At the beginning of 2021 we took a look at ten games we said to look forward to this year. Now that the year is over though, it’s time to look back at what we said and see how things worked out.
Balan Wonderworld
The first game developed by Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima since the release of Nights into Dreams, Balan Wonderworld looks to be a return to the classic platformers of the Sega Saturn but taking advantage of modern systems. Balan Wonderworld seems to have a similar setup to Nights as it follows two characters, Leo Craig and Emma Cole, as they follow Balan through Wonderworld. There will be many different costumes to find that will give you new abilities, and the overall look of the game just gives the feel of a return to the classics. You will be able to enjoy Balan Wonderwold on every platform when it launches.
Holy sh*t, what happened here? This is an example of how to take all the goodwill you built up over the years and throw it away. Balan Wonderworld was a mess from the word go, with all buttons having the same function, poor level design, poorly thought out abilities and horrific optimization on some systems. Far from a return to Nights Into Dreams, this was a sad return to Sonic 06.
Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny
The newest entry into the long-running Disgaea series, Disgaea 6 will be the first in the series to feature 3D visuals and some new interesting features. The game will let players get through combat quickly as it will have a number of different speeds, ranging from 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, and 32x speeds. There is also an auto-battle function included and refinement to classic elements and abilities. You will be introduced to a cast of interesting new characters, but you will also see old favourites return as well. You can enjoy Disgaea 6 when it releases on Nintendo Switch this year.
Disgaea 6 was a nice entry that managed to take the series in a new direction graphically, while still being true to its roots. The game built up on the solid foundation that came before and the new combat and gameplay mechanics were a welcome addition. Suffice to say that this one more than lived up to expectations
Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter World was an amazing game in the franchise and took the series in an interesting direction. Now the franchise is heading back to Nintendo Switch with the first entry using the RE engine as well, for what you will find to be a neat blend of styles. This action RPG looks to be a mix of the new innovations from Monster Hunter World, with elements of the classic games while also throwing in new ideas as well. You may very well find this to be the most innovative entry in the series yet, with a solid story lined up and new monsters along with returning favourites.
To say this game was a success would be an understatement. Monster Hunter Rise managed to take what was done in Monster Hunter World and bring it to the next level while bringing in elements of the classic style. Both a sales success and critical darling, Monster Hunter Rise was a major bright spot in 2021 and a game Capcom can be proud of.
Shin Megami Tensei V
You may remember that this was announced way back at the reveal event for the Nintendo Switch. Shin Megami Tensei V will be the first entry in the series to use Unreal Engine 4 and will also be the first to have a simultaneous worldwide release to the delight of many. We still do not know many details about the plot other than Lucifer is involved and the game takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting, but with a 2021 release date confirmed, and outstanding visuals in the trailers we do have, Shin Megami Tensei V looks to be an absolute treat.
Well, this aged like fine wine. Shin Megami Tensei V has proved to be the best entry in the series so far, taking the games to a fully open-world and having much deeper gameplay. Quests and side quests matter here and exploring feels amazing as there is always something new to find. This is easily one of the best RPGs to release in 2021.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Fans of Warhammer 40,000 and the Vermintide games rejoice. You will be able to play a 40K game starring the non-Astartes figures like the Imperial Guard taking on the hoards of chaos in a co-op fps that looks to offer a lot of variety. You will have a multitude of classes to choose from, and you can even play as an Ogryn in this game. With excellent looking visuals and fast-paced action, Warhammer 40,000 Darktide looks to bring the grimdark worlds of 40K to life like never before. You will be able to play this on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
Sadly there is not much to say here, the game was delayed to give it more time in development. Its not the only one on this list.
Rune Factory 5
The Rune Factory series is a very beloved action RPG that acts as a cross between the Mana series and Story of Seasons ( classic Harvest Moon if you are unaware), and its fourth entry had an excellent port to Nintendo Switch with new content. Now the fifth main entry is on the way and the game is looking fantastic again, with 3D visuals, new combat mechanics, and more day-to-day life options and events. You may be attracted to the combat, but the farming and interactions with the community will quickly win you over when this launches on Nintendo Switch
Sadly this too saw a delay and will now release in 2022.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart will be both a follow-up to Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus as well as a new starting point for players to jump into the series. This will be a tech showcase for the PlayStation 5, as the game’s main gimmick will see you navigate between different environments in almost instant sped. The developers are touting the use of real-time near-instantaneous travel between different areas, planets, and other worlds within gameplay scenes and the game will have significantly reduced loading times to make everything seamless. There will also be an optional “performance mode” where you will be able to run the game at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, making this a game that will be a must-have on PS5.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart had a lot to live up to in terms of expectations and hype, and it met those expectations perfectly. The visuals are stunning and the gameplay sections look like a cinematic experience, while the actual gameplay is some of the best the series has ever seen. If there was ever a game to show off how amazing the PS5 is, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is it.
Gran Turismo 7
Gran Turismo is a racing series with a proud legacy. The games helped move racing games away from the arcade style to the sim style that is now more pervasive. The series has always been about pushing racing games forward with new innovations and Gran Turismo 7 looks to be no different. There is a lot of potential as well here for how the game will use not only the PlayStation 5 console to do new things, but also the PS5 Dualsense controller to interact with the game on a new level.
Yet another delay on the list, here is hoping it will knock our socks off when it does come out.
Neo: The World Ends With You
The World Ends With You is finally getting a sequel and it looks to be changing things up a bit. There will be a new perspective for the world that may remind you of the Persona series, but the combat and RPG mechanics have also gotten a reworking here to adapt to modern systems. You will encounter a new cast of characters, along with some returning favourites, and the music you hear will again be provided by Takeharu Ishimoto, who will give the game its trademark sound. There will be plenty of surprises as well, so you should be excited to play this on PS4 and Nintendo Switch when it launches.
Neo: The World Ends with You had a tough task ahead of itself. It had to take a beloved RPG and develop a follow-up with reworked controls. The execution was flawless here and what we have is an action RPG that definitely does feel like something out of Persona. Sadly the game did not perform well sales-wise and it may be a while before we see a second return.
Ghostwire: Tokyo
The latest title from Shinji Mikami’s studio Tango Gameworks, Ghostwire: Tokyo is something different from the games you usually play. A mix of action-adventure and fps, you will use psychic abilities to deal with ghosts and spirits haunting Tokyo, who have invaded after all of Tokyo’s citizens disappeared. There will also be a mystery for you to solve, and amazing looking visuals to take in. This is a game that looks to be trying something new, and could very well be a major hit this year on PlayStation 5 and PC. The game will come to Xbox next year, due to Microsoft not doing away with the timed exclusivity Bethesda negotiated with Sony before the Microsoft purchase.
And the list ends with another delay.
Well, here is to 2022. Expect a new list sometime soon.