Game Informer May 2017 Edition

2017·19.3 MB·English

by  GameInformer

THE WORLD’S #1 VIDEO GAME MAGAZINE
Alcohol Reference
Fantasy Violence
Mild Blood
Mild Language
Suggestive Themes

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I Still Believe
W
e are more than a year in since
the return of virtual reality, and
despite all the problems it has
faced, I still think VR has a chance.
Seeing is believing when it comes to
virtual reality. But even I, who has played
and loved several games in VR, still have
a hard time committing to the technol-
ogy as it currently stands. Room-scale
requires too much space for most people,
the hardware costs too much money, and
ANDY McNAMARA the software library right now doesn’t
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF have the payoff to make those invest-
[email protected] ments worth i t.
Regardless of platform, VR is strug-
Read my column or gling to find a foothold in the mainstream,
comment on this letter at and even my living room, given its cur-
gameinformer.com/mag rent challenges. That doesn’t mean the
or follow @GI_AndyMc value proposition can’t be changed or
improved over time.
I still see a future where VR is the
go-to gaming platform – we just have a
lot of struggles to overcome before we
get there. Hopefully, it doesn’t all fall to
pieces before it arrives. Great content is
truly compelling on our current technolo-
gies, and it is easy to see how VR can
transform for the better in the future. But
we aren’t there yet. Sure, the technol-
ogy could be better, but it needs to get
to a price point where there are enough
hardware units in gamers’ hands to reach
a tipping point where the dollars enable
developers to make software that can
compete with the depth of traditional
gaming experiences.
We explore the topic in depth in this
issue (pg. 14), and it is worth a read if you
have an interest in this technology that is
er still struggling through growing pains.
witt Enjoy the issue, and make to sure
T
n check out this month’s cover story
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er on Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice from
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or Ninja Theory.
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mer. Ninja Theory’s new title may look like a spiri-
or tual successor to Heavenly Sword at first
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ei glance, but Hellblade spends more time inside the head of
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a its psychotic protagonist than it does on the battlefield.
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sit by Ben Reeves
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08 Feedback
30 T he Good, The Bad,
And The Ugly
32 G amer
46 G ear
50 T imeline
64 Previews
82 Reviews
94 C lassic
96 Game Over
1 4Virtual Reality Enters Phase Two
A year since its launch, where does this generation of virtual reality stand, and what does its
future look like? We investigate.
2 8Competing In
2 4Submissions And The Underground 4 4Interview:
Subscribers Everyone knows about Bill Rosemann
We spoke with the UFC 2 6Down But Not Out pro Street Fighter Marvel’s next entertain-
flyweight champion One of the best video play, but did you know ment frontier is video
Demetrious Johnson about game documentaries is one about the pro Shrek games, and we spoke to
his love for video games. you likely haven’t seen. Superslam community? the man making it happen.
3 8Afterwords: 3 9Afterwords:
3 4Impulse: The Indie Games Of GDC 2017 For Honor Horizon Zero Dawn
The annual Game Developers Conference is always full Ubisoft’s intense fighter is We spoke with Guerrilla
of new, innovative independent games, and we rounded up our unlike other online com- about the exciting new
favorites from this year’s show. petitive games. world of Horizon Zero Dawn.
6 4Middle-earth:
4 8Playing With Shadow Of War
Portable Power Monolith Productions is
We issue the final verdict heading back to Mordor, 8 4Mass Effect: Andromeda
on Nintendo’s console/ and we saw the upgraded BioWare takes Mass Effect in a bold, but familiar direc-
handheld hybrid. nemesis system in action. tion. How does it stand up to the original trilogy?
contents 5
games index
1-2-Switch ................ 92
140 ...................... 41
Abzû ..................... 43
7 0Mario Kart 8 7 2Sonic Forces Arktika.1 .................. 18
6 6Injustice 2 Deluxe Can Sonic get Catherine.................. 29
Dandara................... 34
Mortal Kombat’s Mario Kart 8’s port to back on track? For the
Dragon Quest VIII:
creators return to their dark Switch has more to offer moment, we’re optimistic
Journey of the Cursed King... 94
take on the DC Comics than what you already about what’s next for the
Escape from Tarkov.......... 80
universe for another fighter. played on Wii U. blue hedgehog.
Fallout 4 .................. 18
Farpoint................... 18
Flinthook.................. 92
Flipping Death.............. 36
Flower.................... 42
For Honor ................. 38
From Other Suns............ 19
Ghost Recon Wildlands ....... 86
Golf Club VR, The ........... 92
Gone Home ................ 42
Guardians of the Galaxy .......68
7 4Hob Heaven’s Vault.............. 37
The creators of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice ... 52
8 8Persona 5 Torchlight return with a Hob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
After myriad delays, the highly anticipated JRPG is finally new game inspired by Horizon Zero Dawn .......... 39
Injustice 2................. 66
here (in English!) and it’s great. Zelda and D ark Souls.
Inside .................... 43
Into the Breach ............. 76
Journey................... 42
Kingsway.................. 73
Knights and Bikes ........... 34
Lara Croft Go............... 43
Lone Echo................. 19
Mage’s Tale................ 19
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.......... 70
Mass Effect: Andromeda...... 84
Middle-earth:
7 5Tacoma Shadow of War ............ 64
We got extended Mineko’s Night Market........ 37
hands-on with the next Monument Valley............ 42
game from the creators of Mr. Shifty ................. 36
Gone Home. Necrobarista ............... 35
Observer .................. 79
Ooblets ................... 35
Paranormal Activity:
The Lost Soul ............. 20
Perception................. 69
Persistence, The ............ 20
Persona 5 ................. 88
Project Cars 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Quake Champions . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Rez Infinite ................ 41
Robo Recall................ 92
7 7Quake Champions Shrek Superslam............ 28
We were skeptical 4 0Quick Hits: Good Games You Can Beat In One Sitting Snipperclips:
about returning to Quake, Not everyone has time to sink 60 hours in the latest tri- Cut It Out, Together......... 92
but walked away excited ple-A action/RPG. We rounded up a collection of games worth Sonic Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
after playing a round. playing that you can enjoy in a single sitting. Sparc..................... 21
Star Trek: Bridge Crew ....... 21
SteamWorld Dig 2 ........... 36
Stories Untold .............. 92
Sundered.................. 37
Super Bomberman R......... 92
Superhot .................. 41
Tacoma ................... 75
TagPro.................... 28
Thimbleweed Park........... 91
Tokyo Xanadu .............. 81
8 6Ghost Recon TumbleSeed................ 35
Wildlands 8 7Yooka-Laylee 9 1Thimbleweed Park Warhammer 40,000:
We spent lots of time in The Kickstarted plat- The co-creator of Dawn of War III ............ 78
Ghost Recon’s open world former is officially worthy of Maniac Mansion returns to Where the Water
and are ready to share the title “Banjo-Kazooie’s what he does best: point- Tastes Like Wine........... 37
our review. spirtual successor.” and-click adventures. Wilson’s Heart.............. 21
Yooka-Laylee............... 87
6 contents

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Couch co-op, console exclusives, and a long-rumored sequel
are all hot talking points this month, while other readers weigh
in on whether they’re sold on the Switch.
B reathless For Bokoblins M ore Top 50 Fanfare and try it. Not only is Inside one of the
I really enjoyed the Breath of the Wild As usual, I really enjoyed reading your best games of 2016 (not just indie), it
cover story and hub you guys set year-end Top 50 list (issue 286). I espe- is one of the best games I have ever
up; it was instrumental in getting me cially related to the many nods given purchased across all of my consoles,
through the long waiting period. That to Uncharted 4. I just played through period. Spooky, stunning, and infu-
said, I’ve been looking around and it with my wife, and wit is seriously a riating in its addictiveness, I couldn’t
can’t find any well-written articles work of art. I know this because there put it down for hours. You guys (and
about the series’ bokoblins. There are were dozens of times that I stopped the readers) nailed it; good call.
some wiki entries, but they’re pretty and panned the camera just to look W. Colen
dry. I figure since bokoblins seem to at things in the distance, which were Mississippi
be a big part of the game (they have often places I had come from or would
their own Amiibo!) it may be a good soon be heading. The views are just Well this is a first: For once we’re still
idea to give them an exposé of sorts. gorgeous. Props to Naughty Dog for getting compliments for our year-
Maybe show their evolution over time, their awesome work. I can’t wait for the end coverage even after the hate
their differences compared to mob- follow up with Chloe’s story! mail has died off! Whether you prefer
lins, and theories of how they fit into Darrin Matter triple-A blockbusters or breathtak-
the larger timeline. Birch Bay, WA ing indies, 2016 was a heck of a year
Jack Tokarz for gaming. With games like Horizon
via email After reading the Top 50 issue and Zero Dawn, Breath of the Wild, and
seeing all of the editors’ Top 10s list- Mass Effect Andromeda (read our
While bokoblins are indeed featured ing Inside, Inside, Inside, I decided to review on page 84), 2017 is off to a
prominently in Breath of the Wild, jump outside my FPS comfort zone pretty good start as well.
they don’t have a particularly intrigu-
ing backstory – they are just the
main enemy type and are summoned
when the Blood Moon appears. That
C ontact Us said, if you’re hankering for more
Breath of the Wild content now that
Send your questions,
comments, and rants to you’ve got the game, you can find
[email protected] spoiler-free tips, an Easter egg guide,
for a chance to be featured insightful video discussions, and
in the magazine! more at gameinformer.com/mag.
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