Video-Games To Look Out For In 2017

Story by Jorge Soares-Paulino, Copy Editor

Between the gripping, action-packed story of Uncharted 4 and the grim warfare of Battlefield 1, 2016 has seen the release of several fantastic new games, some completely original and some parts of well-known franchises. And while last year’s games are still on people’s minds, 2017 is already kicking off the new year with a bang. Here are a couple titles you can expect to hear about in 2017:

For Honor

Release Date: February 14

This gritty hack-and-slash takes place during medieval times, pitting players against each other in a violent, all-out war. Ubisoft’s For Honor allows players to choose between three main factions: the Legion (representing knights), the Chosen (representing samurai), and Warborn (representing vikings). Upon choosing their desired faction, players are thrown into an extensive multiplayer world (or if they wish, they can start a more linear single-player campaign mode). What makes For Honor special, however, is its special tactical combat system called “Art of Battle.” This combat system sets For Honor apart from other hack-and-slash type games, in that the player can’t really just hack-and-slash. When fighting another player, you’ll have to carefully plan out where you want to swing your weapon. If the other player blocks in the same direction you swing, they successfully parry, giving them the opening for their own attack. This new system makes For Honor more strategy-based than your typical hack-and-slash, and gives it a new layer of depth that most games don’t have.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Release Date: March 1

Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn is a completely original, third-person, action RPG (role-playing game) set in a vivid post-apocalyptic world. Taking place in the far future, the player takes the role of Aloy, a huntress who lives in a world overrun by robots known simply as “Machines.” Not much is known about this sci-fi-esque fantasy world, but we do know that it’s massive and filled with places to explore and Machines to kill. As Aloy, the player makes use of ranged and melee weaponry; while also utilizing her stealth skills to strike the Machines from behind. While Guerilla Games’ isn’t revealing too much information on the story or the world of Horizon, what they’ve shown so far promises an immersive and expansive world.

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Release Date: March 3

The long-awaited next entry in the critically acclaimed Legend of Zelda series, Breath of the Wild takes the classic formula and flips it on its head. Featuring a massive open world and over a hundred dungeons to explore, Breath of the Wild departs from the classic, more linear gameplay of the previous Legend of Zelda games. Instead, Breath of the Wild promotes freedom to play as you want, encouraging tackling dungeons and quests in different ways. Breath of the Wild is also the first game in the series to feature fully-fledged voice acting, which is quite a big change to some hardcore fans. Another important thing to note is that Breath of the Wild will be one of the few games available for the Nintendo Switch at launch, while also being available for the Wii U when it launches on March 3rd.

Mass Effect: Andromeda

Release Date: March 23

Bioware’s Mass Effect trilogy is widely regarded as one of the best sci-fi RPG series ever created, the final game in the trilogy (Mass Effect 3) releasing in 2012. Problem is, many fans were disappointed in how Mass Effect 3 ended, a large portion of the fanbase feeling as though the ending didn’t really conclude the story all that much. Well, Bioware is exploring the Mass Effect universe once again, this time with the spin-off title Mass Effect: Andromeda. In Andromeda, you take the role of a “Pathfinder,” tasked with exploring new planets for Humans to colonize. Similarly to the previous games in the Mass Effect series, Andromeda will put an emphasis on the player making choices which will impact how the rest of the game will play out. Unlike the previous games, these choices won’t be clearly marked as good or bad (“Paragon” or “Renegade” in the previous titles). Instead, many of the choices the player will have to make are in a morally grey area, and are intended to be more “nuanced” than the choices of the previous titles. No matter how you play, Mass Effect: Andromeda is guaranteed to have a gripping story which’ll leave you at the edge of your seat when it launches in late March.

2017 is filled to the brim with brand new titles and the latest entries to widely acclaimed series. No matter what kind of genre you’re into, 2017 is sure to have something for you.

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