April 24 – April 30

Section: 

IMAGE(https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/files/pictures/pictures/picture-5877.jpg)   Greg "Doubtingthomas396" Decker

Goodness gracious, me oh my! What a bounty lays before us this week. The old new release of Mario Kart on the Switch, the release of Little Nightmares everywhere but the Switch and the stealth release of Syberia 3 on PC last week that wasn’t on any of the websites I check when I’m making the list (It releases everywhere else this week, so we’re still covered) – these are all on the block, looking for my GOTW award.

Any of the aforementioned games would make an excellent pick for me, and indeed I’m going to be getting the old new Switch release of Mario Kart, owing to the fact that my wife already bought herself a copy and promised I could try it once in awhile. Among the others, though, It’s hard to pick a favorite. They’re all so different from each other. It’s like trying to rank Tombstone, Shawshank Redemption and Super Mario Brothers, all of which are movies I love but none of which share enough common ground to be comparable in any meaningful sense. You might as well try to decide whether you prefer steak, ice cubes or hammers.

I think, then, the only option is to pick the one that is the most unique, and I think that title goes to Little Nightmares by default, if only because the other two are either sequels or remastered versions of sequels. Little Nightmares is a platformer/stealth/puzzle game in which you must escape childhood nightmares. And if you think that sounds light and whimsical, it means you’re too far removed from being a child to remember what your nightmares were like.

Little Nightmares gets my game of the week pick.

IMAGE(https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/files/pictures/picture-111373-1483294321.jpg)   Chris "C" Cesarano

It is a foregone conclusion that I will be purchasing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The only other game in the franchise I spent more time with was Mario Kart Double Dash!!, and largely because the All-Cup Tour was a great way to kill a lazy weekend morning when my college roommates were still asleep. I don't know why its sequels refuse to include such a mode, but the addition of battle mode and the Nintendo Switch's portability means I'll probably be spending more time than ever with the iconic Kart racer.

Still, I feel it's worth pinpointing the new hotness here in TWA, and for me the new hotness is What Remains of Edith Finch. Whether you call it walking-simulator, adventure game, a narrative adventure or any other number of possible genre titles, it is a genre that I rarely dabble in without a special je ne sais quoi on offer. Perhaps I'm drawn to the narrator's confession that her favorite stories of the Finch family end with someone dying. Such a statement is juxtaposed against footage that suggests neither horror nor thriller of the experience, which makes me all the more curious.

This week, I choose to discover What Remains of Edith Finch.

IMAGE(https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/files/pictures/pictures/picture-13445.jpg)   Felix “Fantasy … it gets the best of me” Threepaper

Is it just me, or has a sniper game been released every week so far this year? Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 takes the surprisingly successful AA Sniper: Ghost Warrior franchise open-world, for mixed results. These games have always punched above the weight of their critical reception, so it could be a fine popcorn game.

I may one day take an interest in Dragon Quest Heroes II, but right now, my kids aren’t even remotely done with Dragon Quest Builders, and I said no more new games until they clean their rooms and alphabetise their toys.

Do you want to sail the high seas just like in AC: Black Flag but without the din of cannonade, the chaos of boarding maneuvers, or the irritation of a rambunctious crew singing all those gorram shanties? Then have I got a game for you. Sailaway: The Sailing Simulator is just about the sailing, and although it enters Early Access this week, it already looks smooth. Crank up some Yacht Rock and let this game take you away to where you’ve always heard it could be.

IMAGE(https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/files/pictures/pictures/picture-1395.jpg)   Colleen “momgamer” Hannon
If you need a Japanese fix, this week has you covered in just about any flavor of game or story style you fancy.

Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol. 1 & 2 and Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness are three straight-up visual novels. Grisaia carries on with the classic trilogy started in Fruit of Grisaia. Psycho-Pass is another chapter in the story of a grim Minority Report-style future, where even thinking of a crime will get you the ultimate punishment, and is also related to the manga and anime of the same name.

Metal Waltz: Anime tank girls is a either a story-heavy RTS or a RPG with strategic elements, depending on how you approach it.

BlazBlue: Central Fiction is another entry in the nearly decade-old 2-D fighting game series.

As for me, later on I’ll be picking up Titanfall 2 and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III, but for this week I’ll be mowing the digital lawn in Dragon Quest Heroes II.

This week:

PC

  • Agatha Knife
  • ASTA Online
  • Battle Riders
  • BlazBlue: Central Fiction
  • Bonny's Adventure
  • Constructor
  • Crazy Veggies
  • Cublast HD
  • Cuit
  • de Blob
  • Don't cut your hand
  • Dragon Quest Heroes II
  • Earthfall
  • Expeditions: Viking
  • Gold Rush! 2
  • Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol.1
  • Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol.2
  • Higurashi When They Cry Kai: Chapter 5 - Meakashi
  • Immortal Redneck
  • Jidousha Shakai
  • Little Nightmares
  • Longshot Universe
  • Metal Waltz: Anime tank girls (Japanese Language Only)
  • One Dog Story
  • Outlast 2
  • Pinstripe
  • Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness
  • Ruin of the Reckless
  • Sailaway: The Sailing Simulator
  • Shoot Shoot Mega Pack
  • Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3
  • Super Red-Hot Hero
  • Tanzia
  • The Last Journey
  • The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series: A New Frontier: Thicker Than Water
  • Titanfall 2 – A Glitch in the Frontier
  • Under Leaves
  • Veil of Crows
  • Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III
  • What Remains of Edith Finch

PS4

  • ACA NeoGeo Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors
  • Constructor HD
  • Crossout
  • Deathstate
  • Dragon Quest Heroes II
  • Eventide: Slavic Fable
  • Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
  • Little Nightmares
  • Outlast 2
  • Outlast Trinity
  • Puyo Puyo Tetris
  • River City Melee: Battle Royale Special
  • Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3
  • Statik
  • Syberia 3
  • Symphony of the Machine
  • The Deer God
  • The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series: A New Frontier: Thicker Than Water
  • Titanfall 2 – A Glitch in the Frontier
  • Valhalla Hills: Definitive Edition
  • What Remains of Edith Finch
  • Zombeer

Xbox One

  • Little Nightmares
  • Outlast 2
  • Outlast Trinity
  • Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3
  • Syberia 3
  • The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series: A New Frontier: Thicker Than Water
  • Titanfall 2 – A Glitch in the Frontier
  • Valhalla Hills: Definitive Edition

Switch

  • Constructor
  • Kamiko
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
  • Puyo Puyo Tetris

Wii U

  • Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
  • Use Your Words

3DS

  • Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment

Vita

  • Period: Cube - Shackles of Amadeus
  • The Deer God
  • The Legend of the Dark Witch

RIFT

  • Batman: Arkham VR
  • Don't Get Hit In The Face
  • Range Day VR
  • Wilson's Heart

Vive

  • Batman: Arkham VR
  • Don't Get Hit In The Face
  • Elevator VR
  • Interkosmos
  • Range Day VR
  • Trapped With the Dolls VR
  • Viking Rage

Comments

Can't seem to escape Breath of the Wild, so nothing for me this week. Otherwise I'd have a hard time choosing between Mario Kart 8 DX and Puyo Puyo Tetris.

Doubtingthomas396 wrote:

the stealth release of Syberia 3 on PC last week that wasn’t on any of the websites I check when I’m making the list

Read more RPS

Shovel Knight: Spectre of Torment is also out on Wii U this week

The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series: A New Frontier: Thicker Than Water

Is that a new record for the number of colons in a game title?

Puyo Puyo Tetris!

Since I don't have a Switch atm I won't be battle mode-ing it up with everything in MK8, but I'm stoked to have a go at Puyo Puyo Tetris on PS4.

Chris "C" Cesarano wrote:

This week, I choose to discover What Remains of Edith Finch.

Yup.

This is my hot ticket for the week.

Real curious to see how this is received. It looks promising.

shoptroll wrote:

Read more RPS :-P

Do they maintain a weekly list, or do I have to compile it myself from all of their articles? If they have a list, I'll add it to my bookmarks.

I'll add it as soon as I can.

shoptroll wrote:
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series: A New Frontier: Thicker Than Water

Is that a new record for the number of colons in a game title?

There's a Surgeon Simulator joke buried in there somewhere, but I'm not sure I want to go looking for it.

Veil of Crows

I like this game's subtitle: Lords, Castles & Bastards

IMAGE(http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/601540/header.jpg)

MeatMan wrote:
Veil of Crows

I like this game's subtitle: Lords, Castles & Bastards

IMAGE(http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/601540/header.jpg)

There are worse places to draw inspiration from:

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/XtHX65Z.jpg?1)

garion333 wrote:

Puyo Puyo Tetris!

Since I don't have a Switch atm I won't be battle mode-ing it up with everything in MK8, but I'm stoked to have a go at Puyo Puyo Tetris on PS4.

Exactly for Puyo Puyo Tetris. I got the import version because I thought it wouldn't be out in English.

garion333 wrote:
MeatMan wrote:
Veil of Crows

I like this game's subtitle: Lords, Castles & Bastards

IMAGE(http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/601540/header.jpg)

There are worse places to draw inspiration from:

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/XtHX65Z.jpg?1)

IP theft? You know nothing, Bron Snew!

You know not enough to form an idea Bron Wet slush

IMAGE(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81-nLiSC3OL._AC_SX215_.jpg)

And

IMAGE(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/610a3DcyMpL._SX215_.jpg)

For me this week.

Can't wait for local multiplayer madness this weekend.

Puyo Puyo is definitely going to get a purchase in time. Just not quite yet.

...though I might be on a one or two month delay on purchases either way.

ccesarano wrote:

Puyo Puyo is definitely going to get a purchase in time. Just not quite yet.

...though I might be on a one or two month delay on purchases either way.

I'm day 1-ing it because I'm afraid that it will eventually be pulled because of all the weird Tetris licensing. I'm sure it's safe for at least a year. I'm just paranoid

Statik looks interesting - trying to bring Portal into the PSVR realm?

Symphony of the Machine looks like it could be a neat puzzler as well.

I am looking forward to playing Little Nightmares and Edith Finch, both titles got pretty great reviews.

I've had an on and off thing with BlazBlue for years. It's a series that deserves more widespread attention than it gets. The downside is that the system is fairly complex, but you get a lot in return: heavily offense-oriented fights with lots of action, plenty of space control options through anime airdash mechanics, a cool if nonsensical visual novel style single player story, a pile of radically different and interesting characters to play, and likely the best tutorial in all of fighting games.

Aaron D. wrote:
Chris "C" Cesarano wrote:

This week, I choose to discover What Remains of Edith Finch.

Yup.

This is my hot ticket for the week.

Real curious to see how this is received. It looks promising.

It's short (probably took me around 1 1/2 hours or so to finish) but it's REALLY interesting. Does some amazing stuff (mechanically and in it's narrative ) with the various short stories it tells in a magical realism style. I'll not say any more about them though because it's something you really need to go in blind and experience first hand. (Also, avoid the trailer - far too many potential spoilers).

pyxistyx wrote:
Aaron D. wrote:
Chris "C" Cesarano wrote:

This week, I choose to discover What Remains of Edith Finch.

Yup.

This is my hot ticket for the week.

Real curious to see how this is received. It looks promising.

It's short (probably took me around 1 1/2 hours or so to finish) but it's REALLY interesting. Does some amazing stuff (mechanically and in it's narrative ) with the various short stories it tells in a magical realism style. I'll not say any more about them though because it's something you really need to go in blind and experience first hand. (Also, avoid the trailer - far too many potential spoilers).

Yes, absolutely this. I just finished it tonight. The ingenuity in terms of storytelling is consistently surprising and varied, and there are countless little touches all over that bring the whole experience to life in unexpected ways. I loved it from start to finish. Easily my new favorite in the "walking simulator" category.