Gamepressure.com Staff Picks 2016

Akcji 28 January 2016

Another installment in the popular series of action adventure games, once again developed by Crystal Dynamics, the studio that brought us the successful reboot of the franchise. In terms of plot, the game continues the story arcs started in the previous part. Again we accompany the young, although tougher and more ruthless, Lara Croft. Unlike in the previous game, this time we visit different parts of the world, exploring larger and more open places. As for the mechanics, the production combines the survival aspects of its predecessor with the exploration of the many tombs and catacombs, which is the hallmark of the series. The gameplay is therefore full of numerous stealth elements as well as purely arcade sequences, including open exchanges of fire. Lara also uses a number of brand new weapons and gadgets. Designed for eighth-generation console, the production features high-quality graphics, which represents an important rise in quality as compared to the previous parts of the series.

PCPS4

Akcji 13 May 2016

The fourth part in one of the most famous FPS franchises in history, originated by id Software Studio in 1993. Since then, the overall story premise remained basically unchanged, having the player take on the role of a sole commando who has to fight hordes of demons from Hell spawned in a military research base as a result of a failed experiment. In contrast to the third game, which featured numerous horror elements, Doom focuses on fast-paced action, thus going back to the roots of the series. The hero learned some brand new skills, including spectacular finishers, making the gameplay even more brutal. One of the landmarks of the franchise is the considerable multiplayer mode, this time enriched with a useful tool called SnapMap. It lets players create not only maps and locations, but also their own play modes – from cooperative battles against enemy hordes to classic Deathmatches.

PC

RPG 19 January 2016

A dark fantasy cRPG developed by debuting studio Red Hook. The story is set in a dark, medieval-like universe. While exploring ruins of an old castle and its dungeons, you face off against forces of darkness that overwhelmed the land because of the reckless actions of its previous sovereign. As you delve into the depths, you discover the dark history of a family who brought the evil upon the world. The gameplay focuses on dungeon crawling - dungeons filled with traps and crawling with monsters that need to be dealt with during turn-based combat sequences. An original idea is the sanity indicator of your heroes. Each team member has different personality and reacts differently to what is happening around him/her. Therefore, while playing you should keep an eye on their well being and fear levels, alleviating their stress by drinking alcohol or brawling, if needed.

PC

Strategiczne 06 June 2016

The fourth major installment in a series of larg-scale strategy games, which originated in 2002 as a spin-off to the popular Europa Universalis series. Both franchises are consistently developed by Paradox Interactive. The game lets you take the lead of a country from the World War II period and beyond, specifically the years 1936-1948. Your responsibilities involve taking care of international relations and building alliances, but also developing the army, choosing the right strategy, and conducting the military operations. As it was in the previous editions of the series, the game combines faithfully recreated historical events (including authentic leaders, as well as military forces and technologies used by particular countries, along with the possibility of putting the history on a different course. As compared with the previous games, micromanagement was slightly reduced, and the focus shifted to larg-scale strategy. Other additions include the day and night cycle and changing seasons, as well as an option of grouping provinces into regions to facilitate management.

PC

Akcji 10 May 2016

The fourth major installment in the flagship action adventure series for the PlayStation 3 platform. The game developed for its successor is a reboot of sorts, introducing the series to the next-generation consoles. The game was created by the authors of the entire franchise – Naughty Dog studio. The game once again features the likeable adventurer Nathan Drake – heir to Indiana Jones and the male alternative to the legendary Lara Croft. Since our hero is famous for having a serious knack for trouble, in the fourth part of the game he experiences a whole bunch of thrilling adventures. The story, as usual, will take him across several different parts of the globe. The authors included a variety of elements characteristic for the franchise, such as numerous plot-twists, ancient mysteries, and breathtaking scenery. It also provides an amazing esthetic experience thanks to the game's debut on eighth-generation consoles.

PS4

RPG 31 May 2016

The second expansion to action-RPG The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt created by CD Projekt RED. This time we accompany Geralt during his stay in Touissant – one of few countries in The Witcher’s universe still untouched by war. However, under the veil of carefree idyll the city hides a dark, bloody secret. Investigating the mystery is another task for the White Wolf. Just like in the first expansion, new content does not end with new missions. The add-on also features new items, characters, and monsters. According to the developers’ estimate, Blood and Wine offers over 20 hours of gameplay.

PC

Symulacje 02 February 2016

The next installment in the popular truck simulation game series with an additional economic layer. The product was created by Czech studio SCS Software, who previously created its sister game - Euro Truck Simulator - and the 18 Wheels of Steel franchise. The game lets you play as a driver of a mighty 18-wheeler, whose career takes him from being an ordinary full-time corporation worker to an owner of a prosperous transport company. Gameplay mechanics is close to the previous games from SCS Software, except this time you get to traverse the key highways of the United States and Canada. The authors not only took care to faithfully recreate the American road map and its landmarks, but also implemented a wide selection of the most popular trucks on the continent.

PC

Akcji 11 November 2016

A sequel to a best-selling FPP stealth game set in a universe that combines stylistics of the late Victorian era with steampunk elements. The title is a result of cooperation between Arkane Studios and the game’s publisher – Bethesda company. The sequel’s main heroine is Emily Kadwin, the daughter of the murdered empress, who joins forces with the empress’ former bodyguard Corvo, the protagonist of the previous game. The girl tries to reclaim the lost crown and take revenge on all responsible for the death of her mother. Gameplay mechanics did not change much, so you still are offered much freedom in the way you reach the game’s objectives. Depending on your preferences, you may either use stealth approach or engage in open conflicts. The game can be completed as either of the two heroes, whereas each one has slightly different abilities and fighting style. Just like the previous game, Dishonored 2 contains only single player gameplay with no cooperation mode.

PCXONEPS4

Akcji 12 April 2016

The next installment in the very popular 3D platformer series, which has been initially developed for the PlayStation 2 console, and had given birth to one of the most popular and successful series for this particular gaming platform. Despite drawing major inspiration from its 2002 predecessor, the title is not just a simple remake but a complete reboot of the whole cycle. In the new game, we follow the struggles of the titular pair of heroes – a fox called Ratchet and his robot companion, Clank, as the two of the try to save the galaxy from the evil Drek. Our antagonist is actively trying to destroy the world and reuse the entirety of its matter to form a new planet for his race – the Blarg. The main characters are searching for the legendary superhero Captain Qwark, who is the only person believed to be able to stand up to the terrible foe. Ratchet & Clank is a standard 3D TPP platformer in which the gameplay revolves around traversing the world, fighting various enemies and collecting numerous mysterious findings.

PS4

RPG 24 March 2016

Another installment in the series of dark action RPGs, initiated and developed by Japanese studio From Software. The title is set in the same fantasy universe, in terms of content however, it offers a completely new story in which we visit 12 previously inaccessible locations. At the same time, the game features a more extensive plot, and the gameplay itself is accompanied by over an hour of cutscenes. The production includes as many as 12 character classes, 45 new enemies, 15 challenging bosses, 100 weapons, 40 pieces of armor and nearly 200 other items. One of the most important new features is the possibility of sacrificing the bodies of defeated enemies, which allows us to summon certain characters or haunt another player’s game. New sword fighting techniques were also introduced, and we learn them gradually as we progress in the game. Both the atmosphere characteristic of the series, and the high level of difficulty have been preserved in the sequel.

PC

Strategiczne 05 February 2016

A turn-based tactical strategy game set in a futuristic, science fiction universe and a sequel to XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012). Both games were produced by the experienced developer, studio Firaxis Games, founded by Sid Meier, a legend of the video game industry. The story is set 20 years after the events of the last game. Despite their heroic efforts, human forces proved themselves helpless against the alien invaders, and the Blue Planet fell into their hands. However, the remnants of the XCOM organization are still active in the underground, and pick up guerilla tactics against the enemy in order to reclaim the planet. Gameplay mechanics reprises the solutions known from the previous game, featuring both the strategic layer – where you manage your mobile base and develop new technologies – and tactical, turn-based combat. The game features randomly generated maps, as well as improved combat and command system.

PC

Strategiczne 02 August 2016

An original strategy game with elements of adventure game developed by independent studio Weappy in cooperation with Team 17 Softworks. You take on the role of a chief of police who is about to retire. However, instead of safeguarding the law and order, he decides to use his authority and influence to make a fortune. To this end, the protagonist deals with the local representatives of criminal underground, while trying to keep his actions in the dark. This is the Police features two-layered gameplay, divided into plot and strategy. The former lets you follow the story of the main hero and build relations with key characters. The latter is about planning and execution of criminal operations, while carefully manipulating the actions of police. Moreover, you have to smartly manage your dirty money – safely laundering it for your private needs and investing some into upgrading the police forces.

PC

Strategiczne 21 October 2016

The sixth installment of the legendary series of turn-based strategy games that allow us to control a selected civilization throughout several thousand years of its history. It was traditionally developed by Firaxis Games led by Sid Meier, the franchise’s creator, himself. Gameplay-wise, Civilization VI combines together the well-proven solutions of its predecessors but also introduces several revolutionary changes. The most important one is the city development. Metropolises can now span across more than one field and consist of four kinds of districts: industrial, scientific, trading, and military. The technology development system was also modified, so that every invention offers an additional mini-quest that provides a useful bonus. Significant changes were also introduced in diplomacy, and the combat mechanics now somewhat mitigate the restrictions introduced by the fifth installment of the series. The game traditionally features an extensive and fully configurable multiplayer mode.

PC

Akcji 21 October 2016

Another full-fledged installment in one of the most popular series of war shooters played from the first-person view and developed since 2002, as the effect of cooperation between Electronic Arts and DICE. With its flamboyant title, Battlefield 1 introduces the series to the realities of the First World War. The story campaign depicts this global conflict through the eyes of several independent characters, who participate in twentieth-century's first modern military conflict. When it comes to the gameplay itself, the game reaches back to the roots of the franchise, offering larger, open maps and giving a great deal of freedom when it comes to approaching different objectives. Simultaneously, the single-player mechanics were significantly modified, in order for these to resemble the specifics of the multiplayer mode, which allows even up to 64 players to meet in one session. The new time period does not bring only the adequate weaponry and vehicles (planes, tanks, warships), but also makes it necessary to apply a different approach to combat - for instance, battles have become more brutal and a greater emphasis was placed on melee combat.

PCXONEPS4

Strategiczne 09 May 2016

A real-time space strategy with RPG elements developed by Paradox Interactive – the creators of such renowned series as Europa Universalis or Crusader Kings. The game is played in a procedurally generated interstellar space, where your job is to build a galactic empire. A the beginning of the game you choose one of the 7 playable races that differ in appearance, skills, and ethics. The game focuses on exploration and expansion, giving you the choice to subdue other species by force or ally with them, using an advanced diplomacy system. Either way, the nations unwilling to engage in peace talks will have to be persuaded on the battlefield, where battle-hardened fleets serve as your envoys. The title offers three independent technological trees, allowing you to focus on developing your civilization's society, engineering, or physics, depending on your preferences.

PC

RPG 29 November 2016

A JRPG with elements of third person shooter that came out as the next major installment in the bestselling Final Fantasy franchise. Final Fantasy XV was developed by Square Enix’s 1st Production Department, led by Tetsuya Nomura and Hajime Tabata. The game features some lore elements from the franchise’s sub-series Fabula Nova Crystallis. You play as prince Noctis Lucis Caelum, who tries to defend his city-state from the Niflheim Empire invasion. In combat, the hero can use magic, special abilities, and a wide array of magic swords. The game features third person perspective, as well as real-time combat and open world exploration.

XONEPS4

RPG 28 October 2016

A remastered edition of the fifth instalment of the famous role-playing game series The Elder Scrolls, developed by Bethesda for PC Windows and eight generation consoles. The story takes place 200 years after the events of Oblivion, and you play as one of the last Dovahkiin – dragon hunters blessed by the gods. When the scaled beasts once again appear in the skies and a prophecy foretells the arrival of Alduin, the god of destruction, you have to stop the oncoming apocalypse. The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim includes the core game, all the official DLC packs, and a wide range of visual upgrades. The developers created e.g. higher-resolution textures and effects such as volumetric lighting or dynamic depth of field. One of the main attractions of this edition is the introduction of fan mod support not only for PC Windows, but also for the console versions of the game.

PS4

Akcji 05 April 2016

A dynamic, third-person action game, featuring a science-fiction setting inspired by modern theories about time travel. This title is the first next-gen production from Finnish studio Remedy Entertainment, best known for the Max Payne series and Alan Wake. Set in the near future, the story is split into TV-like episodes. The player's point of view alternates between three characters who, as a result of a failed time-travel experiment, gain different time-based abilities. Now, two of them have to fight against the third one to prevent the world, now plagued by strange anomalies resulting from the failed experiment, from ending. The game's impressive visuals are powered by the proprietary Northlight Engine, tailored for the eight generation consoles.

XONE

Przygodowe 24 March 2016

The third installment in a light-hearted adventure game series created by Czech developer Amanita Design, who also created such titles as Botanicula and Machinarium. Once again, you play as the little space gnome, who does not speak and communicates with the world solely by gestures and strange sounds. In terms of gameplay, Samorost 3 is a typical point-and-click adventure game that focuses on exploration of diversified locations and solving inventive logic puzzles. In contrast to its predecessors, which were very short and simple productions, the newest installment in the Samorost series is a full-fledged production offering several hours of gameplay. The game’s unquestionable strength are its audiovisuals. The graphics were created with a technique that combines photography and hand-drawn elements. The atmosphere is further enhanced by the soundtrack composed by Tomas Dvorak, known from previous productions by Amanita Design.

PC

Akcji 28 June 2016

Another entry in the bestselling adventure game series, combining popular LEGO franchise with the classic universe of Star Wars. Its plot is largely based on the seventh part of the galactic saga, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and tells the story of completely new characters, though some familiar and iconic faces from previous movies appear in the background. There are also many exclusive plotlines that fill in the story gaps between Return of the Jedi and the latest movie in the series. The game mechanics remained mostly the same and the gameplay comes down to exploring, fighting enemies, and solving many logical puzzles, most of which require a creative use of the famous bricks. Nonetheless, some new features have been added, like allowing a multiply uses of single brick for different purposes and eye-catching blaster duels, during which we can make use of cover.

PC

Strategiczne 24 May 2016

Next installment in the epic strategy game series, introduced by Creative Assembly in 2000. After a series of titles set in different historical periods, the developers decided to take players into one of the most famous fantasy universes, created by the Games Workshop company. In the dark universe of Warhammer, different races constantly fight for power and world domination, unaware of the fact that the real threat comes from a mighty force from the north. The game lets become the leader of one of several races, including humans, orcs, goblins, dwarves, vampires, and others. Disregarding the fantasy elements, the gameplay does not differ significantly from the previous games in the series, with epic real-time battles lying at its core. Between the battles the gameplay switches to a turn-based mode, where on a world map you develop your country, its economy, and establish diplomatic relations with other nations.

PC

Strategiczne 06 December 2016

A tactical real-time strategy game inspired by the Commandos series. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is set in Japan in 1615. The new shogun decided to enforce peace in the entire country which requires him to silently eliminate all the opposition that may dream of rebelling against him. To achieve this, he asks a group of five specialists who deal in murder, sabotage, and espionage. It is the team that the player will lead in the course of the campaign that consists of over a dozen extensive missions. In Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, the action is presented from a camera placed high above the characters’ heads which provides us with a good grasp of the environment and lets us efficiently issue orders to our agents. Since they perform risky tasks on enemy territory, it is necessary to stay out of guards’ sight and act stealthily. Maps were designed in a way that allows for any mission to be completed in various ways. To succeed, the player always has to cunningly use the unique skills of every character and devise plans that involve strict cooperation within the party.

PC

Przygodowe 01 March 2016

The fourth installment in the comedy adventure game series initially planned as a trilogy. however, under the pressure of fan expectations, the creators from Daedalic Entertainment decided to create one more entry in the franchise. Deponia Doomsday continues the story of Rufus, who had a vision of a disaster striking the idyllic floating city of Elysium and his home, garbage heap-planet Deponia. Once he woke up from his nightmare, he decided to do everything he can in order to prevent the cataclysm from happening. He asks professor McChronicle for help and by using his time machine he sets out on a crazy journey in time and space. When it comes to gameplay mechanics, the game does not differ from the previous parts and concentrates on exploration, dialogues with NPCs, and puzzle solving. Even though Deponia Doomsday was released several years after the third part of the game, the visuals look very much the same, once again utilizing the series' distinctive style.

PC

Logiczne 26 January 2016

A first-person adventure game with logic puzzles, developed by the creator of Braid – Jonathan Blow and his independent studio Number None. The game takes you to a large, mysterious island, whose all inhabitants vanished without a trace. Gameplay has you explore this vast world, solve logic puzzles, and search for clues that will help you solve the mysteries of this place. Game mechanics resemble the cult Myst series. As you play, you have to display remarkable patience, observance, and the ability to connect different pieces of the story. Many things here have secret meanings, and the key symbols, hints, and markings were cleverly hidden within the game’s environment. The Witness features simple, but charming, 3D graphics and supports the virtual reality headset Oculus Rift.

PCPS4

RPG 25 February 2016

A dark fantasy action RPG. Grim Dawn was developed by Crate Entertainment, a studio established by the former employees of Iron Lore, the creators of Titan Quest. The action takes place in the dark world of Cairn where a war fought between two mighty powers has driven the mankind to almost total extinction. The few remaining survivors inhabit small enclaves. We assume the role of a hero who possesses supernatural abilities and uses them to save the remains of the old Cairn. As befits a classical hack ‘n’ slash game, the essence of the gameplay is spectacular combat with hordes of enemies. The single player campaign is complemented by the multiplayer that puts emphasis on player cooperation.

PC

Sportowe 13 September 2016

Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 is a sports game, a football simulator, released by Konami, from Japan. Contrary to its rival franchise - FIFA by Electronic Arts - Pro Evolution Soccer doesn't have the license of the International Football Federation, but makes it up with licenses for the Champions League, Europe League, and Europe Supercup. The 2017 edition introduces a slew of novelties, available only on the 8th generation consoles - PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. These are, among others, the Precise Pass system, responsible for behavior of the ball during passes, or Real Touch - the way the players control the ball. The game also allows setting advanced tactics and immediate changing of the attitude of our team from offensive into defensive. Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 offers different game modes for single and multiplayer. myClub makes a comeback in this part - building your own team - and Master League, with an overhauled system for negotiation transfers. Just like last year, the visuals were provided by Fox Engine.

XONEPS4

RPG 31 March 2016

An official expansion for the Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition from 2012. It was developed by Overhaul Games and serves as a story bridge between the first and the second installment in the Baldur’s Gate series. In the game, we face a sinister crusade led by a warrior known as the Shining Lady who is also a bhaalspawn. Siege of Dragonspear introduces four completely new companions that can join our party. The title also offers a new character class, new locations, quests, items, spells, and so on. On the technical side, the expansion does not deviate from the original game released three years earlier. We can start the adventure using a character imported from Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition, and then export it to Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition upon having finished the expansion.

PC

Przygodowe 22 March 2016

A remastered edition of a classic adventure game created by LucasArts in 1993. That game, along with its sequel, Maniac Mansion, became famous as the grandfather of modern adventure games. The Remastered Edition was prepared by Double Fine Productions, a studio founded by Tim Schafer – one of the co-creators of the original hit. In the game you play as a trio of heroes who are trying to save the world from a threat posed by the titular tentacle. After coming into contact with an unknown substance it acquired consciousness and high intelligence. The only salvation seems to be traveling back in time in order to prevent the tentacle from being born. However, after the time machine malfunctions, the situation gets more complicated, as the heroes get trapped in three different historical periods. The creators made sure that the new edition was faithful to the original ideas, offering as much absurd humor as the original and the unique 2D visuals that are reminiscent of classic cartoons by Warner Bros.

PCiOS

Akcji 13 October 2016

A sequel to a first-person action game, which in turn was a remake of a popular FPS from 1997. Polish developer Flying Wild Hog comes back with a continuation set five years after the events of the first game. In Shadow Warrior 2 you play as Lo Wang, who now leads a lonely life of a mercenary working for the local Yakuza. Gameplay mechanics did not change much, so the protagonist takes down on his enemies using a wide arsenal of firearms and melee weapons. The sequel retains the progression system featured in the first game as well as weapon customization. What is new, is the four-people co-op mode, in which a group of players fights off enemies while trying to complete mission objectives. In both single player campaign and co-op mode the locations are procedurally generated, which makes each playthrough unique.

PC

Wyścigi 27 September 2016

The third installment in a series of open-world racing games developed by Playground and initiated in 2012 as a spin-off of the popular Forza Motorsport console franchise. In Forza Horizon 3, the player participates in another edition of the titular racing festival. However, apart from the role of a racer here, the player also co-organizes the fest. The game is set in Australia and the map is twice as large as it was in the second installment. As usual, the game stands out mainly with a massive number of licensed cars available (350 in total) and those were recreated with great attention to detail. The game offers newest, exclusive car models. such as Lamborghini Centenario, but also a wide set of off-road cars and various buggies. An opportunity to complete the campaign in a 4-player co-op mode is the largest new feature Forza Horizon 3 comes with.

PCXONE

Przygodowe 24 August 2016

A first-person perspective adventure game with logic elements, developed by Cyan - the creators of the cult adventure game series, Myst. Obduction, created as a Myst’s spiritual successor, tells a story of a man who finds a bizarre organic artifact that fell from the sky and is taken by it into a strange world. In the game, our task is to figure out where are we, and then find a way back home. Similarly to the aforementioned Myst series, the key element of the gameplay is gradual uncovering of the game world and its laws and then using this knowledge to overcome the obstacles we encounter. Therefore, the game focuses mainly on exploration and solving subsequent logic puzzles of various difficulty level. The game does not offer any cutscenes, and most of its story is learned by means of exploration, environment analysis, and reading journals we find throughout the world.

PC

Zręcznościowe 07 July 2016

Inside is the second project of the independent Danish studio PlayDead, which became famous by creating the cult game Limbo. The game's development was partially funded by a grant from the Danish government. The story tells about a young boy who must stop the forces of evil that are trying to take over the world by experimenting on humans. The gameplay mechanics are similar to classic platformer games. They combine the necessity to solve various puzzles with tasks requiring reflexes and good manual skills. The game takes place in a dark universe where the rain never ceases to fall. The visuals of the game are similar to the ones used in the previous bestselling game developed by PlayDead studio. However, this time the world is three-dimensional. The colors in the game are toned down and the music is atmospheric. The game was created by using the popular, multi-platform Unity engine.

PC

Akcji 28 October 2016

A continuation of a multiplayer shooter by Respawn Entertainment, which was published in 2014 exclusively on PC, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. In contrast to the first installment, Titanfall 2 offers a single player campaign in which you assume the role of a resistance rifleman with the ambition of becoming a pilot. His chance comes as the owner of an Argus class Titan dies during his mission and the stranded machine chooses the protagonist as its new pilot. Gameplay in Titanfall 2 consists of controlling futuristic soldiers who can climb buildings, double-jump, and call in powerful war machines from orbit. The game follows the path of its first part, yet the developers decided to introduce some new gadgets and mechanics elements that made gameplay more appealing. The game features six new Titans, each having unique abilities.

PCXONEPS4

Przygodowe 06 December 2016

Third-person action adventure game created by the ex-members of Team Ico, led by Fumito Ueda. Previously, the studio had made their name known by giving us two of the most original and highest ranking titles ever to be released on PlayStation 2: Shadow of the Colossus and Ico. Their new game retains similar artwork style and equally unique atmosphere. You play as a young boy trying to escape the guards pursuing him. However, it is not him, but a giant, griffin-like creature named Trico, who is the central character in this story. The little protagonist is able to climb, jump, and squeeze through holes between rocks, but in some cases he needs help from the griffin, who can remove larger obstacles or carry the boy into seemingly inaccessible places. The authors put much emphasis on the character's interactions with Trico and the creature’s artificial intelligence, as he has his own individual character and reacts differently depending on the situation.

PS4

Sportowe 27 September 2016

Another installment of the leading sports game series by EA Sports, featuring a great many licensed national teams and top-league football clubs. Apart from the well-known elements of the franchise and a wide range of varied singleplayer and multiplayer modes, FIFA 17 is the first game in the series to also feature a story campaign, called “The Journey.” In this mode, you play as Alex Hunter, a young footballer starting his career in the Premier League, and your task – apart from playing the matches – is to participate in many side activities. Mechanics-wise, the creators focused on polishing such aspects of the gameplay as offensive techniques, set pieces, physical clashes, and the opponents' AI. An important novelty is also the fact that FIFA 17 is the first game in the franchise to utilize the esteemed Frostbite engine, known from e.g. the Battlefield series.

PC

Akcji 13 September 2016

A special bundle that includes the revamped editions of three installments in the bestselling BioShock series, designed by 2K Games company for the eighth generation consoles. Each game in the trilogy, which is often described as the spiritual successor to the cult System Shock, is set in different settings and features different main characters. What binds all the stories together is their unique dystopian atmosphere with a surreal vibe, and skillful combination of FPS mechanics with elements of RPG. In comparison with the original releases, The BioShock Collection offers enhanced visuals, featuring 1080p resolution and fluent 60 fps animation. Besides, the games boast enhanced textures and visual effects, as well as improved loading times. Interestingly, the bundle contains not only the games themselves, but also all their DLCs, which were originally sold separately.

PCXONEPS4

Akcji 27 April 2016

An expanded edition of the warmly received platform game developed by Moon studio in 2015. The story of Ori and the Blind Forest focuses on the titular spirit of the forest who is trying to learn something about itself and the world that surrounds it. The game lacks any dialogues and the story is told by using the gameplay and mute cutscenes. As for the mechanics, the game belongs to the subgenre called metroidvania. During the game player explores large, two-dimensional locations that contain many hidden passages, shortcuts, secrets, surprises and action challenges. As the game progresses, player unlocks new abilities of the protagonist that allow him to reach previously unavailable places. Definitive Edition offers 4 completely new locations, new abilities, music tracks and various improvements suggested by fans. Among the latter there are additional difficulty levels and a quick travel system.

PC

Symulacje 05 December 2016

The third official expansion pack for Euro Truck Simulator 2 from the Czech SCS Software studio - a game which has remained very popular since its release. The Vive la France! expansion does not introduce any changes to the gameplay mechanics or technology employed by the game. It focuses mainly on expanding the game area with the territory of virtual France. In the base game, only a small part of this country was recreated. Now, the players receive the virtual representation of the entire country and a much more detailed map. Apart from that, the already existing regions of France (Paris for example), were rebuilt in order to match the level of details delivered by the expansion.

PC

Akcji 24 May 2016

A multiplayer first-person shooter developed by Blizzard and the first production of this genre in the portfolio of the creators of cult series such as Diablo, Warcraft, and Starcraft. The game is set in a future where peace is ensured by the eponymous organization, established decades ago for protection against attacks by renegade robots. When it starts to crumble, torn apart by internal conflicts, its responsibilities are taken over by completely new characters whose roles are assumed by the players. The game focuses on multiplayer team duels which reward performing certain tasks instead of eliminating other characters. A wide array of heroes with different abilities is involved in the combat and, depending on the situation, we can switch our hero several times during one fight. The game does not offer any development of characters' skills and equipment, instead the key to victory are the skills of the players and good teamwork.

PC

Strategiczne 23 August 2016

Another major installment in the bestselling turn-based strategy game series that focus on a humorous rivalry between the eponymous worms. In Worms WMD, the basic gameplay principles remain unchanged, and the players still have to eliminate the opposite team using a number of more or less unconventional weapons. The participants make their moves in turns and their actions are limited by a time limit. The game refers to the initial two-dimensional installments of the series, which means that battles are presented from the classical side view. The title does not lack for several enriching novelties, though. These include the possibility to hide inside buildings and to use vehicles that allow us to traverse the battlefield and deal damage to the enemy. Visually, the production features the characteristic cartoonish visual style, although the worms’ appearance and animation were refreshed.

PCXONEPS4

Przygodowe 22 September 2016

An adventure game created by an independent studio Variable State. The player assumes the role of a rookie FBI agent, who receives a task of investigating the case of a young boy’s disappearance. The plot is filled with supernatural elements, and science-fiction motifs. The plot of Virginia is completely linear, so the players can focus on experiencing the story. The action is seen from a first-person perspective, while the gameplay mechanics and the way of presenting subsequent events take full advantage of movie narration techniques – there are plenty of varied shots, visible camera work and a movie-like montage. What’s even more interesting, and practically unprecedented in other narrative-heavy games, all information is relayed through picture and sound – there are no dialogues. All conversations end when our character is nearby. The eerie atmosphere is also achieved through an original visual style, in which the simplified face models allow for suggestive relay of emotions, while the red-yellowish, autumn palette brings out the sleepy atmosphere of the area. Story wise and stylistically, the game was visibly inspired by Twin Peaks, a cult-classic TV series.

PCXONEPS4

Symulacje 19 January 2016

A massively popular MMO game, created and administered by Russian developer Wargaming.net. World of Tanks lets players control tanks and take part in exciting battles against living opponents. The game offers over 150 carefully recreated models of tanks and other armored vehicles (including self-propelled guns and tank destroyers) used in armies of several countries since the 1930’s till the Korean War (1950-1953). The gameplay in World of Tanks combines elements of simulation, action shooter, strategy, and social features that let players join clans and communicate with others. The game is based on a free-to-play distribution model with microtransactions.

PS4

Akcji 21 January 2016

Developed by Butterscotch Shenanigans, Crashlands is an action adventure game with RPG elements, gameplay-wise similar to another popular title, Don’t Starve. You explore a vast, diverse world filled with plants, wildlife, and numerous dangers. The game does not set any specific goal for you to achieve; the player’s main objective focuses solely on survival. This necessitates exploration of new regions, gathering resources and food, as well as raising buildings, and crafting useful items and weapons. Gameplay is based on three basic activities: find, act, and build. In Crashlands you can go fishing, grow crops, tame animals, and fight opponents using the equipment you constructed and upgraded with the in-game crafting system. The game stands out with its colorful, cartoonish artwork. Crashlands employs the popular free-to-play business model with microtransactions.

PCANDiOS

RPG 18 November 2016

Pokemon Sun is another installment of the popular game series, developed for many years on successive generations of portable Nintendo consoles.

3DS

Strategiczne 07 June 2016

Another game by independent Swedish studio Image & Form, set in the universe of SteamWorld, which combines elements of Steampunk and Western genres. The game is set in the distant future, where a powerful cataclysm forced the remaining inhabitants to flee into space on steam space ships. The player becomes a captain of a group of robo-pirates who are trying to survive in this post-apocalyptic reality by raiding and plundering enemy bases and ships. SteamWorld Heist is a turn-based science-fiction game with movement points system (when a character performs an action they use up movement points). You control a party of antiheroes who use various weapons, gadgets, and special skills. The key to success is to appropriately use the different skills and combine various combat tactics, depending on the situation.

PCPS4PSV

RPG 30 August 2016

The sixth official expansion to World of Warcraft, the famous MMORPG from Blizzard company. The plot picks up where it was left off in the previous add-on: after having escaped from Draenor, the Orc shaman Gul’dan found refuge on the Broken Isles, eventually opening the portal hidden in the Tomb of Sargeras and releasing the demon horde. Faced with another invasion of the Burning Legion, the already weakened Azeroth needs to rely on the players for help. Their task will be to stop Gul’dan before the forces of evil can triumph. The most crucial novelties introduced in the expansion are: the Order Hall, unique to your character class, where you gather an army of NPC followers, as well as artifacts, which come as rewards for completing a series of dangerous missions. Additionally, the game introduces some changes to the progression system (introduction of ranks), along with raising experience level cap to 110. Of course there are also new dungeons and raids.

PC