STACK #243 January 2025

JANUARY

KINGDOM COME: DELIVERANCE II The tale of blacksmith’s son Henry reaches its enthralling conclusion in this sequel to the sleeper action RPG hit from 2018. With more than twice the world of the first outing’s 15th century Bohemia to explore, new weapons such as crossbows and firearms, and hundreds of new characters to encounter, the scale this time out is huge. Have you got what it takes to survive and thrive in a time of civil war, and avenge the death of your parents? WHAT’S COMING IN FEBRUARY?

MULTIPLAYER YS MEMOIRE: THE OATH IN FELGHANA The acclaimed 2005 outing in the esteemed Ys series makes a triumphant return 20 years later, utilising modern tech to make the experience all the greater. Our redheaded thrill-seeking protagonist Adol Christin now has a voice, character illustrations have been refined (but you can switch to classic if you like), and there are three versions of the epic soundtrack. Look out monsters, Adol is back in Felghana and ready to fight! DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS HD When it first hit the Super Nintendo in 1994 it was a revelation and, since then, Donkey Kong Country has become a staple of platforming greatness. Now, the Wii iteration gets an update for the Switch that brings all of the jumping, rolling, and stomping fun of recovering your precious banana hoard right up to date. As well as being visually enhanced, there’s adjustable difficulty, and the 3DS bonus levels are included, too! DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS There’s something truly satisfying about cutting a swathe through relentless hordes of computerised assailants, and the Dynasty Warriors series is the king of all such outings. Yes, it’s time for full-on one versus 1,000 action as you – the nameless hero – set out to conquer the Three Kingdoms alongside legendary figures. It may seem like chaos, but if you enter without any strategy then you’ll likely soon find yourself facing defeat. MULTIPLAYER 16/1/25 7/1/25

MULTIPLAYER TALES OF GRACES f REMASTERED The twelfth main instalment from the Tales series was a smash in its day on the Wii and PlayStation 3, and now it’s back in beautifully remastered form to excite us either anew, or all over again! Thrill to the high-speed battles as you venture to the planet Ephinea, teaming up with friends – and the mysterious Sophie – as you’re drawn into a battle between three kingdoms that are vying for control of the entire planet. CUISINEER Cooking combines with combat in this action roguelite meets restaurant simulator! As restaurateur Pom, bake up a storm as you venture to great lengths to earn your food - by fighting it in dungeons. Players will wield their trusty cooking utensils against such foes as giant chickens, artillery shrimp, fire-breathing peppers, and many more comestibles gone wild, as well as customising their kitchens, dining halls, and recipe books. SNIPER ELITE: RESISTANCE Prepare to return to the battlefield in an all-new Sniper Elite operation, deep inside the heart of occupied France. The story runs parallel with Sniper Elite 5 and sees SOE agent Harry Hawker take the lead in preventing the Reich from winning the war with a super-powerful weapon. All the franchise’s most popular mechanics return – including the x-ray kill cam – along with authentic WWII weaponry, extra missions, and more. MULTIPLAYER 28/1/25 17/1/25

ACTION RPG MULTIPLAYER?

4/2/25

ASSASSIN'S CREED SHADOWS The next instalment in the storied series takes us to 16th century Japan, during the Azuchi-Momoyama era. We’ll step into the footwear of two distinct characters whose stories intertwine. One is a Japanese shinobi named Naoe, while the second is a real-life historical samurai, Yasuke, both of whom they set out discover their common destiny while ushering in a new era for Japan.

ACTION RPG

ACTION RPG

ACTION RPG MULTIPLAYER?

14/2/25

LIKE A DRAGON: PIRATE YAKUZA IN HAWAII Already staking a claim for best game name of 2025, the wild Like a Dragon series returns, set six months after the recent Infinite Wealth . Step into the steel-toed boots of ex-yakuza Goro Majima who, having lost all his memories, now leads a pirate crew on a quest across four locales in search of – you guessed it – treasure! Get ready for classic series beat ’em up action, with added classic pirate weaponry such as cutlasses and pistols.

PLATFORMER

ACTION RPG

ACTION RPG MULTIPLAYER? MONSTER HUNTER WILDS

21/2/25

In the latest evolution of Capcom’s much-loved series, get transported to the Forbidden Lands, a mysterious wilderness that can transform in curious ways. As you’d expect, you’ll be hunting monstrous foes through stunning natural environments, and taking them on in thrilling high-action encounters.

Packed with new monsters and other creatures, each with unique behaviours, franchise fans are in for a treat, solo or with friends!

ACTION RPG MULTIPLAYER?

28/2/25

MULTIPLAYER

MULTIPLAYER

FIGHTING

SHOOTER

17/1/25

30/1/25

Are you up to answering all eight of this month’s game related posers? 1. What was the full name of the Ys game that released for the SEGA Master System?

(Game Boy, 1994) 3. Romance of the Three Kingdoms 4. Eight 5. Henry 6. Desmond Miles 7. Yakuza 8. PlayStation TV.

2. What was the first game that featured Donkey Kong wearing a red necktie? 3. From which strategy game series was the Dynasty Warriors franchise spawned? 4. How many characters were playable in the original Super Mario Kart on SNES? 5. What’s the name of the main protagonist in Kingdom Come: Deliverance ? 6. Who was the main protagonist in the first ever Assassin’s Creed game, back in 2007? 7. What was the Like a Dragon series formerly known as outside of Japan? 8. What was the name of the non-handheld PS Vita box that could attach to a TV?

Answers: 1. Ys: The Vanished Omens 2. Donkey Kong

GAME EXAM

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