With 2015 coming to a close and being remembered as one of the greatest years in gaming releases, we now have a potentially, even more, exciting year ahead of us. Although January is generally conceived as a slow month on the gaming releases calendar, we still have a few significant releases which will keep you busy until February arrives.
Below are the games I am most excited about in January and will hopefully satisfy your gaming appetites.
Gone Home – PS4, Xbox One – Jan 12th
Gone Home was released on PC back in 2013 and it is finally seeing a release on console platforms. Published by The Fullbright Company, Gone Home is a first-person adventure game. Set in the year 1995, you assume the role of Kaitlin Greenbriar as she returns home and discovers a note from her sister Samantha. What ensues is an emotional and powerful story about relationships and identity. You explore the abandoned house at your own pace and are rewarded with one on the most engrossing narratives seen in a game. Gone Home was nominated for numerous game of the year awards and should absolutely be experienced by all.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5KJzLsyfBI[/embedyt]
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Resident Evil Zero HD Remaster – PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4 – Jan 19th
The title kind of gives this one away but we should absolutely be excited for this one. We have seen a lot of remastered games, some warmly welcomed… others not so much but Resident Evil Zero is a game that many people would not have played before. Originally released on the Gamecube in 2002, Resident Evil Zero puts you in the shoes of Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen. Set before the events of Resident Evil, familiar mechanics returns as does the survival horror framework. Resident Evil Zero added the ability to switch between characters which added complexity to the puzzles. The HD remaster will add a new control scheme and implement improved visuals throughout.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8UEVl9oMnc[/embedyt]
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Hyrule Warrior Legends – 3DS – Jan 21st (Japan)
Hyrule Warriors Legends combines the world of The Legend of Zelda with the gameplay of Dynasty Warriors. Originally released on the Wii U and one of the best-selling games on the platform, players partake in battles with dozens of enemies on screen at any one time in hack and slash style combat. You can take control of a number of characters seen in the Zelda games such as Link, Cia, Volga, and Wizzro and all have different attacks and abilities. The 3DS port includes all of the previously released DLC for the Wii U version and contains new characters such as Skull Kid from Majora’s Mask and the female version of Link, Linkle.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGDEUPZNlh8[/embedyt]
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The Witness – PC, iOS, PS4 – Jan 26th
The Witness is a 3D puzzle game inspired by the 90’s game Myst. The Witness is created by Jonathan Blow [Braid] in association with Thekla, Inc. The Witness has the player solving over 650 puzzles throughout the game and there is little to no tutorial included. You are asked to understand the rules of the world through visual clues and by listening to audio logs. Each puzzle completed will grant you with knowledge which you can then implement into new, tougher challenges. Originally intended to release on 2011, the project soon became too ambitious for the current generation of consoles and development was moved to the power of the PS4.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ytwNUMdbcE[/embedyt]
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Lego Marvel’s Avengers – PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, 3DS, Wii U – Jan 26th
The Lego series returns with its accessible gameplay and its renowned charm. Having covered many franchises ranging from Star Wars to Jurassic World, the series is once again revisiting the Marvel universe. This time, the game is focusing on the Marvel Cinematic Universe from the big screen and will take inspiration from The Avengers Films, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier to name a few. The game will still delve into the comics and contain over 200 playable characters. The biggest new addition this time round is the ability to perform double team moves. Each partnership will have a unique double team combination, which differs depending on who initiates the attack, which amasses to over 800 possible combo moves.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBvhzBh5BZI[/embedyt]
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It is certainly an exciting start to the year and with February looking, even more, promising, 2016 could be the best year yet!
Are you excited for the gaming releases for this month? What game is your most anticipated of 2016? Let us know in the comments below.
