STACK NZ Dec #58

FEATURE

GAMES

STACK’s

Not so much a definitive ‘best of’ list as a compilation of the games we have enjoyed and spent the most time with this year. And of course our game of the year – never an easy decision.

GTA V Yes, it looks absolutely fabulous, but it’s all about the first-person mode here and that’s

PES 2015 Utilising the powerful FOX Engine, the game’s debut on the new- generation of console hardware is an exciting glimpse of what’s to come.

Forza Horizon 2 It’s big, it’s bold and it’s beautiful. Turn 10’s unmissable racer should be a required purchase for any new Xbox One owner.

Titanfall Titanfall comes with an incredibly talented

development team behind it – and that pedigree shows. The game is one of the best multiplayer shooters you’re likely to play in 2014.

worth the price of admission alone.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Borrowing the best from others while carving out its own identity, Shadow of

Halo The Master Chief Collection Whether you’re coming to the series as a

Mario Kart 8 Leading the way with this year’s Wii U releases is Mario Kart 8 , a game that superlatively blends tradition with innovation. This is the

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Dragon Age: Inquisition is a visual tour de force, complemented by an enthralling story and engrossing gameplay. It’s the Dragon Age

new player or you’re keen to see what your favourite Halo titles look like with new-gen gloss, you won’t be disappointed.

Mordor is unique – it’s a game set in Middle-earth that is actually good.

kart racer to own.

game we’ve been asking for.

Destiny Bungie’s ambitious vision for a new

Dark Souls II For gamers who like a challenge, the Souls series will push you to the limit. From Software’s Dark Souls II , a superb follow-up to the brilliant Dark Souls , is no exception.

Super Smash Bros. 3DS

Wolfenstein: The New Order For a lesson in franchise reinvention, look no further than MachineGames’

franchise unfurled its wings in September. And we flocked to it like moths to a lamp – with very good reason.

We filed this before we could sample Smash on the Wii U, but the game on 3DS is simply a

must. Not a reinvention of the wheel, just a solid game that adds first-rate content to well-honed formula.

Wolfenstein: The New Order . Furnished with a strong story, this shooter is fun from the very first squeeze of the trigger.

Alien: Isolation The Creative

Watch_Dogs After a number of delays, Ubisoft’s Watch_Dogs has

Assembly’s faithful recreation of Ridley Scott’s Alien aesthetic is just part of a harrowing survival- horror experience that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Far Cry 4 Swapping the

tropical beach for the Himalayas, Far Cry 4 is a true open-world experience that allows players to dictate the game they want to play. Real estate agents would call this ‘the entertainer’.

opened the door to a new franchise for the French publisher. A compelling action-adventure title where just about everything can be hacked.

Bayonetta 2 Always a big fan of the original Bayonetta , we knew this sequel was special after spending a little time with it at E3 this year. Directed by Devil May Cry series progenitor Hideki Kamya, Bayonetta 2 sticks to the adage of if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Instead, enhancements have been applied that, for the most part, work extremely well. Sporting a new shorter haircut, Bayonetta’s lethal balletic battle combos remain as spellbinding as the original. There’s more colour this time around and it explodes in your face like a letter bomb. The intense and invigorating gameplay delivers relentless and uncompromising slabs of absurdity – it is undoubtedly the best fun we’ve had with a video game all year. Bayonetta 2 isn’t just an accomplished follow-up, it’s an entertainment blockbuster that will feed your gaming desires from kick-off to the final whistle.

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