIN’S CREED ORIGINS
33K
POKEMON ULTRA SUN / MOON
31K
FIFA 18
28K
WOW: BATTLE FOR AZEROTH
27K
SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY
27K
DECEMBER 2017 / #10
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WILL 2017 BE REMEMBERED AS ONE OF THE BEST IN GAMING?
L
et’s get this straight right out the gate. When all is said and done 2017 has been an absolutely phenominal year for the video games industry whatever way you look at it.
this industry is always changing; in ways both construed as good and bad and that hasn’t stopped it from continuing to move forward. These past three hundred and sixty five days have proven that.
From the business side of things we’ve seen so many success stories coming from companies both big and small. Consumers meanwhile have been treated to such a rich line-up of amazing experiences. In fact it doesn’t matter if you’ve been an Xbox guy or a PlayStation girl or even a new Switch owner, the quality has been consistenty high. Even as I write this article I have a stack of games back home I’ve yet to start due to the sheer quantity and quality on display this year!
This year we’ve seen the split between handheld and home gaming blurred, old franchises in their teens and even thirties redefining the very genres they started, some of the best reviewed titles of all time and a whole host of original ideas continuing to surprise us in amazing ways. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Horizon: Zero Dawn, VR, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Persona 5, the Switch, Cuphead, Destiny 2... I could go on and on. There’s rarely been a chance for a breather - it doesn’t matter if you’re in PR, sales, journalism or simply just someone playing these amazing experiences.
Yes 2017 hasn’t been without it’s share of controversial and negative moments but then again what industry or year hasn’t? The topic of microtransactions continues to be a heated one and we’ve seen some much loved studios close their doors for the last time but the fact of the matter is,
Looking back and reflecting on the chaotic sum of events that have made up 2017 one thing is for sure, it’s going to be one hell of an act to follow. Good luck 2018...
JANUARY / FEBURARY SETTING THE STAGE If history has taught us anything its that the opening couple of months are often the quietest when it comes to video game releases. ‘Not on my watch’ barks 2017 as it swaggers on into the picture, AAA launches at the ready. The industry definitely hit the ground running, CAPCOM leading the charge with one of its flagship franchises - Resident Evil. Not only just a numbered sequel, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard marked a huge departure for the series placing the focus firmly back on horror and also opting for a first person view. It’s always a risky move when making big changes to any established IP but it’s one CAPCOM managed to execute with such confidence. The added feature of VR also threw more spotlight on the already popular game, key influencers especially flocking to the title and drawing in huge audiences. In fact the game would reach well over 2.5 billion views across all monitored channels. Resident Evil was back in a truly big way. While Resident Evil 7: Biohazard may have been king of press and social media for the opening two months there were still plenty more releases gamers were getting excited about. Ubisoft launched new IP For Honor on Valentine’s Day, a game that would fall only to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard in PR and YouTube figures. Tecmo Koei meanwhile would find critical and comercial success in Ni-Oh. SEGA would bring
their much-loved Yakuza franchise over to Western shores in the form of prequel Yakuza 0, a game that would not only review well with critics but sell out at retail in the UK for many weeks following launch. Indie releases were making an impact too, games like Night in the Woods and Hollow Knight receiving near universal acclaim from press upon release. Not to be outdone by the bigger publishers, 2017 would mark a fantastic year in terms of indie output that would continue right on through to December. Nintendo meanwhile were making a different kind of noise with news of Wii U production shutting down worldwide and information finally starting to surface on their new hybrid console - the Nintendo Switch. While they may have had little to show for the opening two months release wise, it was a clear sign their focus was on making their newest toy a huge success and... well we all know how that went. The combined output of both January and February put 2017 in a very strong position. Not just from a quantity standpoint, the industry was seeing such a high level of quality not really seen so early in a calendar year. Gamers were now complaining they had too much to get through as apposed to not enough, and with the promise of even more just a stone’s throw away it appeared 2017 was only just getting started.
RELEASES WITH STRONGEST PR resident evil 7: biohazard (capcom) for honor (ubisoft) ni-oh (koei tecmo) halo wars 2 (microsoft) sniper elite 4 (rebellion)
MARCH / APRIL NINTENDO SWITCHES GEAR It would only be a single day into the month of March before we would see our next huge success story - Horizon: Zero Dawn. A brand new IP from the developers of the long-running Killzone series, Horizon would go on to blow away the expectations of both critics and PlayStation 4 owners delivering a beautiful post-apocalyptic world and an engaging action-RPG experience. This translated into sales too, Sony themselves boasting a figure of 3.4 million worldwide later in June. It appeared 2017 had another game of year candidate on its hands. Of course it’s impossible to talk about the month of March and not discuss Nintendo’s newest addition to its hardware library, the Switch. Selling out from day one, the console proved a knockout hit thanks in no small part to its one two-punch of both Zelda and Mario Kart.
tor Mass Effect Andromeda. Whether it be reviews, features, news or videos the press were covering every possible angle on the console. The long awaited The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild would continue the flow of top quality releases in 2017, critics going as far as to claim it the best in the series and some the best game of all time. Amazingly the game would also see an attach rate of 102% based on data gathered by NPD for March. Persona 5 would finally see a Western release and add to the growing list of game of the year nominees while Mass Effect Andromeda, NieR Automata and Ghost Recon Wildlands would all leave their mark in one way shape or form.
Nintendo were back and with a beaming confidence we hadn’t seen from them in a while. Where the Wii U failed to find an audience, the Switch’s home console/handheld hybrid idea was something everyone understood and wanted to be a part of. After all who wouldn’t want to play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the go?
Rather interestingly Outlast 2 would be the game to light up the YouTube charts (as seen below) landing the most views of any March or April release. We’ve already explored in previous issues how horror games in particular seem to find themselves a larger audience on the platform but seeing this indie effort topple not only new IP Horizon but also established franchises like Zelda and Mass Effect is quite the feat indeed.
Rather unsurprisingly the Switch console itself would be the talk of the press seeing over 3,000 more activities than nearest competi-
March and April would serve to prove 2017’s opening two months were no fluke. Fact of the matter is there was still plenty more to come...
RELEASES WITH HIGHEST YOUTUBE VIEWS outlast 2 (red barrels) mass effect andromeda (ea) the legend of zelda: breath of the wild (nintendo) ghost recon wildlands (ubisoft) lego city undercover remaster (warner bros.)
MAY / JUNE E3 GOES PUBLIC As the industry entered the summer months, the momentum would continue still with May delivering even more big releases. Bethesda launched Prey, a new entry in a series that seemed to be stuck in development hell for quite some time. We also got a new Fire Emblem for the 3DS highlighting Nintendo’s continued support of its older hardware. Friday the 13th would also receive the video game treatment. Originally a Kickstarter project, this asymmetrical multiplayer game saw huge success on YouTube from media and key influencer channels. Injustice 2 however would prove one of the biggest hits of the month with some of the strongest social and press coverage. It appeared the DC property was just as popular in the gaming world as it was in Hollywood. June proved a busy month too and not just because it played host to the biggest gaming event of the year. Nintendo would release its new IP ARMS, Bandai Namco launched Tekken 7 and Activision would bring an old hero back from the dead in the form of Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy. The latter in fact would prove the surprise hit of the summer topping the UK charts for seven weeks (dropping in the middle of its reign only for a single week to Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age). Of course E3 would take centre stage with all eyes on its press conferences, streams and of course the games themselves. This year’s E3 would prove
very different however for a number of reasons. Most notably, it was first time the event allowed the public to enter - a move that proved controversial with attendees. The format had also seen big changes with Microsoft moving from their usual Monday morning spot, EA’s continued presence outside E3 itself and even more focus being placed on live broadcasts throughout each day offering more in depth looks at the games. Changes aside, E3 still delivered what mattered to its audience - the games. The three console holders certainly came out swinging. Nintendo would put a huge focus on the eagerly anticipated Super Mario Odyssey, Sony continued to highlight its promising 2018 line-up and Microsoft debuted the Xbox One X to the world. Third parties certainly had a lot to show too - Bethesda with their second entries in both the Wolfenstein and Evil Within franchises, EA and their Battlefront sequel and CAPCOM surprising everyone with a home console Monster Hunter title. It was Ubisoft though who seemed to be firing on all cylinders with a number of big announcements including the previously leaked Mario/Rabbids crossover and of course Beyond Good and Evil 2. 2017’s E3 will easily be remembered for all its changes and in an industry that’s known for constantly moving forward, it’s hardly surprising. The question now is where does E3 go from here?
RELEASES WITH HIGHEST RETWEET COUNT injustice 2 (warner bros.) elder scrolls online: morrowind (bethesda) tekken 7 (bandai namco) prey (bethesda) friday the 13th: the game (gun media)
JULY / AUGUST THE NOT-SO SUMMER DROUGHT There was once a time when you could often rely on the summer months for one thing - a break. With the weather scorching and vacations booked, you’d find video big game releases fewer and farther between. The last couple of years however have started to change all that and 2017 was certainly no different. SEGA would steal the show with its retro inspired release Sonic Mania, a game that not only saw near universal praise from the press but would also take over social media (as seen below). What is particularly fascinating about Mania though was that it was no longer Sonic Team at the helm but rather a crew of fans from the Sonic fangame and ROM hacking community. SEGA were trusting its most valuable IP with a fresh set of hands so to speak. And with the game both a critical and commercial hit this was surely a result SEGA couldn’t ignore. With Crash Bandicoot still tearing up the UK charts, Nintendo continued its strong support of their new console with Splatoon 2 and Ubisoft’s Mario and Rabbids: Kingdom Battle landing to critical success. Sony meanwhile, would launch Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, a standalone adventure for one of its biggest IPs. Releases would continue to pour out including Pyre, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, That’s You, Madden 18, F1 2017 and the first episode in Life is Strange: Before the Storm. Hellblade in particular
would also prove you didn’t need a huge budget and big publisher to deliver a AAA experience. It appeared that publishers were no longer avoiding the summer months, but instead taking advantage of its spacious window. Gamescom rounded off the summer in style boasting some impressive statistics that marked it as the biggest and best yet. Over 350,000 visitors would make the trip over to Cologne over its five day run, a number that you’d have no trouble believing if you happened to be there yourself. We were lucky enough to see the show this year and the sea of people wondering the main halls was quite the spectacle indeed. It wasn’t just the visitor figures on the rise though, exhibitors too were up 5% on the previous year too. While E3 may still be seen as THE gaming event of the year for the industry, Gamescom continues to go from strength to strength playing host to bigger announcements and a continually growing audience. It may not have the shocking reveals of E3 but it certainly trumps the Los Angeles event in size that’s for sure. So with its busy summer officially behind it, 2017 could then kick things up yet another notch with its end of year rush...
RELEASES WITH HIGHEST FACEBOOK SHARES sonic mania (sega) f1 2017 (codemasters) uncharted: the lost legacy (sie) ark: survival evolved (studio wildcard) life is strange: before the storm (square enix)
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER AAA AFTER AAA “Open the floodgates!” screams 2017 as gamers entered the month of September. While the final few months of any year are known for playing host to the industry’s biggest and hopefully best efforts, it was tough not to be excited following an already very strong eight months. And disappoint it did not. September could perhaps be seen as the ‘quieter’ of the two months - if you could even call it that. On the indie side of things gamers finally got their hands on the beautifully unique Cuphead, a platformer that even as I write this continues to place high in the YouTube and social charts. StudioMDHR are onto a winner with Cuphead and one that definitely has franchise potential. SteamWorld Dig 2 and Golf Story also found critical and PR success, the latter of which developed by just a two-man team. The month did also receive a handful of AAA releases too. Sports were represented in a major way - NHL 18, Pro Evolution Soccer 2018, NBA 2K18 and Live 18 and of course the behemoth FIFA 18 all landing in stores within weeks of each other. Pokken Tournament, Destiny 2 and Marvel Vs CAPCOM: Infinite meant every console had something to offer while Nintendo would release the SNES Classic. The success of this device would prove the NES Classic was no mere fluke. October however would house an even big-
ger selection of top quality titles. Forza Motorsport 7 would kick things off with further sequels from South Park, The Evil Within, Gran Turismo, WWE and Middle-Earth following in its path. October 27th will likely go down as one of the biggest days of the year with not one but three major releases hitting stores - Super Mario Odyssey, Assassin’s Creed Origins and Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, all of them potential game of the year candidates. Even Nintendo 3DS owners had games to be excited about including a new Professor Layton adventure, Mario and Luigi RPG and Fire Emblem spinoff. As gamers were being spoilt for choice, the heated topic of microtransactions had also grown to new levels; big-budget games from bigger publishers finding themselves in hot water for their inclusion. While this is likely a conversation that will carry on over into 2018, it was certainly interesting to see gamers speaking up about increasingly common practices within the industry they didn’t approve of. Back to the games though and speaking from personal experience my backlog continued growing by the week. October only looked to secure my fate of never finishing them by year’s end and with two more months left to go it was safe to assume things wouldn’t stop there...
RELEASES WITH STRONGEST PR destiny 2 (activision) assassin’s creed origins (ubisoft) fifa 18 (koei tecmo) super mario odyssey (nintendo) middle earth: shadow of war (warner bros.)
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER NOT QUITE DONE YET And so we reach the final two months of what has been a busy year for the industry. What could November and December possibly have left? November would mark the continued battle between two huge shooting series - Call of Duty and Star Wars: Battlefront. While gamers might argue all day long on who the ‘winner’ is, the fact of the matter is both games would reach millions of homes within their first month on sale storming PR and social charts alike. The final month of the year has certainly seen AAA releases slow somewhat but there were a few making it to stores before the Christmas deadline. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 managed to hit its 2017 release receiving high praise from critics and outselling past entries in the series. It was a fitting way to cap off what has been an overall fantastic year for Nintendo and the Switch. Other notable releases include Frank West’s return to PS4 in Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Package, the console release of Kickstarter sensation A Hat in Time, the long awaited Switch version of Yooka-Laylee and PC survival horror game Hello Neighbor. Bethesda have also shown strong support for both virtual reality and the Switch releasing versions of three of their biggest IP on both. The Switch would
see the always popular Skyrim and the “how on Earth did they fit the game on the console” DOOM reboot of 2016. VR meanwhile would get all this plus Fallout 4. It’s surprising to see a big publisher supporting these new technologies in such strong fashion and it will be interesting to see how this continues in 2018. December also played host to the Game Awards a celebration of all things gaming for 2017, and it’s here where The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild would rather predictably pick up the Game of the Year award. The show itself has continued to both improve in quality and size over the last couple of years blending awards with announcements in a way that creates strong buzz for the industry in a month where things tend to die down. Just when you think we’re done for the year, we’re suddenly introduced to Bayonetta 3, SoulCalibur IV, Zelda DLC and more Death Stranding. Even in its final few weeks 2017 simply will not slow down. As I reflect on 2017’s numerous events, releases and general goings-on I’m left very excited for what next year might bring. Excited not only as someone who works within the industry but as a passionate gamer. What surprises await alongside big budget releases like Red Dead Redemption 2 and smaller passion projects like A Way Out? I for one can’t wait to find out.
RELEASES WITH HIGHEST YOUTUBE VIEWS call of duty: wwii (activision) star wars: battlefront 2 (ea) need for speed: payback (ea) lego marvel superheroes 2 (warner bros.) hello neighbour (tinybuild)
TACTICS TEN BEST GAMES OF 2017
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild A game that not only reinvents the series in spectacular fashion but the way we approach openworld games in general. Every moment spent in Hyrule is one to be savoured. An instant classic.
Persona 5 Where to begin? Slick combat, absorbing story and characters, not to mention some of the most beautiful menus, UI, and overall artstyle of any game. This is an amazing RPG.
Super Mario Odyssey No one does platforming like Nintendo and Super Mario Odyssey may be the plumber’s best outing yet. Stunning, memorable and constantly surprising, Odyssey is quite simply pure joy on a cartridge.
Sonic Mania The Sonic the Hedgehog sequel fans (ourselves included) have been asking for. The physics are perfect, zones fun and easter eggs bursting at the seam. Sonic is back!
Resident Evil 7 What a way to open 2017. CAPCOM get the series back on track with this truly terrifying and well paced sequel that puts you right in the heart of the action. Try it with VR if you dare.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle The gaming crossover that shouldn’t have worked manages to pull off an amazing XCOM-like strategy game complete with depth, colourful worlds and that Mario charm.
Lethal League The go to multiplayer title in the office that feels like a cross between baseball and Smash Bros. This game is fast, frantic and one of the most unique and fun multiplayer experiences out this year.
Superhot VR Superhot VR makes you feel like an action hero. Plain and simple. With two Move controls in hand and the PSVR strapped on this is the best virtual reality experience to date hands down.
Puyo Puyo Tetris Like any good crossover, the two brands compliment each other so well here, whatever way you play. The single player is nuts while multiplayer is both intense and addictive.
The Evil Within 2 While Resident Evil 7 delivered terror like no other, The Evil Within 2 messed with our heads in ways that stuck with us beyond its end credits. One the most pleasant surprises of 2017.
Review Rundown Call of Duty WWII Publisher Activision Blizzard
Developer Sledgehammer
Genre FPS
Formats PS4, XBONE, PC
84% 83%
80%
82% 81% 80%
85%
84%
81%
Pokemon Ultra Sun / Moon
The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim (Switch Ed.)
Hand of Fate 2
Worldwide average review score and by territory
Top three reviewed November releases
66%
72%
68%
74%
71%
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017 Yearly November average review scores
What the press love...
What the press hate...
Immersive visuals. Strong multiplayer. ‘War’ mode is a great addition to series. Same satisfying series gunplay.
Cliche story. Uninspired campaign. Multiplayer maps uneven in quality. Zombies mode offers nothing new.
Another year and another Call of Duty entry, only this time things are a little different. Following in the footsteps of rival shooter Battlefield last year, Call of Duty WWII takes the fight back to the past. Whereas more recent attempts have seen the series stepping further into the future, Sledgehammer Gamers have instead tried to bring it back to its roots. In fact critics approved of the online mulitplayer’s more focused approach removing a lot of the more modern gimmicks and instead putting the emphasis back on the gunplay. Even despite some disappointing map designs, the multiplayer’s sheer wealth of options proved a hit. Also popular was the additon of ‘War’ mode, a new objective based experience where teams play either on the offensive or defensive. The campaign on the other hand was met with criticism for its overly familiar story and uninspired design. While many were impressed with both the game’s audio and visual design, some felt it wasn’t enough to carry the predictable journey. It appears anything EA do, Activision can too and while WWII may not be the strongest entry in the long running series, its certainly another hit from a critics’ standpoint.
DECEMBER 2017 / #10
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Review Rundown Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Publisher Nintendo
Developer Monolith Soft
Genre RPG
Formats Switch
90% 89%
85%
88%
88%
85%
80%
Okami HD
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Breath of the Wild Champion’s Ballad
87% 85%
Worldwide average review score and by territory
Top three reviewed December releases
70%
71%
70%
70%
73%
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017 Yearly December average review scores
What the press love...
What the press hate...
Hugely deep combat system. Expansive open worlds to explore. Fantastic soundtrack. Massive 60 plus hour adventure.
Poor voice acting. Rough edges visually. Takes a while to really get going. Menu system clunky and crowded.
It’s funny. What was a franchise that at one point in time had dedicated groups petitioning for a Western release has now seen a sequel hitting shelves around the world in the Switch’s very first year. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was an unexpected announcement back in January but to have the game out the door before 2017 closes has defied all expectations. How do the press feel about this RPG though? It appears they feel pretty positive overall. The Switch has already had a strong year when it comes to first party releases and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 looks to close the console’s 2017 on a high note. While the average score may have been lower than its previous releases in the series, there was a lot the press praised including its stellar soundtrack, deep and customisable combat and the worlds themselves. While the Switch has been seen as a system ideal for shorter, bite-sized experiences, games like Xenoblade Chronicles 2 show that its more than capable of delivering huge scale adventures too. Things like divisive voice acting performances and rough edges visually were called out by critics but these negatives were not seen as enough to ruin the overall experience. 2018 still remains somewhat of a mystery for the Nintendo Switch, but based on comments for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 it looks like owners have something to keep them busy long into the new year.
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TACTICS
2017 Review Standings *Games require at least ten reviews to gather an average score.
Title
Score
Super Mario Odyssey
97%
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
96%
Divinity: Original Sin 2
94%
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
92%
Persona 5
92%
Horizon: Zero Dawn
91%
Planescape: Torment Enhanced Edition
89%
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus
88%
NieR Automata
88%
Final Fantasy XIV Stormblood
88%
Total War: Warhammer 2
87%
Cuphead
87%
SteamWorld Dig 2
87%
Injustice 2
87%
What Remains of Edith Finch
87%
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
87%
Monument Valley 2
87%
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
86%
Sonic Mania
86%
Nioh
86%
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
86%
Nex Machina
86%
MLB The Show 17
86%
F1 2017
86%
Hollow Knight
86%
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
85%
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
85%
Forza Motorsport 7
85%
Assassin’s Creed Origins
85%
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
85%
DECEMBER 2017 / #10
TACTICS
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STILL TO COME IN 2018... A TASTE OF WHAT AWAITS IN THE NEW YEAR Anno 1800 Anthem A Way Out Attack on Titan 2 Biomutant Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Bravo Team Call of Cthulhu Civilization VI: Rise and Fall Code Vein Crackdown 3 The Crew 2 Darksiders III Days Gone Detroit: Become Human Devil May Cry HD Collection Dissidia Final Fantasy NT Dragon Ball Fighter Z Dragon Quest Builders 2 Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Dreams Dynasty Warriors 9 EA Sports UFC 3 Far Cry 5 Fe Fortnite Freedom Planet 2 God of War Golem Gravel Jurassic World Evolution The Inpatient Kingdom Come: Deliverance Kingdom Hearts III Kirby Star Allies The Last Night Left Alive Lost Sphear
Mega Man 11 Metal Gear Survive Metro Exodus MLB The Show 18 Monster Hunter World Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom Onrush Overkill’s The Walking Dead Owlboy Project Octopath Traveler Psychonauts 2 Red Dead Redemption 2 Runner3 Sea of Thieves Secret of Mana The Seven Deadly Sins: Knights of Britannia Shadow of the Colossus Shenmue III Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux Skull & Bones Soulcalibur VI Spider-Man Starlink: Battle for Atlas State of Decay 2 Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection Street Fighter V Arcade Edition Sunless Skies Super Meat Boy Forever ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove Tropico 6 Untitled Yoshi Game (Switch) Untitled Fire Emblem Game (Switch) Valkyria Chronicles 4 The Walking Dead: The Final Season We Happy Few The Wolf Among Us: Season 2 World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
NEXT MONTH...
TAcTICS JANUARY
NEW YEAR NEW GAMES ALSO... THOUGHTS ON THE GAME AWARDS DECEMBER’S SOCIAL AND PR ANALYSIS THE RISING POPULARITY OF MONSTER HUNTER REFLECTING ON THE SWITCH 24
TACTICS