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Bloodborne
To say From Software's Demon's and Dark Souls games hit big is something of an understatement. Many consider them to be among the greatest games ever released, and the impact they've had on the role-playing game genre has been huge. They stepped away from the tropes that have kept the genre alive for so long and put the emphasis firmly on the player's skill, smarts and grit. And, while everyone's attention was on Dark Souls II, director Hidetaka Miyazaki and From Software's A-team were making the PlayStation 4 exclusive Bloodborne. Certain elements from the Souls games make a return. You collect blood echoes from fallen enemies rather than souls, dying is quite similar and movement can feel similar. While these are commonalities, however, Bloodborne does much to set itself apart. The most obvious change is in the environment. The game shifts from a medieval world to one that splices Victoriana with gothic horror. Technology of the industrial revolution litters the environment. So, in many cases, do severed limbs and prone corpses. The developer has really gunned its engines on the environment, opening things up with wide open spaces and twisted, labrynthine interiors. The biggest shift in combat comes in the form of the gun. This effectively replaces the shield in the Souls games and shifts the balance of combat. Where the Souls games were about carefully balancing offence and defence, Bloodborne is all about going on the attack. It's a much more aggressive style with little room for a shield. Things are faster, too, with a new dash move enabling sweeping rushes around enemies while locked on. Melee weapons can be used in two ways, with each offering a fast, close quarters attack and a slower, more powerful, ranged attack. While some things have changed since the Souls games, there is of course one thing fans can count on - Bloodborne is fiendishly challenging and sure to provide players with plenty of meat to sink their teeth into...
£27.19 Buy Now -
Bound by Flame
Bound by Flame comes with a fair amount of hype surrounding it. That's partly because release is due during a bit of an RPG drought, but more than that its intriguing premise and impressive visuals have struck a chord. The game takes place in a high fantasy land beseiged by seven ice lords and riddled with monsters such as scythes, swamp beasts and ghosts. Humanity has been fighting against the ice lords for its survival for a very long time, but one way or another the war will end soon. You play as Vulcan, a mercenary tasked with trying to defend the land (Vulcan is fully customisable, with the option to pick her/his gender, by the way). As the story begins, however, a failed attempt by Vulcan to raise a fire demon sees him/her possessed. This gives rise to one of the game's key game mechanics, as Vulcan is gifted with flame powers at the potential cose of her/his humanity. Players must constantly work within this duality, choosing whether to embrace these dark powers or try to find a more heroic path. Players can tackle three skill trees to master one ability set or another. They can choose to go down the strong 'tank' route, the nimbler 'ranger' route or really embrace the pyromancy powers. How you play is reflected in the plot, too, with branching storylines that are affected by your actions.
£14.89 Buy Now -
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
Demon's Souls really established FromSoftware's reputation as a developer that wants to take your sense of hope and gnaw on it using the jaws of zombified rats. Dark Souls, the game's spiritual successor, took that and ran with it. Now the developer is back once again with a sequel in both name and spirit. The game features a new world, new storyline and an unfamiliar world steeped in death and despair. Expect the same uncompromising difficulty, the same epic boss battles and the same incredible sense of empowerment that comes with triumphing against the odds as the first game. Don't, however, expect something quite so straightforward as a re-skinned version of Dark Souls. The game's online has been made a little more approachable this time out. Voice chat is now supported and by aligning yourself with certain in-game gods you'll be able to summon friends to help you lay waste to whatever particular beast is challenging your will to live. You can also now travel between bonfires right from the outset of the game and the health system is a little more forgiving, with life gems complementing the flasks of the last game. Don't despair that FromSoftware has gone soft, however, as you'll lose a little more of your life bar every time you die. The world is perhaps not quite so bleak as those of past games, but it does offer up its own sights to bear witness to. An eerie village sits at the sea shore, with desperate locals trying to pedal their wares, while a tangled, ruined castle lurks at the heart of the forest. Scholar of the First Sin also includes the first three downloadable content packs released for the original game, Crown Of The Sunken King, Crown Of The Old Iron King, and Crown Of The Ivory King. On top of that, this new version will get some brand-spanking new content for players to battle through. So, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is not quite the same beast as the previous games. Did anyone want that, though? It's still a fiendishly difficult game set in a rich, brutal fantasy world. And there's still plenty of dying to be done.
£32.80 Buy Now -
Dark Souls III
As fires fade and the world falls into ruin, developer FROMSOFTWARE and director Hidetaka Miyazaki continue their critically-acclaimed and genre-defining series with Dark Souls III. Fans and newcomers alike will get lost in the games hallmark rewarding gameplay and immersive graphics. Now only embers remain...
Dynamic lighting and particle effects immerse players into a dark fantasy world of ruin.
Expertly crafted world encourages players to explore vast and breathtaking landscapes.
Diversifies combat action allowing players to craft their own unique play style.
Evolution of trademark online multiplayer functionality that seamlessly integrates online interactions into single player story.
£54.99 Pre-order -
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided takes place in 2029, two years after the events of Human Revolution and the infamous ‘Aug Incident’ in Panchaea that resulted in the death of millions at the hands of those who had installed augmentations.
£54.99 Pre-order -
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls: Ultimate Evil Edition
Thankfully the wait between Diablo III and this expansion, Reaper of Souls, wasn't as long and torturous as between the previous two games. As an addition to the epic threequel, Reaper of Souls offers up more story, new environments, a raised level cap and a whole new class of character. Given that you (spoiler alert!) dispatched Diablo at the end of the main game, a new villain is in order here. Developer Blizzard has, of course, obliged. Malthael, the fallen Archangel of Wisdom, disappeared after the goings-on of Diablo II. In Reaper of Souls he returns, this time as the Angel of Death. He seizes the Black Soulstone, which contains the pure essence of the Prime Evil and begins to rain hell on the world. Your first taste of the world in question is in the burning city of Westmarch. You'll fight your way through mystic ruins, tangled swamplands, eerie cemeteries and strange battlefields. While there isn't a huge number of new environment types, the ones there are are of a decidedly different flavour to those in the main game. If you're looking to change up how you play a bit, too, there's a new character class on hand to help out. The Crusaders are warriors that have been on a centuries-long quest to burn out the corruption blighting their Zakarum faith. They wear heavy armour, wield cruel weapons and use magic to strengthen friends and weaken foes. In short, they're natural tanks. There's also good news for those wishing to focus on their existing party - Reaper of Souls raises Diablo's level cap to 70. The Ultimate Evil edition on console offers gamers the chance to play with up to three other friends on screen at once, or remotely over the network. The new Apprentice mode also boost low-level friends' powers while playing with high-level friends, and an in-game mail system allows them to share treasures. The Ultimate Evil edition packs all the punch of the PC version, but optimised to run on the big screen in your living room.
£24.99 -
Dragon Age: Inquisition
While Dragon Age Origins was hailed by many as a new tour-de-force from famed roleplaying game developer BioWare, many felt that the sequel didn't live up to its predecessor's strong start. Inquisition, though, has been widely hailed as a return to form. An apocalyptic event has thrown Thedas into chaos, opening rifts that are raining down terror. Dragons ravage the sky, casting dark shadows across the land. Mages are in a state of all-out war against the Templars. Nations are warring. Into this chaos you must step, using your strange ability to close rifts and banish demons. The world is bigger and more open than ever before, so players looking to explore are in for a treat. This is a huge game, packed with epic hubs and tons of side content. BioWare says that it will take over 100 hours to complete everything. It's appropriate, as this is the biggest Dragon Age story yet. For players new to the series, or those jumping to a new platform (or even those who don't feel happy with decisions they made in the last two games) EA has an online tool that can be used to select details from earlier games in the series and apply them to your save file. On the combat front, BioWare has drawn on both the previous games in the series, pulling together the more strategic feel or Origins with the action focus of the sequel. The result is combat that has weight, but won't enable players to thrash around like they're beating up angels in Bayonetta. Adding to that is a multiplayer option. It's a co-op mode that works a lot like Gears of War's Horde, forcing players to work together against wave after wave of enemies. In other words, if you're looking for something epic in scope, Dragon Age Inquisition has you covered.
£19.99 Buy Now -
Final Fantasy: Type-0 HD
The days when Japan got all the best role-playing games are pretty much behind us. As ever more games that once seemed consigned to Japan-only release make it to Western shores, Square Enix has thrown Final Fantasy Type-0 into the ring with an HD remake of the PSP original. The game takes place on Orience, a dark world governed by crystals but ravaged by war. The game focuses on Class Zero, a group from an elite military academy in the Vermillion Peristylium region. Using the magic and abilities of these fourteen characters, players must enter the war and attempt to uncover the secrets of its origins. The action-focused combat will be the big pull for many. It features all the main features players have come to love, including lock-on, magic, physical attacks, dodging and synergy between characters. Each character has their own strengths, and as you play and get to know them combat deepens. Most of the time you'll control three characters, switching between them on the d-pad at will and adjusting tactics accordingly. Every one of your fourteen characters has a role to play, and you'll benefit from mastering them. There are also some RTS elements thrown in for good measure. They play out on the world map, and you can sway the course of the war by invading towns, redistributing troops and using your own magic. Devoted fans will also be pleased to know that there's a good 40 hours of gameplay here, and if you want to do everything there is to do that doubles. Plenty to tide everyone over until XV hits...
£29.99 Buy Now -
LEGO Jurassic World
"LEGO Jurassic World is the latest addition to the wildly successful LEGO videogame series. The all-new game will feature in LEGO form the first three blockbuster Jurassic Park films as well as Jurassic World, the long-awaited next instalment in the groundbreaking Jurassic Park series. Following the epic storylines of Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III, as well as the highly anticipated Jurassic World, LEGO Jurassic World is the first videogame where players will be able to relive and experience all four Jurassic films. Reimagined in LEGO form and told in TT Games' signature classic LEGO humour, the thrilling adventure recreates unforgettable scenes and action sequences from the films, allowing fans to play through key moments and giving them the opportunity to fully explore the expansive grounds of Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna. In LEGO Jurassic World, players will be able to collect precious amber, which contains dinosaur DNA to create and customize species. And, for the first time in a LEGO game, players will be able to play as LEGO dinosaurs, including dinosaurs from the Jurassic Park series and from the upcoming Jurassic World film."
£35.09 Buy Now -
Lords of the Fallen: Limited Edition
Demon's Souls and its successors, the Dark Souls games, have surely made their mark on games. Many will see similarities in Lords of the Fallen, both in its grim aesthetic and, more importantly, in its tough-as-nails gameplay. That's not to say Lords of the Fallen hasn't been built into its own game. Lords of The Fallen rewards methodical, slow progress. Not to the point where your game will come to a standstill of indecision - something many suffer from with the Souls games - and this is the first of what some will see as a few pluses LoTF has over Dark Souls. Another plus is simple accessibility. The controls are smooth and make total sense. Once you've got them memorised venturing into the bleak world becomes a simple matter of sizing up your foe, letting them show you their weak spots and then exploiting them. For loot addicts this game satisfies the itch marvellously. There are hidden chests everywhere and plenty of armour slots to kit out. The armour lead character Harkyn wears is big and bulky, even when it is classed as 'Light' it is still larger than you find in most RPGs. This is in part due to the size of the guy you are playing as - he is tall, broad and thick limbed, designed from the ground up as a warrior destined to wield impractically large weapons. Developers Deck13 and CI Games have approached the narrative with a light touch. You are given the bare bones and this gives you justification to head out and explore the lands surrounding Keystone. Harkyn is a big, balding tough guy whose face is covered in runes depicting the various crimes he is guilty of. He's out in the world on a mission to stand against a seemingly unstoppable foe, a Fallen God. Different people have different reactions to Harkyn, some fear him, some attempt to use him and at least one wishes him no ill-will and could actually be thought of as a friend. If you are a Souls fan then you will probably love this game, if you are new to the idea of difficult, action RPGs then this is a perfect place to start.
£11.16 Buy Now -
The Elder Scrolls: Online: Tamriel Unlimited
Set 1,000 years prior to the events in Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls Online (TESO) is set in a world menaced by three feuding factions, all of which are trying to gain control of the entire continent of Tamriel. The main villain of the piece is a Daedric Prince called Molag Bal who is raising an undead army in order to take control of Tamriel. The three factions are The Aldmeri Dominion, The Daggerfall Covenent and The Ebonheart Pact. These factions have certain races allied to them, all of whom will be very familiar to players of other games set in the Elder Scrolls universe. From the outset the developers at Bethesda have designed the game to focus on the multiplayer aspect of MMOs. Players are encouraged to interact with one another to the point where even if they are not grouped with someone and they help another player out, they'll get rewarded for it. As an extension of this, there are many dungeons and warrens to explore, just like any Elder Scrolls game. Most of these require a group to be formed before entering, but some do allow players to wander into them unassisted and will likely find other people taking on the denizens of the dungeon. The base character construct used in Elder Scrolls games remains in place within TESO. The base stats of Health, Stamina and Magicka remain as does the ability to use any weapon, regardless of class. Players will not however be proficient in it if they have not specialised in the wielded weapon's use, again a similar trope found in Elder Scrolls games. The main quest, in typical TES fashion, has a number of big names from the film industry, names like Michael Gambon (Dumbledore from the Harry Potter films) and Bill Nighy who plays the game's antagonist Molag Bol. It could have been right out of a single player TES game. Another familiar facet to that ever so long lineage of games is an open world full of potential for exploration. In TESO players will be able to go where they wish and do what they wish, which is something many recently released MMOs fail to achieve. As an interesting adjunct to the main story, there are self-contained stories set within the smaller areas of the world. Each location has the usual string of side quests, but there is an overarching goal that when achieved will lead to a change in the game world. For example, if you defeat a necromancer who is defiling the body of a long dead Dragonlord, all the undead around the ruins will no longer be present and the area is completely safe to loot at your leisure. It is a small but permanent change to the world as you see it. The developers have looked closely at the combat in TESO and have tried to create a dynamic combat system that rewards the player's skill. This is done by allowing the player the opportunity to block incoming attacks and once successful, executing a parry move. The upgrade system which follows TES's example by having abilities level as you use them. At certain levels you can change them in to more powerful/useful versions with added effects. This is on top of choosing new abilities from a large selection covering combat, crafting and Guild-based skills. Tamriel is waiting...
£41.49 Buy Now -
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Day 1 Edition
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt takes the world of Geralt, the titular witcher of the title, and breathes life into its nooks and crannies, bringing to life an open world that's bigger than that offered up in the first two games. The Northern Kingdoms are suffering. The Nilfgaardian Empire has struck again and the smoke of burning villages chokes the air. A greater danger even than this lurks just out of sight, however, and an otherworldly force threatens to consume the kingdoms. Despite all this, Geralt has a much more personal goal than in previous games - to save his daughter. It's this that gives Wild Hunt the room it needs to breathe. As an established character with a grave threat looming, players might have felt compelled to rush around this open world and not take it in. As it is, Geralt is almost as much in the dark as the player. Finding your daughter means chasing down clues and following leads. Hunting, in other words. This structure lets the game breathe and gives the player chance to explore the world's nooks and crannies. Players progress at their own pace, in whatever order they see fit, and the narrative develops with them. There are, of course, still monsters to be hunted. As in the previous games, this might mean crafting poisons or laying traps. It might also mean entering into the kind of combat made popular by the Batman: Arkham games, which is all about timing and fluidly stringing together counter moves and combos. The Witcher III offers players a dark, morally ambiguous tale full of tough decisions and even tougher confrontations.
£43.73 Buy Now
