FINALLY! We have a weekend without snow, it's about 14°c (58°F) outside and I can go out and enjoy the weather...at a safe distance from everyone else of course. I saw a quote the other day that resonated with me - "We are flattening the curve so we can open things up again is like saying the parachute opened so we can cut it off now". While I have been itching to go outside, and am concerned about the near future I know staying home is the best thing we can all do right now. Every now and then I stop to think that I am also grateful to have games to play inside where it's safe.
To that end, I have a confession to make here. I try other games all the time and I keep coming back to Destiny 2 which drives me nuts because there are so many better games out there! Does anyone else have a problem like this? I think its because overall I get to feel pretty powerful even though that gets boring after a while. Contrast that with Doom Eternal which is kicking the ever loving shit out of me! I turned it down to Please Don't Hurt me and still that game is hard. I enjoy it in bursts but I can only take a repeated swift kick to the teeth so many times...so enter D2..pick up a few quests beat the shit out of Hive, Fallen, Cabal, Taken and even my nemesis the Scorn and I feel better about myself.
Maybe there is a gem in this weeks offerings...let's take a look.
Moto GP20
Platforms: PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One
Release Date: April 23rd, 2020
I bought my first motorbike when I was about 19. It was a Ninja 250 and it was great fun to throw around on the city streets, not so much on the highway. I upgraded to a Suzuki RGR 500 which was a two wheeled, 2-stroke bullet. I had so much fun on those machines and I used to follow Moto GP almost religiously. Valentino Rossi would just blow my mind every time I saw him race. I have played (briefly) many a Moto GP game over the years trying to recapture that time and thank god I never raced. Mouse, Keyboard, Joystick, gamepad, it doesn't matter the input I suck at virtual motorbikes and I would have likely died instantly had I ever attempted racing one in real life. I still want a bike, but I also know how easy it is to grab the clutch, drop a gear, flick your wrist and fling yourself forward. I like my life, so maybe I will try virtual motorbike racing once again.
Trials of Mana
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch
Release Date: April 24th, 2020
Trials of Mana is a 3D remake of the Super Famicon title released in 1995. Action role playing is the name of this game and, well, yeah that's about all I have for this title. I have written too many articles about my feelings on anime and anime games so if Trials of Mana is for you then awesome! I am glad someone will like it.
Predator Hunting Grounds
Platforms: PC, PS4
Release Date: April 24th, 2020
Do you remember the first Predator movie? Did you remember it being just awesome? Do you remember any of the others or the cross overs with Aliens? Maybe you, do maybe you don't for that last question but my guess is you likely remember the original with more fondness than any of the others. Maybe I am wrong here but my suggestion would be to wait until Predator Hunting Grounds is on PS plus or on sale on Steam. If you do play watch out for Arnold hiding behind a tree triggering a nuke.
XCOM: Chimera Squad
Platform: PC
Release Date: April 24th, 2020
Like the original, XCOM: Chimera Squad is a turn based strategy game that is a sequel to XCOM2. I have heard that the changed the mechanics to make it a bit faster and that may piss off all of you XCOM fans but it makes me more interested. I love the idea of turn based games but I do not have the patience for them. I have always wanted to play an XCOM game but I know it would be money out the window for me. Perhaps this new faster pace mechanic can lure me in...perhaps.
