The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.1 Peachy keen
MARCH OFFERS UP SOME BRILLIANT NEW TITLES TO GET YOUR GAMING FIX
THE merry month of March is here bringing with it the promise of spring.
The nights will get lighter, the days will get warmer and there’s even a smattering of new games into the bargain.
The latest WWE release kicks off the month, alongside some classic stealth action in the form of the Metal Gear Solid collection.
Princess Peach is finally the star of her own show, with the release of Showtime! towards the end of March, and you’ll be sleeping with the light on as Alone in the Dark gets a fresh outing.
Here’s our pick of March’s offerings. (PEGI 18) PS4, PS5, Xbox X/S,
Switch, PC
Release: March 7
First released in 1987, Metal Gear laid down the foundations for stealth video games as we know them today.
Now a new generation of players can discover the magic of Solid Snake as the first games are released in one perfect collection.
This gathers together 1987’s Metal Gear, 1990’s Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, 1998’s Metal Gear Solid, 2001’s Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and 2004’s Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, alongside the VR Missions for Metal Gear Solid, the NES version of Metal Gear and its standalone sequel, 1990’s Snake’s Revenge.
There are also digital versions of graphic novels, screenplays and a copy of the soundtrack.
A must-own for serious fans, and a great way for newcomers to get a solid introduction to this incredible franchise.
WWE 2K24
(PEGI 16) PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, PC
Release: March 8
For a series that looked to be on the ropes a few years ago, like the biggest stars of WWE, the game has come back swinging.
Developer 2K Games took over the series two years ago, and titles have made a remarkable return to form.
2K24 boasts a huge roster of 200 stars to choose from, spanning the history of the WWE.
This year’s release sees a number of new features including Showcase of the Immortals Mode, which will let fans recreate some of the greatest matches in Wrestlemania’s 40-year history, including Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage from Wrestlemania 3.
Two special editions of the game, Deluxe and 40 Years of Wrestlemania, will be released three days before the Standard edition on March 8.
Both of these include a Season Pass that boasts five post-launch DLC character packs, Gold
MYFACTION cards, alternate costumes for Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair and much more.
Alone in the Dark
(PEGI 18) PS5, Xbox X/S, PC
Release: March 20
Just when you thought it was safe to start sleeping with the lights off, a new Alone in the Dark game comes along.
The seventh in the series, and first full game since 2015, this is a reimagining of the title that started it all in 1992. And that’s a lot to live up to as the original game is considered a horror classic by many.
Described as a ‘love letter’ to the first game, this one sees you play as either private detective Edward Carnby (voiced by David Harbour) or Emily Hartwood (voiced by Jodie Comer) as they hunt for Emily’s missing uncle, Jeremy Hartwood.
Travelling deep into the South to Jeremy’s home, Derceto Manor, they find strange residents, nightmarish realms, and dangerous monsters waiting for them.
Just like the Resident Evil remakes before it, developers have done away with the game’s original fixed camera angles in favour of a third-person “over-the-shoulder” perspective.
Princess Peach: Showtime!
(PEGI 7) Switch Release: March 22
She may have started life as a damsel in distress, but Princess Peach is done with waiting to be saved.
The character emerged as one of the standout stars of last year’s Super Mario Bros. Movie – propelled into the mainstream thanks to Jack Black’s ‘Peaches’ serenade. Showtime! sees the Mushroom Kingdom ruler fighting to protect the Sparkle Theatre when Wicked Grape and the Sour Bunch attack.
Expect costume changes galore, as Peach transforms from swordfighter to detective to chef to kung fu expert to repel invading hecklers.
A Mario game that puts Princess Peach at its heart has been a long time coming (even taking into account 2005’s Super Princess Peach), and this Switch exclusive promises to be a lot of fun.
South Park: Snow Day!
(PEGI 16) PS5, Xbox X/S, Switch, PC Release: March 26
I’ve been looking for a way to justify treating myself to the collector’s edition of this game, which comes complete with its own Cartman toilet roll holder.
Alas, at £189 it’s a little too rich for my blood, but I’ll most certainly be getting the vanilla edition.
This new game sees Cartman, Stan, Kyle and Kenny wake up to find the most glorious thing has happened, it’s snowed, and school is cancelled.
But the massive blizzard has thrown the town into chaos and you, as the New Kid, must team up with the gang to help save the world.
Play alone or in co-op with up to three others for snow-based combat through the streets of South Park.