Love and war
February brings Valentine’s Day ...and, if you’re a gamer, battles to the death against pirates, super heroes, mutant animals and Donkey Kong
JANUARY is finally drawing toto close, and the wait for payday is over. February might mean Valentine’s Day, and all things lovey-dovey, but it also brings a smattering of new titles to keep our pulses racing.
Suicide Squad: Kill
The Justice League (PEGI 18) PS5, XBOX X/S, PC Release: February 2
This action shooter is actually a spin-off of the Batman: Arkham series, specifically a follow-up to 2015’s Batman: Arkham Knight.
Based on DC’s anti-hero team of super villains, it follows Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, Harley Quinn and King Shark as they travel through an open world map of Metropolis. Life is peachy until they’re given an mission – save Earth and kill The Justice League.
The game’s open-world design means you can play alone, or share the fun with up to four others in co-op.
Alongside the main game, there will be ‘seasonal’ updates, with extra content and levels available with the purchase of ‘battle passes’.
Biomutant (PEGI 12) Switch Release: February 14
Having hung around in limbo for four years, Biomutant finally got a release on the XBOX X/S and PS5 in 2021. Now it’s the turn of Switch players to get their hands on this open-world, postapocalyptic Kung
Fu fable RPG. You play as an adorable furry warrior, which you can customise from the get go.
Combat is a unique martial arts affair, allowing you to mix melee, shooting and mutant abilities.
And as the game’s name suggests, you can continue to tweak and tune your protagonists’ abilities and looks with mutations and biomechanical body parts – such as attaching robotic wings and claws – to gain an advantages over certain enemies.
Skull and Bones (PEGI 18) PS5, XBOX X/S, PC Release: February 16
Having refused the king’s pardon, you and your crew set out to bring terror to the oceans in this pirate/ naval warfare simulator.
Inspired by the sea battles in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, this game has been 11 years in the making, initially being slated as an expansion of Black Flag.
After several false starts, including the release being pushed back from March 2023, the wait is finally over.
As well as chasing down merchant ships for their wares, you’ll encounter other pirate gangs as you build a fleet and fight for dominance of the ocean.
Look out for special and premium editions, which cost more but come with extra content and bonus goodies like art books and soundtracks.
Mario vs Donkey Kong (PEGI 3)
Switch Release: February 16
It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since this great little crossover first appeared.
Originally released on the Game Boy Advance, it saw Mario bouncing around a series of platforms and puzzles to get back the mini-Marios Donkey Kong had stolen.
Now remade for the Switch, not only have the game’s graphics been given an overhaul, but you can now share the fun in co-op.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PEGI 16) PS5 Release: February 29
Final Fantasy VII is considered one of the greatest video games of all time, so the pressure was on when developer Square Enix announced it was taking it back to the drawing board.
The result was 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake – less of a remake and more of a jaw dropping reinvention that elevated the saga to new, breathtaking heights.
The release also saw the 1997 original expanded into a trilogy. Rebirth marks the second part of the series, and follows Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, and Barrett’s escape from the metropolis of Midgar.
Unlike the 2020 Remake, Rebirth features real-time exploration and combat, while Midgar will feel more openended.