Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 – Xbox One, PS4, PC – February 23
The original Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare was a refreshing take on the popular tower (lawn) defense series with class-based gameplay that took its inspiration from the best of greats like Team Fortress 2. Garden Warfare 2 is back to expand upon an already successful franchise with new classes, modes, crossovers and even loyalty rewards. The game just recently ended its open Beta and everything appears to be on track for a smooth release later this month (knock on wood).
Mega Man Legacy Collection – Xbox One, PS4, 3DS – February 23
While this isn’t officially a new game, it is one that’s worth noting. The Mega Man Legacy Collection originally released on Steam back in August, as a compilation of the original six Mega Man games. While their heyday came in the late 80’s and early 90’s, there are many enthusiasts today who still replay the games religiously and the games are still considered master classes of early game design. This month, the Xbox One, PS4 and 3DS all get a taste of one of the best compilations in recent memory and at $15, the risk is beyond minimal. For more on the Mega Man Legacy Collection, check out our
review.
Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow – 3DS eShop – February 27
Arguably the greatest set of handheld games is (finally) being re-released as digital downloads on the Nintendo eShop. Unless you’ve got a lot of cash to drop on eBay or you’re one of the lucky few whose save battery hasn’t died off over the years, chances are you’ve been getting your fix off pirated ROMs (likely this one). Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow are among the most pirated games on the internet, and Nintendo is finally (and wisely) bringing them to its modern handheld, the 3DS for 10 bucks each. Considering bids on individual cartridges go for anywhere from $30 to $300, fans will likely see $30 for all three as a bargain.
And those are the best games we are looking forward to this month. Are there any we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
Street Fighter V – PS4, PC – February 16
Street Fighter is one of the most long running and legendary Fighting game franchises around with its first release coming all the way back in 1987. The fact that this is only the fifth official entry (spinoffs not included) is a testament to how well each game has held up over the years. This time, Sony scored a console exclusive contract (and not the timed exclusive kind), limiting the game to only the PS4 and PC. The game is a pretty safe bet for those looking for a new epic fighting game, as Street Fighter IV managed to score a 92 average score on Metacritic upon release. Unfortunately, the game has not been without
its controversy, but(t) what isn’t these days?
Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright, Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest – 3DS – February 19
Fire Emblem has a long running tradition of successful game releases, and
despite recent negative press, Birthright and Conquest should continue that trend. What’s different this time is that the series is taking a page from Pokemon, and releasing two different versions of the game, with each being a different half of one story. When the game released in Japan, the alternate story was offered up as DLC, so that gamers didn’t have to commit full price on two games, but it remains to be seen if the same thing will happen here in the US.
Far Cry Primal – Xbox One, PS4 – February 23
Far Cry Primal is certainly a new direction for the series. Gone is the gun-toting, dictator-ruled island theme and in its place is a prehistoric romp with primitive weapons, tameable beasts and an open world that is unlike any that the series has delivered to date. Far Cry has proven in the past that it has been willing to try completely new things with its core mechanics, as evidenced by 2013’s spinoff Blood Dragon, but Ubisoft seems to have gone even further by completely taking away guns, in turn altering how combat plays out.
Firewatch – PS4, PC, Mac, Linux – February 9
Firewatch is arguably the most intriguing narratively-based adventure game on tap for 2016 due to its prevailing sense of loneliness, unique art style and the ominous mystery that surrounds the game’s overarching narrative. You play as a Park Ranger, Henry, who is attempting to get his chaotic life in order by trading city life for the Wyoming wilderness. His only contact is his supervisor, Delilah, who you will come to know over the course of your journey. It will be interesting to see how well Campo Santo can drive the story forward with only two characters at the wheel.
Unravel – Xbox One, PS4, PC – February 9
Unravel was quite the indie darling at EA’s showcase this past E3. A clearly nervous Martin Sahlin took the stage to show the world a game he and his tiny team at ColdWood Interactive had been cooking up in Northern Sweden and the world was instantly blown away. With EA’s backing as a publisher, the Studio has been able to polish the game and bring it to PC and consoles. Unravel, at its core, is a physics-based puzzle platformer, where you play as a tiny character named Yarny who explores and interacts with the world using the threads from its body. Unravel has proven to be very popular on social media, with lots of fan art and mentions flooding social media.
Pillars of Eternity – The White March Part 2 – PC – February 16
Pillars of Eternity was one of the PC’s best games (not just RPG’s) of 2015 and its first official expansion wraps up this month with The White March Part 2. The White March Expansion is a standalone story that benefits both experienced and new players, as it simultaneously provides a wealth of new end game content and doesn’t require you to have reached a certain level or point in the game, so you can take part in it at any time. The expansion brings new quests, new abilities and a raised level cap, so cRPG enthusiasts will find a ton of value with this package.
Already one month into 2016, and the release calendar has been kind to us. Most everyone is still trying to get through Jonathan Blow’s epic puzzle game, The Witness, but that’s not going to stop the train of games coming your way this month. Firaxis’ X-COM 2 is easily the biggest game PC gamers have to look forward to this month (sorry console fans) while long awaited games like Firewatch, Unravel and Street Fighter V all vie for the spotlight in everyone’s living room. Let’s take a look at the games we can’t wait to get our hands on (while shoving more into our already epic backlogs) this month.
Crypt of the Necrodancer – PS4, Vita – February 2
You’ve often heard the adage that battle is metaphorically referred to as a dance. Well Crypt of the Necrodancer, turns that metaphor literal in one of the most original game ideas I’ve ever seen. The game combines roguelike dungeon crawling with rhythm based gameplay where the movement of your character and the enemies is completely tied to the rhythm of the music. Dungeons are randomly generated, so no player gets the exact same experience. Crypt of the Necrodancer was an Early Access success story on Steam that officially released in April of 2015 and it is just now making its way to Sony’s platform. It’s also worth noting that the game is cross-buy, so if you buy one version, you get the other for free.
XCOM 2 – PC – February 5
XCOM: Enemy Unknown launched back in October 2012 to widespread critical acclaim after the series had been on an extended hiatus (11 years to be exact). XCOM 2 is the direct sequel to Enemy Unknown, taking place twenty years after Earth lost its war against the alien invasion. Humanity is finally ready to restart the XCOM project and fight back after spending years in the dark. The game also adds to an already deep repertoire of Strategy with new enemies, tactics and classes creating the most intense XCOM experience to date.
Dying Light: The Following Expansion and Enhanced Edition – Xbox One, PS4, PC – February 9
Dying Light was the first notable release last year, and now in 2016, Developer Techland is planning on building upon the already massive world with the upcoming expansion, The Following. The new expansion is promising to double the size of the original game by adding new areas including a granary, a graveyard and a dirt race track with vehicle customization mechanics. Dying Light has already proven to be Techland’s most successful game yet, and the fact that they continue to build on it is a testament to their commitment.