STACK #245 March 2025

PREVIEWS GAMING

WHAT’S OUT THIS MONTH? No matter what style of game is your vibe, there’s sure to be something to get excited about amongst these fresh releases heading to JB this month. Words Amy Flower

SUIKODEN I & II HD REMASTER: GATE RUNE & DUNAN UNIFICATION WARS RELEASE DATE: Mar 6 GENRE: RPG FORMAT: MULTIPLAYER: No

BLEACH: REBIRTH OF SOULS RELEASE DATE: Mar 21 GENRE: Fighting FORMAT: MULTIPLAYER: Yes

EDITOR’S PICK SPLIT FICTION RELEASE DATE: Mar 6 GENRE: Action adventure FORMAT: MULTIPLAYER: Yes With a pedigree dating back to the superb Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons , game designer Josef Fares hasn’t just backed it up with some killer co-op games – Split Fiction follows in the footsteps of A Way Out and It Takes Two . Grab a friend and enter the worlds of writers Mio and Zoe. One is into sci-fi, the other fantasy, and they have nothing much in common, until they’re trapped in their own stories after being hooked to a machine designed to steal their creativity. With events as wide ranging as taming baby dragons to dodging hurled hovercars, you’ll both need to be on your toes for this wild ride. proven to be quite a character, he’s also

Get ready for action as the brawler series based on Tite Kubo’s legendary manga

Konami’s two classic original PlayStation RPGs based on the Chinese novel Water Margin live on in these newly remastered editions. They’ve been lovingly updated, delivering HD graphics, modern effects, new environmental sounds, and a comprehensive gallery mode, while features such as autosave, the ability to fast forward battles, and a conversation log add to the user-friendliness.

hits the latest console generation. Select your favourite character and enter into battle with their unique commands and sword abilities, as you aim to reverse your fate. Get it right and a single swing of your trusty blade can vanquish your foe, as you unlock new blades and forms on your march to victory.

WWE 2K25 RELEASE DATE: Mar 14 GENRE: Sports FORMAT:

KILLING FLOOR III RELEASE DATE: Mar 25 GENRE: Shooter FORMAT: MULTIPLAYER: Yes It’s threequel time as the horror shooter series that started life as an Unreal

MULTIPLAYER: Yes The latest iteration of the annual WWE fest promises more cool stuff than ever

for us to get our hands, knees, feet and assorted other body parts on. The Roman Reigns-led The Island is a big new online mode on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, while Showcase goes big with the Anoa’i family. Classic brawl modes abound, including intergender matches, and MyRISE, MyGM, and MyFACTION all make a return.

Tournament 2004 mod lets loose its latest chapter. It’s 70 years on from events of the last instalment, and megacorporation Horzine has formed an army of bioengineered creations known as “Zeds”. As a part of the rebel rogue group Nightfall, it’s up to you to ensure the future of humanity and vanquish this new evil.

ASSASSIN'S CREED SHADOWS RELEASE DATE: Mar 20 GENRE: Action RPG FORMAT: MULTIPLAYER: No Prepare for the next instalment in the

ATOMFALL RELEASE DATE: Mar 27 GENRE: Survival FORMAT: MULTIPLAYER: No Back in October of 1957, the UK’s worst ever nuclear accident occurred

at Windscale, now known as Sellafield. This real-life event has inspired Atomfall , from the people behind the Sniper Elite games, a work of fiction which is set five years later. Explore the quarantine zone, scavenging, crafting, bartering, fighting, and more, as you set about solving the mystery of what really occurred.

storied series to take us to 16th century Japan, during the Azuchi Momoyama era. We’ll step into the footwear of two distinct characters whose stories intertwine - one is a Japanese shinobi named Naoe, while the second is a real-life historical samurai, Yasuke. They’ll set out discover their common destiny, while ushering in a whole new era for Japan.

XENOBLADE CHRONICLES X: DEFINITIVE EDITION RELEASE DATE: Mar 20 GENRE: Action RPG FORMAT: MULTIPLAYER: Yes It’s the series entry that you may have

THE FIRST BERSERKER: KHAZAN RELEASE DATE: Mar 27 GENRE: Action RPG FORMAT: MULTIPLAYER: No With over 500 million players worldwide,

missed, having released exclusively on Nintendo's Wii U back in 2015. Now the open world RPG receives new life on the Switch, with a host of upgrades including improved graphics and newly added story elements. With humanity on the brink of annihilation, you’re one of a small number of survivors who can hopefully save us all, with help from giant robot Skells.

the Dungeon Fighter Online universe is a good place to pluck inspiration for an action RPG. This one’s set before events of that series and sees players stepping into the boots of General Khazan, who’s banished after being falsely accused of treason. Fight imperial forces, wreak revenge, and regain your honour in this original Soulslike adventure.

Coming in APRIL CARMEN SANDIEGO: 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Apr 17) PS5 | SWITCH FATAL FURY: CITY OF THE WOLVES (Apr 24) PS5 | XSX CLAIR OBSCUR: EXPEDITION 33 (Apr 24) PS5

Answers: 1. A Way Out 2. PlayStation 3. WWE 2K23 4. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate 5. Nintendo Wii 6. Bleach: Blade Battlers 7. Unreal Tournament 2004 8. South Korea

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