Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2017 i PLAY

“NOT ONLY WILL THERE BE A SOLO MODE, BUT WE GET TO PLAY IN A POST-RETURN OF THE JEDI UNIVERSE.” GAME OF THE MONTH Starblood Arena FORCE POWER The ability to move deadlines While I’m a huge Star Wars fan, there was something a little disappointing about DICE’s last Battlefront, what was it? Oh yes, no single-player campaign. But that’s changing with the eagerly awaited sequel. This issue Ben flew to Florida to meet DICE, Motive, and Criterion, the three developers behind Star Wars Battlefront II. He discovered that not only will there be a solo mode, but we get to play in a post-Return Of The Jedi universe. Add in Darth Maul and it’s fair to say the Force is strong with this game. Read it all on page…

HONOUR AMONG THIEVES What do you mean, you haven’t played Dishonored 2 yet? Time to rectify that for absolutely free, as you slink on over to the Store and download the new trial. It’ll let you play the first three missions. Upgrade to the full game and you’ll even get to keep your saves. Go on. Go! BAFTA THE FUTURE Team PlayStation cleaned up at the BAFTA game awards. ‘Best Game’ went to Uncharted 4, naturally – but The Last Guardian picked up ‘Audio Achievement’, while Overwatch snagged ‘Best Multiplayer’ and Inside walked off with an incredible four accolades. We bet 2017’s haul will be even better… PITCH TO COURT? Uh-oh. Footballing (handballing?) legend Diego Maradona has a bone to pick with Konami after discovering that Pro Evolution Soccer 2017…

FREE FANTASY Final Fantasy XIV is free, until you reach level 35. Sure, it’s a Square’s way of getting you hooked on Eorzea for Stormblood’s release, but, y’know, it’s free. RESIDENT EVIL RISES The success of Resi 7 means Capcom is already talking about sequels. Executive producer Jun Takeuchi says he sees Resi 7 as “the start of a new horror series”. KOJIMA BLOCKHEAD Hideo Kojima took time out from not saying anything about Death Stranding to share his very own official Lego mini-fig. Legooooo! BAD PERSONA You support one of the best games of the year with your hard-earned cash, and then Atlus tells you to stop streaming… and also what you should be streaming. Bad Atlus, very bad Atlus. MASS EF-FIXED While we’re sad Andromeda released with so…

@THEFLIGHTMUSIC Nice piece on the music of #HorizonZeroDown in this month’s @OPM_UK. Thanks guys! @BYRONB1986 It [Battlefront II] has prequel stuff in it i really hope i get to kill Jar Jar over and over again @THEREALFAZEMILK Bo2 on xbox and not on playstation wtfff man disappointed :( @SCOTT_GAMER Another great issue this month. Loving the article about remastered games. :-D @SAM__PREEN Little behind in picking up this months issue but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t in love with the cover. @@JOSEPHNEWTON27 MGS is shouting for a series to be made. So much in each game. Wouldn’t work as a movie. @MIKEWARRIOR_1 Barf TROLL OF THE MONTH @PADDYBEE Another fantastic issue @ OPM_UK loved the article about remastered games, can’t wait for locoroco! @VEHOLLEHRAPTOR Thanks for making…

WE’VE NOT SEEN SOMETHING THIS GAME-CHANGING SINCE THE LEAP FROM 2D TO 3D. When it comes to VR, we tend to ask the wrong question. It’s not a matter of ‘Will VR take off?’ but ‘What will it be when it finally does?’ VR in general, and PS VR in particular, is at the start of a ten-year curve. Developers are finding their feet and discovering the rules of this new tech. We’re in uncharted waters, and that should be cherished. It’s easy to want to race to the finish line and demand that killer app, the Grand Theft Auto of VR that will instantly unlock the potential of virtual worlds. Instead we should embrace the long game and enjoy the ride. We’re at a unique moment in history when…

1 Tekken just wouldn’t be Tekken without Brazilian breakdancer Eddy Gordo. He’s confirmed for Tekken 7 – and he’s sporting a new look. Leopard print? Nice. 2 Why’s he back? Ed pledged allegiance to the Mishimas, hoping they could save his dying capoeira master. They couldn’t. He’s out for revenge… 3 He’s brill at capoeira, a martial art with elements of dance – similar to new character Lucky Chloe’s style. Expect kicks, spins and juggle combos galore. 4 Newcomer to fighting games? Fancy just mashing buttons until cool stuff happens? Eddy may be your guy, with accessible style set to dominate all over again.…

“PLAYING SONIC MANIA REMINDS US IT’S BEING MADE BY FANS, FOR FANS.” FORMAT PS4 / ETA SUMMER PUB SEGA / DEV HEADCANNON & PAGODAWEST GAMES There’s a moment in Sonic Mania when everything changes, when despite the homely retro pixel art style we realise this is a new, different Sonic game. Reaching the end of Green Hill Zone, we beat a new boss – two large spiked balls with blinking eyes, linked by a chain – and the level doesn’t end. There’s no 16-bit fade to black. The screen scrolls on and we’re straight into the next level. Sonic Mania is one long, joined-up Sonic run. Speeding into the Studiopolis Zone, one of Sonic Mania’s all-new levels, gives us a chance to test out the new Drop Dash move. Tapping…

“FLICKING OUR CLAW SENDS THE PATHETIC MARTYRS FLYING.” FORMAT PS4 / ETA JUNE / PUB PLAYWAY / DEV MADMIND STUDIOS Ladies and gentledemons, please keep all hands, feet, and horns to yourselves for the duration of this tour. If you look to your right you’ll see a staircase made of human flesh. On your left there’s the doorway made of gummy teeth (and we’d advise you not to stare at the skittering shadow lurking beside it). We cordially invite you to direct any enquiries about finding a way out to the Red Goddess. Ahem. So there’s not a tour guide in Agony’s survival-horror world. However, imagining a softly polite voice talking us through what we’re seeing helps us deal with the hellish landscape of, er, Hell. As a wandering soul…

“CLICKING THROUGH THE GEARS… FEW RACERS FEEL THIS RESPONSIVE.” FORMAT PS4 / ETA 6 JUNE PUB CODEMASTERS / DEV CODEMASTERS We’re in Hell. Or rather, we’re on Hell, the Norwegian rallycross track. Squeezed into a Playseat, we thump our Thrustmaster wheel and swear repeatedly. This Norwegian circuit epitomises Dirt 4: there are tight hairpins where braking is a must; long straights to open up the throttle; and a curvy chicane that’s satisfyingly smooth once the rhythm of rallycross is mastered. Up until we click with the game, however, we’ll be in hell a little longer, and it’s time to start a swear jar. Like Dirt Rally, which returned the racing series to its purist roots, Dirt 4 played on Simulation mode is a beast. It’s a…

“THE FUSION OF EXISTENTIAL HOT POTATO, EASY-TO-PICKUP RULES AND TIMED, VARIED BOUTS MAKES FOR INSTANT HILARITY.” FORMAT PS4 / ETA 2017 / PUB THOSE AWESOME GUYS / DEV THOSE AWESOME GUYS Now here’s a game that does exactly what it says on the (mildly threatening) tin. Imagine playing a four-player local and online party game where it’s not the floor that’s lava, but every cell in your avatar’s squat little cartoon body. Quite simply, you’ve got to keep moving, or you’ll end up dead. Not only that but, in a WarioWare-esque twist, the mini-game you’re competing against your friends in changes every 20 seconds. One third-of-a-minute, you’re dodging falling blocks in an attempt to be the last blob standing; another, you’re inflating yourself like a furious little balloon and bopping…

Size doesn’t matter. Or at least that’s the view of Mr Gran Turismo, Kazunori Yamauchi, when it comes to GT Sport, the first Gran Turismo on PlayStation 4. While PlayStation 3’s Gran Turismo 6 crammed a staggering 1,197 cars into its garage, GT Sport has a more humble 140 speedsters to push to their limits. Numbers don’t mean a thing to GT Sport, though. After all, this isn’t GT 7, this is Sport. With that Sport name comes a change in approach, a reaction to the chasing pack, which includes the eSports favourite Project Cars. GT Sport puts racing, and online competition in particular, above bumper-to-bumper colour-coded versions of Nissan’s Skyline GT-R cruising around Tokyo Expressway. This latest entry in Sony’s flagship racing series is about depth and competition. It’s…

“SOMETHING IS AMISS, AND I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE YOKELS WHO KEEP TRYING TO KILL ME.” INFO FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB RED BARRELS DEV RED BARRELS Outlast is scary for a number of reasons. It’s a tense journey through the cult-run wilds of Arizona. Its central story is a bleak tale that bravely, but humanely, tackles some taboo subject matter. It’s pretty dimly lit, too. But the scariest thing about it is how far it strays from the successful ideas of its predecessor in favour of mechanics that can feel considerably less dynamic. Very early on it becomes clear that something is amiss. I’m not talking about the half-naked, gibbering yokels who keep trying to kill me, but rather Red Barrels’ enthusiasm for subjecting the player to…

INFO FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB FOCUS HOME INTERACTIVE DEV ENGAMI The action kicks off with two vaguely pirate-y cat-men piloting an airship – your first clue, perhaps, that this isn’t going to be the tonal kick-up-the-backside the cliché-ridden RPG genre needs. Indeed, within moments of pressing the start button, our heroes crash-land in a kingdom plagued by magical imbalances. An RPG Cliché Event Horizon is triggered, dooming us all to a lifetime of fighting bats in caves and naming our firstborn things like ‘Kain’ or ‘Cid’. But while Shiness’ plot might be about as original as the Klimt painting in your gran’s spare room, this indie effort still manages to push the genre forward in its own small way, blending game styles to provide a punchy, streamlined alternative…

“ASCERTAIN HOW PEOPLE WILL DIE, AND FIND CLUES TO HELP YOU SAVE THEM.” INFO FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB TEQUILA WORKS DEV CAVALIER STUDIOS The conceit of this stealthy puzzler is easy to fall for. It’s a jazzed-up slice of opulence, all turned-up collars on extravagant dinner suits and frilled masquerade masks hiding the faces of well-to-dos. We play Lafcadio Boone who, while attending an evening of entertainment at the titular mansion, snuffs it. Rather than depart this mortal coil entirely, however, ol’ Laffy is caught up in a seemingly endless time loop. Handily, this gives him the chance to save the lives of the other guests invited to the ball… The twist? While you can wander around solving inventory puzzles and the like, you’re unable to enter…

INFO FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB WALES INTERACTIVE DEV CTRLMOVIE For one eventful night, your choices decide the fate of Matt,1 a gangly student settling into a sleepy night shift as a car valet. What happens next is up to you. Apart from the whole ‘getting kidnapped and forced to take part in an elaborate heist’ thing, that is. That’s nailed on, I’m afraid. It unfolds so naturally on the first playthrough. Following up a CCTV anomaly sees you stumble upon a bungled car theft; soon, you’re sucked into a world of danger that seems to hinge on your whims. Late Shift is the purest example yet of the ‘interactive story’ genre; discarding the walk-around-y bits that bog down the likes of Walking Dead or Life Is Strange, interaction…

“SIX’S JOURNEY IS ABSOLUTELY DRIPPING WITH ATMOSPHERE.” INFO FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB BANDAI NAMCO DEV BANDAI NAMCO That yellow raincoat is already tugging at the trouser-leg of ‘iconic’ status. Winking out of the grey gloom of this platformer, the colour of Six’s mackintosh is as brave as the kid herself. Dusty libraries; grisly kitchens; rooms where outsize showerheads loom like predators: Six will face it all, and throughout it all, that coat is a little light in the darkness. Tarsier Studios’ macabre art direction is spot-on. You find yourself imprisoned in a strange, sea-bound vessel: The Maw. It’s a dim, dank hodgepodge of rooms that sways uneasily from side to side. Dust clouds shift and resettle, shafts of light throw odd shadows, and the camera gently pulls…

INFO FORMAT PS VR ETA OUT NOW PUB FRIMA STUDIO DEV FRIMA STUDIO Let me reel off some scenarios and see if any appeal. Dashing through a mountain pass as an ogre lurches out to smash your horse-and-cart. Crawling through a tunnel full of spiders (my inner arachnophobe is still furious with me). Walking at the pace of a sloth for an hour. You’re on board with Choice Three, right? Fated: The Silent Oath is an inoffensive VR adventure that becomes pretty darn offensive by being infuriatingly slow. Evolution moves faster than mute lead Ulfer. Said Viking has lost his gift of the gab due to mystical reasons,1 and over the course of 60 minutes this ponderous tale does its best to engage you with heartfelt interactions. Screw the earnest…

DANGER! Ha, made you flinch. But you’ll have to forgive me: I’m just setting the tone here, as danger is what April’s Instant Game Collection was all about. Not only did we contend with the multiplayer arena chaos of David Jaffe’s sketchy freebie, but we entered a very perilous spacetime with friends and got up to some very swift, very risky shinobi shenanigans. I’ve noted down my full impressions of scribbly shoot-‘em-up DRAWN TO DEATH (PS4) over to the left, so let’s skip the remedial classes and jump straight into LOVERS IN A DANGEROUS SPACETIME. The other PS4-only offering this month was a two-to-four-player delight, and determined to test our relationships with its bonkers spaceship piloting. Steering its ridiculous craft through campaigns to rescue cute critters was a teamwork-based scream.…

INFO FORMAT PS4 PUB WARNER BROS DEV TRAVELLER’S TALES REVIEW #135, 5/10 Playing with my son, it’s almost possible to mistake this for a good game. Hearing him giggling down the headset because he’s bounding through the jungle on the back of a shark, you’d think he was playing something completely different. The thing is, my son is six. I played Zool on the Amiga when I was six, and I thought that was good. Zool! [It was good - Ed.] Lego Worlds is worth buying if you have kids, or the attention span of a six-year-old. Either way, you’ll need a responsible adult to deal with the issues: hard crashes, syncing problems, convoluted menus, and more. It took me 30 minutes to realise how to let my kid join…

NARCO ROAD Want more Ghost Recon Wildlands? Sure you do. How about going ‘full A-Team’ in 15 missions featuring stunt planes, monster trucks, and team skydiving? Treat yourself. SUNRISE Race The Sun, an ex-Playstation Plus freebie and endless runner, is getting full PS VR support, and this update also includes a relaxing new mode, Sunrise. GLIDE Minecraft: Console Edition’s new flying mini-game asks you to swap the pickaxe for elytra wings and see how fast you can swoop through race tracks. PERSONA 4 COSTUME & BGM SPECIAL SET Persona 5’s throwback costume pack is perfect for fans who are willing to pay a fair chunk to show they’re Yasogami High for life. [Jen! – ed] DUKE NUKEM’S BULLETSTORM TOUR Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition gets a guest in the form of…

One of the biggest man-made constructs in human history, the Great Wall of China is over 13,000 miles long, and is said to be visible from space. Matt Damon was presumably presented with a cheque of similarly colossal size to star in this hopeless, CGI-saturated snore-fest about the soldiers who defend China from an invading army of psychic lizard monsters lurking beyond the Wall. Set in the 11th Century, during the Song Dynasty, Damo stars as a weary mercenary travelling to China in search of gunpowder. At the Wall he discovers a squad of soldiers in aesthetically pleasing, colour co-ordinated armour, known as the Nameless Order, who are engaged in a last-ditch attempt to save China, and the world, from the invading monstrous Taotie. A disaster in almost every respect,…

INFO PUB KONAMI DEV KONAMI RELEASED 2004, PS2 GET IT NOW EBAY, £10 (SECONDHAND) WHAT? Silent Hill 4 puts you in the role of Henry Townshend, a man living in a town neighbouring Silent Hill, who awakes to find his flat chained up and spawning portals to different dimensions. WHO? Chris Scullion fancies himself as a bit of a horror B-movie expert. If you haven’t already seen Sorority Babes In The Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama, he doesn’t want to know you. “THE WEIRD TWO-HEADED CHERUB HAD ME SQUEALING LIKE A HELIUM JUNKIE.” Back in 2006 I bought The Silent Hill Collection on PS2, which consisted of Silent Hill 2, 3 and 4. Although I loved the second and third games, I decided within five minutes that I hated the fourth and never…

1 REZ INFINITE Fifteen years after the original’s release, the psychedelic rhythm rail shooter has achieved its final form. In PS VR, creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s vision becomes reality, the glittering polygonal trance-world and pounding techno inspiring total synaesthesia within you. Its crowning achievement? New level Area X, powerful enough to bring players to tears. Deserving of its name, this is a truly timeless title. 2 THUMPER Make no mistake: the brave chrome beetle gave Rez a run for its money for our top spot. Hurtling down a violently kaleidoscopic track, pounding notes and scraping round corners is exquisitely tough – and the manic magic is enhanced and perfected in PS VR. 3 KEEP TALKING AND NOBODY EXPLODES Who knew bombs could bring people together? With one headsetted Defuser, and as…

Jen Simpkins GAMES EDITOR News of Battlefront II’s space battles gave Jen the jitters over those small X-wing cockpits… she’d need to Wedge herself in. GAME OF THE MONTH Everything (the game) FORCE POWER Force choke Ben Tyrer STAFF WRITER Ben became pun with the Force and flew off to Star Wars Celebration in sunny Florida. He found American bacon a little Chewie. GAME OF THE MONTH Rocket League FORCE POWER Stop time Miriam McDonald OPERATIONS EDITOR This month Mim lost her favourite Star Wars mug. It’s still missing. We think she’s been looking in Alderaan places. GAME OF THE MONTH Lego City Undercover FORCE POWER Compel faster writing Milford Coppock MANAGING ART EDITOR Milf got lost in his own Star Wars world this issue. “Remember the time two Jawas…

140 Cars confirmed for GT Sport, releasing at the end of this summer. 25 Million copies (and counting) sold of games in the The Witcher franchise. 1,500,000 JRPG Persona 5 is out to steal hearts, as this many copies are shipped. 04 Jak And Daxter games getting remastered for PS4. 1.05 The patch number for Mass Effect Andromeda’s latest fix. 130,000,000 Final Fantasy games sold worldwide – and Stormblood will add to that. 13.5 Height, in inches, of Overwatch’s official Widowmaker statue.…

“If I had read Neogaf at the time the game probably wouldn’t exist.” Rime’s creative director, Raúl Rubio reflects on hateful comments posted on the game forum. “Back in LA, shooting some video game. I think it has zombies in it.” Actress Ashley Johnson on The Last Of Us Part II. Shambling Infected ahoy! “Ultimately Crash fitted into the PS1’s memory with four bytes to spare.” Former Naughty Dog VP Dave Baggett on PS1’s Crash game.…

“ IT’S GOOD TO TALK, BUT IT’S BETTER TO SHOUT. BOBA FETT WOULD GET BOTH BARRELS. ” Sometimes you just need a sounding board to exorcise the day’s demons and get all that frustration out there, in the open. Meat, three veg, and an almighty rant; that’s what dinner time is made for. And who better in the Star Wars rank-and-file to sit opposite for a spot of dinner-therapy than Boba Fett? Despite being so memorable, the guy only has five lines of dialogue in Empire Strikes Back, including the succinct “As you wish”. He may not be a good conversationalist but I bet he’s a great a listener, for a price. (Note to self: don’t mention any daddy issues; Boba’s liable to lose his head.) “ HAN SOLO STRIKES…

I’ve just bought Steep, which I love. But what happens when Ubi decide to not run the servers any more? And do players without a good internet connection have to say ‘I can’t buy this’? I can’t understand why any game should be online only. I appreciate there’s probably more content available when online, but having paid £40-£50, surely it can’t be up to the developers as to whether I get to play the game or not and be held to ransom through their decisions whether to run servers or not? Ben Colley via email When companies decide not to run the servers, that will almost certainly be it, as things are at the moment. But there will always be another great game coming along; you’ll never be gameless.…

GAMES LAUNCHING IN RICKETY STATES CAN’T WHOLLY BE BLAMED ON DEVS AND PUBLISHERS IF WE STILL BUY THEIR TITLES ON DAY ONE. As I pointed out in my Mass Effect: Andromeda review last issue, playing it is an experience that can be coloured by its instability. I’ve a few horror stories – a ‘favourite’ bug sees Ryder take a swig from a non-existent glass – but the biggest shame is how familiar this scenario is. A big, ambitious game launches with problems and then a few weeks later the patches roll out. But don’t think all of this is Bioware’s fault. Despite plenty of pre-release evidence online of the technical issues that blight it, Andromeda debuted at the top of the sales charts in the UK. There are obvious reasons…

1 WATCH DOGS 2 Ultimate millennial Marcus Holloway knows his way around a selfie pose. And when Marcus takes selfies at ScoutX locations across San Fran, he gains more followers. In Ubisoft’s open world, followers are the key to toppling evil corporation Blume. And to think your mum said taking photos of yourself would never change the world. 2 THE LAST OF US: LEFT BEHIND Ellie might not be a normal teen – growing up in post-apocalyptic America is a valid excuse – but she gets the hang of pulling daft faces for a camera instantly. Discovering a photo booth in an abandoned mall gives her and Riley a chance to forget about the wandering infected. It’s so adorable, you’ll even forgive Riley for breaking out the bunny ears. 3…

“TORPEDOES STRIKE, AND A ‘RED SHIRT’ THROWS HIMSELF OVER A RAILING.” FORMAT PS VR / ETA 30 MAY / PUB UBISOFT / DEV RED STORM ENTERTAINMENT “Stop! No! *Blorp* it!” shouts an unworthy Federation OPM bridge crew as we attempt to guide the USS Aegis out of its space dock and into the uncharted stars beyond. It’s not going well. Our right hand frantically fumbles at the steering widget as we scrape past the Federation station. Looking around the bridge we can see our crew waving in distress, or in Jen’s case making obscene gestures with her virtual hands. We feel condemning gazes from the AI characters – it’s telling that everything in Star Trek: Bridge Crew feels real to the point that interpreting unfolding events on an emotional level,…

1 The neon ‘Pink Bot’ sign in the background is a reference to a similar neon sign in Sega’s classic Streets Of Rage, which read ‘Pine Pot’. 2 The ‘Club Spin’ sign references the huge Japanese Club Sega arcades that were a Mecca for ‘90s gamers, Tokyo’s has over 200 arcade machines. 3 TV sets broadcast red, green and blue stripes. These are similar to the coloured blobs used on the official Sega Game Gear logo. Small world.…

YAKUZA: KIWAMI In this whimsical, fun-filled title, you are an adorable girl playing ‘Grandmother’s Footsteps’ with two grumpy uncles. Sneak up on them, freezing when they turn to look. Attach ‘Kick me’ signs to ’em or tie their laces together for a double KO. FORMAT PS4 ETA AUGUST DANGANRONPA V3: KILLING HARMONY Pull off the ultimate heist as an artistic teddy bear warlock. Hop through your painted portal to nab Tokyo Fashion Week’s models for your own runway show. FORMAT PS4, PS VITA ETA 29 SEP THE SURGE You are The Exterminator – chainsawer of massive flying robot insects and wearer of elaborate power armour. Your mission? Sort your clients’ hi-tech, life-threatening infestations. An honest day’s graft, basically. FORMAT PS4 ETA 16 MAY…

1 Land Rush is Rally’s gum-chewing cousin last seen in Dirt 3, who hangs around old arcades on his BMX offering advice on Sega Rally. But in a good way. 2 The familiar mode is now running on the new EGO 4.0 engine, so it looks suitably dusty. Plus, playing on Simulation mode is a real challenge. 3 Handling is very precise and because of the slippery, sandy surface you’ll need to be careful with the accelerator; these rear-wheel drives slide everywhere. 4 Swapping to Gamer mode is more accessible and gives us a warm Sega Rally feeling. If you want a quick simcade buzz, sign up for Land Rush and powerslide.…

THE HUNTER: CALL OF THE WILD FORMAT PS4 / ETA TBC PUB AVALANCHE STUDIOS DEV EXPANSIVE WORLDS This open world hunting sim aims to set a new standard for tracking and shooting animals. There’ll be plenty of creatures to hunt, from manageable targets such as foxes and deer to more intimidating prey like black bears. It’s as freeform or as structured as you want: wardens give you missions to aid in the pursuit of slaughter, though you can ignore them and wander off into the wilderness by yourself. With a variety of weapons to master and eight-person online multiplayer, the call of the wild will be hard to ignore… Unless you’re a vegan. DIGIMON STORY: CYBER SLEUTH – HACKER’S MEMORY FORMAT PS4/PS VITA ETA 2018 / PUB BANDAI NAMCO /…

You can click a menu in any Gran Turismo game and find it’s authenticated by a well-placed license, and GT Sport is no different. For example, lap times, we’re regularly informed, are courtesy of TAG Heuer. New to the license party is Porsche, which has revealed the new 911 GT3 RS will feature in the game. This is a big deal, because until 2016 EA held the Porsche license. The German legend has now jumped ship to GT Sport. (Pedants will point to Porsche being in past Gran Turismos, but those were the RUF versions, as RUF is a manufacturer in its own right). You can enjoy your lovingly modelled Porsche 911 GT3 RS this November when GT Sport releases.…

“MCCAIN RETURNS TO LEGO CITY TO PUT HIS NEMESIS, REX FURY, BEHIND BARS… AGAIN.” INFO FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB WARNER BROS DEV TRAVELLER’S TALES Here in videogame land, Lego is best known for its wacky takes on established universes. That’s why it’s more than a bit of a surprise that this – a prettied-up former Wii U exclusive that owes nothing to Hobbits, caped crusaders, metal men, or space wizards with laser swords – is actually the best game Traveller’s Tales has ever put out. Other Lego games have a safety net: an embedded fan following. Lego City Undercover is instead based on Lego’s unbranded City line of toys, and forced to stand on its own. It nails it. This crime caper is still crammed full of…

INFO FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB VISION GAMES PUBLISHING DEV PAPERSEVEN Death is evident in some form in most games, but rarely is it as keenly felt as in Blackwood Crossing. While most virtual experiences are preoccupied with providing players with an arsenal of death-dealing devices, Brighton-based developer PaperSeven has crafted an adventure that’s firmly focused on coping with loss. This tale takes place on a train, its sole passengers two orphans. Events are seen from the perspective of teenager Scarlett, who’s attempting to mend her strained relationship with her younger brother, Finn.1 Tender moments between them, like crafting paper butterflies, are heart-warming – but, like their childhood innocence, fleeting. They are pursued by a Donnie-Darko-esque rabbit that adds to the game’s dark tone. Characters give emotive performances that…

“EFFECTIVELY SPIN AROUND AN ATTACKER’S SHOTS AND START A COUNTER-STRIKE.” INFO FORMAT PS VR ETA OUT NOW PUB SONY DEV WHITEMOON DREAMS Complete 360 degrees of freedom in a shooter for PS VR means there’s only one question you want answering: does Starblood Arena make you want to burble a little bit of sick into your mouth? The answer is, thankfully, no. But wait! Don’t leave, there’s more to this multiplayer shooter than the (crucial) plus point of not making you dribble bile over your DualShock. For a start it’s fun. Brain-fizzing, E-numbers, Star Mix fun. There’s no soul-searching millennial angst, no grand narrative with one eye on a BAFTA. Sat inside my APEX Battle Pod I get a giddy joy out of the simplest of things, like how…

INFO FORMAT PS VR ETA OUT NOW PUB STELLAR VR DEV STELLAR VR PlayStation VR has served up some eclectic experiences in its young life. Games where you cause grievous bodily harm to pieces of fruit. Surviving a rollercoaster ride run by a homicidal clown. A retro RTS where you command adorable troops that look like pieces of Lego. Guess which one I’m about to talk about. There’s a lovely story behind Korix. This tower defence throwback was developed by Mark Taylor, who quit his job to fulfil his dream of making games… with backing from Sony. His first game is pretty good, too. It’s a little muddled and overly complicated,1 but there’s some endearing execution on show. Your goal is to conquer the AI’s base before it can obliterate…

INFO FORMAT PS4 PUB EA DEV BIOWARE REVIEW #125, 7/10 There’s no denying it feels weird for a story-driven RPG to have a fun multiplayer mode, but that’s the trick Bioware pulls off for the second time. A simple premise – four players work together to take out waves of enemies and survive until they can be extracted – facilitates frantic firefights and empowering moments of co-op gratification. Small maps make the most of the improved movement, which produces impressive improvisation. There are a few problems: it’s brutal in the early waves as you grind to level up characters, and there’s a heavy focus on supply boxes that can be bought with microtransactions, which will never be welcome. But, on the whole, there’s fun to be had here once you’ve…

SNIPER ELITE 4 – DEATHSTORM PART 1: INCEPTION Keep your eyes peeled in the first part of this campaign follow-up. You have been tasked with infiltrating the Rocca sul Mare naval base to get the “Deathstorm” package. With a name like that, we forecast a shower of bullets. ROCKET LEAGUE – THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS™ ICE CHARGER Get ready to storm the pitch with big bad Vin’s latest toy. The Ice Charger comes with a set of exclusive wheels and six unique decals. Remember, it doesn’t matter if you win by a single goal or ten. Winning’s winning. NIOH – DRAGON OF THE NORTH Been hankering after some more demon slashing? This story add-on has hero William travelling to the Oshu region to tackle the growing Yokai threat there.…

DAREDEVIL SEASON 2 15 MAY Marvel’s Man Without Fear meets The Punisher, with Elektra-fying consequences, in the second season of the superlative Netflix series. LA LA LAND 15 MAY Infamous Oscar loss aside, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone’s musical romance is a swoon-some love letter to Golden Age Hollywood. A must. ASSASSIN’S CREED 15 MAY Far from perfect it may be, but Michael Fassbender’s big-screen Creed does an admirable job of taking its subject seriously. SING 22 MAY The X-Factor meets Zootopia in Garth Jennings’ family-friendly CG toon about anthropomorphic animals who take part in a local singing competition. XXX: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE 29 MAY Fifteen years after outrunning an avalanche on a snowboard, Vin Diesel’s unlikely super-spy is back. UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS 29 MAY The fifth(?!) film in…

“EVERY GUN IN THE GAME HITS LIKE A SLEDGEHAMMER SWUNG BY KING KONG.” INFO PUB EA DEV CRITERION GAMES RELEASED 2006 GET IT NOW AMAZON, £0.99 NEED TO KNOW 1 Gun noises took cues from Arnie’s True Lies Uzi. 2 Real-time blur effects are used when reloading. 3 Oscar winner Michael Giacchino wrote its theme. We should all thank The Matrix on a daily basis. Oh sure, Morpheus using one of those Nokia flip-out phones now looks roughly as cool as trying to make a long distance call from a slab of cement with a coat hanger antenna. But c’mon, without the Wachowskis’ classic sci-fi that lobby scene would never exist. And if Neo and Trinity had never turned those office pillars into Swiss cheese, Criterion would never have…

UNCHARTED 4: A THIEF’S END Nathan Drake’s swansong is a daring evolution. It combines series-defining set-pieces, quietly devastating storytelling beats and sprawling levels that make you feel like a real-life explorer. This franchise finale retains its signature charm, with the wisecracks flowing as fast as the bullets, while the new characters each justify their inclusion. With an astonishing attention to detail, it’s Naughty Dog’s best yet. THE LAST GUARDIAN After a decade in development, Ueda’s PS4 debut is both a technical marvel and emotionally devastating. Trico’s mannerisms make it feel like a real creature – one we truly care about – while escaping The Nest is a captivating test. Some things are worth waiting for. METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN While retaining that distinct storytelling and sense of…

TEARAWAY Peerless crafty platforming from Media Molecule, this time using PS Vita’s raft of touchscreen/ touchpad controls to surprise and delight you in new ways for hours on end. Full of whimsy, charm and enough personality to put most games to shame, Tearaway’s papercraft world remains Vita’s most vibrant title. PERSONA 4: GOLDEN This thoughtful and unique JRPG epic gives you another stab at high school – only this time with intrigue and superpowers instead of nerves, acne and an unpredictable vocal register. RAYMAN LEGENDS Rather than losing its lustre on the move to PS Vita, Ray’s second slice of sumptuous side-scrolling is even better on handheld. Touchscreen gestures make this fine platformer all the sweeter. VELOCITY 2X A ludicrously enjoyable puzzle/platformer hybrid that should come with a health warning.…

Get Even’s sound design is overpowering, emotive, and innovative, whether it’s mixing Cole Black’s panicked breath with the beat of a tune, matching a descending bass drone to your own descent into a buildings depths, or terrifying you with the rhythmic chanting of asylum inmates as you make your way towards a madman’s lair. Here, the game’s composer and sound designer, Olivier Deriviere, explains how he uses sound to maximum effect. OPM: How would you sum up your approach to Get Even’s sound design? Olivier Deriviere: What if I tell you that a water drop hitting the floor can sound like the press of a piano key? What if you hear the typical sound of a train passing by that becomes a rhythmic motif? What if the bass drum reminds…

Writers Iain Long and Stephen Sharkey also worked together on Derren Brown’s Trick Or Treat series, in which a volunteer picks a card and then receives a good or bad experience. In building these situations and stories for the subjects of the show, the writing partners gained plenty of experience that came in useful for Get Even. “In the Derren stuff, there’s very often the sense that you don’t quite know what to expect – that the rug could be pulled at any moment,” Long tells us. “We’ve always loved creating that feeling of uncertainty, and Get Even was the perfect game to explore it.” Sharkey adds: “Overall, I think the skills we’ve developed in our past work – a lot of which involves creating an interactive experience for a…

“ ANYONE WHO PRE-ORDERS THE LOST LEGACY WILL GET JAK AND DAXTER FOR PS4 COMPLETELY FREE. ” Got any plans for the summer? Well, get ready to cancel them because Uncharted: The Lost Legacy finally has a release date. The standalone title will be rope-swinging on to PS4 in Europe on 23 August. The DLC is said to be roughly 10 hours long and will cost you the pretty price of £29.99. Bargain. Chloe Frazer’s journey through India, which has been presented as “a true Uncharted game” by developer Naughty Dog, will be available at no extra cost to anyone who purchased the original Uncharted 4 Triple Pack (or its replacement, the Explorer Pack), as well as the Digital Deluxe Edition. So relax, you can breathe now. The news came…

Red Dead 2 dated? UK retailer Base.com  updated its listing with a 26 Sep release date. Will it be called Assassin’s Creed Empire? Will you travel on ships and horses and have a pet eagle? Will it be out in October? We hope so. All those rumours are doing the rounds. Persona-Potter could be real, as Warner Bros may be working on a Harry Potter RPG. Rumour squirrels tell us Shadow Of The Tomb Raider could be released early in 2018. Remedy is now making games for PS4, which could include Quantum Break and the new title, codenamed ‘P7’.…

“ WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT IF THERE WAS A WAY TO TRADE TROPHIES EARNT FOR PS STORE CREDIT? ” Burning question The last instalment of the great Burnout Racing series was one of the greatest games of its year. But, do you think it was as addictive as the previous games Dominator, Revenge, and Takedown? ‘Mix Max’ via email For our money, Paradise was the best Burnout – we loved the open world element – but if EA fancies reviving the series on PS4, or even PS VR, we’d love to give it a go. And in the meantime, check out our preview of Dirt 4 ( p44 ) and our close look at GT Sport ( p72 ), as it sounds like they’re your sort of game. Play to…

Which car on PlayStation would you like to get behind the wheel of? 24% Want to drive Arkham Asylum’s Batmobile. 21% Fancy skidding round in Tanner’s Dodge from Driver San Francisco. 18% Think any decent car that has a harpoon, like the Mad Max’s muscular Magnum Opus. 15% Want to hit the road with Noctis and chums in the Regalia. 12% Sensibly opt for a real world car: Gran Turismo’s Mazda Demio. 10% Choose ‘The Homer’ from The Simpsons Hit & Run. Doh! NEXT MONTH We love the Dinklebot. But what’s your favourite robot on PlayStation?…

“ FFVII MIGHT BE UTTERLY BRILLIANT. BUT IT WON’T BE THE SAME. ” Final Fantasy VII is being remade and I can’t help but be excited. This game is a cultural touchstone for PlayStation gamers, and I have so many abiding memories of the hundreds of hours I ploughed into it in the late ’90s. Remember Red XII’s petrified dad crying a single tear during a sojourn in Cosmo Canyon? I do. Scarlet and Tifa having an actual slapping match on top of Junon cannon? That’s been etched into my long-term memory. I can hum the whole J.E.N.O.V.A. boss fight theme right now. You can’t hear me but I’m doing it. Promise. These are just a few of the hundreds of memories which I recall through a nostalgic haze. I…

“THE OLD-SCHOOL FEEL IS DOWN TO THE ROSTER OF FAMILIAR FACES.” FORMAT PS4 / ETA 2 JUNE PUB BANDAI NAMCO / DEV BANDAI NAMCO Forget all about Street Fighter: it’s this 3D, four-button brawling series that’s PlayStation’s true heritage. Once an exhilarating, spiky jumble of fists and polygons ported from arcade to PS1, the original Tekken laid the very groundwork of our favourite console series’ fighting history. 22 years later, despite the huge visual overhaul it’s been given for PS4, our latest hands-on reminds us Tekken’s still got that old soul. A lot of the old-school feel is down to the roster, fluttering out before us in a fan of familiar faces. Kazuya Mishima; Marshall Law; Nina Williams; Paul Phoenix; Ling Xiaoyu; yes, even the furry mugs of King and…

1 As Captain you’re in charge. GM’s Robin Valentine loves his Red Alert button: “Nothing like an alarm and some flashing red lights to keep everyone focused.” 2 Jen is our Engineer, toggling power to shields, engines, and weapons as well as doing repairs. “I’m the one quietly making sure it doesn’t all kick off,” she says. 3 The Tactical Officer gets to shoot stuff. GM’s Ben Griffin says: ”Remarking ‘Where’s that torpedo going?’ doesn’t fill my crewmates with confidence.” 4 Ian’s our Helmsman. He sets courses and pushes the big Warp lever. “Seeing, and feeling, the ship lurch under my control puts a smile on my CG face.”…

“YOU’RE SLIDING, BURNING ALL FOUR WHEELS, YOU’RE GOING CRAZY.” FORMAT PS4 / ETA WINTER / PUB BANDAI NAMCO / DEV SLIGHTLY MAD STUDIOS How do you make the hyper-realism that defines Slightly Mad Studios’ racing simulator exciting for people who think the barriers on tracks are there to help with turning? Whack in rallycross. A ferociously fast mix of track and dirt close-contact racing, rallycross sees you firing cars around corners raising two fingers to conservative wisdom, and praying that your tyres won’t wear out in the process. Our first taste of it is on the Daytona rallycross track. In theory, it’s a short and simple track to warm us up. Starting at the back of the pack, we’re using this run as a chance to get a feel for…

“IT’S BEING PUT TOGETHER BY THE FOLK RESPONSIBLE FOR WILD ARMS.” FORMAT PS4, PS VITA / ETA 27 JUNE PUB SEGA, DEEP SILVER / DEV MEDIA.VISION For PlayStation gamers of a certain vintage, this next sentence may well be one worth sitting down for. A sequel of sorts is coming to Valkyria Chronicles –one of the best JRPGs of the PS3 generation – and it’s being put together by the same folk who were once upon a time responsible for Wild Arms. Ooh, just typing that out has given us goosebumps. Valkyria Revolution will hit the West on 27 June, after a January release in Japan. The fact that it’s heading to our shores was no foregone conclusion, given that its immediate PSP-flavoured predecessor never made it out of Nippon.…

“MOST CARDS OFFER EXTRA ABILITIES, MAKING FOR SOME SERIOUS BATTLES.” FORMAT PS4 / ETA 2017 PUB CD PROJEKT / DEV CD PROJEKT RED Speak to anyone about playing The Witcher 3 and they’ll likely recall an all-consuming obsession with Gwent. Even though the main game offered superb RPG mechanics and an engrossing narrative, people were enthralled by its in-game card battler. This standalone, free-to-play version has undergone expansion, but its core mechanics remain intact. Each round involves players engaging in one-on-one battle, with victory achieved by amassing more power (read: points) than your rival across your three combat rows – Melee, Ranged, and Siege. Cards come in different tiers (bronze, silver, and gold), and most offer extra abilities, making for some devastating encounters. Multiplayer sees us take on real-world players…

VIEWPOINT “IF IT CAN MAINTAIN THE ABSORBING MIX OF COMPREHENSIVE ACTION AND TENSE PARANOIA THAT THE TWO HOURS I’VE PLAYED ARE FULL OF, THEN IT’LL BE ONE OF THE YEAR’S BEST.” FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB BETHESDA DEV ARKANE STUDIOS That black transforming glob thinks it has got the drop on me. As I wander through the Psychotronics labs of Talos 1, eyeing every item with suspicion, a familiar soundtrack cue and wobbling gas cylinder indicate a Mimic is getting ready to pounce. Unfortunately for the shapeshifter, in trying to blend in, it’s made my life a lot easier. Shooting the cylinders triggers an explosion that sends the Mimic up in flames. Throughout my two hours with this pre-release build, I find catharsis comes in all manner of…

2013 RESOGUN The studio’s next twin-stick, twitch-based gem kicks off PS4’s launch in some style. It’s generally agreed to be PS4’s best launch title (this time, it gets a 9/10 from us). 2007 SUPER STARDUST HD Housemarque takes a running jump at PS3 – and later, PSP – with its unique three-dimensional shooter. The first 3D game for the console to run at 720p and 60fps, it’s well-received by gamers and critics alike (we give it 8/10). 2017 NEX MACHINA Housemarque’s newest blaster on the block is, er, on blocks. Levels are series of flat arenas. Destructible environmental hazards, tons of secrets, savage AI and persistent voxels to splash about in mean it’s pushing the genre to its technical limit. (Can it keep up that score trajectory, though..?)…

GOLD AWARD Awarded to a game that’s brilliantly executed on every level, combining significant innovation, near-flawless gameplay, great graphics and lasting appeal. EDITOR’S AWARD Not at the very highest echelon, but this is a game that deserves recognition and special praise based on its ambition, innovation or other notable achievement. 10 INCREDIBLE The kind of phenomenal experience rarely seen in a console generation. 9 OUTSTANDING Unreservedly brilliant – this should be in every collection. 8 VERY GOOD A truly excellent game, marred by just a few minor issues. 7 GOOD A great concept unfulfilled or the familiar done well, but still well worth playing. 6 DECENT Fun in parts, flawed in others, but more right than wrong. 5 AVERAGE What you expect and little more, this is for devotees only.…

“IT MAY TAKE AN HOUR OR TWO BEFORE THE CONTROLS FEEL COMFORTABLE.” INFO FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB SUMO DIGITAL DEV SUMO DIGITAL For some unknown reason, there haven’t been many games featuring snakes over the years. There was Rare’s NES classic Snake Rattle & Roll, and that Nokia mobile phone one – can’t remember the name of it – but other than that, the slithering squamates (look it up) don’t often get a chance to take the starring role. Sumo Digital has decided this reptilian drought needs a toe up the rump, and Snake Pass is the result. You play as Noodle, a stripy snake who lives in a lush jungle paradise. The aim is to find all the keystones in each of the game’s 15 levels…

INFO FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB SONY DEV NANAON-SHA, EPICS Yes, he’s back. One of the first rhythm action games released in the West – and the first to bring the genre to a wide audience – the likes of Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution owe a debt to PaRappa. It’s a shame the bar-spitting beagle hasn’t starred in many games since. But this 4K remaster, made to celebrate the original’s 20th anniversary, isn’t the new PaRappa many fans were hoping for. In fact, it isn’t really the old PaRappa many were hoping for either. There’s only really one area in which the game impresses, and that’s the brilliant graphics: you’ve never seen the paper-thin pup so sharply defined. Everything else is a disappointment, though. The cut-scenes all…

INFO FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB DAVID OREILLY DEV DAVID OREILLY Hoo boy. Talk about a monumental task. I’ve taken on daunting reviews before; from once-in-a-generation classics to games so crushingly dull I’ve had to slap myself awake. What I’ve never done? Review a game that encompasses the vastness of the universe… in 275 words (approx). Eek. What an astonishing experience.1 ‘Videogame’ doesn’t cover it. You’re looking at an ambient adventure that does Everything. Undeniably arthouse, this is a game where you can listen to the musings of the late philosopher Alan Watts while you glide around the ocean as an entire continent. You can control and switch between hundreds of variants of flora and fauna – from single-celled amoebae to an entire lenticular galaxy – all with a…

INFO FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB SONY DEV THE BARTLET JONES SUPERNATURAL DETECTIVE AGENCY Talk about looking sketchy. On paper, it’s probably difficult to see why you should care even one jot about this obnoxious ’90s-style brawler. But you shouldn’t rule out this notebook-set PS Plus title: it’s a pulpy pleasure. And it’s anything but two-dimensional. (Okay, I’m done with the paper puns.) Run-and-gun online multiplayer-only battles are simple in concept – 2v2 clashes or Deathmatch free-for-alls – but are made deep and dynamic in design. Each of Drawn To Death’s launch roster of six weirdos boasts unique abilities. Some are mobility-based (robo-vamp Cyborgula’s power of flight) and others are for splitting heads like scribbly melons (animatronic mouse Alan’s chainsaw-lob). A rock-paper-scissors mechanic means each ’toon has specific strengths…

OVERWATCH Jen Simpkins has her foes bugging out Spider tank, spider tank, does whatever a spider tank does… which I can now confirm is “shred an enemy team”. Orisa is a lovable robo-beetle – but on the battlefield, she’s a terror. It’s not the rattle of her decently ranged Fusion Driver, nor the deployable, objective-defending shield I keep taunting my enemies with. Nope – it’s the ‘Halt!’ ability that proves to be the real winner. On a whim, I shoot this mini version of Zarya’s magnetic Graviton Surge over the edge of the bridge on Lijang Tower… and see it yoink a Mercy, a Mei, and a Reaper over with it. Oh, my sides. PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2017 Ian Dean tests out the idea that you should ‘never go back’…

DOCTOR PLAYSTATION Our console medic fixes your tech woes with actual science THE PROBLEM Oh, Yoko Taro. The daddy of all things Nier is as maniacal as the Doc, with his penchant for meta tricks and Easter eggs. Fed up with his cryptic nonsense? I’ve got the info you need. STEP 1 TREAT YOURSELF TO AN ENGINE BLADE I never go anywhere without a blade handy; you just never know when a Mafia boss is going to pop up and demand repayment. (I needed that top-of-the-range blender. For… medical reasons.) You’ll want to hook up Nier: Automata protagonist 2B with a big ol’ protective knife of her own – why not make it Noctis’ Engine Blade from Final Fantasy XV? The secret weapon in question is found towards the endgame…

“IT’S GOOD AT CHANGING THE PACE BY INTRODUCING LENIENT STEALTH BITS TO SOOTHE YOUR TRIGGER FINGER.” “THIS TEN-VOLUME CATALOGUE OF FUGLY WOULDN’T NECESSARILY HAVE BEEN A COMPLETE DEAL-BREAKER HAD OFFING THE UNDEAD BEEN FUN.” “ONE SCENE, WHERE YOU’RE CREEPING ACROSS ROOFTOPS AND STRINGS OF RED LANTERNS, IS SO PRETTY IT WOULDN’T LOOK OUT OF PLACE IN A PIXAR FILM.” “A CONCENTRATED BLAST OF RHYTHM ACTION GOODNESS… ITS TRIPLE-NOTE, MULTI-LANE SETUP’S A JOY FOR THE FINGERS.”…

PICK #1 BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT Rocksteady’s hanging up of the cowl is the Batman game of Ben Tyrer’s dreams Batman’s PS4 debut rarely gets the love it deserves, considering the immense juggling act it pulls off. Improving on the series’ fantastic fighting, nailing the open world of Gotham, and finding a powerful conclusion to the trilogy’s main story all at once is no mean feat. And skidding into crumbling walls in the Batmobile is sheer brilliance. Could do with more Catwoman, mind. “LOPPING OFF TITAN LIMBS WITH YOUR DUAL BLADES IS A GRATIFYING GORE-FEST.” PICK #2 ATTACK ON TITAN: WINGS OF FREEDOM Jen Simpkins recommends an anime tie-in that’ll turn anyone into Slash Gordon When this cannibal giant-slaying sim (based on one of my all-time fave animes) was announced, I…