Princess Peach Showtime!
The second-ever game to star Princess Peach, Showtime! looks like a much better take on the character than Super Princess Peach and the stage play setting and costume gimmick give the game a unique identity. With this being positioned as the major game for the first half of the year for Nintendo so far, Princess Peach Showtime! has a lot to live up to, but from what has been shown so far, the game may be one of the best Super Mario Spinoffs yet.
While it was not to everyone’s satisfaction, Princess Peach Showtime proved itself to be a great spinoff with potential and a must play for young gamers just starting out. Hardcore players may not have been impressed, but gamers with young kids who wanted to play with them sure were haappy and so this lived up to the hype as far as I was concerned,
Avowed
Obsidian Entertainment has made some truly amazing games over the years, with Fallout: New Vegas being a fan favourite to this day. Avowed is the newest project from the studio and is set in the same universe as the Pillars of Eternity series but with a change of perspective. Many have taken to calling this Obsidian’s take on The Elder Scrolls and that is not a bad comparison in some respects, but it is clear Avowed will have its own identity with a lot of potential.
Delayed to 2025. We will see then.
Tekken 8
The Tekken series has come a long way since it first debuted and with Tekken 8, the series looks to be going to new heights. New ideas and mechanics are being implemented and long-time fans have expressed satisfaction with what they have seen. With fighting games enjoying a second Golden Age now, the sky is the limit for what Tekken 8 has to offer.
Tekken 8 proved to be a mixed bag as it debuted to great acclaim and then made moves that upset some players. Still, the overall result has been satisfactory and we can look back at Tekken 8 as a fun fighting game that will be around for years to come.
Alone in the Dark
Alone In The Dark was the progenitor of the modern survival horror genre, but the game has not aged well and many later games in the series have failed to live up to the original game’s impact. The new remake looks to take influence from the Resident Evil remakes to accomplish what Capcom did for those games and apply that to Alone in The Dark. Everything that has been shown and that fans have gotten to try has left them wanting more and this may be the big horror title for 2024.
Sadly this one did not do well and led to the closure of its studio. Maybe one day Alone in the Dark will be back to its former glory. Perhaps the new management at Atari would be interested in repurchasing the IP. As it stands, this was not the great horror game of 2024.
Star Wars Outlaws
Star Wars Outlaws may be the most unique-looking Star Wars game in a long time. A look at the seedy underbelly of the Star Wars universe with a focus on the scoundrel characters, Star Wars Outlaws has so much potential for its different take on the franchise that we cannot help but be excited. From what we have seen so far, this is going to be a must-play.
This one hurts. It had so much potential but fell so short. It was not bad per se, but just so disappointing and that hurts more than if it had been outright bad. A lot was riding on this game and it let people down.
Unicorn Overlord
Vanillaware has made some truly amazing games over the years, all of which have a devoted fan following and the newest game from the developer Unicorn Overlord looks to follow in those titles’ footsteps. A tactical turn-based strategy RPG with a truly gorgeous art style and an intriguing story, when combined with the high quality of the gameplay in Vanillaware’s titles, will be a game that cannot be missed.
One of the best games of the year, Unicorn Overlord reminded everyone why Vanillaware is so beloved. The gameplay was deep, the visuals were incredible and the story was excellent. This was a tittle that satisfied strategy RPG fans and showed Vanillaware has devs capable of tackling any genre.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Dragon’s Dogma was a fresh experience from Capcom when it was first released, as it was a Japanese-made RPG that was designed as a Western-style RPG and came at a time when the genre was in need of a kick in the pants. Dragon’s Dogma was a great game but even with its expansion there was more that could be done and it seems Capcom is taking the opportunity to push the idea further with the sequel. Bigger and Better does not do this justice as it seems Dragon’s Dogma 2 will address most fan complaints and will be a game we should all be excited for.
When I first played Dragon’s Dogma II, I liked it and while I still think it is an overall good game, it just feels a bit lacking now and I do not know why. The character creator is amazing and the story is well handled. It is just something is bothering me about the game in retrospect and I think I need more time to figure out how I feel about this.
Visions of Mana
When Visions of Mana was announced, it took many by surprise. The first mainline title in the Mana series in over 15 years, it looks to take the best elements of the Trials of Mana Remake and then take full advantage of the advancement in technology to do more than ever before. New types of environments new types of boss battles and a deep engaging story are all on offer and Visions of Mana could be the game that helps put the franchise back on top. Now if only we get more info soon.
Visions of Mana is brilliant and a fantastic new entry in the Mana series. Sadly, its developer was closed down right when the game launched, putting a dent in the hype, but the actual product that was made absolutely lives up to the heights of the series. Visions of Mana understood the assignment and created an entry in the franchise that fans can enjoy.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
A Prince of Persia Metroidvania was something unexpected when this game was first announced, but in retrospect, it actually makes sense as a logical evolution of the series. By utilizing what fans have come to expect from the franchise, and the best of modern Metroidvanias, Prince of Persia The Lost Crown could be one of the best games to start the year.
Like Star Wars Outlaws, this one hurts, but this time for different reasons. Prince of Persia The Lost Crown was amazing, but too few people played it. This is easily one of the best Metroidvania titles this year and one of the best uses of the Prince of Persia IP, but it just fell under the radar. Sad, but it happens in gaming sometimes.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Yakuza: Like A Dragon was a massive reinvention of the long-established franchise formula and brought in new ideas that proved to be a big hit, along with a new protagonist that fans grew to like while playing. The sequel Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth looks to be even bigger and better, not only building on what came before but also introducing new ideas to this new take on the JRPG format. If the stars align, the Like A Dragon series will continue to get even better than before.
I will be honest. I did not get a chance to play this this year. However, it has received a lot of acclaim and clearly has done something right. Fans of the RPG direction the series has taken have praised this new entry, and we can only hope the next RPG entry goes even further, but perhaps without locking basic content behind a paywall.
Gothic Remake
Gothic was a truly innovative RPG when it was first released but it has shown its age greatly in recent years. When THQ Nordic announced a remake, fans were excited and with good reason as the teaser used to gauge interest in such a remake proved to be very well made. Considering how influential the original Gothic was, this remake has a lot to live up to, but if the proper care is taken, we may see a rebirth of the franchise in a big way.
Another delay to next year
From our 2023 list came two games delayed to 2024.
Another Crab’s Treasure
Soulslike games have become prevalent lately but Another Crab’s Treasure feels unique. This soulslike, or rather shellslike, sees you take control of a crab and takes influence from Sekiro Shadows Die Twice for a unique aquatic adventure. In addition to the games it takes influence from, Another Crab’s Treasure looks to have its own identity as well, both in setting and nature, and unique gameplay mechanics to go along with it. Going up against a variety of crabs and using unique weapons, Another Crab’s Treasure looks to be a splash of fun on Switch and PC this year
Overall a good game, essentially a starter for the soulslike genre, Another Crab’s Treasure ultimately released on additional systems to a generally warm reception. There were a lot of good ideas here, and while the game does not reach the heights of the soulslike genre, it was never going to, and nor did it aim to. This is a great game for those wanting a soulslike, but may feel too intimidated by some of the other games in the genre.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
The long-awaited sequel, this was a brief mention in last year’s list but could not be included as no release year, let alone window was given. Now that we know it is coming in 2023 to PS5, Series X and PC though, we can get truly excited about it. The adventures of Captain Titus ( now a Primaris Lieutenant) of the Ultramarines, continue as the Ultramarines take on the hoards of the Tyranids in a game using Sabre Interactive’s Sabre Swarm Engine. The game looks to be using the engine to full effects for Tyranid foes, but interestingly, there also appear to be more diverse environments as well, suggesting more worlds will be visited. The intense action has been eagerly anticipated for years and it is coming soon.
After a long delay, we finally got to experience the continued story of Titus of the Ultramarines and the wait was well worth it. True to the series lore, brutal gameplay and an overall feeling of brilliance, Space Marine II is a game Warhammer fans have wanted and needed for a long time. In many ways it feels outdated, but in a good way, as it calls back to the pure adrenaline action games of the Xbox 360 and that is what we wanted.
And there we go. Another year in review. Games delayed to next year, will be covered next year.
