Nintendo Reveal Mario Remasters

Along with a huge host of games remasters coming out, Nintendo is no different. They have announced the release of Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy which will all be coming to the Nintendo Switch. The compilation is called Super Mario 3D All-Stars and will be sold from September 18 until March 31, 2021. 

This does mean that after the end of March the game will no longer be able to be purchased. 

With this compilation we also see the return of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Mario Bros. 3 in a re-release of the classic Super Mario All-Stars for the Switch.

And lastly for this series of Nintendo releases in February we shall see the release the Wii U game Super Mario 3D World which will have online and local co-op multiplayer, new levels new Cat Mario and Cat Peach amiibos. .

Crysis Remastered

 

In the line of remasters coming out we finally see the remaster of Crysis. The game will have a number of graphical updates like ray-traced reflections and 8K textures.

Crysis Remastered was supposed to be released in July but the fans reaction to the leaked footage was not what Crytek expected. While the Switch version still was released, the remasters for the other consoles "needed more time".

On the PC this will be an Epic Games store exclusive, but for consoles it should be out in this coming September.

There Will Be No Delays...

 

There has been no light shed yet on what the PS5 will cost or its exact release date. In a new interview Sony with executive Eric Lempel stated that despite the Covid-19 Pandemic, the company hasn’t changed it's plans to launch the console in November.

“We will launch this year – that will happen – and from my end we will absolutely make sure that we will bring all of the magic and all of the excitement of launches that we have had in the past,” Sony Interactive Entertainment’s SVP of marketing explained. “We are still committed to doing that. It’s more challenging than ever, but our gamers expect a lot from us.”

Even though Microsoft have delayed the launch of Halo Infinite they also have stated that their console will not be held back and has a launch date of November. 

Let us hope we see both the Xbox Series X and the PS5 launch within November.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Delayed

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 like many things in life right now, has been delayed. In a statement released this morning, developer Hardsuit Labs and publisher Paradox Interactive confirmed that the launch date has been pushed back to 2021.

PlayStation 4 Must be Compatible With PlayStation 5

Sony has told developers that new games coming out for the PlayStation 4 must be compatible with the upcoming PlayStation 5 console. The new rule this compatibility will be from the 13th of June on wards.  However all PS4 games released or submitted before this period have been advised to be patched or remastered for the PS5.

Hopefully the PS5 announcement event on the 4th of June will shed more light on the subject.

The PS5 is still set to launch in the 2020 holidays and Sony have reassured gamers that despite Covid 19 there will be no price changes. 

The Next Elder Scrolls is a Long Way Off

As most of you know I am a pretty huge Elder Scrolls Fan.  Having pumped 600+ hours into Skyrim, finished Oblivion to 100% and spent god knows how many hours in Morrowind, I was disappointed to see SVP's head of global marketing make this tweet announcement on Saturday when asked about the next release in the series:

"It’s after Starfield, which you pretty much know nothing about. So if you’re coming at me for details now and not years from now, I’m failing to properly manage your expectations." 

Bethesda's space-faring new project has no release date and is not expected to be anytime soon. Therefore it look like the next Elder Scrolls is still potentially years away. 

Assassin's Creed Valhalla

If you haven't seen it yet here is the trailer for the much anticipated Assassin's Creed Valhalla.  

Much like Assassin's Creed Odyssey, you will be able to choose between a male and female character. The game shall also take place across multiple kingdoms, each very different in style. The co-op aspect that was rumoured has yet to be confirmed but I remain optimistic and excited. 

As a viking warrior you will take command of a clan that will clash with the Saxons in war. You will be able to shape your warrior through "advanced rpg mechanics" Ubisoft states that "With every choice you make, from political alliances and combat strategy to dialogue and gear progression, you will carve your own path to glory,"

Along with boats, outfit and settlement customisation, there is plenty to look forward to. 

Resident Evil 4 Remake 2022

Capcom have now announced that the work on the Resident Evil 4 remake is in full swing. Due to the overwhelming success of 2 and 3's re-imagining, the sequel of one of the most loved games in the franchise is due to be out in 2022.

This is not a new development though as the development is being led by Osaka-based M-Two, the new studio founded by former Platinum Games head Tatsuya Minami, which has been preparing for the project since 2018. The original games director Shinji Mikami declined the offer to lead the project but has offered his informal advice on the direction that should be taken. 

It is no secret that Resident Evil 4 is Capcom's most highest rated game of all time and has sales totalling a grand 7.5 million copies. It was the game that changed the mould, not only in terms of the Resident Evil series but the horror genre in general and it paved the way for many third person shooters that came after.

Building on the experimental Nemesis project and his parasite, we saw the Los Illuminados, a mind controlled horde of enemies that horded Leon wherever he found himself. This disposed of the slow paced tension and horror of the previous series and turned it into a different breed of fear. No longer were a handful of zombies a threat but instead we were faced with swarms of enemies, reminiscent of such films as Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) or Black Hawk Down (2001). The terror was far more frenzied and the horror more set in our real world fears. Surviving became less about item management and more about the fast-paced combat.

Resident Evil 3 shot by me

Many people seem to be excited that the new Resident Evil 3 remake is hinting at Resident Evil 4 through its references to parasites, but the original already had this content within the texts that could be found in the game and in the big guy himself. Nemesis is a T-Tyrant, much like Mr. X from Resident Evil 2 but bound to a Nemesis Alpha Parasite in a hope to increase the subjects intelligence. This gives him the ability to adapt and hunt the S.T.A.R.S. members with an efficiency other tyrants could not, while also harnessing weaponry. 

Capcom also still have Resident Evil 8 in the works, which is rumoured to be first person, follow on from Resident Evil 7 and have a more European medieval setting (much like 4). 

Resident Evil 7 shot by me

Cyberpunk 2077 Will Not Be Delayed Again

Despite the Covid-19 CD Projekt Red had reassured fans that there will be no more delays with Cyberpunk 2077's release. Like many development studios they have moved into remote development. While we have seen a delay in The Last of Us Part II, hopefully  will be able to iron out any logistical issues in the coming months. 

During the company's latest financial report, CEO Adam Kiciński said:

"Our goals haven't changed. First and foremost, we intend to release Cyberpunk 2077 in September. We feel motivated and have the necessary tools at our disposal to meet this goal. We also believe that our longstanding strategy of avoiding debt and accumulating cash reserves makes us well prepared to meet any hardships which may be in store during these troubled times."

If all goes ahead the September launch should happen, but with the world in such uncertainty, it is possible that they may have to reassess the deadline in the coming months.