Before diving into this week’s assortment of new releases a recap is in order, as during Microsoft’s E3 conference last Sunday a trio of surprises appeared on the Xbox One store.
Both Supermarket Shriek – a comical supermarket-based crash and smash racer – and the voxel-generated co-op adventure Riverbond were added to Game Pass, while State of Decay 2: Heartland is the first major story-based add-on for the zombie survival shooter, taking place in the town from the original game. Game Pass subscribers can get it for free. It’s £8.39 otherwise.
It’s the Xbox One that sees the most releases this week, incidentally. Thursday sees the arrival of Forza Horizon 4: LEGO Speed Champions (£14.39 with Game Pass, £15.99 otherwise), which invites players to construct a Master Builder’s House and fill the garage with LEGO Speed Champions cars. It’s a crossover which isn’t as daft as it seems – Forza Horizon 3 had a Hot Wheels add-on pack, after all.
Puzzle fans may want to check out the number based Hexologic, a 15 min trial of which is available. “For a puzzle-specific game, Hexologic isn’t half bad. The game’s short length and its lack of any real challenge will no doubt deter player favor, though, in the face of its decent pace, its accessibility, and its constant introduction of new mechanics, these flaws are somewhat bearable,†said The Xbox Tavern.
They also gave horror romp Hollow the review treatment. Sadly, it’s no better than the poorly received Switch iteration from March. “Hollow is such an ironically befitting title. This game is empty, dull, and devoid of any quality on any level. Further to that, the game is chock-full of bugs, lazy design choices, and technical drawbacks,†they said before handing out a miserable 2/10.
The Xbox Hub took top-down shooter 2URVIVE for a spin, meanwhile, and found it to be pretty decent. “Considering the super cheap price, there’s no reason not to at least give this one a shot,†was their verdict.
Over on the Switch and PS4 there’s Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Don’t Dry, which gains a digital release a week ahead of its retail release. Don’t be quick to judge – the PC version went down a treat, gaining “very positive†reviews on Steam. It sees a clueless Larry flung from the ‘80s to the present, struggling to understand the modern dating scene. Cue plenty of jokes surrounding social media and dating apps.
The Switch also gets THQ Nordic’s Battle Worlds: Kronos, a surprisingly hardcore hex-based RTS influenced by the PC classic Battle Isle. Don’t go into this one expecting a casual affair – it’s extremely demanding. “While ultimately less accessible than the likes of Wargroove (which taps into that Nintendo-centric DNA of Advance Wars far better), Battle Worlds: Kronos does a decent job of bringing a more complex and challenging take on turn-based hex strategy,†said Nintendo Life.
After a last-minute delay, arcade adventure Toki is finally with us, available for £15.99 on PSN. Faux retro shooter Horizon Shift ’81 is also worth a look, being as hyperactive as they come. There’s also the JRPG Dragon Star Varnir to consider – you’ll find a trio of reviews below.
Update: Konami’s Contra Anniversary Collection has stealth launched on all three platforms, presumably in celebration of a brand spanking new Contra for Switch. This collection includes Contra (Arcade), Super Contra, Contra (NA), Contra (JP), Super C, Contra III: The Alien Wars, Operation C, Contra Hard Corps, Super Probotector Alien Rebels, and Probotector. Nice to see some regional exclusives available from the outset.
New release showcase:
Dragon Star Varnir
Reviews:
8.1 – VideoChums: Dragon Star Varnir does what few JRPGs do as it features in-depth party customization as well as a delightful cast of characters. Factor in a boatload of additional content to master and you’re left with a must-have RPG.
8/10 – GameGrin: It’s anime based characters appearance, and the game’s overall look, are par for the course when it comes to games by Compile Heart and Idea Factory. Scratch the surface, however, and you’ll find a gem of a game that’s both enjoyable in terms of story and gameplay.
79% – RPG Fan: While it still maintains some of the annoying quirks of past Compile Heart titles, Dragon Star Varnir is worth playing for its fantastic battle system and likeable characters.
New digital multi-format releases:
- Borderlands 2: Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary
- Contra Anniversary Collection
New on PSN:
- Dragon Star Varnir
- Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Don’t Dry
- Toki
- The House in Fata Morgana
- Queen’s Quest 3: The End of Dawn
- Horizon Shift ’81
New on Xbox One store:
- Forza Horizon 4: LEGO Speed Champions
- State of Decay 2: Heartland
- Verlet Swing
- Adventures of Bertram Fiddle: Episode 2: A Bleaker Predicklement
- Supermarket Shriek
- Riverbond
- Hexologic
- Doodle God: Evolution
- 2URVIVE
New Nintendo retail releases:
- Battle Worlds: Kronos
Next week: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, We. The Revolution, Mini-Mech Mayhem, Vacation Simulator, Luna, Mars Alive, Another Sight, Antiquia Lost, Captain Cat, Citizens of Space, Fort Boyard, Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story, and Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden on Switch.
