A Plague Tale: Innocence

A Plague Tale: Requiem introduced new gameplay options like controlling rats, a crossbow, larger environments for more opportunities and so on. But it’s easy to forget just how straightforward Innocence was. For the most part, you would be running, sneaking around, bonking enemies with the slingshot, solving small puzzles to progress past the rats, and so on. Not to say that any of this was bad. It’s smaller scale than Requiem and a perfect introduction to the world.

The Order: 1886

Ready at Dawn’s supernatural action adventure title is an odd title, one that never really hit its stride and ended too soon. Nevertheless, the art design and universe were incredible, and the controversial black bars on the top and bottom of the screen disappear when playing on a 21:9 monitor (since that is the game’s aspect ratio). It just makes you wish for a PS5 update all the more, just to see how much better the game would look at higher resolutions natively.

Abzu, Giant Squid’s gorgeous 2016 diving and exploration game, is getting a limited edition thanks to a partnership between 505 Games and Super Rare Games. Only 5,000 copies will eve be printed, and the game will go on sale at Super Rare’s website on April 29th at 10 AM PST and 1 PM EST.

Two editions of the game will be released. Both releases include a cartridge containing all of the game’s content, a full-color manual, interior artwork, an exclusive sticker, and three trading cards. In addition, 2,000 of the 5,000 available copies will come with a SteelBook case and a slipcover. Customers are limited to two copies per person.

Abzu received somewhat mixed reviews at release. While we had mixed feelings about the game in our review, it received positive reviews overall, averaging around an 80 on MetaCritic. Abzu is also available on the PS4, Xbox One, PC, and digitally on Switch.

Earlier in the year, Sony announced they would be bringing back their Play at Home initiative. This month saw the company giving out 2016’s Ratchet and Clank, the latest game in the franchise ahead of the new Rift Apart releasing this June. But they are clearly just getting started, as for the remainder of this month and into April they will give out a whooping 10 titles free of charge.

As announced on the official Twitter and blog, there will be a total of 10 different titles given out over the course of the next month. It’s a mix of big titles, indies and VR games. Probably the big headliner of the bunch is Horizon: Zero Dawn Complete Edition next month. After that the next high profile game is the VR hit Astro Bot: Rescue Mission. Then you have Rez Infinite, Abzu, Enter the Gungeon, Subnautica, and The Witness. Then the next group is PS VR exclusive titles Moss, Paper Beast and Thumper.

Horizon: Zero Dawn will be available starting April 19th up until May 14th. All the other titles will be free starting March 25th and running to April 22nd. They will redeemable free of charge, even without PS Plus, on PS5 and PS4. Those marked with VR below will require a PS VR to play.

#PlayAtHome update! PlayStation is offering 10 free games to download this spring, including PS4 indie gems, PS VR games, and Horizon Zero Dawn.
Full details and timeline: https://t.co/dF694JqWcs pic.twitter.com/mTAP9dKhmc

— PlayStation Europe (@PlayStationEU) March 17, 2021

It’s hard to believe it’s almost been 2 years now since the launch of the Epic Games Store. The storefront was something of a whirlwind of controversy in the beginning due to some of the business practices of its parent company. It also began with giving out free games, and who would think after almost 2 full years they’d still be doing that, but here we are, another week and 2 games for free.

This week we have Abzu, an underwater exploration title that’s all about finding new things under the sea in a calming and bright environment. On the flipside, the second title is Rising Storm 2: Vietnam. The multiplayer shooter is anything but calm as you must navigate the Vietnam War in a variety of different multiplayer modes with up to 64 player matches across 20 maps.

Abzu and Rising Storm 2: Vietnam will be free on the store until October 15th. At that point, they will be replaced by Kingdom New Lands and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs.

ABZU

The idea of deep sea exploration is dangerous and exciting at the same time- Abzu is a game that focuses entirely on the latter, putting players into a vast underwater environment and letting you go in whichever direction you please at any time you want. Given how rewarding exploration feels in Abzu, you always want to see more of the game’s gorgeous world, unlock more of its environments. It might not be the flashiest game in this group, but it’s one that you definitely need to play nonetheless.

Last week’s Epic Games Store offerings showed two very different sides to a similar coin with two very distinct types of platformers. Interestingly, we see a similar situation this week, with two games that have some similarities, with The End is Nigh and ABZU, but with vastly different presentations.

The End is Nigh is a platformer where you must take a sentient clump of ash and go through a variety of different post-apocalyptic levels in a grim world. With muted colors, the game sets a sad and melancholy tone as you play through over 600 levels and 12 chapters.

ABZU takes us in the opposite direction with a beautiful and vibrant art style. You play out your fantasy as a deep sea diver as you slowly explore the ocean and all its many wonders below. You’ll examine hundreds of real life aquatic species.

It’s a tale of two very different games this week, and both The End is Nigh and ABZU will be available for free on the Epic Games Store until September 12th. After that, Conarium will be the next offering.

The critically acclaimed ABZU, developed by Giant Squid and having first released in 2016, is now available for Nintendo Switch. It can be purchased on the Nintendo eShop for $19.99. Check out the trailer below while admiring the gorgeous aesthetic that the game boasts.

ABZU takes place underwater and sees players exploring the ocean as the Diver. You’ll encounter numerous species, form some interesting relationships, and find a way to make the world better with the power of magical springs. Directed by Matt Nava of Journey and Flower fame, ABZU’s soundtrack is composed by BAFTA winner Austin Wintory. That would explain why the soundtrack is more on the brilliant side.

ABZU is also available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Though not especially long when it comes to playtime, the atmosphere and sheer joy of exploration make ABZU worth checking out. You can read more about it in GamingBolt’s official review.

In this feature, we’re going to take a look at what we feel have been the fifteen best adventure games so far this generation. Given how many of these there are to choose from, missing out on a few great ones was unavoidable on our part, so if one (or some) of your favourites got left out, let us know in your comments. With that out of the way, let’s get this started.

DETROIT: BECOME HUMAN

Adventure games are largely the domain of indie developers or studios with smaller budgets, but not exclusively so- David Cage and his team at Quantic Dreams have been making masterful adventure titles for several years now. And with Detroit: Become Human, they truly hit the ball out of the park. With a story that was meaningfully branching, choices and consequences that truly made the player stop of think, and excellent setting, and some of the best visuals we’ve ever seen in any video game, Detroit: Become Human ranks among the best of the best of this genre.

Abzû is an extremely gorgeous, beautiful, and serene game that just got released on the PlayStation 4 and PC- you can think of it as Journey, except it is set underwater, allowing you to soak up all the mysterious delights that the bottom of the ocean has to offer you at your own leisurely pace.

It’s a very short experience, but it is one worth it- although those looking for a game may find themselves disappointed a bit. And even those not necessarily desiring a game, but instead just wanting something they can play through to the end and ‘complete’ may find themselves baffled and disappointed.

You see, Abzû isn’t a game, not in the traditional sense of the word- it is an experience. It is an experience that you deserve and need to experience at your own pace. It is not something you need or should consult a walkthrough for. Nonetheless, if you want one, we have one ready. The video walkthrough below should suffice. Just remember, you’ll be irrevocably spoiling the game for yourself if you do watch it.