Shenmue 3

Much like its predecessors, Shenmue 3 has its fair share of imperfections. Nevertheless, its combat – which once again takes cues from Virtua Fighter – is still kind of fun, whether you’re carefully dodging attacks or using Skills to decimate foes. Perhaps the most enjoyable part is the training as you practice with wooden dummies, discover Skill Books and study under other martial artists. It’s like a proper arc where Ryo slowly but surely becomes stronger (not strong enough to beat Lan-Di but still).

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

Even after revisiting the storyline so many times, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a dream come true for fans. A fully 3D world to explore, fast-paced and exciting combat against classic foes like Frieza and Cell, and running through the entire saga with stellar production values – it truly had everything. CyberConnect2 even tossed in some Dragon Ball Super content as DLC with Super Saiyan Blue and battles against Whis and Beerus. If you’ve ever wanted to play through everything Dragon Ball Z-related and actually enjoy it, then Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is the definitive experience.

Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is an action-adventure title developed by the minds behind the Yakuza franchise, Ryu ga Gotoku Studio. Set in an alternate version of the Fist of the North Star universe, it starts off with Kenshiro coming face-to-face with his longtime rival Shin in order to rescue his fiancee Yuria. After the battle, Shin informs Ken that Yuria has been dead for a time. So far, older fans should be onboard with this series of events. However, while roaming through the desert, Ken hears rumors that Yuria is alive and is located within a desert civilization. Ken sets out to investigate this city and this is where the game really starts.

"Combat in this title is overall solid, it’s fast and punchy brawler fare."

As far as the story goes, fans may find some things to enjoy but newcomers might be put out by events happening around them without much context. It can be fun seeing familiar faces popping up and even fighting them or alongside them. Having Bat show up out of nowhere and immediately attach himself to Ken’s hip is pretty in character for him and brought a smile to my face. But for players unfamiliar with the lore of Fist of the North Star, not a lot about this story makes sense. Before you arrive in the city, there’s not much in way of previous backstory aside from disjointed flashbacks. The interaction between Ken and Yuria is incredibly minimal and it creates a weak reason for players to invest in getting her back. Characters can just show up and then disappear for seemingly no reason, their role in the story unclear unless you’re coming from the manga or anime. Though this story can be enjoyed by new players, it’s undoubtedly intended for veterans of the series.

Anyone who has played the Yakuza games will be familiar with the gameplay loop in Lost Paradise. Using the city as your hub, you pick up quests and chat up with other characters, punching up baddies along the way. The presentation of the Fist of the North Star world is top-notch and you can tell that care went into this game’s creation. However, compared to the wackier tone of Yakuza, Lost Paradise is much more serious and features a somber tale. This works to its benefit in adherence to the source material but also hinders it. When a tale is never broken up by levity, it has the tendency to drag.

Combat in this title is overall solid, it’s fast and punchy brawler fare. Though it starts out incredibly basic, you can unlock special moves and power up your character through the expansive upgrade tree. Moves like the Hundred-Fist Rush and the Two-Finger Nil-Space Grasp are not only incredibly useful and open up your toolset, but also bring the experience closer to an authentic Fist of the North Star experience. You also can craft Talismans based on other characters you meet throughout your time and assign them to quick-slots. These have a variety of effects, from sending you into a powered-up state for a time to killing off a few enemies quickly. Sound design is on point and it helps make every punch and kick feel like it’s crushing a rib or two. For the most part, this is the strongest part of the Lost Paradise experience.

"While the cinematography looks incredibly faithful to its source material and is sure to bring a smile to the face of longtime fans, as you play longer and longer, these pace-breakers tend to make combat drag."

However, there are also a few setbacks to combat that can make the entire game drag. During battles with large amounts of enemies, it can be hard to effectively target who you want to hit. There are also some enemies who don’t have a specific attack pattern, which can end up making some bosses a trial-and-error process. Those aforementioned special moves also act as your finisher in certain situations. In this title, after inflicting a set amount of damage, the enemy is opened up for a grab. Once grabbed, an animation will play off one of your various finishers and you’re required to do a quicktime event to maximize damage. While the cinematography looks incredibly faithful to its source material and is sure to bring a smile to the face of longtime fans, as you play longer and longer, these pace-breakers tend to make combat drag. No longer is it awesome to see an opponent’s head explode from you jamming your thumbs into his temples; it’s tiring.

The city is an interesting place. Though completely made up for this title, it doesn’t feel out of place in the Fist of the North Star universe and it’s fun exploring what a functioning city would be like in this kind of a world. There are many people around that you can interact with and thugs roam the streets looking to pick fights with you. There are a ton of side activities and they are a hallmark of Ryu ga Gotoku Studio games and it fits in well with the gameplay style they were going for in this title. While the rationale behind some of the activities can stretch a bit, it’s worth it to see the stoic Kenshiro dress up as a doctor and perform martial arts to the beat of an office jingle.

You can also explore the expansive desert once you fix up a car to traverse the dunes. While this may be the aspect of the title that fans of the original property will be most familiar with, its implementation isn’t too exciting. You generally just go out to collect material lying on the ground and to head over to other points of interest. Driving is floaty at first but there are parts you can buy to make your car more manageable. There are roving bands of outlaws that can stop you and initiate battle, but they’re easily avoided if you so choose. The desert and driving don’t feel like they had nearly as much care put into them as the city did. At least you can listen to some tunes while you drive. There’s a little satisfaction to be found in blasting down the decrepit road jamming to the theme of Super Monkey Ball.

"You can also explore the expansive desert once you fix up a car to traverse the dunes. While this may be the aspect of the title that fans of the original property will be most familiar with, its implementation isn’t too exciting."

Overall, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is an enjoyable game bogged down by odd gameplay choices and an unengaging storyline. I’m sure that veterans of the series will get something more out of this title than newcomers. If you’re just interested in the gameplay that you’ve seen of this title, the Yakuza franchise is a better fit for you. And if you’re looking to get into Fist of the North Star, there are better ways than this game. Although if you’re a fan and you’ve been waiting years for a good video game adaptation of Fist of the North Star, this might just scratch that itch for you.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.

WWE 2K19

Another year, yet another WWE 2K title from Yuke’s and Visual Concepts. Don’t get us wrong – there’s a lot to look forward to in WWE 2K19. Showcase Mode returns, this time focusing on Daniel Bryan’s journey from humble newcomer to Wrestlemania main eventer. MyPlayer Towers allows for daily, weekly and pay per view challenges with, and MyCareer mode will also return to provide a more linear story for your custom created wrestler. With stars like AJ Styles and pre-order bonuses like Rey Mysterio and Ronda Rousey, will WWE 2K19 regain some semblance of glory when it releases on October 9th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC? Time will tell.

Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game

Creating a proper video game experience centred around H.P. Lovecraft’s horrifying creations is tough. Nevertheless, we’re incredibly hyped for Cyanide’s Call of Cthulhu. Players assume the role of investigator Edward Pierce as he heads out to Darkwater Island near Boston to solve the death of a family. Focusing more on investigation and conversations, Call of Cthulhu will also see Pierce struggling to maintain his sanity in the face of hallucinations and cult-like figures. Will he make it out alive? We’ll find out on October 30th when the game launches Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

LEGO DC Super-Villains

Why should good guys have all the fun? Traveller’s Tales’ LEGO DC Super-Villains is turning the tables by allowing us to control a variety of famous villains. Of course, while gameplay is similar to previous LEGO titles, complete with two-player co-op, it’s now possible to have a fully customizable character that’s integrated into the story. If battling heroes as the Joker sounds appealing – that too from the lens of LEGO humour – then LEGO DC Super-Villains might be worth checking out when it launches on October 16th for North America and October 19th worldwide for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Super Mario Party

Before the latest Smash and much before anything that could potentially keep your friendships together, the first Mario Party for Switch will be releasing on October 5th. Super Mario Party, as the name implies, brings new mini-games, the ability to play on a single Switch and even linking multiple platforms together for certain activities like Toad’s Rec Room. The jury is out on whether the gameplay actually improves on predecessors. Just try to stay friends after extended play sessions.

Mega Man 11

No, this isn’t a new Mega Man X title but Mega Man 11 looks pretty darn good with its sumptuous visuals. The same platformer shooting action that fans know and love is still here with eight Robot Masters to fight across eight stages. However, the new Double Gear system has us more intrigued. Mega Man can now activate the Power Gear system to fire a powerful shot or slow down time with the Speed Gear. At low health, a super powerful blast can be activated using both gears. Time Trials, Missions, leaderboards and more are included with the base story. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait long as Mega Man 11 releases on October 2nd for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Treyarch’s latest Black Ops breaks away from an established Call of Duty tradition by having no single-player campaign. Nevertheless, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will have multiplayer, three Zombies maps instead of one (each with their own stories) and the Battle Royale mode Blackout. Blackout has already impressed many with its level of polish and well-crafted world design. Zombies will bring mutations and challenges to keep PvE players occupied. Will the entire package hold up over a long period of time? We’ll find out when Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 launches on October 12th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Soulcalibur 6

Yet another long-awaited sequel is Bandai Namco’s Soulcalibur 6. Classic characters like Mitsurugi, Sophitia and Kilik return along with a few new characters including Geralt from The Witcher 3 as the story revisits hidden events from the first game. Soulcalibur 6 won’t just feature the same weapon-based combat we’ve always loved – it will have special moves, special slow-mo sequences and the return of ring-outs. If that weren’t enough, along with the Soul Chronicle story mode, there’s Libra of Soul, a campaign for one’s custom character. Soulcalibur 6 is out on October 19th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Releasing just a year after Assassin’s Creed Origins, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey veers even further into RPG territory. The story this time around is set in Ancient Greece with two protagonists – Alexios and Kassandra. As a Spartan mercenary that travels away from home, you’re given the option of fighting in the Peloponnesian War for either Sparta or Athens. With more combat possibilities, an impactful dialogue and choice system, beasts like Medusa and an even larger world to explore, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey promises an even more epic adventure when it releases on October 5th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Forza Horizon 4

Perhaps the best open world racing title of this year – and several other years – Forza Horizon 4 heads to jolly old Britain for one’s Horizon shenanigans. Working one’s way up as a rookie to the Horizon roster, there are now four seasons to play through with their own respective events and Showcases that open up. Forza Horizon 4 also packs tons of vehicles, player housing, an improved progression system that constantly rewards the player, Forzathon live events, Seasonal championships and much, much more to race through. It’s out on October 2nd for Xbox One and Windows 10 PC.

Red Dead Redemption 2

We’ve been waiting since 2010 for Rockstar to deliver a sequel to Red Dead Redemption and it’s almost here. Though the story takes place before the events of the first game, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a massive step forward in terms of visuals, world design and missions. Players will control Arthur Morgan, traveling with the Van der Linde gang, fraternizing with your comrades and picking up new activities in the process. You can partake in bank heists, build your relationship with an entire town, go hunting, fish and so much more. That’s not even including the online mode which launches in November. Red Dead Redemption 2 releases on October 26th for Xbox One and PS4.

Honorable Mentions:

• Starlink: Battle for Atlas
• Luigi’s Mansion
• Just Dance 2019
• Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
• Warriors Orochi 4
• The World Ends with You: Final Remix
• Disgaea 1 Complete

Sega’s Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise, which is based on famous manga/anime Hokuto no Ken, already looks to be a blast. From the combat to the humour (like hitting enemies with your own SFX text) and the minigames, it looks to be another rollicking good time from the Yakuza development team.

However, it wouldn’t be complete without some DLC that transforms the player into Kazuma Kiryu, Yakuza’s leading man and the legendary Dragon of Dojima. Available for free from October 2nd to October 16th on the PlayStation Store, the Kiryu Skin Add-On sees Kenshiro’s appearance changed to Kiryu.

All of the dialogue will be voiced by Takaya Kuroda, who’s actually the voice actor for both Kenshiro and Kiryu. So if you notice some similarities, that’s most likely why. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is out on October 2nd for PS4. It’s been out in Japan since March 8th, and has already seen some success.

Sega’s Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise, the Western release of Hokuto Ga Gotoku, has received a flashy new trailer full of brutal combat. More importantly, however, the game is now available for digital pre-order on the PlayStation Store.

Pre-ordering entails certain bonuses, including the Destiny Talisman Pack. This contains six Destiny Talismans, with the Five Chariot Guardians of Nato, namely Juza, Huey, Shuren, Rihaku, Fudo, and Kokuoh (Raoh’s horse). Each Talisman contains an ability that should help players gain an edge in their playthrough. The other bonus is a theme and avatar set to properly display your loyalty to Kenshiro himself.

Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise will be releasing on October 2nd for both North America and Europe. Though it’s based on the famous manga franchise, the game takes a cue from Sega’s Yakuza series in terms of combat. Of course, there will also be Mad Max-style races and cars to customize, along with bizarre mini-games to partake in.

Sega and Atlus have announced their lineup of games for Gamescom, and they’re bringing a healthy mix of some of the most anticipated upcoming games to the event. These games cover just about every platform on the market, and the PS Vita.

Games Sega and Atlus are bringing to the event include Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, Valkyria Chronicles 4, Team Sonic Racing, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise, and Football Manager 2019. As you may have realized, Persona Q2, which was just announced over the weekend, is not on this list- that has to do with it not actually having had a localized release for the west announced yet. Assuming it is being localized (and it will be, since it’s Persona), we’re going to have to wait a fair bit before we can presumably see Atlus bring it to one of these events.

Gamescom will be held from August 21 to August 25.

Sega’s Like a North Star, their Fist of the North Star game developed in the same style as their Yakuza series (by the Yakuza development team, in fact) launched for the PS4 in Japan earlier this year, and will be coming on over to the west too. Ahead of its launch in October, it seems like Sega has finally shared the box art for the western version of the game.

And… it’s not that good. I have to say I liked the hyper stylized Japanese box art far more. This one looks fine, and I guess it instantly communicates the point of the game, which is all you can ask for from your box art, but it doesn’t look as appealing on its own. Still, look at me complaining about box arts. Who really cares, as long as the game is great, right?

Thankfully, we don’t actually have to wait long to be able to play it. Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise launches for the PS4 exclusively, on October 2. While PS4 is the only platform it has been announced for so far, given that Sega is bringing all of its games over to PC too these days, we can at least expect this game to hit Steam a few months down the line, if nothing else.

Fist of The North Star: Lost Paradise box art pic.twitter.com/IuSFjpu0YM

— Wario64 (@Wario64) August 3, 2018