The 4 Best RPGs of Q1 2017

Nier: Automata

Best RPGs of Q1 2017

There has not been a game in a long while that has been able to blend together as captivating a story with the raw fun of a fast-paced combat system as well as Nier: Automata. Being the second to the Nier title, but from the exceedingly complicated Drakengard timeline, Automata manages to create a unique adventure that equally welcomes both fans of the original and newcomers to the series.

In Nier: Automata, the player takes control of the two main characters, 2B and 9S, who’re androids part of an organization created by humans after alien-built machines attacked Earth and forced the entire remaining human population to abandon the planet and take refuge on the Moon. It’s up to our characters and the rest of the android YoRHa units to rid the world of the machine lifeform menace and once again make it safe for humanity. Of course, the game’s open-world is chock-full of side quests and things to discover too, which are easily as crazy as it’s main story.

As an action RPG, the game boasts a full range of equip-able weapons, each with unique attributes and the ability to be upgraded, as well as powerful ways to upgrade your character through slotting in Plug-in Chips that range from boosting basic melee attack to adding enemy health to your HUD. Similar to the original as well, each character has a Pod companion which enables you to fire ranged-attacks and use powerful, high damage skills.

Automata’s hauntingly beautiful post-human world overrun by pseudo-sentient machines paired with its absolutely stunning soundtrack makes for an incredibly special experience that’s not only fun to play, but also explores the nature of consciousness and self-awareness in the way almost no other game has ever accomplished.

Tales of Berseria

Best RPGs of Q1 2017

If you’ve been looking for a very classic-styled JRPG with a darker tone then look no further than Tales of Berseria. Berseria trades up the “happy-go-lucky, let’s save the world” themes of other Tales Of games for a revenge-fueled, werewolf-ridden nightmare wherein doing the wrong things for the possibly right reasons is the only way to get things done.

The main character this time around is Velvet Crowe, a human-turned-Daemon with the ability to absorb other Daemons or humans or really whatever she wants. After an incident three years ago leaves her orphaned and alone, Velvet embarks on a mission to hunt down the man responsible at any and all cost. Not only does Berseria’s world feel fleshed out and interesting, but the cast of characters who accompany Velvet on her crusade are actually very deep with their own personal traumas and unique personality quirks.

Tales of Berseria continue’s the series action-styled Linear Battle Motion System, however this time anything that served to weigh it down has been replaced by an incredibly fluid and free-roaming system. While it seems very similar to Tales of Grace’s setup, mapping artes and building combos has never been so easy or effective. Enemy weaknesses come into play in a way that provides an edge in combat for adaptive players, but doesn’t pigeon-hole those who aren’t and the new Break Soul mechanic is definitely a fresh take on the old Overlimit system.

With Velvet acting more like a strong anti-hero at times and a far cleaner battle system, Tales of Berseria puts together a complete RPG experience that builds on its predecessors’ successes while fixing most of their shortcomings.

Nioh

Best RPGs of Q1 2017

Nioh is a game made for those players in Dark Souls who only ever used Katanas and built absurd amounts of DEX. Coming out of Team Ninja, Nioh takes the wildly popular Souls-like subgenre and mixes it with a little bit of Japanese history and a lot of Japanese mythology to create one of the flat out best Souls-likes ever released.

Set in the 1600s during a period of clan conflict in Japan, Nioh’s main character, William, is an Irishman who sails to the warring country in an effort to reclaim a Guardian Spirit that was stolen from him. William lands in Japan only to realize the fighting has brought about dark spirits, called Yokai, and that the one manipulating everything is the same man who stole from him, another westerner Edward Kelley. This dark fantasy take on Japan’s history creates a fantastic environment for Nioh’s specific tone and the game’s abundant mythologically-inspired creatures.

Although Nioh maintains the harsh difficulty we’ve come to expect from this style of games, it’s made easier through the game’s different methodology to equipment. Using a Diablo-esque loot system, each player is able to equip gear sets and emphasize specific builds through equipment drops with randomly generated stats. Not only can this help skew combat encounters in your favor, but it also allows the player expansive freedom on which weapon, elemental attributes, and more they want to focus on. On top of that, each weapon type has a large skill tree filled with various techniques and passive bonuses. You can also choose to take skills into Ninjustu or Onmyo Magic if you’re looking for a less direct approach.

Nioh is filled to the brim with things to do, Yokai to slaughter, and loot to farm. Through its fluid, yet complex, gameplay, Nioh easily locks in its position as one of this quarters best.

Horizon: Zero Dawn

Best RPGs of Q1 2017

We’ve all secretly wanted a game where we hunt down and ride robotic dinosaurs and animals in a post-modern civilization world, whether we knew it or not. Horizon: Zero Dawn has one of the most unique worlds ever visited and equally enjoyable gameplay that complements the enthralling story Guerilla Games has created.

In Horizon, something mysterious has happened to the old world of technological marvels and the remainder of humanity society has devolved down to smaller tribes with primitive beliefs. You take control of Aloy, a young girl raised by an outcast of the Nora tribe trained to be the ultimate hunter. After her world comes crumbling down, Aloy embarks on a journey to discover where she comes from and to right those who have wronged her. While Aloy is certainly cunning out in the wilds, it’s through her interactions with the denizens of the world that you truly get a feel of where human belief stands in the world of Horizon and just how much Aloy tends to disagree with it.

Using a bow has never been more fun than in Horizon: Zero Dawn. Taking down large-scale robotic beasts is an absolute blast both figuratively and, more often than not, literally as you use pinpoint accuracy to shoot off important components of the creatures. Aloy also has a number of other tools at her disposal, such as the ability to create explosive tripwires or rope-tying enemies down to the ground. Each beast has its own weaknesses and strengths so it’s very important to study your prey and prepare before trying to take them down. Elemental effects play a big role in combat as well. If an enemy is fast, use shock weapons to put it into a stunned state. If they have a lot of health, be sure to freeze it in order to double your damage output. Aloy also has various skill trees to you can put points into upon leveling up which can add serious bonuses like nocking multiple arrows at once, looting more items off downed enemies, or switching out modifications on weapons and gear.

The world of Horizon: Zero Dawn is exceptionally crafted and Aloy is, without a doubt, one of the strongest main protagonists gaming has seen in a very long time. With fine-tuned gameplay, a mysterious story, and strong lead, Horizon is quite possibly one of the best gaming experience you’ll likely play all year.