The past couple of months have been a time to catch up on the old releases you didn’t get at launch, or to replay old favourites — sometimes on a new console, sometimes not.
With a relative dearth of new games, I have been reacquainting myself with some ancient games, thanks to Gog.com, Steam and, of course, Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.
While I have finally had time to replay some of the old Interplay RPGs I scored in a Gog.com deal last year, I have even gone as far back as Konami’s 1980s arcade classic Time Pilot.
But at last it’s time to check equipment and make sure the health and ammo packs are topped up. We have new games and new DLC on the horizon.
Cry Freedom
First up is some DLC for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. I’ve ripped through the main game on both the PS3 and PS4, having an absolute blast in single-player mode. Best AC yet? For me, absolutely.
The Freedom Cry DLC breathes some new life into the game by letting you play as your pirate quartermaster, the former plantation slave Adewale — one of my favourite NPCs in the series. I’ve been hoping for this for a while; little conversations with this unflappable, honourable and highly competent sidekick made it clear he needs a bigger role.
This, then, is Adewale’s continuing story, from shipwreck in Haiti to helping slaves fight for freedom to assembling a crew and finding a brig of his own.
Assassin’s Creed: Freedom Cry is available for download now.
Rayman upgrades
Ubisoft’s Rayman Legends, released for consoles and handhelds last year, gets its new-gen release on February 21. It’ll be available for both Xbox One and PS4.
Each platform will have its own exclusive playable characters — Assassin Ray (inspired by Black Flag’s Edward Kenway) for the PS4, and Ray Vaas and Splinter Ray (Far Cry 3, Splinter Cell) for the Xbox One.
Champion Ray, a new VIP character, will be available on both platforms.
Arch Enemies
Guild Wars 2’s latest pack, Escape from Lion’s Arch, was released this week. It’s the penultimate chapter of the Scarlet Briar story. As Briar’s troops move in to take over the city, players will have to fight alongside prominent nonplayer characters through the streets of the besieged city. Lion’s Arch is burning.
To catch a Thief
Garrett’s back! The new, reboot version of Eidos’s classic 1990s steampunk sneaker Thief is almost upon us. It will release in the UAE next Friday, February 28.
If you are not excited by this, just think of what the revamp of Tomb Raider managed to achieve. If nothing else, it’ll show you where Dishonored found its inspiration.
Transmission Vamp
Dracula gets his latest outing with the long-awaited release of Castlevania: Lord of Shadow 2 on Thursday, February 27.
The game’s out for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. You can get an exclusive skin for Drac by pre-ordering at Geekay Games and Virgin Megastore — Geekay gets you the armoured Dracula skin, and Virgin the dark Dracula skin.
Castlevania will cost Dh249 on consoles and Dh149 on PC. Bump up your investment to Dh499 to get the premium version (consoles only), which will get you the artbook, steelbook, four 10cm figurines (Dracula, Zokek, Victor Belmont and the Lieutenant) and a collector’s edition box.
