Pirates, zombies, aliens and ghosts - there is something of everything. Gamescom offers gamers the prospect of a colorful portfolio of games that are intended to sweeten autumn and winter. ntv.de has played the new titles.
Two years of Corona break are enough: Gamescom is back with all its peculiarities. Video game enthusiasts, long lines, crazy costumes and of course big game announcements. Even though several of the largest and most popular developers are missing from the fair this year alongside Sony, Nintendo and EA Sports, there are plenty of gaming highlights that gamers can look forward to in the coming autumn and winter. ntv.de presents some of the most interesting titles.
"A Plague Tale: Requiem" (Release 18. Oktober 2022)
The rats are loose, or rather back, because the sequel "A Plague Tale: Requiem" follows on almost seamlessly from its predecessor from 2019 and makes the sea of hungry rodents a central pillar of the story about the siblings Amicia and Hugo in 14th-century France. The action-adventure in the third-person perspective only takes small steps in terms of gameplay, but after playing the 45-minute demo it is clear that the atmosphere, staging of the story and graphics should top the predecessor again.
Amicia is much more flexible in the combat system and there are also more options when creating projectiles for the slingshot. Overall, making a mistake in the game doesn't feel as final as it did in its predecessor: a misstep was tantamount to death. Once spotted by enemies, Amicia now manages to hide from enemies again. The attacks of the French soldiers are also no longer automatically the interim end for the player. Also impressive is the enormous level of detail of the game world, which has become significantly larger. Especially on the powerful PCs and the new generation of consoles, "A Plague Tale: Requiem" is a real feast for the eyes - albeit often in the dingy setting of the Middle Ages.
"Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed" (Release 18. Oktober 2022)
"I ain't afraid of no ghost" was the motto of Peter Vankman and Co. in the films of the 80s. The new video game adaptation "Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed" will not stir up great fears of ghosts, but will bring the charm and fun factor of the franchise to consoles and PC. The game by Illfonic is mainly based on the multiplayer mode, in which four ghost hunters in a team have to capture a ghost. You can also slip into the role of the spiritual troublemaker with the aim of escaping the Ghostbusters and haunting the game area.
When playing at Gamescom, the four-on-one multiplayer makes a strong impression. Armed with a proton beam and PKE meter, both hunting and being a ghost is a lot of fun. The possibility of hiding in objects and panicking visitors to a museum, for example as a walking garbage bag, somehow captures the humor of the cult flick quite aptly. In addition, the levels and especially the headquarters of the Ghostbusters are full of loving details. In addition to the "ECTO-1" emergency vehicle, there are also the lockers of the original ghost hunters - there is also a guest appearance by actor Dan Aykroyd.
"Skull and Bones" (Release 8. November 2022)
One of Gamescom's few big triple-A giants comes from Ubisoft. With "Skull and Bones", the French developer brings a "Pirates of the Caribbean" feeling to the next-gen consoles, with an emphasis on sea combat. A real pirate ship fighting game, which of course comes up with a huge open world.
Showreels for single and multiplayer mode can be seen at Gamescom. And that's where it becomes clear: multiplayer will be the core element of "Skull and Bones". Although you can also embark on raids alone, there is a stronger dynamic in cooperation with other players. You can customize your own battle cutter to suit your play style, but in co-op it is useful when different types of ships set sail. It is untypical for Ubisoft that there is no campaign in the game, storywise you are limited to various non-playable characters who are clients of forays. Visually, the whole thing looks grippingly good, especially the representation of waves is not for people who get seasick easily.
"Dead Island 2" (Release 3. Februar 2023)
Gamers have to be patient a little longer for the zombie ego slasher "Dead Island 2", but patience is known to pay off. Fans of the predecessor had to wait ten years for a sequel anyway, what are a few months. And the developers at Dambuster Studios are putting together a brilliant and brutal first-person action RPG. Zombie hunting takes place in several very realistic looking locations in Los Angeles, and with a whole range of unconventional weapons. There are also shooting irons, but the focus is on close combat. Katana sword, electric Wolverine claws, wrench - the walking undead can be dismantled in many ways.
Press representatives were allowed to let off steam on the Santa Monica Pier for around half an hour. Result: "Dead Island 2" is a treat for splatter fans. Although you are guided through the levels in a straight line, the areas still seem spacious. Six playable characters offer different abilities and, according to the developers, all have their own brand of humor, although it is actually black throughout the game. The player himself is also infected with the zombie virus, but immune. At times, however, he can fall into a kind of frenzy - then everything is shredded with his bare hands that is not in the trees in three.
"Scars Above" (Spring 2023)
The sci-fi game "Scars Above" from developer Prime Matter could be a little surprise. At first glance, the game evokes memories of the bullet hell shooter "Returnal", but the approach is slightly different, and the setting has significantly more mystery elements. The plot begins with a huge extraterrestrial structure suddenly appearing over the earth. A team of scientists and engineers are transported across space to an alien planet in an attempt to make contact. Players take on the role of Dr. Kate Ward, who must find her crew and solve the planet's mystery.
When playing, everything seemed incredibly coherent. Great optics of the planet, good gunplay, easy to understand crafting system, coupled with an interesting story. In addition, combat is more about cleverness than firepower. After all, the protagonist is a scientist and not an elite soldier. Exploiting enemy weak points and using elemental attacks play a large part in developing strategies to eliminate enemies as effectively as possible. At the press event, the developers revealed that the spring of 2023 is the target release period.
