Pac for the holiday
A NEW month beckons, bringing with it the promise of another Bank Holiday weekend.
May might offer warmer weather and light nights, but I’ll be honest, its game offering is not a vintage one.
But all is not lost, there are still a few gems worth your time. So, if the prospect of getting out and enjoying the sunshine feels too much, you might want to retreat to the sofa and give these a whirl.
Pac-man Museum + (PEGI 3) PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX S/X, Switch, PC Release: May 27
Iconic is an over-used word these days, but it certainly applies to Pacman.
This latest collection brings together 14 of the best games from the series’ 40+ year history.
From the 1980 original that started it all, to 1995’s Pac-in-time, and 2011’s Pac-man Battle Royale, there’s plenty of different ways to battle the series’ much-loved ghosts – Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde.
Set in a virtual arcade, playing through titles unlocks ‘coins’ that you can spend in various vending machines to collect items and customise the arcade.
Simple, daft fun.
Sifu: Vengeance Edition (PEGI 16) PS4, PS5, Release: May 3
This stylishly gritty beat-em-up was released digitally back in February, but is now getting a physical release.
It’s hard to find fault with this visceral, martial arts romp, which sucks you in from the beginning.
After witnessing the murder of your dad, you set off on a revenge-fuelled misson to track down his killers.
Combat is second to none, feeling tight and fast, the close quarters camera angle adding extra tension.
What makes Sifu stand apart is the clever use of its environment – weapons can be kicked from the ground, stunned enemies can be thrown down stairs or through objects, all tactics that can really level the battlefield.
All of this is held together by an affecting storyline and a superb soundtrack, almost the perfect fighting game.
Evil Dead: The Game (PEGI 18)
PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX S/X, PC Release: May 13
I couldn’t think of a more apt date to release the new Evil Dead game on than Friday the 13th.
It’s been 17 years since the last time Ash Williams and Co had their own video game.
This latest offering, from developer Saber Interactive, is inspired by all three original Evil Dead films, and finds Ash and the gang fighting to seal the breach between our world and that of the Deadites.
Play as a team of four survivors, exploring, looting, managing your fear, and finding key items to complete your objective, or – if you’d rather go solo – play alone in single player mode.
With multiple maps to tackle, it features 25 unlockable weapons – including Ash’s famous chainsaw, and boomstick.
Eastward (PEGI 12) Switch Release: May 24
Another game getting a physical release this month is Eastward.
Issued digitally last year, this whimsical adventure follows the fortunes of a dad and his adopted daughter making their way through a post-apocalyptic land.
Survivors of the cataclysmic event now live underground, and protagonists John and Sam are eager to escape the confines of their subterranean village and find freedom on the surface.
Sitting alongside the main story are a series of mini games which, while not overly challenging, do add a nice change of pace.
Eastward is as beautiful as it is quirky, its 2D graphics are elegantly simple, matching the slower paced but compelling action – just don’t expect the story to make much sense by the end.
Ikai (PEGI 18)
PS4, PS5, XBOX ONE, XBOX S/X, Switch, PC Release: May 27
This first-person psychological horror draws inspiration from Japanese folklore.
It starts with that old horror cliche – a mysterious shrine hidden deep in the woods that has a dark secret, one that has unleashed a new evil.
Our protagonist, Naoko, must stop the waking evil which threatens to escape the confines of the shrine and unleash itself on her nearby village.
Described as a slow burner, while early reviews say the soundscapes are incredible, the action is a little lacking.