The Week Ahead, Jan 22, 2018

January 22 – January 28

Section: 

IMAGE(https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/files/pictures/picture-111141-1451674409.png)   Dyni

The influence of Monster Hunter in Japan is difficult to overstate. It single-handedly kept the PSP afloat against the 3DS and has been rivaled in sales only by juggernauts like Pokémon and Dragon Quest. The Monster Hunter series is praised for its meaty combat, hugely varied weapon classes, and supremely satisfying player progression systems. Despite all this, Monster Hunter is notorious for being unwelcoming to new players, so it has struggled to achieve anything more than modest success abroad. Sparse tutorials, dull early fetch quests, exclusivity to handheld platforms, and a virtual necessity to consult resources outside of the game have relegated Monster Hunter to “I don’t have time for that sh*t” status for most western audiences.

Capcom is finally looking to change that stigma with Monster Hunter World. 4k visuals and dual-analog controls are in place to entice the anti-handheld crowd, while full voice acting and a 60-hour campaign will offer something for the story-hungry solo adventurer. World is filled with in-game tutorials to introduce new systems and quality-of-life changes to modernize old ones. The game’s director, Ryozo Tsujimoto, has been insistent that the core DNA of World has not been compromised in pursuit of broader appeal. Instead, it will onboard new players with better tutorials and a smoother transition into the deeper Monster Hunter experience.

If the three beta weekends have been any indication, Monster Hunter World might finally be the one! This is where Monster Hunter finally breaks through in the west!

Or maybe none of these sweeping changes will matter at all. Maybe it’ll struggle to sell a million copies and fade into obscurity two weeks after launch. I guess we’ll find out soon. Either way, come Friday, you can find me beating a monster with a bagpipe and using its fur to make some stylish leggings.

IMAGE(https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/files/pictures/picture-111373-1511547841.jpg)   Chris "C" Cesarano

I think it's about time I be honest with myself and confess that an indie game's visual style is going to be the first step in its appeal to me. Most artistic or modern minimalist designs get a shrug from me, but that gorgeous Super Nintendo-style sprite art has me howling like that perverted wolf in all the old cartoons. Couple that with some gorgeous hand-drawn animation, and I'm interested in your game regardless of genre.

So it's a good thing Iconoclasts is a descendant of the Metroid franchise, because it had my heart at frame one. I've intentionally avoided watching more than the trailer to preserve what surprise I can. It has tricky platforming combined with melee-action, contending to be this year's Hollow Knight. Only instead of a dour and somber Dark Souls (take a drink) mood, Iconoclasts smacks a vibrant wrench of color and bombast into your face.

Best of all, it's releasing on Nintendo Switch! I excitedly pick Iconoclasts as my Game of the Week.

IMAGE(https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/files/pictures/pictures/picture-5877.jpg)   Greg “DoubtingThomas396” Decker

I grew to love the Monster Hunter series on the 3DS, and quite frankly I can’t imagine playing it on anything but a portable system. It’s a game that needs a suspend mode so that I can play it for as long as I want to when I want to. So for me, the release of Monster Hunter World is really just a craw-sticking reminder that Nintendo isn’t releasing a proper Monster Hunter game on the Switch in North America. I’m very happy for all of the people who want to see what a rathalos looks like in 4K, but that isn’t how I want to play the game.

Fortunately, there’s other interesting stuff out there to look at this week. Iconoclasts is a “platform adventure” game about an unlicensed mechanic flouting shop rules to ply her trade and help people. She’ll do that by solving puzzles and jumping on things. Sounds like a winner to me, but it’s already gotten props this week, so let’s move on.

As a fan of Viscera Cleanup Detail and also a great connoisseur of puns, Critical Mess immediately captures my attention. Sure, all you do is shovel trash down a hole with a literal shovel, but that can be cathartic in its own right. Still, a silly pun and a premise that sounds terrible on paper may get me to buy a game, but not to pick it as my game of the week.

No, to get my game of the week, you have to flatter my nerd cred. Tesla Vs Lovecraft does just that. You play as the eccentric visionary as he dons a custom-built electrical mech suit to do battle with betentacled abominations from the cephalopodic imagination of H.P. Lovecraft. Sure, it’s a dual-stick shooter, but it’s a dual-stick shooter by the people who made Crimsonland, and the premise seizes the imagination of this electrical engineer by both lips. Tesla Vs Lovecraft wins my nod for game of the week in a walk.

IMAGE(https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/files/pictures/pictures/picture-13445.jpg)   Felix “They see me dodge-rollin” Threepaper

The more I read about Monster Hunter: World, the more I realise that Horizon: Zero Dawn is Baby’s First Monster Hunter. Given that I’ve been enjoying the HADES out of Horizon: Zero Dawn, I may finally be ready to appreciate Monster Hunter: World, after bouncing off of previous titles. Dyni gives a good recommendation.

If you love the idea of hunting, but balk at having to hunt more than one type of creature, there’s Wild Turkey Hunter. Otherwise, there’s DLC for Assassin’s Creed: Origins – real DLC that stays on your hard drive, not some timed-event thingy. It’s on my “Later” pile.

I’m kinda surprised Doubtingthomas396 isn’t excited about Railway Empire. The Tropico devs have made the first big railway-construction sim since Sid Meier’s Railroads! way back in aught-six. It’s set in the US during its railway-building years and on top of trying to out-tycoon your competitors, it has a feature where you can just sit in one of your trains and enjoy the ride.

And then there’s The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human, which is kinda like those hipster cafés with pretentiously long names, but the coffee is still pretty good. The marine atmosphere is all serene and beautiful, until it isn’t because of a boss fight. Think “underwater Shadow of the Colossus”. My GOTW.

Here's the list, now in release-date order!
PC

  • 01-22
  • Ancient Future
  • Animals Memory: Underwater Kingdom
  • Asura Valley
  • Bikour!
  • Critical Mess
  • Dad's co-worker
  • Hero Plus
  • Impossibox
  • Instant Death
  • King Battle
  • Lopp
  • Mountain Troll
  • Mumps
  • Panacea: Last Will
  • Papich: The Game Ep.1
  • Rapid Tap
  • Ripped Pants at Work
  • Sniper training camp
  • Space Rocket
  • The Red Strings Club
  • Yuzi Lims: anime runner
  • 01-23
  • AltCoin
  • Assassin's Creed Origins: The Hidden Ones
  • Ballz: Farm
  • Bug Invaders
  • Chilie Peppers
  • Copierre
  • Crazy Pirate
  • Endlessness
  • Guinea-Pig
  • Hiro's Forest Rumble
  • Iconoclasts
  • Lost Sphear
  • Midnight Quest
  • Missing Road
  • My Time At Portia
  • Nostradamus: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
  • OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes
  • One Night On The Road
  • Season's Beatings
  • SOS
  • Staxel
  • Steel Eagle
  • Super Slime Arena
  • Tile Typer
  • Unveloped
  • Wangan Warrior X
  • 01-24
  • Achievement Lurker: We Give Up!
  • Alan: Rift Breakers
  • Close Your Eyes: Anniversary Remake
  • Delete
  • Infinity Escape
  • Jambo
  • Kakusankibou
  • Kensho
  • LOA: Me And Angel
  • Lowpoly Hero
  • Night Fly
  • Please close the doors
  • Stratego Multiplayer
  • The Great One Hand Challenge
  • Trivia Vault: Health Trivia Deluxe
  • TSUKUMOHIME
  • Unstoppable Hamster
  • Wildlife Park Gold Remastered
  • Yoltrund
  • Zwei: The Arges Adventure
  • 01-25
  • Abstractism
  • Aim Trainer Pro
  • Bitcoin highway
  • Car Puzzler
  • Celeste
  • Defend the planet
  • Dust and Salt
  • Endless Space 2: Vaulters
  • Floresia I: Intemporel
  • Gimbal Gravity
  • Harsh
  • Little Adventurer III
  • Luvocious
  • Murazu
  • Puzzle With Your Friends
  • Scary new year
  • Shalnor Legends: Sacred Lands
  • Tank 51
  • Tavern Table Tactics
  • The Mind's Eclipse
  • Trials of The Illuminati: Assorted Jigsaws
  • Zombie Derby 2
  • Zomby Soldier
  • 01-26
  • Achievement Clicker 2018
  • Angelo Skate Away
  • Animals Memory: Insect
  • Clumsy Knights: Threats of Dragon
  • Creatio Ex Nihilo: Aition
  • Cyberpunk Arena
  • Dragon Ball FighterZ
  • Hill Quest
  • Hollow Throne
  • Kicking Kittens: Putin Saves The World
  • Later On
  • Light of the Mountain
  • My Life as a Maiden
  • Opus 1: Social Justice War
  • Polyventure
  • Psychedelic platformer
  • Puke Simulator
  • Railway Empire
  • Soul for two
  • Survival Space: Unlimited Shooting
  • Tesla vs Lovecraft
  • The Apartment
  • Tunnels of Despair
  • ULTIMATE ARENA: SHOWDOWN
  • Ultimate Spider Hero
  • Walhall
  • YumeCore
  • 01-27
  • Squares

PS4

  • 01-23
  • Assassin's Creed Origins: The Hidden Ones
  • Iconoclasts
  • Lost Sphear
  • OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes
  • The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human
  • The Inpatient
  • Wild Turkey Hunter
  • 01-25
  • Celeste
  • Laws of Machine
  • 01-26
  • Dragon Ball FighterZ
  • Monster Hunter: World
  • Railway Empire

PSVR

Xbox One

  • 01-23
  • Assassin's Creed Origins: The Hidden Ones
  • Dragon Ball FighterZ
  • OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes
  • 01-26
  • Celeste
  • Monster Hunter: World
  • Railway Empire

Switch

  • 01-23
  • ChromaGun
  • Dustoff Heli Rescue 2
  • Lost Sphear
  • Shu
  • Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
  • 01-25
  • ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun
  • Celeste
  • Pic-a-Pix Deluxe: Large Puzzles 1
  • Pic-a-Pix Deluxe: Mixed Puzzles 1
  • Pic-a-Pix Deluxe: Small Puzzles 1

Wii U

PS3

Xbox 360

3DS

  • 01-26
  • Pokemon Crystal Vision

Vita

  • 01-23
  • Iconoclasts

RIFT

  • 01-22
  • Fat Foods
  • Nemesis Realms
  • Overduty VR: Battle Royale
  • 01-25
  • Clark HOOVA VR
  • Guns&Notes
  • TURRET SYNDROME
  • 01-26
  • Battle for Mountain Throne

Vive

  • 01-22
  • Nemesis Realms
  • Overduty VR: Battle Royale
  • The Scent of Summer
  • 01-23
  • Realshot
  • 01-24
  • Puzzle of Santa Girl VR
  • Sensual VR
  • 01-25
  • Guns&Notes
  • The Beanstalk
  • 01-26
  • Battle for Mountain Throne
  • Fruit Attacks VR

Comments

I'm really looking forward to 01-23! I hope it follows up nicely on the promising gameplay tweaks of 01-22 (which is also releasing this week on platforms it previously skipped). I'm a little concerned that the newer, shinier graphics of 01-23 have compromised the spot-on indie aesthetic of its predecessors, but visuals aren't everything. For the tight controls, uncompromising sense of purpose, and dedicated mindf*ck the series is known for, 01-23 is my game of the week.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I'm really looking forward to 01-23! I hope it follows up nicely on the promising gameplay tweaks of 01-22 (which is also releasing this week on platforms it previously skipped). I'm a little concerned that the newer, shinier graphics of 01-23 have compromised the spot-on indie aesthetic of its predecessors, but visuals aren't everything. For the tight controls, uncompromising sense of purpose, and dedicated mindf*ck the series is known for, 01-23 is my game of the week.

ISWYDT

Felix Threepaper wrote:

ISWYDT :)

WYSIWYG.

Celeste is releasing on several platforms this week. It appears to be a challenging 2D platforming adventure, make by the folks who did TowerFall. With 600 single screen challenges to face, it seems like a good fit for the Switch. You can try an early prototype here, but I imagine it will be easier with a controller.

I thought Red String Club is out today. I’m looking forward to more cyberpunk bar tending games.

Lost Sphear doesn't appear to be getting any traction anywhere. Sorry, S-E.

Tesla Vs Lovecraft looks like a proper sequel to Crimsonland and less Neon Chrome. Good!

Ah, it seems I forgot to mention my pick. Wild Turkey Hunter is my Game of the Week.

Felix Threepaper wrote:

The more I read about Monster Hunter: World, the more I realise that Horizon: Zero Dawn is Baby’s First Monster Hunter.

Ooh, now I'm really looking forward to LarryC schooling us in how to play!

garion333 wrote:

Lost Sphear doesn't appear to be getting any traction anywhere. Sorry, S-E.

My copy gets here Tuesday. That's my actual game of the week, 01-23 notwishstanding.

I dont see Iconclasts releasing on the Switch.. am I missing something..

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I'm really looking forward to 01-23! I hope it follows up nicely on the promising gameplay tweaks of 01-22 (which is also releasing this week on platforms it previously skipped). I'm a little concerned that the newer, shinier graphics of 01-23 have compromised the spot-on indie aesthetic of its predecessors, but visuals aren't everything. For the tight controls, uncompromising sense of purpose, and dedicated mindf*ck the series is known for, 01-23 is my game of the week.

Actually, 01-18 was the best of the 01 games.

TheGameguru wrote:

I dont see Iconclasts releasing on the Switch.. am I missing something..

No, I made an assumption and don't know where I got it. I could have sworn a Switch logo was attached to the trailer I saw but no where have I found evidence that the game gets a Switch release whatsoever.

So I'll probably buy it on PS4, then buy it again on Switch if it ports over.

I am disappointed in myself.

I saw the Iconoclasts trailer in the indie thread. There was a VITA logo at the end there, maybe you assumed it was the Nintendo 2.0?

Also - you nearly had me reaching for the Switch, I would have been v disappointed.

There's one release this week that I don't see on this list. It's a pretty big one for me, personally since I've been playing the Early Access version for years now and still love it to pieces.

Subnautica is leaving Early Access tonight at (or maybe shortly after) 6:15 PM west coast time.

https://unknownworlds.com/subnautica...

codesphere wrote:

There's one release this week that I don't see on this list. It's a pretty big one for me, personally since I've been playing the Early Access version for years now and still love it to pieces.

Subnautica is leaving Early Access tonight at (or maybe shortly after) 6:15 PM west coast time.

https://unknownworlds.com/subnautica...

I didn't even know what this was until seeing a few reviews and watching a trailer last night. It sounds quite interesting, and I'm seeing a lot of "best survival game ever" claims being thrown around. I'll probably pick it up later this year.

Dyni wrote:
codesphere wrote:

There's one release this week that I don't see on this list. It's a pretty big one for me, personally since I've been playing the Early Access version for years now and still love it to pieces.

Subnautica is leaving Early Access tonight at (or maybe shortly after) 6:15 PM west coast time.

https://unknownworlds.com/subnautica...

I didn't even know what this was until seeing a few reviews and watching a trailer last night. It sounds quite interesting, and I'm seeing a lot of "best survival game ever" claims being thrown around. I'll probably pick it up later this year.

It's what No Man's Sky wants to be, just underwater instead of in space.

The Tropico devs have made the first big railway-construction sim since Sid Meier’s Railroads! way back in aught-six. It’s set in the US during its railway-building years and on top of trying to out-tycoon your competitors, it has a feature where you can just sit in one of your trains and enjoy the ride.

The Tropico devs are Haemimont Games. Railway Empire was developed by Gaming Minds. Gaming Minds developed Grand Ages Medieval, Patrician IV +DLC , and Port Royale 3 all of which have only mixed ratings on Steam, and are criticized in reviews for being extremely shallow. They walked away from their most recent release, Grand Ages Medieval, leaving it unfinished, according to some players.

I would exercise caution with Railway Empire. I would *love* another great railroad economy game, but I really want to see it done right. The devil is in the details with these kinds of games.

BadKen wrote:
The Tropico devs have made the first big railway-construction sim since Sid Meier’s Railroads! way back in aught-six. It’s set in the US during its railway-building years and on top of trying to out-tycoon your competitors, it has a feature where you can just sit in one of your trains and enjoy the ride.

The Tropico devs are Haemimont Games. Railway Empire was developed by Gaming Minds. Gaming Minds developed Grand Ages Medieval, Patrician IV +DLC , and Port Royale 3 all of which have only mixed ratings on Steam, and are criticized in reviews for being extremely shallow. They walked away from their most recent release, Grand Ages Medieval, leaving it unfinished, according to some players.

I would exercise caution with Railway Empire. I would *love* another great railroad economy game, but I really want to see it done right. The devil is in the details with these kinds of games.

He was probably alluding to Kalypso being the publisher, which doesn't make things any better.

garion333 wrote:
BadKen wrote:
The Tropico devs have made the first big railway-construction sim since Sid Meier’s Railroads!

The Tropico devs are Haemimont Games.

He was probably alluding to Kalypso being the publisher, which doesn't make things any better.

It's surprising how often, year after year, people assume Kalypso is the developer of the Tropico series.

MeatMan wrote:
garion333 wrote:
BadKen wrote:
The Tropico devs have made the first big railway-construction sim since Sid Meier’s Railroads!

The Tropico devs are Haemimont Games.

He was probably alluding to Kalypso being the publisher, which doesn't make things any better.

It's surprising how often, year after year, people assume Kalypso is the developer of the Tropico series.

yup, my bad. I totally thought Kalypso was the dev and not the publisher. That also led me to assume that Railway Empire would be made to a similar standard to Tropico games.

Well, fortunately the reviews I've seen for Railway Empire have been pretty good, despite the forum griping. I'm still in wait-and-see mode, though. And I'm glad it was highlighted here, or I never would have known about it.

We wish it to be known that those responsible for fact checking have been sacked.