Halo Infinite
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Halo Infinite is going to be a huge launch this holiday. The latest title in the long running sci-fi FPS series promises a large open world campaign, and a expectedly excellent online multiplayer component. The multiplayer part of the game will be free to play, as many fps games are opting to do now-a days, meaning the player base for this Halo game will be huge. With a variety of game modes, Halo multiplayer has a little something for everyone. The recent technical tests for the game have given gamers a taste of what 343 has been cooking up, and boy is it feeling good. The usual excellent Halo gunplay is there, along with some welcome additions, such as mantling, crouch slides, a grappling hook (awesome), as well as some other nice gadgets to vary how you approach combat. The graphics are crisp, performance is good, and the sounds design is all around superb. Halo Infinite has the potential to be one of the greatest Halo games ever, so go ahead and keep this one on your radar. The multiplayer component will launch December 8th, while the campaigns release date has yet to be narrowed down, though it is expected before the end of 2021.
Battlefield 2042
Modern-futuristic Battlefield is back, departing from the series recent foray into more historical eras of warfare. DICE has gone all in on making this entry in the Battlefield series the ultimate multiplayer game, with the decision to retire the single player campaign. With this added focus, the game will feature a more grand presentation. The player count has been upped this year, with up 128 players duking it out. The sheer scope of these larger battles will definitely make for some chaotic moments. Additionally, these large maps will keep things interesting for players with hazards such as tornadoes and sandstorms, adding an element of unpredictability to keep you on your toes. You will be able to commandeer a variety of vehicles or fight boot-on the grind, just like other Battlefield games. Players will be able to choose between 10 different specialists, each with their own unique abilities and gear. Additional specialists are expected to be added as the game grows. These specialists are also able to customize their weapons on the fly. You can add or remove attachments on your weapons on the fly, without needing to respawn or crawl through a bunch of menu screens. All in all, it looks like DICE has gone all in on creating the biggest most bombastic Battlefield yet. Gamers can try the game out for themselves this weekend, in the open beta that runs from Oct 8th – 9th ( people who preordered gain early access on 10/6).
Back4Blood
Coop. Shooting zombies. The perfect combo, as any fan of the Left 4 Dead Franchise would tell you. For years fans have yearned for a sequel to Valve’s hit Left 4 Dead 2, and finally they are close to getting their hands on one. Well, kind of. Back 4 Blood is made from the same developers who created the Left 4 Dead Franchise, Turtle Rock Studios. No longer a part of Valve studios, the team decided to create their own coop zombie shooter and bring their new ideas to life.
Though essentially a spiritual successor to the Left 4 Dead Games, Back 4 Blood is looking to differentiate itself from the past, while keeping the core gameplay that people still enjoy. First off is the emphasis of player choice in the perk-card system players will use. Before each game, players will be able to create a deck of “cards” (buffs and abilities, such as faster reload speeds, or better melee damage, that sort of thing). These cards will allow players to come up with builds that compliment their playstyle or role in the group. Additional perks will be character specific, so players will want to synergize and compliment the strengths of the different characters they can select.
The game also emphasizes a bigger challenge level. More infected to kill and less ammo will keep groups on their toes as they manage the resources they need to survive. The card system also applies to your enemy, so certain levels might have a modifier that gives the infected helmets, rendering your carefully aimed headshots ineffective.
Overall Back 4 Blood looks to build on the great foundation that the studios previous games built, and combines that with modernized gameplay that is up to today’s standards for shooters. This means aiming down sights, sprinting and vaulting, and modern visuals; the sort of stuff that seems standard now a days! If you loved Left 4 Dead or just enjoy coop shooters, this game looks like it is going to be a ton of fun. Back 4 Blood launches October 12th 2021.
New World
New World is an open world MMO produced by Amazon Games. The premise of the game is, in the dev’s own words, “Carve your destiny: Fate has summoned you to the shores of Aeternum, the Eternal Isle. Overcome the brutal legions of The Corrupted and draw battle lines with competing players in this land of danger and opportunity. In a land hell-bent on your destruction, what will you do to survive? Strike out alone to forge your own heroic path, or band together, fortify, and fight.”
In addition to the tried and tested MMO-formula, New World packs in some unique features, such as player run companies, and large scale faction-based PVP wars. The combat system as well is a unique feature, with the game sporting a real time action based system, instead of the click and wait system that many MMOs employ.
New World also features a pretty fleshed out crafting system and a “use to improve” skill system. That is to say, that similar to something like say the Elder Scrolls games, if you use a sword, you gain proficiency with that weapon and unlock skills and abilities for that equipment.
Crafting is fairly extensive, with resource gathering mechanics that you can use to create consumables, weapons, armor, apparel and home furnishings. There are 7 crafting skills you can level, which include Armoring, Arcana, Cooking, Engineering, Furnishing, Jewelcrafting, and Weaponsmithing. Additionally, levelable gathering skills feed in to these crafting skills, You can fish, harvest, log, mine, and skin hunted animals for resources used in crafting. Lastly, these resources can be refined into higher quality components for use in crafting through refining skills. These include smelting, stonecutting, tanning, weaving, and woodworking. As with the the other ways of leveling up your skills, you get better by doing these things.
New World has had a successful launch, barring the que issues that plague just about any large multiplayer launch these days. The game is already tremendously popular, and its style of game play is attracting even non MMO fans. As with any game of this type, how it evolves over time will determine the long term popularity, but so far things look to be headed in a fantastic direction. If you are a fan of MMOs or even just open world RPGs, you will definitely want to give this game a gander.
Far Cry 6
Far Cry 6 sees a return to the beloved tropical island setting of the earlier games in the series. In FC 6 you play as Dani Rojas, an underdog who is quickly caught up in a guerilla warfare campaign against an oppressively dictatorship. In typical Far Cry fashion, the main villain plays a central role in the games story. In this case Ubisoft have employed the talent of A-list actor Giancarlo Esposito, who you may recognize from his role as Gustavo Fring in Breaking Bad. The setting is clearly inspired by Cuba, and may as well be Cuba in all but name, but nonetheless you are tasked with liberating Yara. If you have played a Far Cry game, by now you know what to expect. A vast open world, full of collectibles, camps to clear, and plenty of choice in how you do so, whether you decide to play stealthy or go guns blazing. The most notable new addition to your standard weapons loadout is a backpack known in game as ‘El Supremo’. This backpack acts as a special ability, working as a flamethrower, rocket launcher, or EMP. Additionally, you can choose from a variety of animal companions to join you in your fight, such as Chorizo, a loveable little dachshund in a wheelchair who can distract enemies with his irresistible cuteness, or if you are feeling as a bit more aggressive, perhaps you roll with Guapo the crocodile, who can come in and mess up your enemies as you would expect a croc to do. If you are looking for an open world FPS game with some interesting story beats, than FC6 will be right up your alley.
There you have it, each one of these games could easily keep you entertained through the remainder of the year. You’ll want to get the most of these new titles, so why not treat yourself to a custom or prebuilt CyberPowerPC. Head on over to https://www.cyberpowerpc.com/ to see our latest sales and deals!