by Sam Sant @SlamShotSam Developer: id Software, Avalanche Studios Publisher: Bethesda Platforms: Xbox ​One, PS4, PC (Steam) Players: 1

Odd thing is, rather than aping the bonkers Just Cause series to do just that, Avalanche’s Mad Max instead serves as the template here. Mad Max was surprisingly good, but fell into the exact same pitfall as the original RAGE, which means for all its zany marketing and talk of a post-post-apocalypse, RAGE 2 has always been doomed to repeat history. That doesn’t make it an inherently bad game, though. Not by a long stretch. You enter the world of RAGE 2 as its uncivilised denizens do their best to rebuild, but they aren’t quite out of trouble yet, since General Cross is out to “cleanse” the world by eradicating humanity and claiming the planet for him and his army of weaponised mutants. He’s a caricature villain - the big bad leader of a big bad movement, by the game’s own admission - only really there to motivate you in bearing arms (not that you’ll need much motivation, but more on gunplay later). Playing as an uncharismatic, power-suited Ranger (male or female – your choice), you’re quickly given free reign to go about making allies and together manufacturing the General’s demise. Narratively things are kept simple, so you don’t need to have played the original, but there are some familiar characters and knowing nods hidden away for the already initiated. The story serves only to do its job passably, which is admirable in a way, but also somewhat of a shame, since a few strong character concepts fall flat. Anyone that even half paid attention to the marketing of RAGE 2 wouldn’t reasonably expect anything more in-depth, however, since the focus is clearly placed on balls-to-the-wall action. Right? Well, kinda... Where id Software’s DOOM features tightly-controlled levels and progression to maintain its breakneck pacing, RAGE 2 offers vastly more freedom, but in doing so can counterproductively push its best feature - the outstanding gunplay - aside in favour of weaker mechanics. A lot of your time will be spent driving around a mostly lifeless wasteland in vehicles that lack traction, organically encountering an abundance of same-y side missions to tackle which facilitate acquiring a swathe of character, weapon and vehicle upgrades.

The originators of the FPS are still doing it best, crafting on-foot combat encounters that are giddily exciting.

RAGE 2 ’s first-person firefights are honestly worth sticking out any of the game’s hardships for, and to a lesser extent, so too are the third-person vehicular combat sections.

by Sam Sant @SlamShotSam Developer: Asobo Studio Publisher: Focus Home Interactive Platforms: Xbox ​One, PS4, PC (Steam) Players: 1

Controlling young Amicia, you’ll take Hugo by the hand and guide him through medieval France during the Hundred Years’ War, a time where the cultish Inquisition rose to prominence as much of the civilian population succumbed to deadly plague. It’s a grim setting which pervasively oozes death, disease and famine as you navigate mostly linear levels contained by invisible walls. Whilst there are more elegant ways to guide the player, that’s not entirely a bad thing, since narrative-driven solo experiences are a breed currently facing their own plague of sorts. With its defined structure and gameplay pillars, which are consistently switched out, iterated on and reintroduced to keep a largely excellent pacing, A Plague Tale feels like one of those games from the “good ol’ days” we all like to reminisce about. Asobo Studio and Focus Home Interactive tell a complete and uncompromised story here, which gradually builds and builds towards an almighty crescendo. Imagine Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons meets Resident Evil 4 for a sense of the tone, which might sound like an odd combination, but trust us – it works. A Plague Tale is one of the few more recent titles which has compelled us to keep playing through sheer intrigue as to what happens next, more akin to a good book or TV show than most games. In spite of all the eventual craziness, empathetic relationships between family and friends are at the narrative’s very core. This helps to nip any resentment which might stem from the fact that, in many ways, A Plague Tale can be distilled down to an escort mission in the bud. It doesn’t feel like one, though, as Hugo and the additional young companions you encounter are all incredibly likeable characters, thanks to their unique practical gameplay contributions and the considered writing and delivery behind them. It’s effective stuff, as evidenced by the fact we can forgive the cumbersome issues resulting from their presence. We’ve had character models duplicate, folks walk into walls and fall so far behind or run off so far ahead that their dialogue was inaudible, but most often it’s a simple case of clumsily stumbling over one another (figuratively speaking) in confined spaces.

A complete and uncompromised story, which gradually builds and builds towards an almighty crescendo.

Much like the soundscape, A Plague Tale’s visuals are diverse and affecting.