Amid Evil
The revival shooter genre is now fully a thing we can’t pretend is no longer a thing. For decades we’ve seen the first-person shooter genre go into multiple directions, mating with other genres in the process. Seemingly, the end goal was to create a cinematic experience that felt more interactive and direct compared to that of what was showing in the cinemas. Half-Life got the ball rolling, but as time rolled on games began to forget that they needed to be fun and playable.
What we ended up with was a number of titles replicating one another, following on from whichever series was big at the time. Things become predictable and stale. In a way, they copied Hollywood perfectly.
But then came the revival of old school shooter principles. Hiding behind boxes while you regenerate health, GONE. Only carrying a limited amount of weaponry, GONE. Slamming button prompts to add drama to a cutscene, GONE. In their place, level design that plays to the strengths of the concept. A range of weapons that adds more spice to proceedings than 5 ghost chillis and a Wu-Tang Clan album. Enemies with differing attacks, behaviours, and gibs.
2019 saw a bevy of shooters that fall firmly in the revival caste, though they each differ in the deity they worship. Amid Evil’s inspirations come from genre greats Hexen & Quake, complete with the pace you’d expect. As with any work that owes its existence to inspiration, there’s always the risk of simply copying and failing to move from outside of the shadow of the old gods. Amid Evil, thankfully, side strafes into the light.
Traditional weapon sets take a back seat in favour of an array of magical tools. Every single one of those tools comes with its own secondary fire, each one trembling the gonads more than the last. Amid Evil not only understands the core reasons to why Hexen and Quake work so well but appreciates that it has far more room to play around with. Enemies don’t attack from one position, nor do they simply act as fodder. They can dodge, reflect, chase, flank, retreat.
Each level oozes with personality, boasting some of the finest art direction in the last 5 years of video games. Add to that a soundtrack that thumps the ear and tickles the heart.
Amid Evil could have easily cashed in on ‘remember the 90s?’ but it’s far from a needle into a nostalgic vein. The smoothness of its gameplay, design of its encounters, levels, and weapons, everything. It’s all so confident. Sometimes video games don’t need to break new ground to be masterpieces, they just need a gun that fires black holes.
Resident Evil 2.2
Remakes in cinema tend to be the ‘break in case of emergency’ thing to resort to when a studio runs out of ideas. Video games are starting to do the same thing, but with varying results. Some are the Oldboy video games, others the Suspira. Resident Evil 2.2 thankfully falls into the latter. Instead of simply referring to the original, I’ll dedicate more time to celebrate why the remake was so good.
Zombies. The thing that never dies, both literally and figuratively. They come and go in relevance to pop culture. How do you kill what has no life? Simple, you ban them on twitter, but this isn’t an option in Resident Evil 2.2. It’s always tricky to make something the most common enemy yet maintain a sense of threat. Capcom managed this by utilizing the most of established zombie rules…while ignoring one of them.
Headshots don’t really matter. We have to get passed that, but it makes sense. If Leon popped off a very shuffling hunk of meat creeping towards him with ease, the game wouldn’t be that intense. Instead, those bitey boys (and gals) take bullets like Microsoft takes studios. Similar to Dead Space, it forces the player to rethink their approach. Suddenly the much ignored shot to the leg is more valuable than a clean blow to the head. Not only is it more efficient, but it also showcases the wonderful animation the game has to offer. Bolting back from the impact of damage, only to return to their hungry pursuit. It’s terrifying to witness, especially when bullets are low and health even lower.
Mr.X may have become a meme lord, but his role in the overall experience does add a genuine quality. Video games tend to make us feel like the hunter chasing the prey, Mr.X flips that notion on its head. It’s nice to feel vulnerable in a horror experience, what a novel concept. Of course, production values are high. Resident Evil 2.2 is capable of pulling off deeply moody imagery. Shadows and light engage in passionate tango, producing dread through every dimly lit corridor and tunnel. Hell, even Leon’s luscious hair warms the cockles.
Resident Evil 2.2 looks, plays, sounds and probably even smells great. I loved it. Even the Tofu mini-game.
Islanders
It’s the rules that anyone who writes anything about video games has to pick that one indie game. In a huge plot twist, mine has nothing to do with a goose.
Islanders was on the Steam recently released tab for about 15 seconds. I managed to catch it, look at it and make an ‘oooooh’ sound. It’s a puzzle game first and foremost, crossbred with a city builder. You’re given a small island and selection of buildings to build upon it. Each respective structure offers a point value that can be decreased or increased depending on what is around it. The concept is simple, so simple it becomes part of the challenge.
Islands get bigger and bigger the further you progress, with additional elements to ponder. From mountains cracking through the surface to bodies of water disrupting the landscape. Each stretch of land needs to be utilized to its maximum potential in order to succeed.It’s a hook that keeps on attracting. ‘What if I put this here, next to that but use the water for this’ the sheer amount of ‘what ifs’ keeps the gameplay loop feverishly addictive. Best of all, Islanders can be nibbled on in short sessions, or consumed through hours of play. It never outstayed its welcome, nor does it ever become a chore.
Simple, smart and special, Islander is a true treat.
Ion Fury
I’ve already waxed lyrical over the revival shooter genre, in truth I could do it all day. Where Amid Evil shines as a modern game, with modern tech, creating something great, Ion Fury is something a little different. Using EDuke32, Ion Fury brings together a combination of old tech with new techniques to craft a lovely slice of FPS.
Black Mesa – Xen Levels
Sure, I’m cheating…sort of. Black Mesa has been in development for longer than most teenage boys. While the core game has been out for some time, being warmly received, there was always that one question lingering. How will they handle Xen?
The black mark on every Half-Life game, if you want to be mean about it even mods tend to mess it up. Xen was never anyone’s favourite part of the Half-Life games. It’s dull, poorly paced and often painful. The Crowbar Collective had a hell of a task in front of them to make Xen even slightly enjoyable. But here we are, Xen is out and it’s more wonderful than we could have ever imagined.
A complete rework that gives Xen a true sense of being. Gone are the floating chunks of rock, in their place we find a fleshed out alien environment. It’s stunning, curious and filled with environmental storytelling. To cap it all off, the final boss encounter has went from big alien in a nappy to a leviathan of realms. Xen is Black Mesa’s crown jewel and proves, yet again, that mods are one of the most important aspects of video games.
World of Warcraft Classic
It’s World of Warcraft, again.
The odd state of Classic represents some problems we’ve not seen before in this genre on a grand scale. Literally, everything is known about the game. From the bugs, mechanics, quests and theory craft. There’s nothing new to discover. Yet it remains compelling.
I won’t pretend the game is perfect, especially when the players are the game’s biggest issue (hence Blizzard’s choice to add Battlegrounds much earlier than expected to try and halt world pvp. Yes, it was that bad, nearly unplayable). On the plus side, it’s great to play an MMORPG that forces players to be social and doesn’t feel like a jazzed up Facebook game.
Blood: Fresh Supply
It’s Blood but improved to run on modern systems. Don’t really need to say much else. Caecux infirmux!
Mordhau
Swords, axes, maces, arrows, steel, chain, leather, blood, lutes. Mordhau was 2019’s best competitive multiplayer game, period. Its combat system allows for both master and apprentice to enjoy their time equally. If you don’t want to fight, just play the lute instead, it’s fine…in fact, you might even earn yourself some bodyguards.
It’s been a long time since I was able to chomp into a thick cut of multiplayer mayhem that has made me chuckle so much. Mordhau can be the best video comedy you’ve played, only to switch to some deeply intense engagements. Every single weapon carries a sense of weight, a trait which carries the entire experience on its back. That heavy thud when crumpling a steel breastplate is a hell of a thing.
Small duels break out across the wider battlefield, each one telling a story. Each of them as unique as the other. Mordhau is special.
Sekiro: Shadow Die Twice
I beat all the other From Software games, apart from this one. Yet it remains a highlight of 2019. The frustration I felt falling to each and every single boss. My strategies failing time and time again. Rethinking my approach, learning new methods, relearning discarded ones. Those precious seconds between a dodge and a death. A feeling of relief and victory when a troublesome foe hits the ground in defeat. Glorious. Then it reattached its head and murdered me.
Blazing Chrome
This game gave me a bowl cut. I reviewed it so go read that to hear why it’s one of 2019’s best – https://monstervine.com/2019/08/blazing-chrome-review-brilliance-bowl-cuts/
Honourable mentions –
Greed Fall/Remnants From The Ashes: The middle market was alive and well in 2019, with these two standing proudly. Woo!
The Surge 2: Will forever be cursed under ‘it’s like Dark Souls’ but should be celebrated for adding to the genre rather than simply just being part of it.
Disco Elysium: It’s nice to have an RPG that’s an actual RPG. It’s also cool the Western press can know learn the name of a third Eastern European developer.
