Dreams and screams
THE bleak month of January is reaching its end, and the loved-up month of February is soon to be upon us. It still feels like there’s a dearth of big games around, but there are some titles arriving this month which are worth your attention.
Fans of the undead will be delighted to learn there’s a new Zombie Army game out at the start of the month, and Mortal Kobat 11 is getting a super new fighter.
And on Valentine’s Day, Dreams looks set to swoop in and steal our hearts and minds.
ZOMBIE ARMY 4: DEAD WAR (PEGI 18) Xbox One, PS4, PC; release February 4
THIS spine-chilling co-op shooter comes from the same stable as Sniper Elite. But what started off as a low-budget spinoff to that series turned into an unexpected success for developer Rebellion.
Back with a bigger budget, Zombie Army 4 brings an 80s horror/slasher vibe to defeating the undead. And to up the ante they’re not just zombies, they’re Nazi zombies.
As ever, the key to success is teamwork, and you’ll need your fellow zombie killers on point if you’re going to survive against the vicious and macabre Nazi hordes.
DREAMS (PEGI 12) PS4; release February 14
THIS beautiful game creation system will let imaginations and creativity run free.
From the creators of the gorgeous Little Big Planet, Dreams’ whole focus is on ‘playing, creating and sharing’.
Set in a sand-box world, players can create their own game mechanics, assets, 3D sculptures, music, art, and even fully-fledged video games. This content can then be shared or remixed to be used in other’s creations.
There are no limits to what you can explore and no limit to what you can create – and it looks wonderful.
THE YAKUZA REMASTERED COLLECTION (PEGI 18) PS4; release February 11
THIS tense, slightly melodramatic crime drama series has always boasted a quirkily written script, combined with classic brawling gameplay.
With upcoming Yakuza: Like a Dragon (or, Yakuza 7) Sega is said to be taking the series in a bold new direction, an RPG with a new protagonist.
Until then, fans can reacquaint themselves with some classic action, with this beautifully remastered collection of the core Yakuza games.
While its last outing, Yakuza 6, served as a swansong for series’ protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, this game will allow you to experience the entirety of Kiryu’s story before introducing its new hero later this year.
If you’ve never dipped your toes in the Yakuza waters, this is the excuse you’ve been looking for.
MORTAL KOMBAT 11 + JOKER DLC (PEGI 18) XBox One, PS4, PC, Switch; release: February 11
MORTAL Kombat has always been about over-the-top, almost cartoony violence – so the latest ‘celebrity’ villain to join the roster is a perfect match.
Joker has a long history with the brutal fight franchise, making his debut back in 2008 in Mortal Kombat v DC Villains.
It’s no secret that Joker was always going to be part of Mortal Kombat 11’s first kombat pack, and he lands as the initial wave of DLC wraps up.
But what was kept under wraps is that he might just boast the best Mortal Kombat Fatality of all time.
Mr J joins an impressive lineup of other guest fighters, including the Terminator T-800, Sindel, Shang Tsung, Nightwolf and, fingers crossed at some point soon, Spawn.
BAYONETTA AND VANQUISH: 10TH ANNIVERSARY BUNDLE (PEGI 18) XBox One, PS4; release: February 18
MARKING the tenth anniversary of two cult classics, Bayonetta & Vanquish has been bundled together in one beautiful, remastered edition.
If you’ve not experienced Bayonetta before, now’s your chance to try this inspired action/ adventure game.
Playing as the titular Umbra Witch, you’ll battle hordes of enemies using Bayonetta’s arsenal of unique skills, which include shapeshifting into various animals, summoning demons with her hair, and generally being quite nifty with a sword. Vanquish is a very different beast, a sci-fi shooter which broke the mould of the 3D shooter genre.
Created by Shinji Mikami, the genius behind Resident Evil, it is as much about style and skill, as it is explosions and gunfire.