There was a time when the only chance for UK citizens to see a real gaming show was to sell a few vital organs and jump on a plane to the States. These days that is thankfully no longer the case. The games industry has grown into a multi-billion dollar juggernaut, as such, gaming shows are now sprouting up like gangbusters. While Gamescom is still certainly the jewel of the European gaming scene, there are now many more modest offerings that can still compete with big hitters. As the biggest gaming show in the UK, I thought this year it was time that Rigged for Epic took a peak and went to see what was on offer at EGX Birmingham. I’d like to say thank you to the organisers for granting me a press pass and giving a smaller website the chance to get involved with the news coverage.
Five of the best.
As the aircraft sized doors finally swung open there was a surge of gamers towards the many fantastic games beyond. Anyone who has been to these events before knows that there will almost certainly be a perpetual queue of no less than two hours at the bigger game demos. Given this year my legs were particularly bad, I decided to aim for two big games on my list as I got through the doors: if you did see some random fella with a beard hobbling a great speed, that was me. Here are five of the AAA games I managed to get my mitts on.
Metro Exodus
I absolutely love the Metro games, but this wasn't always the case. When the game first game came out it was a bit of a mess and at the time I remember giving up after a few hours. Then both games were given a very high calibre facelift and released as Metro Redux. What I liked the most about this remaster was the visuals and features in the first game being brought in line with Last Light, so the two felt almost like one concurrent experience. You can check out my review here but needless to say, I rate them as one of the most atmospheric games ever made. As you might have guessed I’m looking forward to this next offering in the series. Metro Exodus picks up with the series protagonist Artyom who is now hitched to his girlfriend Anna from the first two games. Artyom must head east across the vast wilderness in search of a new life away from the ruined city he has called home his entire life.
I got chance to play through the entire demo while at EGX and overall it is looking very impressive. This game seems to have a far more open world feel to it, as opposed to the claustrophobic network of tunnels in the first game. However, I am assured by the developers that there will still be plenty of interiors to make your way through. You could leave the relative safety of the Metro in previous games but only for as long as your air scrubbers lasted, this time around it would seem there will be a mixture of breathable and none breathable air to deal with. Metro Exodus is out in the very crowded date of February 22nd next year. I am planning to play the previous two games prior to its release which should run straight into the third game. Roll on February!
Assassins Creed Odyssey
If I had to pick one gaming series that I have adored through its entire catalogue of games it would probably be the Assassins Creed. I have always tried to be realistic and acknowledge the weaknesses that most AC games have, yet I still love them bumps and all (yes even AC3). Assassins Creed Syndicate is probably my favourite, due in part to London being my Capital City and also the industrial time period. Regardless of its success, it was clear to even the most ardent fans, gamers were thirsty for some fresh thinking: enter Origins. Last years brand new AC game took us to Ancient Egypt and it really did breath new life into the ageing systems. On the surface, you could be forgiven for thinking it was just the same old game but anyone who has played Origins will attest that this was the first in a new breed of Assassins Creed games.
Now in what seems to be a very quick turn around (which did have me worried), we have a new AC game to sink our teeth into. Set in 431 BC, we now find ourselves in Ancient Greece where we must choose which side of the civil war to be a part of. Players can choose between playing the game as either Alexios or Kassandra, each is said to be a direct descendant of the Spartan king Leonidas, yes the guy who spits all over his enemies before kicking them into bloody great holes. Many of the improved gameplay features are being bought into Odyssey as well a greater RPG flavour to the story. You will not only have actual story choices to make, which include possible romance but these choices can also bring about multiple endings. I did get a chance to play the demo at EGX and unfortunately, the Xbox X version seemed to be suffering from low framerate and texture issues. However, I have since seen PC footage running and the game looks nothing short of spectacular. Assassins Creed Odyssey will be landing on October the 5th and it will be getting the full review treatment here at Rigged for Epic.
Just Cause 4
I have always found the Just Cause games a little bit frustrating if I’m honest because each game has such an explosive playground of destruction but the gameplay elements around it often fall short. I did play around thirty hours of Just Cause 3 but due to my save game being deleted by a bug on the PC version, I never finished the game. As winter is now knocking at the door I have been looking at some of the games we will be playing this Christmas and at the top of that list is Just Cause 4. There are some very nice (and ambitious ) new gameplay systems being shown off with this new title, like an all new weather system which lets fully simulated tornadoes loose. I’m also really happy to see that other parts of the game that usually feel underwhelming are being worked on, like how the many vehicles handle. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a playable demo at EGX but I did get a chance to watch the stage demo which looked like a lot of fun. Roll on December the 4th!
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
I never thought I’d be saying this but hello Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. I have always had some kind of multiplayer shooter on the go and this has usually equated to either a Battlefield game or more recently Overwatch. I lost interest in the Call of Duty games years ago when they started to be a yearly rehash with minor variations. In an ongoing campaign to fuck up every game in their portfolio, EA has really dropped the ball with their latest battlefield game. It was this as well as a number of other small factors which made me start looking at what was going on with Black Ops 4. I did get a chance to play this latest COD game at EGX and I’d forgotten how much fun this fast-paced shooter can be. In addition, the inclusion of a very high calibre Battle Royale mode has also grabbed my attention. Given that I cannot afford to buy both games I will be covering COD this year, the release is set for the 12th of October.
Hitman 2
Ever since I throttled my first guard and pushed him down an open sewer shaft I’ve been a massive fan of the Hitman series, ahh the memories. To cut a very long story short, agent 47 has had something of a checkered past with some hits and some definite misses. A few years ago we saw a true return to form with Hitman, which came to us in an episodic form. After some uncertainty over the future of Hitman 47 we are now getting ready for the next game in this series, which I am very relieved about. What I saw at EGX looks like the same excellent gameplay dynamic from the last game but with more exotic locations packed with various ways to dispatch your target and mess with guards.
EGX indie games
As well as the big AAA games there was also an intimidating selection of games in the Rezzed section of EGX. As day two started I decided to dedicate most of my remaining time to walking through these (mostly) new developers and seeing what was on offer. One of the best things about the EGX show was meeting these creative folk and seeing the creative energy bursting from each stand. Here are some of the games that stood out to me.
Murder Mystery Machine
This title first grabbed my attention in by the very cool display above where the game was being shown off. These developers based in Glasgow had set up a wall of evidence, very much like what detectives might use to piece together clues in a case. I really liked the neon-lit bars and attention to detail in the room. I have not played a ‘who done it’ which has ever really nailed that detective feeling in a game, LA Noir probably came the closest. There is still clearly a lot of work to be done but Murder Mystery Machine is already shaping up as a game to keep an eye on.
Sunless Skies
This is the sequel to the 2015 game Sunless Sea. An action RPG of sorts being developed and published by Failbetter Games and is set to release in January 2019. I really liked the aesthetic of the original game and admire the fact that the team aren’t just going the same experience but in the sky. There is obviously a lot of passion behind this project, both from the team and the fans. The Kickstarter in 2017 hit its original goal within four hours of being live. With inspiration coming from games like Planescape Torment how can it fail? I’m looking forward to trying this one out soon and of course, you’ll be able to find a full review on Rigged for Epic.
Tick tock: A Tale for Two
I am always great at putting my foot in it and while asking a developer about a game in the indie section I then realised I was asking her about someone else’s. Oh well I thought, seeing as the other developer vanished I checked out Tick Tock: A Tale for Two. I love single player games as much as the next person but sometimes it’s great to sink a puzzle game with a friend and work as a team to figure things out. This nifty game not only lets you do this but works across many platforms. So one person could be on their Switch on a busy train while the other is huddled around the fire at home with their laptop. Due to time running out on day one I didn’t actually get chance to play (so I broke my promise to return!) but what I did see looked really interesting. Check out the trailer below.
Untitled Goose Game from House House
‘It’s a lovely morning in the village and you are a horrible goose’. This could be the one I’ve been dreaming of my entire life. In all seriousness, I do think this game looks wonderfully original and with a fantastically simple premise. Pissing people off and messing with their shit, what better way to vent your frustrations on the morning commute. This could be the game I go to after being exposed to Sunday drivers or people who play with their phones in the cinema. You take control of a mischievous goose and are set loose to wreak havoc on the sleepy village where you live. There looks to be many different ways to approach each goal and have some fun along the way. Untiled Goose Game is currently set for a 2019 release window.
Sometimes you will play a game but only afterwards start to realise that the game itself is only the tip of the iceberg. Deep below the surface you then become aware of the thoughts, ideas and real-life stories that helped fashion the game you are now playing. In one of the shows I attended at EGX I had the chance to listen to the story of the developers at ZAUM studio. It is clear that this title is a labour of love that comes from the compulsion to tell a story. You play the game as a grizzled cop who is seen his best years. One interesting feature to the dialogue choices is that certain emotions are almost manifested in a personality of their own. The artwork and level design is also something that really does capture the imagination. Disco Elysium is my game of EGX, check out the beautiful artwork below.
