There are a number of interesting things happening this month, including the PlayStation-exclusives and a unique add-on for the Nintendo Switch.
1. PILLARS OF ETERNITY II: DEADFIRE
From the developers of Never winter Nights, Pillars of Eternity II: Dead fire is a role-playing game played from an isometric perspective like Diablo and is the sequel to Pillars of Eternity.
Players will take control of a Watcher, a character with the ability to look into other people’s souls and read their memories as well as the ones in their past lives.
The god of light and rebirth, Eothas, who is presumed dead, suddenly returns and destroys the protagonist’s stronghold, leaving him in a state of near-death.
Players go on a journey in the new region of Deadfire in order to pursue Eothas and seek answers for his actions.
With a massive open-world environment, players can choose to have fun in their own journeys or proceed with the main quest itself.
FUN FACT: Most sequels will usually take the important parts from the predecessor’s storyline to further its own. However, for Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, the choices and actions you made in the previous game will influence the story line and game play experience
in this one, giving most gamers a unique experience in this sequel.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is available now and its console release can be expected later this year.
2. EXTINCTION
Developed by Iron Galaxy, Extinction is an action adventure game set in a fictional world.
For a long time now, the world has been at war as humans fight one another for land and riches. Unbeknown to them, their true enemies are lurking in the distance. They are the Ravenii, 50-metre-tall monsters with the ultimate goal of destroying mankind.
Only those who have trained in the ways of the ancient order stand a chance against the Ravenii, and there are very few of them left alive. Players take control of one of the world’s last defenders, Avil, who has the skill, speed and strength to oppose the endless waves of these monstrosities. Your goal is to save humanity from extinction.
FUN FACT: Extinction was developed with an interesting combat system in mind. Not only is it fast-paced but there’s also plenty of depth and variety of strategies. As the environment is destructible and players have a variety of ways to move around, it is in no way a linear game. Players will have to rely on their creativity to succeed. Extinction will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC tomorrow.
3. YAKUZA 6: THE SONG OF LIFE
The seventh main entry in the Yakuza series, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life is an action adventure game set in an open world environment and players take a third person perspective.
While recovering from his injuries from the previous game, a hospitalised Kazuma Kiryu is approached by the police who plan to arrest him for his past crimes.
Kiryu does not resist and spends three years in prison in order to live peacefully with his foster children.
Upon release, Kiryu discovers that Haruka is missing. He returns to Kamurocho to search for her, only to find out that she has been left in a coma after a hit-and run incident, and that she has a new born son, Haruto.
Kiryu sets off to uncover the mystery of what happened to Haruka during his absence.
FUN FACT: Yakuza 6: The Song of Life has a number of playable games in the arcade area, including Virtua Fighter 5, Puyo Puyo and Fantasy Zone. Some of these games can also be played by two players, making it a very in-depth mini-game inside of a game. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life will be available exclusively for PlayStation 4 on April 17.
4. GOD OF WAR
The eighth instalment in the God of War series, the new game is a third person action adventure game developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Santa Monica Studio.
It takes places years after Kratos took his vengeance against the Olympian gods.
After the devastating battle with Zeus, he is now living with his Atreus in the world of the Norse gods.
Kratos is currently attempting to master the rage that has driven him for many years in order to become a proper mentor and father to Atreus.
Over the course of their time together, Atreus learns of his father’s chaotic past and struggles to choose whether to become like him or his own person.
Meanwhile, the Norse gods are taking precautions against Kratos as they are aware of his role in the destruction of Olympus.
FUN FACT: This game is a sequel to God of War III and while it may not exactly be a reboot, it is considered a reimagining of the series. This is also why the game adopted a third person perspective for the first time. God of War will be available exclusively for PlayStation4on April 20.
5. NINTENDO LABO
While it may not be considered a traditional game, its significance cannot be stressed enough. Nintendo Labo is a gaming and construction toy platform that is meant for use with the Nintendo Switch.
Players can construct items such as fishing rods, guns and more using cardboard cut-outs and other materials supplied in the kit.
At the moment, there is a Variety Kit and a Robot Kit. The Variety kit can be assembled to form a remote-controlled car, a fishing rod, a toy piano, a motorbike and a house. The Robot Kit is self-explanatory.
It is meant to be used with the Joy-Con controller so gamers can have a deeper interactive experience with games.
FUN FACT: Nintendo Labo was designed with education in mind. In fact, Nintendo wanted it to be used as a way to teach the principles of engineering, physics and basic programming. It is expected to have more kits available in the future to expand and fit a wide variety of uses. The game will be released on April 20 and will only be usable with the Nintendo Switch.