The weather outside is truly frightening, but the warm glow of the television is so inviting. So, if you find yourself in a place where school is cancelled or your job tells you to not come in, but also certain stores are open (or your internet remains strong), here are this week's new video game releases!
Bard's Tale IV Is Real And We All Should Be Very Happy About This!
The week's biggest new title is Dying Light (January 27; Xbox One / PlayStation 4 / PC) the much anticipated open-world zombie survival / parkour game from developer Techland, the guys behind Dead Island. While the game has suffered a setback in its physical release in Europe and other territories, it remains a damn fine looking game. The asymmetrical multiplayer mode allows players to take to the rooftops to survive, or become a mutant zombie and hunt the others down. It is a long and cold winter, Dying Light should give us a little warmth.
Life Is Strange - Episode 1 (January 30; Xbox One / PS4 / PC) - our first impressions of DontNod's episodic time-shifting storygame was, in a word, 'wow'. After months of anticipation, players can finally get their hands on this on Friday. A young girl returns to her hometown after year's away and discovers the truth in the game's title: she can wind back time and redo events in her life, shifting the actions and choices she is faced with. But she can never change the consequences in this indie-film inspired coming of age drama.
Kickstart This! Why Haven't You Backed Strafe Yet, People?
Grim Fandango Remastered (January 27; PC, Xbox One / Xbox 360 / PS4 / PS3 / PC) - one of the most acclaimed adventure titles of all time is finally getting an upgrade. We love the original so much, we're devoting a lot of ink to its creator, Tim Schafer, in a new column called Innovative Adventure! The neo-noir mystery game - inspired by South American Day of the Dead festivals - puts you in the shoes of one of video game's great characters: Manny Calavera, a travel agent for the Land of the Dead as you attempt to thwart a literal underworld boss and get your girl Friday to her final destination.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! DLC - Lady Hammerlock (January 27; Xbox 360 / PS3) - the lovely and talented Lady Aurelia Hammerlock is the star of the third DLC pack for the acclaimed (and hopefully much larger) Borderlands series. While not as well mannered as her uptight brother Sir Hammerlock, Lady Hammerlock will be the first of the siblings that can be used as a playable character. She is best described as, "a hunter who likes killing animals, especially rare ones that her brother intended to study, cause that's the kind of lady she is." My kind of woman. $9.99.
Teslagrad (January 27; PS4 / PS3 / PS Vita) - the acclaimed steampunk-esque side-scrolling adventure finally makes its way onto various PlayStation platforms. Players guide their character through over 100 hand drawn elements as you attempt to unlock the secrets of Tesla Tower, which could hold the power to saving your country.
Nihilumbra - (January 27; PS Vita) - the Limbo inspired platformer, over two years old already, makes its way onto the Vita tomorrow. Guide Born through a dark and beautiful world as he attempts to rid himself of a curse that will doom him forever.
These should definitely keep you occupied as the winter outside barrels down on you. See you next week!
