These days, it’s common to find games attempting to branch out with their storytelling even if it means sacrificing a more “traditional” gameplay experience as a result. It’s hard to deny the impact of these titles, even if some succeed more than others. Quantic Dream, the team behind 2010’s Heavy Rain, continues in this grand tradition to expand on the nature of the medium while also attempting to tell a more cinematic, impactful story.
Beyond: Two Souls, the team’s latest effort, demonstrates a clear understanding of how to push narrative to the forefront, but does so with uneven results.
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Given how well the simulation and role-playing genres work together, making the easygoing farming experience of Harvest Moon more engaging by adding RPG elements turned out to be developer Neverland’s chocolate and peanut butter. The sub-franchise has garnered a fair share of success on the DS, Wii and PS3, so its leap into the next generation was highly anticipated. Does Rune Factory 4 grow a four-leaf clover, or is the series sowing seeds in barren soil? READ MORE
Sony’s efforts to experiment with new ideas, specifically with downloadable games, have allowed it to branch out from tradition in some remarkable ways. Rain, the new game from the grand experiment known as PlayStation C.A.M.P, comes from the team behind echochrome and the recent Tokyo Jungle. It follows the same mold as those games in an attempt to create something new out of something familiar. While Rain, unlike previous efforts under that brand, is more about presenting an atmospheric story, it still introduces some compelling (and unusual) mechanics, which hook you right from the start. READ MORE
Nintendo’s first move in the HD re-release space is not unsurprising, but it’s definitely important. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is exactly that: an HD remake of a beloved classic, and what will probably be the first of many from Nintendo. Even with all of the bells and whistles you would expect from an HD remake, the game itself holds up remarkably and plays just as well as it did ten years ago. It also demonstrates a clear understanding of where the Zelda series’ strengths lie. READ MORE
Bionic Dues has exactly what I want in a roguelike: direction. Most feature the absolute least amount of story possible: go to the bottom of the dungeon, get a thing, come back up and try not to die. Bionic Dues, like FTL before it, put just a little bit more into the story, and wormed itself that much deeper into me because of it. The scenario crafted by Arcen Games is an interesting one, and it means that there is a push to see the conclusion to the evolving story as well as the push of “just one more mission.” READ MORE
