APRIL COOL
IUSUALLY quite look forward to April, its warmer, lighter evenings starting to tease the arrival of summer. But due to the coronavirus crisis, this April will be very different.
The enticing spring weather is a temptress that must be ignored if we are to flatten the curve and keep our families, friends and neighbours safe. But, to soften the blow of lockdown, April does herald the arrival of some stellar new titles.
There’s a terrifying start to the month thanks to Resident Evil 3, the Final Fantasy VII remake gets a release as a PS4 exclusive, and the turn-based strategy Gears Tactics sees out April.
RESIDENT EVIL 3
(PEGI 18) PS4, XBOX ONE, PC, Release: April 3 AFTER the huge success it had with last year’s Res 2 remake, it was no surprise Capcom would dive back into its Resident Evil catalogue.
Set in the early days of Raccoon City’s zombie outbreak, Res 3 introduces the terrifying bioweapon, Nemesis.
Unlike the original, which uses tank controls and fixed camera angles, this adopts the third-person shooter gameplay from last year’s remake.
It also includes an online multiplayer mode, Resident Evil: Resistance, which pits a team of four players against a “mastermind” who can create traps, enemies, and other hazards.
Fans who have ordered a hard copy of the game may have to wait a little longer for their purchase, as coronavirus has hit production of physical copies.
Downloads however, are not affected.
FINAL FANTASY VII
(PEGI 16)
PS4. Release: April 10 ALMOST five years since it was announced, the arrival of the Final Fantasy VII remake couldn’t have been better timed.
This release, which developer Square Enix says is the first in a multi-part series, is a timed exclusive on the PS4 for one year.
Cloud Stryfe is back, joining forces with an eco-terrorist group to fight the evil Shinra Corporation, which has been draining his planet’s life force for energy.
This is a true remake of the 1997 classic, everything has been rebuilt from the ground up, including the plot.
Gameplay mechanics have been overhauled for the new generation consoles, and the real-time combat system means that while Final Fantasy VII is completely new, it will feel very familiar.
This game has also been hit with delays to its physical copies, so fans should prepare for a delay if they’ve ordered a special edition.
DELIVER US THE MOON
(PEGI 7) PS4, XBOX ONE, PC. Release: April 24 THIS sci-fi thriller is set in an apocalyptic near future where Earth’s natural resources have been depleted.
In an effort to solve the energy crisis, global powers create the World Space Agency, securing a promising new source of energy on the Moon.
But, after years of mining, the Moon colony’s communications with Earth suddenly ceased and the energy source was lost.
Now, years later, as Earth’s last astronaut, you must investigate what happened and help to save humanity.
PC gamers have already had this title for a few months, with mixed reviews.
Now console players can make up their own minds.
MOVING OUT
(PEGI 3) PS4, XBOX ONE, Switch. Release: April 28 BECAUSE giggles lift our spirits, this ridiculous, physics-based moving simulator is the game we all need right now from the creators of madcap kitchen cook-off, Overcooked.
Moving Out sees you recruited to one of the strangest moving firms ever.
The objective is simple – shift furniture onto a moving truck as quickly as possible, which often sees chaos ensue.
Frustratingly good fun for a solo player, but even more so if played with family and friends – a real boredom killer.
Not sure? Give the free demo a spin now – available on all platforms.
GEARS TACTICS
Deliver Us The Moon
(PEGI 18) PC, Release: April 28 PC gamers rejoice, there’s a fabulous reward for you as we see out the first full month of lockdown.
Gears Tactics is the first Gears game to be specifically designed for PC gamers. Yes it’s a spin-off, but don’t let that put you off.
Set 12 years before the first game, Tactics allows you to relive the emergence of the Locust Horde.
This turn-based game combines signature fast-paced brutal action and character-driven storytelling with customisable squads, upgradable weapons, and, of course, massive boss battles.
Early reviews say it’s more fun than it has any right to be, and “brings several surprising and thoughtful new ideas to what could’ve been a very derivative game.”
A ROSE IS A ROSE
DOCTOR Who fans got a pleasant surprise over the weekend from former series helmer Russell T Davies.
To mark the 15th anniversary of the show’s revival, the producer teased a never-before seen chapter to the story, Rose.
The story, which follows the end of the Time War, solves a plot hole which has been bugging fans for a while – how could Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor only be 900 years old?
Much to fans’ delight, the 10-minute tale – Revenge of the Nestene – was released on YouTube, and more than lives up to expectations.
BYE, BYE BOX OFFICE