Games

FIRST PLAY RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1, PC

Creepy mansions, claustrophobic corridors, a cramped train carriage – quite often it’s the oppressive setting that really gives Resident Evil its fear factor. But while the new instalment switches things up by giving you a village to explore in daylight, it still knows it’s at its best when you’re kept in the dark.

Exploration in Resident Evil Village still requires finding the right keys or tools to access different areas. The returning first-person perspective from Resident Evil 7 (as well as its protagonist Ethan Winters, this time on the search for his newborn daughter) immerses you in fear, not knowing what’s around the corner as you’re lured into dark spaces while the eerie audio design has you nervously on guard.

New threats include Lycans, a zombie/werewolf hybrid capable of clambering around environments at a dangerous pace. Fortunately, Ethan feels well equipped to fight – and if you defeat them they’ll even drop money, which can be spent in random pop-up shops set up by an oddball merchant calling himself The Duke, one of many callbacks to Resident Evil 4.

But the horror elements have not been diluted, especially as you find yourself pursued by some frighteningly invincible foes – including vampire giantess Lady Dimitrescu. Most terrifying are her three daughters, who can’t wait to feast on Ethan’s fresh man-blood.

Oh, and they can transform into a swarm of insects, flitting in and out of form and making a mockery of your bullets. If that whets your appetite, look out for the full review next issue.

LIFE IS STRANGE: TRUE COLORS

PC, PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1 Life is Strange is a series that’s married high concept with big issues and managed to hit fans right in the feels. So its apt that in its latest game your superpower is empathy.

For Alex, the protagonist in True Colors, the power to experience, absorb and manipulate the emotions of others – whether that’s anger, sadness or something from a whole unpredictable range, expressed as strange coloured auras – has been a curse she’s tried to suppress her whole life. But when her brother dies in a suspicious ‘accident’, she finally has to confront and use her powers to uncover the secrets behind the life of a seemingly idyllic small town.

While the series has plenty of heart, it’s also been held back by varying quality in writing, tone and animations. Fortunately, with Deck Nine (the studio behind the fine prequel Before the Storm) back on development duties, bringing improved visuals and fully motion-captured performances, True Colors looks set to give the series the glow-up it needs.

And the best part is that, instead of the long waits of an episodic release that risk losing momentum, the whole game will be out in September. So feel free to binge – but you might want to make sure you have a hankie nearby first.

BESTOFVRFORESCAPINGREALITY

PAVLOV VR

PC, PSVR2 With a new and improved VR headset officially coming to PS5 (dubbed PSVR2 for now), one of the first confirmed titles is co-op shooter Pavlov VR. While it’s already available on other VR platforms, Sony’s headset promises the fidelity and controls to do it justice.

SONG IN THE SMOKE

PC, Oculus, PSVR Indie developer 17-Bit swaps classic 2D strategy and shooters for a bold new frontier in this atmospheric survival VR game. Battle the elements and the wild by crafting medicine, arrowheads and more, and see if you can survive this world’s mysteries.

RESIDENT EVIL 4 VR

Oculus Quest 2 For anyone who’s disappointed that Resident Evil Village won’t have a VR mode, here’s something even better: the all-time masterpiece RE4 is going VR exclusively for Oculus Quest 2! As the game’s iconic merchant would say, “Ahh, I’ll buy that at a high price!”

INCOMING

JUNE

● RATCHET & CLANK: RIFT APART ● MARIO GOLF SUPER RUSH ● FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE ● SCARLET NEXUS

JULY

● MONSTER HUNTER STORIES 2:

WINGS OF RUIN

● THE LEGEND OF ZELDA:

SKYWARD SWORD HD