Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

This game doesn’t get what it means to be a superhero, full stop. Incremental powerups to characters who should already be suited to high-level meant this generic paint-by-numbers shooter was always destined to underwhelm. Most disappointing with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League though is the fact Rocksteady were at the helm. The Arkham developers crafted multiplayer shooter when atmospheric single players are their bread and butter. The reported $200 million loss on the game hasn’t perturbed WB Games though who seem strangely hellbent on going all-in on live service for their future titles.

LEVEL ZERO: EXTRACTION

Doghowl Games’ extraction shooter is currently in early access, so technically, it can get better- but that isn’t the trajectory it has followed thus far. Level Zero: Extraction had a promising enough premise, but was let down by significant gameplay and balancing issues even at launch. In the time since then, the developer has consistently made updates that have proven unpopular with players, leading some to wonder just how healthy the game’s future is going to be.

Gacha players will recognize many of the systems here, starting with upgrading each “category” of a car’s performance before hitting a wall and then needing to “rank up” their car for further improvement. That’s done by gathering Blueprints, seemingly the new bane of my existence this year; these are doled out in pieces, with higher-tier vehicles requiring more. Collect enough pieces to unlock a car – like an autophile assembling parts of their beloved collection, starting with the least favorite. Then being told, “That’s not good enough – earn their souls as well.”

"Your car could be rated 900 or 1200, with an Overclock for an additional “advantage” (sarcasm heavily implied), and still be matched against vehicles in the 1500s or 2000s."

RNG card packs, exciting bundles, Asphalt Tokens for auto-completing races when you can’t be bothered, nigh-unending “challenges” for scraps of Tokens, a Unite Pass, a “Bank” where you need to spend premium currency for the next tier of receiving more Tokens – if corporate greed could be distilled into a single ongoing work, it would still look upon this title and despair.

I digress, though, as Unite is more focused on uniting the various player bases across multiple platforms, consoles and mobile devices. There are Special Events where you race this car and that, time-limited events, a new track in Singapore, and improved visuals, which offer better dynamic lighting and reflections. However, the revamped multiplayer is perhaps the biggest change, starting with World League and Season Series.

If you’re an avid Asphalt 9: Legends fan, you may have played World League already. Race in various leagues, each limiting the number of playable cars in a rank (Elite League allows for all kinds). Master Season would remove all restrictions, but this new World League starts with a clean slate. You now have multiple ranks – Bronze, Silver, etc – with different tiers. Bronze 4, 3, 2, 1 – you get the drift. Race well and rank up – depending on the rank you end the league on, you earn different rewards. The top players also receive additional rewards.

The problem is that this tiering system further limits the available cars to race with. If you’re jumping in for the first time and only have limited options, good luck. Even those denoted as “free try” are beyond your reach because, unfortunately, you’re Bronze 4, not Bronze 3. Of course, this system is in place to ensure that cars are matched according to their performance rating to ensure balanced races. Surely this is what happens? That’s the neat part, though.

"Team Pursuit is your Cops vs. Robbers – sorry, Security vs. Syndicate mode where one team of players in police cars must hunt down the criminals."

Your car could be rated 900 or 1200, with an Overclock for an additional “advantage” (sarcasm heavily implied), and still be matched against vehicles in the 1500s or 2000s. That means facing against players who are entire tiers and ranks above you. Whether this is a bug or intended or not, it sucks all potential fun out of the experience. What’s the point of upgrading your vehicle, much less trying to pull for better ones? Even if you could access those higher-tier vehicles, what does it matter if matchmaking will find a meaner pack of wolves to throw you into?

Season Series is somewhat similar in structure, as you’re placed in different leagues, except their requirements for rewards are seemingly more stringent. I found the matchmaking here to be slightly better, but only just – plenty of better vehicles were still thrown into the mix, making for an unbalanced affair. On the bright side, you can earn pitiable amounts of score for each race, advancing through various reward milestones. Surely that’s worth the headache for the average player to keep losing through when the deck is stacked against them.

Team Pursuit is your Cops vs. Robbers – sorry, Security vs. Syndicate mode where one team of players in police cars must hunt down the criminals. It’s essentially Need for Speed’s Hot Pursuit mode, right down to the naming, but with none of the depth. Security has a worse Nitro boost than the Syndicate, so instead of chasing down the opposition, the best course of action is to…kind of wait until they come around on the track. Such tension. Each team has lives and you can hit a ramp to end your misery early. After all, why bother putting in effort when you’ll get rewards just for showing up?

"Nevertheless, all the fancy visuals and adrenaline-pumping soundtracks can’t mask some fatal flaws that Asphalt Legends Unite possesses, many left festering for a long time."

So yes, in multiplayer offerings, Asphalt Legends Unite is a letdown at best and voluntary torture at worst. Outside of the problematic matchmaking, it also has its share of disconnects among various players, which you’re helpfully informed via an annoying on-screen notification.

The visual upgrades admittedly look good, if you have the hardware to run it. On PS5, at least, the reflections look sharp and seamless, while the frame rate is steady throughout. The detail in each level is also pretty nice, though much as I love Singapore, that one divider desperately needs a different shade of neon since it can be mistaken for a purple launch ramp.

Make no mistake – this is not even in the same dimension as Gran Turismo 7, Forza Horizon 5 or even Forza Motorsport. For a free-to-play arcade racer, however, it’s sharp and flashy. The soundtrack is also pretty diverse, but it seemingly lacks a coherent theme. Your mileage may also vary on the catchiness of some of these tunes.

Nevertheless, all the fancy visuals and adrenaline-pumping soundtracks can’t mask some fatal flaws that Asphalt Legends Unite possesses, many left festering for a long time. There are several tracks across various locations, but they begin to feel repetitive – seeing the same sights on a longer race in Career Mode as you would in shorter sprints gets tiring. Don’t even get me started on the rubberbanding AI, where other cars will outright cheat to catch up with you. Given that this has been an issue for years, I don’t hold out any hope for improvements.

"Unfortunately, between the excessive monetization, progression systems, baffling ranked experience, annoying matchmaking, pointless Team Pursuit mode and lingering issues, Asphalt Legends Unite is hard to invest in."

There’s a shell of a competent arcade racing game here dumbed down to suit the more “pick up and play” nature of mobile gaming with its interface and pacing. Mastering the different kinds of nitro boosts and when to use them, locating the most optimal routes on a track, and knowing when to knock down (because “takedown” would be too on the nose) opponents are all key to success. If you want to dive in and race, that’s also possible, though doing so without learning the ins and outs will only get you so far.

Unfortunately, between the excessive monetization, progression systems, baffling ranked experience, annoying matchmaking, pointless Team Pursuit mode and lingering issues, Asphalt Legends Unite is hard to invest in. You could make the case that it’s one of the better mobile racing experiences, but on consoles and PC, there are far superior options with much more content and deeper mechanics. Heck, even Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has more to offer. Whether you’re a new or long-time player, Asphalt Legends Unite is an insufferable experience that only gets worse with extended play.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail

A new world awaits in Final Fantasy 14’s new expansion, Dawntrail, as the Warrior of Light ventures to a new continent in Tural. Whether it’s new cities like Tuliyollal and Solution Nine; new Jobs, from the Viper and Pictomancer to the limited Beastmaster; or brand new dungeons, it promises tons of content for long-time players. You even have a new Alliance Raid Series tying into Final Fantasy 11, The Arcadion and the MMO’s first major graphical update. What new story threads will be woven, and how do they connect back to the Twelve? We’ll find out when Dawntrail launches on July 2nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC.

Zenless Zone Zero

From the developer behind Honkai: Star Rail and Genshin Impact comes a brand new free-to-play action RPG with an over-the-top sense of style. Zenless Zone Zero is set in a post-apocalyptic future, where the last bastion of humanity, New Eridu, fights against the Ethereals. Various factions are intertwined in the conflict, and as a Proxy, it’s the player’s job to rally them together on different missions. Featuring fast-paced combat, gorgeous animated visuals and an incredible soundtrack, Zenless Zone Zero could be yet another hit for miHoYo when it launches on July 4th for PS5, PC, iOS and Android.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

Ashen developer A44 Games’ next title, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, is a mix of action-adventure, hack and slash, and Souls-like mechanics. Following multiple delays, it’s finally set to launch on July 18th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. As Nor Vanek, players venture to the City of Dawn after the Great Below’s Door has opened, fighting back against undead forces and other threats. With a flintlock pistol, swords, Nor must fight back and ultimately seal the door. Whether you played the demo or found its trailers intriguing, Flintlock is certainly a dark horse, and we’re looking forward to exploring it.

EA Sports College Football 25

When football gaming needed it most, EA’s College Football series returned. EA Sports College Football 25 launches on July 19th for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, featuring several new features like Wear and Tear for more realistic player health over a match. Abilities like Homefield Advantage can influence how well your team performs on the opponent’s turf, and a new kicking meter, trick plays, and more further add to the strategy. It’s been a long wait, but College Football could surpass expectations.

F1 Manager 2024

After the previous entry and its post-launch controversies, Frontier is back with another F1 Manager. There’s a lot new with this year’s iteration, from creating your own team and Mechanical Failures that alter races in unpredictable ways to the Mentality System where your decisions can affect the morale of different drivers. It’s intriguing, for sure, and hopefully, it can make up for its predecessor’s shortcomings. F1 Manager 2024 launches on July 23rd for PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Earth Defense Force 6

Humanity has finally won against its hostile invaders after a seemingly endless series of conflicts, but Earth is much worse off. Of course, another threat emerges as well, and it’s up to the EDF to instill hope back into humanity by slaying hundreds upon hundreds of enemies (as is tradition). Earth Defense Force 6 touts the most number of missions and weapons in the series yet, with online co-op for up to four players. It’s out on July 25th for PS4, PS5 and PC.

The First Descendant

You’ve probably heard this a few times by now, but the future, invaders from another dimension, humanity struggling to survive, and so on. This time, however, it’s a third-person looter shooter from Nexon, where players control the Descendants – humans with strange powers that lead the fight against the Vulgus and the overwhelming Colossuses. Though there are some Destiny influences, The First Descendant also takes hints from modern shooters with its various Descendants and abilities, weapon modding and more. Launching on July 2nd as a free-to-play title, it will be available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

EvilVEvil

We’re due for a fast-paced first-person shooter in July, and EvilVEvil could be it. As a vampire investigating a conspiracy, players shoot, slice and slay hordes of enemies. Three different classes – Assassin, Berserker and Arcanist – are available, each possessing different vampire abilities. Of course, there’s plenty of firepower to go around, and you can tackle the game solo or with up to two other players. EvilVEvil launches on July 16th for PS5, PC and Xbox Series X/S.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – The Sky Breaker

Though it didn’t enjoy explosive popularity, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora offered a pretty immersive take on the series’ mythos with some compelling action. The Sky Breaker is its first paid DLC, launching on July 16th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, with players venturing to the new Upper Plains. New locations are available to explore, though the RDA isn’t far behind, bringing new lieutenants to the forefront. Nevertheless, with new Legendary items, an increased rank cap and new challenges to complete, The Sky Breaker may be worth returning for.

Asphalt Legends Unite

While Forza and Gran Turismo are more well-known, Gameloft’s Asphalt series has had a pretty dedicated following through the years. Asphalt Legends Unite continues in that vein, serving as a rebranding of Asphalt 9: Legends, with racing clubs, co-op races, and a new Career Mode. There are over 250 Hypercars to unlock, and the series’ signature arcade racing remains intact. Asphalt Legends Unite is available on July 17th for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS and Android as a free-to-play title.

Once Human

If you were craving some survival action but with more gunplay, Starry Studio’s Once Human could be worth a look. Out on July 9th for PC, it sees players as Meta-Humans, exploring the remnants of the post-apocalyptic world while fighting against the effects of the Stardust. Fighting mutated creatures and inter-dimensional beings, managing one’s sanity, base-building and more await, along with plenty of guns to customize.

Nobody Wants To Die

New York, 2329. Death is but a memory, as consciousness can exist in memory banks. Of course, it’s far from ideal – a serial killer is going around, hunting more affluent citizens, and it’s your job as detective James Karra to stop them. With gorgeous visuals courtesy of Unreal Engine 5 and a cyber noir aesthetic, Nobody Wants to Die presents a compelling mystery as players manipulate time and gather clues to arrive at the truth. It launches on July 17th for PS5, PC and Xbox Series X/S.

Flock

Imagine shepherding a flock where creatures of all kinds – sheep, birds and whatnot – can join. That’s more or less the premise of Flock from Hollow Ponds and Richard Hogg. Explore the world, discover all the different animals, some rarer than others, and add them to your flock. Maybe encounter some other players doing the same. You can even create scarves, socks and hats from any excess wool. Flock launches on July 16th for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC while releasing day one on Game Pass.

Anger Foot

It feels like Anger Foot’s been, well, kicking around for a while now, each new trailer looking more surreal than the last. However, it’s finally launching on June 11th for PC, allowing players to kick doors, enemies and much more to their heart’s content while on a vigilante mission to recover their stolen sneakers. With a focus on clearing levels quickly and multiple pickups to mix things up, Anger Foot could be a surprise hit.