![]() Hiroki starts with two very straightforward moves, light and heavy attacks, as well as the ability to block. In terms of gameplay, Trek to Yomi somehow manages to be both satisfyingly and deceptively simple - the one real system at play here is the combat. Borrowing heavily (and unabashedly) from the cinematic stylings of Akira Kurosawa, players assume the role of warrior-in-training Hiroki and embark on a revenge quest after bandits ravage his village and slay his mentor in cold blood. Trek to Yomi is a uniquely stylized side-scrolling hack-and-slash that’s sure to please your inner samurai. That said, it certainly sets a bar for combat-centric action games that many contemporary titles struggle to match. Slick, high-speed combos against multiple enemies are the order of the day for the most part, in addition to wall-running parkour shenanigans and the occasional frustrating boss fight. Though “ninja” might have you convinced you’re getting into a stealth-action title, come geared up for a no-holds barred brawler. Following the exploits of ninja extraordinaire Ryu Hayabusa (and friends), the Ninja Gaiden series is a hallmark for action-adventure games that doesn’t compromise on difficulty - it’s far from the most hardcore action game you’ll ever get your hands on, but don’t expect it to hold your hand through the learning curve. In the event that you initially missed out on the hype, this neat, 3-game compilation spanning 2007’s Ninja Gaiden Sigma to 2013’s Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge is a must-play. While Dead By Daylight is straightforward enough to explain, the thrills and terrors of chasing your victims or fleeing from pursuit will keep you coming back for more. ![]() Survivors need to turn on generators in order to escape the area and win the match. Killers are monstrous creatures (some from popular existing IP) that have supernatural abilities to help them in their quest to capture and sacrifice the four Survivors. Players can either play as the Killer or the Survivors. Games like Friday The 13th or Evil Dead: The Game are quickly compared to Dead By Daylight for following a similar formula. Dead By Daylight is one of the most popular asymmetrical multiplayer games currently available, and even though it possesses humble indie origins, it has quickly become a title to be reckoned with. This has long been a glaring omission on our list, and we are quite aware of it. Needless to say, you’ll have a delightfully deep timesink on your hands. There is a lengthy main questline, of course, but the number of side quests, whether radiant or story-based, verges on the absurd - however, it’s hard to fault a game as ambitious as Odyssey for simply having too much to do. Whether sailing or journeying by horseback, Odyssey’s open-world take on Ancient Greece is vibrant, stunning, and packed to the brim with content. The setting itself is beautifully rendered. While cementing the game in action-RPG territory does detract from the franchise’s stealth-action hallmarks, the sheer amount of variety introduced via varied weapons and combat skills is a welcome detour from the established Assassin’s Creed standards. While some may find that divisive, it’s hard to argue that it hasn’t been polished tastefully. To frontload the obvious caveat, it does iterate on the action-RPG roots set in Origins. Odyssey takes Assassin’s Creed into the era of Greek antiquity, giving players the opportunity to explore the “pre-history” of the franchise’s central conflict between the Assassins and Templars through the eyes of an exiled Spartan warrior-turned-mercenary. Even with its daunting length and traditional riff on the genre, Persona 5 is an absolute must-play and a marquee release for Xbox Game Pass. Suffice to say the plot of Persona 5 is gripping (and rich enough to support a sequel in a completely different genre) which is no surprise considering Persona 5 is already a game that walks between genres, including JRPG, social/romance sim, and even some light adventure elements. Despite its staggeringly long runtime, it still feels like a spoiler to go into much more detail than that. The story follows a group of high school students, each with their ambitions and plots, working together to curb the wicked intentions of the surrounding adults. It goes to show how far art direction can go in making a game world come alive. Mechanically, it doesn’t stray far from conventional JRPG elements, but it’s such a flashy game, with so much style and panache, it feels remarkably modern.
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