A GAME Retail alumnus and one of our most fanatical gamers, new recruit Connor Dukes shares his thoughts on the top 3 games he thinks will hit the mark this year…
Resident Evil 3 (remake), Capcom
Resident Evil has been a pioneer in the horror Genre of gaming since its initial release in 1996. It started off with traditional zombies that we grew to know and love in popular culture. It then started to move more into the unknown and away from traditional zombies. Resident Evil 7 then released and gave it a new identity, which was very reminiscent of hit Horror titles like Outlast.
In January 2019, we were then presented with one of the best titles of 2019 with Resident Evil 2 remake. It was the best horror experience I had experienced in years; from the return of the terrifyingly detailed slow walking zombies, to hearing the pounding footsteps of Mr X following you constantly. It put me on edge, never letting me feel comfortable. It was everything I wanted in a Resident Evil game and more.
Resident Evil 3 has a close place to my heart, as it was the first Resident Evil I experienced first-hand. I can still remember the eerie noise of Nemesis shouting, “STARS” – it was truly petrifying. With this new title leaning more towards action, and Nemesis having even more ways to track down Jill Valentine compared to Mr X, I can’t wait to get my hands on this.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, Paradox Interactive
The original Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines will have released 16 years prior when Bloodlines 2 releases this year. It’s been a very long time to wait for a sequel, particularly when the original Bloodlines was considered a cult classic and one of the best Vampire games ever made.
The latest instalment follows a very similar vibe to its predecessor, which is an open world RPG set in a faction war between different Vampire clans. Your choices and affiliations to different characters / clans can affect the outcome of your game. After the first title’s LA setting, Bloodlines 2 ventures to Seattle – so prepare to see some of Seattle’s incredible landmarks as a hunter of the night.
You start the game as a human who has been attacked during a mass embrace, which consists of converting all humans in the area into thin bloods – an illegal act in Vampire society. It is the ability to choose your own path that makes this game so exciting. This focus on choice and freedom is also translated into the combat. You can use a range of melee weapons and firearms, or you can use your vampiric abilities, which will vary based on which fullblood clan you join. Either way, I can’t wait to see if I become the vampire of my dreams…or my nightmares.
Carrion, Devolver Digital
I have always been a big indie game fan, and Devolver Digital are a firm favourite publisher. My Friend Pedro, Enter the Gungeon, Broforce, and Hotline Miami all hit the mark for me, so Carrion is a game I’m really excited to play.
Carrion has particularly caught my eye for multiple reasons. The pixel art style is phenomenal. The way the monster moves around, blood splattering everywhere as you devour and absorb all the poor humans who dare get in your way just looks so satisfying! The reverse horror is always an interesting factor when implemented correctly and, from what I have seen on Carrion, it seems like it’s going in the right direction. I’m really looking forward to sinking my teeth into this one and terrorising pixel humans.
