Games of the Year 2021 | Team Talk17/12/2021  While The Game Awards may have decided the Game of the Year is (the admittedly marvelous) It Takes Two, we all know picking the absolute best experience players have had this year can be a little less clear cut. How do you judge it? The game you played the most? Enjoyed the most? Was disappointed by the least? We've been doing some soul-searching as a team to find our own answers to these very questions, and we think we've each come up with something we can stand behind. So, without further ado, presenting Pass the Controller's official Games of the Year. What was your pick? Let us know in the comments.
 Halo Infinite | Chris Although it's markedly different from every Halo to come before it, Infinite is the best the series has been since Reach. The biggest drawback, as James mentioned in our review, is the omission of co-op in the campaign. Halo is at its peak when you're playing on legendary difficulty with someone by your side, pushing forward inch by inch, scavenging the battlefield for any weapons that still have ammo. Without that, the campaign still provides a good mix of intrigue and action, with Master Chief having a much more prominent role than in Guardians, even though he shares it with that other star of the show; the grappling hook. Whilst it has the potential to save one's life should you "heroically" drive a Razorback full of Marines off the side of the map because I wasn't paying attention, I tend to employ it more offensively. Unfortunately, the offended party is usually me. There's no feeling quite like pulling an explosive container towards your throwing hand and hurling it, with Spartan strength, at a very close, very indestructible, piece of level geometry. I am a bigger threat to myself, and any of the UNSC who are brave enough to tag along, than the Banished could ever hope to be. The multiplayer aspect has failed to grab me, the battle pass system pushed me away, and the absence of Firefight leaves me with little desire to explore that side any further. The campaign and grappling hook are solid enough to make Infinite my number one choice, narrowly beating Forza Horizon 5 and my Back to the Future-themed Delorean.  Resident Evil Village | Sam I’m a fan of the Resident Evil series in all of its guises. Whether it’s an action entry or a traditional survival horror instalment, there’s no doubt that I’m coming along for the ride. Village confidently marries both of these identities and has fun doing so, helping its genuine scares to simultaneously be enjoyable and endearing. RE Village, the eighth mainline entry in the franchise, features an ensemble cast of antagonists. These disparately kooky characters also operate in their own areas of the remote setting. As a result, the game feels like a Halloween theme park filled with enticing attractions you can’t help but get drawn in by. Facing fears in a safe environment can be exciting to the point of amusement, which is a giddy feeling that Village often evokes. It helps that Capcom isn’t afraid to drop great gameplay features, locations and characters to move on before they lose lustre. Lady Dimitrescu plays a minor role, for example, though made a big enough impression for Maggie Robertson to win Best Performance at The Game Awards (2021). While the structure and vibe are what really make Resident Evil Village stand out, of course, it wouldn’t be a GOTY contender without outstanding fundamentals. The gunplay and puzzles are absolutely on point, while the sense of continual character and arsenal progression makes for high replayability. It’s also worth recognising the RE Engine for achieving some near photorealistic visuals.  Liam | Hell Let Loose I first tried Hell Let Loose last year, back when the game was still in Early Access on PC before refunding it due to technical issues. Fast forward a year, and HLL was rumoured to be heading to XSX and PS5 sometime in the winter. Fortunately, these rumours turned out to be true and, even more fortunately, I was able to secure myself a Series X to play it on. I’m glad I made the decision to refund on PC, as this is most definitely a game worth enjoying properly. While it’s not breaking any new ground visually, it’s a decent looking game which is better appreciated on a big screen (not to mention a stable framerate, which my poor laptop couldn’t deliver). I enjoy a good tactical shooter, and HLL is one of the best. The combination of lethal weaponry and fragile players makes for some very intense shootouts. The lack of aim-assist and the high-recoil guns means success feels very much earned. HLL has a big focus on co-op play and communication, and I’ve been surprised to find most players are happy to talk tactics during matches. It’s an even better experience with a few friends in tow and has firmly established itself as my go-to title for the weekly multiplayer get together.  What's your 2021 Game of the Year? Let us know below.
 It’s awards season, and while every game released in these unusual times deserves extra praise, there’s still an opportunity for a chosen few to rise above the rest at The Game Awards 2021. The actual ceremony takes place on 9 December, though we already know the nominees. We’ve each picked a couple of categories in order to predict their winners. What are your predictions? Let us know in the comments.
 Move over Epona, there's a new favourite mount in town. Liam Best Sim/Strategy
Best Multiplayer
Skipping over the fact that Deathloop seems to be up for almost every award going (I was half expecting to see it crop up in “Best Family Game”), I think there’s a decent variety of titles vying for the top prizes this year. For the Best Sim/Strategy title, I have to go for Microsoft Flight Simulator. I’d already played around with the game on PC but having it available on Xbox has been an even better experience. What I like best about it is it can be as challenging or as welcoming as you want it to be. Personally, I enjoy the latter option. Picking up a pad and just cruising around distant (or even local) locations for 30 minutes or so has been a great way to unwind. Flying, it turns out, is surprisingly peaceful when it’s not sandwiched between hours of airport tedium. As for Best Multiplayer, I would have liked to have seen Hell Let Loose get nominated. Yes, I know it’s been out since last year on PC but, like MS Flight Sim, technically it did come out this year for consoles. From the options available, however, I have to go with Back 4 Blood because it was pretty good with friends and had a surprisingly fun PvP mode.  Tranquillity. In plane form. Sam Game of the Year
Best Game Direction
As a big fan of the Resident Evil franchise in all its guises, RE Village struck an excellent balance between old and new. It’s a unique blend of classic survival horror and modern action/adventure - each of its acts almost feel like separate games, though they also coexist and complement one another. Arkane Studios’ titles are typically some of my favourites, including the divisive Prey. It came as a nasty surprise to learn that Deathloop isn’t for me, then; I kept playing in the hopes that it’d finally click, but then the credits rolled... Considering its level of recognition, however, I half expect it to clean up at The Game Awards. In terms of Best Game Direction, Josef Fares and Hazelight Studios’ It Takes Two would be a worthy winner. Fares’ games so far all share a common thread - that innovation and cooperation are central to the experience. It Takes Two once again achieves that objective, building upon the foundations set by Brothers and A Way Out. Elsewhere on the list, Deathloop and Returnal already feel like outdated roguelikes by comparison to the superior design of Supermassive Games’ Hades. Psychonauts 2 and Ratchet & Clank are both excellent, though just fall short of matching the directorial prowess displayed by Hazelight.  Forget the lovely art style, it has split-screen multiplayer! That's worth an award all on its own. What nominations would you like to see win? Let us know below or in the forums.
 Forza Horizon 5 puts gamers behind the virtual wheel and transports them to Mexico. That got us thinking about some other memorable driving adventures; whether it’s on the track or out in the wilderness, racing games give players an opportunity to visit familiar and exotic locations. Where have you been? Where would you like to see the Horizon series go next? Let us know in the comments.
 Architecture such as this can only really be appreciated at 150 mph. Liam | Britain, Forza Horizon 4 Forza Horizon 4 came along at a time when I was living in Amsterdam, and though I considered that city home, it was nice to be able to revisit Britain in video game form. While the Lake District inspired vistas and streets of Edinburgh were well realised, I didn’t feel any emotional connection to them. However, much of the regular countryside you drive through in FH4, particularly in the southern areas of the map, looks remarkably like where I grew up in the south of England. It was a joy to suddenly be able to tear around a landscape so reminiscent of my home. Basic items that I’d encountered many times over the years, such as barriers, road markings and signposts, were suddenly loaded with nostalgia. I even picked some of the more bog-standard vehicles to fully replicate my youth (my household was (and still is) sadly lacking in the supercar department). I’ve since moved back to England, so all those everyday road items once again seem just that, but it was nice to be able to view them through the lens of nostalgia, if only for a little while. Now, if Playground Games could set the next Horizon game in the Netherlands, that’d be great.  Yep, just like home. Sam | Paradise City, Burnout Paradise I’ve never really been into racing games. It’s one of those genres where I’m happy to let entries pass me by, even as they get rave reviews; driving is almost never a central hook, but rather a small component that can complement larger scale projects. One notable exception, however, is Criterion Games’ Burnout Paradise. In discovering Paradise City I found a playground that was actually fun for my tastes. Speeding down busy roads at breakneck pace, jumping and smashing through billboards, wrecking competitors by ramming them into obstacles - all set to a classic rock soundtrack. While Paradise City isn’t a real location, like London or Prague, it’s basically an amalgamation of iconic places in the United States. As a result, the game feels like a quintessential North American road trip and is a treat for fans of all things Americana. Burnout Paradise Remastered makes the modern classic easily accessible, while also presenting the best rendition of Paradise City yet - it’s a win-win situation. Now, if only EA would greenlight a sequel instead of having Criterion helm the middling Need for Speed franchise.  It must be difficult building brand awareness in Paradise City with all the billboard destroying going on. What's your favourite driving adventure?
 Rockstar recently silenced all the Grand Theft Auto remaster rumours in the only way they know how – by announcing GTA: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition. This collection of GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas modernises their gameplay and visuals for a new generation. For some this will be a trip down memory lane, but for others, it’ll be their first foray into these three iconic cities. Either way, we’ve got a few ideas of what to do first in the upcoming GTA bundle. What’s your pick? Let us know in the comments.
 Level up with an ambulance | Sam The best way to start any game in the GTA Trilogy remaster collection is to make yourself overpowered. It’s easy to forget that this trio of titles can be pretty challenging, what with everybody cheating back in the day. Who knows if the same cheats will work this time, but, even if they do, it’ll probably void earning achievements and trophies. Hijack yourself an ambulance and activate the Paramedic mini-game to earn some quick cash and, more importantly, permanent boosts. Finishing all 12 levels in Grand Theft Auto III and Vice City nets players unlimited sprint stamina, while doing so in San Andreas grants a maximum health bonus. With some money and a nice character upgrade in the bag, start exploring remote corners of the rich settings in search of Hidden Packages. For every 10 of these collectibles that players find, the game grants a respawning weapon or resource pick-up at manual save points. Being able to claim an unlimited number of health, armour and ammo pick-ups is easily worth the effort. Doing this makes a big difference in itself, though a welcome side effect is learning the level layouts. No shortcuts or hidden Police Bribes will go unused during missions, making the game a magnitude more manageable.  A tour of the local area | Liam While James and Sam are right to champion some of the most appealing aspects of any GTA game – wreaking havoc, becoming a walking demigod, etc. – I’m putting forward a more peaceful suggestion. I personally enjoy a good drive around in a new GTA game. Not the pavement mounting, pedestrian endangering rampages so closely associated with the series, but a more leisurely type of drive, one that takes in all the sights and sounds of a new landscape. The best for this was San Andreas. I remember getting home from school, firing up the PS2 and just cruising around the edge of the map as I slowly took in the sights and different biomes, all while listening to some sweet tunes. If I remember rightly, it took around 45 minutes to complete a single lap, and while it isn’t exactly the most thrilling way to play the game, it was an oddly enjoyable way to unwind at the end of the day. Of course, it wasn’t entirely without danger – sometimes you’d take a wrong turn and need to double back along the motorway (into oncoming traffic, naturally) and you’d also need to ‘locate’ your vehicle of choice (preferably a Sanchez dirt bike) without alerting the local constabulary.  What do you always do first in GTA? Let us know.
 At last, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is as ultimate as it can be, with the final new character having been announced. It turns out Kingdom Hearts' Sora, the keyblade-wielding hero, was the missing ingredient, but is there a character who would have been even more fun? We decided to come up with our own suggestions. Leave yours in the comments below.
 Joanna Dark (Perfect Dark) | Liam Andrews Joanna Dark might be an Xbox associate these days, but she started out life on the N64, so I think it would have been only fitting to see her return to a Nintendo platform via Smash Bros. Ultimate. As a secret agent, she’s (presumably) well trained in hand-to-hand combat, so she wouldn’t look out of place battling against the game’s vast roster of rival characters. She’s also very proficient with weapons (that, we do know) and could have utilised a pair of Falcon 2 pistols for her ranged attack, or maybe even a SuperDragon assault rifle. She would have a range of character skins to choose from as well, as there’s plenty of customisation options available. There’s the classic blue/grey Carrington Institute agent uniform, the Area 51 lab tech outfit, and you could even throw in the Perfect Dark Zero look for an alternative option. As for a final smash, it would have to have featured Elvis, Joanna’s alien sidekick from the original game, perhaps abducting enemy players in a ship then launching them off the screen. With a new Perfect Dark game currently in development for Xbox, Joanna Dark’s inclusion in Smash would have been a nice way to mark the series’ return to the fore.  Leon Scott Kennedy (Resident Evil) | SaM Sant  Part of deciding who makes the Super Smash Bros. roster no doubt revolves around which characters have the biggest icon status within gaming. With that in mind, it’s a travesty that the Resident Evil franchise isn’t getting any proper representation. Specifically, everybody’s favourite floppy-haired cop: Leon S. Kennedy. Leon is the star of several Resident Evil stories, both in and outside of games, but is most notably the playable protagonist of both RE2 and RE4. Most will agree that these are two all-time classics, more than punching his ticket to the Smash Bros. invitational. In an even bigger injustice than Dante appearing as a Mii skin, Nintendo actually put Mr. Kennedy in Smash as part of a limited-time Resident Evil spirit event. Basically, it’s a throwaway inclusion - Leon isn’t actually playable or even available to battle against. While Chris Redfield appears in Marvel vs. Capcom, Leon could make a more impactful fighting game debut. He’d sport his signature roundhouse kick and a variety of suplexes up close, then, in keeping with his survival horror roots, draw from a limited ammo pool to shoot opponents at range. By summoning The Merchant, Leon could replenish his ammunition and either switch out or upgrade his current weapon.   With the recent release of Kena: Bridge of Spirits marking the gaming debut for animation studio Ember Lab, we started to think about other crossovers from the world of animation we'd like to see. There are plenty of transferable skills, in terms of both designing and creating the cinematics, but also the movement and emotion which bring characters to life in-game. There are plenty of game developers who already do a great job of this in their own right – Insomniac in particular spring to mind – but which film and TV animation studios might have something to offer?
 Rough Draft | Liam Like James, one of the studios I’d be tempted to pick, Studio Ghibli, have already dabbled in the world of video games with the excellent Ni No Kuni, so I’ve instead opted for Rough Draft Studios, best known for The Simpsons and Futurama. It’s the latter I’m interested in today, however, as I think a game set within New New York and beyond would be an absolute blast. Yes, I’m aware a Futurama game already came out in 2003, but the 3D shooter/platformer wasn’t anything to do with Rough Draft, as far as I know. What I’d like to see is something like the two most recent South Park titles, The Stick of Truth and The Fractured but Whole, which leant into the style of the original material instead of pairing them with an ill-fitting game genre. A Rough Draft Futurama game would also stay true to the source material, that is to say it’d be a 2D affair very much in keeping with the established cartoon style, with perhaps the odd 3D ship battle thrown in. While this would limit gameplay mechanics (I think a point and click title would work best) it would basically be a playable episode of Futurama, which sounds great to me.  Sony Pictures Imageworks | Sam Having literally just beaten Kena: Bridge of Spirits before writing this, it’s safe to say that more animation studios should try their hands at game development; if Kena sets any kind of precedent, everyone could be in for a treat. Sony Pictures Imageworks has a long filmography, the highlight of which is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. That film’s visual style is second to none, oozing style (though not without substance) from every single frame. Into the Spider-Verse is the top animated feature on Rotten Tomatoes, but could the studio produce a classic game too? Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales features a skin that mimics the art and animations of the film. Equipping it makes for a unique and somewhat hypnotic gameplay experience - unfortunately, however, it only affects the title character. Seeing these rules applied across an entire game would no doubt make for something special. It wouldn’t necessarily need to be a Spider-Man game, either. As part of PlayStation manufacturer Sony, Sony Pictures Imageworks could receive access to a variety of recognisable brands. While the art style might not suit the likes of The Last of Us, it could vibe with numerous other projects. Anyone for a Jak and Daxter or Sly Cooper revival on PS5?  Which animation studio would you like to see make a game? Let us know below.
 Despite a slightly antisocial start time in the UK (11pm), Nintendo has once again graced us with a Direct to share trailers and announcements about their upcoming releases. This time though, the headline-grabbing news wasn’t about games at all. In fact, stealing the tweets and coverage was the voice casting news for the upcoming Super Mario-themed film, which will bring us Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi and Anya Taylor-Joy in 2022. Of course, we’re dedicated to games first around here, so we’ve got a few thoroughly playable highlights from the show for you. What are yours? Let us know in the comments.
 Sam Like Liam, Kirby and the Forgotten Land was my September 2021 Nintendo Direct highlight. There was a time when the Switch first came out where it felt like Nintendo was going all out on rejuvenating it’s biggest franchises. After starting the generation with daring titles like Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey, however, Nintendo quickly settled back into its groove of playing things safe. Kirby and the Forgotten Land recaptures that initial excitement. The franchise is going full 3D and already looks to have been lavished with far more care and attention than (the admittedly enjoyable) Kirby Star Allies. It’s the next big step for the franchise and I’m 100% here for it. It was also great to see Platinum Games’ Bayonetta 3 in action several years after its announcement. This closed out the show in the right way, notably giving fans their first glimpse at the game’s enormous kaiju battles. Just when players think that the series can’t get any crazier, the Umbra Witch ups the ante all over again. Additionally, Nintendo 64 games are finally coming to the Switch Online service - with a big caveat. Accessing them requires subscribing to a new higher tier, so, rather than adding (much needed) value for existing subscribers, Nintendo is putting the squeeze on its most dedicated customers.  James While the addition of N64 has been long-begged for by fans, the inclusion of it as an “Expansion pack” (see what you did there Nintendo), rather than a free addition, (like Sam), I found it quite disappointing. Slipping Sega Genesis (or MegaDrive) games into Switch Online as well doesn’t quite tip the balance, despite the draw of playing Streets of Rage 2 for the umpteenth time. Will Bayonetta 3 be the installment that finally gets me to try the series? Considering I own the original on the 360 at this very moment and still haven’t got to it two generations later, chances are slim. Still, the game looks great, in a rare example of Switch games really feeling like they show off some visual finesse. Kirby is a character I’ve never had any run-ins with, outside Super Smash Bros. stages, so the potential for an expansive adventure is definitely appealing – given Breath of the Wild 2 still feels such a long way away. In all there was a fair amount packed in, but not a lot of content which really seems to make the most of the Switch’s form factor. The shining light amongst it all is Splatoon 3, which I really hope gives a tasty singleplayer experience from the off, after it passed me by as DLC last time around.  What was your favourite part from the Direct? Let us know.
 After Gamescom brought us the latest from Microsoft and some of the big third-party publishers, this week came Sony’s turn to give us a glimpse at what they’ve been up to with their PlayStation Showcase. The hour-long event kicked off with a live-action spin on a traditional chess game, some off-beat content it feels like we haven’t really had since the likes of “Flute Guy” at 2018’s E3. Importantly, we heard from many of Playstation Studios’ fleet of first-party studios. What was your highlight from the show? Let us know in the comments.
 Liam | Tchia While it was cool to see Wolverine getting his own game, the cinematic trailer didn’t really give away anything. I’m not averse to a good cinematic, but the lack of gameplay footage from the other big reveals - namely, Spider-Man 2 and Knights of the Old Republic Remake – was a bit disappointing. One title that did give us a decent look at some gameplay was Tchia. I’m not sure how I missed the game’s initial reveal, but I’m glad I’ve finally caught up as it looks like a very interesting one. The bright, colourful visuals look great, and the animal/object ‘soul jump’ ability, which sees you take control of the targeted creature or item, seems like a lot of fun. As a big fan of The Wind Waker, there was a lot to like in the trailer, with Tchia seemingly taking some inspiration from the former (the Deku leaf-like glider, possessing a seagull, etc.) It was disappointing not to see a solid release date (for some of the other aforementioned titles, too) but at least it means I won’t have to try and get hold of a PS5 until they are (hopefully) more readily available.  Sam | Licensed games There was a time when licensed games wore a badge of dishonour, mostly being known for pulling the wool over consumers’ eyes. They’d sell themselves on recognizable characters, often to children, then deliver very little in terms of narrative and gameplay. Years of endless cash grabs gave the genre a bad name, but the September PlayStation Showcase did a lot to remedy that. Licensed games have been steadily increasing in quality, to the point that they now comprise much of Sony’s PS5 exclusive games line-up. Marvel’s Wolverine, Spider-Man 2 and Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic were all highlights of the live stream. Players love these characters and universes, but, rather than approaching with caution, now feel comfortable expressing genuine excitement. While it isn’t an exclusive, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy also debuted a new trailer. There is a risk of superhero fatigue creeping into gaming, as it already has for some with cinema, but it looks to be righting many of the wrongs perpetrated by Marvel’s Avengers. It would’ve been easy to make the game always online and crammed with microtransactions, though seemingly lessons have been learned. Microsoft is following suit by bringing Machine Games’ Indiana Jones to Xbox consoles, while Nintendo has leveraged the Marvel Ultimate Alliance brand. With all platform holders using licenses as exclusive system sellers, the turnaround is quite pronounced.  What was your PlayStation Showcase highlight?
 It’s that time of the year again, when there’s a collective intake of breath as we await exciting announcements from the biggest gaming show on the planet. Though it is remote once again this year, Gamescom is still playing host to a plethora of new trailers and announcements. Geoff Keighley hosted the Opening Night Live event this week, which featured a reboot of Saints Row, an extended look at the Call of Duty: Vanguard campaign starring Laura Bailey as Polina Petrova, and the debut of Halo Infinite’s multiplayer. What was your highlight? Let us know in the comments.
 Liam | Forza Horizon 5 I have fond memories of Forza Horizon 4, its party-like atmosphere and laid-back take on racing and stunts (the game’s Halo inspired showcase was a particular highlight). Not only was the gameplay great but being set in the UK was an extra bonus for me, as I happened to be living in Europe at the time and it was nice to be able to cruise around familiar looking roads and countryside every now and then. Forza Horizon 5 and its more exotic setting, however, could well be the perfect remedy to being stuck in old Blighty for the past 18 months or so. The gameplay shown off last week looked as exciting and over-the-top as I’ve come to expect from a Horizon game, and I’m looking forward to taking a virtual holiday and tearing around the gorgeous environments on offer. It looks like there will be plenty of variety across the game’s map if the video was anything to go by, with tropical jungles, deserts, and even volcanoes all making an appearance. The big sandstorm set piece also looked pretty impressive, though hopefully they’re not an overly regular occurrence as I could see them getting a bit annoying if you’re just trying to get from A to B.  Sam | Marvel’s Midnight Suns I don’t think the line-up at this year’s Gamescom was up to much, likely as a continuing result of the pandemic. The Saints Row reboot looks to strike a balance between the series’ roots and eventual wacky direction, which works for me. Marvel’s Midnight Suns, however, works even better! While XCOM and Gears Tactics are great, turn-based tactical games arguably shine brightest when combined with exploration and traditional RPG elements; two excellent examples being Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle and Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. Throw a cast of iconic Marvel superheroes into the mix and Midnight Suns sounds like a recipe for success. The game showcases a darker side of the Marvel universe, set in the underworld where the likes of Wolverine, Doctor Strange and Blade fight hordes of demonic forces. There’s also a bespoke central character called The Hunter, which players build into their very own hero. That in itself is an enticing prospect, despite the uninspired name. What’s most exciting is Firaxis Games being at the helm. This studio is arguably king of the turn-based strategy genre, ruling over both the Civilisation and XCOM franchises. It’s hard to see how the project can go wrong, but then the same could have been said for Crystal Dynamics’ The Avengers…  What was your favourite Gamescom 2021 reveal? Let us know below.
 This week brought us another update from the Pokémon universe, the sort of news we tend to tiptoe into with crossed fingers, hoping that The Pokémon Company and Gamefreak have the courage to bring the franchise into the 21st century. There were updates on the re-releases of Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl (now Brilliant and Shining respectively) as well as the brand new installment – Pokémon Legends: Arceus. A few things stood out for us, but what was your highlight? Let us know in the comments.
 Very Breath of Wild. Liam | Dangerous Pokémon Arceus already looked good, thanks to it’s old-timey setting, but the latest trailer has me even more intrigued due to the reveal of dangerous Pokémon. We’re so used to seeing ‘mon and humans coexisting and working together peacefully, that it’s easy to forget they’re big, powerful creatures that can easily do a lot of damage to a puny human trainer if they wanted to (although I do remember Pikachu electrocuting Jessie and James quite often in the original TV series). Arceus looks like it’ll hammer this point home via the encounters with the, glowing, red-eyed Pokémon shown off in the trailer – the Ursaring chasing the trainer is particularly intimidating; that’s one bear hug you want to avoid! The idea that Arceus’ wild Pokémon can be a threat to your safety introduces a completely new sense of jeopardy that’s often been missing in the series and helps add to the whole frontier-lifestyle theme the game looks to be going for. The villager mentioning how “Pokémon are terrifying creatures!” in the trailer could also suggest that not everyone is a fan of them, which could make for interesting narrative conflicts with humans and Pokémon potentially clashing occasionally, or between those who seek out Pokémon and those who avoid them.  Not so cute when you know they can attack back. Sam | Arceus’ ambitious alterations Pokémon Legends: Arceus was the clear highlight of the August Pokémon Direct. The mainline Pokémon series has been in need of a spruce up for a while, and, for the most part, Legends: Arceus looks to fit the bill. This Gamefreak spinoff is akin to a modern action RPG, rather than relying on the rigid old format that the franchise has been leaning on. For all its success and acclaim, Pokémon hasn’t changed all that much in nearly two decades now. There being multiple versions of every game, each with minimal differences, further contributes to the problem. Replacing the cursory Wild Area of Sword and Shield with a true open world; implementing seamless battles and (seemingly) eliminating random encounters; making wild Pokémon hazardous to players’ health - all are long overdue changes. In one fell swoop, these tweaks will simultaneously make the world of Arceus more immersive and the gameplay more engaging. While it’s a step in the right direction, the question of whether it’s enough remains. Ultimately, most of the changes are minor when the series is in need of a Breath of the Wild-style overhaul. Pokémon is the highest grossing entertainment property in the world, yet its games still look (and often feel) like AA productions.  It looks like battles with wild Pokémon might be more organic encounters. What was your highlight from Pokémon Presents? Let us know.
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