Games

OUT 3MAR

FIRST PLAY WO LONG: FALLEN DYNASTY PC, PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1

ThankstothelikesofNinja Gaiden andNioh,TeamNinja hasareputationforgameswith masochisticcombatdifficulty onaparwithfellowJapanese developerFromSoftware.But itslatestadditiontothislineage movesawayfromJapan,to ancientChina’sThreeKingdoms period–asettingitspublisher KoeiTecmoknowswellfromthe OTThack-and-slashDynasty Warriors franchise.

Regardlessofthesetting,the warrioryou’replayingashereis allyourown,thankstoarobust character-creatortakenfrom Nioh2 –allowingforaneven morediverserangeofbody types,skincoloursandgender identities.Oneotherimportant changeisthatit’sclearlytaken aleaffromSekiro,wherethe Souls-likegameplayisfaster thankstoyourstaminano longerdepletingwhenyou’re justrunningalong.

Combatisstillpunishingstuff: eventhelowliestfoecanwreck youifyoujustmashthebuttons anddon’tkeepaneyeonthat stamina,anditsoonescalates fromhumanoidenemiestohuge mythicaldemons.Youalsohave tocontendwithamoralesystem whereenemiescangetstronger themoretimestheykillyou.

ThebestwaytosurviveinWo Long isnottorelyonblocking attacks,whichwilljustchip awayatyourpreciousstamina, buttolearntodeflectattacks thenperformapowerful counter.Buttherealhelping handisbeingabletosummon fellowplayersforco-op–even iftheextranumbersdorisk underminingthehardcore mechanicsandturningitinto moreofahack-and-slashaffair. Buthey,whateverittakes…

FIRSTLOOKTHEUNFRIENDLYBEASTS

OUT 16FEB

WILD HEARTS

PC, PS5, XSX

When it comes to games about hunting monsters, no one does it like Monster Hunter (clue’s in the name, isn’t it?); but it’s always good to see some healthy competition – so the big question is, can this partnership between Koei Tecmo and EA become the new apex predator?

The Japanese developer already has some experience in this field, having made the Toukiden games beginning almost a decade ago – but Wild Hearts is a new beast, set in a fantasy feudal Japan where you hunt mythical nature-infused monsters called Kemono… and with a hint of Fortnite thrown into the mix.

We don’t mean it’s a battle royale where there’ll be bizarre pop culture crossovers, but rather that it has a crafting system called Karakuri that’s integral to your hunts. For instance, you can build stuff: a tower to help with traversing to higher ground, a crossbow to help you launch a zipwire, or a springboard that allows you to get in aerial attacks.

And that’s just hunting by yourself – when you team up with other hunters online (and with cross-play supported), we can imagine even more interesting tactics that might be more than just whacking your biggest weapons at the beast until it drops. The hunt begins on 16 February.

BEST OF SQUARE ENIX CLASSICS NOW ON SWITCH

NIER AUTOMATA: THE END OF YORHA EDITION

Switch Bayonetta 3 may be the hot new action game on Switch (see p94), but this weird action RPG set on a post-apocalyptic Earth where androids fight for the future of humanity is a fine port that sacrifices none of its high-speed balletic wonder.

LIFE IS STRANGE: ARCADIA BAY COLLECTION

Switch If you’re looking for stories to leave you teary-eyed while channelling your teen angst, then the two best Life is Strange games are finally on Switch. As remasters, it’s rather hit-and-miss for the old console, but the gameplay is still hard to beat.

THE DIOFIELD CHRONICLE

Switch, PS5, PS4, PC Do you like your strategy games in real time or turn-based? Enjoy both in this new hybrid, where you command a band of elite mercenaries caught in the chaos of war. Battles are fought over detailed diorama-style environments, almost like marshalling units like in a tabletop game.

INCOMING

DECEMBER

MARVEL’S MIDNIGHT SUNS THE CALLISTO PROTOCOL HIGH ON LIFE CRISIS CORE REUNION

JANUARY

FORSPOKEN FIRE EMBLEM ENGAGE DEAD SPACE ONE PIECE ODYSSEY