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ISSUE 114 OCTOBER 2015 £5.99 gamesradar.com/opm

LARA COMES HOME TOMB RAIDER It’s official! First look as Rise Of The Tomb Raider heads to PS4

ASSASSIN’SBETTER ON PS4! CREED SYNDICATE Back to its best? Victorian explored and PS4-exclusive missions uncovered in our huge playtest

EXPERT PLAYTEST STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT Fly the Millennium Falcon in the mode of your dreams COMPLETED! RECORD-BREAKING TEN-PAGE SOLID REVIEW DESTINY: MAFIA III COMES BACK FROM THE TAKEN KING THE DEAD TO MAKE OUR DAY We’ve finished it! All-access SIDES WITH PS4: pass to DLC ever WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU?

ISSUE 114 / OCT 2015 Future Publishing Ltd, Quay House, The Ambury, Welcome Bath BA1 1UA, Tel +44 (0) 1225 442244 Fax: +44 (0) 1225 732275 here’s just no stopping the PS4 train. Email [email protected] @OPM_UK Web www.gamesradar.com/opm With Sony’s super-machine on track to EDITORIAL Editor Matthew Pellett @Pelloki eventually overtake PS2 as the best- Managing Art Editor Milford Coppock @milfcoppock T Production Editor Dom Reseigh-Lincoln @furianreseigh selling console ever, developers keep News Editor Dave Meikleham flocking to Team PlayStation. This month we CONTRIBUTORS Words Alice Bell, Jenny Baker, Ben Borthwick, Matthew Clapham, Ian Dransfield, Matthew Elliott, Edwin Evans-Thirlwell, go behind the scenes of five of the best Matthew Gilman, Ben Griffin, Dave Houghton, Phil Iwaniuk, Jordan Farley, Louis Pattison, Paul Randall, Jem Roberts, Sam games due out this year to show you why Roberts, Tom Sykes, Justin Towell, Ben Wilson, Iain Wilson Design Andrew Leung, Rob Speed the biggest blockbusters of the gaming ADVERTISING world are set to be better on PS4. Commercial Sales Director Clare Dove Advertising Director Andrew Church After that we set a new OPM record over Account Manager Steven Pyatt Advertising Manager Michael Pyatt on p76: our first ever ten-page review. As For Ad enquiries please contact [email protected] you’ll see we had to make a tough decision MARKETING Group Marketing Manager Laura Driffield GAME OF THE MONTH during our epic judgement of ’s Marketing Manager Kristianne Stanton Until Dawn PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION final stealth masterpiece – know that no-one Production Controller Vivienne Calvert FAVE LONDON LANDMARK Production Manager Mark Constance St Paul’s Cathedral is more committed to bringing you the most Printed in the UK by William Gibbons & Sons Ltd on behalf of Future definitive reviews, even if that means doing Distributed by Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue, London EC1A 9PT, Tel: 0207 429 4000 things a little differently from the rest. Overseas distribution by Seymour International CIRCULATION Speaking of records, let me quickly tell you Trade Marketing Manager Juliette Winyard – 07551 150 984 about next month’s mag. Make that ‘mags’. SUBSCRIPTIONS UK reader order line & enquiries 0844 848 2852 We teased this way back last year and now Overseas reader order line & enquiries +44 (0)1604 251045 Online enquiries www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk it’s time to tell all: we’ve been working on a Email [email protected] LICENSING 200-page twin-magazine collector’s edition International Director Regina Erak 003 [email protected] (our biggest ever!) to celebrate PS1’s 20th +44 (0)1225 442244 Fax +44 (0)1225 732275 “THE BIGGEST MANAGEMENT anniversary here in the UK. Whatever you Global Content & Marketing Director Charlie Speight Head of Content & Marketing Declan Gough BLOCKBUSTERS do, don’t miss this one! Group Editor-In-Chief Daniel Dawkins Group Art Director Graham Dalzell OF THE GAMING NEXT ISSUE ON SALE 25 SEPTEMBER 2015 Secure The ABC combined print, digital and digital publication your copy circulation for Jan-Dec 2014 is WORLD ARE 27,582 (Print 24,317 Digital 3,265) of the 200-page A member of the Audited Bureau of Circulations OPM #115 special! SET TO BE Matthew Pellett Subscribe on p72 EDITOR by 9 Sep BETTER ON [email protected] Future is an award-winning international media group and leading digital business. We reach more than 49 million international consumers a PLAYSTATION 4.” @Pelloki month and create world-class content and advertising solutions for passionate consumers online,ontablet&smartphoneandinprint.

Future plc is a public Chief executive ;JMMBI#ZOH5IPSOF THIS MONTH’S PLAYSTATION SYNDICATE… company quoted Non-executive chairman Peter Allen on the London &KLHIÀQDQFLDORIÀFHUPenny Ladkin-Brand Stock Exchange TZNCPM'653  5FM    -POEPO www.futureplc.com 5FM    #BUI

Allcontentscopyright©2015FuturePublishingLimitedorpublishedunder licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored, transmitted or used in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in &OHMBOEBOE8BMFT3FHJTUFSFEPGmDF3FHJTUFSFEPGmDF2VBZ)PVTF 5IF Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price and other details of products or services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any changes or updates to them. If you submit unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant Future a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in all editions of the magazine, including licensed editions worldwide and in any physical or digital format throughout the world. Any material you submit is sent at your risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents or Dave Meikleham Dom Reseigh- Tom Sykes Louise Blain subcontractors shall be liable for loss or damage. NEWS EDITOR Lincoln GUEST WRITER GUEST WRITER The burning man at the PRODUCTION EDITOR The world’s quietest man Our reporter We are committed to start of MGS V? He’s While Dave finished MGS V, adores Everybody’s Gone slipped past the crowds only using magazine paper which is derived based on our very own Dom had the time of his life To The Rapture’s solitude. using years of Assassin’s from well managed, I can’t find the Big Daddy, though, DFSUJmFEGPSFTUSZBOE nuclear-tempered outburst reviewing Godzilla this “ ” he Creed blending skills. We chlorine-free machine. Feel the hate. month. Er… the worst time. shouted, almost silently. call her the LoutriBullet. manufacture. Future Publishing and its paper suppliers have been independently GAME OF THE MONTH GAME OF THE MONTH GAME OF THE MONTH GAME OF THE MONTH DFSUJmFEJOBDDPSEBODF Metal Gear Solid V Everybody’s Gone… Everybody’s Gone… Journey with the rules of the FSC (Forest FAVE LONDON LANDMARK FAVE LONDON LANDMARK FAVE LONDON LANDMARK FAVE LONDON LANDMARK Stewardship Council). Emirates Stadium Westminster Abbey Tower Bridge Tower Of London HIGHLIGHTS The big 10 010 RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER After giving us the cold shoulder for the last year, Lara’s new outing is headed PS4-wards. feature 048 ASSASSIN’S CREED SYNDICATE Thismonth’scoverstarkicksoffourgiant ‘BetterOnPlayStation’featureinepicstyle. feature 054 STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT We go hands-on with a brand new mode and bag an exclusive chat with DICE head Patrick Bach. featurE 058 DESTINY: THE TAKEN KING We’ve finished it! OPM travels to Bungie and sinks two days into the ace new expansion. feature 064 COD: BLACK OPS III Find out why Black Ops III is set to be the best Call Of Duty in years. feature 068 HITMAN Agent 47’s going back to his Blood Money days – we bag exclusive access to IO. review 076 MGS V: THE PHANTOM PAIN The biggest review in OPM history for PS4’s biggest game. ‘Nuff said. ISSUE 114 OCTOBER 2015 £5.99 SUBSCRIBE NOW gamesradar.com/opm Limited Edition Yet to subscribe to OPM? Turn Subscriber Cover to p72 right now to get your gamesradar.com/opm fave mag, for less, delivered twitter.com/OPM_UK to your door with exclusive .com/OfficialPlayStationMagazine covers. Oh, and a free game!

037 088 068 THE Games index 019 ANCESTORS: THE HUMANKIND ODYSSEY 048 ASSASSIN’S CREED SYNDICATE 105 BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT 064 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS III 006 III 090 DECEPTION IV: 054 THE NIGHTMARE PRINCESS 058 DESTINY: THE TAKEN KING 043 DISHONORED 2 030 DOOM 016 DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS 016 DRAGON QUEST HEROES 016 DRAGON QUEST XI 043 DRAGON’S DOGMA ONLINE 030 058 092 EVERYBODY’S GONE TO THE RAPTURE 034 FIFA 16 006 FINAL FANTASY XV 089 GALAK-Z: THE DIMENSIONAL 090 GAME OF THRONES S1E5 094 005 089 GODZILLA 098 040 GRAND AGES: MEDIEVAL 090 068 HITMAN 018 HOMEFRONT: THE REVOLUTION 088 JOURNEY 091 KING’S QUEST CHAPTER 1 094 LIFE IS STRANGE S1E4 011 076 064 036 MAFIA III 076 METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN 041 106 ONIMUSHA 3 038 PES 2016 094 QUBE: DIRECTOR’S CUT 036 RAINBOW SIX SIEGE 114 4 038 014 RIGS: MECHANISED COMBAT LEAGUE 010 RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER 098 ROCKET LEAGUE 043 SHADOW WARRIOR 2 042 SNIPER GHOST WARRIOR 3 054 STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT 012 STREET FIGHTER V SECTIONS AT A GLANCE 089 SUBMERGED 037 SWORD COAST LEGENDS THE PREVIEWS FEATURES REVIEWS NETWORK RETRO 095 THE VANISHING OF BIG 10 Latest info, screens To-the-point, In-depth verdicts on Max out your PS4, STATION ETHAN CARTER and playtests detailed analysis every big new game online and off All the hottest news Classics revisited 020 : THE NATHAN 006 029 046 075 097 106 DRAKE COLLECTION 086 UNTIL DAWN 006

DARK SOULS III’S LAND IS EASIER ON THE EYE THAN ’S HARSH COBBLES. DSIII will have a little Bloodborne in its DNA, including bosses that change tactics mid-fight. 10 ALL RAID UP Tomb Raider comes home to PS4. 12 NECALLI DEEP Meet Street Fighter V’s newest star. 20 UNCHARTED TOPPER The latest on Nate’s PS4 HD trilogy. TheBig10 STORIES EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT Gamescom shows PS4 has still got Souls 007 Devs use Cologne event to reveal a whole lot more of your most wanted titles

Gah! Too. studio mastered with Lordran and Much. Drangleic, the gently sun-dappled Game. News. land in Dark Souls III is certainly Despite Sony easier on the eye than Bloodborne’s opting to harsh cobbles. Hands-on no-show this demos show a game that has lost 01 year’s annual none of its appetite for incredibly Cologne exacting combat… or brilliantly mega-event, Gamescom still put bizarre naming conventions. One go on one hell of a party. There was a at a fight with the Dancer Of The ton of new footage for the likes of Frigid Valley – a grotesque spectre Dark Souls III, Mirror’s Catalyst, that wears a twisted bridal veil – WWE 2K16 and FIFA 16, while the proves From Software does bosses announcement of Mafia III (read like no other studio. more on p11) once again proves the German event is no longer the EDGE YOUR BETS attic-dwelling, unloved cousin of . Out of all the third-party developers Though Sony decided not to in attendance, it was EA that had the host its own press conference – a strongest showing. The software surprise in itself considering the giant used its show to give you the amount of first-party big hitters it first proper, extended look at brought to the event last year – this Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, and by our was still an exciting show for PS4 thoroughly banjaxed running shoes lovers. And really, it’d be rude not to does Faith’s free-runner feel start by gushing from damn near exciting… and super knackering. every orifice over Dark Souls III. The parkour expert’s sequel is Hot damn does the latest set in an open-world, though you adventure out of From Software wouldn’t know it from the carefully look tasty. A welcome return to the choreographed slice of gameplay sort of forlorn fantasy kingdom the DICE chose to unleash upon the DRAFT PUNK EA announced FIFA 16’s FUT Draft mode at Gamescom. It’s a feature that should make Ultimate Team more accessible, TheBig10 enabling players to select top stars from the off and offering rewards for STORIES EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT win streaks. More on FIFA 16 on p34.

crowds in Germany. Over several conference. “Unravel is a game There’s still so much to cover. minutes the action follows Faith as about reaching out, about mending So… Final Fantasy XV upped the she infiltrates the HQ of a shady broken bonds.” It’s also a game feels with its Dawn trailer, showing organisation named Elysium, which about controlling a little thread man, hero Noctis hugging his father is up to some less than ethical called Yarny. Your goal: to reach as a young child, intercut with practices in its agricultural division. each ’s end without completely footage of an adorable dog. Sony Before our free-runner can unfurling your yarn-based body. It’s and Activision strengthened Call Of question the game’s Big Bad (EA an adorable premise; one that looks Duty’s partnership with PlayStation exec look-alike Gabriel Kruger), a like a Morph animation in action – Treyarch’s David Vonderhaar fellow intruder blows her cover… as Yarny uses his string to create confirming all COD eSports then proceeds to get the stuffing tightropes to negotiate chasms. tournaments will now be hosted knocked out of him by Kruger’s on PS4. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 personal femme fatale bodyguards. EASY AS WWE radically changed its look a mere Cue a speedy getaway as Faith But enough with the cuteness. Look, two months before release with a pegs it away from trouble; the glistening men putting each other in new cel-shaded-esque art direction. ensuing frantic dash showcasing reverse chin locks! Yes, decided Oh, and Skylanders SuperChargers some brutal, extra kicky takedowns to announce the first concrete is getting its Mario Kart on with as she hoofs the skyscraper’s details for WWE 2K16 during the addition of a four-player online security forces through glass Gamescom. Like Big Show’s waistline racing mode. Expect hidden routes, displays. Catalyst is looking mighty after hitting backstage catering, the power-ups, bosses and additional slick ahead of its Feb 2016 release, latest grappler from Yuke’s is going expansion packs that span land, sea then, though we’re not sure of to be heaving – the roster is 120 and sky. Take that, Mazza. Faith’s overly sarky new voice wrestlers strong. Other headlines actress, Faye Kingslee. include the addition of ‘working’ RISES AND SHINE 008 This is the point where we’d grapples that allow you to drain your But the Gamescom goodness usually attempt a semi-coherent opponent’s stamina, JBL being added didn’t stop there. Homefront: The segue but, honestly, how do you to a new three-man commentary Revolution exploded back into view transition smoothly from talking team and a revamped MyCareer, – read more on its bleak, tantalising about an ass-kicking free-runner to which enables you to go from NXT open-world on p18. Ms Croft also a controllable ball of thread? That rookie to Hall Of Fame legend. impressed in Cologne, with a new brings us to Unravel: a delightful demo showing Lara exploring the looking 2D platformer from Swedish Geothermal Valley. But why are we studio Coldwood Interactive. THE LATEST WWE telling you about an exclusive? “It’s inspired by happy, sunny Because Rise Of The Tomb Raider is memories of going to the coast, GRAPPLER FROM YUKE’S coming to PS4! More over the page… both as a child and as a parent,” BOASTS A ROSTER 120 says creative director Martin Expect previews of WWE 2K16, Unravel Sahlin, speaking at EA’s Gamescom WRESTLERS STRONG. and Mirror’s Edge Catalyst next month.

Q is this year’s WWE cover star. Rather him than Cena.

The eSports PS4 deal for pro COD tournaments is a huge win for Sony and its current-gen wonderkit. We can finally stop hating Lara. Turn the page to see how she’s won us back. The original visuals for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 looked pap. These look… a little less pap.

009

Q Unravel (above right) is charming and beautifully animated. There’s almost a touch of claymation in its material man and supremely solid backdrops.

Square has also confirmed it’s in talks with Avalanche Studios to use Just Cause 3 tech in FFXV. The opening act takes us to sunny Syria. Even in the baking desert, wood rot is an issue.

010 Lara comes home to PlayStation 4 PS4 finally gets its hooks into Rise Of The Tomb Raider

You know those as one of the cornerstones of Xbox With Uncharted 4 slated for a spring hidden tombs from One’s marketing campaign (where release, that gives us around half a the 2013 Tomb it’s being pushed as Microsoft’s year for those horrible calluses on Raider game? The answer to Uncharted 4), it was hard our hands to heal before grabbing 02 ones with arrows not to feel like PS4 players were the climbing gear again. daubed around being left out in the cold. And you’ll want to, because this is them in paint, and when you’d go Though neither MS nor developer poised to be so much more than an near them a little musical chime could bring Dev Talk Uncharted clone. A direct storyline “The tombs weave would play to alert you of its themselves to declare Rise was together all of the sequel to the 2013 title, ROTTR aims presence? Well, anything more than game’s pillars. As to on the solid groundwork of even they were a a timed exclusive much as they’re its predecessor in two key areas; better kept secret WE COULD when pushed, almost a set-piece firstly, there will be more emphasis than the news that SEE ROTTR DROP that all changed in moment for our puzzle on, y’know, actually raiding tombs, follow-up Rise Of late July. Shortly designers, you’re and secondly, gameplay that focuses IN NOVEMBER also having to do The Tomb Raider is before Gamescom, some of your craziest more on surviving the elements. on its way to PS4. NEXT YEAR. publisher Square traversal to navigate Lara’s latest Enix announced these tombs. And CROFT CONVERSION adventure sees her head to that a PS4 version will surface in [all the while] you’re This means the crafting element of not-so-sunny Siberia to unearth the 2016. The announcement noted that avoiding traps and, the first game has been expanded, in some cases, also lost city of Kitezh, which she believes the game is an Xbox console fighting animals.” with Lara now procuring much of holds the key to immortality. Up until exclusive, “for one year after its her equipment and upgrades on-site. recently that frosty setting had been initial launch.” By our watches, that Noah Hughes Mushrooms scooped from dead Creative director, painfully apt for members of the means we can expect it to drop no Crystal Dynamics trees can be used to add poison PlayStation Nation. With Rise acting sooner than 10 November, 2016. tips to your arrows, while string will SOUNDS OF THE ‘60S Like the last game, Mafia III’s radio stations will be filled with classic tunes. Capturing the renegade spirit of the ‘60s, music spans TheBig 10 hits such as ‘Paint It Black’ and ‘All Along The Watchtower’. STORIES EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT

Expect Mafia III to tackle issues of bigotry. Let’s hope Hangar 13 hits the right tone for the story.

It’s Three and Big Easy for PS4 011 Mafia III takes the series to 1960s New Orleans

Funny? You think against the Italians, disrupting the 2K’s wiseguy balance of power in the seedy franchise moving underworld of New Orleans,” says away from Italian- 2K, nicely setting up Mafia III’s plot. 03 American mobsters Safe to say, things are more than and old timey New a little racially charged in this Deep York for a bold new protagonist, era South sandbox. Taking several cues reinforce the limbs of your bow. and city is funny? Funny how? from GTA’s criminal playbook, Lincoln These incremental upgrades create Excuse us while we scrub the Joe makes allegiances with mob bosses a snowball effect. Once you’re Pesci out of our pores, but we really of different creeds and colours. beefed up, you can revisit already- didn’t see this The debut trailer explored hub worlds (three times direction for Mafia shows the larger than the previous game’s) to III on the horizon. YOU PLAY AS ex-soldier meeting take down previously invincible foes Set during LINCOLN CLAY; A with the leaders (including one angry-looking bear). 1968 among of Irish, Haitian Not only will this bag you an exotic the sweltering VIETNAM VET WHO and Italian gangs. pelt to add to your crafting set, but streets and REALLY HATES That last one isn’t you can explore the cave fo… are gator-infested a typo – he may those chimes we hear? bayous of a GOODFELLAS. hate the mafia, Sadly, the delay comes at a price: reimagined New but Lincoln there’s no word on a PS3 version. Orleans, developer Hangar 13 has isn’t above doing deals with them. But maybe that’s for the best. By all really put the criminal cat amongst Such alliances mean a return for accounts the port will be the pigeons. You play as Lincoln Clay; Mafia II’s star, Vito Scaletta. Seeing a slightly different game to the XO a mixed-race Vietnam veteran who as this sequel is set almost 20 years version. And past experience of PS3 has some serious problems with the after its predecessor, the Empire adaptations of PS4 games teaches Big Easy’s resident goodfellas after Bay boss is sporting a grey hair or us it could be whiffy. But the PS4 Italian gangsters execute most of his two. It’s a rare throwback in a bold, version? It’s gonna be pure as snow. gang. “When Lincoln’s new family is potentially progressive open-world. betrayed and slaughtered by the 2016 will mark ten years since Crystal Italian mob, he becomes fixated on Mafia III is due on PS4 in 2016. Read Dynamics took over the TR franchise. revenge and wages a brutal war our full preview next issue, out 25 Sept. NEW STAR NECALLI ALREADY FEELS LIKE THE EMBODIMENT OF AN ALL- OR-NOTHING FIGHTER. VEGA TWO TIMES also unveiled old fave Vega at Gamescom. The masked hero can fight with or without his trademark claw but, in a marked TheBig10 change-up from previous outings, he can’t retrieve his weapon if it’s lost. STORIES EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT

Q When a soul-eating warrior grabs Q “Oh fiddlesticks – I forgot to put the your face, you know you’re in trouble. rubbish outside my cave AGAAAAIN!” Hair comes a new challenger! 013 Street Fighter V’s new star is a game changer

If you look but even nastier. Best of all is his closely at the V-Trigger: by hitting both fierce end of Ken’s attacks with a full meter, Necalli’s reveal trailer, writhing dreads burst into red you’ll see flames. He can stay in this someone empowered, Super Saiyan-like 04 staring out state indefinitely, buffing his attacks from the but removing his ability to reverse gloom. Some speculated it was strikes in the process. All this is in Urien from Street Fighter III; others, keeping with Street Fighter V’s a zombified version of E Honda. In focus on immediate, aggressive fact, it’s a brand new savage-looking competition. Necalli already feels like fighter called Necalli. the embodiment of a dangerous, ‘Savage’ seems the easiest way unruly, all-or-nothing fighter. to describe him – he’s such a wild, Capcom’s also revealed how it’s furious mess that he makes Blanka planning to handle new challengers look like a Victorian Queensbury and DLC – and the news is good. The Rules prizefighter – but he’s actually short version is that you’ll only ever an ancient brawler who feasts on have to pay for the SFV disc. All souls, sniffing out the most powerful gameplay DLC will be released for opponents. Yes, actually sniffing free, and in-game unlocks are all them out. This lack of finesse is earned with Fight Money earned by reflected in his moves. Instead of playing (though if you’re impatient launching fireballs, Necalli’s V-Skill you can pay for the Zenny currency enables you to attack at range by to unlock things quicker). It’s a shiny slamming the ground, causing rocks new approach for Capcom – no to erupt beneath your opponent. stranger to premium on-disc DLC… Up close, he sports a vicious command throw called Earth Mask; To find out more about why we love similar to T Hawk’s Mexican Typhoon, free SFV unlockables, head over to p24. the big shot eagle-eyed analysis

014 Classes include the Hunter (fast/small), Tempest (slow/strong) and Mirage (tall with double-jumps).

Guerrilla describes the main Power Slam gametype as crossed with basketball.

Going into Overdrive mode triggers the three abilities (Power, Speed and Health) all at the same time. number game we do the maths Guerrilla’s gettin’ 34%Life Is Strange players who kept Max’s RIGGY with it plant Lisa alive during episode three. dev’s Morpheus hit tested

Say hello to A visual showcase for VR on Guerrilla PS4, it’s filled with unconventional Cambridge’s mechanics. DualShock 4 is used to switch between our RIG’s w Shenmue 3’s place in the list of most- 05 3-vs-3 sports/ three modes on the fly ( #01funded videogames. mech robot makes our guns stronger, r hybrid, RIGS Mechanised Combat increases movement speed and League. The aim? To go into e recharges our health), and ‘Overdrive’ by collecting orbs and move forward and back, but to killing others (well, damaging their turn left and right we need to mechs to the point that they’re twist our head. We hope that last 31/10Date that a ‘secret’ (no spoilers!) ejected out of their ‘bots and control quirk changes: it actually triggers in Batman: Arkham Knight… must parachute into fresh ones) made us dizzy during the demo. and then dive through a goal hoop to score points for your team Check back next issue for more on across two manic halves. Project Morpheus’ 2016 lineup. 015

Ejected players select new respawn points by looking down at the arena and staring at a launch tube. Number of collectable orbs hidden in £The Taken King’s new Dreadnaught. Price of39.99 the official Assassin’s Creed Syndicate hoodies at Merchoid.com.

The number of pages in next month’s 200twin-mag 20th anniversary special. 314,763 Total enemy count inside the exceptionally hard PSN game N++. RIGS is the only Morpheus game so far to make us feel ill, so we’re hoping a control change will fix this.

1984Year that Sierra released the original King’s Quest – long before PlayStation! 016 Dragon Quest arrives on PS4 with a triple-header The legendary RPG comes back to PlayStation in a big way

While Final Fantasy The Blight Below (yes, really), along Heroes enables you to control has been pretty with the very Minecrafty Dragon several characters from the series’ kind to PlayStation Quest Builders and, finally, Dragon history, including Jessica and Yangus over the last Quest XI, the fully fledged next game from DQVIII, and even provides the 06 decade, Square in the series. Fans of cheery blue option to summon monsters during Enix’s other slimes, Dragon Ball haircuts and the hectic battles. Among other long-running RPG has been notable groan-worthy puns: celebrate now. uses, these can be placed at by its absence since the brilliant Let’s start with Heroes, as we dev talk strategic choke-points, tower- “We’re really using Dragon Quest VIII back on PS2. That know for sure that one’s heading [Dragon Quest defence-style, to protect valuable charming game of to the West this Heroes] as a kind assets – which feels like a smart puns and regional October. We’ve just of opening up of the evolution of the Warriors formula. accents was an “ played it, in fact, market. We can gauge ace way to end IS PULLING OUT and we can whether the American MONSTER MASH things, but we’ve confirm that people might want to Between each large-scale battle ALL THE STOPS go back after Heroes looked on jealously it’s an awful lot like and see some of the (expect huge numbers of foes as the series FOR DQ’S 30TH Dynasty/Samurai other Dragon Quest on-screen at one time) you’ll be able expanded on Warriors. As it’s games. Hopefully to customise your heroes with new other platforms. ANNIVERSARY.” made by Omega we could use that as kit and skill points to craft stuff. And, Well, Square Enix is bringing the Force rather than Square Enix that leverage to get those of course, you can save your game series back to PlayStation in force, shouldn’t come as too much of a out over here.” by confessing to a travelling nun… with three new games across shock, but rest assured that the Yuu Miyake There’s nothing particularly Executive producer, a variety of genres. There’s the series’ British accents, wordplay, Dragon Quest series revelatory in the hour we play, but Dynasty Warriors-like Dragon Quest primary colours and hordes of it’s a solid brawling game with a Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe And monsters are intact. deep respect for all things DQ. IT’S QUESTING TIME Our lucky Japanese cousins are already enjoying a special Metal Slime PS4 to celebrate Heroes’ Japanese release TheBig10 back in Feb – it’s silver with a melted slime figure. We want! STORIES EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT

info patches update your brain

Q DQ Builders is very blocky, although the characters are anything but.

Quest’s 30th anniversary in 2016, and after a few years of focusing on handheld, mobile and online titles, SONY SALES SOAR it’s great to see them embracing HD Everyone loves PS4! Sony’s Game And wholeheartedly with the PS4 version Network Services division has seen a 12.5% of Dragon Quest XI. increase in revenue, and it’s put this down to a, “significant," increase in PS4 software IF YOU BUILD IT… and peripheral sales. Sony shifted 3m PS4s during this time, over twice the equivalent The Quests don’t end there, either. number of Xbox Ones and 360s sold. Ouch. Dragon Quest Builders has been raising eyebrows over the last few weeks on account of how eerily 017 similar it looks to . It’s a sandbox building game set in a blocky world – in particular in a cubey version of Alefgard, which you Collectable resources may remember from the very first include wood, rocks, fruit Dragon Quest. Now overrun with and, as this is Dragon monsters, it’s a world that needs Quest, slime ooze. a thorough tidying up, and you’ll do this by mining, gathering and building, plus expanding your camp and protecting it from rampaging I’LL BE BACK creatures. Builders is coming to ...But won’t. After his recent PS4, PS3 and PS Vita sometime tirade, Hogan won’t be returning for WWE 2K16 – though 2K has announced someone The other two games are more this winter – well, in at least. even better. (as exciting, but on slightly shakier In regards to a Western release The ) is the latest pre-order-only ground given that Western releases for both games, Square Enix has character. Check back next issue for our haven’t yet been confirmed. Dragon said they’re using Heroes as a hands-on feature and WWE superstars chats. Quest XI is the series’ flagship title test-bed – if that does well, there’ll for the next few years: a massive, be a greater chance of future stonking, old-fashioned JRPG of the Dragon Quests being localised, too. sort nobody really makes anymore. From the looks of it (i.e. from For all the latest on the new Dragon off-screen video footage taken at a Quests, head to gamesradar.com/opm. recent presentation), it’s DQVIII and then some: a colourful, cartoon 3D world brought to life with Epic’s powerful 4. While combat is still likely to be turn-based, enemies will now appear on the map, hopefully meaning there’ll be no more random battles ‘BOARD TO DEATH PC gamers have long held the advantage to sully the exploration. The hero will when it comes to FPS aiming, but this ‘Tactical be able to jump and clamber up Assault Commander 4’ kit just might even the stuff, too – seemingly small changes playing field. It’s a mouse and mini-keyboard that could change this often staid tailored for PS4, with all the bits we don’t series considerably. Square Enix is need cut off. It’s from acclaimed fightstick Q Heroes collects, er, heroes from multiple Dragon £ pulling out all the stops for Dragon Quest worlds. You can take four into battle at a time. makers Hori, and it’ll set you back 86. Homefront and centre stage Sandbox sequel resurfaces in style

It’s baaaack! After new trailer cuts between a young A brief scene shows years stuck in boy being forced to read a speech IT’S BEEN guerrilla fighter Ethan development at a convention (“Thanks to you CHEATING OFF Brady zipping through Purgatory, if we have rediscovered who we are, OF ’S Philly’s Elmtree Red 07 not quite Hell, OPM and there is no turning back to our Zone; rooftop shortcuts #98 covergame apathetic, misguided ways”) and HOMEWORK. highlighting freeform Homefront: The Revolution stormed scenes of the local Philly populace traversal. He’s trying to back into view at Gamescom with a sabotaging the gears of the hack a KPA network transceiver freshly depressing new glimpse of oppressive Korean People’s Army. – with the help of an explosive RC its Philadelphia sandbox. As for the action itself, it’s clear car, of course. It reeks of Far Cry’s Despite focusing on the developer Dambuster Games – radio towers, but the world here nationwide struggle of an enslaved which rose from the ashes of looks to offer an enticingly sombre US people rising up against an UK – has been cheating off sandbox. More next month… oppressive Korean regime in 2029, of Far Cry’s homework. Naughty, our latest look at Homefront starts Homefront. Yet it could be to this Check back next issue, out 25 Sept, for in small, pimply-faced fashion. The open-world shooter’s benefit. our first hands-on verdict of Homefront.

Rumours suggest a new the rumour machine Disaster Report is in our sources understand… the works. The series last appeared on PSP.

Hello Games’ Sean Murray Upcoming The success of mobile According to has hinted the studio is PS4 firmware hit Dragon Collection FFVX director contemplating adding 3.00 will has convinced , Morpheus support to debut live to the Final Fantasy No Man’s Sky. VR space YouTube move away VII Remake won’t exploration? Excuse us gaming from big use Square’s while we mop up the drool. streams. budget titles. . THE MISSING LINK There’s still one Patrice Désilets game you’ve yet to see. While working on 1666: Amsterdam, publisher THQ went bust. PlayStation bought it and then fired Désilets. The two are locked in a lawsuit… voices the month in mouthing off

That’s one pretty “I deeply jungle, but knowing apologize for Désilets there’ll be causing you so plenty of variety. much trouble this time.” Yoshinori Ono admits Street Fighter V’s Beta was a flop.

“The usual ratio is about three love letters for every one hate 019 letter.” Randy Patrice Désilets’ Pitchford gets fan mail for apes of wrath Aliens: Colonial Marines. No, The creator of Assassin’s Creed gets primitive he really does… Patrice Désilets game covering all human history? is a developer “It’s not about a hero,” he explains. with chops. He “It’s five million years ago and rebooted Prince about human evolution.” Each 08 Of Persia with episode will follow, “the first day Sands Of Time we did something special,” he says, and co-created Assassin’s Creed, starting with Orrorin the ape. “Let’s delivering what’s still the series’ tell the story of the day we stood peak with Assassin’s Creed II. So, up. Why did we survive?” if he has an idea, no matter how The wheel, the first village and crazy, he can probably deliver on it. agriculture are all mentioned, “I quit Twitter.” How about Ancestors: The while RPG upgrades shape your Humankind Odyssey, an episodic existence over time. Hunter When an unwise abilities set you on a path towards retweet relating becoming a knight, while gathering is a more sciencey route. to Caitlyn Jenner Key to making the structure riles up the web, work is its mix of narrative drama Troy and sandbox fun. “The way we structure it,” says Désilets, ”[is] Baker a 15 minute action sequence and says ciao after, a playground [to] survive in. It’s linear, like Uncharted, then I’m to social leaving you in Rust, the game.” media.

Q The focus of the first episode is surviving There’s no set release date yet but a prehistoric jungle full of natural dangers. expect to see more monkeys in 2017. instant opinion strong vs wrong RESIDENT SQUEE!VIL Head still spinning from the dream Final Fantasy VII Remake news? Then sit down for this one: Capcom has confirmed that Resident Evil 2 is also getting the full remake treatment. Yes! EURO STARS PS Vita fans will be frustrated to hear Konami has secured Uncharted: Golden Abyss the Euro 2016 licence, isn’t in the Collection. though it won’t feature in PES 2016. But with PES currently winning the PS4 footy battle, Uncharted gets we’re excited to see what comes next year. ZOMBI THE BALL motion sick of it 020 Undead romp Inside The Nathan Drake Collection’s huge changes Zombi (formerly ZombiU) is out now Of the three games guys, damage values have been on PS4. Hooray! The included in Naughty recalculated across all three games. ace former U title Dog’s upcoming It’s evidence of the studio’s typically was released with trilogy remaster detailed approach to remasters – almost no warning, 09 for PS4, it’s the remember the MGS HD Collection’s but look out for our 2007 original that full screen, borderless ? needs most work. Wonky headshot Bluepoint has even chucked in a review next issue. detection and bullet-sponge enemies new (currently unnamed) difficulty BREAKING MAD once ensured you were always on setting, just in case Crushing the scrounge for precious ammo. was too easy for all you nihilists. Mad Max is out 1 Thankfully, port-masters Bluepoint is Sadly, the surprisingly good Sep, but review giving Drake’s Fortune a lot of TLC. multiplayer modes of Nate’s first code didn’t turn Not only has the studio behind the two sequels aren’t included in the up in time for this Collection scrapped the Collection, but Sony is hoping access issue. Check back rubbish Sixaxis to Uncharted 4’s log-balancing, online Beta will next month for our but it’s made the THE RUBBISH ease the pain. final judgement. grenade-chucking SIXAXIS LOG- Sony has also MIGHTY HAS FALLEN motion controls hinted Drake’s optional, too. As for BALANCING HAS Fortune and Among Bad news for those those spongy bad BEEN DITCHED. Thieves now play looking forward to more like Uncharted Mighty No 9: the 3 to ensure a consistent experience spiritual as you wisecrack across the globe. Writing on the PS , SCEA’s successor has been Sid Shuman insists Bluepoint has delayed until 2016. also, “upgraded character models, WHAT A COM environment textures, lighting, and special effects across the board.” Sony skipping There’s a demo coming to PSN Gamescom was a little this summer, so you’ll soon be able sad. Last year, its press to check out the upgrades yourself. conference showed off Q A special edition includes a steel Autumn is going to get a whole lot more the likes of Bloodborne, case, art book and… a sticker sheet. handsome when this is released on 7 Oct. PT (RIP) and Until Dawn. HIDEO AND SEEK Ground Zeroes’ Jamais Vu Side Op tasks with deleting the logos of MGS games Koj directed. Does this suggest the director TheBig 10 knew the fallout with Konami was coming long before it went public? STORIES EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT

just one more question… 10 the team debate this month’s burning issue What next for Hideo Kojima now that he’s finished with MGS?

021 MILFORD COPPOCK DAVE MEIKLEHAM MATTHEW PELLETT DOM RESEIGH-LINCOLN MANAGING ART EDITOR NEWS EDITOR EDITOR PRODUCTION EDITOR

PS4 LOOKS SET TO DON’T EXPECT KOJIMA AND DEL IT’S TIME FOR BECOME KOJIMA’S KOJIMA TO GO DOWN TORO MUST FULFIL KOJIMA-SAN TO FOURTH WALL- THE FRANCHISE THE PROMISE OF PT. LOOK TO A BRAND BREAKING ROUTE AGAIN. WHO CARES WHAT NEW MEDIUM. PLAYGROUND. IT’S CALLED? What lies next for Koj? No, I haven’t lost the plot Everyone knows that I don’t have the foggiest. It didn’t matter that last entirely, just hear me out. Kojima is a fan of obscure Kojima is such a once- August’s terrifying PT Kojima has been involved hardware experiments. in-a-lifetime eccentric PS4 demo ended with in the games industry for Boktai on GBA saw you visionary, his future credits for . almost 30 years – and harnessing the sun’s career path feels It could have been called in that time he’s carved rays using an honest impossible to predict. ‘Scary, Eerie Japanese out a legendary status as to goodness solar panel That said, I’m semi- Fright-Fest’ for all I cared one our most prolific and to defeat virtual vamps. confident whatever he – the link to Konami’s daring auteurs. So what PS4’s connected nature does next could well series was unimportant. does he have left to coupled with DualShock be a one shot deal. Don’t People were in awe prove? Rather than 4’s touchpad and speaker expect Hideo to start of Kojima’s horror seeing him wheel out a could result in Kojima another decades-long experiment because it tired and predictable creating something truly franchise. This is the man was genuinely terrifying, Kickstarter in 12 months unique and undoubtedly who was desperate to and I’m willing to bet most time, I’d love to see his unsettling. Imagine a dark, kill Snake in MGS4 before publishers would hurl unique creativity poured Fincher-inspired serial colleagues talked him out money at the MGS king into another medium. thriller where your of it. Whatever lies ahead, to join their ranks and Considering his love for Facebook-linked PS4 don’t be surprised if create a new horror IP music and film, could we could access your photo his next game revolves in tandem with Guillermo see him stepping behind libraries and use them around a self-contained del Toro. Kojima would the camera to direct, or in-game, coupled with narrative where the be wise to leave stealth into the studio to create sinister speaker-based main character dies. Also, behind and try something the ultimate soundtrack? chatter. *Shudders* given his love for boxes, fresh, and PT proves he Hell, I’d settle for Something wicked this maybe he’ll make his lead has the skills to master a sausage-related way comes… Q a cardboard oblong. Q the horror genre. Q cookbook at this stage. Q REPLIES F facebook.com/OfficialPlayStationMagazine T @OPM_UK W gamesradar.com/opm E [email protected]

your letter, with more #113 We journey to a fixes on the way… CAN I GET A RT? lush ‘killzone’ with our Tweet gold (and one troll) from Horizon cover feature Born again this month’s @OPM_UK timeline I was blind, but now I can see. That was @theunheardstory the first thing I thought Prepping my room for after reading my very the Fallout 4 celebration first copy of Official makeover it’s going to PlayStation Magazine. have. So excited! Was a videogame just a first-person trigger twitch @misledpenguin to rage and troll with? It Watching Uncharted 4 certainly used to be. Now gameplay on PS4… with a controller in my hands… I’ve seen a brighter future pretending to play it… in which I can create, customise, adventure @randommasta and fight. Thank you for Everyone. I need The Last Pit stopped control department and showing me what a game Guardian in my life. Make I was really looking should not be treated really can be and what I it happen. :D forward to my copy of F1 as such. This needs to can look forward to in the 2015 arriving in the post change – it’s not fair to future of PlayStation. as I missed last year’s expect us to pay nearly Connor Qualter via email @mrbryanfigueroa PS3 entry due to owning £50 for something that is The Shenmue 3 KS 022 campaign has been a a PS4 from day one. Well not working properly. For a minute there ride that I’ll never forget. I needn’t of bothered – Mark Tidman via email we were getting a bit We made history. what a mess of bugs emotional. Thanks for and glitches. A quick visit Former games ed Phil the kind, and ever so @PATRICKKUL to Codies’ forums shows (God rest his soul) didn’t slightly dramatic, words. Hmmm, new Street just how bad this is. As a find many bugs in his Welcome to the fold! Fighter V Ken looks dope gamer who’s been playing 7/10 review in OPM to me. I’m still picking games since they were #113 – the bigger issue Hammer time Ryu over him though :P two lines and a dot, I can was an inexplicable lack Thanks for your great, remember when a title of content. The game fun to read monthly @captionbarbosa Just heard about the had to be complete on has been patched since OPM treat. I laughed a lot maths behind No Man’s release – there was no Sky. Glad I know what such thing as patches. If Fourier Transforms are. publishers are unable to IF PUBLISHERS AREN’T ABLE troll of the month release a finished game TO RELEASE A FINISHED GAME on day one, then there @creedfangirl needs to be a price drop. ON DAY ONE, THEN THERE Only way I’d play Journey The public is not a quality NEEDS TO BE A PRICE DROP. is if Fear Factory did the main soundtrack. reading the Button Basher Star letter Trading blows feature – it evoked lots Here’s a question: why pay full price for digital content of, “Ahhhrgh!” memories. @ISOPHIEZ when there’s no opportunity to ‘trade in’ once the Still, it’s hard to top the So yeah, my new Twitter experience has run its course? Surely Sony can godfather of button header photo is a banner come up with a trade-in system whereby a previously smashing and controller for Black Ops 3, I guess purchased digital game can be removed in exchange shaking – Heavy Rain. I’m hyped for this game! for a discount? Given there is no physical product Ahhh… what pleasure to changing hands, the cost of producing and distributing get your head around a @GAMERIOTARMY digital content costs far less than its disc-shaped three-button-at-a-time Officially excited for Just combo while desperately Cause 3 – was excited relative. Everyone bar the retailers win – and if PS4 is anyway, but now I’m even really ‘For The Players’ this shouldn’t be a concern. rocking your controller. more hyped. Gerard McCormack via email Lydia Wildauer via email @azzystyle While we’re seeing a lot more discounts on PSN, Good ol’ Heavy ‘with Finally got to sit those full prices remain a tough sell. Still, some QTEs’ Rain. Still, when it down with Star Wars sort of trade-in system would help boost confidence comes to button bashing Battlefront. I peed a in PSN. Go on, have a year’s free sub to OPM on us. madness, we can’t look little. #SWBattlefront past Bishi Bashi Special. best comments from facebook.com/officialplaystationmagazine “The women’s football team has won more “The level of blood trophies than the men’s one, so you’ll get here is actually no complaints from me.” ‘bloody’ gorgeous!” tom crute approves of ’s 16 usa box art debut. kerrie rush loves mgs v’s gore.

READERS’ MOST WANTED Which games are bleeping loudest on your radar?

Fallout 4 Now that the raging fires of Mount Shenmue have finally cooled, the MGS V: The equally monumental return of one of the most beloved RPG series Phantom Pain ever can finally revel in a little well- By the time you read this, earned excitement. Fallout 4 bags Hideo Kojima’s final MGS its first number one slot in your masterpiece may well RMW, just two issues into its be out in the wilds. But existence – now where did we before you trawl its sneaky put all those bottle caps depths, head over to p76 we were saving up? and read our huge ten- FORMAT PS4 page review for the official ETA 10 NOV magazine judgement. FORMAT PS4/PS3 ETA 1 SEP Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End VOTE It barely kept itself 023 in contention last NOW! month in the wake of Shenmue and FFVII Tell us the five games Remake tidal waves, but Drake’s final outing you can’t wait to play at has clambered up the [email protected]. face of the popular vote and bagged itself this issue’s silver medal. FORMAT PS4 ETA 2016 Shenmue 3 Come on, as if the game that nearly broke the internet at was Final Fantasy VII Remake going to miss out on your The reimagined return of Cloud Strife and co top five just a month climbs one position from its Readers’ Most removed from its runaway Wanted debut last month. Want more Final win in OPM #113. With its Fantasy-related shenanigans? Head over to p25 Kickstarter now over, the for a rant on the misused mascots of FF. long wait for Ryo and the FORMAT PS4 forklift begins… ETA TBC FORMAT PS4 ETA TBC

EXIT 13% Have 12% Force fist- fiber wire ready for NEXT POLL pump for the Hitman’s PS4-only Our Facebook Star Wars contracts. MONTH fans answer a Which PS4 Battlefront/ PS4 love-in. 31% 27% Love the So after 20 years final question partnership Feel the power of fact Sony is of Sony-related COD thanks to helping bring excites you 10% Are stoked Shenmue 3 to life. goodness in the Street Fighter V early Beta and UK, what game the most? is finding its true DLC access. 7% Are shanking self on PS4. over Assassin’s was the biggest Creed Syndicate’s factor in PS1’s exclusive missions. huge success? OPINION

Matt Elliott YES, PEOPLE WILL MAKE THE SAME TIRED FREE-TO-PLAY ANALOGY, BUT THEY’RE WRONG. THIS IS HOW IT USED TO BE, BUT BETTER. Grinding for goodies is what makes fighting games great

erhaps it’s silly to get curtain. The simple, immediate excited about how things thrill of discovering you’ve unlocked used to be, unless we’re something is part of the rhythm of talking about medieval fighting games. Here’s an example: I banquets or penny- spent an entire weekend unlocking all farthings, but by doing the outfits in a rental copy of Dead 024 precisely this Capcom is making the Or Alive. As shameful as it was, it PPS4-exclusive Street Fighter V kept me playing. I’d argue that I was better than I ever dared imagine. motivated by the constant sense there Instead of endlessly belched-out was something else left to discover, updates and premium costume packs, rather than the numbing pursuit of the game will allow you to unlock all digitised embonpoint. the extras in-game. Read that again. In many ways, this is an even better No paid DLC. No new Ultra editions. deal that the one we had in the early, All ‘gameplay related content’ – which WRITER BIO iterative days of Street Fighter II. Being we can assume includes costumes, Contributing writer Matt Elliott spent his able to earn small, locked DLC updates stages and characters – will be formative years at seaside resorts, pumping purely through playing the game will pound coins into Street Fighter II, and to this earnable with in-game Fight Money, day he can’t see a campsite or pier without keep people scrapping, grinding away although you can pay for unlocks if investigating it for arcade machines. Paying to for some as-yet unrevealed goal. It’ll you want them faster. For more details play a game forever? That’s progression. keep the community alive, in the same head to page 12, but for now let’s way that fresh content invigorates all focus on why it’s the Best Thing Ever. Bison outfit you unlocked to amaze online games. More people equals Unlocking characters is in the and humiliate your opponents. more reasons to play: more matches, DNA of all fighting games. They more people at your skill level and less rarely have stories – at least, not CLOTHES CHOPPING time lingering in lobbies. in any meaningful sense. Sticking Extra characters, stages and costumes Yes, people will make the free-to- an animated at the end of a are great – we know this, because play analogy, whining like partially- game which has you resolving every people have already been paying deflated balloons, but they’re wrong. conflict with knees to the head for them. For hardcore fight fans, This is how it used to be, but better. doesn’t count as a narrative journey; balancing updates are more crucial. There was always grind in fighting it’s violence with explanation written But more than this, it’s that hopeful games, but we didn’t call it that back on the knuckles. Instead, sense there’s still something left then. It was part of the process; one competitive beat-’em-ups can keep to uncover; some hitherto that sharpened your skills and made us interested with the unforeseen treat, bestowed every beat ’em up feel complete. It’s promise of unlockables. only upon the devoted. that label, F2P, which is new, and it Every battle is a small It’s a feeling that we’ve doesn’t accurately describe what step towards some almost lost in games, Capcom and Sony are doing. indistinct goal. because we know This isn’t the advent of games as a Ideally, you’ll everything in ‘service’. This is Capcom giving you a play Street them months reason to play Street Fighter V for the Fighter V before release, next five years. The only thing that because you love often with the best needs changing is the name: which it, then head online stuff hidden behind idiot called the in-game currency with the loungewear a plush, pre-release ‘Fight Money’ instead of Bison dollars? OPINION

Dom Reseigh-Lincoln Jenny Baker

ARKHAM KNIGHT’S FINAL FANTASY’S DEFINITIVE END IS A DEFIANT ADORABLE MASCOTS HAVE ‘EFF YOU’ TO A CULTURE OF LOST THEIR SNAP, CRACKLE SEQUELS AND REMAKES. AND KWEH.

Why having the guts to end a story definitively is Moogles, chocobos and the like are no longer as important as the story itself thriving as FF’s in-game cheerleaders

et’s be honest with ushers in its end credits, but he Final Fantasy bleak. Chocobos used to be one another: whether I’ll say this much: Rocksteady series contains some prize-winning racing birds, it be a book, a film, a brings the Arkham-verse we of the cutest mascots but now they are just war comic or a humble know and love to a natural videogames have to zone transportation. Combat Lgame, there’s at least one close. By building a unique Toffer. Chocobos, moogles, Chocobos, Assault Chocobos, story or universe you love so yet familiar world in a moombas – they are Ninja Chocobos – it’s no dearly – so emphatically – medium removed from an essential part of the wonder FF Type-0 HD has 025 that you’d happily spend the that of its material, FF aesthetic, much like been described as one of the rest of your days watching/ the Brit studio is able to craft airships and eidolons. darkest instalments in the reading/playing it in abject a thematic conclusion to a They are accomplished series to date. bliss. Just one last swish of character otherwise bound battle companions, treasure- Meanwhile, the FFXV the wand in Harry Potter. by his timelessness. hunting steeds and lovesick demo presents a world where How about one final ride arcade game protagonists – moogles have been reduced to with the Sons Of Anarchy? GIVING UP THE COWL but recently I discovered rear-view mirror decorations. Please, just more city- By choosing to round off that they are neglecting Camping with just the boys is destroying romps in the its story so definitively, their cheerleading duties. refreshing, but is a raw steak Marvel Cinematic Univ… Rocksteady has made the In FF Type-0 HD, moogles over a fire really going to add Wait, scratch that last one. biggest statement it can in – sorry, MOOGLEs (Military a much-needed splash of fun In fact, that Robert Downey console generation that’s Operation Organisation and to my gaming experience? Not Jr-shaped Freudian slip is likely to overpopulate with Guidance Logistics Experts) really, just like Malibu Stacy emblematic of the danger brand mitosis. Other games – don’t have the time or the isn’t going to make up for that lies in letting our beloved in the series may eventually inclination to dance and play the lack of a playable female universes spin into oblivion. make an appearance, but mini-games. Instead they character. Authentic virtual The inability to let go is a they’ll feel like nothing more eat, sleep and breathe battle girls and fairy-like cats are dangerous accelerant to throw than expensive fan fiction in tactics. As a player I’ve lost stars without substitutes. on the fires of our appetites the wake of this final chapter. my emotional pep squad. If The many adorable mascots for the familiar, and one that In a sea of innocuous I’m tired of levelling or need a of the FF series are not just eventually erodes the quality sequels that are grinding break from the main storyline, eye candy sweethearts and of a series as it struggles to down once-electric IP beneath I can no longer rely upon Mog bundles of fan service fluff. justify its ever-diminishing the wheels of their financial House or a novelty wind-up They’re essential cheerleaders returns. Not so for Rock- potency, the closing of the moogle to boost my mood. with the ability to make or steady’s Arkham closer – Arkham loop is a ray of light break a player’s mood using come what may, the true story in a smog of exhausted READ ON, KUPO! nothing more than a well- has taken its final bow. I just franchises. Knowing there The chocobos of FF Type-0 timed Mognet delivery. I don’t wish other franchises would won’t be another swing of the HD are blood-stained and know about you, but I think have the guts to follow suit. Bat from Rocksteady hurts, armour-clad. There is not a Final Fantasy title is just Don’t worry, I’m not going but it’s far less grievous than a single pink, blue or green that little bit sweeter when to spoil the way in which seeing a great series brought feather in sight – never has its mascots are your number Batman: Arkham Knight low by brand fatigue. canary-yellow looked so one in-game supporters.

WRITER BIO WRITER BIO Production editor and all-round comic book obsessive Dom Reseigh-Lincoln Contributing writer Jenny Baker fell in love with videogames the moment she probably knows a little too much about Gotham’s greatest export. He also really completed Disc One of FFVII. When she’s not writing about JRPGs and sweet likes the Arkham Knight’s version of the Batmobile – he thinks you should, too. indie titles, she can be found watching anime and drinking peppermint tea. 1 SCHOOLS

Schools Swotting up for those finals with PlayStation’s strictest, scariest schools

1 CANIS CANEM EDIT 4 TONY HAWK PRO 7 LOLLIPOP Ugh. We hate calling it that. SKATER HD CHAINSAW ‘The Artist That Should Have Let’s get down to our local Typical. You go to meet your 2 Been Known As Bully’ in the educational institution and boyfriend at school – in this UK loves a virtual wedgie. scuff the hell out of its case San Romero High – and Or Two. Or Ten. No other playground, Tony. First seen you find eating him. game lets you do quite in THPS2, the School II stage Juliet soon lops his head off, such unpleasant things to reappears in Tony’s dodgy with her beau turning into a 026 students’ briefs as Jimmy HD port. It may not have cadaver-less sidekick as Hopkins’ schoolyard sandbox. been the most loving the cheerleader slays the Life at Bullworth Academy remaster, but cube-gleaming undead. Copious schoolyard may be tough, but at least outside that gym is gnarly. -slaughtering ensues. you can always stuff your classmates in a bin. Just 5 LIFE IS STRANGE 8 SOUTH PARK: make sure the prefects “Life moves pretty fast. THE STICK OF TRUTH don’t catch you out of class. If you don’t stop and look Soooo many gingers. Sent around once in a while, you on a vital quest by Cartman 2 could miss it.” Wrong, Ferris! (sorry, sorry… the Wizard Midwich Elementary School If you’re Maxine Caulfield, you King), new kid ‘Douchebag’ is not a wholesome place to spend your days at Blackwell must help free a child called be educated. If little demons Academy rewinding time. Craig from the ghastly evils 3 called Mumblers aren’t biting Stop a murder in the girls’ of detention. Braving the at your ankles, then the toilet! Prevent a tragedy corridors of South Park place is being sucked into a on top of a roof! Personally, Elementary, the new kid nightmarish universe known we’d use Max’s power must beat a bunch of carrot as the Otherworld. Harry to cheat in chemistry. top hall monitors to fetch a Mason may not leave with a classroom key. diploma, but at least he gets 6 PERSONA 4 out with his spleen intact. GOLDEN 9 OBSCURE Your school days are a more Or The One That Looks 3 innocent time… unless you Just Like The Faculty. Agitated monkeys! Monsters! get an education in Inaba. Clearly developer Hydravision Lovely autumnal colours! If you’re a student in this loved Robert Rodriguez’s TLOU’s ‘Go Big Horns’ Japanese town you’ll be high school horror. Set at chapter is pretty chilled out, sucked into a strange Leafmore High, this PS2 in spite of screeching simian dimension known as TV scare ‘em up goes for test subjects that roam the World, where you’ll battle infected teachers over a Eastern Colorado campus. evil beings called Shadows. sexy teen alien invasion. But As Joel explains the concept Get ready to solve the odd just look at stoner character of uni to Ellie, the pair’s bond murder when bodies are Stanley Jones: he’s had Josh beings to fully forge. Naughty found strung to TV antennas, Hartnett’s face grafted on. Dog rules at moments. too. Y’see, ‘innocent’. Imitation is flattery, right?

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Rival Schools Dead Space 2 Mishima Polytechnical (say that More fighting at school?! Double The Sprawl station in this ten times fast) is a favourite tsk, tsk! This PS1 fighter is like horror is home to the creepiest stomping ground of Xiaoyu. a Marvel Vs Capcom title. Just nursery ever. Look out for the Fighting at school? Tsk, tsk. replace Hulk with rowdy kids. exploding baby Necromorphs!

Did we miss your favourite school? Got a brilliant In The Mood For idea? Show and tell at twitter.com/opm_uk. 4 7

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Sponsored by: 34 FIFA 16 EA ’s annual footy sim aims to take its crown back from PES – but will the new Draft mode be enough to seal the deal?

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CONTENTS DOOM 30 | FIFA 16 34 | RAINBOW SIX SIEGE 36 | SWORD COAST LEGENDS 37 | PES 2016 38 GRAND AGES: MEDIEVAL 40 | NEED FOR SPEED 41 | EITR 44 | MOTHER RUSSIA BLEEDS 44 DISHONORED II 45 | DRAGON’S DOGMA ONLINE 45 | TRANSFORMERS: DEVASTATION 45 PREVIEW

030 Id’s promise for Doom: “You can kill things in this game in ways that you couldn’t kill things before.” PREVIEW

“THE DEVS MAKE IT CLEAR: ‘MOVEMENT IS KING, STOPPING IS DEATH’.”

FORMAT PS4 /A ET SPRING 2016 PUB / DEV ID SOFTWARE

DOOM 031 The road to Hell is paved with brilliantly gory intentions

We sit, tensed and expectant. A countdown timer ticks away in front of us. 11 years after the last one, we’re seconds away from playing a new Doom game. We’re nervous and excited, and that timer seems to be taking ages. But then it happens. . We push forward, hurtle along the brutally industrial corridor like we’re ice-skating on butter. We leap through the doorway ahead with the heft and speed of a cannonball, and that’s it: we’re playing Doom.

In a literal sense, of course we are. Doom is, after all, the title of this new Doom game from Doom creator id Software. But this game – coming after 2004’s intriguing but odd excursion into jump-scare survival FPS in Doom 3 (brought to PS3 in 2012) – roars of the series’ original excesses and delights. And boy are we ready to roar back with enthusiasm… ROCKET AND A HARD PLACE We spot our first unfortunate prey as he rounds a doorway onto the raised, lava-skirting gantry. We fire our rocket launcher, old ’90s instincts kicking back in, intending to push him back and bully him to submission with a barrage of splash damage. Pull the trigger, and sure enough, rocket follows speeding rocket; no lengthy lock-on sequence, not a second of firing delay and no reloads. Just a rapid rain of explosive destruction as we cleanly duck and weave to avoid his return fire. PREVIEW

Left Demons aren’t all bad. With the right power-up you can turn into one in a round of multiplayer.

Right Doom is just relentless. When you’re in a combat scenario, killing demands all your attention.

Drop an enemy’s health until it flashes and Doom’s melee executions will let you turn it inside out.

Captial gunishment Guns. Lots of guns. And a chainsaw…

The super shotgun is Doom’s The chainsaw. Because why The BFG-9000. The Rock The rifle fires fast, hot most legendary weapon. risk meleeing with a combat knows what those initials and angry. Its ammo doesn’t 1Effectively a ‘kill everything’ 2knife when a few scores of 3really stand for. Short on 4do the most damage, but for switch at close range, firing it feels whirring steel teeth will get the job ammo, and takes a while to charge hit-and-run crowd-control, it’s one like kicking a tomb door open. done with zero ambiguity? up, but it’ll flatten a mountain. hell of a wingman. PREVIEW

A little while later, our team finds itself pinned down in a similar doorway. By that point we’re long reacclimatised to the way a game like Doom works; all movement and manoeuvrability, all swirling, cat- and-mouse strategy and outside-the-box, vertical one-upmanship. It’s hard to sit still. As Doom’s devs later confirm, “movement is king, stopping is death.” We break away from the pack, spot a small but suspicious pipe curving along above, and hurtle towards it using Doomguy’s instant, silky- smooth double-jump. A swift, flowing mantle later and we’re charging along said hidden conduit, ready to leap off behind enemy lines and explode our tormentor into a fine, red mist with a fully-loaded, mid-air Super Shotgun blast to the head. He never sees it coming. It feels delightful. But the brilliant part, the really exciting, grin- inducing part, is that these aren’t just the visceral, Above Doom’s plot is as scant as ever, but that’s definitely a good thing. superficial thrills of ‘old-school’ carnage. Doom is as You’re here to fight and eviscerate demonic hordes, not emote at them. much about intellect as explosions. Its surface level always looks utterly, gloriously anarchic, but actually Doom underpins all of that triumphant, air-punching slaughter with a cleverly designed framework of “THIS DOOM UNDERPINS calculated risk, reward and intent. Yes, it’s an FPS where the best form of attack is attack, and the best form of everything else is ALL OF ITS AIR- attack as well – the official line is, “Push-Forward Combat,” a setup where taking the initiative PUNCHING SLAUGHTER is always the best course of action, and FACTRICK camping is tantamount to suicide. But in 1. MUSIC MAN order to succeed, in order to make anything WITH A DEEPLY Doom’s raucous soundtrack worthwhile out of the ever-shifting storm is by Mick Gordon, who also 033 did Wolfenstein: The New cloud of plasma, lightning and lead, you’ll INTELLIGENT DESIGN.” Order and The Old Blood. need to be constantly thinking a step 2. TRY AGAIN ahead, permanently aware of the strengths A COD-style Doom was and weakness of your weapon set, and the scrapped by id, because opportunities for creative assault and escape it wasn’t, “the game we thought fans wanted.” Quite. afforded by your surroundings. 3. GET UP! BRAINS BEFORE BRAWN There’s no crouch button in Doom. According to id, It’s also a game of precision. Just a little “crouching just makes you a experience with Doom’s eclectic weapons slower target.” tells you that. Rockets come out fast, but don’t do enough indirect damage to be cheap hits. You need to predict, track and even lead your target. The plasma rifle paints the room with glowing, hot pain, but if you want serious damage, you need to look away from easy, rapid fire options. In that respect, Doom’s railgun equivalent is as dangerous and accurate as you’d expect, but to get serious power out of it, you’ll need to scope and charge, hamstringing yourself in a game this fast. The static rifle can let out a powerful burst of Above Doom plays into its all-the-guns, all-the-time setup. energy but, brilliantly, only after you’ve warmed its You’ll switch constantly to deal with ever-changing situations. kinetic charger by running around for a while. Make no mistake, this is a game that wants you to get up close and personal. It doesn’t want you to snipe your quarry from afar. It wants you to really interact with them, whether in multiplayer or campaign. As was always the way, Doom’s Hellish enemies aren’t designed to be fought one at a time. Each is a unique piece on an FPS chessboard, with specific strengths, purposes and weaknesses. Taking a room apart is like solving a very bloody puzzle-box from inside, and with intricate, multi-layered maps and a huge, always-ready arsenal, you’ll have plenty of ways to do that. According to art director Hugo Martin, “You feel like Bruce Lee with a shotgun on a Above After a few years of wavering, id is now utterly clear skateboard.” And frankly, having played Doom now, on what Doom is, and is very excited about making it. we’re at a loss for a better metaphor. PREVIEW

FIFA 16 ups the licensed stadium count to 50 – finally, Bournemouth gets its moment of PS4 glory.

“WITH AN ENTRY FEE OF 300 FIFA POINTS, 034 DRAFT MODE COULD FORMAT PS4/PS3 /A ET 24 SEP PROVE COSTLY.” PUB EA / DEV EA CANADA FIFA 16 Ultimate Team is coming for your cash

Like a naughty wall during a freekick, FIFA 16 edges ever closer – now it’s a case of tweaking. Shots feel more satisfying since our last hands-on, especially thwacking one in after a run up, and subtly effective Passes With Purpose (u+q) speed up attacks without being magic bullets (not everyone can instantly control a quick ball to feet).

This issue we also play Career, which really focuses on player growth. You can put five players a week through mini-games, or sim them for convenience, Above No-Touch Dribbling enables you to fool defenders while the ball trickles forward by itself. to improve their attributes and market value. Class of ’92, meet class of 2015. But fantasy-squad-builder Ultimate Team is the Get Real biggest mode, both in terms of popularity and money The updated faces of Real Madrid’s stars generated, so EA has introduced a frighteningly effective way to draw more of both. In Draft you’re given temporary ownership of randomly selected superstars in an attempt to beat four matches in a row. The more wins, the better your prize. We only log a single victory before cashing out and earning a silver, jumbo silver and gold pack, As a result of Due to the march of Sure, Raphaël Varane which is no meagre return. In both single-player and EA Sports’ new time, players now look looks alright, maybe multiplayer, it’s a quick flutter for those lacking time 1partnership with 2a whole year older. 3a little waxy, but what for a season, but there’s a catch. With entrance fees the Spanish giants, it’s The upside is Colombian we really want to know is of 15,000 coins or 300 points (the latter bought with re-scanned 14 player faces. wonderkid James Rodriguez whether EA has included Here’s Ronaldo and his mole. now has an improved quiff. Bale’s misjudged top-knot. real money), it can prove costly. Whether your wallet will like it or not, FIFA 16 is a quiet revolution. ADVERTORIAL Want to save online? Beat My Price could save you up to 12% when buying online

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THE SMALL PRINT 1) 3 out of 4 times Beat My Price finds a better price than the one found by the consumer. 2) Personalised discount emailed to you within 48 hours. Limited time period to use discount, usually 12 hours. PREVIEW

Siege’s Terrohunt mode takes place across 11 maps from numerous locations worldwide.

“A FEW PRECISE POPS AND WE’RE BLEEDING OUT ON FORMAT PS4 / ETA 13 OCT / PUB UBISOFT / DEV UBISOFT MONTREAL THE POLISHED RAINBOW SIX SIEGE WOODEN FLOOR.” I wanna have Six on the breach…

There’s a moment in Rainbow Six Siege more precise but what they’ll never be where we’re hunkered down inside the is magically more resistant to bullets. French Consulate’s glossy head office Different enemy archetypes call for after planting a device that’s currently tactical versatility. Roamers smartly – agonisingly slowly – diffusing a bomb. We’re flank doors with a shotgun for counter-terrorist operatives, that’s what we do. quick and dirty ambushes, while the The shooting has ceased, and we’re nervously Engineer is more of a support type, scanning all possible entrances for intruders. often found setting up fortifications and traps. If the terrorists were a band, Suddenly there’s the almighty sound of glass Bombers would be the group’s bad shattering – they’ve only bloody gone and crashed boy; strapped with explosives and fond through the window! A few precise pops and we’re of charging at you before exploding. bleeding out on the polished wooden floor. Sorry we failed you, world. Our total bad. SIXY BEAST Rainbow Six Siege always finds ways to Ubisoft uses its ‘Siege Generator’ engineer this thrilling, sometimes disheartening, tech to ensure no game’s the same, unpredictability. Take the devious enemy AI, which jumbling up enemies, levels, time of dynamically finds creative solutions to problems day and objectives. The four modes – like how to storm a room occupied by a badass – Terrohunt Classic, Disarm Bomb, SWAT team. The next time we attempt to secure Extract Hostage and Protect Asset – that office they blow a chunk out of the wall with a represent a good spread that forces deafening white-hot charge. Well, hot damn. both attacking and defending. Chuck Everything you can do, they can do too, such as five-on-five competitive matches into Above Destruction never feels canned. Bullet calibre erecting barricades, rappelling down walls and laying the mix and Siege boasts a generous angles and the materials an C4. Compellingly, higher difficulties are harsher but package… even if you’re never quite object is made from affects always fair; opponents will be more numerous and sure what it’s going to do next. how things break apart. PREVIEW

“IT’S A COMPELLING ANGLE FOR PLAYERS TO CREATE NEW RPG STORIES WITH MATES.”

FORMAT PS4 / AET WINTER PUB DIGITAL EXTREMES / DEV DIGITAL EXTREMES/N-SPACE SWORD COAST LEGENDS Dungeons & Dragons arrive on PS4

Sword Coast Legends aims to bring classic D&D gameplay to PS4 in 2015. And while we’re not fully brushed up on the latest lore, what we’ve sampled in Sword Coast Legends proves it’s an isometric 037 fantasy RPG with a killer co-op mode, regardless of how well you know the tabletop game.

While it also has a full single-player campaign from some of the same people behind Dragon Age: Origins, co-op brings classic D&D to life: one player creates a dungeon, while four other players of different classes attempt to make their way through it. The Dungeon Master can then shape the dungeon in real-time, dropping in new enemies and traps along the way, while the other players try to beat it. It’s a compelling angle for players to experience and create unpredictable RPG stories with their friends. Like Divinity: Original Sin, Sword Coast Legends is a PC-styled classic RPG that’s also coming to PlayStation. There are six character classes to choose between and a ton of relevant abilities for each one – key to Sword Coast Legends’ success will be how well a fairly complex PC-style interface translates to a pad. That multiplayer mode is well-executed and appealing, though, and it’s pleasing to see something on the nerdier side of RPGs make its way to PS4.

Working out your class advantages is the key to Above Enjoy Dungeons & Dragons in an environment where surviving dungeons in you’re unlikely to be mocked by high school jocks. Sword Coast Legends. PREVIEW

FORMAT PS4/PS3 / ETA 18 SEP / PUB KONAMI / DEV PES PRODUCTIONS PES 2016 Neymar sets a high bar in the PS4 footy title to beat

Twenty years ago, the beautiful droplets of sweat on brows or the scar game was a lot less easy on the above Pirlo’s left eye, the best models eye. Vinnie Jones hacking the are something to marvel. PES has shins off anything with a pulse. always had the edge over FIFA when it Disgusting goalie tops so poke- comes to recreating top stars in ultra your-eyes-out bright they’d make convincing fashion, and that certainly shell suited ravers blush. Peter Beardsley. For PES, isn’t changing this season. those last two decades haven’t always been the On the pitch, it’s vastly revamped prettiest, either – mid-table mediocrity was about collision detection that’s stealing all Konami’s kickabout could achieve on PS3. headlines. Last year’s PES was guilty Yet now, as the publisher celebrates two decades of clipping and players awkwardly 038 of ISS/PES titles, there’s finally something to colliding like they were sad Ken celebrate again. Like last year’s effort, PES 2016 is and Barbie dolls bumping against good. ‘Book the open-top bus right now’ good. each other. Now, matches ooze with an assured physicality; something Last season, PES Producions managed to yank the reflected in newly tense aerial battles title out of EA Canada and FIFA’s Fergie-strong grasp where manually jostling for position for the first time in years. The quiet renaissance the before jumping for a header is key. series has enjoyed on PS4 continues unabated this year, with a raft of updates KEEPER THE FAITH giving PES a real chance at back-to-back But what about goalies? Every year FACTRICK titles. The PS2 glory days are back. we bemoan the men between the 1. LEAGUE LEADERS PES 2016 is all about polish. Though sticks. Yet this time, there’s an instant, Master League is getting global cover star Neymar may only have appreciable improvement. Thanks to further presentation tweaks been a three-year-old when ISS Deluxe the new Goalkeeper ID, the likes of to touch up its menus and transfer updates. was released on PS1 in late ’97, the dashing Neuer and co. can be trusted to punch 2. LIKE A CROSS Barca hitman is the ideal player to embody balls away from danger zones, crippling the game’s newfound grace and style. the cheap rebounds that have plagued Crosses feel penetrative, offering a persistent threat Konami’s FOX tech has already blown both PES and FIFA for years. without falling into FIFA 15’s our knee-high socks off in Metal Gear Solid It’s good news from an attacking trap of cheaty wing-play. V over on p76, and it’s equally impressive perspective, too. The game’s new 3. SMALL VS TALL during matches here. More detailed skin Intelligent Player AI ensures your CPU Shorter players can nip in textures, crisper lighting and grass that chums make runs and create space front of larger opponents to unsettle them as they go for cuts up all lend PES 2016 a lovely fidelity. more intuitively, so you’re not always headers. Don’t pout, Crouch. In motion, it’s even better, and a lack of forced to go for that manual one-two. locking animations and reduced controller In turn, this helps create for space for latency means the action’s more natural than ever. shots, and by Neymar’s £700 haircut if banging the ball isn’t invigorating. MODEL CITIZEN Shooting is a delight; the best Oh, and the player models? Fuhgeddaboudit. We it’s been since PES’s PS2 pinnacle. Be offer this without a hint of hyperbole: Andrea Pirlo’s it subtle toe-pokes, cushioned half PES mug is the most photo-realistic we’ve seen volleys at the back post to meet an in- on PS4. It’s not just the Italian midfield maestro swinger or 25-yard punted piledrivers, who looks eerily lifelike either; almost every man connecting with the ball has rarely felt we zoom in on with free-cam in replays looks so ridiculously empowering. stupendous during our Juventus vs Bayern Munich Will PES top FIFA for the second friendly. Well, except for Chiellini. Because Chiellini. year running? The odds are strongly in Facial animation obviously doesn’t rival Uncharted Konami’s favour, but plenty can change 4, but the sheer detail is INSANE. Whether it’s tiny before the virtual season begins… PREVIEW

The PS4 version benefits from editable option files. It’s a feature exclusive to Sony’s machine, and will let you port in custom badges to make kits authentic.

Konami pulled off a coup by resigning the Champions League licence for another three years.

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“SHOOTING IS A DELIGHT; THE BEST IT’S BEEN SINCE THE PS2 PINNACLE.”

Above Manual trademark celebrations mimic FIFA’s post-goal capers. This is just one example of how PES 2016 is sexing up its entire package. PREVIEW

It’s a huge continent, but that doesn’t mean you’ll on have all that verdant space to yourself. the box judged only by their covers

“EXPLORE, EXPAND AND EXTERMINATE WWE 2K16 YOURWAYTOTHE As the standard bearer for a new age of scent-based gaming, this BO simulator ROLE OF EMPEROR.” tasks you with hunting down stinky attendees at a Phil Mitchell biker convention. The catch? Their musk is so ripe it can shatter glass at a FORMAT PS4 / ETA 25 SEP / PUB KALYPSO MEDIA / DEV GAMING MINDS hundred paces. FORMAT PS4/PS3 ETA 30 OCT

040 GRAND AGES: MEDIEVAL Wait! Come back! You might like it! Maybe… Possibly…

Videogames: a medium where you dry concept, obviously, but it’s one can, quite literally, do anything. of those things we can see being ‘Anything’ meaning trading timber captivating as you choose what with local villages in the year 1056. goods you wish to risk sending on a Or earthenware. Or food. Okay, so Grand Ages: particular route and the like. Medieval isn’t an explosion of fantastical Throw in hands-off combat reliant RAINBOW SIX imagination all over your screen – there’s on pre-management of resources SIEGE no magic, no fairies, not even a single beast rather than tactical nuance, seven In a not too distant future, summoned to do your bidding – but it is deep opponents made up of AI or online the DIY SOS team has and it’s a ludicrous time sink much like fellow players, and a meticulously-modelled traded its purple polo Kalypso stablemate Tropico 5. European map and you’ve got a recipe shirts for black Kevlar. This for something with limited, but isometric brawler sees you Usually finding its home on the PC, huge games of nonetheless solid appeal. forcing attic conversions on gun-toting homeowners. managing townships over ‘short’ campaigns lasting It would be a ridiculous leap of FORMAT PS4 ETA 13 OCT 20 hours aren’t what anybody would call mainstream. faith to assume Grand Ages: Medieval But where Call Of Duty scratches the ‘I must shoot will be anything more than a niche things’ itch, Grand Ages: Medieval aims to massage hit, but it looks like the kind of game your brain into a warm pile of cerebral jelly. that will get its claws dug deep and hard into those who get their kicks DRIER THAN OSCAR WILDE from straight-faced historical trade Ostensibly an empire-building game, Grand Ages: simulations. The rest of you can safely Medieval tasks you with a simple goal: start as the go about your business as if nothing mayor of a single town and explore, expand and ever happened. exterminate your way to becoming the emperor of the vast 20 million square kilometre map of . This is all carried out in a real-time simulation – though one that can be slowed, sped up or paused as MAD MAX you see fit – and requires you claim new territories, Add a splash of on-the-nose destroy those who won’t deal with you and negotiate irony to your day with this with those who will. environmentally lopsided RPG. Attempt to raise The core tenet of Grand Ages: Medieval revolves awareness on rising CO2 around trade – by the time you’re a dozen hours emissions by riding around in you’ll have countless routes set up to keep your Above You’ll be seeing a lot of lines like these, in a souped-up motor that empire building, expanding and earning. It’s a so long as you have a healthy trade setup. chugs petrol like it’s Pepsi. FORMAT PS4 ETA 1 SEP PREVIEW

Earn Rep Points by speeding, avoiding cops, drifting, customising your ride and racing in events.

“THE OPEN-WORLD STRUCTURE MIMICS THE LATER NFS FORMAT PS4 / VETA 3 NO / PUB EA / DEV GHOST GAMES TITLES ON A MUCH NEED FOR SPEED LARGER SCALE.” Series reboot keeps the junk in its trunk

For a game that’s aiming to reset the sub-series will love being able to franchise, hands-on impressions reveal tinker endlessly with (what are to us) this is a somewhat messy welding nebulous concepts such as front tyre together of ideas from previous eras. pressure. For everyone else, there are Tearing down the moonlit streets of downtown two default settings – ‘grip’ and ‘drift’. Ventura Bay, the nocturnal West Coast sprawl that serves as host city, we spot past influences at OLD MEETS NEW every junction. The open-world structure mimics These are basically analogous to, the later Need For Speed titles, only on a much respectively, the front-heavy, wild and larger scale; tight urban grids soon giving way woolly handling of the Underground to other familiar NFS themes such as winding games, and the sharp handling of canyon roads and perilous industrial parks. Critereon-era NFS – more refined and responsive, but no less knuckle- Then there’s the oppressive police presence, whitening for it. It’s a weird feeling, transplanted directly from Hot Pursuit, with whom having both these completely different we repeatedly butt heads during an eight-player bout handling models co-existing on the of Rep Attack – a score attack challenge that tasks same tarmac, but when the race competitors to drive dangerously to rack up as many begins it somehow works, with points as possible in an allotted time period. drift-worshippers taking the inside The tactics needed to bother the upper end of lanes, while those who plump for the leaderboard depend on decisions made earlier grip screech round corners in wide, in the garage. Here you can play homage to the untameable arcs, maintaining top series’ Underground heyday by tinting your car in speed as they straighten up. As such, Above Rural reader beware: NFS requires an ‘always on’ various retina-searing shades of neon. Or you can it seems Ghost Games has pulled off internet connection, so the concentrate on making more tangible changes to an impressive act of engineering that plot can weave your friends’ the handling. Fans of the short-lived NFS: Shift manages to feel new and fresh. progress into the narrative. PREVIEW PREVIEW ROUND-UP As September rolls MOTHER into view, we’ve got RUSSIA BLEEDS an overflowing cart FORMAT PS4 / ETA 2016 PUB of big hitters and DEV LE CARTEL curiosities to get The humble side-scrolling beat-’em-up is the next you excited for the genre set to be revived for future. How about a modern times, at least if THE TECHNOMANCER Mother Russia Bleeds is any FORMAT PS4 / ETA 2016 / PUB FOCUS HOME / DEV SPIDERS Norse-obsessed indication. It combines the gore, ‘80s obsession and Brilliantly named dev Spiders did action RPG or a hallucinatory story of the red planet with their critically retro beat-’em-up Hotline Miami with the reviled RPG Mars: War Logs, and side-on punching of Streets now they’re returning with pseudo-sequel with a Streets Of Of Rage. Did we mention it The Technomancer. What’s a Technomancer, Rage crush? has four-player co-op, too? Mother Russia Bleeds is set you ask? It’s a super-powered, electricity- in a parallel-universe USSR, wielding warrior (it’s also what you play as the timeline seemingly in this sci-fi action RPG). It’s all gone a bit diverging to favour gimp Total Recall, you see, and Mars needs a good masks, drug lords and technomancing to clear out all the bandits ultra-violence. You play and giant arachnids. Spiders’ budget might as an imprisoned street pale in comparison to Bioware’s, but this fighter, though we suspect could be a fitting stopgap while we wait for 042 you won’t be kept behind Mass Effect Andromeda. bars for long…

EITR THE DWARVES SNIPER GHOST FORMAT PS4 / ETA 2016 FORMAT PS4 /A ET 2016 PUB DEVOLVER DIGITAL PUB EUROVIDEO MEDIEN WARRIOR 3 DEV ENEME ENTERTAINMENT DEV KING ART GAMES FORMAT PS4 / ETA SPRING 2016 / PUB CI GAMES Norse mythology continues Dwarves get their turn DEV CI GAMES to be a great source of in the limelight with this Snipers in games are jerks, inspiration for games, as upcoming tactical RPG unless you happen to be does, inevitably, Hidetaka based on Markus Heitz’s playing as one, in which Miyazaki’s Souls series. fantasy novel of the same case snipers are amazing. Eitr’s tactical combat, name. Yep, rather than This explains two things: ferocious skeletons, playing as another boring why the class is so popular Yggdrasil references and human or elf, you’ll play in online shooters, and why giant bearded men suggest as a bunch of diminutive the shonky Ghost Warrior this may be a match made beardy types, in particular series is still kicking around. in Valhalla. It’s an isometric as a dwarf named Tungdil. This new entry takes action-RPG with fantastic Combat features masses the head-popping FPS pixel art and animation, with of enemies for you to to Eastern Europe, and a fiery heroine who reminds pulverise with your dwarven features a Batman-style us of Jon Snow’s wildling weapon of choice, while The detective mode and, of squeeze Ygritte from Dwarves’ world is supposed course, drones. It’s a Game Of Thrones using a to be huge and filled with military game made in 2015, variety of weapons to battle secrets – mysteries you’ll after all. You’re here for the undead – numbers and uncover with up to a dozen, the large sandboxy maps, shiny loot spilling from their equally squat companions at however, which enable wounds in the process. your side. This could be The you to plan your murdery Because zombies bleed gold Hobbit game you never objectives using stealthy in Norse mythology, right? knew you wanted. or explosive measures. PREVIEW

COOK, SERVE, SNOW NEW NIER FORMAT PS4 / ETA TBC DELICIOUS! 2 PUB SONY / DEV POPPERMOST PROJECT FORMAT PS4 / ETA 2016 PRODUCTIONS FORMAT PS4 / ETA TBC PUB VERTIGO GAMING INC PUB SQUARE ENIX DEV VERTIGO GAMING INC The great advantage to DEV PLATINUM GAMES Game designer David TRANSFORMERS: playing an open-world skiing No, it’s not called Nier 2. Galindo’s passion for DEVASTATION game rather than actually Producer Yosuke Saito gastronomy-based gaming FORMAT PS4/PS3 /A ET 2015 taking yourself on a skiing won’t reveal what Square’s oddities was awakened by PUB ACTIVISION / DEV PLATINUM GAMES holiday is that the former next Nier game is actually none other than OPM, don’t offers you no chance to called yet, because you know? Back in the day After generating a lot of goodwill overdo it in the resort bar apparently its subtitle gives our US cousin used to for its original cartoon-inspired on the first night and spend away one of the game’s include samples of the more visuals and Platinum Games’ the next two days wrapped core concepts. Until Nier: esoteric Japanese titles out involvement, Transformers: in a duvet sipping tap water. Monkey Tennis is fully there on demo discs. Games Devastation keeps the hype train a-rollin’ Free-to-play offering Snow unveiled, we’re left to such as Ore no Ryouri, in with the announcement of five playable offers more than just the cogitate on what Square which you make food and transforming heroes. Optimus Prime, chance to keep liver Enix’s collaboration with serve beer to folks as Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Wheeljack and cirrhosis at bay, though – fast, fluid action-focused quickly as possible. Cook, Grimlock are all on the roster, facing off there’s a ton of character studio Platinum Games Serve, Delicious! 2 continues against notorious ne’er-do-wells Starscream, and environment will play like. Refreshingly, that fine lineage in spirit, Devastator and… Megatron! Who you’d customisation on offer, plus Saito says the devs are boasting some genuinely assume plays something of a key role in the option to ditch the sticks specifically looking to beautiful visuals. Of food, narrative proceedings, natch. A new snippet for a board. Snow’s being engage female gamers, yes. If you feel less of a of gameplay also shows a focus on juggling built using CryEngine 3, and since the original Nier person for never having enemies while airborne. Heihachi and his as such is looking as pretty was so popular with worked a fast food job, Tekken brethren would be proud. We don’t as a predominantly plain that demographic. To the 043 here’s your chance. have too long to wait – it’s out this year. white game can. naughty step, Mr Nukem. SHADOW WARRIOR 2 FORMAT PS4 /A ET 30 AUG PUB DEVOLVER / DEV Shadow Warrior wasn’t DRAGON’S the best game to grace DOGMA ONLINE PS4 in its early months, FORMAT PS4/PS3 / ETA 31 but it was an enjoyable AUG (JAPAN)/TBC (UK) enough tongue-in-cheek ninja PUB CAPCOM / DEV CAPCOM shooter. Thus, its sequel summons It still hasn’t been the level of enthusiasm you’d announced for a Western give a mug of room temperature release, but Capcom would water on a hot day – it’s not be crazy not to localise this DISHONORED 2 exactly what you want, but in online spin-off to their cult FORMAT PS4 / ETA 2016 a pinch it’s better than nothing. fantasy RPG. New footage PUB BETHESDA / DEV ARKANE STUDIOS Little’s known of the sequel has shown off the cross- to 2014’s title, which was in platform, PS4-meets-PS3- Corvo’s stealth/action sequel was itself a reboot of a 1997 3D and-PC multiplayer, and it’s something of an enigma at E3 2015, Realms game, other than a looking like something we but Arkane has since offered up a bit resounding assurance that need in our Dogma-deprived it’ll once again be brash, lives. Like most MMOs, DD more meaningful info – such as a non-linear boorish and not above Online will feature raids upgrade system that lets you enhance your cutting cars in half against big beasties – up to powers however you see fit and not just with katanas. Perhaps eight players can choose in a prescribed way. Picking Emily as your the best indication of to tackle these monsters in protagonist over Corvo opens up all-new its intended tone unison for the chance of skills that’ll let you play in the environment comes from the receiving lots of high-level like a superhero, while AI behaviours official Shadow loot. Like the original, have been revamped to include smarter Warrior Twitter combat looks satisfying – searching logic and situational awareness. account: “Who wants not something you can say We reckon this one Kaldwin big next year. more Wang?” You’re about many MMOs. alright, actually.

BETTER ON PS4

BETTER ON

With the second half of The Year Of PS4 well underway, Ahead you’ll discover five of the best blockbusters still BETTER ON PS4

047

PLAYSTATION4

our gaze shifts from the main exclusives to the multiformat big hitters. due before the year is out – and why they’re all better on PlayStation 4 BETTER ON PS4

ASSASSIN’S CREED SYNDICATE

We go blades-on with a new Victorian killing spree

FORMAT PS4 / AET 23 OCT / PUB UBISOFT / DEV UBISOFT QUEBEC

ondon. The closest cobbles. Posters plaster the walls 048 the Assassin’s Creed advertising Hebbington’s Teas, series has ever got to Deacons Soap and WH Atkinsons home. We’ve free-run Plate Polish. Buildings stretch L around the world from six and seven storeys above wide Constantinople to New York and streets, topped with towering signs wished for Victorian London for local businesses. for so long that now we’re here, we’re not sure what to do. Well, ROOK LIVELY no. That’s not true at all. Pub This is the most modern Creed and then rooftops? Everything to date and boy do we know it. is permitted in London Town… Carriages clatter noisily along the avenues and pedestrians stick Bizarrely, the first thing that to the pavements. Taking to the hits us in the eyeballs when we rooftops, you can see the hives get hands on with Jacob Frye’s of industry in Southwark sending Syndicate demo is how bright it soot-packed smoke billowing into is – unlike his sister’s demo, but the sky. This is a whole new world for the series, and it’s taken PS4’s grunt to get here. “We had to wait “THIS IS A WHOLE NEW for the technology to catch up,” WORLD FOR CREED, AND IT’S explains creative director Marc- TAKEN PS4 TO GET HERE.” Alexis Côté. “It’s like we really wanted to build more on that later. The streets what I call ‘modern London’, which of ’s were muddy and is actually Victorian London and brown. In contrast, London by the Industrial Revolution. I feel day is almost obscenely colourful. like the technology was not there The sun is out but it’s to build a pretty city. All the apparently been raining in the carriages, all the people, those City Of London – one of the taller buildings, the wider streets; seven distinct districts. Reflections they take a lot of computing shimmer in puddles on the power, and we’re there now.” Evie, the elder of the Frye twins, may opt for a quieter approach than her bro, but she’s just as brutal in a fight. Carriages are the vehicles of choice in Syndicate – you can drive them or leap onto the BETTER ON PS4 roof for a moving platform.

But a modern Creed doesn’t It’s almost disturbing how just mean a pretty city but new naturally it slips into Creed’s setup game mechanics too, and that – sorry Ezio/Edward/Altaïr. No means murdery toys. Our twin matter your twin of choice, the criminal Assassins Jacob and action’s somehow more fluid and Evie Frye aren’t only unique to yet more physical than in Mr the series in that they are both Wayne’s adventures. The pair leap playable, but both are armed with up walls in reverse abseils and the rope launcher. Essentially an spring over the top with dramatic Assassin branded grappling hook, flourishes, ready for parkour or another fire of the rope launcher. The prompt appears speedily and it’s “THIS CITY WAS BUILT FOR ideal for getting out of danger fast if USE WITH YOUR FANCY NEW you’re surrounded. It’s necessary, ROPE LAUNCHER TOOL.” too. London’s buildings tower over the streets, this is something old Da Vinci making climbing a bit of a slog if 050 probably wished he’d dreamt up you had to depend on Assassin for Mr Auditore instead of that climbing skills alone. This city hookblade Ezio picked up in was built for this tool and we soon Revelations. To the satisfying find ourselves combining climbing crank of Victorian engineering, with the rope launcher to take in the pair can hurtle up walls with a all the sights. Arno’s parkour up Evie’s style of combat lends itself to a more covert tap of o like Batman in a top hat. and parkour down controls from approach, including the ability to become invisible.

The Black Box mission design from Unity returns so you can approach large missions in various ways. BETTER ON PS4

Day and night cycles add a real personality to each mission – nighttime attacks are deliciously Gothic.

051

The rope launcher can be used to zipline across streets and zoom onto rooftops, Batman-style.

Unity are back, though, and Jacob’s swift on his escape; and there’s an allied guard feet – clambering nimbly up walls and signs who’ll help you take on the before striking a traditional Assassin pose. Templars if you support his cause. While rooftop free-running across London is Each seems like a valid choice and a nice test of the new Assassin tool box, it’s in it’s a far cry from the days you’d the story missions where things get really juicy just wait in the nearest hay cart and we see first hand just how much Ubi for your target to wander by. Quebec is trying to push the series forward. Switching out Jacob for his sister, Evie, we’re CANE SAILING introduced to villainous Templar target Lucy While both twins are (handily) Thorne in none other than the Tower of Master Assassins before they London. Night has fallen in the city and gas arrive in London, it’s Evie lamps glow above the streets. It’s what Ubisoft who is the true member of the likes to call one of the game’s ‘Black Boxes’, and Brotherhood when it comes to the introduction to this mission shows multiple stealth. “They both have their ways for Evie to achieve her slaughtery goal. own skill tree,” explains Côté. Aside from finding your own route in, there “Jacob approaches situations more are three different ways you can reach your head-on. He’s more aggressive and target. A set of master keys are available to more focused towards fighting his steal; a police constable has been imprisoned by way into and out of a situation, so Templars and will aid Evie if she helps him his skill tree is geared towards The Voltaic bomb in all its glory. Perfect for taking out large groups of enemies in BETTER ON PS4 one fell, electrical swoop.

combat. Evie is more strategic, ridiculously useful as a portable more thoughtful and her skill aerial assassination tool, guards tree’s more geared towards stealth.” aren’t blind and will notice you It’s clear as we start to explore zipping around in front of their the tower that Evie is the sneakier eyes. Vanishing is still key, and of the two. Not only can she carry the helpful shadow guide from more throwing knives but she has Unity is back here to let you an all new Chameleon skill that know where guards saw you last. renders her all but invisible to the eyes of guards. Stay still and TWINNING STREAK the nimble murderer will blend Another new addition to Syndicate into her surroundings – it sounds is the concept of guard levels. ridiculous, but in practice it works. Upon activating your trusty Eagle In fact, the stealth mechanics , numbers appear above have had a complete overhaul. enemy heads indicating their Instead of crouching with p, combat difficulty – as Evie and Jacob have their own skill trees and Yes, that’s Evie kicking some levels, you’ll be mutton-chopped backside on wise to level up top of a nighttime steam train. “THIS BEING THE AGE OF THE both twins evenly Syndicate is peak Victorian. in order to cope. 052 HIDDEN WEAPON, THE TWINS Given that you can explore the open- ARE SUITABLY EQUIPPED.” world as either Frye, this is clearly Ubi’s subtle way sneaking has been remapped to of making sure you don’t just play q. One tap and your Assassin the game as only one character. shifts into stealth mode, magically While Evie prefers stealthier switching from traditional approaches, she’s still an Assassin Victorian wear to hooded follower and her combat animations are of the Creed. Just beware – while every bit as brutal as her brother’s. this means you’ll now instantly Set in ‘the age of the concealed snap to cover (at last, right?) it also weapon’, the pair have a new set of means you can’t blend in with nasty stabbing devices to add to crowds as they really take offence the traditional hidden blade. Both to your murderous headwear. come armed with the sword cane, Hoodies don’t get hugs in which is topped with the brass Victorian London, it seems. rook emblem of their gang – a After deciding to aid the allied grim but satisfying death tool. guard at the Tower, we’re tasked The twins are equally adept with with dispatching two Templar this deadly walking aid, but Evie soldiers on the roof. Where (rather pleasingly) has surprisingly of a circle of guards. The addition of a six previously this would have been evil kill moves. Taking on the two shooter means a tap of w with the revolver a slog to climb, the rope launcher tower guards, Ms Frye embeds her equipped sees you performing a deft execution, andatap of o helpfully aids in cane in a shoulder before slicing and zero reloading times means that combat is hurtling Evie skyward. And we one throat and then stabbing the faster and deadlier than ever before. Add in learn a harsh lesson – while it’s other poor guard in the eye. Splat. Evie’s potent Voltaic bomb – which explodes in In general, combat is more a flurry of lightning and electrocutes any nearby intimate and impactful than in guards – and there’s a distinct level of previous games. Bones break, teeth ludicrously silly fun to the proceedings. fly and skulls crack as enemies get Heading back down to our new ally once up close and personal. It still we’ve polished off the requested Templars feels Creedy but the new style unveils another new mechanic. In a pleasant is satisfying in a brawl and you’ll riff on the damsel in distress trope, the eldest find yourself having to be far more Frye twin – that’s Evie – can pretend to be The Thames will be a district unto itself tactical this time around instead of kidnapped by a willing friend. Walk slowly – be thankful you can’t smell it. hammering counters in the middle enough to your target and no one will detect BETTER ON PS4

Who’s ready to place a bet on there being a Viewpoint right at the top of Big Ben? Yeah, odds are pretty good…

beautifully on PS4 and the returning Black Box assassination motivations and as you go through missions are full of promise, the storyline. Each one has their but it’ll be as Victorian London own unique path which leads to unfolds that we get to see what’s specific missions for both Jacob really on offer. To paraphrase and Evie. Then in the open-world Dickens somewhat, let’s hope it’s it’s up to the player to choose how the best of times and not the 053 they want to experience the game.” worst. London deserves it. CARRIAGE FREE And then… there are the vehicles. Ubisoft Quebec says that these are so important they add a whole BETTER ON PLAYSTATION new pillar to the franchise, and it’s clear they’re no tacked-on WHY IS THE PS4 VERSION extra. While you can crack THE ONE TO GET? the reins and hurtle down the Penny Dreadful guv’? No, there’s no city streets in carriage chases, you Green or Timothy Dalton here. can also take to the roof and brawl Only the grim, crime-filled contents while on the move, or even shoot of the weekly stories consumed by the horses of enemy vehicles with the masses of Victorian London. your newly added six shooter. PS4 is hosting ten exclusive side- missions that’ll see our assassins Then again you could always hit solving all manner of nasty deeds. them with a hallucinogenic dart “We call them The Dreadful or two – PETA will just love Crime missions,” explains Côté. that. Even though the steering’s “What you will do is you will meet heavy, driving through London with historical characters that will that you might just be playing along. We got all is enjoyably chaotic. Consider intertwine into these stories inspired by the penny dreadfuls. So the way to the villainous Ms Thorne without moving trains for more rooftop you’ll be solving mysteries – well, anyone batting an eyelid and with a satisfying fighting, plus a busy Thames that’s crimes – either as Jacob or as Evie, tap of r, it was time to head to the White filled with boats, and there’s so and each one of those stories will Room for Evie’s version of Requiscat In Pace. much potential here that it’s scary. tell something interesting and In terms of story, we’re not getting much to So far it still feels too hard different from the other ones. go on but both Assassins each have their own to call yet on how this stacks It’s very cool exclusive gameplay for PlayStation, there.” missions within the general theme of freeing up to Unity. Ubi is holding its Similar to Unity’s Murder London from the threat of Templars, and in the cards close to its chest after Mysteries, they’ll require you to mission we see, Evie is looking for a Shroud the problems of Paris, but there’s trigger your Eagle Vision and scope which may well be the legendary Golden Fleece. no denying the scale of what out clues as you solve killings and “I’ve always thought of Jacob and Evie Syndicate is offering: double- kidnappings. Add in the fact that Sweeney Todd originated from a representing the two facets of British society,” trouble in a sprawling and penny dreadful and we’re guessing says senior producer Jeff Skalski thoughtfully. distinctive with a you may investigate suspicious “One’s more the rebel, one’s more reserved. You ridiculous amount of new toys to meat pies… Anyone for a shave? experience that as you learn about their play with. What we’ve seen plays Don't expect to be performing Han Solo levels of badass piloting when you first start playing Fighter Squadron mode. layStation fans have childhood nights watching that been starved of Uncle dodgy VHS copy of Return Of The Georg… Sorry, Uncle our second cousin lent us. Mickey’s Far, Far Away Those legendary laser trails P space combat for way scorching the sky in Empire red too long. Sure, Battlefront II and Rebel Alliance green. Nien enabled us to briefly engage Nunb and Lando Calrissian flying in aerial combat on PS2, but through a partially-built Death compared with the dogfighting Star. Porkins immediately getting delights served up by Rogue his adorably fat face blown to bits. Squadron II on ’s Fighter Squadron captures the Gamecube, we’ve been downright spirit of those classic ILM malnourished when it comes to dogfights so impeccably, it’s all too getting proper X-wing on TIE easy to be bombarded with Star fighter action. Until now. Wars flashbacks while playing.

Enter Fighter Squadron mode: a CONTROL YOURSELF matchtype that looks to capture It’s also refreshing to see all the iconic, extra blasty, head- how immediately accessible spinning wonder of the original Battlefront’s new showpiece mode trilogy’s aerial duels. Wrapping our really is. DICE is hardly known twitchy digits around the latest for approachable vehicle combat demo of current-gen Battlefront, – ask anyone who’s ever tried to 055 the sheer ‘smack you in the face’ cack-handedly master Battlefield spectacle is almost too much to III’s A-10 Thunderbolt II jet – but bear. As we plunge cockpit-first the controls in Fighter Squadron into a savage 20-player duel above are surprisingly welcoming. i the ash-choked volcanic plains of handles guns, a swift prod of 4 Sullust, our minds snap back to or 6 rolls your ship, squeezing p STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT

DICE finds the Force (and the fun) in sci-fi dogfights

FORMAT PS4 / AET 20 NOV / PUB EA / DEV DICE

provides aim assist, while aiming and steering your craft is handled exclusively on the right stick. Oh, and if you’re feeling especially bullish, you can switch to first- person by dapping 2. Best bring a sick bag. Before you ask, we certainly wouldn’t describe Fighter Squadron’s combat as dumbed down – there’s far too much skill The cockpit cam is hugely immersive, but a cramped involved in keeping track of enemy field of view means it’s not for the faint-hearted. players’ positions for that. Yet Who cares if Greedo shot first or not? In Blast mode, you're free to shoot whenever you BETTER ON PS4 like with his Rodian brethren.

There's nothing quite like seeing a tight formation of X-wings to make you smile.

perhaps the friendlier interface is a conscious design decision on DICE’s part to distance Battlefront from Battlefield. “I don’t think we have a single system in the game that is the same as in Battlefield,” DICE’s general manager Patrick Bach tells us. “They are as far apart as any 056 shooter would be to any other shooter. I think people will be surprised that it’s even a DICE game in some cases, but I think that the quality of the game and the quality of the audio, the visuals, the emotion it evokes will hopefully feel very DICE.” One thing that certainly feels distinctly DICE is the unabashed chaos that envelops the skies of Sullust. As we desperately try to help our Rebel chums hit a score of 200 to win a Fighter Squadron

the air, can be damn the face at ground level than vaporise challenging. It’s crucial their TIE fighter chums in the clouds, then to listen to the AI Blast mode is for you. These ten-vs-ten team “UNLEASH A DEVASTATING audio cues that play play out on small chunks of map over your cockpit’s over a ten-minute time limit, and the first team BARRAGE OF HOT LASER comms system; to hit 100 kills wins. sternly-voiced warnings “One battle you’ll be fighting within interior JUICE ON YOUR FOES.” flagging up when an levels on Endor or Sullust,” says Battlefront’s enemy is on your six. lead level designer Dennis Brännvall. “In the Of course, when you next battle, you might find yourselves among match, we can’t help but feel do lock a foe in your crosshairs Tatooine’s dusty canyons, or inside the inadequate. Though controls may and unleash a devastating barrage undeniably cool Ice Caves on Hoth. My be approachable, lining up enemy of hot laser juice, the payoff is favourite is the verticality of Tatooine, fighting players in your sights is still a both supremely satisfying and by the Sandcrawler.” tricky business. Safe to say, we’re showy. Ships bomb into tailspins Thanks to the cramped surroundings of thankful for the odd ship repair and explode like Catherine wheels. these Blast arenas, close-quarters gunplay and token floating above the molten Jedi-quick reactions are brought to the fore. canyons – although even making a STAY ON TARGET Not that those cheaty lightsaber-wielders are dive for these can be perilous. Fighter Squadron isn’t the only allowed to play Blast matches, though. The Movement is fast and ferocious, recently announced mode vying to game’s legendary Heroes and Villains characters and just keeping on an opponent’s seduce your inner Force, though. If won’t unlock here, so there’s no relying on one tail, let alone blasting them out of you’d rather blast Stormtroopers in of your team turning into Darth Vader and 057

shish kebabing half of the opposition when you most need it. BETTER ON PLAYSTATION To make up for the fact you can’t get your Skywalker on, DICE WHY IS THE PS4 VERSION scatters pickups around the cosy THE ONE TO GET? maps. These include items such as droids and turrets, and getting Sony and EA have a sturdy marketing deal in place promoting to the match-turning perks can PS4 as the platform on which to really change the course of a play Star Wars Battlefront, with E3 battle. Expect some of them to banners proclaiming, “The Force is be exceedingly well hidden… strong with PlayStation,” and every Slowly orbiting Star Destroyers make for arresting Battlefront may not be the major hands-on session with the (and distracting) backdrop scenery during a skirmish. most ambitious game coming game taking place on PS4. No PlayStation-exclusive content has to PS4, but it damn sure is been announced or even hinted at, Whether saving a pal’s keister the most laser focused. so we think bonus levels or in the aerial arenas of Fighter There’s a wondrous harmony characters is unlikely. We wouldn’t Squadron or making a daring grab when matches hit full swing be surprised if a Beta is headed for a turret placement in the close and the game’s myriad PS4’s way earlier than on other quarters of Blast, Battlefront is a systems combine to create platforms but even if not it doesn’t game to savour with friends like matter – this is a game to be played moments of truly joyful with friends and, for that reason few others. Come November, the carnage and impromptu and that reason alone, PS4’s online Force is going to be very strong bouts of camaraderie. dominance will rule come launch. with PS4, indeed. BETTER ON PS4

DESTINY: THE TAKEN KING

We visit Bungie’s HQ to complete the new story

FORMAT PS4 / AET 15 SEPT / PUB ACTIVISION / DEV BUNGIE

he ‘s’-word was a but enough to understand that this contentious one is no mere DLC pack with a high during FPS sensation price slapped on it, as has been Destiny’s first year. suggested by some. It’s a complete T Just where was the reinvention of Destiny, with 058 story? Well, it was there. Er, content that’ll last months. almost entirely located on the That story first, then. You’ll Grimoire Cards accessible on the wrap it up in your first day or two, official website or the companion but inside its ten missions (three app, that is. And the internet of them are class-specific, so you’ll wasn’t short on people voicing need to play it with a trio of their opinions about this obscure Guardians to see it all) is more to method of storytelling. They see, do and enjoy than in all of the tended to use another ‘s’-word… original game’s campaign.

For all of you who felt burned by ‘NAUGHTS AND CROSSES Destiny’s campaign, there’s good Here’s a shocker: the new news: in The Taken King, story is Dreadnaught environment, home front and centre. We know, of your mega-foe Oryx, isn’t the because we’ve finished it. In fact, focus point of this campaign. during a two-day stint in Bungie’s That’s intentional – after all, why Seattle HQ, we sampled the full should you get to run around the castle before you’ve killed its king? Yes, you’ll visit the giant Hive ship “HERE’S A SHOCKER: THE that’s moored amongst Saturn’s NEW DREADNAUGHT ISN’T rings a few times during the tale, but THE FOCUS OF THE STORY.” The Taken King’s campaign is more eager to show you campaign, a couple of the new other things – new takes on Strikes, two new multiplayer familiar areas in the case of the modes (Mayhem and Rift), an monolithic tower hidden behind hour’s worth of the all-new the vault door at the back of player-triggered public events Sepiks’ Prime’s stomping grounds, known as the Court Of Oryx and for instance, or brand-new zones countless Patrols on the new such as a Cabal fortress on Mars’ Dreadnaught location. This is far moon Phobos – scene of the from all the expansion has to offer, bombastic opening tutorial. All three classes feel completely different to the existing roster. Our fave? Easy: the Hunter Nightstalker. BETTER ON PS4

These levels are, almost story. Cutscenes! Exposition! without exception, home to new Evidence that the Tower’s NPCs ideas, mechanics and concepts. do more than just stand in one Take the tense platforming spot for hours waiting patiently for sections featuring Taken – Oryx’s your return in order to sell you private army that’s made up of some leg armour! possessed versions of the existing alien races – forces capable of KING’S QUESTS knocking you off ledges to your We’re not talking about Witcher 3 doom with a charged energy blast; levels of plot, it should be said, but after the barebones storytelling of old, The Taken King’s attempt at weaving “NOLAN NORTH IS THE NEW together a tale you care about goes a GHOST. DINKLEBOT IS DEAD, long way. And Bungie’s efforts LONG LIVE NATHAN DRAKE!” aren’t just limited to new missions, either. A new or a clever and unexpected ‘Quests’ screen in your Guardian’s 060 rug-pull moment involving a menus keeps tabs on all your mission feature with which you’ve ongoing missions – you can track become all-too familiar. Avoiding the threads you’re keen on spoilers is an absolute must… pursuing next, and this will toggle And knitting these levels markers on the Director map together is an honest-t0-goodness screen to help you focus on the

Ghost making a bleeping sound in a mission? Then there’s an item nearby you can scan for more plot… The new player-triggered Court Of Oryx events deliver high-level battling without having to commit to a Raid.

061

next mission you’ll need to undertake. You can Taking a trip to the Tower causes also use this Quests page to cash in completed quest after quest to pop up from Bounties while still in the field. They’re small NPCs, including weapons jobs but important features that go a long way to (testing ‘experimental’ guns by bashing out the kinks of Destiny’s existing completing Gunsmith quests) and content – start a new game (or jump into new Bounties (keep an eye out for Destiny for the first time) and you’ll discover a the fireteam-focused ones such as tweaked and slightly remixed campaign that’s Crucible’s ‘The Team That Works Luke Smith says the new Raid – King’s Fall – is, “our now much easier to follow. Together’ task, unlocked by biggest to date in terms of fights, mechanics and size.” They’re not the only changes to Destiny’s fireteams of two or more current offering. Peter Dinklage’s much-derided collectively killing 25 enemies). creative director Luke Smith. Ghost VO work? It’s been binned and replaced The Dreadnaught is home to Aware that Destiny’s hardcore with lines recorded by Nolan North instead. Patrol mode too, of course – but crowd replay Strikes more than Dinklebot is dead, long live Nathan Drake! only after you complete the any other PvE content, Bungie’s But back to that new campaign. Or, rather, post-campaign mission that asks focused on upping replayability after it. The ten missions are excellent, but The you to explore its darkest corners – not just with puzzle-style Taken King only truly begins once they’re over. and actually place the Patrol bosses (one encounter with a tag- beacons at set points. It’s a small team of Cabal centurions is a real narrative touch, but a clever one. highlight) that demand clever strategies over brute force, but by STRIKE IT LUCKY introducing random combinations One of The Taken King’s biggest of different events leading up to design changes is in its approach these grand boss battles. to Strikes. Now considered “We want you to know endgame content, the new suite of something’s going to happen in Strikes boast ‘Raid-lite’ features. this room,” teases Smith, “but is it “What that really means is Strikes going to be the Taken? The Fallen? have things that you’re asked to The Hive? What’s going to show Buy The Taken King and you’ll get one Infusion Of Light react to, and bosses that do more up? It’s going to play out item, which will instantly boost one Guardian to level 25. than just soak up bullets,” explains differently each time.” New Exotics include shotgun The Chaperone and auto rifle Ukonvasara – the latter firing BETTER ON PS4 arc bullets with chain lightning.

Randomisation plays a part in a brand new PvE mode as well. Called Court Of Oryx, it’s a type of public event that’s controlled by the players. By offering different types of runes to statues in the court you summon various bosses for timed encounters, along with clues to help you succeed in battle. The type of runes you offer dictates the difficulty, though the bosses are summoned at random. Level one foes aren’t too tough – requiring you to blast through shields of ever-changing elements, for instance, or taking on two Hive

foes (enabling you to, for instance, tie bosses to their “YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO mobs, take cover and shoot the 062 UPGRADE YOUR EXISTING weakest foes to damage the LEGENDARY BITS OF GEAR.” strongest while still hidden) will steal most headlines, but Knights who are invincible until special mention must go to the you coax them towards one Keen Scout skill, which tags another – but tier two encounters enemies and tracks them behind throw you up against multiple walls – in both PvE and PvP. bosses at once while stage three Yet these three, completely fresh challenges pit you against enemies ways to tackle Destiny feel like the as tough as anything in the Raids. smallest part of what The Taken King is bringing to the shooter. A CLASS APART Not just because the expansion’s Look at The Taken King’s box art brimming with unseen places, and you’ll notice three new enemies and modes, but because Guardian subclasses: the Hunter of what it’s also doing to all the Nightstalker, the Sunbreaker established systems, too. and the Warlock Stormcaller. All Take levelling. The new level cap three offer up something unique, is 40 and it’ll dictate what gear none more so than the Hunter’s you can equip, but you’ll only hit new take on Robin Hood: a the cap through gaining XP. Light support class Guardian with some has nothing to do with it, because amazing perks. The bow-and- Light’s now its own levelling arrow ‘Shadowshot’ Special, which system: a three-digit number tethers groups of enemies together calculated by taking the average and shares damage amongst all Attack and Defence stats of your three equipped weapons, your three pieces of armour, your class The Taken may look familiar but their behaviours are armour (bond/cloak/mark), your new. Some can even create copies of themselves. Ghost (you’ll now pick up coloured shells) and a new piece of loot infusing your favourite Year Two gun or piece called an Artifact, which gives you of armour with the spare energy to raise any extra character perks. item you choose up to the maximum level. Gear has a new levelling system, There is a casualty, however: Year One gear. New PvP mode Mayhem multiplies scores too. It’s called Infusion, and it sees While certain exotics can be cashed in and by ten, resulting in pinball-style combos. you destroying unwanted kit and exchanged for Year Two versions (via a system BETTER ON PS4

BETTER ON PLAYSTATION

Echo Chamber is much more puzzle-focused than the Strikes you already know and love. ECHO CHAMBER STRIKE The end of Destiny’s first year also means Vex gates, not through shooting them but by an end to the timed-exclusivity period of transporting power orbs across the map. content such as the PlayStation-only The carrier only has limited abilities while Strikes, maps and weapons. But chin-up, lugging the orb (namely melee and because it also means an all-new wave of grenades), so it’s up to your fireteam to PS4- and PS3-only goodies is on its way as work together at all times. part of The Taken King. And chief among Once the struggle through the Endless them is new Strike Echo Chamber, which Steps has been completed it’s onto boss takes place on Venus and sees the Vex Theosyion. Forget bullet-sponge baddies trying to build a time bridge to resurrect – this encounter’s one giant puzzle that Sekiron from The Nexus Strike. involves ferrying orbs to different points of “It’s one of our most mechanically the chamber while, a) avoiding the deadly complicated Strikes that we’ve built so far,” rotating energy walls and, b) hiding behind says Luke Smith, and having played it pillars when unleashes its lethal ourselves it’s hard to argue with that Medusa’s Stare. With Raid-lite puzzle assessment. In the first half of the trek mechanics throughout, cheese spots and through Venus we’re tasked with closing cheesing look to be killed off.

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JADE RABBIT SCOUT RIFLE As the PlayStation exclusivity of the Hawkmoon hand cannon and Monte Carlo SECTOR 618 CRUCIBLE MAP auto rifle draws to a close, it’s time for a new PlayStation-only weapon to step The Taken King brings with it one PvP map forward. That weapon’s an exotic scout rifle with a year’s worth of timed exclusivity for called The Jade Rabbit – and it will only be PlayStation players – the Earth-based available on PlayStation platforms for at Sector 618. It’s set inside the Cosmodrome least a year. Destiny veterans should be walls in Old Russia in an area very much like familiar with the Jade Rabbit by now – a the opening tutorial level of the original Golden Chest hidden on the Moon map game. Expect plenty of shotgunning when unlocked the Jade Rabbit emblem, which is Bungie recorded multiple you run into people hurtling around corners proudly emblazoned on the side of this new dialogue lines for Strikes, so in the corridors, although a long, open gun. It’s also boasting a 13-round magazine you won’t always hear the central channel with exposed walkways also and a sniper-like scope. Expect wild same audio when replaying. gives rise to sniping opportunities. celebrations if/when you unlock it. of ‘Collections’ screens in the Tower – think of CLASS-SPECIFIC ARMOUR these as gear Pokédexes), your old legendaries will be trapped at their House Of Wolves levels. PlayStation players will be able to It means that, right from the off, you’ll be unlock an exclusive set of armour for each class. Hunters can wear the picking up and equipping green guns that Neuroghast gear, which sports bright outclass the likes of Fatebringer. And while blue cabling; Titans get access to the Crucible’s level balancing means old kit will still Hesperos armour inspired by the first be useful in PvP, when it comes to PvE there’s humans on Venus; and for Warlocks thee an expiration date on your current equipment. Azoth Bend robes are the ones to Of all the new content in The Taken King, chase. This time around their components are all unlocked via a new this is the riskiest move by far and one that’ll collectible called a Sublime Engram. upset many. However, to give Bungie credit, “When you get a Sublime Engram and people have demanded new content and that’s you’re on PlayStation, you know it’s precisely what The Taken King delivers – new going to be one of those legendary set guns, new worlds, new modes, new everything. pieces,” says Luke Smith. Sign us up for another year of grinding… Need to track enemies or your team? Black Ops III has a Batman-esque ‘Tactical Mode’ that highlights battlefield info. his is the most f***ed up story I’ve ever worked on,” says Jason Blundell, the T man in charge of Black Ops III’s story and Zombies mode. He says it nice and loud, so we’re sure to pick up on it. While many criticise COD for Since it’s co-op, the new story will offer being all ‘wham, bam, thank-you a lot more replayability down the line. ma’am’, often without a care for narrative development and plot, in Singapore, an area battered by it genuinely feels like there’s a wind and floods thanks to a shift story worth having in this one. in the world’s weather patterns, For starters, it’s a Black Ops title after a terrorist group called 54I – which is definitely a distinct infiltrate a CIA blacksite. And spin-off from the core Call Of that leads to loads of men/robots Duty franchise – and secondly, shooting each other in the face. it’s based on mankind’s This is the first look at Black destructive relationship with Ops III’s co-op component, which technology. There’s no way it is, essentially, the entire story of won’t be f***ed up. the game. You can play the whole thing in co-op, and the AI changes 065 It’s the year 2065. Genetic dynamically according to the enhancements and robots are number of players and what prolific in the world’s military difficulty you’re playing on. It’s a forces, and you play as a heavily whole new system for the series, modified soldier in the Black Ops and means stuff such as enemies squad. There’s trouble brewing appearing from the same spot CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS III

Play by your own rules with Treyarch’s future war

FORMAT PS4/PS3 / ETA 8NOV/ PUB ACTIVISION / DEV TREYARCH

every time, or using the same tactics, are completely gone. Well, that’s the theory anyway. Our hands-on with the game is so confusing it’s a little tough to tell how dynamic this AI actually is. Let’s skip to the shooting, then. We’re set loose on the Ramses Station level in Cairo (you may remember it from issue 110’s cover With a team at your side, campaign missions are far story) with three other players. If less linear, offering multiple ways to achieve success. this wasn’t a demo, we’d have BETTER ON PS4

spent some time hanging out in the Safe House, a new ‘home’ area that acts as a kind of co-op lobby. More on that in a sec. The objective in the main mission is to blow up a whole city street to stop an advancing army, and the action begins with a portable wall being dropped between two buildings to effectively create an enclosed area in which all the action can take place. Hey, it’s 2065. Keep up. CRISIS CORES The action is utter chaos. We’ve opted for a shotgun loadout, but we’ve also picked up a Spike Launcher, which fires spiked cannon balls at enemies, crushing them to gore and scrap. Oh, and we can detonate them. Because why not? While most 066 of the standard weapons will feel normal for COD players, the big

into a bunch of his buddies and explode. There are “SAFE HOUSES ARE LIKE lots more exciting abilities too, and MULTIPLAYER LOADOUTS, it can all get a bit overwhelming to ONLY SUPERCHARGED.” stay on top of. During a later mission set in new thing here is Cyber Cores. Singapore’s ‘In Darkness’ level, we They’re like psychic powers or – see a player unleashing swarms for fantasy RPG fans – magic. of (robot, we assume) fireflies, In battle, you select them from and remotely detonating human a menu (by pressing the touchpad) enemies. All fanciful magic and fire them by squeezing u and nonsense you might think, but it’s o together, just like triggering not so: this actually all has roots in a Destiny Super. In our loadout actual scientific research and we’ve also got the ability to hack philosophy. Less zany abilities robots to make them fight for include the power to hack drones, us, or to make one robot sprint tanks, and other vehicles, allowing you to play each level in whatever way you fancy. It all adds up to a complete focus on player choice. time, a trophy cabinet that shows off your achievements, a training sim that enables you PLAYING IT SAFE (and friends) to practice scenarios, and even Let’s revisit those earlier Safe a machine that offers the ability to build Houses. These are areas where custom weapons by trading in currency earned players can gather before each in-game. It’s like the multiplayer loadout mission, and if you’re in your own options of the newer CODs, only supercharged home you can fiddle with all kinds and applied to the story of Black Ops III. of stuff. You’ll find zones where With such vast customisation options, it’s The Safe House training area is an ace addition enabling you can tinker with your loadout important that the game itself stays balanced. you to test out new gear and skills before a mission. and physical appearance ahead of To that end, the whole of Black Ops III’s story Pressing 2 on the D-pad lets you control drones and robots. It’s time for some mechanised mayhem… BETTER ON PS4

BETTER ON PLAYSTATION

WHY IS THE PS4 VERSION THE ONE TO GET? For the first time in history, PlayStation is the console of choice for Call Of Duty. Putting aside what that means for the big eSports scene (head to p6 to learn more), it means that you, the PlayStation COD gamers, get two key benefits. First of all, the Beta will begin first on PS4. Well, began – it already happened on 19 August, a full week earlier than on Xbox and PC. But the main draw of the new partnership is the DLC headstart program. In years gone by, we've had to sit and watch as Xbox gamers received their DLC drops a full month ahead of us. Now? That relationship has flipped, meaning we'll have access to the new COD content a full 30 days in advance. 067

Treyarch has a decent track record for crafting COD stories – here’s hoping it doesn’t lose form.

to, a) make people give a damn Blundell freely admits that about story and, b) create previous COD games have a something that works on multiple tendency to go all-out on action is unlocked from the start, meaning you can levels. So, while you could blast and yelling, right from the start, jump into any level with your friends and start through from start to finish and and explains there will be quieter playing right away. If you’re underpowered, they enjoy it, you’ll need to dig much moments in Black Ops III where can even share guns with you, so you could deeper to uncover the real nuances the characters have the chance to – in theory – buy the game and head straight of what’s happening. Again, that’s grow. Of course, if you don’t care into the last level, fully pimped out with the the theory. The story beats we see about plot and you just want to best weaponry. are laced with military jargon and shoot stuff you can always skip the That’s why the story element is so genetically enhanced men shouting cutscenes and get to the gunplay. interesting. Instead of giving up on plot and at each other. It seems like classic But if you don’t even give the letting the game become an arena shooter, the COD bluster, but these are merely story a chance to entertain you… folks at Treyarch are having to work extra hard snapshots of a greater whole. well, that’s kinda f***ed up, too. BETTER ON PS4

HITMAN

Why IO is asking players to help craft 47’s return…

FORMAT PS4 / AET 8 DEC / PUB SQUARE ENIX / DEV IO INTERACTIVE

carily, it’s been over however, there are sinister nine years since gentlemen sat in a secret auction, Blood Money, the last bidding for intelligence. All of this great Hitman game. co-exists in a seamless and S Since then, Absolution impressively-scaled environment showed how focusing on featuring side and front entrances, anything but a narrative-lite a tower on the outskirts of the sandbox can anger grounds that’s, quite plainly, a core fans. It’s a backlash that has perfect sniper spot, plus a private 068 resulted in this, a convincing helipad and a getaway speedboat. attempt to take Blood Money’s It’s a sandbox that we simply can’t ideas into the present day. wait to explore. This is what Hitman should feel like. The details of Hitman’s first revealed environment tells that LOUD PLACES story. It’s a Parisian palace, where These levels, which will take Agent 47’s target, the oligarch and Agent 47 across the world, are evil spy figure Novikov, is six times bigger than those in based. There are two major events Absolution. “We’re looking at the happening within this louche biggest sandbox we’ve ever done,” environment: publicly, on the says director of production Hakan ground floor, there’s a fashion Abrak. “And we’ve a lot more show complete with photographers fidelity. Before, our max was 55 and a red carpet, a catwalk, a NPCs in a location. Now, we’re nightclub area filled with NPCs talking about a checkpoint-less that stretches from an outside big buffet of a sandbox with 300 garden area to indoors, and even NPCs. On top of that, you have a changing rooms for the models. crowd. So there’s lots to see – it’s Upstairs in this luscious old really high density here.” waterside building and away from Paris is purpose-built for replay the commotion of the show, value. The more ways you find to finish a level, the more tools you get in your armoury to try again and again. “A SANDBOX WE CAN’T WAIT It’s not just in the environmental TO EXPLORE – THIS IS WHAT design that we see hints of reasons to HITMAN SHOULD FEEL LIKE.” return to this palace. There are sub-narratives at work within the grounds, such as a reporter who’s going to be interviewing Novikov later on, or a KGB chief who’s meeting him, BETTER ON PLAYSTATION

WHY IS THE PS4 VERSION THE ONE TO GET? Hitman belongs on PS4 in two key ways. First of all, everyone who pre-orders gets console-exclusive access to the Beta (which will also make its way onto PC a week later) in which Agent 47 must infiltrate the aforementioned Parisian mansion to complete his contract. Better yet, you’ll also have access to six extra contracts that, in Square Enix’s words, “are only available to those people who own a PS4 copy of the game.” BETTER ON PS4

or even his backstage argument with the head designer of the fashion show – following up on all three can lead to a kill. IO likes the idea of you taking on the mantle of Agent 47 as the ultimate voyeur: forever watching and listening, following the threads and seeing what tiny opportunities he can capitalise on to get away with the assassination. Not only does it recapture the spirit of sandbox play which was often missing from Absolution, it also has the exciting potential to give loyal players emergent narrative elements to enjoy. BOMB DISPOSAL Experimenting with the AI expands Agent 47’s toolset as well. In our private demo we see 070 47 throw a remote explosive near a couple of guards before drawing their attention to it by throwing a coin. What happens next can form part of your strategy as a player. into the building. You can now go “Agent 47 had an explosive, so through the ‘frisking zone’ without he threw that close to the two having any weapons on you, and guards,” narrates creative director then try to retrieve [the mine or] a Christian Elverdam, “and they were gun at a later point.” expecting that we would blow As well as smuggling the them up, right? They noticed the weapon inside, the guard’s mine, so one guard disarmed it movement means Agent 47 can Hitman will develop partly based on player feedback. and put it in his pocket because also isolate NPCs in this fashion Just don’t go suggesting a nice cosy wig for 47, okay? obviously mines should not just lie for easier takedowns. AI doesn’t around in the street! function as a hive mind, so if IO describes the way Hitman is being sold as “This guard then went into the you’re spotted by just one guard a ‘live experience’. From this December you can building, down to the basement your mission is by no means over. buy what is essentially a ‘work-in-progress’ and into the security room where These options and the version of the game, being tweaked on the fly he secured the mine. This gives us environmental detail make a with more levels dropped in along the way. This a lot of opportunities, because this convincing case for why you’d is all building to a complete version in 2016 way you can actually manipulate want to actually revisit levels in – also available in a box if you want to wait – the NPCs to carry your weapons Hitman this time, but there’s more that will have more content than Absolution. to consider besides. And to incentivise jumping in early? IO’s Contracts mode creating ‘live’ events such as contracts where returns, allowing you only have one single chance to whack the you to set unique target before they disappear from your game. “FROM DECEMBER YOU CAN targets for your friends (providing LIVE AND KICKING BUY A ‘WORK-IN-PROGRESS’ you’ve done the The collective goal of this approach is to react contract yourself to player opinion over time, with the end result VERSION OF THE GAME…” first). Plus the hopefully giving Hitman fans exactly what they unusual business want. “We’re taking this journey together with model for Hitman, the fans, with the gamers, with the community which requires some further and getting feedback from them and making the explanation, also offers regular experience better throughout 2016,” says Abrak. updates with unique, one-time “So for the content later on – and for the missions from release onwards. game mechanics – we want to listen and we In a sequence inspired by Ant-Man, Agent 47 can walk down the blades of a razor and block a target’s pores with his head. BETTER ON PS4

want to see how they use it; what they like and what they would like to be tweaked. We actually have an opportunity for the first time to do something about it and to actually improve the game.” So by the end of 2016, you too could have helped shape this into the Blood Money sequel which we’ve been anticipating for nearly a decade. Into a hit, if you will.

071 After all these years in 47’s shoes we can spot the ideal sniper spot within a minute of taking a contract.

Live events will hand you an image of an NPC you need to kill and then let you progress however you see fit – with no reloads if you fail. SPECIAL OFFER Subscribe to

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Special 148-page guide to Destiny

On sale now! In print. On iPad. On iPhone Includes 29 free in-game item codes!

Find it in the Official PlayStation Magazine App OPM SCORES GOLD AWARD

GOLD AWARD Awarded to a game that’s brilliantly executed on every level, combining significant innovation, near-flawless gameplay, great graphics and lasting appeal.

EDITOR’S AWARD

EDITOR’S AWARD Not at the very highest echelon, but this is a game that deserves recognition and special praise based on its ambition, innovation or other notable achievement.

10 INCREDIBLE 075 The kind of phenomenal experience rarely seen in a console generation. 9 OUTSTANDING Unreservedly brilliant – this should be in every collection. 8 VERY GOOD A truly excellent game, marred by just a few minor issues. 94 GOAT SIMULATOR 7 GOOD Hoove’s yer daddy? Stop kidding A great concept unfulfilled or around and bleat the game of your the familiar done well, but still dreams. (Don’t milk it – Ed.) well worth playing. 6 DECENT Fun in parts, flawed in others, but more right than wrong. 5 AVERAGE What you expect and little more, this is for devotees only. 4 BELOW AVERAGE Any bright ideas are drowning in a sea of bugs or mediocrity. 3 POOR A seriously flawed game with little merit on any level. 2 AWFUL Disgraceful: the disc would be more beneficial as a coaster. 1 HORRIFIC Own this and you’ll be swiftly, justifiably, exiled from society.

CONTENTS METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN 76 | UNTIL DAWN 86 | JOURNEY 88 SUBMERGED 89 | HATOFUL BOYFRIEND 90 | KING’S QUEST CHAPTER 1 91 | EVERYBODY’S GONE TO THE RAPTURE 92 | GOAT SIMULATOR 94 | THE VANISHING OF ETHAN CARTER 95 Ewww. At least the blood on Quiet is fake. You can cover her in pretend claret to spook enemies.

076 REVIEW

EDITOR’S AWARD

DOOMSDAY DELIGHT @OPM_UK MGS V: THE PHANTOM PAIN The fantastic Mr Foxhound

ontrary to ’ parting, stogie-smoking words in MGS4, this isn’t good. 077 Actually, it’s downright torture. This is the hardest review I’ve ever written. By a distance. Metal Gear Solid INFO V is such a dichotomy. It’s a FORMAT PS4 wonderful stealth sandbox. It’s silly. It’s sexy. ALSO ON PS3 ETA 1 SEP It pushes buttons and pokes around taboos. PUB KONAMI C It ruminates on the meaning of war and loss, DEV and prods at the philosophy behind human language with all the subtlety of penning a goodbye note using a railgun. Hideo Kojima’s final MGS is both everything I wanted it to be, and, crushingly, a tiny bit disappointing.

But I’ll get to all that. In the meantime, you’re wondering why there’s a question mark printed below my pasty Scottish mug, right? Shouldn’t there be a sizable score out of ten sitting there instead? This is a historic review for OPM after all – at ten pages long, it’s the biggest in the history of the mag. And yet, as a team, we’ve come to the difficult decision of delaying putting a digit (or two) on our MGS V judgement. PAIN OR SHAME Let me be as transparent as possible: I’ve simply not played enough of The Phantom Pain to feel comfortable scoring what’s inarguably 2015’s biggest game. As a man who’s finished every main entry in the series five or six times – hell, “IT’S A WONDERFUL STEALTH SANDBOX. IT’S SILLY. IT’S SEXY. IT PUSHES BUTTONS AND TABOOS.” REVIEW

Above Skull Face really likes a lengthy monologue. In contrast, Snake barely ever opens his mouth.

Kiefer Sutherland puts in a winningly weathered, pained performance as Snake. But he’s given very 078 few lines to work with.

Above left The way D-Walker’s legs scramble about is fab.

Above right Don’t forget to duck for cover when given the opportunity.

Left Why not slap a custom emblem and paint job onto Mother Base?

Right D-Dog’s brilliant nose will mark out nearby foes. Good boy! REVIEW

I completed MGS4 13 times! – I really hate that number, I can actually along with the destruction admitting that little factoid. start talking about what an of the military base of your If you want the finer details on why we’re utterly amazing game The private army, Diamond Dogs. holding back our score until next issue, when I’ll Phantom Pain is. Your best pal is also being held have played the game a whole lot more, keep on Warning: the following hostage in Northern Kabul. reading. Just want to know whether the game’s sentence contains a massively Now go, save said bestie and any good or not? (Spoiler: it really, really is.) Then definitive statement. Metal pour hot liquid vengeance all skip a few paragraphs ahead. Anyhow, here’s how Gear Solid V is the best pure over Skull Face’s… uh, face. we got to this point… stealth game I’ve ever played. In late July I attended a Konami review event; In terms of sheer scope and GAME TIME the only time MGS V code was made available polish, it absolutely trounces Place this plot next to the to us before we went to print. Over the course of the likes of Splinter Cell: bloated, fanboy-pleasing excess four days I was allowed to play during scheduled Blacklist, the still excellent of MGS4, and there’s no slots, whereby I racked up a hefty save file. Sadly, Dishonored, or any MGS question it’s one of the leanest almost 30 hours inside a game of this almost Kojima has directed before. yarns Kojima has ever spun. Yet baffling scope just isn’t enough. This is just the In so many ways, it’s every if the narrative feels stripped single-player portion of The Phantom Pain, of inch the Metal Gear I’ve been back, what surrounds it could course – multiplayer mode dreaming of since scarcely be more sweeping. has been delayed to October and therefore wasn’t seduced me with his gravelly There’s more game here than available for testing. Compounding the problem? larynx back in early ’99. It’s every other MGS combined. The crashes… A lot of crashes. effortlessly Well over two dozen hours playable, in, and I’ve barely scratched BROKEN RECORD “NEVER BEFORE HAS accessible the surface. Tens of key story MGS V broke on me loads. and instantly missions that can be played Nearing the home stretch of MGS TREATED ITS gratifying in in brilliantly freeform fashion; the 31 story missions that a way past scores of optional Side Ops; comprise the main plot, the PLAYERS’ TIME WITH Gears simply animals to capture; music tapes game just wouldn’t play ball. aren’t. to collect; an army to build I got five post-mission black MORE RESPECT.” Never back at your floating fortress – screens of death on the 27th before has the amount of content in The mission, then a further 11 (yes, ELEVEN!) on one of Kojima’s espionage Phantom Pain is staggering. mission 28. It should be noted not every reviewer adventures treated its players’ I’ll revisit that last one at the event had crashes, and it’s likely final time with more respect. 40- later. In the meantime, it’s no launch code will work just fine. Still, my copy minute Codec conversations? exaggeration to say managing was so crash-prone, I had to hop on a colleague’s Nuked from orbit. Hour- Mother Base is a game in itself. 079 PS4 just to finish the last two levels and see The and-a-bit cutscenes that last And one that’s a whole lot Phantom Pain’s end credits. longer than your average action bigger than some full-priced Well, I say ‘end’ credits. This is the main movie? Torpedoed to oblivion. PS4 titles you’ll find. Don’t try reason I’m not scoring MGS V until I’ve spent Endless lines of exposition to hide in those bushes, The more time in Snake’s world: it’s not entirely clear forced upon you after every Order: 1886. Venom Snake sees how long his game actually lasts. Finish the 31st major set-piece? Not a chance. your lustrous Victorian ’tache mission and you’ve only completed the first Act. poking out back there. What is Act Two, exactly? From my brief time COME ONE, COME ALL MGS V doesn’t just with the post-credits content, it seems to mainly The barrier for entry into carry forward the playful, consist of rehashed, tougher missions that MGS V hits an all time, ultra sneaky spirit of Snake’s introduce Total Stealth playthroughs; get spotted accessible series low. Don’t past infiltrations: it’s also on these objectives, and it’s an instant . know your Big Boss from your a bloody good sandbox. Yet clearly, there’s more going on with Act Two Big Shell? It simply doesn’t Open-ended, with hugely than first appears. matter. This time out there’s malleable mechanics, this is For instance, the story does continue… Kind a party in Snake’s mouth, and an experience which rewards of. Shenanigans on Mother Base become the everyone’s invited! While there thinking outside of the box main focus of attention once Kojima’s last ever are a string of little nods to – and occasionally walking MGS directorial credit rolls. *sob* Both allies existing Metal Gear canon, around in one with your feet and unwanted prisoners back at the Seychelles- Below Snake is The Phantom Pain never leans poking out – like little else. only too willing set base push the soap opera along in new to take orders heavily on past plots to inform If the mark of a good open- directions, with fresh cutscenes, and I haven’t from Kaz. He’s a its central story strand. world is in the freedom and seen enough of this act to confidently predict bit of a lacky. The key points are thus… breadth of options it gives how these stories conclude. You’re a legendary soldier who you, then MGS V is a corker. Given that this is Koj, I can’t rule out some has just awoken from a near At a base level, the move to incredible ending epilogue unlocking after you decade-long coma in the year freeform environments allows finish these missions – remember MGS4’s 1984. Venom Snake rises from Snake to interact with his sensational cemetery reunion between Old this thoroughly testy slumber surroundings in a much more Snake and Big Boss? Even if there’s only a in a Cypriot hospital; an ER’s three-dimensional fashion. remote chance this sort of crucial, cathartic worth of shrapnel chunks and Enemy strongholds can often piece of endgame story content exists, you’re bone fragments buried so deep be approached from a variety dealing with 28 years of incredibly layered into his carcass that not even of directions in a number of backstory here; it’s worth delaying our George Clooney and a medical ways; be it storming into action score to be certain. degree in dreaminess could behind the wheel of a truck Annnnnnd breathe. Alright, remove them. or crawling through dense we’re back in the room. Now I’ve A super-evil, disfigured dude underbrush in carefully chosen explained why you’ll have to by the name of Skull Face is camouflage. Quick tip: pay wait until next month for responsible for your injuries, close attention to the names of Right Notice Left There the snaps on are reasons the inside of Quiet fights the chopper. half-naked. Who knew Paranormal 080 Snake was so reasons. You sentimental? crazy cat, Koj.

your camo and you’ll spot nods to Naked Snake’s Angola-Zaire border region. Cue some glorious tagteam wardrobe from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The mission is called ‘The sniping as Quiet puts down the The Phantom Pain affords you more authorship War Economy’ (a sly nod to nasty gun-peddlers with her over Snake’s actions than ever before. You can the system that affects gun Wicked Butterfly and I break feel the moment to moment player agency Koj prices in MGS4), and my goal out a Renov-ICKX TP tranq and his team give away at every turn. It’s in is simple: eliminate two CFA rifle to send their cohorts to how you kit Snake out pre-mission – pack an dealers as they examine an air sleep. I knew all those 50ps I RPG into your deadly picnic hamper, or go for base. Trouble is, Nova Braga wasted on that Silent Scope a silenced M2000-D sniper for that impersonal Airport is heavily armed, with arcade cabinet back in the day distance kill? Hell, it’s evident every time you various lookout towers manned would pay off eventually. cross paths with an enemy – kill, or kidnap? Slit by marksmen just praying for a Of course, I don’t have to do that poor sod’s throat and the world is down one juicy headshot. Enter Quiet to it this way. That’s the point. I more evil goon, true. Yet if you choose mercy and even the odds. could sneak into Nova Braga Fulton him back to Mother Base, your hostage with D-Dog and use the mutt’s can be drafted into Diamond Dogs’ ever-swelling QUIET ON THE SET incredible nose to mark every ranks. More on that later. The skimpily-dressed sniper enemy on the base in the blink Let me paint you a picture of how such is one of four side-characters of a barking eye. Then again, freedom of choice plays out on an average you can call in to assist you I could just ride around the mission. Stay here while I get the crayons… So, on missions, and she proves gated perimeter, firing grenades it’s just over half way through the game and a godsend for clearing out far from a Zorn Kampfpistole in Snake has swapped stabbing Soviet windpipes in off foes. After I scale a tower between “yeee-haaaws!” on my Afghanistan for laying a slithering smackdown and use Snake’s INT-Scope to trusty steed, D-Horse. on African PMCs deep in the heart of the identify and mark the dealers If I’m feeling really bullish, I from afar, I order Quiet onto can lure those CFA chaps out, a nearby rooftop using the then bring the base to its knees “YOU CAN FEEL THE MOMENT iDroid’s overhead map, then let using Snake’s personal mini her do her thing. Metal Gear – hey, D-Walker! TO MOMENT PLAYER AGENCY In case you were wondering, – and its deadly mounted said ‘thing’ is blasting men’s gatling gun. Whisper it… I can KOJ OFFERS AT EVERY TURN.” brains out from 500m away. even relive my PS1 Shadow REVIEW METAL GEAR

BECOME AN HONORARY DIAMOND DOG WITH THIS AWESOME CLOBBER

Pocket snake

Pretend to be Big Boss while If the Diamond Dogs were into It comes with its own cardboard For the full ’80s look you’ll need an playing Angry Birds with this higher education rather than box, but the best part of this chibi old-fashioned LCD watch. You sexy phone case modelled after warmongering and hiding in Solid Snake toy is the optional, could grab one off eBay, but the ergonomic multi-gadget from bushes, they might wear fetching Metal Gear Sold 1-era low-poly here’s the one Boss uses in The The Phantom Pain. jackets such as these. head. Nostalgia levels rising! Phantom Pain. So chic. iDROID iPhone case – £RARE DD84 Varsity jacket – £55 Solid Snake Nendoroid – £44.88 MGS digital watch – £234.87 sentinel-toys.com insertcoinclothing.com play-asia.com seiko-nextage.com

enjoy a foxy lunch look like kaz 081

Big Boss goes through a few There’s no better place to store Replaying the series? Kaz Miller’s shades are rapidly outfits in The Phantom Pain, your lunch than in this licensed Take a shot every time Snake approaching ‘iconic’ status, and including this rather handsome ration tin, made to celebrate the repeats a statement in a you can get in on the action with leather jacket. The DD logo’s 25th anniversary of the Metal questioning manner. In a this pricey pair from eyewear actually quite subtle. Gear Solid franchise. questioning manner!? aficionados, JF Rey. ‘Snake Leather’ jacket – £419 FOXHOUND lunch box – £13.43 MGS shot glasses – £11.99 Kaz’s shades – £124.90 musterbrand.com konamistyle.jp gamerabilia.co.uk mgsv-jfrey.com

smell like snake

This rugged bag should serve you Acclaimed comic book artist Make your room smell Snake-like You won’t be much good creeping well in the field, or (perhaps more turns his inimitable with this candle that blends, around enemy bases without a realistically) as a stylish and talents to MGS with this collection “deep notes of oudh wood with pair of these official sneaking secure laptop carrier. Best not of graphic novels. rich eastern spice and soft musk.” boots, replete with guêtres. use it as an actual parachute. Metal Gear Solid Omnibus Spiced stealth, anyone? Perfect for cosplay, too. Parachute bag – £74 – £19.32 Snake gaming candle – £4.99 Puma sneaking boots – £TBC musterbrand.com idwpublishing.com gametee.co.uk puma.com REVIEW

Moses days and kill them with my hands – What else is fab? Mother You’re also given a combat albeit stabbing throats instead of snapping necks. Base. MGS V takes the team who can be sent out That’s just one mission. Almost every fortress-building of Peace on missions via the Combat objective can be completed in multiple ways. Walker, stretches it out over a Deployment menu on your Silently booby trap soldiers with C4, then watch seismic scale, then reimagines iDroid while you’re off saving as they walk into a meeting as an unaware, extra once-bland managment tabs as the world with Snake. If they’re explodey Trojan horse. Cripple the power to gargantuan 3D spaces. successful on these protection an enemy outpost, pop on some night vision and asset acquisition jobs goggles, and let darkness-cloaked chaos reign. MOTHER BASE MAY I you’re rewarded GMP that Force D-Horse to defecate in the middle of a The legendary military haven is can be splurged on weapons, road, then sit back with a Joker-wide grin as no longer relegated to a menu gadgets or building more the Jeep you’ve been tasked with taking out screen; now you’re free to run, platforms for your fortress. violently skids into the African brush courtesy of drive and clamber around it. Fall down the Mother Base a delicious dung surprise. Stop for a shower and clean rabbit hole and you could easily The only thing limiting these covert capers all that pesky battlefield blood lose tens of hours. Right now, is your imagination and how many resources out of Snake’s scalp; stretch my most advanced team is level you’ve developed back at Mother Base. Uh… your calves by scaling its vast 22. To put that into context, and sometimes rocks. If there’s a criticism of network of pipes; man a Jeep there’s a trophy for raising the the Phantom Pain’s take on Northern Kabul and and drive along huge walkways. level of every unit to 99. Gulp. the Angolan plains, it’s that certain missions It’s a truly vast space, and Stop crying, Sir Galahad. I are a bit too keen to ditch one that’s warned you this base malarkey the sandbox trappings in crammed is a way bigger experience favour of funneling you down “I’D ARGUE THIS IS THE with than your gorgeous but slender specific routes. Yes, Snake fascinating Victorian shooter. can occasionally crack-climb LEAST KOJIMA-FEELING spots. This is an ocean-deep over mountains to create Whether side activity that gets more stealthy shortcuts. Yet the METAL GEAR SOLID I’VE you’re rewarding the more time you’re exact spots where you can peering willing to invest. Oh, and on get your Cliffhanger on are so EVER PLAYED.” into Quiet’s the time-sink front, the game rare it relegates climbing to a heavily does have microtransactions – well animated but ultimately underutilised side barred cell, entering shooting and you can ignore them all. attraction. More than I’d like, MGS V’s jutting gallery mini-games or walking Nothing’s behind a paywall, topography forces you to adhere too closely to around the pens of a virtual and stumping up actual cash road networks. Stupid topography. zoo – I’ve locked up so many simply enables you to complete 082 The Phantom Pain isn’t quite one of those ‘go side-striped jackals by the way Mother Base projects faster. anywhere, do anything’ open-worlds in terms – to admire the variety of wild of navigation, then. But while GTA V won’t animals you can capture out in NOWHERE TO HIDEO have sleepless nights about Snake cruising the field, it’s a thriving hub- And now for a horrible big Afghan skies in a fighter jet, it’s the quality of world that’s a joy to revisit. ‘but’. BUT… Remember when the content you can drop into, rather than the On the management side, I said this was the best stealth boundless quantity of it, which makes Kojima’s you’re tasked with drafting in game I’ve ever played? What stealth swansong so special. MGS V is a big personnel to fill Mother Base’s a rose-tinted time that was. game, no doubt. But this Diamond Dog is also various teams. And by ‘drafting’, Well, it doesn’t mean TPP is seriously polished. I mean kidnapping dudes in my favourite Metal Gear. Not combat, then whisking them to be a Contrary Mary, but THINKING OUTSIDE THE FOX back to your fortress via the I’d argue this is actually the The underlying FOX engine is sensational. Just Fulton Recovery System; MGS least Kojima-y MGS ever. My thinking about Konami’s proprietary tech gets V’s nifty, super kidnappy biggest gripe is there simply me all moist with man excitement. Currently, balloon extraction service. aren’t enough of those tentpole there’s nothing on PS4 to touch the technical Below Big Every soldier you Fulton Koj moments. Boss becomes assurance of Snake’s sandbox. As bleakly more morally back to base is skilled in You know the ones I’m beautiful as Batman: Arkham Knight is, the compromised in different ways, and it’s your talking about. Swapping pad Dark Knight only runs at 30fps. The Witcher 3 each game. job to assign them to the ports during the Psycho Mantis may rock more real estate than Big Boss, but it department where they’ll be of fight in MGS1. The ladder frequently bombs to the low 20s during combat. most use. Strengthening the climb in MGS3. Returning In comparison, I suffer exactly one extended R&D team gives Snake access to Shadow Moses’ helipad in framerate hiccup over my entire time with to better weapons and gadgets MGS4. These are the set- MGS V. ONE. And that’s during a particularly – just wait until you make pieces that helped define this busy skirmish at a water plant involving a them the Decoy; series as one of the most dozen soldiers and a torrential monsoon. The think a blow-up Snake doll progressive and imaginative rest of the action is delivered at a constantly that distracts guards. franchises in gaming history. smooth 60fps, which is one hell of a feat Build up the team and The switch to sandbox design considering the level of detail in the world. more info will pop up on your was always likely to change the Character models are superb, the enemies and the environment way Kojima operated, but the environments boast a level of bespoke when you scan with the INT- main casualty in the transition personality that completely belies their Scope. Pump manpower into seems to be the loss of these open-world origins, while lighting the medical department and bespoke, fourth wall moments. is often ‘punch-you-in-the-face’ extra non-lethal weapons open Don’t be too glum, mind. pretty – go on, pan the camera up. Focus on the support unit, They haven’t disappeared around a sweltering savanna at and soon Snake is given more completely. Though they sunrise and you’ll see what I’m Fultoning options (such as may feel too spread out over talking about. extracting enemy trucks). the course of the main REVIEW

Above Kaz Miller isn’t best pleased with Skull Face. He did cost him a (literal) arm and a leg after all.

Code Talker sure likes a drag. In between puffs, he’s not quite the hopeless crackpot you probably expect. 083

Above left The deserts of Kabul rock a Red Dead Redemption vibe.

Above right Mark up foes to ensure you always see them from afar.

Left The new Metal Gear is a big lad. Don’t get squashed now.

Right You can upgrade Quiet with an armour- piercing rifle. Right Will MGS Left Increase V bring the saga your bond level full circle and with D-Dog and let you play as you can order a young Solid him to attack 084 Snake? We enemy troops. don’t know yet… Go for the balls!

campaign, a small handful of these moments you’re feeling really brave? In here which offers so many are still in there. Somewhere. Extracting Huey that case, slyly crack-climb up impromptu moments for dust- Emmerich from the Afghan region’s central base a huge arch to get up close and covered espionage. camp with a gang of Walker Gears mercilessly personal with the enemy is hunting Snake – think MGS4’s Gekkos if they another good tactic to try. STORM WARNING were manned and ditched the frog legs… Freeing I replay this chapter – It’s a fabulous system. Your a group of child soldiers from a mine, then something the new episodic iDroid’s forever-sultry British leading the kids through perilous marshland as mission structure enables accent warns you of upcoming a chopper’s searchlight doggedly hunts for your me to do whenever I want – changes to local weather terrified band… Taking part in a desperately tense multiple times to try different patterns, providing a few sniping set-piece cut from the nostalgic cloth of approaches, each one delivering brief seconds to prepare for a Snake Eater’s magical boss battle…. something genuinely new. sandstorm or downpour. And I’m aggrieved there aren’t while the heavy African rain SNIPE YOUR EYES more bosses, though. Ask any handily masks the sound of That last example deserves to be expanded. Set seasoned MGS fan what they your footsteps, it’s the sand among the crumbling pillars and brickwork of the value most about the series, that proves the most useful… Aabe Shifap Ruins, Venom’s latest sniper battle and those peerless scuffles In an early mission, I use a (there’s always a sniper battle, isn’t there?) is yet against ludicrous baddies chance sandstorm to infiltrate a another superbly realised game of chess. would top the list more often base; the swirling dust and grit Like Naked Snake’s long-range duel against than not. The fact TPP only offering perfect cover, reducing that ancient sniper, there are multiple ways contains three boss fights enemy visibility to a few feet to win. Do you creep around your foe from a during the main story (five if as I plant plastic explosives on distance to set up the perfect headshot? Perhaps you’re being overly generous crucial surveillance antennas. with the term) is a bitter pill to Mother Nature, you’re the best. gobble down. An entirely unnatural kind of “VENOM’S SNIPER BATTLE IS Phew. This is one looooong weather also crops up. At key review, huh? Let’s take a points, the sudden presence YET ANOTHER SUPERBLY time-out to talk about the of a mysterious mist heralds weather, shall we? Specifically, the arrival of the Skulls; a REALISED GAME OF CHESS.” the dynamic system at play paranormal paramilitary force REVIEW THE OPM BREAKDOWN

WHAT YOU DO IN… MGS V: THE PHANTOM PAIN

28% Using a 11% Picking up buddy to defeat casette tapes your foes. Ain’t and listening to friendship grand? vintage ‘80s tunes. Take On 9% Shooting 37% Me? We approve. darts into wildlife. Ruining Snake’s Eat it, Trumpeter back by running Hornbill! everywhere in a 9% Collecting 6% Dying a lot semi-crouched herbs and plants on a late mission state. Ouch. for the medical and being shamed team at Mother into wearing the Base. Can’t you Chicken Hat to pick your own Above There bypass alerts. black carrots?! are cutscenes, but not many of ‘em. I only HOW TO… GO ON MISSIONS WITH RECRUITS remember seeing about 30 123 minutes’ worth.

Right If you’re not careful you 1 You don’t have to play through story missions with Venom Snake. At can lose days in the pre-mission character select screen, you’re free to choose Mother Mother Base. Base recruits instead. 2 Roaring Ram! Thunder Hog! Raving Gibbon! Selecting recruits shows off the game’s randomly generated names and faces. 3 Play as one of these soldiers and you’ll quickly improve their stats. We do several crucial missions with our new Mother Base fave, Seething Mastiff. Snakes are so out this season.

SERIESOGRAPHY 085

Above That fetching Beelzebub horn is actually a fragmented piece of bone. ? | Pain

Originally Snake who come in three terrifying I’m also confident it’s going Eater got a lowly flavours. Hold me. to become the most polarising 9/10 – we righted Without divulging too much, Metal Gear Solid in history. that colossal wrong

Metal Gear Solid | 10 Metal Gear Solid 2 | 10 Metal Gear Solid 3 | 10 Metal Gear Solid 4 | 10 MGS: Peace Walker | 9 MGS: Ground Zeroes | 8 MGSV:ThePhantom back in OPM 109’s there’s a gripping fight late Mechanically, it’s universally MGS Guide. Phew! on where Snake faces a crack brilliant, but the lack of classic Skulls squad in the jungles of Kojima moments and story STAT PACK the Lufwa Valley. The ensuing beats hurt. The way the first scuffle plays out like a pumped act hurtles towards a speedy up version of a certain beloved conclusion also grates; perhaps battle of old. Imagine fighting a sign of a rushed hand due 915 four copies of your fave boss! to the Kojima Productions/ 1 23% Number of Years Venom Our total Number Metal Gear has always Konami dispute? brown bears in Snake has completion of weapon revelled in its playfulness, We’ll bring you the definite our Mother Base been in a coma rating after 25 and gadget zoo. The poor when the hours. This is categories. and The Phantom Pain is number next issue once we’ve guy must game starts. one hell of a Lots of guns, the ultimate big kid of this wrapped up the endgame. In be lonely. Wake up, lazy! hefty game. indeed. landmark stealth series. I’ve the meantime, know this: MGS adored the vast majority of V is technically the best game my time in Venom Snake’s in the series… I’m just not sure MULTIPLAYER intoxicating open-world. This if it feels enough like a true is the biggest, richest and Metal Gear to carry the name. Metal Gear Online has most generous game to which now been delayed until VERDICT October. This is no bad Hideo Kojima has ever put his thing – like GTA Online, name – and, er, from which A wonderful open-world update see it as a chance to Konami has then stripped it of a legendary series. This is finish off the single- right back off again. I’ll be deeper than every other Metal player first. The Dark clear: I have zero hesitation in Gear put together, but classic Souls-esque online recommending it to both series Kojima touches have been lost. Mother Base invasions, meanwhile, haven’t yet newcomers and the sort of Will that second act resolve 28 been made open to us. loons who’ve finished Guns Of years of MGS canon? We’ll know The Patriots 13 times. Ahem. next month. Dave Meikleham Ah, such a happy moment before everyone is brutally murdered.

086 MORNING GLORY @GameGriffin UNTIL DAWN This interactive movie’s a schlocky horror picture show

or years, and to varying degrees of to headshot the friendly little Alpha and back down in the success, videogames have doggedly squirrel chilling out on a picnic next encounter. Magnified pursued the cinematic. But from the bench and nature addresses the mistakes soon mean you can basically broken Dragon’s Lair to balance by sending a crow to die a grisly death (and I do Fthe tonally flabbergasted Fahrenheit, these claw your face, which leaves a mean grisly), locking entire interactive movies have, largely (Heavy Rain bloody mark there for the rest plot chunks and character arcs aside), been a bit crap. That is, until… now. INFO of the game. Other outcomes off for your playthrough in a FORMAT PS4 are even less visible. Early on, shower of viscera. Until Dawn is about eight friends who return ETA OUT NOW when ditzy prom queen Jessica That’s why Until Dawn is a to a mountain cabin after the mysterious death PUB SONY tumbles down a mine shaft, big mere five hours long and lets DEV SUPERMASSIVE of twins there a year prior. What starts as part GAMES bro on campus Mike can either you freely access each of its ten anniversary, part sexy holiday (one guy keeps jump down to help her or call episodes, complete with recaps calling everyone ‘porn stars’) soon takes a turn out instructions – either way, to remind you of any narrative into, “Aaaargh! Get away, get away, noooooo!” the section plays out the same. shifts. This open approach territory as a psycho stalks them across the Whether it’s climbing a cliff or means it’s easy to sample Washington wilderness and murders them one rebooting a generator, you only different story threads without by one. Or not, as the case may be. seem to halt the train rather fuss, though a dialogue-skip See, Until Dawn understands the importance than divert it. option would have been handy. of choice, and as such, how you play determines In the third act, however, who survives. It puts you in the driving seat earlier actions do pay off. For RASPBERRY RIPPLE rather than the baby booster, making you feel like a less spoilery example, after For this reason, you should your actions matter by introducing a crucial fear booting an aggressive wolf think of Until Dawn from of failure. Supermassive calls choices ‘butterfly in the jaw it’ll see you as the the perspective of the viewer effects’, but instead of flapping wings causing hurricanes, initial results seem like light gusts. “AT ONE POINT A CHARACTER PSYCHO KILLER Near the start, for instance, you’re led to a ACTUALLY SCREAMS, ‘IT’S A shooting range where you can target bottles and sandbags with a bolt-action rifle. Choose G-G-G-GHOOOST!’” REVIEW

Right Stay still for a few seconds and the THE OPM BREAKDOWN camera cuts to a close-up. WHAT YOU DO IN… UNTIL DAWN

10% Picking up 25% Getting Below a note, turning it scared by Performances over, then putting woodland are impressive, it down. creatures. but expressions 20% Cringing at 30% look somewhat cringeworthy Slowly walking botoxy in motion. dialogue (it’s forwards into the intentional cringe, darkness while at least). 10% Interacting shining a torch with Peter 5% Manipulating around. Stormare, who your character’s is excellent. face on the pause You’ll probably screen with the take pictures of thumbstick. his face.

FRIENDS & ENEMIES

SH IKE AM JO M S

Josh (Rami Malek) is Mike (Brett Dalton) Sam (Hayden Panettiere) smart, aloof, and keen on seems like a creepy is the most likeable star getting some action. bro, but he has a heart. and often full of quips.

THE FIRST FIVE HOURS…

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Above The Washington mountains make an effectively unsettling location. 1 Using a shooting range, riding a cable car to the top of the mountain. 2 Having a snowball fight followed by a, like, uhhh… rilly kewl make-out session, dude. 3 Slipping into an oh-so-very sexy, extra-foamy bubble rather than the character. There isn’t much exploring bath as Hayden Panettiere. 4 The bad things have started to happen, There’s a layer between the or puzzling to speak of, with and they are bad. Notably bad. 5 More bad things, a twist, another bad thing, more twists. And some bad things! With extra bad on the side. cast (control of whom changes such challenges as finding a chapter to chapter) and the key to open a door among STAT PACK player. These characters are the mind-bogglers, but what story-serving archetypes in saves Until Dawn from feeling an intentionally schlocky formulaic are absolutely narrative. They’re a group of extraordinary visuals amplified 522 clearly late-twenty-somethings by masterful framing and 27 3 The average age Number of hours Number of hours The number of cast as teenagers who use camera work. Creeping through of the cast – who it’ll take you to a replay will take ‘butterfly effects’ words such as, “psyched,” and a darkened hallway, torchlight are all playing complete it the you now that you in the game, casting shadows along walls, teenagers. It’s an first time, unless know what you’re meaning there’s “OMG!” to express glee at American horror you struggle with doing. Perhaps plenty of reason their parents being away. While is exciting even if you know tradition. basic words. that’s just us. to replay. well-performed and far from there’s little chance of anything unlikeable, you’re surely meant truly surprising happening. to enjoy seeing this lot die. So as far as movie-like game IS IT BETTER THAN? Supermassive nails a tone experiences go, Until Dawn is a which is enjoyably creepy and tightly plotted, well performed samples from a broad palette popcorn munching success. of horror influences from It’s simple, yes, but hugely Scream and Saw to Scooby- entertaining while it lasts. Doo (at one point a character VERDICT genuinely screams, “It’s a g-g-g-ghooost!”). Unlike, say, A confident argument for the organic horror of Alien: interactive film for those yet YES NO YES Isolation or Condemned, here to be convinced. A starry cast, Its blinding first act We’re fond of Until Until Dawn’s laser it’s scripted and often involves gorgeous visuals and great sorely loses its way, Dawn, but when it focus ultimately wins whereas Until Dawn comes to out when put up an assortment of wildlife or performance capture makes it remains gripping PlayStation’s library against Beyond’s prank-pulling mates providing burn brightly during the short throughout. Heavy Rain still rules. genre muddle. cheap jump scares. running time. Ben Griffin REVIEW

Having aged better than an oak-smoked Jake Gyllenhaal so far, the 1080p/60fps treatment does Journey no ill.

KALAHARI DAMACY @PhilIwaniuk 088 JOURNEY Fans of arid adventure get their just deserts

ave you missed skiing down sand of the storytelling, which itself game’s mythical mountain dunes with mute strangers like the is deliberately enigmatic and together, feeling a sort of deserts miss the rain? No, really, have conjures a lot of mystical and spiritual connection as you go. you actually missed Journey? It was a religious overtones. My PS4 experience was Hspellbinding, hypnotic experience on PS3, but Your means of interaction that of rediscovery, but if you not one that particularly nurtured an urge to with its desert world are boiled played Journey more than twice INFO replay its hallowed two-or-so hours. So just down to ‘interact’ and ‘jump’, through on PS3, the cold, sad three years after its initial release, what does and that economical design truth is that you’ll likely get FORMAT PS4 ALSO ON PS3 Journey have to gain by getting a PS4 port? philosophy gives developer little new out of its current- ETA OUT NOW That Game Company the gen rebirth other than the PUB SONY chance to shine every art asset DEV THAT GAME That all depends. Personally, I played the game convenience of having it on COMPANY just once prior to its arrival on PS4, and in one and line of code to a diamond the platform you use today. sitting. So I’d forgotten many of That Game glint. It also offers the space to The good news? It’s Cross-Buy Company’s thoughtful touches; huddling close to appreciate all those elements between PS3 and PS4, meaning a companion to ‘thaw out’ your jump ability while as they come together, everyone who purchased it the two of you trudge through a treacherous summoning an indescribable previously gets the new version blizzard, for example. Or simply the invisible emotional surge when the for free, so this port shouldn’t guiding hand that preserves the sense of being sights and sounds align. be treated as a cash-in. lost in a rolling desert but never actually lets Approach it afresh today you get lost. Play Journey once and you’ll feel its EPIC BEDOUIN and it’s the same landmark quality, but play it again and you’ll understand Then, of course, there’s the co- experience we reviewed back in the sheer craftsmanship behind it. op element. It’s a towering feat, 2012. If you’ve already got some Flirting with puzzle game sensibilities and the way Journey bonds you to mileage in Journey’s dunes the free-form ‘walking sim’ design of the Dear random online players visually though, you won’t find it quite Esther and Proteus mould, Journey’s an exercise identical to yourself, and who as magical upon your return. in restraint. Its award-winning score does much can communicate using only VERDICT the same few musical notes you can. You’ll wait for each If you already own the PS3 “YOU’LL WAIT FOR THE OTHER other when someone gets version, the current-gen port’s separated, and honk delightedly yours, gratis. That’s very hard WHEN SEPARATED AND HONK when reunited. You’ll sneak to gripe about, but don’t expect past sinister beings together a transformative HD remaster HAPPILY WHEN REUNITED.” and ascend to the peak of the as you return to it. Phil Iwaniuk REVIEW

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GALAK-Z: THE SUBMERGED GODZILLA DIMENSIONAL Sour storms can’t dampen the A beast without any bite Fiendish shooter proves in space, no delights of a winningly wet adventure one can hear you retry 17 times s a general rule of thumb, if I’m hat a scrappy little charmer this gradually falling asleep while playing a uch. Talk about an unforgiving slice is. Like a happy dolphin emerging A game then there’s a good chance it’s of sci-fi. 17-BIT’s space shooter W from choppy waters wearing a a bit of a stinker. You’d think I’d be all wide- Ocombines the ever changing worlds tacky tiara, Uppercut Games’ combat-free, eyed and engrossed – look at me, I’m a 50ft of a roguelike with a penchant for frantic platform-heavy adventure is instantly likable, irradiated lizard who’s wrecking Japanese blasting and rather disorientating movement. if a little on the cheap and cheerful side. cities and blowing helicopters out of the sky It’s Don’t Starve meets Super Stardust with This inquisitive indie casts you as Miku; like a boss – and yet, I’m slowly sinking back a splash of anime and a breed of gigantic, a young girl who arrives at a submerged in my chair, my DualShock 4 slipping from intergalactic creepy crawlies that makes the *boom, boom* city in a fishing boat, with my… Zzzzzzzzzzzz… chompy buggers in Starship Troopers look her ill little brother Taku in tow. What follows Yes, somehow Bandai Namco has like harmless (slightly homicidal) ladybirds. is a disarming journey of quiet exploration, managed to take a city destruction simulator You play A-Tak, a wise-cracking pilot combining flashes of Brothers: A Tale Of Two and transmogrified it into a mind-numbing who’s fond of salvaging wreckage, shooting Sons, I Am Alive and Ico. snorefest. Of the six modes on offer1 (one colossal Space Bugs and letting rip with Rather than ferrying a mute princess of which is purely there for upgrading one of the odd Han Solo quote. Appropriately, this around a castle like a glorified sheep dog, the many unlockable kaiju in the game – yes, frantic insect murder and Harrison Ford- Submerged tasks you with finding supplies upgrades now get their own mode) there’s 089 loving takes place within the cave networks for your sick sibling. A bandage here, a spot barely a shred of creativity or innovation to of procedurally-generated comets1 – of food there and the occasional scavenged be found. Truly, this game is a sorry husk. remember the giant worm bit in the lamp to fend off a creepy clan of aqua Main mode God Of Destruction (the asteroid field of The Empire Strikes Back? men. Helpfully, these goods usually sit atop centrepiece of whole sorry affair) tasks Even before you get to the business of the crumbling remnants of H20-ravaged you with destroying three generators and vapourising alien termites, merely piloting buildings.1 It’s all a bit Waterworld, minus a different monster from Godzilla’s history A-Tak’s ship takes some getting used Kevin Costner’s horrible hamming up. as you make your way from the coast to the to. A sense of weird, weightless inertia Granted, there isn’t much to making Miku centre of Tokyo – over, and over and over punctuates Galak-Z’s control scheme. scale these mighty relics – you just push the again.2 There’s an attempt to add depth here Forget the snappy movement of other twin- left stick to guide her between ledges. Yet with a G-Energy resource that increases stick shooters; here, just alternating your the game’s quietly humbling atmosphere is your size and strength as you destroy stuff thrusters to avoid crashing into asteroid persuasive; a soothing score combines with and a persistent destruction meter that walls is like a game of deadly pinball. Still, at warm colours to make the game’s dystopian, adds tougher enemies as you progress, but least it feels super tactile – credit to 17-BIT drowned burg a pleasure to explore. these pros are nothing more than a few for terrific use of DualShock 4’s rumble. It’s just a pity the engine is a little bit of twitching digits on a rapidly cooling corpse. It looks lovely and the frantic combat is a shambles. A distractingly jerky camera – There’s some charm to be found in the delightfully nuanced,2 but be warned: it’s especially bad when driving your dinky boat2 way the game captures the B-movie feel brutal. To progress through story seasons, – joins forces with off-putting frame hitches of classic Godzilla, but it withers next to you must finish five missions in a row and unseemly pop-in. Yet though Submerged the stale gameplay, the unevocative level without dying to unlock the next may lack polish, this tale of love, design and a control scheme set of stages. Still up for the loyalty and pushing forth into that’s about as responsive as a challenge? Then this energetic, the unknown is ultimately worth cave troll on Ketamine. If you’re endearing shooter is worth your seeking out. Just make sure you having trouble sleeping though… attention. Dave Meikleham bring a brolly. Dave Meikleham jackpot! Dom Reseigh-Lincoln

FOOTNOTES 1 Hit a game over screen and Galak-Z generates new FOOTNOTES 1 Climb to higher vantage points for a better chance FOOTNOTES 1 ‘Highlights’ include King Of Kaiju (fight tons of world layouts and fresh objectives. 2 The key to combat is to draw of spotting supplies through your telescope. 2 You can salvage monsters), an online Vs mode and a diorama builder. 2 There are enemy fighters and bugs together to make your foes battle it out. propeller parts for the boat to increase the duration of its boost. three difficulty options, but none of them poses much challenge. REVIEW

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DECEPTION IV: GAME OF THRONES: HATOFUL BOYFRIEND THE NIGHTMARE S1E5 – A NEST Is this dove that I’m breeding? PRINCESS OF VIPERS s easy as it is to dismiss pigeon Darkly dreaming hexer Be careful who you trust love as wrong, consider this: leep is, when you think about it, o if you’ve stuck with House Forrester Aheavyweight boxer Mike Tyson and strange. Every day, you lose hours to this far, you’ll know that Telltale hasn’t sexy science warlock Nikola Telsa famously Sa void of darkness and hallucination. Sbeen treating our family of grim fell for their feathered friends. If that’s not It’s not a on the updated cut of northerners well. So buckle up, because in recommendation enough, try this: there’s Japanese oddity Deception IV: The Nightmare A Nest Of Vipers exactly nothing is about to no other game like Hatoful Boyfriend. Princess, though. Here Koei Tecmo dreams change. If anything, it gets worse for them. Not convinced? You play a human girl, up a darker spin on slumber: a realm where But, really, what were you expecting?1 searching for romance in a school for gifted pendulous demon princess Velguirie tortures It feels like Game Of Thrones has finally pigeons. Pigeons. You live in a cave.1 You wayward souls via instruments of pain1 that got going in this, the penultimate instalment. can date your teacher. At one point, I go would make even the Marquis de Sade blush. Choices you made in previous episodes, for a run, passing elegant ryokan houses Complicating your dark designs are though they seemed inconsequential interspersed with flash frames of ruined specific stage conditions, which may require molehills before, grow into volcanic human civilization. None of it makes any you to finish off an unfortunate’s life bar mountains about to explode all over the sense, and it’s wonderful. with one of the built-in stage traps,2 or nearest homestead – that being the one It’s less clear whether Hatoful Boyfriend 090 rack up a combo of a certain length. While where the Forresters live. is actually a game. The story changes this adds deep strategic considerations to Eldest daughter Mira is thrown in over her according to your narrative choices, and all the torture porn, some of the steeper head in a political dance with the Lannisters,2 you can increase stats by choosing electives, requirements can frustrate given the lack embattled Lord Rodrick faces betrayal but it’s more like a gently interactive story of ways to save your layouts. Meanwhile, from within his own council and Gared – than a traditional… well, anything. That said, enemy resistances and armour to smash off the Night’s Watchman with the most it’s deftly handled. Storylines are deliberately ensure you’ll have to mix up your tactics to angst since Jon Snow himself – is lost in bonkers, but it’s also touching, funny and avoid becoming the victim yourself. the wild north looking for a possibly mythical dark.2 The most surprising thing isn’t the Velguirie’s leggy 100-mission quest grove. If this is a game where you win or you oddness: it’s that you begin to care about may be the main draw of The Nightmare die then some bugger has already nicked all the lives of imaginary pigeons, and how your Princess, boosted by her series-first special the Forrester’s pieces. fates become romantically entwined. power to kick your playthings around, It’s clear that the reason all the Houses It’s a dense game, too. As well as but this is a compilation set also including produce so many kids is to stack the odds romance, some side-quests have you original Deception IV campaign Blood Ties. of even one heir surviving. The Forrester starting summer jobs and reuniting It’s similar fare, but gives a different siblings are in mortal peril so often that the lost loves. There are loads of stories to princess of darkness the run of a castle. only one cracking a smile is Asher, the bro- experience and endings to unlock, but If your appetite for punishment is still cenary for hire who’s enjoying busting heads seeing them all will require some repetition. unsated, you can also devise your own with QTEs as usual. Until the end of the It’s a difficult game to recommend, not challenges. ‘Guilty pleasure’ is an overused ep, that is, when the rug is pulled out from because it’s bad, but because there’s term, but The Nightmare Princess fits in that under everyone’s feet at alarming speed. nothing to compare it to. If you want to it troubles your conscience even You’ll then have to make one of experience something entirely as its devilish challenges ensure the most brutal choices Telltale different – or if you want to there’s plenty of gratification has ever given its players – it’s be more like Tyson and Tesla – to be had. Just beware a few just a shame it’s taken so long Hatoful Boyfriend might just rule sharp edges. Matt Clapham to get there. Alice Bell your roost. Matt Elliott

FOOTNOTES 1 Damage comes in three types: elaborate, FOOTNOTES 1 If your answer is, “Ramsay Bolton will see the error FOOTNOTES 1 Why a cave? You’re a hunter gatherer who eats humiliating and sadistic. 2 The brutal showpiece traps include of his skin-flaying ways,” then you’re mad. 2 The cast of the TV show red meat for breakfast. 2 In one playthrough I fail to bond with my bull-shaped furnaces, collapsing organs and man cannons. are used sparingly, but feel like they’ve been hastily crowbarred in. bird-buddies, so the shadowy Hawk Party murder me in my sleep. REVIEW

Cel is very in right now, but King’s Quest does it with considerable flair.

KING’S REBRANDING @BabyGotBell KING’S QUEST CHAPTER 1: 091 A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER How does Sir Graham keep his head warm in bed?

hy, with a knighthood of course! In this particular case, you’ll get a solid five hours Get it? No, but seriously, the newly the fantastic voice acting roaming around the kingdom reimagined world of King’s Quest and undeniably impressive of Daventry, which, as well is a bit of a strange one. It’s got one character and world designs as hosting some standard legW firmly on the flagstones of nostalgia, and are soured by a hit and miss convoluted puzzles, will the other knee deep in the quicksand of meme whimsical tone that fluctuates throw quick time events and INFO references. It’s a tricky foundation that this, from knowingly self-aware to platforming at you. Not only FORMAT PS4 the first chapter of five, doesn’t quite manage desperately self-aware. that, but a lot of the puzzles on ALSO ON PS3 to get away with. offer have a variety of solutions ETA OUT NOW to be discovered, so there’s PUB SIERRA THE LARK KNIGHT DEV THE ODD By using an elderly King Graham telling stories On one hand you get to play some replay value as well as GENTLEMEN to his granddaughter as a frame, King’s Quest has a game of poisoned cup Find accessibility for the ‘pick up the aforementioned nostalgia in its very bones. The Lady with a tiny suit of everything; look at everything; It eventually grows into what you’d expect from armour voiced by Wallace touch everything’ newcomers. a sort-of-remake of a golden age point-and-click Shawn (Vizzini from The There’s no doubt that this game (i.e. a puzzle adventure), but by crikey does Princess Bride), negotiate with reimagined take on King’s it take a while to get there. It spends almost an the local union of bridge trolls Quest is swinging hard, but hour introducing simple mechanics – an hour and hang out with some truly its first chapter hasn’t quite so linear you might suspect developer The Odd hilarious knight hopefuls. On connected. Take comfort, Gentlemen is trying to sneak a Telltale Games the other, it’s hard to believe though. If all else fails you, knockoff past you by putting a funny hat and a that someone yelling, “Sorry there are still the puns. So dynamic cloak on it. not sorry!” will stand the test many, many puns… This is in some respects true, as there of time. It feels like the only VERDICT are several choices of varying gravity to make reason no one actually says, (although how much they’ll impact future “hashtag,” is because there isn’t The opening gambit of this chapters remains to be seen), but King’s Quest a way to crowbar Twitter into a episodic adventure is less zero does have a distinct flavour of its own. It’s medieval setting. to hero and more zero to hero’s probably one of those independent hipster sodas If you persevere through squire boy. A squire boy who such as dandelion and burdock: mostly good, but this imbalanced tone (and the could secretly be the heir to definitely with a bit of a weird aftertaste. tedious opening level) then the throne, though. Alice Bell There’s no day-night cycle, but you’ll see the world at several times of day.

092 BUT NOT FORGOTTEN @tomdavidsykes EVERYBODY’S GONE TO THE RAPTURE And muggins here is left to clean up the mess

s texture fidelity and lighting effects That central mystery hovers camera fond of poking into grow ever more sophisticated, we’re in the background of most of others’ business. Interaction going to see more and more games these spectral chats, but this is slight: you can open doors, that aim to create convincing places: is a game about its characters activate tape recorders and buildings,A towns and forests that feel like they first and foremost. While occasionally toggle lights. could slot neatly into an existing landscape. you can only see the cast in Certain memory-thingies EGTTR, with its lush Shropshire village, might INFO sparkly outline form, you thrust mild motion controls be the best example of this yet. FORMAT PS4 learn so much from the well- on you, asking you to tune to a ETA OUT NOW acted and well-directed vocal specific frequency to see them. (DOWNLOAD ONLY) Where other games fudge the scale or, for the PUB SONY performances that it’s easy for sake of the developer’s sanity, plump for a less DEV THE CHINESE your imagination to fill in the WALK THIS WAY intensive art style, The Chinese Room, creator ROOM gaps. Often, the time of day There’s just enough interaction of Dear Esther, has taken the hard road to the will suddenly fast-forward or to make you feel like part Rapture. And it shows. This looks like a real town rewind to reveal when these of the world, but despite its and this feels like a real town, albeit one where chats occurred, and this does a relatively enormous landmass, the residents have mysteriously upped and left. lot to bring the world to life. you can always feel the Oh yeah, about that: everyone around has As in many first-person developer’s tight grip on your vanished, leaving behind only their possessions exploration games, you don’t shoulder. The movement and some glowing orbs that lead the way to so much inhabit a character speed is purposefully slow, memory fragments. Approach one of these yourself but rather a roving forcing you to soak up the anomalies and a ghostly conversation will play out, shedding more light on recent events while delving into the backstories of a handful of “YOU’RE LESS OF A PERSON residents. While you’re funnelled down certain paths in the open-world, blocked from others by AND MORE OF A CAMERA waist-high shrubs or doors that won’t open, you can ‘collect’ these convos in largely any order. THAT LIKES BEING NOSY.” REVIEW

Right The lighting model looks gorgeous THE OPM BREAKDOWN – especially with these glowing memories. WHAT YOU DO IN… EVERYBODY’S GONE…

10% Looking 5% Tilting the at all the lovely controller to lighting effects unlock some Below The and going, “Ooooh.” of the more world is vast, important featuring other 15% Wishing 50% scenes. areas besides there was a run Pushing the key village. button – then forwards on the realising it’s analogue stick. i hidden on . Sometimes you 15% “Blimey, press q. this music is 5% Marvelling amazing. They’ve at the cheap cost got an actual of pints back in choir and the 1980s. everything.”

LOVING/HATING

GHOST WORLD GENTLE STROLL It’s not all audio tapes and It’s also a world begging to be holograms: much of the story is told explored. Thanks to the slow through subtle audio cues and movement speed, doubling back to environmental detail. explore other paths is a chore.

SECOND OPINION SEDATE STROLLER Maybe every PS4 game should be set in the 093 West Midlands. You can stick hacking in Chicago or shooting space Nazis on New Helghan; I’d rather a pleasant stroll around Shropshire. Rapture is Above Exploration is key, but returning to previous areas can be a pain. one of the most tranquil games I’ve played in years. Mournful, soothing and romantic, this is a slow-burning yet super-interesting adventure. Dave Meikleham environment and examine it humanity and compassion. in a depth it often deserves. The Chinese Room is wearing IS IT BETTER THAN? Which is fine, for the most its heart on its sleeve here, part, though once you’ve examining the final days of already seen an area and fancy a handful of normal people sauntering somewhere else, with no cynicism, detachment the journey home can be an or judgement – and with a interminably long one – even level of earnestness that can after you’ve discovered the sometimes make you laugh. hidden run button. This is a game that crescendos Ethan Carter (p95) is an each act with an epic choral intriguing game to contrast number, its lyrics taken from YES NO YES Rapture with. Both titles the previous scene’s dialogue. There’s very little in it, They’re both about life You should probably explore similar territory in I’d be surprised if EGTTR but this is a more and death, but get both, but thanks to convincing world with Journey is the deeper, its richly imagined different ways. The former inspires tears or affirms lives, a better-written story more powerful world, EGTTR is entrusts you with fast travel but it’s refreshing to play than Ethan Carter. experience. better at exploration. and light puzzles. Rapture’s an apocalyptic story of such story is more interesting and optimism and warmth. This COMPEL-O-GRAPH better-told, its world larger and game of walking and listening more ambitious, but the cost won’t be for everyone, but then Poking around There’s a run is a stubborn refusal to let us what game truly is? in ‘80s houses. button!?! traverse it at our own pace. VERDICT ,it Audio tapes are Look at these textures dammit boring. yells, they took us bloody ages. Everybody’s Gone To The These are some Rapture is a slow, soaring game detailed woods. TALK THIS WAY with real heart, set in an often It’s hard to stay miffed at I can walk stunningly realised setting. Stay faster than this. this design choice, because on the path for best results – despite its inflexibility this it’s an awkward game to try and 0 TIME 5 hours is a game swelling with exert control over. Tom Sykes REVIEW

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QUBE: LIFE IS STRANGE GOAT SIMULATOR DIRECTOR’S CUT S1E4 – DARK ROOM Warning: contains copious amounts The square root of flattery On stranger tides of grievous bodily farm UBE, or Quick Understanding Of arely has a videogame got to me so ong ago the internet taught me to Block Extrusion to give it its full name, succinctly, so emphatically, that it be afraid of the word ‘goat’, much comes on strong like Valve’s Portal, renders me speechless. Not since The like it did the words ‘lemon’, ‘tub’, Q R L 1 with its white, sterile chambers and a story Last Of Us has a title slid under my skin so and ‘waffle’. And now in 2015, my PS4 is told entirely through unreliable narrators. deeply I’ve had to walk away for five minutes reminding me that, as I feared, very few Your only contact with the outside comes just to let it all settle in. Yet here I am taking things with the word ‘goat’ in them are good. in the form of two crackly radio voices, a quiet moment to myself as the credits roll Using every metric that makes sense, who offer differing opinions on why you’re on Life Is Strange’s penultimate instalment. Goat Simulator is bad. It’s a stinking heap of here. One hypothesises you’re in space, on Three chapters ago, Dontnod’s episodic broken code. Less a game, more a physics a mission to save Earth; the other swears adventure seemed like nothing more than a playground, I frantically steer a poorly you’re in an underground lab awaiting death. twee attempt to emulate the successes of animated goat around poorly rendered Like Portal, you progress by indirectly long-time genre king Telltale Games. But with sandbox levels, bashing into (or sometimes manipulating the environment to solve every new episode, the time-twisting journey jumping over) poorly designed objects to physics puzzles. Here your tool is a pair of introspective heroine Max Caulfield has score points – as poorly tuned physics go of special gloves which manipulate select blossomed into something truly special, berserk on screen, wrenching ol’ Billy’s 094 panels on the floor, walls and ceiling;1 some weaving moments of peaceful interaction elastic neck this way and that. Occasionally panels can be pushed out into stepping with a tangible sense of foreboding.1 I tick off small objectives, and sometimes stones, others form launchpads, others still Dark Room builds on this precedent I find hidden trophies, but apart from rotate the entire room by 90°. QUBE packs a beautifully and crafts an opening scene that unlocking weird gameplay modifiers (goat remarkable amount of variety into its three ends with a decision more resonant than jetpacks!) that’s the sum of my experience. hour campaign, throwing up new concepts anything I’ve experienced in years. The only And I could not recommend it more. I’m on a chapterly basis. And just when you think failing here is the setting in which this choice not kidding. Wait, I guess I am, technically. you’ve got a handle on your new toy, the level takes place – LIS has built a series of pivotal But whatever: it’s dumb, it’s glitchy and designers reintroduce long-forgotten ones plot-forks based on seemingly innocuous it’s not even the tiny ‘physics playground’ from chapters past to mix things up again. actions, but the isolated nature of this genre’s best game,2 but it’s a fascinating Alas, ‘clever’ and ‘tricky’ aren’t heartbreaking scene makes me fear it’ll be trainwreck-cum-joke that entertains, interchangeable terms. While there are a forgotten when the series draws to a close. harking back to the days when you used to few puzzles that’ll send you whimpering Elsewhere, characters develop new boot up GTA III and just play. Not to complete to YouTube, for the most part the game layers2 and evolve depending on choices missions, but simply to experiment, explore is either unwilling or unable to leave you made long before, while a pleasing the world and have undirected fun. stumped for long. Most can be solved by investigation mini-game halfway through Sure, its shonkiness makes the likes of blindly tinkering and observing the results makes good on the need to finally address Octodad and Surgeon Simulator look like until a possible solution appears.2 It still has the story’s many mysteries (while polished diamonds, but get over it and that intangible ‘Eureka!’ moment in spades, simultaneously embedding new ones). My you’ve got a game that lets you headbutt a and the story concludes with a twist that’ll only worry is with such a strong penultimate barbeque, set humans alight, lick a firework catch you off-guard – but by the episode, and another shocking and then get blasted up into the game’s end you’ll wonder if it ending, Dark Room’s shadow is sky for an acrobatics display, all wasn’t just the narrators who so long the series’ conclusion in the space of three seconds. were trying to pull the wool may struggle to step out from It doesn’t have to make sense – over your eyes. Paul Randall under it. Dom Reseigh-Lincoln just go with it. Matthew Pellett

FOOTNOTES 1 However, in the heat of the moment it can be FOOTNOTES 1 Much like genre touchstone The Walking Dead, LIS FOOTNOTES 1 Don’t pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking tricky to pick out the exact block you need. 2 The more complex shines in its quieter moments. 2 Chloe especially – her personality’s about. Unless you don’t, in which case Google is NOT your friend. puzzles have a ‘reset’ button, so it’s impossible to get stuck. now much more nuanced than her one-note attitude back in ep one. 2 Amazing Frog (OUYA/PC) is a strong fave I hope comes to PS4. REVIEW

INFO FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB DEV THE ASTRONAUTS DAVE’S MEIKLE- HAMMERING @OPM_UK

You know what Meiks The Furious has much hate for harboured in his cholesterol-clogged heart? That’s right: all this hate. Yes, the irritated anaconda has swallowed its own tail, and little Dave has clearly decided to take an acid bath in STEAMING, STINKING HYPOCRISY. Believe it or not, this SCORNFUL SCOTSMAN actually has a whole lot of love in his ticker. All Meiksy wants is for games to be a wee bit gentler and more caring. GET CARTER @dirigiblebill Last month, I THE VANISHING OF reviewed God Of War III Remastered. ETHAN CARTER Fabulous game. If you A picturesque valley filled with ugly secrets missed the cyclops-assaulting adventure rafted by veterans Objects are rendered by on PS3, you should check it out on PS4 of the seismic combining photographs to post-haste. BUT… Man, is Kratos such an , The create a 3D model, and the ALMIGHTY PR**K. Vanishing Of Ethan results defy description: it feels Don’t get me wrong: I love the CCarter deals with escapism like you can run your fingers 095 in a couple of senses. On one through the roots jutting from a Spartan stuffing out of the fallen deity’s level it’s a gentle trek around leafy bank. There are also a few smashing combat. I just wish HARRY a deserted riverside town bespoke puzzles that drag you HATEDINI would occasionally hug out his in search of its predictably into Ethan’s daydreams and are sinister history – virtual the basis for some brilliantly problems, rather than always taking a tourism with a pinch of Silent surreal and suspenseful stroll down Decapitation Alley. Hill. But it’s also a moving, moments. Suffice to say Despite what many big budget scattered portrait of the inner that your quarry is a big fan of games in 2015 may teach you, there life of a child who is trying a certain HP Lovecraft. to escape a world of heartache are more meaningful ways to interact and banality. HORSE ‘N’ CARTER with a virtual character than pulling In its opening message, The out their lower intestine, then using it Saying more would spoil things, Vanishing Of Ethan Carter as a SODDING SKIP ROPE. Just look but if you’re familiar with the purports to shun hand-holding, films of M Night Shyamalan, encouraging players to make at Journey. We review its current-gen you should have some idea actual deductions about the redux on p88, and you won’t come what to expect the second story and mechanics. It doesn’t across a finer example of a game you don the fedora of one Paul quite deliver on this. True, making inquisitive exploration ten times Prospero, a supernaturally gifted there’s no tutorial, but clues are detective who is summoned to marked on HUDs at a distance more thrilling than any HORRIBLY investigate the disappearance of and Prospero’s ability to see the HUMDRUM HEADSHOT. the titular Master Carter. past robs certain enigmas of There’s nothing wrong This boils down to a series their mystery. with virtual violence. of simple environmental Still, it tells a story far more puzzles, where you plod around elegantly than the majority of My BLACKENED clicking on clues, arrange the its peers, and while the puzzles SOUL gets its associated spectral after-images occasionally disappoint, the SADISTIC JOLLIES from seeing Geralt of events chronologically, then vein of familial tragedy is worth hack off limbs in The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt watch them play out in order to excavating for its treasures. unlock the way ahead. as much as anyone. Yet I also enjoy VERDICT The novelty of this drains making the cat-eyed warrior forage for away fast – you’re effectively A little threadbare and not as flowers or watching him chat through editing an in-engine cutscene revolutionary as it appears, but his quarrels. Now bring it in, gentle – but the environment’s poignant and breathtakingly naturalism and splendour realised. A haunting interactive reader. That’s it. Ssssh, ssssh… Actually, makes the core of the game feel story worth trying after EGTTR SOD THIS! All these good feelings will more exotic than it really is. (p92). Edwin Evans-Thirlwell cost me this column. I HATE YOU ALL!

this month online dlc movies music how to trophies

on the store 100 Never Alone – Foxtales Nuna and Fox are back in their umiaq for another adventure based on the traditional stories of the Alaskan Inupiat people. Grab that scarf!

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on your xmb 103 John Wick Cheer up sad Keanu, your new movie about a legendary assassin pulled back into action is pretty ace. Woah.

music 103 This month’s hottest tunes online tests 98 how to… Planetside 2 104 Make your PS4 a media hub We put the huge multiplayer shooter that makes platinum PS3’s MAG look both teensy and tiny to the test. club 105 Batman: Arkham Knight MULTIPLAYER MODES PUT THROUGH THEIR PACES online tests BY OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS

what we’re playing now review

BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT Dave Meikleham has leaderboard envy What a glorious time it was when the Dark Knight’s online rankings were down. During the game’s first fortnight on sale, I was ranked number one in the world in the Batmobile Crushonator AR Challenge… Mostly because Batman: Arkham Knight couldn’t post other players’ PSN times. Still, I felt like quite the big shot for a while back there. And now? Uh, I’d rather not talk about it, if I’m totally honest. Safe to say, I’m not troubling the top 7,000. Damn you, stupid working leaderboards.

SNIPER ELITE III 098 Dom Reseigh-Lincoln’s patient trigger finger learns the finer points INFO of WWII sniping FORMAT PS4 Oh my, do I love the online PUB counterpart to Rebellion’s DEV PSYONIX fun but mostly forgettable REVIEW 113, 8/10 solo story. Said campaign is teeming with dull, predictable enemies – but in the dust-caked servers of a good deathmatch there’s no such worry. Every match becomes a tense game of Rocket League peekaboo roulette as I and some other dedicated marksmen trade deadly Multiplayer boosts an already beautiful game shots across silent maps. It’s a slow affair, but when that kill rings with a veryone should try Rocket corner of the screen It’s tremendously single shot, it’s bliss. League. It’s football with cars, (“OMG!” “Close one!” engaging, because it was free with PS Plus in July “Balls for the Ball God!”). there’s a way back into and we scored it a solid eight It can be a cruel game all but the most hopeless DARK SOULS last issue. If, however, the to play. There will be of games; you’re only II: SOTFS Efates have somehow conspired against times when it feels like ever a stroke of luck Tom Sykes has been you and you still haven’t played it online, Rocket League actively away from a glorious rediscovering the you definitely should. hates you; where the ball equaliser (or seven world of Drangleic Like Tiddlywinks and naked Twister, bounces off the side of strokes, if things are My first time through a Rocket League was meant to be played the arena, floats over going really badly). Souls game, I tend to rely too much on co-op for with other people – if you were in any your head and passively There’s a void between boss fights – multiplayer, doubt, online multiplayer is the first lands in the goal, defying being able to play the inevitably, all but breaking option on the menu. The entire process laws of physics and fair game – something a loaf their incredibly fragile AI. is breathlessly quick, rather like the play. Other times, your of bread could probably This third time through Dark Souls II, game’s buzzy remote controlled cars: first touch will send do, if it had thumbs – and I’m aiming to resist, and so far it’s very little time is spent lingering in the ball floating into being actually good at it. been going pretty well. I may not be summoning, but as ever I’m enjoying the lobbies and if players drop out the opponents’ net. Playing against other the ambient interaction, the player- mid-game they’re immediately replaced left notes and occasional glimpses of a with AI understudies. spectral warrior. I’m looking forward It’s so swift and simple that it almost PLAYING AGAINST OTHER to getting back to the Rat King doesn’t feel like playing against other PEOPLE FORCES YOU TO THINK Covenant, setting up traps and people, except for the sharpened watching as my rodents and my WISELY, GUARD YOUR GOAL dwarves tear other players to bits. competitive edge and the stream of instant messages which appear in the AND BE AGGRESSIVE. RANK AND MILE All the single player modes exist as online gametypes (Duel, Doubles, 3v3 and 4v4), but you can also play ranked match games of Solo Duel, Doubles, and Solo Standard.

his shooter just keeps going. Normally, that would be a Tdecidedly positive factor for a persistent online world to boast, but here the endless cycle of taking, defending, and then retaking outposts eventually wears thin. There are between-skirmish moments of respite, and the joy of rushing across a valley basin among a legitimate army of fellow players is yet to dull, but the levelling up rewards we earn can’t keep us hooked. Perhaps we’ve been spoiled by Destiny, but the Planetside 2 war-stories you can create aren’t See you on the backed up by tangible in-game other side elements. The thrill of the fight is enough to keep most scrapping INFO for Cert Points, but for others the FORMAT PS4 need to feel like you’re working PUB DAYBREAK GAME COMPANY towards something more palpable DEV DAYBREAK GAME will see them emigrate elsewhere. COMPANY REVIEW 113, 8/10 VERDICT Planetside 2 is still solid fun and offers a thrilling and unique angle 099 from which to do your shooting, but we need more to show for Learning to use brake and reverse instead of our time. Matthew Gilman moving at full pelt will serve you well online. otoGP 15’s best online human (or bread-based) players urges mode is just like FIFA’s you to think tactically, guard your goal MSeasons. As in recent and grasp scoring opportunities more years, you must accumulate firmly. You’ll also try more ambitious enough points in individual online shots such as glorious mid-air strikes, races to move up a tier (before propelled by the unruly application of inevitable relegation back again). boost. Playing against bots seems drab It works really well, even if the by comparison, and there’s loads lobbies rarely fill with more than to learn from watching the best a couple of real people out of the Rocket League players. Even if possible 12 slots. they are scoring goals against Aside from the usual single race you, the rotters. and custom championship series, This makes for a game there’s also a clever, competitive with a narcotic ‘just one split time challenge where you more go’ factor. By the time MotoGP 15 attempt to ace individual sections you’ve heard the parp of the Motorbikes are just like – very useful if you lack the horn signalling the match footballs. Wait… what? consistency to win outright. The has ended, you’ll be voting system for courses and desperately hitting buttons to INFO weather works well, but expect begin another game. Win, and FORMAT PS4 to get beaten a lot on the track. PUB PQUBE the temptation is to quit with the DEV MILESTONE Most people still online now are glow of victory still on you: REVIEW 113, 7/10 exceptionally good at it. something I’ve not managed to do yet. VERDICT VERDICT A strong selection of enjoyable Fast, immediate and totally different modes to choose from, and to the offline mode, it’s occasionally blissfully few idiots to contend frustrating but always moreish. If with too. A solid racing setup, you’re not playing it online, you’re if a little sedate. Justin Towell doing it wrong. Matt Elliott EMPTY YOUR WALLETS NOW WITH THE LATEST on the store DOWNLOADABLE DIVERSIONS

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MORTAL KOMBAT X – TREMOR CHARACTER PACK Much like its previous effort, Injustice: Gods Among Us, NetherRealm is keeping fans happy with plenty of new fighters. Thankfully new combatant Tremor isn’t a poor movie tie-in, but a brutish, rock-skinned £3.29 ninja. And he’s pissed. Never Alone – Foxtales £4.99 100 Charming yet simplistic platformer has a new story to tell he main entry for this Foxtales follows the There’s also more of side-scrolling curio scored cautionary tale of ‘The the satisfying spirit- LITTLEBIGPLANET a paltry 5/10 back in OPM Two Coastal Brothers’ based environmental 3 – THE JOURNEY #105 thanks to its buggy and sees Nuna and her puzzles that stood out HOME PACK platforming mechanics and Arctic Fox mate seeking as a highlight in the main The LBP series breaks Tgeneral lack of challenge, but it still adventure in their umiaq game, as well five new tradition by offering a charmed the snow pants off us with (a sealskin canoe). The unlockable Cultural content drop that isn’t its enchanting soundtrack and real-life fresh DLC expansion Insight interview videos. just new bits and bobs to adorn your creative interviews with the Inupiat people that comes with three brand For all its past niggles, levels – now there’s inspired its fable-esque plot. new levels to explore – this slice of Alaskan a new story epilogue With that in mind, an extra addition to featuring open seas, the adventuring is still an that sees Sackboy and the 2.5D universe of Nuna and her ruins of a sunken village interesting and uniquely- friends race against creatively-monikered pal, Fox, wasn’t and a river-based paddle. presented curio. the clock to attend their exactly at the top of our wishlist, but is own celebration party. welcome nonetheless. This new chapter £4.49 is Foxtales, which uses the word-of- IT USES THE WORD-OF- mouth storytelling conceits from the MOUTH ALASKAN MYTHOLOGY base game to spin together another moralistic journey into the spirit- STORYTELLING CONCEITS filled world of Alaskan mythology. FROM THE BASE GAME.

PROJECT CARS also on psn – AUDI RUAPUNA PARK EXPANSION This new content pack adds special weapon skins and a new zombie mode! Oh we’re pulling your leg – it’s a bunch of £15.99 £7.99 £15.99 £11.99 99p new cars and races, of YASAI NINJA THE FALL ENDER OF FIRE RED GODDESS: PIECEFALL course. This first track With its feudal Japan No, this isn’t the playable So here we were hoping INNER WORLD Designed by students expansion includes five setting and cinematic Gillian Anderson detective for a moody take on the Sometimes all you want at Sheffield Hallam different circuits at New score you’d think Yasai sim you’ve always life of a firefighter and is a brightly-coloured, University, Piecefall is a Zealand’s Ruapuna Park Ninja was a serious affair wanted, but rather a instead we’ve got a co-op cartoony, non-linear geometric puzzle game and three sultry slices – then you realise you’re side-scrolling puzzle- action RPG. Go kill 60 side-scrolling platformer where you solve Tetris- a hack ‘n’ slashing onion. platformer in the same kinds of monster with where you explore the like tasks in a 3D setting. of Audi goodness. Bye bye poignancy! vein as The Swapper. friends and strangers. mind of a young goddess. A bargain for under £1.

coming soon

A ROYAL 7 SEP on your XMB NIGHT OUT Julian Jarrold’s period drama retells the night our blu-rays dear Queenie and princess Margaret got their party on during the 1945 VE Day.

WWE: THE 7 SEP KLIQ RULES Watch a bunch of (mostly) washed-up ‘rasslers discuss everything from the Monday Night Wars to their notorious backstage antics.

BONES 14 SEP SEASON TEN Zooey’s big sis Emily Deschanel and FBI smoothie David Boreanaz prod at skeletons in the forensic procedural’s latest season.

PITCH 21 SEP PERFECT 2 Rebel Wilson, hanging upside down, flashing an auditorium full of dry-heaving extras her downstairs bits. Pitch Perfect 2, ladies and gents.

BIG GAME 21 SEP After a botched assassination attempt 102 aboard his plane, president Samuel L Jackson ends up camping with a small boy in the woods of Finland.

THE WALKING 28 SEP Fast & DEAD – SEASON 5 Carl, stay back! AMC’s shambling juggernaut makes Furious 7 it past the five season mark You’ll believe a petrolhead can cry with more gore than ever. ARROW – 28 SEP omewhat inexplicably, the of the series so far. SEASON 3 Fast And Furious series Cars parachuting out He’s a billionaire vigilante who chooses to exact justice has grown from modest of planes, stunt jumps grim-faced – in the present beginnings into a globe- between skyscrapers; day – with an actual bow trotting, nitro-fuelled, we’ve come a long way and arrow. Enough said. Smega-bucks action extravaganza since down and dirty that rivals The Avengers for outlandish street races. SPOOKS: THE 28 SEP GREATER superheroics. Even more inexplicably, The spectacle is GOOD this seventh entry is the best one yet. largely to thank for Swarthy spook Kit Cockney hardcase Deckard Shaw the film’s stupefying Harrington teams up with a (The Stath) is on the warpath after success at the box disgraced MI5 chief on a day his little brother was left comatose office (currently the trip away from The Wall. by Dominic Toretto (Vin ) and fifth highest grossing his ragtag ‘family’ during the last film’s of all time) but for all DRAGON INN 28 SEP London jaunt. Dom gets in bed with the blatantly ludicrous King Hu’s 1967 epic depicts imperial China as the US government to steal surveillance trappings it’s a film that an age full of subterfuge, MacGuffin the God’s Eye, which will wears its heart on its warring families and allow them to take the fight to Shaw… sleeve, and is hugely improbably flashy sword- who continually pops up anyway leaving endearing because of it. based choreography. their death-defying antics entirely The finale – a touching MAD MAX: 5 OCT unnecessary. But who cares – look, tribute to Paul Walker, FURY ROAD an explosion! And another! who died during filming 2015’s best-crafted, most It might not rival Mad Max: Fury Road – is enough to leave nightmarish movie thus Over 230 cars were for sheer automechanical carnage, but hardened gear nuts far. Tom Hardy and Charlize totalled during the making F&F7 is satisfyingly slick and boasts the in puddles of their own Theron strive for order in of Fast & Furious 7. most gleefully over the top set-pieces tears. Jordan Farley the desert chaos. Director Chad Stahelski was Keanu Reeves’ stunt double in The Matrix movies. music

GHOST MELIORA FORMAT ALBUM ETA OUT NOW PRICE £8.99 Sweden’s Ghost take their commitment to the dark path seriously, the personnel of their third long- player listed as vocalist Papa Emeritus II and his five Nameless Ghouls. The music is equally wicked, a stirring and melodramatic metal. ghost-official.com

TITUS ANDRONICUS THE MOST John Wick LAMENTABLE TRAGEDY Neo’s got nothing on this guy FORMAT ALBUM ETA OUT NOW PRICE £10.99 s a wide-eyed Keanu Reeves fashion, fights rarely How about this for an epic undertaking: a sprawling noted in The Matrix, “I know lasting more than a few 90-minute ‘rock opera’ kung-fu.” Well now the man seconds before he puts in which frontman Patrick formerly known as Neo can the next victim in his Stickles and his band 103 add ‘gun-fu’ to his varied and crosshairs. Brilliantly, relate a tale of madness. violentA resumé, the naff name for the he constantly has to stop titusandronicus.net remarkable combat style his titular and reload – a mundane assassin employs in John Wick. The touch in an otherwise result: more headshots in 90 minutes heightened world with than the average Call Of Duty campaign. safe haven hotels for As the legend goes, Wick was the professional killers and underworld’s top dealer of death until special gold coins used he met the love of his life and decided to to pay for no-questions leave the life of a hired killer behind. But clean-up crews. at the start of the film Wick is already Reeves is the perfect mourning the death of his beloved fit for the murderous wife. Hope then arrives in the form Wick, possessing just the of a posthumous gift from his dearly right levels of physicality, departed – a puppy. But when Wick’s vulnerability and steely home is broken into and the puppy resolve to sell his journey RUDIMENTAL (brace yourself) killed, Wick returns to from grieving husband LOVE AIN’T JUST A WORD the fold seeking bloody revenge on the to besuited terminator FORMAT TRACK ETA OUT NOW PRICE £0.99 mafia men responsible. of doom. Following its A reggae-tinged cut from the London quartet’s new LP We The Generation veers between horn-powered Martial arts movies have a hard job success, there’s now talk skank and jump-up drum’n’bass, topped off with a hook making an impression in a world where of two more sequels. On sung by collaborator Anne-Marie. rudimental.co.uk the immaculately choreographed Raid the strength of this film, films exist, but John Wick is the best may John Wick’s puppies to come out of America in a long time. be slaughtered for years CHVRCHES Wick uses firearms in thrillingly efficient to come. Jordan Farley LEAVE A TRACE FORMAT TRACK ETA OUT NOW PRICE £0.99 The Bones Of What You Believe, the debut album from Chvrches, took this little Glasgow trio all over the world. Comeback single ‘Leave A Trace’ proves that success hasn’t blunted their skill for a gently yearning electro-pop, Lauren Mayberry’s plea for romantic closure swaddled in a silky duvet of a synthesizer or seven. chvrch.es how to…

doctor Our console medic Master the Media Player fixes your tech woes with actual science Turn your PS4 into a conduit for every file type

STEp 1 STEp 2 STEp 3 ACTUALLY LOAD YOUR GET DOWNLOAD MEDIA ONTO ADVENTUROUS THE ELUSIVE USB STICKS WITH A HOME THING MEDIA SERVER

the problem PS4’s ace at games, but it’s bobbins at offering video playback 104 outside of a disc or Sit down, the doc has some With everything in place (aka Entertainment media has Netflix setup. The bad news. We’ve had our fun one 17.9MB download, how largely migrated away from inclusion of PS4 over the years: remember the easy was that?), it’s time to put home media server setups – it’s Media Player in a water fight in the OR? And that your brand new Media Player usually the content provider that recent update fixes game of defibrillator chicken? through its paces with a USB deals with all the server stuff, all that for good. Good times. However, due to a drive and some tricky video files. such as Netflix and . If pending lawsuit a cartel of my Why don’t you pop on a cheeky you have a lot of local media on former patients are filing with .MKV? How about an .AVI and an your PC or Mac that you’d like to regard to the whole ‘years of .MPV thrown in there for kicks, stream to TV via your PS4 though, reckless and life-threatening eh? Hell, spice things up by Media Player can help with that malpractice’ thing, I’m being including a few .AAC audio files, without the need to use a USB struck off. This will be our last too – remember, that annoying stick as a go-between. chance to play ‘patient under .M4A format iTunes automatically These days (unless you’re general anaesthetic buckaroo’. converted your CDs to? Yep, running an ancient Windows Make it a good round. *Sniff* your PS4’s got ‘em all licked now. OS) you’ll need to download So you want to play all kinds of Play any of them (and more, but third-party media server media files (including the hallowed let’s not get bogged down with software such as Plex or Media .MKVs that your PS3 couldn’t bitmaps and the like) by starting Browser in order to do so. Once handle) and PS4 Media Server lets Media Player from the main menu, you have everything squared you do it. Either head to the PSN selecting your USB drive, then away server-side on your store or find the new tile on the selecting either video, music, or PC/Mac, Media Player will main menu to download it, then pictures. Kindergarten stuff, this. automatically recognise it (as it we can get our hands dirty. That’s If you want to add certain media did the USB stick) and give you a right, it may look like you already to your favourites list, simply whole library of, er, completely have it installed, but it won’t highlight it and hit the options legitimately procured movies and download until you hit that tile. button to star it up. music to browse at your leisure.

the verdict next month Finally, your collection of Find out who will unusual media formats is fill the doc’s shoes. unshackled from the constraints Metaphorical ones, ? of the machine you downloaded of course. The doc it on, and let loose on your doesn’t believe in PS4 with bare minimum faffing wearing clothes about. Ta for that, Media Player. below the waist. Mr trophy Iain Wilson’s PSN ID is Wilbossman, and his trophy cabinet is bigger than yours.

Platinum x 63 Gold x 350 Silver x 1,395 Bronze x 5,780 Edward Nigma has prepared 315 challenges across the city to keep you busy for quite some time. Platinum Club Hunting for Silver Age silverware in Batman: Arkham Knight

here are a couple of series of tests to free Catwoman, At this point you have the join the 105 things to note straight but also solving his 243 Riddles perfect opportunity to mop up any club Hey! What’s off the bat (sorry not (which translate into 315 actual other trophies that need you to the hardest sorry) when taking on challenges to beat). It’s best to perform specific actions, such as trophy you’ve snagged? Tell the Arkham Knight. consult a guide for these – luckily completing eight different jumps us at opm@ Firstly, there are a GamesRadar+ has you covered at over 100 metres in the Batmobile futurenet.com large number of trophies – 65 in bit.ly/BAK_troph_guide. for A Leap Of Faith and flying Ttotal, almost exclusively bronze – Once you’ve finished seven of under all three main bridges though many of these will unlock the Most Wanted strands you’ll between the islands in one big as you work through the main reveal the option to trigger an glide to get the tricky Run story and extensive side Through The Jungle. quests. There are a lot With everything else fewer combat and YOU NEED TO REACH THE ticked off, you just predator challenges FULL 100% COMPLETION BEFORE need to beat the than in previous Arkham game again in New outings to trip you up on THE ‘TRUE’ ENDING OF THE Story+ mode, which the way to the Platinum. GAME CAN BE REVEALED. automatically sets to You should begin by Knightmare difficulty. completing the main story to additional ending, however you At this level you won’t see any become the Master Of Fear, as need to reach the full 100% counter or charge icons during you’ll receive a number of useful completion before the ‘true’ combat and enemies (both thugs gadgets along the way. Sink your conclusion of the game can be and drones) are lot tougher, but WayneTech points into combat revealed to award you the you do get to carry over all the and health upgrades for both hard-fought Knightfall. gadgets and upgrades you your Batsuit and Batmobile so With all of the missions unlocked previously. you’re ready for the many completed you can now focus Ignore the Most Wanted quests challenges that lie ahead. on achieving 69 stars in the AR and crack through the main story Next you can tackle the Most challenges for Absolution, and again to survive The Long Wanted side-missions, which as there are only 23 of them this Halloween – at which point you play out over 14 individual means getting the full three stars can proudly proclaim I AM the strands. The main one of on each. Handily, if you have the Batman! and display the Platinum these is the Riddler’s Scarecrow DLC then there are an trophy in your virtual Batcabinet. Revenge, where extra nine stars up for grabs that earning Riddle Me count towards your total, giving NEXT ISSUE Don’t be scared by Until That involves not you a bit of breathing space if you Dawn – Mr Trophy will guide you safely only clearing a happen to get stuck. through the night to that Platinum pot. CLASSIC GAME

E

INFO PUB CAPCOM DEV CAPCOM 106 RELEASED 2004 GET IT NOW £19.74, NEED TO KNOW Onimusha 3 is Léon actor Jean Reno’s 1 only game credit. The game is visible in Smallville’s 2 ‘Prodigal’ episode. New York was once going to be the 3 main setting.

Dare you get lost in the endless abyss of Jean Reno’s extra-sad PS2- rendered peepers? retrostation

Reno men

Every month we celebrate the most important, CLASSIC GAME innovative or just plain great games from PlayStation’s past. This time out we revisit the stabby, soulful, and extra-French delights of Capcom’s forgotten samurai…

Both characters possess magical gauntlets that absorb souls dropped by enemies, which you can then spend on handy upgrades. Sure, these RPG-lite elements are simple, but they give Onimusha 3 Onimusha 3 an empowering sense of progression. Ah, the joys of collecting five purple souls to then transform into ention sad-eyed pair have to solve Resident Evil-style a demon form that radically increases French actor Jean puzzles that affect the other’s timeline, your attack powers… Simple pleasures. Reno and you might and towards the end they’re reunited Although they do team up on several think of Léon, Ronin for a battle against the Genma and occasions, Jacques and Samanosuke and their leader, the nasty Nobunaga. spend much of the game apart. Which is 2. Okay, maybe not The Resident Evil similarity was where a fairy called Ako (yes, an actual that last one. But did no accident, either. Onimusha 3 was fairy) comes in: able to travel between you know that back in 2004 he starred directed by Capcom legend Keiji Inafune, time periods – only 49% ridiculous as in a videogame? Onimusha 3 (the game no stranger to the zombie series. it sounds – Ako delivers items between also had the subtitle ‘Demon Siege’ The gory samurai soap opera shares the two characters. Still want more? 107 outside of the UK) is the best entry in Resi’s fixed cameras, pre-rendered Okay then, why not play as someone Capcom’s long-dead hack-and-slash backgrounds and puzzle design, but the else instead? Jacques’ trigger-happy series, and it sees Reno’s character, a difference is the combat, which is much wife Michelle, for instance? Parisian gendarme, flung back in time to deeper. Samanosuke uses traditional feudal Japan. Obviously. Later, he teams samurai weapons: a katana and bow. DAWN OF THE DREAD up with legendary samurai Samanosuke Jacques? He wields an energy whip that The next Onimusha game, Dawn Of Akechi, played by Taiwanese-Japanese can also be used to swing across gaps. Dreams, was the worst of the lot and actor Takeshi Kaneshiro. It’s a lavish, Fighting’s fast and responsive, with predictably bombed at launch (despite pre-financial crisis production, and a a satisfying weight to every slash having Inafune back and in the executive brilliant action game to boot. of your blade. Attack an enemy just producer seat). And with that Capcom While previous games in the series as they strike and there’s a chance promptly slashed its ties with the were set exclusively in ancient Japan, you’ll perform an Issen: an immensely series. There hasn’t been another since Onimusha 3 opens with Paris being rewarding, stylish instant kill that never, — well, not counting Onimusha: Soul, a invaded by demons. Samanosuke is ever gets old. It’s easily one of the best dodgy web released in thrown through a time portal to 2004 melee combat systems of the PS2 era Japan in 2012 we’ll happily ignore. and he and Jacques Blanc (Reno) team and is still a blast to use today. It’s a modern day tragedy, because up to fight the hordes of the invading Onimusha 3 is one of the best action Genma army. games in PlayStation history thanks to But it’s not long before the two are WHILE PREVIOUS its blend of cinematic flair, dependably separated, trapped in their respective solid combat and satisfying puzzling time periods. Samanosuke must adapt GAMES WERE SET IN elements. Jean Reno is still acting in to the modern world, while Blanc JAPAN, ONIMUSHA 3 Hollywood, but we doubt he’ll ever play explores the bamboo forests of 16th a policeman who fights demons with a century Japan. At certain points the OPENS IN PARIS. magic whip ever again. For shame.

QOnly Reno could pull off sunnies and red gloves. QIt’s not all demon slaughter. Hello, fatherly advice. QThose poor generic soldiers never catch a break. TIME MACHINE

Name OPM TIME MACHINE that game Guess the four games, 5 YEARS AGO and their scores, from The foot-tapping single-song soundtrack these review quotes to OPM #49?“Getready,tonight:we’re gonna make this a Knight to remember…” 1 ENDING A ROUND BY SOARING 20 FEET INTO THE UPLINK POINT WHILE CARRYING A METALLIC BASKETBALL? THAT’S CERTAINLY NEW.

2 YOU’RE RESTRICTED IN WHAT YOU CAN CAST SPELLS ON. SO NO, 108 PROFESSOR SNAPE CAN’T BE THROWN OFF THE ROOF.

Above Dark truly was the Knight for all as we took Below left Ex-science teacher Leon delivered 21 tips 3 the world-first look at Rocksteady’s stellar spandex- to max out your PS3. And yes, there will be a test… A COCKTAIL OF toting sequel, Batman: Arkham City. At a colossal 14 CAPERS SO LARGE pages, this remains one of the biggest single game Below right “Are any books based on games worth THAT THE EFFECT IS previews to appear in the hallowed pages of OPM. reading?” we asked. Actually, some are pretty good. LIKE DROPPING A SHOT OF TEQUILA INTO A FISHBOWL OF SEA BREEZE.

4 IT’S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO OVERLOOK THE WONKY CONTROLS. AS A Far left To this day, former ed RESULT, ASSEMBLING Ben insists this is FLATPACK FURNITURE his greatest ever headline. It’s about HAS MORE LONG- Jarvis Cocker… TERM APPEAL. Left Sports

Champions looked

4. Kung Fu Rider, issue #49, 5/10 #49, issue Rider, Fu Kung 4. the part in our

3. ACIV: Black Flag, issue #91, 8/10 8/10 #91, issue Flag, Black ACIV: 3. PS Move review Phoenix, issue #8, 8/10 #8, issue Phoenix,

2. Harry Potter And The Order Of The The Of Order The And Potter Harry 2. special; alas, the

1. COD: Advanced Warfare, #104, 8/10 8/10 #104, Warfare, Advanced COD: 1. same can’t be said ANSWERS of the photoshoot that followed… retrostation

DON’T MAKE ME PLAY! WHO? For Andy Hartup, nothing captures the realistic thrill GRAN of being behind the wheel like… well, driving an actual car. On an actual road. As such he doesn’t TURISMO 6 see much point in Don’t like it. Never tried it. Every month we force the GT series… ersonally, I like my car games one of our team to play their most feared game fast, unrealistic and with a thunderous disregard for physics that’d make Sir Isaac Newton choke on his Pwindfall apple. Hence I avoid the series like the cast of Geordie Shore avoid words with more than one syllable. It’s with a barely-stifled yawn that I load up stringent sim Gran Turismo 6 for the first time. WHAT? It’s immediately, strikingly apparent Sony’s long-serving that everything in the game seems racing sim gets designed to sedate me into some kind INFO its second full PUB SONY outing on PS3 and of barely-conscious state. It’s as if DEV POLYPHONY boasts hundreds Polyphony acknowledges the ridiculous RELEASED 2013, PS3 of painstakingly- amount of time and effort you need to GET IT NOW £14.20, recreated cars, along invest in order to unlock a genuinely RAKUTEN with many real-world sexy four-wheeled contraption, so it tracks. Petrol-heads 109 swear by the handling designed everything in GT6 to numb model, too… your brain to the passage of time. EVERYTHING IN GRAN TURISMO 6 IS DESIGNED TO NUMB YOUR BRAIN TO THE PASSAGE OF TIME. As I feel myself gently slip into a coma, I’m pushed into the training circuit. A kindly set of hints instruct me how to drive a car. Furious about being patronised by an outdated console, I promptly hit the gas and come skidding off at the first corner. The kindly menu tells me that the on-track indicators are there to help me adjust my braking, and – while wearing the menu-equivalent of a patronising smirk – asks me not to go into corners ‘too hot’. I’d normally be furious at this point, but the calming effects of the bland- but-beautiful on-track visuals are kicking in, so I finish training without much fuss and start the game proper. The race is slow and arduous, and I’m already deeply bored. I win, I think, despite a few almost-exciting moments as I overtake my lethargic opponents, and the game then treats me to an unironic replay of my piece-of-scrap Honda (lovingly recreated) going really QThese cars can look as shiny as they like, me old chum. If they’re not blowing up by the dozen slowly around the circuit. I eject the disc or screeching unrealistically around corners, I’m simply not interested. Sorry Polyphony… from my PS3 and get on with my life. HALL OF FAME

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO CURRENT-GEN’S GREATEST GAMES PS4 HALL OF FAME

GRAND THEFT AUTO V 1 The magic of our favourite PS3 game’s reappearance on current- gen hardware isn’t in the improved textures, shinier cars or even the brilliantly executed new first-person mode. It’s in the way each addition and improvement combines to enthral and seduce you all over again to sink another blissful 50 hours into Los Santos without it ever feeling like a re-run. Also: an unhealthy dose of first-person cat-stomping.

2 THE LAST OF US REMASTERED 9 DON’T STARVE This modern masterpiece just gets stronger Gather up resources and the unravelling with age, like a full-bodied stilton. A starkly brutal, threads of your own sanity in this merciless emotionally honest take on the end of the world, survival sim from . Don’t let the ’s stealth shooter is quite simply one of cute animation fool you – Don’t Starve will make you the best written, most wryly paced videogames ever. suffer. And you’ll love every moment of it.

3 DESTINY 10 LEGENDS Blurring the lines between single-player As if this beautifully animated platformer shooting and co-op camaraderie, Bungie has wasn’t attractive enough, now it’s on PS4 and created an epic MMO hybrid built on incredibly fluid pulling our heartstrings all over again. Bursting with firefights. An essential experience with friends humour, colour and plenty of gibberish, this is the 110 and the perfect platform for PS4’s social features. definitive version of a platforming heavyweight.

4 BLOODBORNE 11 N++ What happens when a stick ninja gets thrown PS4’s first truly great, entirely bespoke NEW! exclusive. With the finest third-person melée into more than 2,000 colourful 2D levels and is combat in all of gaming, drool-worthy art design told to dodge rockets and collect gold? You get one of and the most twisted monsters in the biz, this is a the best games available on PSN – and an experience gorgeously Gothic must-have. Be warned: it’s tough. so tough it’d make Dark Souls weep.

5 BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT 12 NBA 2K15 Rocksteady sends the Bat out with a bang. A Quite simply the best sports simulator on compelling, cathartic story adds new layers to current-gen, and by some distance, too. NBA the Dark Knight, while PS4 allows Gotham to blossom 2K15 goes beyond its predecessor’s incredible with a truly amazing engine. The stealth still sings, benchmark for quality (and quantity) in every single the fisticuffs are fab and the Batmobile is brilliant. respect. This is model annualised release behaviour.

6 MINECRAFT 13 FAR CRY 4 Bigger, better and blockier than ever before So many eagles. Not the face! Ubisoft puts on PlayStation, this iconic build-’em-up benefits on one hell of a Really Wild Show in its frosty massively from PS4’s additional power and gives you sandbox shooter. Often gorgeous, with an endlessly a creative playground 36 times the size of that on entertaining arsenal, there are few games on PS4 PS3 in which to build. Or lob TNT around, if you want. where it’s this fun to aimlessly muck around.

7 RESOGUN 14 FLOWER Capturing everything that made the shoot-’em- All the magic and wonder of That Game ups of old so compelling and combining it with a Company’s ethereal PSN smash is preserved sumptuous voxel-based visual presentation, Resogun and polished as it makes its way to PlayStation 4. should come with a health warning that reads ‘This Unless you’re anthophobic you now have no excuse game will consume your every waking moment’. not to frolic amongst its petals.

8 TOWERFALL ASCENSION 15 REDUX You haven’t lived until you’ve enjoyed a four- Meet two post-apocalyptic shooters that would player free-for-all in this instant couchplay rather focus on character over carnage, with classic. The solo campaign is fine by itself, but almost thoughtful pacing that borrows from the Half-Life nothing beats the arrow-grabbing, death-defying playbook. Running at a slippery smooth 60fps, this last-second kills of local multiplayer’s mayhem. tag team FPS package is a truly stupendous port. retrostation

BROKEN AGE: 16 THE COMPLETE ADVENTURE If Grim ’s return reminded us of all the MENAGE-A-JEUX bounties ‘90s adventure gaming had to offer, Broken Age demonstrates how far the genre’s master Double Fine has come along in the years since. Personal picks 17 DIABLO III: ROS – ULTIMATE EVIL EDITION The games that we – and you – Never has dungeon-slashing looked so good. hold in the highest regard Thanks to the addition of the Crusader character and the Reaper Of Souls expansion content, this is the definitive edition of one hell of a hack-’em-up. Team OPM 2 18 FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dave Meikleham pours love on Capcom’s A REALM REBORN last decent dance with dinosaurs It took three goes to finally make the FF MMO Shhh. We don't talk about that silly one in space – fans have always wanted, but A Realm Reborn is the mainly because it never came out on PlayStation. one that finally nails it. Vast, complex and a marked At any rate, remains the best game step up in visuals, this is PS4’s premier online world. starring everyone’s favourite leathery lizards the world has ever seen. A thrilling combo system elevates the raptor-slaying action to breathless 19 DRIVECLUB heights, while cracking on-rails set-pieces take a A coming together of fanatical graphical detail, few passages from Spielberg’s Jurassic bible. a pleasing handling model and social features you’ll actually appreciate. The competition isn’t Reader exactly fierce on PS4 for ’ current- gen racer, but it crushes the rivals nonetheless. TIMESPLITTERS Simian avatars? Mechanised sea life? 20 SHOVEL KNIGHT Matt Leen's got plenty of time for that Everything you know and love about 8-bit An action-packed time-travel adventure full platforming – the stiff sense of challenge, of zombies, robotic fish and one-liners that razor-sharp controls and artisanal pixel spawned one of the most beloved trilogies of the arrangements – showered with plenty of new school ‘00s. The legendary multiplayer modes enabled additions such as checkpoints and skill upgrades. gamers to assume the identities of characters 111 ranging from gingerbread men to monkeys to minigun-wielding barmaids. An absurdly fun 21 NIDHOGG game guaranteed to make your inner child grin. Two minimalist fencers do battle deep within the belly of Nordic folklore, unwittingly providing FULL OF ZOMBIES, ROBO-FISH PS4 with another couchplay classic. Much like the mighty Towerfall Ascension, Nidhogg hides AND ONE-LINERS THAT SPAWNED formidable depth beneath retro visuals. A BELOVED TRILOGY. Developer 22 THE BINDING OF ISAAC: REBIRTH FINAL FANTASY TACTICS Who’d have thunk digital childhood trauma could Bungie’s Luke Smith, creative director on be so entertaining? This ace procedurally-generated dungeon crawler is fiendishly funny and scorchingly Destiny: The Taken King, swaps his pick… difficult. It also boasts a hugely endearing art style. Colony Wars. Sh*t, no. Now I think about it, Final Fantasy Tactics. It’s just one of my favourite games of all time, other than the part where you got Orlandu because that made the game too 23 BASTION easy. I loved it. I know there was Tactics Ogre and Artful isometric hacking, slashing and other similar games around that time, but Final storytelling set amid a crumbling world you’re Fantasy Tactics was the first isometric strategy gradually rebuilding. By hacking and slashing, obvs. game I got into and I just couldn’t stop playing it. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have an unseen voice narrate your life, this is your game.

24 PES 2015 Fluid, fresh and exciting, Pro Evo finally jogs on from the sidelines to replace the erstwhile dominant FIFA with better animations and passing. It offers a masterful football experience that captures the beautiful game in all its gorgeous glory.

25 STRIDER Hot off the heels of DuckTales: Remastered on PS3, Capcom strikes retro gold once again with this slice of frantic side-scrolling action. Cling to any surface and cut any enemy in half through QWhile Colony Wars remains one of his favourites, Smith levels teeming with power-ups and secret paths. considers Final Fantasy Tactics to be an unbeatable experience. HALL OF FAME

THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION OF LAST-GEN CLASSICS PS3 HALL OF FAME

GRAND THEFT AUTO V 1 No game could live up to the pre-release hype that surrounded Rockstar’s latest open-world effort, and yet somehow expectations were surpassed by the phenomenal final product. The largest entry in the series is also one of the most ambitious games ever, but its fusion of thrilling missions, entertaining characters and scathing satire looks effortless. There can be no better way to bring a generation to a close.

2 UNCHARTED 2: 9 CALL OF DUTY 4: AMONG THIEVES MODERN WARFARE The game that sparked a million mancrushes, Simply the finest COD ever made. From that with a perfectly pitched script, crunchy combat nuke to Captain Price’s mesmerising ghillie suit and set-pieces like no other. In three words: stealth mission, few games can match Modern unprecedented. Unequalled. Uncharted. Warfare’s thrilling scripted spectacle.

3 RED DEAD REDEMPTION 10 BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY A near-perfect open-world fusion of engaging The most compelling bit of Bats action money storytelling, truly compelling characters and can buy… that doesn’t involve Heath Ledger’s a living environment ripe for experimentation. Joker. Thanks to an acutely detailed open-world chunk of Gotham, Rocksteady’s classic is simply 112 No sandbox since has got us quite so invested, and the bold ending still resonates to this day. the best superhero game ever made.

4 THE LAST OF US 11 BRAID PS3’s premier developer proves a misbehaving If you want to make the argument that games pooch can learn new tricks in this extraordinary are art, then Jonathan Blow’s Braid is the apocalyptic adventure. Blending intense horror, place to start. An achingly beautiful hand-drawn ferocious shooting and a wonderful script, this style combines with brilliant but brutal time-bending is one of the most emotive games in history. puzzles to create something truly special.

5 JOURNEY 12 THE WALKING DEAD: This charming two-hour voyage crafts an SEASON ONE incredible, immersive narrative and a genuine With the first season of this episodic zombie emotional connection using little more than near- franchise now drawn to a close, it stands among silent figures, marvellous sand physics and floating the best downloadable games ever with emotional pieces of cloth. A remarkable and unique experience. ties and tangible consequences for your actions.

6 BIOSHOCK INFINITE 13 HEAVY RAIN Perhaps the best narrative team of the entire From controversial purveyor of interactive generation brings one of its finest series to cinema, David Cage, comes this psychological a staggering climax. The original game would be thriller that plays like no other game on the system. well deserving of a place, but the mind-boggling So many games promise real consequences to your revelations here run a whole lot deeper. actions, but none deliver like this masterpiece.

7 MASS EFFECT 2 14 DARK SOULS While Bioware’s trilogy-ender sends Shepard Akin to nothing else you’ve ever played. out in fine style, it’s the middle slice of the It may be as impenetrable as an Amish girl’s delicious sci-fi sandwich that remains its best. undercrackers, but persevere and there’s a A brilliantly scripted action-RPG, the closing brutal and beautiful challenge within that you ‘suicide mission’ provides an incredible finale. will never, ever forget.

8 METAL GEAR SOLID 4: 15 ASSASSIN’S CREED II GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS Undoubtedly the finest entry in one of PS3’s The most gleefully playful and imaginative foremost franchises, this is the realisation of stealth game ever. Whether you’re watching a all the promises made in the original. An engaging monkey slurp soda or revisiting the site of the PS1 lead character, open-ended hits and diverting side- original, no game honours its past so poignantly. missions are what this series should be about. YOUR EVERY NEED FOR ON-THE-GO GOODNESS PS VITA HALL OF FAME

VELOCITY 2X 1 A ludicrously enjoyable puzzle/platformer hybrid that should come with a health warning. So joyous is the side-scroller’s twin-stick teleporting, there’s a danger you may well grin your face clean off the bone. Masterfully designed, with arguably the best control scheme on PS Vita, Velocity 2X is utterly essential.

2 PERSONA 4: GOLDEN 9 LUFTRAUSERS This thoughtful and unique JRPG Ridiculous flying of the highest epic gives you another stab at high order from Dutch indie studio school – only this time with intrigue Vlambeer. High scores come not just from and superpowers instead of nerves, skill, but cunning combinations of plane acne and an unpredictable vocal register. parts, making for double the satisfaction.

3 FEZ 10 FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 Gomez charms you instantly with HD REMASTER his perspective-shifting puzzles and Two examples of JRPG royalty, pin-sharp pixel-art, then blows your mind lovingly restored to their former glory for with a world of secret languages, hidden your portable pleasure. Their new touch 113 areas and beguiling background tunes. controls are – gasp! – a welcome addition.

4 VIRTUE’S LAST 11 PIX THE CAT REWARD Everything an arcade game should This /puzzler just gets be: addictive, frantic, occasionally better over its 40 hours. The dialogue’s maddening and tied together with a neat engaging, and however tough it gets, bow of eclectic visuals from ‘90s-era you’re never left rage-scouring for clues. cabinets and ‘30s cartoons.

5 12 FROZEN Use a gravity-defying cat to break SYNAPSE PRIME the laws of physics and zoom across What started as a turn-based indie the skies of a floating steampunk city. smash turns into a polished and precise With stylish comic-book looks and a sassy handheld strategy with the sheen to heroine, this is a rush to remember. match its now-considerable renown.

6 LITTLEBIGPLANET 13 METAL GEAR SOLID Sackboy’s back, smaller but just HD COLLECTION as lovable as ever. His platforming Two of PlayStation’s finest antics work perfectly on Vita, and the adventures scale down beautifully, with new control inputs complement the enough cutscenes to fill a transatlantic level creator brilliantly. Also: d’awwww. flight. Even less excuse not to play, then.

7 LUMINES: ELECTRONIC 14 UNCHARTED: SYMPHONY GOLDEN ABYSS Part block puzzler, part mobile disco, Drake proves he’s just as adept at this is as certain to have you nodding adventuring on the go. A prequel story along to ace choonage as it is to keep you that’s classic jungle action, and crammed returning for more reflex-testing action. full of typical Uncharted charm.

8 TXK 15 TEARAWAY Arcade legend Jeff Minter updates More crafty platforming from Media a 20 year-old Atari Jaguar blaster Molecule, this time using PS Vita’s and creates one of the platform’s best controls to surprise and delight you in games in the process. TXK is an essential new ways for hours on end – all within onslaught on the senses. its pretty-as-a-picture papercraft world. PARTING SH T Celebrating PlayStation’s finest moments

No.30 You gotta troll with it Battling Resident Evil 4’s evil El Gigante

Last FORMAT PS2 / PUB CAPCOM / DEV CAPCOM / RELEASED 2005 / SCORE 10/10 Next Month Month Batman: PS1’s epic Arkham City o borrow a line from his Ganados-slaughtering Spanish Luckily, help is at hand. Well, E3 showing Hitting the Boromir (waaey-haaey!), adventure. In a scene that could provided you rescued the wild dog To celebrate streets of PS1’s 20th UK Gotham as “They have a cave troll.” have been ripped straight from the that found itself snared in a trap anniversary, we relive Oh alright, technically hallowed pages of The Fellowship during Resi 4’s opening moments. we remember the Joker’s TResi 4’s towering BOW is a by- Of The Ring, the first El Gigante If you freed said mutt, it will join that ‘$299’ fateful last from E3 laugh. product of fiendish Plaga parasite you encounter emerges from an in the fight against El Gigante; 1995. experiments by the Los Iluminados, underground mine. Suffice to say, distracting the beefy as Leon and not Tolkien-inspired prose. he’s looking a bit miffed. goes to work shooting one of Still, you gotta admit, El Gigante Breaking free from his sizable PlayStation’s ugliest mugs. would make one hell of a Lord Of shackles, the mighty beast lays Depending on your choices, Leon The Rings extra. waste to the pitiful infected can face three more El Gigante ‘The Giant’, if you’re of villagers trying to shepherd him over the course of the game. Yet Spanish tongue, is one of the into an enclosed canyon. After none can match the theatre of that iconic Resident Evil bosses. Leon his pesky captors are quickly first battle. And if you’ve played S Kennedy comes across the first stomped into the ground, the Resi 5 (remember the beardy of these hideous troll-like beings monster focuses his tree-swinging rip-off?), you know they don’t make about a fifth of the way through energies on Mr Kennedy. Oh dear. bosses like this anymore. Q NEXT MONTH

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