The classic first person shooter is alive and well and living in Nazi America.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus – Oct 2017
Following Machine Games’ Wolfenstein: The New Order, and Old Blood, where you, playing as BJ Blaskowicz get to take on the might of the Nazi regime, The New Colossus is set in a 1960s America now ruled by the conquering Nazis and apparently in league with other undesirables such as the Ku Klux Klan. The reveal trailers for the two previous games were deliciously over-the-top in an Orwellian, what-if-the-Nazis-had-won kind of way and the new game promises to be even more outrageous in a Nazi-occupied America.
Like all what if the Nazis had won themes, one has to plant the tongue firmly in the cheek, of course, and Machine Games have proved themselves adept in this, clearly not taking themselves terribly seriously. The last two games, The New Order, which I reviewed in 2014 incidentally, and Old Blood were no-holds-barred Nazi slaughter fests on an epic scale and The New Colossus promises more of the same.
Clearly not a game for those of a nervous disposition, Wolfenstein II promises to be not only an immersive experience thanks to the superb idTech 6 engine as used in the brilliant DOOM, but also full of darkly humorous moments as this reveal trailer shows.
Far Cry 5 – February 2018
As I mentioned in my Far Cry 5 article in June, Far Cry 5 has already caused a huge stir nine months before its release next February, so it’s got a lot of hype to live up to already and you can safely bet that it will sell by the bucket load. The basic premise of the game revolves around a religious cult militia (spot the oxymoron) that has installed itself in Montana and the efforts of the local sheriff to bring it to heel, which pretty much guarantees plenty of shooting and a great deal of blood-letting, one would hope. I’m also hoping that the game brings another dimension and steers away from the same old capture-an-outpost formula and maybe throws in an extra dimension. Judging from this short game-play video, perhaps Ubisoft is trying something different.
Forza Motorsport 7 – October 2017
I’ve become a big fan of racing games and in my collection I now have DIRT 3, Grid 2, Need For Speed – Hot Pursuit and the gorgeous looking Forza Horizon 3. I wouldn’t say that my driving skills have improved much as I’m either too busy rolling the car whilst being distracted by the luscious scenery or driving into someone’s living room, but heck, it’s all about the fun isn’t it? Forza Motorsport 7 pushes the boundaries for ultra-realistic graphics and whilst its stable-mate Forza Horizon 3 is very much an arcade-style racer, Forza Motorsport 7 promises serious track events, very real driving mechanics and some of the most desirable racing cars in the world to choose from.
Take a peek and then decide when to upgrade your rig.
https://youtu.be/Dokpy_KIuyA
Call of Duty: WWII – November 2017
I still have the jewel cases for Medal of Honor (2002) and Call of Duty 2 (2005) and although I haven’t played them for many years, I can still recall the horrific realism of how D-Day was depicted in both games, in much the same way as Saving Private Ryan hit very hard with its gut-wrenching realism. Call of Duty:WWII promises an even more realistic depiction of World War II with the single player campaign taking in the Normandy landings and the push through France and Belgium to the German border. It’s being described by the developers as visceral and boots on the ground, which one can only imagine are euphemisms for prepare to be shocked. I have a kind of ambivalence towards games depicting real war events; on the one hand they make me feel cheap and sordid, but on the other they have the effect of making one realise the true horror of war. Here are a couple of videos to give you some idea of what to expect.
Need for Speed: Payback – October 2017
It’s been seven years since Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, the game that pits you against the local law enforcement department and Payback promises non-stop action heists and thrills galore. If you want something a little different from tearing around a track all day and feel the need for some destructive high-octane driving, then this is the game for you. Just make sure your rig is up to it.
Quake Champions – TBC
The multiplayer arena shooter is back!
Still no word on Half Life 3 though, or Black Mesa Xen and it’s entirely possible that I’ll be writing these exact same words this time next year, but we can at least live in hope.
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I’m looking forward to Wolfenstein. I’ve been in love with that series since Return to Castle Wolfenstein and their multiplayer Enemy Territory.
Since the graphics of Far Cry 3 excite me(Thank you, CryTek), I’m anticipated for Far Cry 5, but seeing that I want the best settings, my GTX 750Ti won’t make it. XD
(Anyone can say “I want this game taken down for this or that” and I will support their views and respect them, that is all, but I won’t play it for story, I play it for graphics.)
Nice list, though. Thanks for sharing.
Me too Megaman. I’m a graphics whore also, although I do dip back into my older games from time to time.
The irony about Far Cry 5 is that, for all those naysayers who became so offended by it’s rather tame theme, you can bet they’ll be buying the game under cover of darkness.