How long have you been waiting for a new Final Fantasy that wasn’t an MMO? Years?
Well, wait no longer. Final Fantasy 15 is out this week. But that’s not all – it’s also a cracker of a week for the 3DS, Steins;Gate 0 is available, Watch Dogs 2 hits the PC, and there’s some intriguing smaller titles to boot. Welcome to the last major week of the year.
Aqua Moto Racing Utopia (PC, PS4)
What is it? It’s a new Wave Race! Well, not really. But I’ll take anything that’s close.
Should you care? Played Riptide GP or Wave Race, like, ever? Then sure.
Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink (PS4)
What is it? A steampunk adventure about a scientist exploring a series of strange earthquakes.
Should you care? It’s the pixel hunt style of adventure, not a full point-and-click adventure. Pass.
The Dwarves (PC, PS4, XBO)
What is it? An isometric action-RPG with pausing and a physics-based battle system.
Should you care? Looks like a story-heavy game too. Could be one to keep an eye on.
How We Soar (PSVR)
What is it? An experience about soaring like a bird, but in VR.
Should you care? Sounds like a good PSVR game to share with the family.
Super Mario Maker (3DS)
What is it? The best Wii U game besides MK8 comes to handhelds.
Should you care? Pfft. Do you own a 3DS? Then you should own this game.
Watch Dogs 2 (PC)
What is it? Ubisoft’s hack-a-thon takes on San Francisco and PCs.
Should you care? If you were waiting for the PC port, it finally lands this week. Should
The Crew Ultimate Edition (PS4, XBO)
What is it? Ubi’s MMO racer gets a re-release on consoles.
Should you care? Nope. Buy Need for Speed for cheaper. It’s more fun.
STEEP (PC, PS4, XBO)
What is it? To complete the Ubisoft triumvirate of the week we have a new IP that’s all about snow, skiing and snowboarding.
Should you care? Really want this to be good. I’ve been told not to expect a modern SSX, however.
Picross 3D Round 2 (3DS)
What is it? The 3D puzzle solver returns to the 3DS.
Should you care? Pokemon Sun and Moon, coupled with Mario Maker, is probably enough content to get through. Picross is still worth a look, but hard to not see it being overshadowed.
Industry Giant 2 (PS4, XBO)
What is it? The 2002 business management sim launches on consoles, a year after its revival on PS4.
Should you care? Don’t buy this thinking it’s SimCity. Think more like the Capitalism games. No idea how the UI is for consoles though.
Neon Chrome (Vita)
What is it? A top-down cyberpunk twin-stick roguelike.
Should you care? Looks OK but not spectacular.
Rock ‘N Racing Off Road DX (PS4)
What is it? PS4 re-release of a top-down off-road arcade racer.
Should you care? The Xbox One version looked and sounded terrible, so I’ve got little faith that the PS4 port will be any better.
Space Overlords (PS4, Vita)
What is it? A game about robots stomping around planets smashing things.
Should you care? The game’s Steam listing, and reception, suggests you should not.
Final Fantasy 15 (PS4, XBO)
What is it? The iconic series returns.
Should you care? This will be the biggest release of the year for a lot of fans. Has holiday game written all over it. Yes.
Steins;Gate 0 (PS4, Vita)
What is it? A sci-fi visual novel about students who discover and develop technology that allows them to change the past, and the consequences that brings.
Should you care? If you play one visual novel this year, make it Steins;Gate 0. I heard talk that this might have soft launched late last week, but the scheduled release date is November 29, so have at it. (It’s also got an absurdly good rating on PC.)
WinKings (PS4)
What is it? A couch co-op 2D action brawler.
Should you care? Nope.
Pinball FX2 VR (PC, Rift, Vive, PSVR)
What is it? Zen Studios continues to do their thing, but in VR.
Should you care? If you like the idea of pinball in PSVR, but want a fancier table, Zen Studios are the masters. You can play it without VR, but that doesn’t seem as much fun.
Crystal Rift (PS4, PSVR)
What is it? A first-person dungeon crawler with PSVR support, inspired by Eye of the Beholder and other ancient crawlers.
Should you care? The movement is based on a grid, which you can forget sometimes thanks to the VR element. You’re also walking forward instead of teleporting in VR, which can be a little nausea-inducing for some. Buyer beware.
Destroy All Humans 2 (PS4)
What is it? A re-release of the PS2 classic from Pandemic Studios, which had a studio in Brisbane for many years.
Should you care? If you care about Aussie games from eras past, definitely.
Those are all the main games this week. Did I miss anything important? Or niche that you really think gamers should know about? Let us know!
Comments
20 responses to “This Week In Games: Your 15th Fantasy”
I think that Steins;Gate link is for the original Steins;Gate on PC, only just recently released on Steam. It’s not the one called Steins;Gate 0. Still, will be looking to get both at some point.
‘But the online!’ whingers aside, I’m waiting for Mario Maker 3DS reviews. I see it as a great Christmas present.
A strong word of advice:
When Super Mario Maker Wii U was released, people thought the locked-out items should have been available from the start, and the developers were accused of hand-holding and bad game development decisions.
DO NOT attempt to game the system and just draw coins around a level to artificially speed up the game’s systems into thinking you have mastered the ‘beginners’ items and level ideas.
You’re buying a tool more than a game, and that timed lock-out of advanced content is an idea that is in actual fact quite smart.
I got burnt out on this game too fast by looking online for ways to speed up the un-locking of stuff I thought I was ready for.
Don’t be like me.
FFXV
Please be good. Please.
I am already dubious. There are reports coming out that the main game can be cleared in 25 hours. This does not excite me.
FF X can be clocked in less than that. As well as IX and VIII. If you rush through a game avoiding side quests well of course it can be finished bloody quick. Afaik Witcher 3, Fallout 3 and 4 can all be finished in well under 25 hours.
I’ve been reading a lot of spoiler free impressions from those lucky enough to get a copy overseas from broken street dates etc.
+ stunning open world
+ combat (once it clicks)
+ the bros
+ the story towards the end
– the story early on
– length of main story
– fetch side quests
Staying positive.
Heard from many multiple people that also got early copies that it is their favourite FF behind 6/7/8. I have 0 concerns I will enjoy the hell out of it and do/see everything. Estimating 100+ hours easy.
How does that mesh with that creature that apparently takes 72 hours to defeat!?
How the hell does that not excite you?
most early reviews and previews of the first few chapters are trending that way. combat is allegedly different from the demos and feels a little clunky to use initially until it “clicks” then it becomes rather fantastic. Story is integrated well and the banter between characters rarely feels forced and instead enriches their relationship or any given area you are moving through etc.
Anyone able to link me to where I can purchase Steins;Gate 0? I haven’t been able to find it on the Australian playsation store, and want it for ps4.
https://store.playstation.com/#!/en-au/games/steinsgate-0/cid=EP4293-CUSA05866_00-STEINSGATEZEROP4
Preloading FFXV on the PS4 at the moment, I should have my UCE by the end of the week as well. Send help.
I went and got a PS4 at the weekend ready for FFXV. The consoles are finally getting some games that make owning a console worthwhile.
Silly me ordered FFXV off the US psn store. Unlocks 16 hours after it does here. Now have to wait till 4pm tomorrow to play. Should have just purchased from JB..
Also out this week:
Rad Rodgers: World One (PC/PS4)
Hyperlight EX (3DS)
7th Dragon III Code: VFD (3DS)
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse (3DS)
Too much on my plate atm to actually give FF15 the time it deserves. That will be for the start of Jan when I usually get a week off. Man thats going to be a good week.
Man… Ubi are sending Steep out to die, huh?
I didn’t think it was releasing till next year, I know it’s had betas… but I didn’t realise it was coming out so soon. They haven’t marketed it all…
It was at AUS PAX.
Only thing on that list that does anything for me is Destroy All Humans 2, loved those games. Don’t have my PS4 anymore though.
The only games I’m mildly interested in until the Nintendo Switch and South Park: The Fractured But Whole come out are Dead Rising 4 and maybe The Last Guardian. So it’s a good thing I can’t really afford any new games until at least February.