S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: HEART OF CHORNOBYL

Here’s a recent and obvious one to kick things off. Every step of the way, it feels like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is trying to kill you. The game takes a lot of pride in how brutally demanding it is, to the point where it can feel actively hostile to the player. Terrifying mutant monstrosities, a constant dearth of weapons and ammo, radiation and extreme weather, or the plain and simple fact that you’re incredibly easy to kill- plenty of factors come together to ensure that you never feel at ease in the Exclusion Zone.

Demon’s Souls

We’re talking the 2009 original not the 2020 remake. Demon’s Souls suffered through troubled development due to unfocused vision before meeting lukewarm reception following its demo reveal, with the most seething criticism decrying a game with unreasonably difficult gameplay and outdated world design. Well, how wrong was that?! Combat and world-building ended up being the very things Demon’s Souls drew acclaim for, establishing the FromSoft blueprint for Dark Souls and beyond.     

]]> 605936 https://gamingbolt.com/15-great-games-that-came-out-of-nowhere Fri, 22 Mar 2024 11:35:11 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=581373 The last few years have graced us gamers with a slew of hits, but the most interesting games are definitely the ones that came out of nowhere and surprised us with their level of quality or ingenious designs. With this feature, we take a look at 15 of the biggest smash hits that came out of nowhere and took the industry by storm. We have a lot to cover, so let’s get right into it.

Helldivers 2

Arrowhead Studios delivered an absolute smash hit with Helldivers 2, a co-op game where players team up to fight waves upon waves of enemies across the backdrop of alien planets. Many of its ideas can be traced back to live service games like The Division’s PvP mode, but the game’s ability to induce a constant sense of chaos as you try to complete the objectives without veering into frustrating territory is what makes it so addictive in the first place. The gameplay has a knack for crafting some amazing stories, and that power of shared experiences and personal stories is what made it such a big thing.

Hi-Fi Rush

We wouldn’t really imagine a developer of games like The Evil Within creating a brightly colored rhythm game, but Tango Gameworks actually did that with Hi-Fi Rush and shadow dropped it out of nowhere. And the best part is that it all works beautifully despite the game being something that’s well out of the developer’s comfort zone. Everything from the fleshed-out world that operates on a tempo to a diverse range of rocking tracks and a combat loop that’s more rewarding than it is punishing, Hi-Fi Rush makes for a great first rhythm game for fans to get into this niche genre.

Palworld

Palworld felt like an interesting contrast of genres with initial trailers showcasing cute Pokemon-like creatures holding realistic guns against the backdrop of lush green plainscapes. And when it was released in early access recently, fans absolutely lapped it up thanks to a solid set of mechanics that work well in conjunction with one another. Sure, there are a few rough edges here and there – but the sheer creativity of it all is what makes it so endearing in the first place.

A Plague Tale: Innocence

A Plague Tale: Innocence might feel like a cheap knockoff of The Last of Us at first glance, and while that notion is true on some level – it isn’t entirely indicative of the entire story. Set against the backdrop of one of the darkest times of history, the story of Amicia and Hugo is an emotionally charged tale that features an equal share of heartfelt moments and adrenaline-pumping set pieces – which combined with the wonderfully well-realized characters makes for an incredibly exciting experience through and through.

Stray

Stray might not be a sprawling epic or a thrilling ride, but its unique concept of putting you in the paws of a stray cat was apparently more than enough reason for hundreds of thousands of fans to want to pick this one up. The puzzles are pretty simple, but interesting world-building and a snappy runtime that never lets the player get bored of the mechanics is what made it such a big deal when it was released back in 2022.

Demon’s Souls

The game that started it all. Demon’s Souls, first released for the PlayStation 3 back in 2009, surprised everyone with its brutal difficulty and intimidating boss battles. Featuring excellent art style and an eerie atmosphere (who can forget the crazy Valley of Defilement), Demon’s Souls went on to become an unexpected hit among players. Although later Souls games will take the genre further in different ways, Demon’s Souls still remains a memorable experience. If you have a PlayStation 5, you can try the excellent remake which was released back in 2020.

Lies of P

Lies of P is developer Neowiz’ take on the Souls formula, and while the initial showings were definitely promising – it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the final result would rank amongst the dozens of similar FromSoftware that keep releasing left, right, and center. But that skepticism was proven wrong, and Lies of P managed to actually deliver a worthy Soulslike with excellent level designs, memorable boss battles, and a couple of unique mechanics of its own.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Larian’s latest Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game that has huge ambitions, and it would be safe to say that it has set a new benchmark for RPGs in this generation. Baldur’s Gate 3 features a complex web of mechanics that work well in cohesion with one another, and there’s a bunch of distinct possibilities right from story endings to different playstyles and much more – and the attention to detail in each aspect is the major drawing factor which makes Baldur’s Gate 3 such a fun time.

Valheim

Valheim launched into early access in 2020, and it instantly became a smash hit with hundreds of thousands of fans flocking to make a living in procedurally generated worlds. Valheim features interesting boss battles, a high level of replayability, and memorable boss battles – but what makes it stand out amongst the crowd is a very tangible sense of progression as you get stronger and stronger with each biome you clear.

Lords of the Fallen

Talking about Souls games that managed to win the hearts of hundreds of fans, we have Lords of the Fallen. Released last year, Lords of The Fallen thrusts players into an appropriately murky dark fantasy setting and dates them to take on brutal bosses and trudge through overwhelming odds. Add to that an excellent world-shifting system and gorgeous visuals, and Lords of the Fallen becomes an unmissable game for fans of Soulsborne releases.

Dave The Diver

Dave The Diver is the kind of game that never fails to surprise the player. It’s a weird mishmash of genres ranging from farming simulation to adventure and much more, and the fact that it all works beautifully in a cohesive fashion makes it such a great time. It’s a game that’s bursting at the seams with its creativity, and there are more than a few fans who took note of this one.

Phasmophobia

Blending together a horror experience in a multiplayer format is definitely a tough task, but Phasmophobia aces that with its excellent atmosphere and clever design. Phasmophobia was released at a time when friends were isolated from one another, and the sense of camaraderie that arises from trudging through decrepit locations and taking up tasks together is something that brought us closer to one another during such challenging times – which is one of the biggest reasons behind Phasmophobia’s runaway success.

The Forest

Survival games are dime a dozen these days, but Endlight Games’ smash hit The Forest managed to stand out amongst the barrage of similar contemporaries thanks to its excellent understanding of what makes a game of this ilk tick. The Forest features brutal survival mechanics, and the scenarios it puts you through force you to be dynamic in your approach and come up with interesting solutions to the problem at hand – and that is what makes it a game that’s worth spending dozens and dozens of hours in.

Last Epoch

The recently released Hack and Slash action RPG Last Epoch took the video gaming industry by storm, boldly making a name for itself in a genre. Last Epoch’s primary reason for success is its flexibility in build crafting, and its ability to appease both the casuals who don’t want to dive deep and veterans alike. In addition to this, Last Epoch also offers plenty of valuable loot as you progress through the game’s bevy of dungeons, and that engaging hook of player progression is another major drawing factor for the game.

Rocket League

Driving an abnormally large ball into a goalpost while seated in a car might just sound like someone’s wildest dream, and the developer made that dream come true with Rocket League. And despite a few inherent frustrations that come with this interesting yet unwieldy concept, Rocket League manages to be a greatly fun game that becomes even better if you have a few friends to play alongside as you make memorable stories of last-minute victories and defeats alike.

Sons of the Forest map 4x bigger

Perhaps contributing to Sons of the Forest’s numerous delays is Endnight Games over-reaching ambition for the sequel, demonstrated none more so than in its staggering map size. Reportedly four times the size of its predecessor, Sons of the Forest’s open world features familiar climbs of dense vegetation and rocky beachheads and will be 100% explorable from the off, reflecting the vast scope Endnight is putting into this sequel.

Launching with co-op capability

Unlike The Forest, this upcoming sequel will launch with co-op capability already available instead of being added later. Scanning and scavenging the game’s vast island in teams will add an extra dimension as you all come to rely on each other for survival. After all, sticking together is key to staying alive in this beautiful, hostile world.

Only four player co-op confirmed

So, currently Endnight Games have confirmed co-operative multiplayer mode will only be available for up to four-player at launch. There’s no word yet on whether Sons of the Forest will feature eight-player co-op like its predecessor later down the line. Multiplayer mode in The Forest was a big hit with up to eight players fighting for survival in a single session. Here’s hoping the capability for more than four players is introduced in Sons of the Forest.

Sons of the Forest will feature an AI companion

For those who won’t be diving into Sons of the Forest with friends there is the opportunity to play with an AI companion who’ll tag along to help with the less glamourous tasks associated with base building. Named Kelvin, this AI companion is said to be an elite soldier who’s suffered severe head trauma. As such, he can’t speak but will happily take commands from the player who can instruct him to carry out repetitive busywork such as chopping down trees and gathering logs.

New AI system

Another headline innovation for Sons of the Forest is its much-improved AI system for friends and enemies. Thanks to a new tool dubbed by Endnight as ‘V.A.I.L.’, AI in Sons of the Forest will be much more reactive to player actions, with NPC’s and enemy factions alike able to display complex behaviours – from showing fear, anger, or frustration and their ability for those emotions to affect decision making, right the way through to enemies being able to launch sabotage missions and co-ordinated attacks on the player’s base.

New enemy and cannibal types

Alongside improvements to AI, Sons of the Forest comes stuffed with a raft of hostile new enemies, including – of course – more cannibals, most of whom will stop at nothing to eat the player. Regular cannibals are spread throughout the game’s vast island environment; glimpses in the game’s reveal footage shows a regular cannibal retreating at the sight of the player holding up the skull of its slain brethren. But there’re cannibals unique to the environments in which they reside too such as cave-dwelling cannibals. Allegedly the most hostile cannibals in the sequel will be the masked cannibals, who’ll show brutality not only to the player but other cannibals too.

New mutant types

Sons of the Forest also comes with upgraded mutant enemies too; we’re treated to sights of conjoined mutants, stretched-mouthed mutants, and blob-like mutants in the game’s trailer footage. There’s also the sight of the tri-legged mutant from the first game – a twist which Endnight describe as a mutant that’s neither hostile nor friendly, but they can be scared away or manipulated into sticking around for unique interactions.

Dynamic seasons

Enhancing immersion in Sons of the Forest’s environment is its dynamic weather system with changeable seasons. In a survival-centric video game changing weather can have potentially drastic effects on whether the player lives or dies – snowy winters could make sourcing food via hunting a drag, for instance. Players will need to make the most of the fertile summer months as once reliable food sources dry up, they’ll need to stockpile, running the risk of enemies sneaking into camp to steal vital food supplies.

Overhauled building mechanics

Base building is still going to be the core focus in Sons of the Forest, and for this sequel the building mechanics have received a significant overhaul. Gone is the ghosted outline of a structure ready for placement, and instead a much more organic, creative process. Building blocks can be placed wherever the eye sees fit, with the player have more say on intricate details, for example players will be able to carve out windows themselves or sharpening pointed fences.

New digging mechanic

During an announcement trailer for Sons of the Forest, a shovel can be seen mounted to the wall of a helicopter. Since that trailer’s reveal, Endnight Games have confirmed shovels and thus digging will play a part in Sons of the Forest. Unlike its predecessor, which didn’t feature any diggable ground at all, Sons of the Forest will give players opportunity to dig for cool and interesting stuff – from buried resources to hidden bunkers, the shovel will play an important part. It’s also possible digging will expand a player’s building capability, benefit certain traps, or even bury bodies.

New crafting mechanic

Crafting has received an overhaul for Sons of the Forest too, most notably in the new 3D printer. The implications for such a sophisticated piece of technology are far-reaching, from printing elaborate items and customised gear from resources scavenged across the island. There’s already evidence of the 3D printer being put to good use in the game’s trailer, with the printer crafting a replica cannibal mask that can be used to infiltrate a cannibal stronghold.

More guns

Weaponry in The Forest comprised mostly melee items, although spears, bows, and a handful of projectiles also featured. Combat in Sons of the Forest is still said to centre mostly on melee but for the sequel guns will feature a lot more; guns such as pistols, rifles, and shotguns. Of course, with this being survival horror, ammo will be scarce so it’ll be up to the player whether bullets should be used only in life-or-death situations.

Huge graphical improvement

What is immediately apparent with Sons of the Forest is the graphical update. Now, The Forest was a good-looking game anyway despite a lacklustre attention to detail, but the sequel blows its predecessor’s looks out of the water. Endnight Games have created a much more intricately detailed world rivalling AAA titles.

Sanity system dropped

The Forest featured a sanity system whereby certain actions raised or lowered the player’s sanity. Eating fresh organic food, chilling whilst listening to music, or sleeping raised sanity, whilst chopping limbs and feasting on human remains lowered it. The system wasn’t deeply entrenched in The Forest’s gameplay loop though; indeed, the only discernible effect was on the ability to build effigies. Endnight Games clearly had plans for sanity to have direct consequences on gameplay at some stage, but alas, it has been dropped for the sequel as they’ve confirmed they couldn’t find a satisfying way to integrate it into the game’s survival horror gameplay.

Launching as PC exclusive

The Forest is currently available to play on PC and PlayStation. Whether Sons of the Forest makes it onto consoles is still in question, for right now the game will launch to PC only. Endnight Games are showing plenty of ambition with this sequel, so it seems reasonable to think it’ll land on consoles at some point.

Darkwood

Despite having over 12,000 user reviews on Steam and good critical acclaim, Darkwood is still somewhat of a niche survival horror title. Its open-world structure changes during the day, presenting eerie characters and various secrets as you scavenge for materials. At night, nightmarish creatures roam, prompting you to fight for survival. It’s frantic and doesn’t provide too much guidance, but Darkwood is worth sticking with for its unique aesthetic and extensive lore.

Of course, adventures that would otherwise be impossible – like surviving in a jungle and searching for ancient treasure – become all the more tenable in a video game. So let’s take a look at 10 games that had great forest and jungle settings along with what made them so unique.

Far Cry 2

The sequel is more popular – and responsible for establishing the current formula of the series – but there’s just something so appealing about Far Cry 2’s setting. As a mercenary sent in to hunt The Jackal, an arms dealer contributing to both sides in the war, players navigate through sweeping forests, plains and intricate jungles with a wide range of vehicles, from boats to hang gliders.

Malaria is also a factor, requiring the player to treat it with medicine or risk death, and there are limited healing supplies. The world itself feels alive with various animals roaming about, and physics influencing the environment, like fire that spreads naturally to surroundings. It’s not the most story-driven experience but the survival mechanics coupled with simply exploring the world as your Buddies lay out the next objective is still fairly unique.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Arguably the most influential open world title of the past few years, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild isn’t about pursuing icons or clearing out question marks. Instead, it emphasizes freedom and open exploration, as players can go anywhere and tackle just about anything in their quest to defeat Ganon. The game’s sandbox nature, which rewards ingenuity, is still amazing as fans continue to discover unique things after all these years.

Yagata Forest – Ghost of Tsushima

According to legends, the spirits of fallen samurai reside in the trees of Yagata Forest, apparently whispering among themselves. Jin will eventually investigate the legend and encounter hanging bodies before fighting off bandits. The bandits are revealed to be leveraging the legend and causing trouble for anyone who stumbled into the forest. But even with that aside, it’s the quiet, foreboding atmosphere that contributes to the spookiness more than anything else.

Don’t Starve Together

Expanding upon Klei Entertainment’s excellent survival experience, Don’t Starve Together is more than just the base game with co-op mechanics. It offers three modes – Survival, which turns dead players into ghosts that drain the sanity of the living; Wilderness, which puts each player in a random location; and Endless, where players can respawn endlessly. With its plethora of content – from DLC like Reign of Giants, Shipwrecked and Hamlet to new characters and free updates – Don’t Starve Together remains one of the premiere multiplayer survival experiences.

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.