January's Most Exciting Games
- Jan 12, 2017
- 4 min read
Many gamers would argue that in recent years, gaming has had a bit of a slump. But 2017 looks to be able to change all of that, and it's not waiting around. Right off the bat, 2017 is delivering some great games. Here are the most exciting ones coming in January.
Gravity Rush 2
January 20th (PlayStation 4)
I'm actually surprised that Gravity Rush is receiving a sequel, let-alone a sequel made on the PlayStation 4 rather than the PlayStation Vita. Not because the original was a bad game (on the contrary, Gravity Rush was a brilliant title, on both PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4), but because it seemed like a rather niche game. Still, Sony has proven in the past that they are more than willing to push niche titles if they're good, and that's exactly the case with Gravity Rush 2 if the review are to be believed.
Just as in the original Gravity Rush, players will be playing as Kat, a girl whose pet cat grants her a number of gravity-defying powers. The combat is great, the gameplay is fun, and the characters are charming. What more can you really want from a video game?
If you're eager to check out Gravity Rush 2 and haven't done so already, head over to the PlayStation Store where you can download a free demo of the upcoming JRPG.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
January 20th (Nintendo 3DS)
When the original Dragon Quest VIII launched for the PlayStation 2 in Japan back in 2004, it was hailed as gaming royalty. The series has always enjoyed a strong following in its home region, but over in the west, Dragon Quest isn't quite the behemoth franchise. A large number of Dragon Quest games have not come west for this exact reason, but it seems that Square Enix have been really trying recently. The PlayStation 4 exclusives Dragon Quest Heroes and Dragon Quest Builders have both been well received, and the upcoming games Dragon Quest XI and Dragon Quest Heroes II are both highly anticipated amongst gamers.
With the series targeting a family audience, and its often exaggerated art style, it's easy to see why Dragon Quest has never been granted the same universal praise as stablemate Square Enix franchise, Final Fantasy.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King builds upon the 2004 original by adding more characters and a new dungeon, and also does away with those random battles. Though the gameplay may feel dated for some, and its combat and storyline rather simplistic at times, others may find its old-fashioned, nostalgia-inducing focus some of its many charms.
If you're a fan of JRPGs, or you just like a good game, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King should definitely be on your radar this month.
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue
January 24th (PlayStation 4)
Not the best name I've ever seen for a video game, but don't let that deter you. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue contains a remastered collection of previously released Kingdom Hearts, some of which have never been on a PlayStation system, and also includes the brand new adventure Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep - A Fragmentary Passage (...Jesus).
With a second collection of remasters due in March (that collection actually containing remasters of Kingdom Hearts I & II, plus a few others), this collection is intended to help bridge the gap between some of the narratives. And when combined with the remasters due in March, together they will give PlayStation 4 owners the entire series so far, on a single platform, before the release of Kingdom Hearts III sometime later this year or in 2018.
The Kingdom Hearts series has always been a bit of an oddball to me. I can't imagine somebody making a pitch for a game that combines the characters and world of Final Fantasy and Disney, but hey, it's fun, and that's all that matters.
Resident Evil VII: Biohazard
January 24th (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
We finally come to the first game on our list which isn't a JRPG, though it is still a Japanese-developed game.
Never before have I seen a game go back to its roots yet at the same time be completely different, and do it all miraculously so well. With the most obvious comparison being that of P.T., the demo of the now cancelled Silent Hills game, Resident Evil VII: Biohazard looks literally terrifying. Hell, I even had a hard time getting through the demo I was so scared.
Playing a Resident Evil game in first-person may feel weird for some, and in all honesty, being trapped in a house with some mental family doesn't ring Resident Evil with me as good as shooting some zombies does, but regardless of its name, this is the survival-horror game to look out for in 2017. Resident Evil VII is also the first major game to support PlayStation VR from beginning to end (VR mode is exclusive to PlayStation 4 for 1 year).
If you haven't yet, go and download the free demo of the game (available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC) so you can get a little taste of what's to come on January 24th. And if you're really brave, the demo also has support for PlayStation VR...
Yakuza 0
January 24th (PlayStation 4)
This wacky Japanese GTA has already released back in its homeland, but it's only just coming to the west this month. Yakuza has always seemed to be a franchise that could be bigger if given the right marketing, and Sony seem to really want to push the series now.
Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the original game released in 2005 (which is actually being completely remade for PlayStation 4 under the name Yakuza Kiwami, due out this year also) and takes place in 1988. In addition to beating up all manner of thugs and goons with not one, not two, but three kickass fighting styles, players can also kill time in 80s Japan by going to discos and attending hostess clubs, to even visiting SEGA arcades.
Yakuza 0 is a great place for new players to get started, and with the remake of the first Yakuza game, Yakuza Kiwami, also due this year, and the the next entry in the series, Yakuza 6, coming west next year, there's never been a better time to jump into the franchise.
What games are you looking forward to this month? Let us know in the comments.
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