44 ...... Sunday, November 17, 2019 1SM 1SM Sunday, November 17, 2019 ...... 45

EA Access subscribers are in the EA Access service are meant to HIDEO Kojima’s Death Strand- chart in second place behind Call of lfor a bit of a shock as the firm be given 10 hours of early access to ling has finally been released Duty: Modern Warfare. have said that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen all new EA games. but the pre-launch buzz hasn’t really Death Stranding also sits behind Order will not get the service’s stan- The company said the move was to paid off. The PS4 timed exclusive Days Gone as the second biggest GAMES & MUSIC dard free trial offer. Subscribers of “reduce risk of spoilers”. only entered the UK boxed games PS-published game of 2019.

WHEN a king grows old and loses his way, it’s fair to say you can expect a few challengers to his throne. And in this instance, the failing monarch is Bethesda’s Fallout Rough but role with it series and the young pretender is Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer SOMETIMES you find a real diamond in GreedFall your skills during the game at any Worlds. the rough that nails most of the main time. Combat-wise things are a little bit The plot thickens even more as points to make it a great game... but Xbox One, PS4 and PC £44.99 stiff, although you can plan your moves Obsidian Entertainment were the just ends up falling short on the level of moral conundrums along the way. And using the tactical pause menu to give team behind what many see as the polish and overall quality you would be for the most part, the quests (yes, even you a bit of time to work things out. best Fallout game in the series — hoping for. the side ones) are well-written and can On the downside there are a few French studio Spider’s latest game glitches and bugs you’ll see along the New Vegas — so it’s safe to see they also be attacked in a number of know what they’re are doing. GreedFall very much falls into this way — such as lipsynching and And The Outer World is a powerful camp with its blend of Dragon Age and ways. You could just simply go in textures not popping plus some challenge. It is very much a Fallout Witcher-style gameplay which makes for blade swinging or you could take typos in the subtitles which show NEW game that fans have been crying out an epic RPG to get lost in. more of a stealth approach, with that aforementioned lack of polish for— just that it has nothing to do You’ll easily sink 60 hours into this more interesting angles of attack that holds the game back a little. MUSIC with that series. beast of a tale that combines a realistic opening up to you if you take your GreedFall does feel at times like By Jim Gellatly You fill the boots of a human ice historical feeling with a very heathy dash time to look around. it’s picking up the sabre from the pole frozen in stasis aboard a for- of fantasy, creating a truly compelling And how you have spent your once-great Bioware games Mass gotten ship along with a few thou- world to explore. upgrade points has an impact on every Effect and Dragon Age. If you have been KITTI sand of your friends. Built around doing quests and playing outcome of the gameplay. hungry for a beefy hit of Western RPG WHERE: Glasgow. That is until a mad scientist pops a number of different factions against It adds a real weight to how you’ll build action it’ll deliver but you’ll need to over- FOR FANS OF: Amy Winehouse, you out to defrost and tasks you with each other, GreedFall really tries to your character, as well as a real value to look a few rough edges. Adele, Alicia Keys. finding the kit he needs to wake up tackle some weighty issues that you upgrading. HHHH JIM SAYS: I had my first glimpse of the rest of the ship’s crew. A NEW KING wouldn’t expect and it will throw up a few But fear not as you can also re-roll STUART CULLEN the rebranded Kitti last month at From there, the epic adventure The Outer Worlds dom perks called flaw offers that Many Studios in Glasgow’s East End begins as you explore space, talking you’ll pick up along the way but for the Tenement Trail all-dayer. to different people, doing quests for Xbox One, PS4 , Switch and PC £44.99 these are based on how you’re I’d previously been enchanted by Old Ones, her first single as Kitty a them and, most interestingly, shap- encounter, as some are true com- playing. If a firefight breaks out, ing each encounter how you want things are handled well and you couple of years ago. pany men while others are more Before that she went under her based on your decisions. free-thinking. have the power to slow time down a This has an impact on how the little — like the V.A.T system real name Katie Doyle. I found loads Gameplay-wise you can of artists called Kitty online, so the game will play out, Depending on recruit companions to join you in Fallout. what you do and what you say you The Outer Worlds is a vast name change makes sense. may get extra quests or you may on your adventures and help title that is very easy to get Sequel is a real Kitti said: “I found a Facebook close off storylines. you out in a pinch. The game lost in and is packed with lore page entitled ‘Kitty’ for a Norwegian The killer with this is none of these has a healthy amount of com- to help build the universe. screamo band, so I thought I’d be key moments are sign-posted so bat which you can attack how- It will scratch that Fallout really careful this time around. ever you wish — from melee to A POWER “We started all over again. I you’ll never really know. itch and more with its depth of The galaxy of Outer Worlds is a firearms or level your stats up and characters and interesting new move forward erased the past ‘Katie’ and ‘Kitty’. very interesting one. talk your way out of trouble. worlds. The king is dead. Long live TO build on the success of the first Surge and be more attentive to what the player That left me with a fresh slate to Huge corporations own every- A healthy upgrade tree lets you the king. game, Johannes Bickle, head of produc- actually does. become my true authentic self that I thing and everyone and this puts a really build your own character to HHHHH tion at Deck13, reckoned fans wanted the “So we upgraded their AI in a way that feel like I’ve finally found.” real spin on the people you’ll your own taste. Plus there are ran- STUART CULLEN sequel to give them more options. they’re now able to work together in With her enthralling blend of gritty He told STUART CULLEN: “We gave groups, dynamically change their behav- soul and jazz, the Tenement Trail the players more choice. It starts with the iour according to the situation, and follow appearance was proof that the character generator where they can the player up and down lifts and zip 23-year-old is finally set to make a choose gender, age, and a lot of other lines.” SURGE breakthrough. features. Then, they’re able to choose But Johannes admits it wasn’t just his She said: “I’ve been so lucky to from a wider range of different weapon team’s ideas that shaped The Surge 2 as have played in bands since the age styles to find out what they like most. the fans and the community really helped of 15 so I’ve had plenty good times, “We also added more features to guide the development. but Many Studios was definitely a ranged combat, and finally, by opening He added: “We tried to listen an awful highlight as Kitti. I was finally able to up the game world, more choice in what lot to player feedback, and from the first play these new songs that I’ve been tasks you want to do first and how you impressions it seems that it was a good working on for around a year and want to tackle them.” to do so. see them enjoyed by an audience.” But choice is just the start of “We removed features that Comparisons with Amy Wine- it as Johannes feels that the people didn’t like, for example house are something Kitti has come game has grown too big for the the ‘weapon proficiency’ where to accept, though she wasn’t really setting of the first and the move you improve your skills with a aware of Winehouse until news of to a city scale title was just too specific weapon by using it a her death in 2011. tempting. lot, which led to people feeling She told me: “It’s almost impossi- He said: “While it was cool to being stuck with that type and ble to avoid being compared to art- start off our story in an aban- switching to a different one ists that have the smallest twinkle of Return of the Obra Dinn Cat Quest II doned factory complex in The later in the game didn’t make resemblance to yourself. I think peo- Xbox One, PS4, Switch and PC £16.74 Xbox One, PS4, Switch and PC £12.99 Surge 1, we wanted to go sense. ple associate me to Amy Winehouse wider, more open, and give “Also, we offered more as there’s this gap right now for an IN the world of indie gaming, Lucas Pope is shaking CAT Quest by The Gentlebros was a cute and charm- them to yourself to become the artist heavily influenced by old jazz things up. the player more freedom. EXCLUSIVE choice in combat with the THE original Surge was The Surge 2 ing tale of swords and cats which was packed with “So the idea to transfer the feature to block in several ultimate killing machine. and soul. It’s understandable.” He is very much a one-man studio and his breakout cheesy puns and RPG action thrills. INTERVIEW Deck13’s take on what Xbox One, PS4 and PC £39.99 The baddies are a real mix of She says she’s flattered but would title Papers, Please was a hit with players and critics setting into a city felt very directions, and we offered Now the Singapore studio is back with the sequel tempting. Of course this had many more more ranged combat using the player’s would happen if you took being a cake walk to being hard rather be recognised for being her- alike as you filled the shoes of a border crossing sec- which takes the fun foundations of the 2017 game in Jericho City. It’s here where as nails. But even the weakest self. It is a lazy but convenient com- urity guard in a truly bleak tale. implications than what we originally envi- drone companion.” the core gameplay of most of the action will be taking and builds on them. sioned.” Fan feedback also helped the team set enemies will be able to kill you parison. I imagined chin-stroking So hopes were high for his next game after the 2013 You once again explore the world, embarking on Dark Souls and passed it place across five different dis- But the move to the city setting has the accessibilly of the game in terms of if you take your eye off the ball. jazzers dismissing her as “too pop” smash — and Pope delivered once again with Return of quests and meeting the locals before you get stuck tricts, each with their own feel The menus and systems are all but she’s a regular at The Blue Arrow also changed more than just the game’s the setting of the skill bar and the overall through a high-tech filter. and vibe. the Obra Dinn. into battle — which is a mix of dodging, sword fight- And it was a solid title streamlined with three main stats jazz club in Glasgow. Once again you are thrust into a truly mundane role, ing and using a range of area-based spells. backdrop. difficulty of the game. And so begins the fun and to focus on to upgrade. It never She said “I didn’t go to the Con- this time as an insurance claims adjuster for the East Johannes added: “First of all, we Johannes said: “We noticed with The with some really interesting addictive play loop of finding gets in the way too much as well The new co-op feature lets you team up with a quests, bagging XP and ulti- servatoire or study jazz, but I have a India Company who has to find out what happed aboard buddy. Or if you’re going lone wolf, you can switch exchanged the claustrophobic environ- Surge 1 that although many players gen- twists on the formula. as being easy to use — plus true passion for it. The scene in ments that we could fill with scare jumps erally enjoyed it, some didn’t advance Now the German studio is mately upgrading your exo- the ill-fated Obra Dinn ghost ship. between the two characters during the game. suit to become a badass you can build three load- Glasgow welcomed me with open In a neat twist you have a magic pocket watch that lets As you move through the adventure you’ll level up and the likes with a more open environ- very far into the game, in part due to a back with the sequel and ramps outs which you can set to arms. I think they respect that I’m ment, and yes, I’d say that the city is the high difficulty of the bosses and only few things up... a bit. hybrid man-machine. you look at snapshots of the past as you have to piece your furry hero. This system, like most of the game, But with the risk-reward what the situation demands. doing something cool and utilising together what really happened to the crew. real star in the game. options to overcome them. The Surge 2 picks up after the The Surge 2 builds on a is clear and easy to follow. events of the first game which system, if you die before my jazz pals for sweet brass lines As each snapshot shows the exact moment that each There are plenty of caves and dungeons to get “We tried to feature it as much as pos- “And while we didn’t implement an lot of what the first game and back beats.” sible, offering widely differing environ- easy mode into The Surge 2, we gave the have now changed the world. banking your XP you’ll of the 60 onboard died, it’s up to you to join the dots in stuck into in the hope of finding some shiny loot as You start by having to break have a limited time to get did and for fans this will be Her jazz cred is underlined by a what is at times a brutal puzzler on your grey matter. well as hidden secrets. ments and much more verticality in players many more options to shape the back to your body to grab a huge plus, though it never collaboration with rising nu jazz pro- gameplay.” experience according to their favourite out of a prison you’ve just woken The game’s art style is also striking. It’s rendered in Returning fans will be left wondering why the up in after surviving a plane it before it’s gone. truly moves things up to the next ducer and composer Liam Shortall, 1-bit graphics and is all monochromatic — a real blast power to fly has been rermoved though it may be “The game world is much more open playstyle. You can now use the drone to On the combat front the game level and feels like its holding aka Corto.Alto. Kitti featured on the and non-linear, as you would expect from cause significant damage, you can use crash. Oh, and everyone wants to from a bygone era of gaming. added down the line. hurt you in some way. retains that slow, weighted style back sometimes. track Better on his Live from 435, Return of the Obra Dinn is one of the biggest indie hits Cat Quest 2 is a light and enjoyable tale packed an open environment, resulting in more different ways of evading or blocking, Also, in a bold and interesting where timing is king as you That said, if you’re in the Volume 1 EP. She said: “We co-wrote of the past few years. with real charm. It gets its claws into you over its freedom regarding where you would like and, due to the more open game world, move, you play as a custom swing a huge lump of steel mood for a Souls-like game with the song. Liam is at the heart of Now it’s made its way to console it’s well worth a look 10-plus hour tale and is the purrfect stepping-on to venture next. you can just come back later when you character instead of being thrust around. a robot twist you could do far Glasgow’s jazz scene and is killing to see what all the buzz is about. point for younger gamers looking for RPG kicks. “Switching to a more open city environ- have better equipment and a higher level into the boots of a lead one. Also returning is the system worse than The Surge 2. the game with this project.” HHHHH HHHHú ment meant that enemies had to become instead of just banging your figurative The earlier levels really teach that lets you tear off parts of HHHH With her latest release Chasing STUART CULLEN STUART CULLEN cleverer, use their combat space better head against the wall.” you the ropes as it cuts you lose enemies and bosses and bolt STUART CULLEN The Crowd, she has come up with an instant classic. It was Record of the Week on BBC Radio Scotland’s Afternoon Show, having already GOOGLE’S game streaming one, including Red Dead Redemp- picked up airplay from my buddy Vic IN a rare case of a big firm lis- Sonic’s creator had his say. Yuji FANS UBISOFT shared details of the Kenya. Kali is equipped with a CSRX INFIN- OVERCLOCKERS UK their explicit language and Galloway, so this is just the start of 300 sniper rifle that can breach bar- lservice Stadia is set to go live tion 2, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, ltening to the outcry from fans , Naka tweeted: “Is this a Sonic of bashing lfourth and final season update ITY Ward land noblechairs are gestures. this Tuesday. Destiny 2, Mortal Kombat 11, and the something very special. Sega and Paramount Pictures movie?” That led the movie Nazis are in for a heading to Tom Clancy’s Rainbow ricades and hatches with a single updated Modern teaming up to support two Sweet Anita and MrGreg- Kitti plays Websters Theatre in Six Siege as part of Year Four. shot while her gadget is an under- Twitch streamers who have les are full-time partnered In a bid to build some buzz, the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy. have shown how the reworked director Jeff Fowler to admit a few treat. Wolfenstein: Warfare to change up full line-up of titles coming to the Tequila Softworks’ GYLT will be Glasgow on Saturday as part of the Sonic the Hedgehog will appear days later “the message is loud Youngblood’s next free Called Operation Shifting Tides, it barrel LV Explosive Lance. Wamai the Piccadilly map. It Tourette’s. streamers on Twitch. 1 Call of Duty: Great Western festival. will see the Theme Park map get brings some trick mag- Due to their Check out Modern Warfare new platform on launch the only launch-day on screen following and clear” as he prom- update adds two new sees spawn points day, as well as a few exclusive. MORE: www.hiitskitti.com the rework treatment as nets to the party which condition, they an interview Jim presents a weekly showcase of New intense criticism of ised changes would be locations, new abilities, being tweaked and the 2 Death Stranding after, has been Another 14 games will l his original (and made. The movie — new end-game activi- well as bringing two attract enemy projec- B Flag is now moved often break the with Sweet Music on Amazing Radio, Sundays 2-4pm. 3 FIFA 20 revealed. come to Stadia before www.amazingradio.com pretty awful) look. which was meant to be new operatives to the tiles and have them Twitch terms of Anita on the ties and more. 1.07 detonate away from near the buses 4 Luigi’s Mansion 3 A total of 12 games the close of the year, www.jimgellatly.com The backlash was released this month — update is avail- game — Kali, an instead of the service by unin- Overclockers Attacker from India, and the team or, better still, 5 Need of Speed: will be available to pur- including Wolfenstein: PIC: Colin Horn so strong that even comes out February. able now fountain. tentionally offend- UK YouTube Wama, a Defender from send back to attackers. ing viewers with channel. Heat chase and play on day Youngblood and Grid. Watch video of Kitti at thescottishsun.co.uk