STACK #190 Aug 2020

GAMING PREVIEWS

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GAMES OUT THIS MONTH AUGUST

UFC 4

GENRE: SPORT PLATFORM: PS4 | XBOX ONE

RELEASE: 14/8/20 MULTIPLAYER: YES

As the UFC competition goes from strength to strength – as do its participants – EA unleash the latest in their smash series of games dedicated to the sport. Cover stars Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal lead the way into a UFC game that’s

designed to be much more “pick up and play” than its predecessors. Some of those amazing fighting moves previously required dexterity that was beyond the average couch-based warrior. These play style updates include tweaks and outright changes to button and stick commands, including a new submission system, all designed for ease of use, and a more fluid style of play. If you’re into career mode then you’ll be happy to hear that it’s been changed up, with a focus on introducing some more variety to proceedings than in previous incarnations of the game. If you’re into character customisation then you’ll dig the new options, which carry your guy or gal across the game’s various modes, which include over 1600 new pieces of earnable gear and over 350 emotes to really let you unleash your personality in-game.

Did you know? Get ready to fight in classic arenas and four all-new

environments, including the Japanese karate-

inspired Kumite, UFC Apex, Action Avenue and The Backyard – which is an actual backyard!

G: SPORT P: PS4 | XBOX ONE M: YES R: 21/8/20 Get ready to go on a roll with the coolest reanimated skull that you’ll likely ever control – Skully! This platformer action outing conjures memories of Aussie classic de Blob and ‘80s arcade star Marble Madness , but puts its own unique spin on things. Roll about varying landscapes to save an island paradise that’s existence is threatened by feuding siblings, transforming – via pools of magical clay – into different forms in order to complete various tasks and defeat assailants. SKULLY All the excitement of high-octane racing from the Fast & Furious movie franchise hits consoles, with this officially licensed romp. From the Project CARS people, Slightly Mad Studios, Fast & Furious Crossroads features voiceover from series stars such as Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson, in all-new set pieces that could have been plucked straight out of the movies. Hop into classic vehicles such as Dom’s Charger, or pick something new, then hit it in solo or multiplayer. FAST & FURIOUS CROSSROADS The Golf Club has been taken over by 2K, and they’re injecting all the brilliance that you’d expect from such experts at sports games in their inaugural golf effort, PGA Tour 2K21 . Get a play-by-play commentary from Rich Beem and Australia’s Luke Elvy, as you create your male or female ‘MyPLAYER’ from the toes up – complete with all of the latest golf fashion gear – and embark upon your golfing career, from the minor tournaments through to the FedEx Cup. PGA TOUR 2K21 Who needs a stadium – or even a patch of grass – when you’ve got a street to have a kick in? Street Power Football celebrates the play-anywhere joys of soccer, and takes you all around the world in the process. With a definite lean towards arcade-styled play, master skills, pull off wild tricks and more through six different game modes, ranging from open-ended ‘Freestyle’ and ‘Trick Shot’ to head-to-head competition in ‘Panna’ and up to 3v3 matches in ‘Street Power’. STREET POWER FOOTBALL G: ACTION ADVENTURE P: PS4 | SWITCH M: NO R: 4/8/20 G: RACING P: PS4 | XBOX ONE M: YES R: 7/8/20

G: SPORT P: PS4 | XBOX ONE M: YES R: 28/8/20 MVP Lamar Jackson adorns the cover of this year’s Madden , which promises all the thrills and spills of NFL that you’d expect, with select new features. These include new ‘Skill Stick’ special moves, running enhancements, more user-friendly pass rush mechanics, and more intelligent AI that adjusts to your gameplay trends on the fly. Add innovations such as the rags to riches ‘Face of the Franchise: Rise to Fame’ to classics like ‘Ultimate Teams’, and it’s sure to be another touchdown. MADDEN NFL 21 The revolution is about to start! Step into the boots of indie rockers Mayday and Zuke and set out upon a tuneful adventure, aiming to take back your city with music. Your metropolis has been overrun by the sounds of the evil EDM empire No Straight Roads, so you need to cut through the corruption – and the relentless BPM – by harnessing the power of rock (and other genres) for musically-inspired combat that, of course, all takes place in time to the beat. NO STRAIGHT ROADS The second title this month from Slightly Mad Studios brings a fuel injection of new blood to the Project CARS 3 series. Touted as a spiritual successor to the Need for Speed: Shift series, the focus is less on sim – pit stops and tyre wear are things of the past – and more on enjoying racing some of the most desirable real-world cars ever. With over 200 vehicles, more than 140 global tracks, a 24-hour cycle, dynamic weather and seasons plus all-new career mode, it’s petrolhead nirvana. PROJECT CARS 3 This much-anticipated sequel in the popular squad-based RPG series doesn’t hold back on delivering post-apocalyptic thrills, as players take command of a squad of Desert Rangers, lawmen and women in a post-nuclear world. They’re just trying to rebuild their Arizonan society until a promise of help arrives, but it has strings attached… Journey through deserts to snowy mountains, fighting all the way and deciding just who to trust. Be Colorado’s saviour – or its worst nightmare! WASTELAND 3 G: RACING P: PS4 | XBOX ONE M: YES R: 28/8/20 G: ACTION ADVENTURE P: PS4 | XBOX ONE | SWITCH M: NO R: 28/8/20

G: SPORT P: PS4 | XBOX ONE | SWITCH M: YES R: 25/8/20

G: RPG P: PS4 | XBOX ONE | PC M: YES R: 28/8/20

80 AUGUST 2020

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