Well that was another year wasn't it? In terms of gaming and the wider world we can't exactly say it was a great one, the end of the decade tailing off rather than soaring. From a numbers point of view, gaming had a record year with what will be £119 Billion spent worldwide. That's crazy as we know its an expensive hobby but it just shows how mainstream gaming is now. Of course that is not how people really measure things, the true measure is the quality of the games.
We certainly got some good ones but it has the feel of a wind down year. 2020 is the year of Next Gen and so Sony, Microsoft and a bunch of third parties are holding back for these new machines. There were several new IP's but more about them shortly. This was the year of new players entering the market with the Epic Store and Google Stadia entering the fray and trying to break into this lucrative market. It had the sustained dominance of Fortnite and Apple Arcade smashing their release titles. Not amazing but interesting nonetheless! So, lets start of with the biggest players.
Sony
Maybe this was the year that cemented Sony’s plans and sets the blueprint for next gen. At the moment this is the place to come for exclusives, with two or three a year supplemented with all the third party and indie titles to keep fans ticking over. It was a little strange that the Last of Us : Part II and Death Stranding had their release dates swapped. Naughty dog needed the additional time to ‘polish it off’. But hey, better than both being pushed back.
Death Stranding was probably the most eagerly awaited PS4 title of the year, with Hideo Kajima (he of the Metal Gear series) bringing a brand new exclusive IP to fans. Fronted by the Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus it was shrouded in mystery right up to release. No one had any idea what this game was from the trailers which is a pretty clever marketing strategy. So what the hell is it?
Well it seems to be a slow burning walking simulator delivery game. It’s the end of the world and you must courier items to the surviving strongholds of the US by foot. Reviews were good and to be fair this game was a bit different. My friends seemed to like it, even though I can understand those that got bored pretty quickly. You need to buy into the pace and that's no easy thing these days.
We must venture all the way back to April for another new IP, Days Gone. The zombie survival genre shows no signs of slowing down but having the protagonist on a motorcycle was an excellent move for this open world game. Players have to survive the mounting hordes and hostile humans while trying to keep their wife safe. As with the greats; stealth is encouraged but goes out the window when everything fucks up!
Sure it was a slower year for the PS4 but there were still a lot of third party and indie games plus continued support for PSVR. They managed to release two very good games, with all eyes are on the end of 2020 for the next console from Sony, as expected, the PlayStation 5. More on this next week.
Microsoft
From all the talk from at Microsoft they seemed to have learned a lot from this generation, making sure the console is all about the games. The future plan to release a new first party game every three or four months is very welcome but we are a long way from that. This year again was a mixed bag. Kicking off with Crackdown 3, a long awaited sequel that went through a turbulent development. Fans love the original and the hope was it would be a return to form.
For my first go in this series it was… ok. It was fun enough but didn't grab me as I expected. The city was fun to get around with lots to do but I could see it being repetitive quickly. I don't believe any games that are single player with multiplayer should be judged on that but it was a ghost town within weeks. Sure it didn't set the world alight but it came out on game pass so probably saw more players than expected. It's done and they can try again with a fourth!
Speaking of Game Pass this is the year Microsoft went all in, adding some massive games and expanding to almost 200 games to play (more than I can play..). The selection is so varied with the addition of PES 20 being a very fine move. It seems like they are trying to hoover up as many subscriptions as possible. Game Pass Ultimate including Gold, Xbox and now PC exclusives is a great package. Adding the likes of Football Manager 2020 to its PC service shows real intent. The hope is that they continue to support it as much and going onto next Gen.
The beta for Xbox Console Streaming crept out allowing Android users to stream a whole bunch of games to their phones whilst using an Xbox Controller. It’s still early days but this is a fundamental shift in how players will be able to consume their games in the future. Being able to take just a controller and your phone on holiday and then stream your favourite games on WiFi is amazing. Let’s hope for iOS support soon!
There was only one Xbox game to really talk abut this year and of course that is Gears 5. The last couple of games could be described as ‘interesting’. With a lot of titles in the wider industry trying to move away from cover based shooting and then attempting to untangle a convoluted plot; it was a tall order. Somehow they have absolutely nailed it! A refocus on a non box shaped protagonist with a semi open world main area has refreshed the series. If you are a Gears fan it is very very good and I need to get back to it in 2020! Being on GamePass makes playing this a no brainer.
Finally Halo came to steam as did a remaster of probably my favourite in the series Halo: Reach. The epic story of the final battle to defend the planet Reach was bungies last throw at the Halo series. New mechanics and glorious space battles make it a must plan. Adding it to the Master Chief collection was a nice move and one that fans who have missed out should really try. A great way to warm up for Halo Infinite next year!
Nintendo
Oh Nintendo. I expect so much from you and you seem to fall just short. Arguably holding the strongest back catalogue in my head they should be releasing a new big game every month! Sadly this is not the case with a generally empty first half of the year giving way to a bunch of great releases. Still, worth the wait and all that.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses was the biggest entry in the series, a turn based team battler set in a school with you as a teacher. It was certainly different and gained a lot of new fans. The cycle of exploring, teaching and battling gave it a very enjoyable rhythm for what is a huge game, with three groups to play as!
Next up was a new IP in Astral Chain, an action adventure game set in a futuristic Japan where you fight with a Legion (a beast you can control) to fight enemies from another dimension. It was a lot of fun, with the banality of some police investigation work nicely juxtaposing the intense combat! A surprise hit and I look forward to a sequel (hint hint).
I imagine most people are overwhelmed with the sheer amount of superhero movies that come out every year, on the games front we are a little light so Marvel Alliance 3 : The Black Order was a welcome sight. A four player hack and slash with everyone's favourite heroes it is a welcome multiplayer addition to the Switch. In the little I have played its going to be a lot of fun with friends in 2020.
We also got the giant Mech stomping Daemon X Machina which didn't get stellar reviews was enough to bring the genre to more people and I look forward to sinking my teeth into it this holiday. The main remaster this year was the ridiculously cute Zelda: Link's Awakening. For someone who never got to play back in the day I loved coming to it as an adult, it was a joy to play and discover. I see why everyone loves the Zelda series so much.
Yoshi's Crafted World brought the little dino to the arts and crafts world which was a charming little adventure. The real platformer of note was Super Mario Maker 2, bringing a slightly updated version of the level creator to the Switch for the first time. It's insane seeing what people can come up with, more games should contain level editors.
The Online service still trudges along with not offering that much be we did get two killer apps this year. Tetris 99, a fun battle royale take on the falling puzzle classic. You complete lines that then add more to other players until one person stands. I am still yet to win…. The other was the belated SNES app with 20 games dropping with it, including Super Mario World, Super Metroid and Star Fox. Unfortunately new games will be added haphazardly but at least we got some!
Finally to the three things I was most looking forward to in 2019. Nintendo made a big deal out the Switch Lite, a smaller lighter version of the Switch that was handheld only. Having finally got my hands on one (Pokemon themed of course) was it worth the ‘upgrade’? For me 100%! I purely play handheld and it's such a cool solid device, finally with a D-pad. Sure this won't help countless parents who won't know which one to buy but a cheaper model with access to the amazing back catalogue is no bad thing.
Luigi's Mansion 3 was a fantastic instalment of the ghost hunting heroics of the best character in Mario. Locked in a giant hotel and having to rescue his friends I loved finding out the theme of each floor and fighting each unique boss! Well worth a look if you missed it this year, it has so much to collect and secrets to find you will be sucked in for hours!
And finally to THE game I have been waiting for since the Switch launched. Having played every mainline game across the GameBoy, DS and 3DS it was about time we had proper HD graphics and a full bloodied game on the TV. Pokemon Sword & Shield. There was huge controversy (as there always is on the internet) but how did the game actually stack up? Well for all the flaws and shortcuts taken its still a very good game. Set in the UK of the Pokemon World called Galar, you have to fight in Stadiums to become the Champion whilst collecting as many Pokemon as you can. It has a new Wild Area which is big and open full of tough ‘Mons to beat.
Sure it could have been better, I think they needed more time but it still stands up and is WAY better than the two Let’s Go games. My friends and I are still playing so that must say something 50 hours in…. It does strike me as an impossible task. How do you measure up one year against another? This year we got a varied bunch of very solid titles. 2017 only got Breath of the Wild and I would guess people prefer that year!
Third Party
There were certainly more shocks in the third party scene, we got two games called Outer, a remake that has set the bar for future titles and EA only made a good fucking Star Wars game! So to clear up the confusion. The Outer Wilds is fantastic space exploration game on a timer. You have 22 minutes until the Sun explodes. In that time you have to discover what the hell is going on as you fly to different planets in the Solar System before your inevitable death comes. (My first was a direct shot into the heart of the Sun). As you learn more and more you will eventually be able to solve the mystery of what the hell is going on!
The Outer Worlds by contract is a fantastic space exploration game…. Oh wait. Scratch that. Outer Worlds is Fallout. In Space. It’s a tight and colourful RPG with all the writing humour you would expect from the makers of Fallout New Vegas, Obsidian. With planets controlled by vast corporations you must make you way after waking up from a colony ship and doing what the fuck you want. This is the game to flock to for all those lapsed Fallout fans.
As for the remakes, fuck me Resident Evil 2 was insane. Moody, scary, it’s what a horror game should be! In 4K obviously. I have been blown away by just how well it has turned out, the love and effort is on show to all. A must buy for any horror fans out there.
So EA. I have to say well done, eventually you had to make a good game! Star Wars Fallen Order has received rave reviews for its cool and engaging game play. Who would have thought a single player Jedi game with a large world to explore and upgrades to make would be a hit with fans?! Honestly I have not played this yet but its top of my list for 2020.
The other game I have yet to play (Im sorry ok!) is Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a stupid title for a brilliant game. From the makers of Dark Souls, From Software have gone and done it again with a very tough action adventure game. So more of the same right? Nope, with an emphasis on stealth and exploration alongside a grappling hook have added verticality to the hit game play. Top of many peoples lists this year.
As for the rest we had the crazy shenanigans of Control, a paranormal investigation organisation of the American government looking into and fighting the Hiss who have invaded reality. Tom Clancy's The Division 2 brought more online shooting in downtown Washington and Metro Exodus finally escaped the Russian metro system. Kingdom Hearts 3 has that unique Disney mash up madness, and Apex Legends announced and dropped itself into fans laps on day 1 with a mech take on the battle royale formula.
As for sports Football Manager 20, Fifa 20 and PES 2020 all came as expected. They are football games with all the same fun and flaws as ever. Need I say more?
PC
PC gaming does not revolve around the same console cycles which means it can keep pushing out quality titles year on year. Anno 1800 was probably the most anticipated PC only game, with the city builder visiting the new world and industrial revolution. According to Shifty it was a good game though not a scratch on 2070 with it lacking in long term objectives. It looked amazing and I will grab a copy in the sales.
The most left field game on this list was Autonauts, a robot building simulation whereby you gather resources and build up a town with automated robots. Made by the guy who directed the original Grand Theft Auto! It’s such a gentle game that gets you to take your first steps into programming. This game has huge potential and I really hope it makes it to consoles soon as I think the feedback loop will be nicely addictive.
Computers are the natural home of Simulation games and maybe the best looking one ever came out this year. Planet Zoo follows on from Planet Coaster with a whole bunch of animals to home. Sure there are strong ethical questions about Zoos but this is just a game. Who doesn't want to see Monkeys throwing Poo in UDH?!
Oh and a little game called Red Dead Redemption 2 finally made its way over. It was a bumpy launch with countless issues for the first week but they mostly seemed to have been ironed out. Now it’s left to the crazy modders to make the most of that western sandbox and boy have they not disappointed! Giant horses, super powers and of course Thomas the Tank Engine thundering round the track are just some of the early creations. Things are only going to get weirder!
As for the other side, Epic tying up deals for PC exclusives has caused some consternation for fans, though a bit of healthy competition for Steam is no bad thing. I actually think the biggest issue for Epic is there launcher is still so bare bones, no wishlists, no reviews… Fans expect all these basic features in 2019. I assume they have a long term plan for all this. The free games every month is a very nice touch, particularly as a lot of the games are very good.
As for Steam, it's great having the convenience of having just one launcher for all your games though Valve have been slow to evolve their store front. There are still issues for new games getting the space to find their audience, review bombing has still not been sorted and yes, they have a giant monopoly on PC gaming. They did overhaul the Steam library and I must say it is a vast improvement. Aping the Netflix style tiles looks great. Let's hope for more changes next year.
We are getting a new Half Life game! Well kind of. Half Life: Alyx is a VR only title coming some time next year. It's been so long since HL2 that fans are willing to take what they can get! From my point of view this actually came to the detriment of another title. In The Valley of the Gods was meant to be the next title from the brilliant studio Campo Santo who made the fantastic Fire Watch. They were acquired by Valve in 2018 and the hope was this would give them the base and support to go all out. Unfortunately ITVotGs has been put on hold as the team help make the new Half Life, it is unknown whether the first person adventure game set in Ancient Egypt will ever see the light of day.
Indies
I know I bang on about Indie games but we are in the midst of a golden era. The last decade has been simply brilliant and 2019 is no exception. And how can I not start with the game that launched a million memes. Untitled Goose Game. If anyone asks me how to make a nigh on perfect Indie game I will point to this. It’s just come to PlayStation and Xbox so if you have not played it then what the fuck is wrong with you!? Your a goose and you fuck shit up in a quaint English village! It’s incredible!
Anyway let’s move on and tuck into the rest of the this smorgasbord. We have Creature in the Well, a hack and slash mash up with a pinball game that is one part fun, one part stress. As a robot you must awaken the machine in the mountain hitting shining balls at targets and survive the oncoming flambing balls. Amazing mashup of genres!
Wilmot’s Warehouse taught me the value of being tidy and spatially aware. Who knew that moving items around a screen for 30 minutes would be so much fun! A step up from the simplicity here is to the cleverest game of the year, Baba Is You. This puzzler has set a new bar for all games in the genre. You have to get Baba to the flag, which is ‘Win’. But this scenario is set out by words in short sentences that spell out the rules and win scenario. The complexity grows as you get further into the game and I have no shame admitting I have yet to complete it. It is very very clever and well worth your time.
For a more brutal game; go with the stunning Ape Out, a top down violent escape game with strong shades of Hotline Miami and an incredible Jazz percussion soundtrack. Steamroll your way through Zoo keepers, police and anyone who stands in your way. Nothing quite like smashing a person out of a 30 floor window!
Kanata Zero was the other Hotlineesque title, side on Samurai slashing game. The story is brutal and the game play is a lot of fun, particularly when you unlock the ability to slow down time. It has that Enter the Matrix feel of being a complete master as you take everyone in slo mo.
For that Stardew itch there was Forager, a mining, farming, foraging, fighting game that was good though just falls short of great. You forage items to make machines that create new items that can then make more… the feedback loop is addictive and with a strong road map ahead I am sure this title will make its potential.
Chucklefish have done a lot of great games over the years but this year's main title was a modern take on Advance Wars, Wargroove. Set in a fantasy style it brought all the fun of those battlers with map editors, numerous races and a tough learning curve. It may not be as good as Advance Wars but it does a damn good job. I love the character designs, they are so bright and unique.
I’ve not dropped a roguelike in yet so thankfully Void Bastards fills that space. Inspired by the likes of Bioshock, this first person space ship exploration shooter has the players charting across the universe looking for upgrades and trying to survive as long as they can. Its fast paced and mistakes are punished quickly but that just makes you want to do another run with a new clone!
Actually while we are here we may as well debate what the hell a release date is anymore. Is it the first day of early access? Release day? Release day on additional consoles? Or just when I got round to playing it??? I ask because of Slay The Spire and The Return of the Obra Dinn. Both actually came out ages ago. Eg last year. But both got Switch ports and I played them so in my book they count!
Slay the Spire is a card battler where your chart your way up a tower and gather new cards and items to aid you in your quest. It is a really tight and not unfair in the slightest. All mistakes are your own and you will learn something new in each run. For a newbie to the genre it’s a great entry point.
Ah Lucas Pope. You are a genius. Who else would make a game about an Insurance Adjuster in 1807 who has to board a ship and find out how everyone died? Return of the Obra Dinn is a special game and probably unique in what it does. You have a magical watch that reverses time to show a diorama of the moment of death alongside some audio. From these clues you need to work out who every one. So far I have no clue but it’s fantastic. The two tone graphics set the standard on how amazing a game can look with a limited tool set. Utterly brilliant.
As for the rest, I still need to play are the bonkers side scrolling shooter My Friend Pedro (it's on order), dancing Zelda adventure, Cadence of Hyrule, Pixel island explorer The Touryst and the card battler Steamworld Quest which I should be playing as you read this!
It wasn't all about new games….
I hate to end on a serious note but it’s been a serious year. There are still countless issues across the industry which are still not being sorted. Sure it is still slowly growing up but the money to be made is attracting a harder edge to the industry. It is becoming more like the film industry, if a game does not make enough (usually to an arbitrary figure) then the series is dead. I know this has happened in the past but that was when games didn’t make a profit. Now its if the profit is not enough. Ubisoft created Starlink, a solid space adventure with Toys-to-Life feature that is now totally dead in the water. Maybe no big loss for most gamers but its an unsettling trend.
The problem now is that for the big third party studios is that they just want a few games that make a shit load of money over several years. They don't want to make a bunch of good games that do pretty well. It’s going so far now that sequels are bleeding into the current game. Look at Overwatch 2 with a lot of the features are being added to the first title. It’s great for fans that don’t want to upgrade but still want to be part of it but surely this means the next game won't be radically different. I am expecting more of the same.
My biggest bug bare is still Loot Boxes and although they seem to be pretty toxic to a lot of studios now they are still out there. Politicians are finally wading in with the usual level of knowledge and thoughtfulness…. It’s not going away completely but there must be ways to protect people and particularly kids.
Bungie had a surprise split with Activision, meaning they are free to do whatever they want with Destiny 2. Whether they come back with a third or try something completely new will be interesting to see. I do hope it works out for them.
Ugh Riot Games. You sound like the worst games company to work for, and I include Rockstar in that. Ongoing claims and lawsuits for alleged sexism culminated with $10 million being paid out to current and former staff. The League of Legend maker has been dogged for years by these issues and it feels like they don't give a shit. Sort yourselves out please.
The issue of Crunch was much more publicised this year, with even Nintendo pushing back Animal Crossing: New Horizons into 2020 to ease the workload on their staff. Bravo. More of this please. I get it’s not possible for all studios, Yacht Club Studio spoke openly that they had to crunch to get out the Shovel Knight games. I am hopeful that ‘Work / Life Balance’ becomes more of a mantra next year.
So it wasn't an absolute classic of a year but we got a lot of good games. Finally the biggest moment was off course Fortnite proved its still the biggest thing in the world with the whole game getting sucked up into a black hole as millions watch. Only you could pull that off!
Next week I will have a few guesstimates (predictions are impossible) for the next year, with the new console generation kicking off. It’s going to be a big one.
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