STACK #182 Dec 2019

GAMES

FEATURE

through to small but perfectly-formed control tweaks – and the banishment of pushing. Then there’s the detailed new MyCareer. More big news is that the WNBA is now included in-game, offering up a whole new league to get busy in. If you’re new to the series, you’re made to feel welcome – plus, if you’re a seasoned veteran, there’s plenty of challenge to rise up to. And it’s all packaged with the slick shininess of the best television broadcast. Pokémon Sword/Shield Switch If you’ve gotta catch ’em all, then here come more to collect! Yes, the wonderful, creature-bulging

Need for Speed Heat PS4 | Xbox One

As the powerful keyblade-wielding Sora, join trusty companions Donald Duck and Goofy and set forth again, traipsing through various Disney domains trying to eradicate the scourge that is bad dude Xehanort’s Organization XIII, who are harnessing the good of the world to overtake it with darkness. Encounter classic Disney baddies such as Maleficent and Pete, as well as world specific ones, along with all manner of bosses of often dizzying scale. Thank goodness for all of those weapons that accrue! Luigi’s Mansion 3 Switch With the superstar of the family off prepping for the Tokyo Olympics, it’s up to his bro Luigi to keep Switch gamers happy, and this latest in a series that originally kicked off on the GameCube sees the green-clad guy really stepping up. It’s spooky central, as you take on King Boo’s latest nasty subterfuge in the Last Resort Hotel – yes, no mere mansion this time! He’s imprisoned Mario, Peach and a trio of toads in paintings, but Luigi managed to escape his ghostly clutches. Can our hero, with a little help from his Gooigi doppelganger – conquer his many fears, solve puzzles and save his posse? Only with your help! Gears 5 Xbox One Gears of War returns, leaner and meaner in title, but packing more than ever by way of content. The campaign mode sees the return of Kait Diaz, JD Fenix, his dad Marcus and Delmont Walker as they take on a new threat from the Locust-related Swarm. Those seeking gore have come to the right place, with players clutching two main weapons along with added sidearms – just don’t let that gun jam! The frenzied new ‘Escape’ mode offers puzzling challenges, while an arcade mode ups the hero shooter action, calling upon guile over firepower to notch that win. Our favourite thing, though? In the funky three-player mode, you can now control robo- buddy Jack!

Kind of cool, a little bit daggy but always a whole bunch of fun, the Need for Speed series hasn’t just given us a collection of fab tuner racing thrills over the past 25 years, it’s also introduced us to a swag of top music. The tradition continues here, with your racer being a good, law-abiding citizen (ahem) during the day, and going full-on illicit once the sun sets, earning dollars by day and reputation by night. The sprawling Florida-like Palm City is your open world playground, with

universe of Pokémon returns with a whole new world to explore. Enter Galar, a huge region that offers up a variety of environments ranging from cities to forests, as well as new Poké-

car customisations aplenty, collectibles all over the joint and more than the odd donut-muncher to avoid. Plus, of course, tunes!

creatures to add to your Poké-crew in hopes of becoming Poké- champion. The two separate games are quite similar, but offer

different gyms in which to prove your mettle as well as version-specific Pokémon to battle and capture – oh, and not forgetting alternative Legendaries! So, are you up for becoming the ultimate champion of the Galar Pokémon League? Borderlands 3 PS4 | Xbox One | PC Looter-shooters come and looter-shooters go, but few have had the staying power

of the Borderlands series – and how many promise gazillions of guns?! Borderlands 3 does, leaving an almost impossible decision – what’s your weapon of choice? Then there’s your Vault Hunter. Do you opt for Moze the Gunner, Amara the Siren, FL4K the Beastmaster, or Zane the Operative? Each boasts unique class attributes. Beyond exciting new co-op options, Borderlands 3 also delivers solo play that feels better than previous entries, coupled with smarter AI, a more diverse range of enemies plus guaranteed rewards and more challenge from firefights – and that’s no load of Claptrap!

Kingdom Hearts III PS4 | Xbox One

Enter into an experience that truly is remarkable. A monumental

collision of Final Fantasy and the

worlds of Disney- Pixar, Kingdom Hearts III is as much a new story to get lost in as it is an action RPG.

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