The Best Game of March 2017

Best Game of March 2017 Honorable Mention – Toukiden 2

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Starting with a couple of honorable mentions, check out the Twinfinite’s Staff picks for our favorite games for March 2017 which includes of course, our Game of the Month!

Toukiden 2 gets a nod here for being everything that a sequel should be. Not only does this giant demon-slaying adventure build on the last few games, but it stays true to the spirit of them while doing so. With new weapon classes, new allies, and new Oni to hunt down, the game comes into its own, rather than simply being a Monster Hunter clone.

The fast paced, action oriented gameplay makes hunting down massive creatures a truly enjoyable experience, and the improved story creates a rich and engaging world to defend against these threats. While it may still lack some of the broad appeal that helps games grab the top of our list, there’s still a lot of great fun and adventure here.

Best Game of March 2017 Honorable Mention – NieR: Automata

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NieR: Automata isn’t just any typical action RPG, it’s a video game that actively makes use of its gameplay elements and presentation to tell a gripping story. Automata isn’t afraid to take risks, as you’ll soon see from its forced camera angle changes, and mix-ups between traditional action gameplay and bullet hell shmup segments.

The game’s open world may be small in comparison to other titles, but all the areas feel like well-structured set pieces that fit in well with each other. And of course, the one thing that ties all of these elements together is its insanely phenomenal soundtrack. Truly, as engaging as NieR: Automata is on its own, it wouldn’t be half as great without Keiichi Okabe’s composing talents. It’s not just the music itself that’s lovely, the songs actively ‘evolve’ as you progress through the story and more and more instruments are layered on top of each other, allowing you to enjoy the full weight of the song. The sound design and mixing plays such a big role in conveying Automata’s story, it simply wouldn’t be the same game without it.

At the end of the day, NieR: Automata is a game that will likely push you out of your comfort zone, and defy whatever expectations you may have of an action RPG. Still, if you’re willing to keep an open mind about it, and just roll with the craziness it throws at you, you might just fall in love with a gem of a game that will be talked about for years to come.

Game of the Month 2017 – The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

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The Zelda series has always found ways to reinvent itself, but Breath of the Wild may be the most drastic steps taken yet. It takes the best elements of Zelda, and combines that with some of the best elements of open world games, to create an experience that’s truly memorable.

Player freedom is everything in Breath of the Wild, and every facet of the game works in service to that. Within minutes of starting the game you’re let loose into the world of Hyrule to collect special powers known as runes. These runes let you do things like move metal objects with Magnesis, or freeze water into a pillar with Cryonis.

Exploring Breath of the Wild’s world is a true joy, as it seems like there’s always something new to discover. The game liberally rewards you with interesting characters and stories, treasure, shrines, collectibles, and more. The main story is also spread out across the world, and can be tackled in any order you want to, only helping to encourage exploration. Out in the open, Link can climb pretty much any surface, and it feels wonderful to clamber up giant mountains and cliff faces. Once you’ve spent hours out in the world, stumbling upon one of the game’s many diverse towns feels refreshing and teeming with activity.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is truly the realization of what the Zelda series always wanted to be, and an absolutely stellar open world title. It’s also one of the best ways Nintendo could have launched the Switch.

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That does it for our March 2017 Game of the Month. Congratulations to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild! What were your favorite games from last month? Let us know in the comments.