RESOGUN
| Developer: | Housemarque |
| Publisher: | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Platforms: | PS4 PSN |
| Price: | Free on PS Plus |
| Demo available: | Unknown |
Oooh, the first next gen game to make this list. It says a lot about where the industry is these days that a game as so obviously retro as RESOGUN is one of the most talked about launch games on the PS4. I could not have imagined a Defender clone getting so much attention when the PS3, PS2 or even the PS1 launched. I'm not arguing, it looks great. The next gen consoles have not launched here in the UK yet and I'm not one for early adoption, but after the love affair I had with my Xbox 360, I rather fancy a PS4 this time and this would definitely be the first game I'd get (plus it's free to PlayStation Plus members, which is cool if you're into that sort of thing).
More info: http://us.playstation.com/ps4/games/resogun-ps4.html
Pinball Arcade
| Developer: | Far Sight Studios |
| Publisher: | Far Sight Studios |
| Platforms: | Steam (also Android/iOS and PSN |
| Price: | Platform dependant |
| Demo available: | Yes with Tales of Arabian Nights provided for free |
I went a bit pinball crazy this summer, thanks to a combination of getting a phone that could finally play Zen Pinball and Pinball Arcade and having little time for anything other than mobile gaming. However, as good as video pinball is on a smart phone, the small screen means many of the details of the table are diminished. Now the greatest pinball simulator ever is available on PC via Steam. What's more, all 39 tables are available right out of the gate. If, like me, you really didn't play enough of these classic tables when they were in the arcade, there is absolutely no reason not to get this game. In the download not only do you get demos of all the tables, but you get the brilliant Tales of Arabian Nights for free. So get it - now! Not, not now, after you've read the rest of this article, then you can go.
There is no PC launch trailer so to speak, so here's the trailer for the latest two tables.
More info: http://www.pinballarcade.com/
Lawless
| Developer: | Eight Pixels Square |
| Publisher: | DeNA |
| Platforms: | iOS |
| Price: | Free to play |
| Demo available: | N/A |
In the interest of full disclosure I'll come right out and admit this game was developed by a team of my former colleagues, but even if that wasn't the case the Lawless's Time Crisis-esque gameplay would still make it worthy of a look. Set in LA in the 90s, the game throws together every goofy cop show trope ever. You take control of a professional criminal, trying to climb the greasy ladder of the criminal underworld by... well... blasting everything. The game isn't out yet, but when it's free to play, you might as well give it a go when it does appear.
More info: http://lawlessgame.com/
PixelJunk Shooter
| Developer: | Q Games |
| Publisher: | Q Games |
| Platforms: | Steam/PS3 PSN |
| Price: | £6.99 |
| Demo available: | No |
Originally released for the PS3 about 3 years ago, Q Games' wonderful twin stick shooter is definitely a thinking man's shump and is now available on PC via Steam. As you explore vast caves trying to rescue miners, you find you can manipulate various substances in the environment. Blast open an underground reservoir and let the water hit a lava pool below and you'll create new land, fly past the magnetic goo and it will be attracted to your ship - or repelled if you have the right power up. The game is ingenious and also gorgeous to behold, with clean, pastel visuals and a corking sound track to go with it.
More info: http://pixeljunk.jp/library/Shooter/
Dragon's Crown
| Developer: | Vanillaware |
| Publisher: | Atlus/NIS |
| Platforms: | Vita/PS3 PSN |
| Price: | Around £30 |
| Demo available: | No |
If you still have a soft spot for classic side scrolling fantasy brawlers, such as Shadow of Mystara, Black Tiger and (of course) Golden Axe, then Dragon's Crown will be right up your street. It's the same set up as all of these games, choose a hero (yes, there's a dwarf, yes there's a knight, yes there's an elf and a wizard and an Amazon, all of core fantasy archetypes are covered) and hack, slash and abracadabra your way through forests, caves, castles and dungeons. The game features a pretty decent skill tree to unlock more powers as you level up and generally pushes all of the right action RPG buttons. Its hand painted artwork is fantastic, but also somewhat controversial, as this features some of the most blatant sexualisation of women since Dead or Alive. Armour is scant and bosoms doth heave to the point of ridiculousness. So ridiculous in fact, that in this day and age of Miley Cyrus appearing naked on a wrecking ball in the video of the same name, I doubt even 12 year-old boys would think much about the pixellated flesh on display in this game. Nonetheless, it's needless and for many it has already detracted from what is otherwise a pretty decent hack 'n' slash game.
More info: http://www.atlus.com/dragonscrown/home.html (age check required)
MTW
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