Dark Souls II …For 2014
Played on: Xbox 360
Dark Souls II
After writing a full review, some musical analysis and an entire yearlong retrospective, I’m not short on thoughts about Dark Souls II.
This is a sequel that occupies the same tough spot Deus Ex: Invisible War once did; a follow-up standing in the shadow of a monumental predecessor. So if Dark Souls II does fall short of the mark, you could blame expectations, though perhaps not as much as its troubled development or overreaching in scope.
Dark Souls II is not the strict improvement it should have been, but it’s still a very fun RPG with a lot to offer. Whereas Dark Souls III sometimes lacks its own identity because of how much it dwells on past lore, Dark Souls II tries to tell its own story whilst still adhering to the brutal sensibilities fans have come to expect. It’s a huge adventure and one with three quality DLC episodes for those craving even more.
At the time of writing, online support for the Dark Souls trilogy on PC has been suspended because of dangerous exploits found in each game’s code. Hopefully Bandai Namco can fix this situation soon so the community can organise their next unofficial “Return” event for all three titles.
Bloodborne …For 2015
Played on: PlayStation 4
Bloodborne
The second straight entry for FromSoftware here is their PlayStation 4 exclusive that stepped away from the medieval fantasy land of armoured soldiers and fire-breathing dragons for the werewolf-infested streets of a blood-drenched nightmare.
Bloodborne doesn’t have quite the same replay value as Souls and it’s probably not as accessible either, but the immersive setting and skilful combat design more than make up for it.
Players are cast as hunters in a dark Victorian world where vile beasts terrorizing the townships are merely appetizers for horrors yet to be seen by mortal eyes. As much as Bloodborne feels like a Souls game in execution, the tone is very different as players investigate a conspiracy with truly cosmic proportions.
This is a grimly beautiful RPG and it’s one that only gets darker and more poignant with the addition of its rock-hard DLC expansion, The Old Hunters.
A hypothetical remastered release of Bloodborne with enhanced graphics and a smoother frame rate feels long overdue. Seven years later, however, this dream is still yet to be realised.
Dark Souls III …For 2016
Played on: PC
Dark Souls III
Another video game, another masterpiece. We’re firmly in the period now where FromSoftware could do no wrong.
Dark Souls III was billed as the finale to the Souls franchise and in 2022 at least, that pledge has been upheld. It’s the best entry in the now hallowed series; a leaner adventure than Dark Souls II yet all the better for it.
Players awaken from their grave as an “Ashen” warrior who ventures from the kingdom of Lothric to claim the souls of four great lords who abandoned their duty to the First Flame. Thus players set out to unearth another dying world where respite is fleeting and every lifeform still standing poses a threat.
Whilst the presentation has some indulgent overtones, there’s no denying how much fun Dark Souls III is or how replayable its densely packed levels are when players have so many diverse character builds to consider. A password system makes cooperative multiplayer a breeze, which is great because returning to Lothric is always better when you have some buddies along for the ride. (I’m planning to start my ninth campaign soon.)
I never reviewed the game’s two expansion DLCs, Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City, but rest assured, they’re both excellent additions that provide a fitting epilogue to this incredible series.
Sonic Mania …For 2017
Played on: PC
Sonic Mania
2017 was another year where I saw fewer new releases, mainly because I couldn’t rip myself away from the Dark Souls trilogy long enough to play many. Sonic Mania proved to be a nice exception. I’d long since given up on Sonic, but early previews of this entry made it clear the new development team had their heart in the right place.
The idea of Sonic Mania is to realise the Sonic game fans never got to see in the Sega Saturn days: a sumptuous 32-bit feast of old school platforming and delightful chiptunes.
There isn’t much narrative depth to speak of, but the presentation is sweet as sugar and packed with sight gags and references not just to the Sonic games of yore but also Sega’s entire backlog of 16-bit favourites.
Lead Developer Christian Whitehead & co. would build on this success with a revamped release called Sonic Mania Plus which introduces new tweaks, characters, and a remixed campaign mode. It’s a satisfying encore to the best outing the Hedgehog has had in a very long time.
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