New games on horizon this year... REVIEWS CORNER
While 2020 was a terrible year for most of us with the advent of the coronavirus pandemic that continues to impact our everyday lives, it has played perfectly into the hands of the video games industry.
Of course, the industry isn’t immune to the restrictions which make producing anything of note difficult. But with people consigned to their homes more than ever before in history, gaming hours have gone through the roof.
With a new year comes new hope that the pandemic will eventually ease.
But – for the first half of the year at least – it appears video games consoles and new kids on the block PS5 and XBox Series X will continue to have a very captive audience.
So, what games do we have to look forward to in 2021 on the new machines and the Nintendo Switch?
Here’s our top 5 games to look forward to in 2021 – and one which we hope may be released towards the end of the year. Five more next week...
HITMAN 3
In terms of release, this is the first up as it launches just next week (January 20).
The next installment in Agent 47’s hire to kill stealth spree. It looks great and will be the first game in the cult series to be released on a Nintendo console - the Switch – and also fully playable in VR, PSVR specifically.
HALO INFINITE
Originally meant to be launched alongside the Xbox Series X/S, Halo Infinite sees the return of Master Chief. The game has been rather disappointingly pushed back to an as yet TBC date in 2021, but if we know Halo, it will be well worth the wait.
GRAN TURISMO 7
Always one of the headline acts of any new PlayStation launch, Gran Turismo’s seventh instalment will be speeding onto our screens in Q1/ Q2 of 20201. Trailers are jaw-dropping and GT is known for being a benchmark game in each generation of console which shows off the power of the new machine.
DEATH LOOP
One of the most overrated games in my time playing consoles since the 80s has to be Dishonoured. Well Arkane Studios, who created that brilliant steampunk title, are back with another new world. The premise for Deathloop – and the gameplay and trailers we have seen so far – look great. You play an assassin stuck in a time loop. This one has plenty of promise and is released in June on PS5 and Windows.
RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE
Another generation of consoles and another Resident Evil. But RE Village is a new game in its own right, not a remake like the last few we have seen in the franchise. It is the 25th anniversary of this classic horror shooter with some of the supernatural thrown in. RE7 protagonist Ethan appears trapped in the titular village with what look like zombie-werewolf mutants. Slated for an April launch across all platforms. Damien Lucas