Thanks for studying Infinite Lives this 12 months. That is my final version for 2024, I’ll be taking a break — utilizing the time to play my new Steam Deck — and be again in late January, 2025. Catch you within the New 12 months!
Lastly, a PlayStation 3D platformer that rivals Mario. I even went as far the opposite day as to say that it’s higher than Tremendous Mario Odyssey — a declare I rapidly needed to defend.
However Astro Bot is truthfully simply pleasure incarnate. It’s a breeze to play, extremely enjoyable and a refreshing contact in what was a 12 months of very dense, very lengthy, role-playing video games. The very best bit: It’s child pleasant, however for those who’re a mother or father you’ll be combating your youngster for a flip with the controller.
It’s a recreation I’d very a lot recommend to any and all mother and father who ask.
Loads of my mates have gone again and earned that coveted Platinum trophy, doing each stage on provide and unlocking every thing within the recreation.
That, by itself, speaks to the standard of this recreation. It’s additionally nonetheless rising — they only launched a free, very joyful Christmas stage. Each time I go surfing to take one other unimaginable screenshot for this text, there’s one thing new for me to find.
Look, I’m not getting any level for originality right here, given this received Recreation of The 12 months. However does it deserve it? Completely.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
In a 12 months full of wonderful role-playing video games that is the one which stood out. Why? Not solely was it the shortest of all of the RPGs that I performed, it was probably the most narratively advanced. And in a 12 months outlined by one of many biggest democratic contests in historical past (the most recent US Election) enjoying a recreation about democracy by some means felt well timed and related.
Past this, Metaphor pushed RPGs into new floor. It revered gamers’ time with mechanics that prevented random battles and time sinks — bettering drastically on the unique Persona gameplay formulation. It minimised grind (a core a part of lot of RPG video games) and maximised enjoyment because of this. A pattern I hope will proceed effectively into 2025 and past.
Silent Hill 2 remake
Regardless of being a survival horror buff, I by no means performed the unique Silent Hill 2. Now I’m questioning why I slept on it, because of this remake. It smooths a few of the tough edges of the unique whereas sustaining its integrity. The stress and intrigue this recreation generates sees it stand out on this record.
I had many a late night time enjoying it simply eager to see what occurred subsequent. Even when it meant braving a darkish run-down hospital or jail filled with monsters. What takes it excessive is the unimaginable voice performing. The performances on this recreation are fascinating and lifelike, serving to the sport grapple with its core themes of psychological well being, grief and sacrifice. I’d argue it does this extremely effectively in comparison with loads of different media — together with movie and books.
My solely strike in opposition to it: There’s components of the sport which are approach too darkish on the display. They’re not scary, simply irritating.
But it surely’s a small gripe for a recreation whose important success will convey the way forward for survival horror style again to its roots.
Honourable mentions:
CONSCRIPT
Setting a survival horror recreation throughout World Warfare I, what a stroke of genius. Constructing off that one thought, Australian solo-developer Jordan Mochi created a title that not solely uncovered the horrors of conflict, however redefined what a survival horror recreation may really be.
Evaluating Silent Hill 2 remake to CONSCRIPT is fraught. Each are improbable in their very own proper and really completely different. What it got here all the way down to for me, was stage design.
It was typically a bit simpler to determine the place to go in Silent Hill 2 Remake than CONSCRIPT, and the checkpoint system led to some frustration because of this.
However for an Australian solo developer to just about pip a recreation made by a whole bunch completely blows my thoughts.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
This induced loads of controversy this 12 months.
Can downloadable content material win recreation of the 12 months? It didn’t ultimately.
The truth is, it didn’t win a lot in any respect with regard to awards regardless of scoring loads of nominations. At its core, Shadow of the Erdtree is extra Elden Ring, and that’s all it must be.
I solely marked it down as a result of it was so exhausting to initially entry the brand new content material (you needed to beat sure late-game bosses and for those who began a new-game plus, that’s really powerful). Additionally, its remaining boss was impossibly powerful. Some name this a function, I name it a frustration. And I really feel vindicated, a later patch toned down its problem.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
I can’t assist however suppose that timing performed a key position in Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s relative obscurity this 12 months.
It missed out on loads of awards and recognition and by the point I used to be enjoying it, I had overwhelmed a number of different drawn-out RPGs this 12 months.
It didn’t assist that it’s a sluggish burn, taking at the very least a dozen hours to get to some extent the place you respect the characters and the fight design. However as soon as the title is in full flight, it’s up there with a few of the different RPGs on this record, surpassing them in some regards too.
A worthy summer time recreation, it’s effectively price a glance for those who missed it when it got here out in October.
Supplied you’re taking a while with it, the plot and ending of Veilguard hit some unimaginable excessive notes that make the journey all of the extra worthwhile.
Closing Fantasy VII: Rebirth
That is a kind of video games that appeared like a shoo-in earlier within the 12 months. However then, because the 12 months progressed, it fell into the rear view mirror as newer extra thrilling titles stole its limelight.
I loved my 100+ hours with Rebirth, however boy did it transfer slowly. Regardless of hinting that the sport would change from right here on out on the ending of the final title, it caught relatively tightly to the script.
Like most gamers, I needed to know what occurred to Aerith on the finish of the sport, and once I lastly bought there, I used to be considerably let down? I received’t spoil it right here, however to spend the equal of three days price of gameplay increase a query after which to dissolve it with an open-ended esoteric reply felt like considerably of a letdown.
I want it picked a lane, and perhaps bought to the punchline a bit sooner. Extra deviation from the unique plot would have been appreciated too.
Sure I’m a Closing Fantasy VII fan, however you spent the ending of the final recreation revealing to participant that you’re breaking the mould. However then considerably caught to it? Classes for the third and remaining recreation within the trilogy.
What I wish to play however didn’t have time:
Black Fable Wukong: I’ve now come again to Black Fable Wukong, after bouncing off it per week from when it launched. It’s had some improbable high quality of life updates since then, akin to a map that can assist you observe the place you might be within the stage and a a lot simpler fast-travel system.
There’s additionally extra explainer movies now, serving to educate the lots on easy methods to successfully play this new Souls-like. I’m having fun with my time with it because of this and can probably write it up in additional element within the New 12 months.
Star Wars: Outlaws: Regardless of middling launch critiques, apparently this recreation has been improved by quite a lot of patches. Is that this one other Cyberpunk 2077 scenario?
Tactical Breach Wizards: I’m an enormous XCOM fan, holding out (probably eternally) for XCOM 3. However for now, that is giving me XCOM vibes. The sport’s setting, a world through which police wield magic — sounds superior. Summer season is a good time to dig into dense turn-based technique video games.
The Plucky Squire: I solely lately realized, by way of an article on Aftermath, no much less, that this was an Australian recreation. That’s tipped me over the sting for giving it a go, and I purpose to take action over the vacation break.
- Harrison Polites writes the Infinite Lives publication. Comply with him right here.
