STACK #219 January 2023

GAMING FEATURE

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God of War Ragnarok ACTION ADVENTURE MULTIPLAYER What we said: “ God of War Ragnarök is everything that was great about the 2018 game, enhanced, streamlined, and expanded. It’s just a joy to find a game that paces out action, cinematic cutscenes, exploration, giant set pieces, and its RPG elements in such a way that you never really dwell on one for too long.” Gotham Knights ACTION RPG MULTIPLAYER What we said: “ Gotham Knights is a fitting title to bring a new generation of players into the worlds of DC, handing over the reins of a stable of junior superheroes to carve out their own piece of the Batman pie, while leaving stunned piles of substandard henchmen in their wake. It’s a fun place to live in.” Gran Turismo 7 RACING MULTIPLAYER What we said: “If you crave a realistic-looking driving experience - at times the line between video game and photorealism truly is blurred - that can be as arcade as you want, or as sim as you can deal with, there’s absolutely nothing out there like Gran Turismo 7 . It truly is a gauntlet hurling milestone in video game circuit racing.” Kirby and the Forgotten Land PLATFORMER MULTIPLAYER What we said: “ Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an absolute delight for already fervent Kirby fans and, while not punishingly difficult, it's still a decent and varied challenge for lovers of action adventures generally. Mind you, being prepared to just go with the flow of the odd exhaling of an “Aww!” here and there is definitely advisable.” LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga ACTION ADVENTURE MULTIPLAYER What we said: “If you’re a gaming type who worships at the twin altars of LEGO and Star Wars then you really don’t want to miss this. It’s a deep treat for all fans, made by people who obviously love both subjects equally, and if you wish to get lost in it then you can. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga really is a huge, continually rewarding toy box of classic space opera delights.” Sonic Frontiers ACTION ADVENTURE MULTIPLAYER What we said: “Sonic the Hedgehog playing out in wide open spaces? Believe it; and believe that it can be an utter blast as he quite literally runs rings around his opposition. In Sonic Frontiers , Sonic Team have achieved their wish of ushering in the next wave of Sonic adventuring goodness, and we can’t wait for more. Gotta go vast!” The Quarry SURVIVAL HORROR MULTIPLAYER What we said: “Unravelling over ten main chapters, The Quarry is a really ridiculously good-looking (and often extremely grisly) stab at cinematic-level interactive horror that is both memorable and really hits the bullseye genre wise, plus it also shows some sneaky referential love along the way. Dare we say it’s a camp classic…?”

THE 10 BEST GAMES RELEASES OF 2022

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Words: Amy Flower, Ale

Bayonetta 3

ACTION ADVENTURE MULTIPLAYER What we said: “Fabulous, fluid, frantic and – crucially - fun, Bayonetta 3 packs so much action it makes Michael Bay look akin to Merchant Ivory. Whether you come for the spectacle, or even Bayonetta’s spectacles, you’re in for another sensational, stylish and – of course - sassy good time. Get to it, sweeties!” Elden Ring ACTION RPG MULTIPLAYER What we said: “Talking about Elden Ring wouldn’t be possible without considering games that came before it. All three Dark Souls, Bloodborne , and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice have contributed elements, which add to the rich stew. Elden Ring is a much gentler kind of torture which is accessible for newcomers, while offering exciting challenges to experienced players.” Ghostwire: Tokyo ACTION ADVENTURE MULTIPLAYER What we said: “ Ghostwire: Tokyo nestles softly between a bizarre state of being not quite supernatural horror, not quite magical RPG, and not quite an action game experience, to find its niche alongside games like The Evil Within and Control . It’s a beautifully constructed, twisted dark fantasy of an anime nightmare come to life.”

A Plague Tale: Requiem, Destroy All Humans! 2 - Reprobed, Goat Simulator 3, Horizon Forbidden West, NBA 2K23, Splatoon 3, Stray, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, Total War: Warhammer III

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:

42 JANUARY 2023

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