Greg “DoubtingThomas396” Decker
Raise your hand if you think Sony missed a huge marketing opportunity with not one, but two games by releasing in April instead of June.
I have never played a God of War game, and it's not likely to change my mind that they've made the game more like The Last of Us. (Bearded psychopath? Check. Useless projectile weapons? Check. Uncannily precocious youngster who will teach us about ourselves? Big Old Check.) But who knows? I didn’t think making Metal Gear Solid more like Minecraft would suck me in, and I ended up putting a full work week into MGSV before getting distracted by something shiny.
Speaking of things that everyone but me cares about, Nintendo’s cardboard experiment drops this week. I appreciate that they’re selling you the patterns, and not just the cardboard bits, because it makes the price point a little more easy to swallow if you know you can carve up an old refrigerator box to replace the Labo you spilled your juicebox on.
But looking at the list of games that were brave enough to go up against those two titans, I’m still seeing a few things worth adding to my wishlist. The one that perked my ears up the most was The Wranglers. The conceit is that you’re playing a haunted video game, cooperatively, with a mystery person you met in an online forum. I’m sure that will go well.
The Wranglers makes the usual boasts about player choice impacting the game and every playthrough will be blah blah blah, but what caught my attention is the game's complete disregard for the fourth wall. Apparently you can open a chat line to the ghost-hunting video gamer at any time to collaborate on solving the mysteries of the haunted game. I’m interested to see how that works. Interested enough that I’m willing to disregard the PS2-era graphics and pick it as my game of the week.
Chris "C" Cesarano
I seem to hold the unpopular opinion that Sony has stripped God of War of any individuality and stuffed it full with all the game systems that you can list on the back of the box, supposedly causing gamers to salivate. Or maybe I'm the odd one out, as skill trees don't automatically scream "engagement" to me. The press can sing this game's praises to the high heavens, but until some people whose tastes I trust very, very closely are positive on it, I'm gonna sit this one out.
This is where you expect me to nominate Nintendo Labo because that's just the sort of counter-culture word hurler I've become. The existence of it excites me, as it proves Nintendo gonna Nintendo. However, as I have no children with which to enjoy such arts and crafts, it's a bit ... not for me.
What is for me is Yakuza 6: Song of Life. I've seen enough of this game and heard enough praise from people I trust to know this franchise is for me. Someday, when both time and money are permitting.
Late night karaoke rhythm games and side-street brawling get my pick of the week.
Felix “OMGOW” Threepaper
Most weeks, I pick a game knowing full well that I will neither buy nor play it. I don’t have the time or money (or podcast) to be so zeitgeisty.
Not this week. This week I put my money where my mouth is. This week has the first full game of 2018 that I am actually, utterly, excited about.
God Of War.
God Of War is why I bought a PS4. It’s why I bought a PS3. It’s why I bought a PSP. When my wife asked me for original name ideas for our impending son, the only thing I could think of was “Kratos”. I was then barred from any further input.
I like what I’ve seen of the series’ new direction. This time we’re dealing with Norse mythology – I’ve been wanting Kratos to murder a different pantheon since GoW2. They’ve given Kratos a beard, a son and a new voice actor, which may reintroduce some nuance to him, 'cause he was getting tediously one-note there (just please, game: Don’t kill the boy).
While (to me) the story and character have always been the series’ weakpoints, I’ve always loved the gameplay itself, with its brawling, puzzling and rudimentary upgrade systems. Now the upgrades are skill-based. There’s crafting. Will it all hang together, adding depth to the game, or end up a bloated mess? Early critical signs are good.
I look forward to bruising my thumbs on combos all over again. Welcome back, Kratos.
Here's the list, now in release-date order!
PC
-
04-16
- Fairyland: Chronicle
- Galaxy Ball
- Helpless Zombies
- INFINITY CHALLENGE
- Last Anime Boy 2: Hentai Zombie Hell
- My Car
- Outrunner 2
- Pivross
- Pong like
- Rosette and Words
- S.P.I.C.E ARENA
- the untold story of hengshui school
- Top Punch
- What Are You Stupid
- Who Am I: The Tale of Dorothy
- Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA
-
04-17
- Basketball Classics
- Dark Ghost RPG
- DEATH FIELD: The Battle Royale of Disaster
- Dr. Pills
- Fasaria Legacy Collection
- Fishing Maniacs 1 TD
- Game of the forgotten Gods. Wake up
- Hex Gambit
- Legend Of LongNight
- Mortal Squad: Portal to Hell
- Mushroom Heroes
- On Board 4 PC
- Oscillatron: Alien Frequency
- Pinball FX3 - Star Wars: The Last Jedi
- Skat Stammtisch
- Star Swapper
- Techwars Deathmatch
- Tempest Citadel
- Trivia Vault: Tennis Trivia
- Try to seize me
-
04-18
- AGAIN PUT IN
- ASCII Achievement Mania: Space Shooter
- Baptize Billy
- Battle Ground Training
- Cheerleader: reverse side of life
- City Bus Simulator 2018
- Cube Life: Island Survival
- Dr. Cares: Amy's Pet Clinic
- Geeste
- HATCHICK
- Healer's Quest
- Horror Fish Simulator
- Kama Bullet Heritage 2
- Knight Bewitched
- Russian AYE Horror
- SOK IZI
- Starfighter General
- Supposedly Wonderful Future
- The New Girl
- Trash Story
- Zima uhodi!
-
04-19
- Bedlamball
- Blind Mind
- Dead Climb
- Doodle Date
- Draw It!
- Eon Fleet
- Fall Down
- FAST BEAT LOOP RACER GT
- Flurius
- Food From The Sky
- House Flipper
- Intelligence
- OS:Path
- Puzzle With Your Friends
- Space God
- Steampunk Tower 2
- The Eerie Inn
- The Platformer Gun
- Void Cube Runner
- Walls in Dead
- Watch Me Jump
- Zombie Serial Killer Incident
-
04-20
- 9 Balls
- Achievement Hunter: Knight
- Aesthetic Arena
- Ages of Mages : The last keeper
- American Railroads - Summit River & Pine Valley
- Atomic Heist
- BlindMaze
- BOOBS ON ISLAND
- Build Wars
- Champ Against Chumps Upgrade Edition
- City Escaper
- Croc's World Construction Kit
- Cube Zone
- Dead Tropics
- Dear Leader
- Desolation
- Dictator's dreams
- Dodge Show
- Edvog Explorer Game
- Fitness Simulator
- Free road
- Gummy Goo Clean Up
- Hard Way To Heaven
- Hummingz: Retro Arcade action revised
- NeoSticks
- pixelBOT EXTREME!
- Pixelpunk XL
- PUTIN, BOOBS and TRUMP
- Questery
- Space Pilgrim Academy: Year 2
- Spectrubes Infinity
- Star Boy
- TAD: That Alien Dude
- The Big Journey
- The Wranglers
- Wolf Tails
- Zombie Derby
-
04-21
- America's Retribution
- AngelShooter
- ANOIX
- Crucible Falls: Together Forever
- DeerHunterX
- My Safe House
- XXZ 2 Trial
-
04-22
- Trivia Vault: Soccer Trivia
PS4
-
04-17
- Casey Powell Lacrosse 18
- Don't Starve: Mega Pack
- Gunhouse
- Pinball FX3 - Star Wars: The Last Jedi
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
-
04-20
- Assetto Corsa: Ultimate Edition
- Drive on Moscow
- God of War
- Phantom Trigger
- Slyde
Xbox One
-
04-17
- Casey Powell Lacrosse 18
- Don't Starve: Mega Pack
- Pinball FX3 - Star Wars: The Last Jedi
-
04-20
- Assetto Corsa: Ultimate Edition
- Atomic Heist
Switch
-
04-17
- It's Spring Again
- Wild Guns Reloaded
-
04-19
- ACA NeoGeo: Real Bout Fatal Fury Special
- BAFL: Brakes Are For Losers
- Manticore: Galaxy on Fire
- Neo Atlas 1469
-
04-20
- Nintendo Labo: Toycon 01 Variety Kit
- Nintendo Labo: Toycon 02 Robot Kit
- The Way Remastered
-
04-21
- Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Gate of Doom
RIFT
-
04-16
- Fying Aces: Navy Pilot Simulator
- Rockochet
-
04-17
- Guard of Wonderland VR
- Kolb Antarctica Experience
-
04-19
- Show Me What You Got
-
04-20
- Supermarket VR and mini-games
Vive
-
04-16
- Fying Aces: Navy Pilot Simulator
- Infinite Vector
- Rockochet
-
04-17
- Guard of Wonderland VR
- Kolb Antarctica Experience
-
04-18
- HATCHICK
-
04-19
- Show Me What You Got
-
04-20
- Supermarket VR and mini-games
Comments
My first day one purchase of the year, I’ll be picking up my preorder of Yakuza 6 tomorrow. I’ve played 3, 4 and 5 over the last three years at a pace of one per year, so I feel kind of like the final season of a tv show is about to arrive. (Given the drama and cut scenes, that’s probably not far off).
I'm stoked for Yakuza though won't be playing it anytime soon. I swear I'll finish 5 and Zero!
BTW, the dates are wrong on the top of the post.
How did I live before digital distribution of old, cheap games?
MilkmanDanimal wrote:You did live before digital distribution of old, cheap games. Now you just play games.
Thanks. Fixed!
Jonman Wrote:
Yes, you can cancel Darksiders, but only by using your Sony Golds. Which, while pretty good, aren't a patch on Zelda.
I'm A Steam Curator!
I decided to wait on Zero. I figured after 6 I can go back to Zero then Kiwami 1 & 2. I only watched Let’s Plays of the PS2 1 & 2 before playing 3 because the remakes weren’t a thing at the time (neither was Zero for that matter).
I don't recommend anyone play 6 without the prior games, but EVERYONE can play Zero because it's the wackiest of em all.
How did I live before digital distribution of old, cheap games?
MilkmanDanimal wrote:You did live before digital distribution of old, cheap games. Now you just play games.
For sure! It just worked out such for me that I didn’t want to try to squeeze in Zero and be burnt out for 6.
Ahh, good old GWJ...
Every site that reviews things with numbers: GOD OF WAR! 10/10
Every site that doesn't review things with numbers: GOD OF WAR! OMGWTFBBQ!
2/3 of Gamers with Jobs Week Ahead writers: God of War? meh.
It's so nice to have actual humans writing about games.
When people have lied to themselves for that long, the truth feels like an attack.
—from Frostbitten by trichy
We ain't got time for the hype.
Put in business speak: The "Get hype!" task has been deprioritized.
Words... are a big deal.
Jill Lapore wrote:Editing is one of the great inventions of civilization.
I listen to all my gaming podcast on a week delay just to keep my distance from the zeitgeist.
Jonman Wrote:
Yes, you can cancel Darksiders, but only by using your Sony Golds. Which, while pretty good, aren't a patch on Zelda.
I'm A Steam Curator!