STACK #194 Dec 2020

GAMING PREVIEWS

visit stack.com.au

GAMES OUT THIS MONTH DECEMBER

CYBERPUNK 2077 GENRE: ACTION RPG PLATFORM: PS4 | XBOX ONE | PC

RELEASE: 10/12/20 MULTIPLAYER: YES

Welcome to the future American megalopolis that locals know as Night City, possibly because its actual name is Night City. As cyber- enhanced mercenary outlaw V you get to be the you that you wish to be, by crafting your very own character from a massive array of

options and selecting a class – Solo, Techie or Netrunner – to take on the challenges that lay ahead. What sort of challenges? They come many and varied via main story missions and side quests, and with The Witcher people CD Projekt Red behind this adaptation of the Mike Pondsmith tabletop RPG, you just know that there are going to be trials aplenty. Amidst all that’s going on you do have a key quest, however, which is to track down a one-of-a-kind implant prototype that’s the key to immortality. Who wants to live forever? You do! After all, it could be kind of handy... With masses of customisations available for your particular V’s cyberware, skillset and playstyle, the choices you make shape not only your story, but also the world of Night City that surrounds you.

Did you know? When you come across Johnny Silverhand in-game he may look and sound familiar as yes, he’s played by Keanu Reeves. And the great news is that it’s more than a bit part.

The popular VR-only game Chronos sheds its virtual reality shackles as it brings all of its melee-based adventure to consoles. You’re the hero of the story, as you pursue your lifelong quest to save your homeland from a great evil. Every time you die in-game your character ages another a year, which brings benefits such as wisdom and strength to help you tackle a mysterious labyrinth, and wrinkles. Well, two out of three ain’t bad! CHRONOS: BEFORE THE ASHES

G: RHYTHM P: SWITCH M: YES R: 4/12/20 Not only did the original Fitness Boxing pack a physical punch, it also delivered one wonderful musical wallop. This new evolution brings all the fitness fun back to your lounge room, and doesn’t forget to carry a whole lot of bangers along with it. Get your jab, uppercut, dodge and more on to tunes from the likes of Ariana Grande, P!nk, One Direction and even Bananarama in bespoke workouts that you set to suit your pace. FITNESS BOXING 2: RHYTHM & EXERCISE Two absolute classics from the sprawling Final Fantasy universe make their way to the Switch in this brilliant double pack. The first – well, seventh – epic adventure returns, with new additions including a 3x speed mode, the ability to turn battle encounters off, and battle enhancement mode. In the beautifully remastered FFVIII , fight against evil sorceress Edea with added abilities including 3x, plus battle assist and no random encounter options. FINAL FANTASY VII + VIII REMASTERED From developers Giant Squid, who gave us the beautiful Abzû, The Pathless has you taking on the role of masterful archer the Hunter. The job at hand? Use your ‘Spirit Vision’ in order to dispel a curse of darkness that grips a mystical island, with help from your trusty eagle companion. If you’ve decided to collect limited physical editions for your new PS5, then this is a very good place to start, featuring the game on disc and six glorious art cards. THE PATHLESS It’s puzzle classics Puyo Puyo and Tetris , or it’s the two of them smushed together! Yes, you can play your traditional Puyo Puyo or Tetris , or mix them together for a whole new experience. With both offline or online play, there are numerous modes that let you play the way that you want, be it single-player ‘Adventure’ to couch-comp ‘Versus’ or ranked ‘Online’ matches. Add to this skills, cards and a new story adventure and you have a puzzler’s paradise. PUYO PUYO TETRIS 2 G: ACTION ADVENTURE P: PS5 M: NO R: 8/12/20 G: RPG P: SWITCH M: NO R: 4/12/20

G: ACTION P: PS4 | XBOX ONE | SWITCH M: NO R: 1/12/20

G: STRATEGY P: PS4 | XBOX ONE | SWITCH M: NO R: 1/12/20 The power of the new PlayStation and Xbox consoles is in your hands, as DMC5 gets a new-gen makeover. All the stylish action of the demon slaying legend is back bigger and better than ever, harnessing such features as ray tracing for slicker graphics, faster processing speeds for a smoother gameplay experience, 3D audio, and frame rates up to an astonishing 120 per second (assuming you have a TV that supports it). Plus, playable Vergil! DEVIL MAY CRY 5: SPECIAL EDITION If you’ve ever romanticised the notion of being in the midst of the 1920s Prohibition-era Chicago criminal underworld, then this noir-inspired, character-driven experience offers you a chance to get with the mob. You’ll pick a racket to get into then set about hustling, charming and, of course, intimidating your way to the top – and doing whatever it takes (do we need to spell that out?) to stay there. MMMmmm… organised crime! EMPIRE OF SIN If you thought that Ubisoft’s Gods and Monsters looked good when it was announced a couple of E3s back, then guess what? This is it, one change of name later. It’s a huge, open world adventure in which you play as the titular Fenyx, whom you craft to your specifications before setting off into a tale of Greek gods, mythic beasts, epic fights, legendary powers and Typhon, the deadliest of the Titans. Basically, you’re the gods’ last hope – no pressure! IMMORTALS FENYX RISING G: ACTION ADVENTURE P: PS5 | XBOX SERIES X|S M: YES R: 1/12/20

G: ACTION ADVENTURE P: PS5 | XBOX SERIES X|S/ONE | PS4 | SWITCH M: NO R: 3/12/20

G: PUZZLE P: PS5 | XBOX X|S/ONE | PS4 | SWITCH M: YES R: 8/12/20

90 DECEMBER 2020

jbhifi.com.au