Best games of the moment – part 18 (winter 2020-2021)

Best games of the moment  – Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 is without a doubt one of the Best games of the moment , but it is also a game that suffers from a lot of bugs. And it just depends on which console you play the game on. The older hardware (an Xbox One or PlayStation 4) can have more problems than the new hardware (an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5). We judge on games as they are in the (digital) stores and do not judge on what could change, but that can give you a wrong picture of such a big game as this.

Let’s start at the beginning. This game is not bad at all. It is a Best games of the moment that many gamer has been looking forward to, so expectations are high. And high expectations can sometimes lead to disappointment. And that disappointment can now be related to the amount of bugs you can encounter, such as missing menu elements or people disappearing just like that. However, they are not insurmountable things, but they are things that can bother you a lot over time (but for the same money you will not be bothered by anything).

Cyberpunk 2077 is from the creators of The Witcher game series and presents a whole new open world, centered on power, glamor and body modifications. The story takes place in the future, where you take control of a character named V. You can shape that character all by yourself (there are so many possibilities, so let your imagination run wild) and because this is a role playing game is, you will gradually gain access to more and more possibilities. We are talking about skills, but also physical adjustments.

That is very nice to experience, precisely because of that freedom of choice. Combine that with the fact that your choices affect the course of the story (so that that story might end sooner than you think) and the world is pretty cool and you have a recipe for a fantastic video game. Other strengths are the world building (as in: the environment is credible), the cool missions and the impressive visual style. It’s a game where you can immerse yourself completely – so be sure to do that.

We must emphasize that the game is technically unfinished and still needs a lot of optimisations to run smoothly. If you plan to play this game, do it on an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 (and while we usually leave these versions out of harm’s way – the PC version is the best right now, along with the Google Stadia variant). Nevertheless, we enjoyed the game really hard because of everything we mentioned above. Cyberpunk 2077 deserves to be played – but not as it stands.

Read detailed review of Cyberpunk 2077.

Best games of the moment  – Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Next in Best games of the moment  series is Assassin’s Creed. When you put the last three Assassin’s Creed parts next to everything that came from it, you hardly recognize the series again. The previous part, Odyssey, even did without the signature hidden blade, just to name one example. The series has evolved from a stealth adventure title to an action-packed role playing game with stealth elements. Some players have dropped out as a result, but in the meantime a new audience could also be tapped. Fortunately, this iteration thrives in its setting and gameplay setup.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla takes all the good elements from both Origins and Odyssey and throws a number of elements on top that also give the game a unique face. For example, the hidden blade is back and we again have to hunt for an order of evil people, who themselves have the idea of ​​doing the world a favor. That gameplay setup is more than fine. As a result, wandering around in the gigantic, incredibly atmospheric world (the map is larger than in Odyssey and that game ultimately took us 135 hours) feels casual and not aimless, because you can meet those bad guys everywhere – with or without hints that the game hands out.

Meanwhile, you are also being hunted by Zealots (special mercenaries) and you are tasked with expanding your settlement in eighth century Britain. You do this from the role of a Viking, who and his group have thought to be able to take over the English landscape. During the story, this sometimes raises the question who actually is the villain here. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla does not do much with that interesting issue, but during the game that question does arise several times. Vikings are not known for their peaceful nature. So when Eivor, the main character, lands somewhere, you can take poison that shit is on the marble.

It took some getting used to, but many side missions are now so-called world events. When you take on such a mission, you have to determine from the conversation with them what exactly is expected of you. Such side missions will not appear in your quest log. If you have not paid attention, you may lose that mission. That’s a lesson you learn quickly. There are also no objectives or points on the cards that you simply walk to. You listen to the story, do what you think should happen and then hope for a correct outcome. On the one hand, quite stupid in an RPG where you naturally want to get everything out of it; but once this part clicks, it increases immersion by one hundred percent.

We can chat for hours about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, one of the best games of the moment and in our opinion also the best of the past years. On Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, the game looks beautiful and super smooth, at sixty frames per second. Yes, screen tearing can sometimes occur, but Ubisoft has since released a patch, allowing you to choose from two modes for the game. If you choose the best visuals, the game switches back to thirty frames per second. That is a no-go in our opinion; We take that single crack in the screen for granted.

Best games of the moment  – Spider-Man: Miles Morales

After we were presented with a spectacular Spider-Man game two years ago and then consumed the downloadable content (dlc), we yearn for more. In recent weeks we have had a great time with Spider-Man: Miles Morales. This is not a full-fledged successor, but it cannot really be classified as a stand-alone DLC or the like and worthy contender for Best games of the moment . In terms of release, this is the odd one out. On the one hand, the game feels like an extensive tech demo, because of the use of ray tracing, but if you want to get the most out of it, the game time increases considerably. And this is rightfully one of the best games you now play on your PlayStation.

In Spider-Man: Miles Morales you don’t play with Peter Parker, but with Miles Morales. This is a young, dark kid who has only just acquired his spider powers and you can tell by a number of things. You can see that in various animations (such as that he loses his balance when he pulls enemies up with his web) and the fact that he has a smaller arsenal of possibilities. That’s also because the game is a lot shorter. If you only focus on the story, then you will be done with about three hours. If you want to collect everything and get all the trophies, you can stretch that time to fifteen to twenty hours.

The fact that Miles Morales has less skills doesn’t really matter due to the length of the game. Before you know it, your adventure is over, so you don’t really need many more options. Basically, Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales are very similar. You save New York from two different gangs, you collect all kinds of troupes that tell more about the characters and you deal with a twist that you can see coming far in advance. Miles Morales is just a cool game that shows what the PlayStation 5 has to offer, but it is also too short to really say that it is worth its current price card. If the price falls quickly, you have no reason to pass up this game.

Best games of the moment  – Demon’s Souls

Demon’s Souls as one of the first titles on the new Playstation 5? From Software would not have thought that in 2009 when the original game was released on the Playstation 3. It was a modest hit, but mainly in Japan, and only available in Europe through importers. Now, years later, the successor series Dark Souls in particular has become a great success and considered as Best games of the moment. Because of this, From Software and Sony have finally given the green light to the remake of Demon’s Souls. The Dutch Bluepoint Games, known for their remake of Shadow of the Colossus, has started working on it. And what a masterful work it has delivered.

Demon’s Souls is the founder of the brutal, hard-hitting action games known for their tough difficulty. The games can be unforgivable. Do you turn a corner a little too carelessly, do you just think you can deliver that one blow with your sword or do you avoid an attack on a narrow bridge: danger lurks everywhere. The special thing about these games is that it forces you to think about your mistakes. Was I surrounded by three enemies? Shouldn’t I have used a healing herb first? Fortunately, you again have virtually endless options for tackling the hostile environments. Will you play as a knight with heavy armor and a huge ax, shoot flaming arrows with a bow or fire blue magic at your opponents?

Whatever you choose, the environments and battles are portrayed in a beautiful way. Supported by eerily detailed sound effects, you roar through crumbling castles while lightning illuminates everything for a short time. In addition, your armor will crack, the stones crumble under your feet and your character will pant if you pick up too many things along the way. Old prisons and lakes made of lava look beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Bluepoint Games has done a wonderful job. With the popularity of the Souls series skyrocketing and many not playing this original, now is the time to take on the adventure in all its splendor.

Read detailed review of Demon’s Souls

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Sackboy make cut into Best games of the moment too. You may remember the name and character Sackboy from the LittleBigPlanet series. This is a game series in which you create your own levels which the figure can then pass through. In that game you play other people or your own levels. There is no question this time. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is an old-fashioned, unadulterated platformer in which you only have to deal with 3d levels created by the developer.

In the game you explore many levels spread over various worlds, while you take on all kinds of enemies and bosses. Such descriptions by these types of games are not good, because it sounds very standard. And it could also be that we are describing a new Mario game here. But nothing could be further from the truth and please don’t let such a first impression hold you back. The game is vastly overshadowed on PlayStation 5 by exclusive titles like Demon’s Souls and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but we can assure you that Sackboy is simply worth your time.

Sackboy A Big Adventure may be the most difficult PlayStation game at the moment, but it is simply one of the best. It offers cool platform challenges, eye-catching visuals (especially on PS5, but the PlayStation 4 version is also welcome). Add to this that there is also offline multiplayer, where you can whiz through the adventure with two to four players at the same time and you have an evening that guarantees a lot of fun. The type of fun you usually expect on a Nintendo console, but now just on your PlayStation.

We are still waiting for the online multiplayer, so that we no longer have to be physically in the same room as our friends (in the context of covid-19), but that multiplayer will not be long in coming now. Until then, you can feel free to start the adventure, so that you get familiar with the controls and the world, so that you can double enjoy when your friends appear online. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is fun for all ages and people with all kinds of gaming experiences and has more than enough collectibles in the diverse range of levels to keep you busy for hours.

Read detailed review of Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Dirt 5

The Dirt series returns to arcade racing style with Dirt 5 and that works out extremely well. Dirt 5 does exactly what it wants to do as a rally racer – along with its other less traditional race cars. The game does that in a way that makes it easy for new players, while still maintaining a satisfyingly high level of difficulty for those who really want to master the gameplay.

Where the previous Dirt game was a real rally game, Dirt 5 has a lot more racing classes. Many of those new classes are new to a game from the series and are also cool. There are still rally races you can drive in your trusty Subaru WRX, but you can also step into the seat of a sprint car, for example. These are interesting looking racing cars specially designed for turning left. They are very difficult to master, but when you get the hang of it, it is super cool. One of the coolest new classes is Path Finder, where you race across hardcore off-road terrain with steep slopes and rocky roads.

You will have the most fun in your career. Well-known voice actors Nolan North and Troy Baker will accompany you on your journey from relatively unknown to world-famous racing driver. Single-player racing games can often feel a bit boring, but Dirt 5’s narrative focus is well executed with its podcast-like teasing between the voice actors.

The cars, tracks and weather conditions in Dirt 5 are beautiful. The game already looks nice on the previous generation of consoles, but the update for the new generation can be called beautiful in a word. The cars have been recreated in every detail, the tracks have beautiful views and if you’ve played a race in the dark in a snowstorm, you know how beautiful it is. Dirt 5 is a different game with the new style, but just as cool as before. Maybe even cooler.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

The Yakuza series has captivated gamers for years with extensive, interesting worlds, diverse missions, remarkable and believable characters and graphics to die for. Add to that the extensive gameplay systems and you have a recipe for success. Nevertheless, Sega thinks it is time to shake things up by completely adjusting the way of playing. Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a role playing game that further combines all of the above elements with a turn-based battle system (in which you and your enemies attack in turn).

The changed gameplay mechanics give the developer the space to do other things differently. There is now a new protagonist and a completely new story, so that veterans may fall in love again with the series they have been experiencing on their TV since the PlayStation 2. However, that does not mean that all six parts are completely forgotten before. Yakuza: Like a Dragon contains more than enough references to the previous parts that ensure that old hands also feel at home in the new world.

Let’s be honest. A new main character is a less drastic change if you compare it to something as fundamental as the way you play the game. Previously you could just kick ass whenever you wanted and now you sometimes have to wait until it is your turn again. But we can tell you with confidence that you will be used to that in no time due to the flow of the video game. The characters, the world, the missions and of course the graphics (we played the PlayStation 4 version, but you can already play it next-gen on the Xbox Series X) make the transition from one thing to the other very pleasant.

Turn-based gameplay isn’t for everyone, however, but this system provides a new, tactical layer not previously present in the Yakuza series. It may not be as in-depth as Dragon Quest or an old Final Fantasy, but it is thoroughly entertaining. So if you can get over that, then a gigantic and cool adventure awaits you and which makes you long for more after finishing.

Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War

Activision has a lot to do with Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War. The next-gen consoles are now for sale and that means a new stage on which developer Treyarch (and of course Beenox and Raven Software) can present its biennial showpiece.

There is the usual multiplayer where you can get your gram online by shooting each other on one of the eleven (!) New multiplayer maps within different game modes. Think for example of the Fireteam and Combined Arms modes, where you now play with more players. You now have the option to play games in matches where twelve players compete against twelve other players. And otherwise you can choose pots from teams that both consist of twenty players.

Such modes feel like a battle, through all weapons, vehicles and explosions. You can choose from all kinds of vehicles, such as tanks, helicopters and boats. So if you like a nice chaotic multiplayer mode where simply blasting is not the motto, then you know what to do with Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War. In any case, there is room for experimentation in terms of gameplay, so everyone can find something cool.

Of course, the zombie mode, where you work your way through an endless stream of zombies, cannot be missed. With some light tweaks here and there, it feels fresh, renewed but certainly still challenging. The well-known easter eggs ( * spoiler * in which you can err… escape… from the zombies) have once again been added for the fans. Fixed price for players who want to get a little more out of their games.

For the players who were disappointed with Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, we have good news. This time there is again a campaign mode where you can deposit yourself. You will follow a short story, which fortunately is fascinating from start to finish. This time the experience has not been fully recorded, as was often the case before. You can now determine your own route and make choices along the way, which influences the way you experience the story. In total there are seven different paths to follow, which can lead to one of the four endings.

Moreover, it is great to see that you can design your own character with so-called perks: properties that can make a character stronger or faster, for example. In addition, we are very pleased with the 70s feeling that the game presents, the missions leave little to be desired and we see that Activision makes good use of next-gen hardware. There is, for example, a 120Hz mode; this not only makes the game look very smooth, it also allows you to react much faster to what is happening on the screen. Of course you need the right TV for this.

Best games of the moment  – Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

A few years ago we were positively surprised with the video game Hyrule Warriors. The game, which was originally released for Wii U and later also appeared on the 3DS, really came into its own on the Nintendo Switch. While the gameplay doesn’t fit an average Zelda game at all, the game still felt like a celebration of the franchise. This is partly due to the many characters and the large amount of fan service. Age of Calamity is a new installment in the hack-and-slash series and tells the story of what happened before the fantastic Breath of the Wild.

Although… Don’t get too involved in the marketing surrounding the title. We are not going to reveal exactly what the twist is at the end, but we can tell you that the story is not quite going in the direction you might expect. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity may be unfairly marketed as a prequel for that reason. That framework creates expectations that the game simply cannot live up to. For example, you never visit important locations yourself, but you only encounter them in one of the many cutscenes of the game.

It now feels a bit like we are going around the bush and that is also the case, because the process of naming stories is a big spoiler. If you like to be surprised by video games, then the story of Age of Calamity is right up your alley. If you are a fan of the Zelda franchise and would like to experience the story from before Breath of the Wild, you may be a little disappointed. However, that does not alter the fact that the gameplay in this part is also very strong and that this time you take control over characters you know from the phenomenal Wii U and Switch game.

Those characters all have abilities that ensure that you don’t get bored for a moment, while you take on hordes of enemies on your own. Within the framework of the franchise’s lore, especially Breath of the Wild, it is sometimes a bit strange to be able to use a certain character with specific characteristics, but in the context of gameplay we turn a blind eye. Without those adjustments, Age of Calamity would have been a lot more boring. Do you like Dynasty Warrior games or did you like Hyrule Warriors or Fire Emblem Warriors? Then you also have fun with this part of Best games of the moment .

Immortals: Fenyx Rising

The biggest surprise on this rousing list of the Best games of the moment is undoubtedly Immortals: Fenyx Rising. Previously, the title was known as Gods & Monsters. In the game you take the role of Fenyx, a demigod who takes on the task of saving the Greek mythological world from destruction. You are the last hope of all the Greek gods represented in the game, but that doesn’t mean it’s too serious a business. On the contrary: the humor in the game is unprecedented for an open world title from Ubisoft. Except for the Far Cry series, Ubisoft’s games are often way too serious.

And that feels like a relief while playing. During the greatest adventure, in which you explore a large world divided into seven parts, your story is told by bickering gods who make jokes. These are jokes that are detrimental to you, but also to themselves and other gods. A funny element in itself; but when you know more about Greek mythology, the jokes will arrive a little better.

As a Fenyx you have all kinds of skills. You can use the sword of Achilles and the wings of Daldalo. Along the way, you will not only face powerful enemies, but also have to solve environmental puzzles. These puzzles are not the most difficult, but they offer a nice challenge and can sometimes surprise you. The combat system is nice and dynamic and the fighting itself takes place on the ground and in the air. You have multiple skills that you throw into battle and you use various weapons; therefore the many fights do not feel the same.

Then we haven’t even talked about the world in which you walk and fly. That world looks unparalleled, is incredibly colorful and simply offers a lot to players. Basically, the game is very similar to a game like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but we certainly recognize elements from recent Assassin’s Creed games. The proportions lean more towards the Zelda title and less towards Assassin’s Creed. So if you don’t like Origins, Odyssey and the Valhalla mentioned in this article, but have enjoyed Breath of the Wild, Immortals: Fenyx Rising might be the game for you.

Best games of the moment  – Godfall

Godfall is an exclusive launch game for PlayStation 5 (but can also be played on PC) by Counterplay Games, published by Gearbox, of Borderlands fame and Best games of the moment . The game immediately comes straight to the door with a lot of graphic violence. The big question, does it play as well as it looks? Gearbox would like us to believe that we are dealing here with a looter slasher instead of a looter shooter . Godfall has copied well from games like Warframe and Destiny. The claim that this is the first game in a completely new genre is a bit certain, but the new wording is catchy.

Godfall follows a familiar path: choose a mission on the map ( story missions , hunts or other objectives ) and then go through a semi-open level to hunt for your goal. It is clear and you are well shown where to go via the waypoints. After achieving the goal, you will see the text to return to your base to perform the same trick again.

Like other looter shooters , Godfall shows all the action with a camera hanging behind your shoulder. So you are in the middle of the action instead of being able to keep an eye on everything from above like in other hack and slash games such as Diablo 3. The big disadvantage is that you can sometimes not see different enemies well. It happens several times that you get hit hard because you couldn’t keep an eye on everything.

But when you have destroyed a monster and a colored ball appears on the spot of its death, all difficulties are soon forgiven. The loot is what it’s all about, and it can certainly be called interesting. There are a surprising number of different systems in Godfall, all affected by the loot you pick up. Add to this the upgrade system and the twelve different valor plates (the armor that determines your class) and you can work for hours to create your perfect warrior. The expectation that this is a game without depth disappeared like snow in the sun; Godfall has a depth that you don’t see coming soon.

But what do we do all of this for? This is directly Godfall’s biggest weakness. The story is wafer-thin and could easily have been pinned on a beer mat. This is not a game you play to get sucked into a heartwarming story, it is the action and building your character that pushes you through the game.

The gameplay loop is simple: you are big and strong and the enemies are there to leave shiny objects for you. There are surprisingly many different systems and with more than one hundred and twenty different weapons, twelve different valor plates and four beautiful different worlds, you will not get bored easily. The wafer-thin narrative only serves to provide minimal context for the battles at the heart of the game. All in all, it is a game that leaves a positive impression.

Read detailed review of Godfall