When Battlefield 1’s embargo lifted on Monday we struggled to find a single review with a score less than 8/10. Three days on, we’re still struggling. Even the user reviews on the likes of Metacritic are incredibly positive.
Having said all this, most critics have settled on an 8 – we’ve only seen a few 9s and just one 10/10. That was dished out by God is a Geek. “I’ve seen some phenomenal games on the current gen, but nothing quite as spectacular as this” their reviewer claimed.
If you favour futuristic shooters instead, remember that Titanfall 2 is out next week. Two AAA online shooters from EA launching a week apart. We really hope they know what they’re doing – many believe the original Titanfall was sent out to die due to being Xbox only. We’d hate to see the series fall by the wayside a second time.
Following on from last week’s Batman VR, the caped crusader puts in another appearance in the form of Batman: Return to Arkham. IGN has confirmed what many feared – it’s a bit of a pointless remaster, offering little more than a resolution bump. The shift from Unreal 3 to Unreal 4 has apparently resulted in textures being far brighter than before, which has had a knock-on effect on the game’s atmosphere.
“The original Arkham games were dark for two reasons: one, because deep blacks add to the atmosphere and two, to disguise the graphical shortcomings of 2009-era consoles. Here, every PS3 plant, rock and puddle of water is thrown into stark relief, and as a result Gotham often feels quite blocky and theme park-esque, which breaks the romantic illusion†said IGN, before dishing out a 7.0.
VG24/7 felt the same way. “The image overall looks less grimy, for sure, but loosing this grain gives the game a different atmosphere,†they noted during a comparison breakdown.
The PS4-exclusive LEGO Harry Potter Collection is another big hitter arriving this week. We have a feeling that it’ll prove to be a slow but steady seller this fall.
3DS owners have two new titles to consider – Rhythm Paradise Megamix and a physical release of the critically acclaimed Shantae And The Pirates Curse, via Rising Star. Reviews of Rhythm Paradise have been popping up the past few days, including 7/10s from both God is a Geek and N-Europe. The original Rhythm Paradise hit the bargain bin quicker than a Christmas music CD come January. With some heavy promotion on social networking sites, Megamix will hopefully fare better.
Over on PS Vita meanwhile there’s Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls. You won’t find the likes of Virtua Fighter’s Sarah Bryant and Space Channel 5’s Ulala in this JRPG crossover – the Sega Hard Girls are anime stars named after Sega’s past consoles. One even has a Dreamcast controller stuck to her forehead. PlayStation Lifestyle’s review went up earlier today. “While Superdimension Neptune VS SEGA Hard Girls isn’t afraid to try something new, it also feels familiarly like a Neptunia game for better or for worse†they said.
A couple of JRPGs head to PSN, too. Exist Archive: The Other Side of the Sky is out now on PS4 and PS Vita with a PS Plus discount in place – £39.99 on PS4, and £26.39 on PS Vita. Sadly, it doesn’t appear to offer cross-buy support. The same goes for NIS America’s Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters: Daybreak Special Gigs on PS3 (£15.99) and PS Vita (£14.99). This graphic novel features an intriguing strategic streak.
If you prefer your RPGs to originate from the west, then you’re in luck – Mordheim: City of the Damned launched today. It’s an adaptation of Games Workshop’s cult classic tabletop game Mordheim. Reviews are starting to trickle through now, with scores including 4/5 from The Escapist. “Warhammer Fantasy fans will enjoy it for sure, X-COM enthusiasts will find the squad based tactics familiar, and maybe even those who like Valkyria Chronicles will find something to love†was their verdict. We’re surprised it isn’t getting a physical release as it’s arriving at the around the £30 mark.
Both PS4 and Xbox One also get two Team 17 indie bundles, Super Pang clone The Bug Butcher, the five-game strong Jackbox Party Pack 3 and Hopiko – a pixel art action game requiring an acute sense of timing and fast reflexes.
The PS4 also gets the PSVR compatible Pixel Gear, while the DLC-packed The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II: Extended Edition hits Xbox One for £15.99. Not too shabby.
Next week: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (PS4/Xbox One/PC), World of Final Fantasy (PS4/PS Vita), Titanfall 2 (PS4/Xbox One/PC), Dragonball Xenoverse 2 (PS4/Xbox One), Just Dance 2017 (Multi), Minecraft Story Mode Complete Adventure (Multi), Root Letter (PS4/PS Vita), Mark McMorris Infinite Air (PS4/Xbox One), Earth’s Dawn (PS4), Monster Jam – Crush It (PS4/Xbox One), Big Buck Hunter Arcade (PS4/Xbox One), Farming Simulator 17 (PS4/Xbox One), Tethered (PS4) and ClusterTruck (Xbox One – trial available now).