Polyphonic spree

As the recurring opening disclaimer of the Assassin’s Creed games reminds us, every videogame is a conglomeration of disparate parts, almost always built by more than one person, often dozens and sometimes hundreds. Getting everyone singing from the same hymn sheet, then, must represent one of the biggest challenges of development. To ship a game involves ensuring that the finished product carries a memorable tune with as few bum notes as possible.

The theme of harmony runs through much of this issue’s Play selection – though January’s biggest game, Fire Emblem: Engage, isn’t exactly Good Vibrations or California Dreamin’ in that respect. Sure, those attack animations are better than ever, while the return of a dozen heroes from previous entries is welcome. But it

lacks Three Houses’ holistic blend of combat and socialising: as enjoyable as its tactical battles remain, there’s an awkward separation between its two halves.

If 2021’s Jett: The Far Shore featured many purposeful frictions, campaignsized expansion Given Time finds a greater concordance between story and systems – the former largely getting out of the way, so you can focus on solving a string of unusual environmental challenges in relative peace, as your scout crew seeks to achieve a kind of symbiosis with their new home. Working as a team is vital in Necrosoft Games’ Hyper Gunsport, too: should the projectiles fired by striker and keeper hit the ball at the same time, it will travel at greater velocity towards their opponents’ goal.

There’s no such synergy in the wilfully cacophonous High On Life. Rather, you’ll find that in puzzle adventure The Forest Quartet, as the recently departed leader of a jazz foursome helps her bandmates from beyond the grave so they can host a concert in her honour. It’s a testament to developer Mads & Friends that its musical finale is pitched perfectly.