This Week In Games: Press X To Hack

This week will be all about two big games. There are some interesting smaller ones, but let’s face it. Most of you want to finally get into some Watch Dogs, and Wii U owners will be rejoicing with a new game. And not just any new game. A MarioKart. Minor spoiler: I think the solution to some of the problems in Watch Dogs might be hacking.

Watch Dogs (PC, PS3, PS4, 360, Xbone, Wii U)

What is it? Open world game in a futuristic setting where everything is surveilled and controlled. Big Brother is watching, but you have the ability to hack into it all.
Should you care? It’s easy to see the extrapolation from modern day surveillance scandals, which is very interesting, but I do worry about the gameplay. It’ll need more than “Press X to hack” if it wants to avoid disappointment of the same variety as the first Assassin’s Creed, the trailer of which made it seem like anything was possible.

MarioKart 8 (Wii U)

What is it? That’s a silly question. You’re silly. It’s MarioKart, with bikes and hovercars and graphics.
Should you care? If you own a Wii U, yes. But if you own a Wii U, you knew this moment was coming.

Final Fantasy III (PC)

What is it? The Steam re-release.
Should you care? I think so, but that’s me. Even if you aren’t a fan, it can be fun to use these re-releases to self-educate on the classics.

ibb & obb (PC)

What is it? Two-player co-op puzzle game in which you can reverse gravity.
Should you care? There’s not exactly a shortage of these games. Grab it if the aesthetic jumps out at you.

Richard & Alice (PC)

What is it? Adventure game about a living in a barren world alongside people with secrets.
Should you care? A very story focused game, and both Eurogamer and RTS have sung its story’s praises. Might be worth checking out.

Growing Pains

What is it? Core platformer in which your character constantly grows, making it harder to escape the area.
Should you care? An interesting idea which I haven’t seen before — if love is given to the level design, it could result in some interesting & unique gameplay.

A Story About My Uncle

What is it? First-person platformer in which you look for your uncle in a fantasy land.
Should you care? It makes use of a swinging mechanic, which won’t be enough to carry it on its own, but it also boasts pretty landscapes to turn into a blur as you speed past.

Where is my Heart?

What is it? One-player puzzler in which you are forced from your tree home as a family of forest spirits.
Should you care? This one plays with how you rely on visuals to solve puzzles in a very interesting way, and lets you manipulate tiles that make up a collage that is the level you’re in. I might be giving this one a go if I have time.


The Cheapest NBN 1000 Plans

Looking to bump up your internet connection and save a few bucks? Here are the cheapest plans available.

At Kotaku, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.

Comments


63 responses to “This Week In Games: Press X To Hack”