Black The Fall
Black The Fall may have released in one of the few quiet periods of 2017, early July, but it was still missed by many. Released on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and recently, Nintendo Switch, Sand Sailor Studios’ Black The Fall is a great puzzle platformer.
The developers are from Romania and the history of the country and its struggle with Communism play a huge part in the atmosphere and style of the game. You play as an old machinist who plots his escape from the grasp of the Communist regime with the help of an ingenious device and a robot dog, both of which are vital to the puzzle solving. All the while, communist imagery that conveys the struggles in the developer’s country act as the backdrop, giving the game a noticeably tense and dark atmosphere. The puzzles are well designed and the solutions are never repeated, ensuring that each situation is unique and challenging. Any puzzle platformer fan should go back to play Black The Fall, especially if you have an interest in Romanian history or Communism.
The Surge
Since the success of the Dark Souls games, other developers have produced games that utilize many of the ideas that made them so popular. With a focus on challenging combat and unique enemies, the games are able to capture what makes the Souls games fun. However, The Surge’s setting and unique ideas make it more than a simple clone.
The targeting system that is central to the combat ensures that each fight is approached tactically, without taking away the satisfying speed, and there’s a significant amount of content and customization options. It doesn’t quite have the atmosphere of the games that inspire it but the mechanical style and deep upgrade systems ensure that it stands out as a quality experience.
Gravity Rush 2
The original Gravity Rush was excellent and had its fair share of dedicated fans. However, it was stranded on the PlayStation Vita. Unfortunately, no matter how deeply fans of the original loved the series, it wasn’t enough to make the sequel a hit when it came to PlayStation 4 earlier in 2017, even though it was a quality game.
The movement and verticality of the game make it a unique gameplay experience. Exploring the world, engaging in the combat, and simply being Kat, is a thrill. That is all helped by the world being wonderfully designed and visually stunning. Also, as was the case with the original, the characters, Kat in particular, are likeable and charismatic. Gravity Rush 2 didn’t deserve to be overlooked.
Absolver
Absolver is one of the more unique experiences of 2017. It is a fighting game/action RPG combo and you play as a character who awakes in the ruins of the fallen Adal Empire with a mysterious mask on his face, and faint recollections of an esoteric ceremony.
Whether you want to play against computer-controlled fighters or against other real world players online, the martial arts-focused gameplay is compelling. The camera can be a little unruly at times, hampering your vision, but the combat gives ample opportunity for tactical play and complete brute force and you can customize your character in a huge number of ways. The open-world design and online integration make it much more of a varied experience than many other fighting titles.
Yakuza 0
The Yakuza games have been cult favorites for years and the releases are beginning to come thick and fast in the West. Yakuza Kiwami, a remake of the original game, released this summer, but Yakuza 0, a prequel to the whole series, started 2017 off strongly but it was buried under Breath of the Wild, Horizon Zero Dawn, Resident Evil 7 and all the other high quality games that released at the start of the year.
Acting as an introduction to Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, Yakuza 0 tells a dramatic story of a young man entangled in the chaos surrounding the yakuza. The acting is phenomenal, there is an incredible amount to do, whether it be story focused or odd little side activities, and the story is unpredictable. The Yakuza series is perfect for anyone that enjoys a narrative focused experience and Yakuza 0 is the perfect place to jump in.
