Dec 24, 2024
Oct 09,2024
Autumn has been a busy time in the gaming world. There have been so many new releases, and only so many hours in the day to play them. And as we brace for the final few months of 2024, what new releases should you focus on?
In the last week, we've seen three exciting releases from big names in the industry. From a new adventure in the iconic Hyrule to managing a post-apocalyptic world in a familiar frozen wasteland to the return of the world's favourite football franchise, here's a taste of new games to enjoy...
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Echoes of Wisdom opens on familiar territory. You're controlling Link as he ventures into a dungeon to – surprise, surprise - rescue Princess Zelda. The graphics hark back to the toy-like world of Link's Awakening, and the music booms with nostalgia. You have a trusty sword, bow and bombs in hand and a near-unlimited health pool. You feel almost invincible as if you're at the end of the game rather than at the beginning of it.
As you slice and shoot at any enemy that dares appear before you, you're confident that the daring rescue to save the Princess will succeed. That is until a strange rift appears and swallows up the main hero we've all known and loved playing for almost 40 years. Oh no…what now?
As Link falls into a rift, players are left questioning who can possibly save Zelda now. Well, as it turns out, she can. Finally, the Princess takes on the mantle of a hero and becomes the leading lady in a quest to save her kingdom from peril. And the wait for control has well and truly been worth it.
Echoes can be exciting, inventive, but also cumbersome
As a brand new entry to the series, Echoes introduces brand new gameplay mechanics to the fold. Rather than just using a sword, Zelda ventures forward with her magical friend, Tri, and a new power to create 'echoes' of virtually every object and enemy she encounters.
It's an extraordinary system that can open endless opportunities for players to experiment with. Initially, you'll be limited to conjuring tables, potted plants, and beds from which to make bridges or ladders. But even in this early stage, you can do a surprising amount of things by layering these objects on top of each other to explore the world around you.
Over time, new echoes introduce new mechanics. Throwing vases can create distractions, conjured meat can lure enemies away from their posts, and spiders can be summoned to create ropes to climb. For combat, Zelda can use still echoes to her advantage. You can summon any enemies you've encountered, using them to fight on your behalf.
While watching an army of bats or moblins do your bidding can be fun, this kind of combat can feel somewhat passive. Like you're some sort of onlooker to the fun and action. Zelda eventually can don Link's sword, bow, and bombs and get stuck into the action herself, but an energy bar means you still must rely on echoes for much of the action.
With over 127 echoes to collect, there is no shortage of new and inventive ways to navigate every puzzle the game throws at you. New ones appear at an alarming rate, giving you surprising freedom to manipulate your surroundings and explore out-of-reach places from the geto-go.
That said, you'll often find yourself shifting through your menu to find the right echo to use, especially during combat. This brings up the one and only fault found in the game, and I cannot help but think the system could have been much simpler to find what you need when you need it quickly. But when the game does give you time to breathe and plan your echoes, it sparkles, and you fully appreciate the endless possibilities that lie before you.
Ultimately, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a charming game that sees the Princess take her rightful place as a hero. With 20 hours of main story (countless more for all the side quests), it's a meaty adventure that will please virtually any fan of the franchise.
The echo mechanic is a clever way to reimagine puzzle-solving. While it may have its faults, it proves there's plenty in the Nintendo wheelhouse to keep the world of Hyrule feeling fresh and inviting. And with the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, here's hoping Echoes has enough power in its voice to ensure we get to play as Zelda again as soon as possible.
Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is available to play on Nintendo Switch
Frostpunk 2
Frostpunk 2 is a city-building survival game that is as entertaining as it is emotionally taxing. It will plague your conscience long after logging off, as it forces you to make decisions you'd probably be scared to share aloud.
Set 30 years after the world became engulfed in an eternal winter, you're tasked with helping humanity survive, gathering essential resources from the frozen wastes, all while moulding society to your liking.
Minutes into the game's first level, you're already faced with a dilemma every leader in an apocalypse has to make – who survives? Food is scarce, and the choice is yours -exhaust a local food source so everyone can make it, or harvest it sustainably and ask some citizens to make the ultimate sacrifice and leave the community.
Balancing immediate survival with future needs will often be the crux of your time spent here. Sure, these are virtual characters, but hearing accounts from characters in the aftermath of each decision only fuels your guilt more.
This sequel retains the core aspect of the original game, making temperature a constant issue for you to manage. Your city generator is the only heat source. Securing fuel is critical, and building around heat is paramount. Place city districts too far away, and you're sentencing them to certain death.
The challenge is that there's only so much space around the fireplace. Over time, as your city grows, you'll need to research better technology to expand your heat network. In this way, Frostpunk 2 is just what you want in a city-builder. Limited space. Lots of demands. And only a short time frame to do it all in.
Surviving the government is just as challenging
As if a frozen armageddon wasn't enough, Frostpunk 2 introduces a faction system that creates yet another obstacle for you to overcome. It is both intricate and unforgiving as citizens splinter into different factions, each having different wants, needs, motives and demands. Like a weighing scale, you'll constantly balance trust between this fledgling government and convince them on a near-constant basis that you should remain in power.
Frostpunk 2 is everything you want in a sequel, elevating the original gameplay and breathing new life into the frozen apocalypse. Decision-based gameplay means there's immense replayability across all levels and difficulties, where being complacent for a brief moment can undo all of your hard work.
Frostpunk 2 is available to play on macOS and PC - future console editions are planned for 2025
EA Sports FC 25
It wouldn't be late September without a new EA Sports FC. It has become a yearly staple on the gaming calendar. While it's clear the franchise has survived the separation from FIFA, is there enough new bells and whistles to warrant an upgrade, or should players give this season a miss?
Well, the big sell of this new iteration is the FC IQ system, which is genuinely a tactician's dream. This system gives you more control over how the team plays and synergies together. This is achieved through new player roles, which help dictate what everyone does with (and without) the ball.
There are over 31 player roles to pick, many of which have 'focus' options for further customisation. For example, choosing the 'Target Forward' role instructs players to hold up play, shield the ball, bring others into play, and look for crosses and passes. On the other hand, the 'Poacher' role focuses on making runs behind the enemy's defence and scoring all those important goals. Since real-world data informs the game, each role feels reflective of a player's actual playstyle.
FC IQ aside, EA Sports FC 25 is budding with familiar features and game modes. Manager and player career modes are back, both elevated by the introduction of roles. There have also been some clever changes to the morale and scouting systems that will surely hit the right note with fans. And in a first for any football game, you can now play in five of the top leagues in women's football.
The Volta football mode is axed in favour of a brand new Rush mode. It's a 5-a-side kickabout on a much smaller pitch that demands quick reactions to succeed. While the popular Ultimate Team returns, so too do those pesky microtransactions. In my view, any mode that incentivises pay-to-win mechanics will continue to hold the franchise back.
So, should players opt for a new EA Sports game? Last year's focus was heavily on the graphics of the game. And this year, the brand-new FC IQ system offers a strategic new way to enjoy classic game modes. If having total control over player behaviour excites you, then you're in for a fun kickabout for 2025.
EA Sports FC 25 is available to play on PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch
