STACK #235 May 2024

PREVIEWS GAMING

MAY

MOTOGP 24 The official 2024 MotoGP season makes its way to our consoles, bringing a host of new features. Career mode features an in-game social network that will foster friendships and fierce rivalries and comes with a shiny new Riders Market. Adaptive difficulty uses AI to even the

SYSTEM SHOCK Back in 1994, gaming legend Warren Spector ( Deus Ex ) delivered a classic first-person sci-fi action adventure with a cyberpunk aesthetic that was set aboard a space station in the year 2072. The player stepped into the shoes of a hacker, facing off against a rogue AI named SHODAN that intended to destroy Earth. The

playing field, whether you’re new to the race or a seasoned pro, while new multiplayer options – including crossplay on some formats – offer up more chances to compete worldwide than ever before.

hugely influential – on the BioShock series in particular - game has now been remade with modern sensibilities, including graphics at up to 4K at 60FPS.

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RACING

ACTION ADVENTURE

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SEA OF STARS The smash indie sensation finds its way to a special physical edition, which comes complete with a double-sided art poster from the game’s artist, Bryce Kho. If you’re not up to speed, Sea of Stars is an old school-inspired JRPG in which the player controls two heroes – Valere and Zale – who

PAPER MARIO: THE THOUSAND-YEAR DOOR It’s time for the first Paper Mario remake for Switch, as the GameCube classic gets the update treatment. While searching for mystic treasure, poor Peach gets kidnapped once again, this time by aliens known as X-Nauts – Bowser will have to wait his turn! So, it’s time for Mario to do

harness the power of the sun and moon, respectively, via ‘Eclipse Magic’ in their fight against the creations of an evil alchemist. It’s a classic and addictive mix of turn-based combat and puzzle solving.

his rescuing thing – while also finding the treasure, naturally! Expect beautifully updated graphics, and quality of life improvements, while the spirit of the original game will remain intact.

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ACTION RPG

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SLAVE ZERO X Return to the universe of 1999’s Slave Zero in this shiny new prequel, set five years earlier. In the vein of such greats as Strider and Guilty Gear , you’ll make your way through a dystopian future biopunk world ruled by the tyrannical Sovereign Khan. Your aim? To rid Megacity S1-9 of his vicelike

F1 24 The annual official Formula One outing from EA Sports is revving up and raring to get going! Amongst what’s on offer, players can look forward to all the 2024 tracks, cars and liveries, and an all-new Driver Career mode. There’s also a new EA Sports Dynamic Handling System,

grip. Featuring a variety of classic arcade action styles, this physical manifestation also includes a combo guidebook/ manual, a control card, and a code for an exclusive alternative character skin.

which is set to deliver more authentic control, with the latest in physics advances affecting how personal driving style impacts both your car’s performance and race strategy.

*not final artwork

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Are you up to answering all eight of this month’s game related posers? 1. What was the name of the first SEGA motorcycle arcade racer to feature a ride-on bike cabinet? 2. What’s the name of the 2018 ninja game from Sea of Stars developers Sabotage Studio? 3. In what year did the original Slave Zero first release? 4. Which Wing Commander and Ultima series producer went on to produce the original System Shock ? 5. Paper Mario started life as a sequel to which classic Super Nintendo game? 6. What was the name of Codemasters’ first official F1 game? 7. Which now well-known Mario and Luigi nemesis debuted in Mario Tennis on the Nintendo 64? 8. What was the development codename for the Nintendo Wii console? !

Answers: 1. Hang-On 2. The Messenger 3. 1999

4. Warren Spector 5. Super Mario RPG 6. F1 2009 7. Waluigi 8. Revolution

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