Happy new year dear friends! I wish you happiness, all the best and more cool and interesting games in 2023! Well, by tradition, we offer you the first selection of noteworthy projects for January 2023! This includes both new items and reprints.
Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Release Date: January 3, 2023
Genre: Brain Trainer
Nintendo continues to expand the Switch library with new and unusual designs. Already on January 3, it will be possible to practice in the next game, based on the work of Ryuta Kawashima – a Japanese neuroscientist and specialist in brain tomography. The project helps fight aging, improves memory, mindfulness and speed of the brain, stimulating it in various ways. There are a variety of exercises using the unique capabilities of Joy-Con controllers and joint competitive tests for two players. For convenience, a stylus is included in the package.
Doubt: Apparently, the Russian language was not delivered again, which can prevent many people from appreciating the product.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne for PC
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PC
Release Date: January 9, 2023
Genre: Action / RPG
The gorgeous extension for the best co-op generation game will finally be available on PC. And this means that the boyars will be able to immerse themselves in the process of destroying giant bosses and creating cool armor and weapons with even greater interest and involvement – thanks to new locations, monsters, mechanics, and, of course, loot.
Doubt: None. Moreover, the horrors of optimization will no longer surprise us.
AO Tennis 2
Developer: Big Ant Studios
Publisher: Bigben Interactive
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release Date: January 9, 2023
Genre: Tennis Simulator
The Australian tennis sequel promises to add immersion to the gameplay with the help of a new career with an interesting story and events outside the stadiums. The developers talk about maximum authenticity, as well as the participation of Rafael Nadal, Ashley Barty, Angelica Kerber and many other famous tennis players.
Doubt: The original was very crooked and buggy, and the sequel so far looks like a patched version, and not a full-fledged new game.
Atelier Dusk DX Trilogy
Developer: Gust
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Platforms: PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release Date: January 14, 2023
Genre: jRPG
A remaster of three PS3-series games (Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk, Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky and Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea) is a good offer for new fans, especially considering the additional content, accelerated battles and running, as well as prettier graphics. You can buy everything as part of a collection or individually.
Doubt: Nothing yet.
The Alliance Alive HD Remastered for PC
Developer: FURYU Corporation
Publisher: NIS America
Platforms: PC
Release Date: January 16, 2023
Genre: jRPG
A good traditional jRPG port for Nintendo 3DS, which was released on Switch and PS4 in the fall of 2019, is expected to be available on PC very soon. The game from the creators of Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits, SaGa and The Legend of Legacy tells the story of a magical kingdom opposing the ancient race of demons, which draws energy from the world, turning it into a cold, lifeless wasteland. Turn-based battles and classic dialogs are included.
Doubt: On 3DS, the project looked fine, but on modern systems the graphics seem very outdated, as is the fact that there is no voice acting.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Developer: CyberConnect2
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: January 17, 2023
Genre: Action / RPG
Action with elements of a role-playing game in the world of cult manga and anime promises adrenaline battles with bosses with a ton of special effects and fan service, which, together with company humor, should please fans.
Doubt: flying on a blank map and completing simple errands look like greetings from the PS2 era.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Release Date: January 17, 2023
Genre: jRPG
Atlus’s first HD jRPG returns as a re-release for the Nintendo Switch. Despite the name, the project is an offshoot of the cult Shin Megami Tensei series, which was combined with the classics of the tactics genre – Fire Emblem, offering an interesting story, vivid characters, interesting “dungeons” and a deep combat system with several unique features. Our review on the original, see the link.
Doubt: None.
Moons of Madness for PS4 and Xbox One
Developer: Rock Pocket Games
Publisher: Funcom
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: January 21, 2023
Genre: Survival Horror / Adventure
An excellent and very atmospheric adventure with interesting puzzles and beautiful graphics, which did not have enough real horror to leave a strong mark in the hearts of fans of the genre. Nevertheless, it is still worth evaluating. Read our review on the PC version from the link.
Doubt: There is always a chance that an indie developer will fail with optimization under the console.
Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD for Nintendo Switch
Developer: Oddworld Inhabitants
Publisher: Oddworld Inhabitants
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Release Date: January 23, 2023
Genre: Action / Adventure
One of the most unusual projects for the original Xbox, which combines a first-person shooter, platformer and adventure, moves to Switch. The developers promise adapted controls with the ability to play with gyroscopes.
Doubt: So far, none other than outdated graphics (but it will be imperceptible in portable mode).
The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
Developer: Skydance Interactive
Publisher: Skydance Interactive
Platforms: PC (Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index), PS4
Release Date: January 23, 2023, later the game will appear on Oculus Quest and PlayStation VR
Genre: Action / Adventure / Survival Horror
A non-linear game in the world of the popular zombie franchise should become the second truly major horror for VR after Resident Evil 7. The developers promise a deep immersion in the rainy and gloomy world of New Orleans, numerous tasks for various factions and a moral election system that will affect history . The studio worked with VR earlier, releasing a good Archangel: Hellfire, so there are chances that you will not get sick from the game.
Doubt: Archangel: Hellfire was a multiplayer game about huge robots. It is unclear whether the company will be able to create a storyline and an interesting single-player game on the Walkers.
Commandos 2 – HD Remaster
Developer: Yippee! Entertainment / Pyro Studios
Publisher: Kalypso Media
Platforms: PC (then released on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch)
Release Date: January 24, 2023 (Spring 2023 – Consoles)
Genre: Tactics
Kalypso Media offers to return to the world of cult tactics in real time with nine unique characters and deep non-linearity over 10 complex missions. To adapt the project to modern systems, the developers improved the graphics and menus, as well as updated the control system.
Doubt: But it still looks very pixelated, but with subtitles in Russian.
Journey to the Savage Planet
Developer: Typhoon Studios
Publisher: 505 Games
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: January 28, 2023
Genre: Adventure game
A nice cooperative adventure (you can play it alone) with construction and survival elements suggests finding a new home for humanity on the bright planet AR-Y 26. In addition, it is your responsibility to compile a database of flora and fauna, and it looks more fun than it sounds on in words.
Doubt: But it is not exactly.
Warcraft III: Reforged
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Platforms: PC
Release Date: January 28, 2023
Genre: Real-time Strategy
One of the main projects in the RTS genre is returning in a new form – the developers have significantly updated the graphics, redrawn the movie pre-rendered videos, improved the menu, editor, balance and even sound, as well as modernized multiplayer.
Doubt: None. This is a hit.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition for consoles
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Versus Evil
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: January 28, 2023, later the game will also appear on the Nintendo Switch
Genre: RPG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI1vyPlCvAs
The classic role-playing game from Obsidian Entertainment will finally be available on consoles, which means that fans of the joystick will be able to return to the world of Eor in order to again take on the role of the Guardian and manipulate other characters, looking into their past lives. The reissue will include all updates and DLCs.
Doubt: Nothing but ease of management and downloads.
Ash of gods: redemption
Developer: AurumDust
Publisher: Ravenscourt Games / Buka
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: January 31, 2023
Genre: Tactical RPG with elements of a card game
A nice analogue of Banner Saga with elements of collectible card games has already managed to collect a lot of positive reviews on Steam and is in a hurry on the console. The game tells the non-linear story of three heroes – captain Thorne Brenin, guard Luo Feng and scribe Hopper Rowley, who will stop the end of the world caused by the awakening of the ancient gods. Depending on the decisions of the player, the characters will live or die, but the story does not end, adapting to your actions.
Doubt: The game was significantly inferior to the Stoic Studio project and was rather secondary. On the other hand, fans of the genre should like it anyway.
To be continued…
Material prepared by: ACE and Skyerist.
Read also: 2019 through the eyes of the authors and editors of GameMAG.ru.
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