Surprise! It’s another “There isn’t really much in the way of new releases this week” week! All's not lost, however, as there is much happening in the gaming world. Gearbox’s new title, Battleborn, is currently in open beta and it’s boatloads of fun. No one does co-op quite like Gearbox; do yourself a favor and give it a try. Doom (2016), id’s new reboot, is another title in open beta worth checking out; it features some pretty slick visuals, breakneck FPS action and cool character customization. If you haven’t yet already broken a controller or two or spit vitriolic venom at Dark Souls III you could be doing that too! Boston becomes the mecca of the gaming world this week as PAX East rolls into town on Friday. Of course 2o2p has you covered with all kinds of coverage from our crack East Coast team. Certainly all that gaming goodness makes up for the dearth of new releases on the schedule!       

Axiom Verge

Release Date: April 19th, 2016
Platforms: PSVita

Sure to please Metroidvania fans, Axiom Verge is a side-scrolling action-adventure game that borrows its gameplay heavily from, you guessed it, Metroid and Castlevania. Players control Trace who finds himself alone in a high tech ancient world after suffering a devastating injury. Explore Axiom Verge’s many environments in search of over 60 items and powerups, numerous weapons and its many secrets.

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada

Release Date: April 21st, 2016
Platforms: PC

Tindalos Interactive’s new real time strategy game is set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Players seek control of the Gothic sector of space using a fleet of ships from one of four available factions. All ship systems-defense, weaponry and sub-support-are customizable with different combinations influencing both ship performance and special abilities in battle. 

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair

Release Date: April 18th, 2016
Platforms: PC

The sequel to Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc makes its way to PC. Dubbed a “visual novel adventure game,” players follow a group of high school students trapped on an island by their evil headmaster under the ruse of a field trip. If the students can successfully murder one of their classmates and not get caught in the resulting investigation and trial they can leave the island. The catch? The rest of the students are executed. If the student is caught, then the student is executed. Don’t let the cutesy graphics fool you! 

Invisible, Inc.

Release Date: April 19th, 2016
Platforms: PS4

Invisible, Inc. is a turn based tactics game based on espionage and stealth. Players work for Invisible, Inc. as a covert agent handler who has three days to direct his agents to traverse the globe to acquire support and resources-equipment, personnel and information-to relocate Incognita, their valuable AI, to a new supercomputer after Invisible’s headquarters is compromised. Fail to move Incognita in three days and the AI and Invisible, Inc. is lost. 

KOI

Release Date: April 19th, 2016
Platforms: PS4

Guide a Koi separated from its owner as it seeks to restore the dark, polluted ecosystem to its once pristine state. Players cleanse the water as they traverse obstacles, solve puzzles, open flowers and free the emissary light fish gripped by the polluting darkness in the water. 

Loud on Planet X

Release Date: April 19th, 2016
Platforms: PC, PS4, iOS, Android

Billed as “a new hybrid of rhythm game and classic shooter with tower defense elements,” Loud on Planet X features music from indie artists Tegan and Sara, Purity Ring, July Talk, Lights, METZ, Metric, Cadence Weapon, Austra and F*cked Up. Players defend their stage from aliens by tapping to the music and using makeshift stage weapons such as bouncers, strobe lights and fog machines.

Lumo

Release Date: April 22nd, 2016
Platforms: PS4, PSVita

Lumo is an isometric, arcade adventure game developed by Gareth Noyce of Crackdown, Fable 2 and Project Gotham Racing 3 fame; he considers it an homage to “the golden age of British game development (the 80’s) and everyone that made it so great.” Players can spend their time in Lumo finding secrets and solving puzzles or exploring over 400 rooms.

Melty Blood: Actress Again Current Code

Release Date: April 19th, 2016
Platforms: PC

Melty Blood: Actress Again Current Code is the third installment in the visual novel fighting game. New game features include three new playable characters, alternate versions of existing PS2 characters and three distinct fighting styles for all existing characters. Each fighting style changes the character's’ basic and special attacks and how Magic Circuit meters function.

Pollen

Release Date: April 20th, 2016
Platforms: PC, PS4

Pollen is a first person sci-fi mystery exploration game set on Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Players control a RAMA Industries employee who arrives at Station M on Titan to replace an employee gone missing from the station’s research team. Mysteriously, contact with the research team is lost as the player arrives at Station M. Players must investigate the station in search of clues-searching the environment, listening to audio tapes and solving puzzles-to solve the disappearance.    

SpeedRunners

Release Date: April 19th, 2016
Platforms: PC, XB1

SpeedRunners is a multiplayer side scrolling racing game that was recognized in July 2015 as an esport by the Electronic Sports League. Race through New Rush City in a four player elimination where the last man running wins! SpeedRunners features 12 unique multiplayer maps and 30 single player levels. Play against bots or your friends using weapons such as grappling hooks, missiles, meteorites or the invinci-drill to run your way to victory!
 

Star Fox Zero/Star Fox Guard

Release Date: April 22nd, 2016
Platforms: Wii U

Star Fox Zero, the sixth game in the Star Fox series, is a 3D scrolling shooter game set in the Star Fox universe; it’s considered neither a prequel or a sequel to any Star Fox game nor a remake of the original. Following the gameplay of previous Star Fox installments, players control Fox McCloud as he pilots his Arwing through the game’s various levels. Previous characters, including teammates Peppy, Slippy and Falco and rivals Leon Powalski, Pigma Dengar, Wolf O’Donnell and Andrew Oikonny make return. Previous game locations returning include Titania, Zoness and Corneria while two new locations, Area 3 and Sector Alpha, have been added.

Star Fox Guard is a tower defense game that will be bundled with the retail version of Star Fox Zero or available as a standalone from the Wii U eShop.

The Banner Saga 2

Release Date: April 19th, 2016
Platforms: PC, Mac

The sequel to The Banner Saga, The Banner Saga 2 is a tactical role playing game that picks up after the conclusion of its predecessor and continues the game’s epic Norse storyline. Choices made in The Banner Saga will affect who lives and dies in the sequel.