*Summaries provided by Metacritic.com and Wikipedia.com.
Fear Effect Sedna
Developed by: Sushee
Published by: Forever Entertainment
Genre: Role-playing
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release date: March 6, 2018
Summary: Fear Effect Sedna is set four years after the events of the original Fear Effect game, and things have changed for the team. Hana, freed from the Triad, lives with Rain in Hong Kong and works as an occasional mercenary, while Deke has grown apart from them since Glas returned to the US.
I was a huge fan of the original Fear Effect games when they first came out for the PlayStation back in the late 1990s. I thought that what the games presented back then was a mature take on the role-playing genre with some interesting gameplay mechanics to match. Now with the forthcoming release of Fear Effect Sedna, I am hoping that Sushee and Forever Entertainment make the most of what they obtained following a successful Kickstarter campaign.
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Developed by: Level-5
Published by: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Genre: Role-playing
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
Release date: March 23, 2018
Summary: Re-enter the animated world of Ni no Kuni in the sequel to the role-playing game developed by LEVEL-5. Explore the world and experience the story in an all-new RPG adventure. LEVEL-5 reunites with Yoshiyuki Momose on character design and Music created by Joe Hisaishi in the production of the next Ni no Kuni tale.
Back in the day, when my friend Daniel told me about the first Ni no Kuni game, we were stoked to see what a partnership between Bandai Namco and Studio Ghibli would produce. What we got was a visually stunning game that nearly surpassed all of our expectations. Now, with the release of Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom upon us, I am indeed curious if they can again replicate that success and/or surpass it.
Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings
Developed by: Gust
Published by: Koei Tecmo
Genre: Role-playing
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
Release date: March 27, 2018
Summary: The story follows the alchemist twins – the reserved but caring Lydie Marlen, and the eccentric, carefree Suelle Marlen who work alongside their father at the family atelier. But due to his inexperience in alchemy they rarely see any customers. While working to hone their skills, the duo uncovers a mysterious-looking painting, and as they reach out to investigate, the girls are drawn inside a world bountiful with rare materials perfect for alchemy. Thus, begins the twin’s adventure leading them to their joint goal to run the best atelier in the country. But again, their inexperience and lack of customers makes this a difficult goal to attain. This entry into the series follows Lydie and Suelle go through everyday life at the atelier, but it also mixes everyday life with extraordinary experiences and adventures. To achieve this, “paintings” were chosen to be the theme of this entry into the series.
It’s hard to believe that this is the nineteenth main game in the Atelier series that has spanned now twenty years – and I have been a fan of a great majority of the games in the series almost since the start. Because of how great I perceive these games to be, I continue to be a loyal fan of the series and will continue to be with the release of Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings, hoping that it continues to deliver the high-quality gaming I have become accustomed to.
Far Cry 5
Developed by: Ubisoft Montreal
Published by: Ubisoft
Genre: First-person Shooter
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release date: March 27, 2018
Summary: Welcome to Hope County, Montana. This idyllic location is home to a community of freedom-loving people – and a fanatical doomsday cult known by many as The Project at Eden’s Gate. Led by the charismatic prophet Joseph Seed and his devoted siblings, Eden’s Gate has been surreptitiously infiltrating all aspects of daily life. When your arrival incites the cult to violently assume control of the region, you have to rise up and spark the fires of resistance to liberate the besieged community. Freely explore Hope County’s rivers, lands and skies with the largest customizable weapon and vehicle roster ever in a Far Cry game. You are the hero of the story in a world that hits back with every strike, and where the places you discover and the locals you team up with will shape your story in ways you will never anticipate.
The Far Cry series has always been an interesting shooting series with their stories taking place in some pretty interesting and exotic locales. But now, Far Cry 5 will take place in a locale that many feel is quite controversial – but I also feel is a bit more timely and relevant than any other previous game in the series. I doubt that in the years of planning that went into this game Ubisoft they planned that the game would release at a time as it is now – but I am rather fond of the timely release and makes me even more anxious to play the game.
Agony
Developed by: Madmind Studio
Published by: PlayWay
Genre: Survival Horror
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release date: March 30, 2018
Summary: Agony is a first-person, survival horror set in hell. You will begin your journey as a tormented soul within the depths of hell without any memories about your past. The special ability to control people on your path, and possess demons, gives you the measures to survive.
Admittedly, I know very little about the upcoming game Agony; I know little about the gameplay, little about the developer, and little on the story behind the game. In fact, all I really know about Agony is what I have seen from the extended trailer that was released – but that trailer, the visuals contained in it, made such an impression on me that it made the game jump out at me and has me eagerly awaiting its release to see what they hype in the trailer was all about.
