Out this week: Onrush, Vampyr, The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker, Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn, Happy Birthdays, more

While it’s questionable as to whether this week sees something new to please all and sundry, there’s still plenty to get your teeth into.

After a few false starts, Vampyr – from the creators of This is Strange – is now with us. This full-price RPG has gained reviews varying between 6/10 and 8/10, with limp combat and a few technical issues bogging it down. It’s good, certainly, but you may want to lower your expectations a tad.

Scrolling brawler Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn is another that has spent a spell in development limbo. Heck, we even recall the Wii U version being previewed in the Official Nintendo Magazine. No reviews are live yet, but in-game footage suggests it’s serviceable enough. However, one Steam user reports of a fleeting 2-hour runtime, so maybe bear that in mind before coughing up £15.99.

We’re still waiting on The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset reviews too. Given the scope and scale of the colossal MMO, we may be waiting some time.

Arcade racer Onrush seems to be going down well, gaining a fair few 8/10s. Critics do have concerns about its longevity though. Hopefully, Codemasters has a post-launch content battle plan.

The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker meanwhile is another intriguing FMV game from Wales Interactive, this time laden with Lovecraft references. We’ve rounded up scores below.

Then over on Switch there’s Happy Birthdays, a peculiar sandbox life simulator, and Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido…which could be one of 2018’s biggest surprise hits. We’ll take a closer look during this week’s eShop round-up.

With E3 about to get underway next week’s line-up is looking slim. Rest assured we’ll round-up the few bits and pieces hitting the digital stores. We’re hoping for a surprise release or two.

New release showcase:

Vampyr – PS4/XO/PC

Reviews:
8/10 – PSU: “The most important job Vampyr had to do was to present a compelling game about the tragic romanticism of being a vampire, and the fight for retaining humanity or embracing the unnatural power it brings. Vampyr does drop the ball on many small things, but it does that important job superbly”

7/10 – GameSpot: “Vampyr is certainly shaggy and rough in the technical department, but its narrative successes still make for an impactful and worthwhile experience”

6/10 – Destructoid: “The story may be a tad lackluster, and the combat may be clunky as hell, but Vampyr does offer a compelling adventure for those looking for some blood-sucking fun”

Onrush – PS4/XO/PC

Reviews:
8.0 – God is a Geek: “Onrush takes the team-based multiplayer of Overwatch and combines it with a blend of Motorstorm and Burnout, creating one of the most unique and fun arcade driving games of this generation”

8/10 – Destructoid: “Onrush could use some refinement when it comes to its modes but its core is strong, and the foundation is set for a great arcade racer. I’m anxious to see how it evolves and if people will really pick up on the class-based system enough to explore it past the first few weeks of launch, but for now I’m happy boosting off of a cliff and doing sweet flips on a motorcycle to earn points”

7/10 – Push Square: “This brash vehicular experience draws inspiration from several different areas of the industry, but it reassembles them into something unusual and entertaining. A great online infrastructure means you can be in and out of the action in seconds, but the package could do with a little more meat on its bones to fully justify its price tag”

The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker – PS4/XO/PC/Switch

Reviews:
8.5 – Gaming Trend: “The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker is a reinvention of full motion video for the current generation of games. Its quirky and troubled cast gives some spectacular performances, and the text-based elements make this adventure game an excellent way to get into the genre”

8.0 – God is a Geek: “The characters are interesting, and the psychological threads draw out the plot leaving you just as vulnerable as the patients your interviewing”

4/5 – Digitally Downloaded: “The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker’s hook, for me, remains the need to take over as a psychiatrist. It’s not as easy as sitting comfortably and saying things like, “and how does that make you feel?” As Doctor Dekker’s replacement you are toeing the line between your patients’ sanity and insanity, having to decipher clues in their personality or stories to gain insight into what to ask”

Happy Birthdays – Switch

Reviews:
7/10 – GameSpace: “Happy Birthday’s takes a simple idea, decorates itself with some adorable aesthetics, and somehow manages to weaves together a multitude of different genres. It is an enigmatic experience that can’t be categorized, and that is its appeal. If you want something different then this is definitely for you”

7/10 – God is a Geek: “If you enjoy sandbox games and want one that manages to add in quite a few mechanics and systems together, Happy Birthdays is a charming game”

6/10 – Nintendo Life: “Interesting, educational and pretty, but ultimately soulless and a little boring”

New digital multi-format releases:

The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset
Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn
Awkward
Aragami: Shadow Edition
Riddled Corpses EX
MotoGP 18
Milanoir
Shape of the World

New on PSN:

Cosmic Star Heroine
Football Nation VR Tournament 2018
NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION: Taishi Deluxe Edition with Bonus
ACA NEOGEO GHOST PILOTS
ACA NEOGEO Gururin
ACA NEOGEO NINJA COMBAT
ACA NEOGEO SAMURAI SHODOWN IV
Warface FF
Muv-Luv – PS Vita
Muv-Luv Alternative – PS Vita

New on Xbox One Store:

Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

New Nintendo retail releases:

Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido
Happy Birthdays
MotoGP 18
Shaq Fu A Legend Reborn

Next week: Jurassic World Evolution, Omega Strike, and Super Bomberman R Shiny Edition.

Matt Gander

Matt is Games Asylum's most prolific writer, having produced a non-stop stream of articles since 2001. A retro collector and bargain hunter, his knowledge has been found in the pages of tree-based publication Retro Gamer.

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