Halo Infinite

For all the reports of its reduced scale and performance issues on PC at launch, the Slipspace Engine did deliver on the promise of a somewhat-open world in Halo Infinite. Environments were lush with sharp textures and vibrant lighting and shadows, while the effects were on point. It achieved all this while still running at 4K/60 FPS on Xbox Series X, which is still an impressive feat.

Publisher Annapurna Interactive has released a new trailer that, in addition to highlighting the game’s positive critical reception, also confirms that The Artful Escape will be launching for PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch in about a week’s time, on January 25.

In our review of The Artful Escape, we awarded it a score of 8/10, saying, “The Artful Escape is an incredible odyssey of self discovery, and its few shortcomings don’t hold it back from being an excursion patently worth making.” You can read our full review through here.

Currently, The Artful Escape is available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC. It is also available via Game Pass.

Grab your guitar and get ready to experience an out-of-this-world adventure when the critically-acclaimed THE ARTFUL ESCAPE from @A_i comes to #NintendoSwitch on Jan. 25! pic.twitter.com/i9mC3hJQjG

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 18, 2022

As spotted by Well-Played, a listing for The Artful Escape was recently spotted on the PS5’s PlayStation Store, under the “Coming Soon” section (screencap below). The same listing could also be spotted on the PlayStation app. That’s significant, of course, because neither developer Beethoven & Dinosaur nor publisher Annapurna Interactive have officially announced a PlayStation version of the game just yet. It seems like the cat’s out of the bag now though, so expect an announcement in the near future.

In our review of The Artful Escape, we awarded it a score of 8/10, saying, “The Artful Escape is an incredible odyssey of self discovery, and its few shortcomings don’t hold it back from being an excursion patently worth making.” You can read our full review through here.

The Artful Escape is available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.

NEO: THE WORLD ENDS WITH YOU

The tragedy of this series is that it has never done as well as it deserves to. After a nearly decade and a half long wait, fans of The World Ends With You finally got the sequel they deserved, and it was amazing across the board – excellent battle system, great characters, fantastic soundtrack, an overwhelming amount of content, and a great flair for style. Unfortunately, the game underperformed pretty severely, which is a huge bummer, because it is one of the highlights of the year. If you have a Switch, PS4, or an EGS account on PC, definitely look into playing this one.

Halo Infinite Multiplayer

Yes, it’s technically a beta but Halo Infinite’s free to play multiplayer component is content-complete ahead of the campaign’s launch in December. And while much can be said about progression, the extensive monetization or the horrid Armor Cores system, the gameplay is simply exquisite. It plays like the perfect mix of Halo’s classic gun play and movement combined with solid power-ups (that aren’t overbearing) and weapon balance. Map design ranges from good to great, and the extensive polish is a sight to behold in light of the competition. There’s still a ways to go but in terms of fun, Halo Infinite’s multiplayer is already top-notch.

Everything just coalesces to form an extremely coherent and singular vision for what the game, as a story and as an experience, sets out to do, to the extent that it’s hard to separate any one of its triumphs from the others. Yes, the settings for the game are imaginative and jaw-dropping; but they wouldn’t have the potency they do without the incredibly strong art style backing them up. The art style wouldn’t amount to anything except pretty pictures without the substance from the story and context backing it up. The story and content would fall flat without engaging execution to invest the player. It’s a game that entirely understands how every part contributes to a whole, and how that whole is greater than the sum of their individual parts might suggest, and ends up delivering an extremely resonant experience.

The setup is simple – you play as Francis Vendetti, who’s the nephew of a folk music legend, and who, as a result, has spent his entire life under the shadow of his now deceased uncle and the expectations to follow in his footsteps. But Francis isn’t his uncle – he knows that much, but he doesn’t really know who he is, or what he wants the world to perceive him as. The latent conflict and struggle of this minor identity crisis – does Francis want to be taken seriously as a folk musician like his uncle was, or does he want to blaze bis own trail, and find his own voice and persona? – is at the heart of The Artful Escape’s central conflict, and is what sees Franchs whisked away to a literally transcendental experience that crosses the traverses of space, time, and other dimensions.

"The Artful Escape is an unexpectedly powerful experience, a marvellous coming of age story about one man’s quest for his identity and his place within the world, and his own life and community, as viewed by him, and not as defined by others."

This setup only lands because of how incredibly strongly written the game is. From the first scene, there’s something authentic about the voice of Francis, and of others he meets, strangers and acquaintances alike. People in the game speak like you’d expect people to, rather than as instruments in service of a larger story – and that’s a marvelously hard feat to achieve when the game ends up getting as “out there” as it does not a couple hours into it. But even when Francis is surrounded by scenes that are viscerally incomprehensible (but beautiful in their psychedelic unknowability) to the senses, what grounds it all is how well he, as well as other characters he comes across, are written.

These characters also help bring the game’s rich settings to life. From the small town you start out in, which draws a marvelous and convincing atmosphere that pulls you into the cozy proceedings, to the dimension hopping spaceship that is inhabited by creatures of all forms and persuasions, every setting feels rich and thoroughly fleshed out, even when, again, things are getting crazy. You might find yourself in an alien vista surrounded by Eldritch monstrosities jamming to your music, but it never feels absurd or breaks the suspension of disbelief, because it’s all done so well that it feels utterly believable within the confines of The Artful Escape’s conceit.

Obviously, for a game which is as about music as The Artful Escape is, the music itself is important – and this game understands that, as the music in the game is without exception pretty damn great. It’s actually embedded into the gameplay itself – in the platforming segments, holding down a key to constantly be shredding your guitar changes the landscape around you, causing new paths to open up, hazards to be covered up or sidestepped, and just visually, causing massive changes to the environment around you. Even when you’re not out in a platforming segment, in fact, you can hold down that key most of the time, and your surroundings respond – usually by getting lit up like a Christmas tree, but it’s always a thrill.

"You might find yourself in an alien vista surrounded by Eldritch monstrosities jamming to your music, but it never feels absurd or breaks the suspension of disbelief, because it’s all done so well that it feels utterly believable within the confines of The Artful Escape’s conceit."

Music also informs other gameplay segments in the game – for instance, there’s the set piece “bosses” where you have to follow their lead in what notes you play, and create your own rhythm out of them (the repertoire of musical inputs you have expands from one key to five for these). In general, with how good the music is, and how the game wraps it into its gameplay and story alike, it’s safe to say that the big name music performances included within aren’t wasted in the slightest.

Arguably the biggest failing The Artful Escape has its performance. In general, the title does hold its own as far as frame rate goes, though once you get out of the quaint starting areas into the more crazy ones, slowdown and frame rate drops are unfortunately not that uncommon during the platforming segments. This doesn’t really break anything – as a platformer, this game is extremely forgiving, so it’s not relying on frame-perfect inputs or anything – but it really is a shame because the fluidity in the game’s animation, and how it synchs up with the tempo of the music, is definitely disrupted as a result.

The Artful Escape is a short game – it’s actually the perfect length for what it is, and doesn’t need to be longer or shorter. It has the presence of mind to understand that its pitch perfect pacing, and the strength of the crescendo it achieves as the player nears its climax, would both be undermined if it ended up padding itself out (similarly, a shorter game wouldn’t have the chance to properly flesh itself, its characters, settings, and conflict out enough for the resolution to land). But what it does mean is that there are those who might find it to be a hard sell. Now personally, I find the asking price to be fair, and the experience you get out of it to more than justify the cost – but that’s ultimately a decision you need to make for yourself. It absolutely does help that the game will be on Game Pass at launch, so subscribers to that can check it out without any further cost.

However and whenever you get around to trying The Artful Escape out, I think you’re going to find it to be an experience that is patently worth it. It looks and sounds gorgeous, has wonderfully resonant themes and characters, and is a joy to behold and engage with. This is a journey of self-discovery everyone should take.

This game was reviewed on Xbox One.

Next week sees the release of survival title Breathedge on September 9th for all Game Pass platforms along with Nuclear Throne. Beethoven & Dinosaur’s trippy platforming adventure The Artful Escape is also launching on the same day for console and PC subscribers. Though it seems like slim pickings for now, more titles will be announced over the course of the month.

Games that will be leaving the service include Red Dead Online for cloud and consoles on September 13th. On September 15th, the following titles will also be gone so play them now while you still have the chance.

• Company of Heroes 2 (PC)
• Disgaea 4 (PC)
• Forza Motorsport 7 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Hotshot Racing (Cloud and Console)
• The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales (Cloud and Console)

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

As the follow-up to Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Wrath of the Righteous promises much higher stakes as the player ventures to the Worldwound to fight off hordes of demons arriving through the rift. Along with leading an army to battle with new tactical options, there are 10 unique companions that will fight alongside you. This is on top of 25 classes, 12 races and tons of different abilities and customization options that the classic Pathfinder combat that fans know and love (this time with a turn-based option at launch). Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous releases on September 2^nd for PC.

WRC 10

Despite Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown being a year away, Nacon has WRC 10 releasing on September 2^nd worldwide (September 7^th for North America). Along with the Croatia Rally and Rally de Catalunya, the sequel will feature numerous historical cars like the Audi Quattro and Lancia Delta Group A to celebrate the World Rally Championship’s 50^th anniversary. Considering the jump in quality that last year’s iteration offered, it may be worth checking out WRC 10 when it releases for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 and PS5 in the coming days.

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch

Set in Torch City following the Machine Legion’s invasion several years ago, players control Rayton, a former soldier trying to rescue his friend. At his disposal are a mechanical Power Fist, Whip and Drill which can be used to pull off some crazy combos. With a grungy but beautiful aesthetic and tons of areas to explore, F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch should be worth checking out for genre fans when it releases on September 7^th for PS4, PS5 and PC.

Sonic Colors: Ultimate

It’s not everyday that a good Sonic game gets a remastered re-release but 2010’s Sonic Colors is thankfully getting another opportunity to shine. The Ultimate version is out on September 7^th for Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC and PS4, and sees Sonic and Tails traveling to Doctor Eggman’s Incredible Interstellar Amusement Park to rescue the mysterious Wisps. Along with offering a mix of 2.5D side-scrolling and fast-paced 3D platforming, various mechanics like Boost and drifting are available. On top of this, Sonic can use eight different abilities from the Wisps, like drilling through the ground and transforming into a laser. In terms of improvements, expect a higher frame rate and resolution, the Jade Ghost Wisp, a re-recorded OST and Rival Rush for racing against Metal Sonic

The Artful Escape

First showcased in March 2017, The Artful Escape is finally nearing release after seeing numerous delays throughout the years. The musical platforming adventure sees one Francis Vendetti set to make his debut under the shadow of his legendary uncle and thus struggling to find his own identity. Thus does he embark on a psychedelic new journey through various musical landscapes, using his guitar to platform and battle foes. With a gorgeous art-style and sound-tracked effused with epic themes, The Artful Escape could end up being an underrated classic when it launches on September 9^th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and iOS.

Life is Strange: True Colors

Life is Strange returns and this time, empathy is your superpower. It’s a little more complicated than that for True Colors’ protagonist Alex Chen who reunites with her brother Gabe in Haven Springs. The scenic beauty and spirit of the community is ultimately unsettled when Gabe passes away from an accident. With the ability to read people’s emotions as different colors, Alex goes about investigating his death. Life is Strange: True Colors is a full release instead of being broken into episodes and is out on September 10^th for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC and Google Stadia.

Lost in Random

Lost in Random appears, at first, to be an action adventure title with a Tim Burton-esque aesthetic, centering on Even as she explores the Kingdom of Random to save her sister Odd. However, everything in Random is determined by games and Even must take part in game board-style battles to prevail. She’ll have Dicey on hand to help though – attacking enemies will power its abilities and unleash unique cards, whether it’s explosives or barriers. Out on September 10^th, Lost in Random will be available for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC.

NBA 2K22

Another year, another NBA 2K title and while I’m personally not a fan of the series microtransaction-laden gameplay, there is quite a bit that’s new in NBA 2K22. Gameplay-wise, precision jump shots, blocking and more are being changed; MyNBA returns with its customizable features (only on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 though) while MyWBNA is being introduced; and MyCareer’s The City is even larger while Hidden Talents provides alternate ventures like fashion and hip-hop. PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC players aren’t being swept aside entirely either thanks to the addition of the 2K Cruise, which offers unique Excursions and events in various locations. NBA 2K22 launches on September 10^th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch so we won’t have to wait long to see how much it improves.

Tales of Arise

The Tales series returns with its biggest, most epic title to date in Tales of Arise. The story sees the denizens of Rena subjugating Dahna, enslaving its people and exploiting their resources. As Alphen, a Dahnan man without any memories, players team up with Shionne of Rena and embark on a journey to free the oppressed. Along with meeting other party members and traveling the world, players will utilize new skills like Boost Strike and Counter Edge in the revamped combat system. Activities like fishing, farming and more are also available along with the return of skits. Tales of Arise releases on September 10^th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PC and PS5, and promises to be about as long as Tales of Berseria (which is a good thing).

Deathloop

Ever get that feeling of deja vu? For hitman Colt Vahn, it only felt like yesterday when he arrived on Blackreef to take out the Visionaries, a mysterious group harnessing the island’s technology to party eternally. It’s up to Colt to kill all of his targets before midnight, utilizing a mix of stealth, abilities and firearms before the loop resets. In the midst of all of this is agent Julianna, either controlled by AI or another player, who seeks to protect the loop (and mess with Colt as much as possible). With Arkane’s unique brand of sandbox gameplay and a rocking aesthetic, Deathloop promises to be a fun spin on the roguelite genre when it releases on September 14^th for PS5 and PC.

Aragami 2

Much like the original, stealth and shadow control are key in Lince Works’ Aragami 2. This time around though, players have more freedom and opportunities to sneak around the world, playing alone or in three-person squads in co-op. A variety of powers and abilities are available while combat has been improved to be more skill-focused (though it’s still inherently riskier than stealth). Extensive customization, improved visuals and a more effective story should make Aragami 2 a cut above its predecessor when it releases on September 17^th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Numerous delays haven’t dulled the beauty of Ember Lab’s upcoming action adventure title and it’s finally releasing on September 21^st for PS4, PS5 and PC. Kena: Bridge of Spirits follows spirit guide Kena as she travels to a decrepit village and looks to ferry the spirits of its deceased to the afterlife. Along the way, Kena will meet small spirits called the Rot who will help solve puzzles and fight off enemies. With a soothing animated aesthetic and solid gameplay, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is looking very appealing.

Lake

Lake, an indie adventure from developer Gamious, looks to take players on a more grounded kind of escape when it releases on September 1^st. As Meredith Weiss, you venture to Providence Oaks in Oregon for two weeks, taking a sabbatical from your old software development job to deliver the mail. Talk to and hang out with the different residents, or simply stay at home to read; experience branching storylines and ultimately determine your path in life. If a chill adventure game sounds good to you, then Lake may be worth checking out when it comes to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC.

Diablo 2: Resurrected

After the failure of Warcraft 3: Reforged (not to mention tons of controversy at Activision-Blizzard), Diablo 2 is next in line to be remastered. The visuals have been improved tremendously while still keeping true to the original’s aesthetic as players explore Sanctuary as one of seven classes to defeat the forces of evil. Support for 4K resolution, cross-progression and quality of life features like auto pick-up for gold and Shared Stash tabs make this a lot more inviting for today’s players but it’s still the classic action RPG that fans grew up with. Diablo 2: Resurrected releases on September 23^rd for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Sable

Another interesting title in the “chill adventure” genre is Shedworks’ Sable, which releases on September 23^rd for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Boasting gorgeous visuals, the story centers on Sable as she ventures out into the world to find a mask and complete her clan’s rite of passage. She’ll traverse dunes on her customizable hoverbike, investigate strange ruins and ultimately learn more about the mysterious world while forging her own path.

Death Stranding Director’s Cut

The journey of Sam and B.B. came to a relatively satisfying conclusion when Death Stranding released last year. However, the Director’s Cut – which launches on September 24^th for PS5 – proves that there’s still room for improvement. It adds numerous new tools, like a Buddy Bot that can carry Sam and thrusters for safe landings when jumping from high places; the new Fragile Circuit for races, complete with time trials and leaderboards; a new Firing Range with practice and Ranked Drills; replays for boss fights; and some new story content that promises more stealth-based action. This is in addition to new graphics modes like upscaled 4K/60 FPS and native 4K, support for the DualSense’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers and an option for PS4 players to upgrade to the Director’s Cut Digital Deluxe Edition on PS5 for just $10.

Lost Judgment

What defines justice? Former lawyer turned private detective Takayuki Yagami seeks to answer this while delving into a strange murder. Lost Judgment sees players venturing to Isezaki Ijincho to go undercover in a school and while there are activities like dancing, drone combat and boxing, themes of bullying and abuse also come to light. Overall, the sequel improves on pretty much every aspect of the original, adding a new combat Style, parkour for platforming, more in-depth stealth mechanics, better chase sequences and much more. It arrives on September 24^th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and Xbox One.

New World

Even with so many delays over the years – including a recent one from August to September – enthusiasm for Amazon’s New World is still strong. The MMO takes a somewhat different direction from its competition, focusing on the interactions between the three factions on Aeternum Island. Though the island has its own unique mysteries and PvE content, players will spend time creating settlements, battling those from other factions and establishing their own foothold. It’s out on September 28^th for PC with a beta on September 9^th but whether it can maintain its momentum after launch remains to be seen.

Hot Wheels Unleashed

Milestone’s Hot Wheels Unleashed may not be the most realistic-looking racer but it is looking to be the best possible Hot Wheels title ever made. With over 60 cars, from real-world vehicles to fantasy offerings like the Batmobile and Knight Rider, it offers a variety of twisting, turning tracks set in real-world environments. Players can also partake in the track builder and create their own unique courses, or go on online to challenge players (though offline split-screen is also available). Hot Wheels Unleashed arrives on September 27^th for Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Xuan Yuan Sword 7

Released last October for PC, Xuan Yuan Sword 7 is coming to PS4 in September and offers hack and slash RPG action with the backdrop of Chinese mythology as Taishi Zao battles monsters and  seeks to unravel the mystery behind a strange bamboo slip. Along with creating unique techniques, players can improve their armor and weapons while leveraging the fast-paced combat to dominate foes. As a somewhat off-beat option, it may be worth checking out when it releases on September 31^st.

The story centers on Francis Vendetti who’s on a journey of self-discovery before his first live performance. Following a fateful encounter with Carl Weathers, Francis seeks to discover his own identity through music and comes across various entities, including a “giant floating asymmetrical space head” (final name TBA) played by Lena Headey. Other talent includes Michael Johnston, Mark Strong and Jason Schwartzman.

The Artful Escape arrives on September 9th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC after being in development since 2017. It will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass. For more details on the title, check out GamingBolt’s interview with Galvatron here. Stay tuned for more gameplay and updates in the coming weeks.

Francis Vendetti, nephew of legendary folk musician Johnson Vendetti, is the key focus in the story. A prodigy at his age, Francis is set to have his first live performance but sets out on a physical and spiritual journey the day before. He looks to discover himself and establish a musical identity that’s distinct from his deceased uncle.

Players will traverse through a range of distinct environments filled with memorable characters, from enormous alien beings to publicans and villagers. As you run and jump through the musical multiverse, the environments react to your movement, and Francis can use his LoudJacket to create arrangements of amplifiers and lasers.

The Artful Escape releases on September 9th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC while also releasing on day one for Xbox Game Pass.