To note that 2020’s video game schedule was mildly distracted by the Covid-19 pandemic would be most insulting. There’s been studios shuttered, massive lay-offs, crunch time at epic scale, and more games have been delayed than can be remembered. That said, this has been an ideal time to address that growing stack of titles started but never thoroughly addressed. Here, one can quickly get lost in the lush fields on an isolated tropical island or in the murky forests found in the northwest of America while reality churned on. Escaping into virtual worlds these past few months have been one of the rewarding refuges in this remarkably annoying time. I found these titles to not just amuse in cursory form, but require thoughtful play, contemplation, and willingness to deflect the dismissiveness of others or omnipresent negative energy. Once again, please note that this is not a best of list. These are games played obsessively. I recommend each with a most positive “thumbs up”.
P.S. Yes, I did jump into The Last of Us 2 and Cyberpunk 2077, but have only began to scratch the surface of these sprawling works that have been full of controversy, innovation, and praise (sadly, there are so many haters today). These two titles will most certainly be reexamined in-depth in 2021 via a PC playthrough (or two). For now, enjoy these notes, remember to wear the mask and be safe. Keep on truckin’…y’all into the new year! There’s more fun to be had. I certainly promise this.
Days Gone
Developer: SIE Bend Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Studio
Directors: John Garvin and Jeff Ross
Platforms: Playstation 4 exclusive
Link: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/days-gone/
Released in 2019, for myself this unpolished gem sat on a stack of must play games for nearly a year before jumping onto a tricked-out cycle, take on the role as Deacon “Deek” St. John, and destroy hordes of freakers (zombies), and ne’er-do-wells. The reviews were lackluster. Many reviewers rated Days Gone as a 6-8 out of 10 within a week of dropping. This pattern prompts me to question any reviews made within a month of release. There’s just so many patches and updates that improve the experience. Yes, there are a number of flaws, but in essence this is a game that I found much enjoyment playing through. The narrative makes an attempt to be introspective in the vein of the Walking Dead and The Last of Us. Yet, the script feels somewhat forced, unnatural. There is also the issue of repetition in activities and tasks. This makes parts feel more like a time suck than a promotion of new yarns. What makes Days Gone most interesting is the building of your bike, exploring the wilderness, and strategising a safe means for disposing of mega hordes of 100+ freakers (zombies). This is a game that will probably be missed by many due to the over saturation of the genre, but was worth the wait to jump in full throttle.
Ghost of Tsushima
Developer: Sucker Punch Productions
Publisher: Sony Interactive Studio
Directors: Nate Fox and Jason Connell
Platforms: Playstation 4 exclusive
Link: https://www.suckerpunch.com/category/ghost-of-tsushima/
One of the most beautiful games in the history of video gaming, Sucker Punch Productions has produced a title set on a small archipelago between Japan and Korea that has been praised throughout the video gaming community. I generally avoid the topic of “Game of the Year”. The industry is far too diverse to make such myopic pronouncements. I can say that Ghost of Tsushima offered the best escape during the pandemic. The setting is luscious. Jin Sakai, the protagonist, is someone who I wanted to play as. The scaling of armour, skill trees, and weapons is clear and intuitive. And, the overall experience felt like a larger than life tale. These items and my deep fascination with Japan was reignited due to Ghost. Though there was mild frustration of the portrayal of Mongol empire in the Chinese press, Ghost of Tsushima consistently garnered high praise around the globe. Kotaku’s Brian Ashcraft makes short note of this outcry in one of the higher quality reviews on the title back in July. If you have any interest in meditating while overlooking a serene pasture, performing amazing sword play, writing a haiku about life questions, locating hidden fox shines or following circuitous wind currents on a beautiful island, this is a game is for you.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Developer: Infinity Ward
Publisher: Activision
Writers: Brian Bloom, Justin Harris, Taylor Kurosaki, and Ben Chaney
Platforms: PC, PS4, and XBOX One
Link: https://www.callofduty.com/modernwarfare
COD’s Warzone has taken the Battle Royale genre to the next level. The gameplay and matchmaking can be unforgiving and frequently frustrating (I struggle playing with 9-year olds constantly chattering). These obstacles are counterbalanced with a vast assortment of firearms (pistols to rocket launchers to customised shotguns), captivating maps, systematic shuffling of game types, and ongoing updates keep this title engrossing. Though short, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare‘s campaign is an improvement on recent titles. Established as one of the most widely played first-person shooters, COD has been tooling and innovating the narrative and gameplay with regular releases. The most recent, COD Black Ops Cold War now allows crossover between PC, PS4, and Xbox One (and next gen consoles). There is something remarkable in jumping into a quick match of Rebirth Island or Warzone with persons unknown that keeps the franchise fresh. If you are looking for an intense gunfight, a session of capture the flag or to run a mission, this title still appears to be one of the best out there at present.
Nioh 2
Developer: Team Ninja
Publishers: Koei Tecmo, Microsoft, Playstation, and Sony
Director: Fumihiko Yasuda
Platforms: PC, PS4, and XBOX One
Link: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/nioh-2/
Nioh 2 is tough as nails. Having put in over 100 hours in the initial iteration, this follow-up (setup as a prequel in a fictitious Japan) expanded the intensity and established mechanics in a manner that extends the player’s ability to focus on a personal playing style. The enemies are vicious. In each case you will need to identify attack and defense styles, then rethink your strategy to succeed. The original soulslike game systems are still in place, but now you are able to acquire yōkai and enemy burst attacks. This new feature exciting and is essential in applying to advance. You literally obtain and are able to use enemy attacks via soul cores. These new skills vastly widen your options, but can open you up for a quick knockdown. The campaign is massive with many settings. There are burning temples, castles, military camps, forests, mountainsides, and underground labyrinths that change profoundly giving the sense of accomplishment. The dark realms are the most challenging. Here, you are jettisoned into an area where you Ki (stamina) regenerates slower while the opponents are more aggressive and beefier. This heightened feature is invigorating, but patience is required. This said, the flagship boss battles demand perfect play. You will die (often more than once). Certainly, you can still summon assistance, but there is something about beating those big baddies all by yourself that installs a bit of confidence.
eFootball PES 2020 (eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer 2020)
Developer: PES Productions
Publishers: Konami
Director: Yoshikatsu Ogihara
Platforms: PC, PS4, XBOX One, Android, and iOS
Link: https://www.konami.com/wepes/2020/us/en-us/ps4/
I love football (soccer), even with VAR. This was a good year in the sport for me. My beloved Liverpool FC beat the drought after 30 years without a (Premier) league win. This, in itself, required me to play this title into the wee hours of the night. The shift in PES’s property name was a bit much, but this title still fills the need for European football in the virtual world. Having played FIFA and PES competitively in the past I struggle to hop in and out of PES and FIFA due to the initial controller mapping (I often forget to remap the system for a week or two). Nevertheless, I stay current, though am far from my skillset of the past. I find the Matchday Mode, Online Challenge Cup, VS COM Challenge Cup, myClub Open, and Weekly PES League to each offer subtle differences but interesting gameplay. In ending, there is something quite special being able to head the ball into the back of the net as Virgil van Dijk that makes me feel so very good. For this alone I plan to continue to play this sports title well into 2021.
All images and videos copyright by the noted producer.
Writing by Chester Alamo-Costello
