Summer Picks of 2021
Hope everyone is hanging in there and staying KindaGeeky strong during this especially hot summer amidst the pandemic. As cases are on the rise again, just a friendly reminder for all geeks, gamers, and readers alike to abide by the COVID-19 health regulations- keep that distance 6 feet apart and wear masks always in a public setting. Even those vaccinated can still transmit the virus to others even if they show or feel no symptoms. Practice healthy habits, keep everyone safe. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get into the GamerGeek’s 2021 Summer Hits.
First on the list is Scarlet Nexus by Bandai Namco. Bandai is known for their anime-esque fantasy action-role playing adventures and Scarlet Nexus doesn’t disappoint as it super-soldier lands into the next generation consoles. The plot splits into two paths, both following a male and female protagonist respectively- players will need to play the game twice in order to understand the full story. While some may find that daunting, neither protagonists are the same and should be recognized as their own characters based on personality and game-play.
The story follows two young soldiers who once had a common goal in preserving the peace against aliens bent on wiping out all of humanity and eating their brains (Yep. That old plot). However, the twist in their diverging stories leads to both heroes finding themselves on opposite sides of the struggle, fighting each other tooth and nail to find the truth behind the mystery of the alien attacks and the sinister government plots playing in the shadows. While they could seriously just have talked over their issues over lunch, the badass combative plays when controlling these heroes are just too cool to pass up. Logic be damned!
Getting into the gameplay, exploration is linear, setup like a dungeon-maze in which players can visit time and again to level-grind characters and materials for better gear. However, the grind really doesn’t feel all that repetitive as the combat system is what really sells the game. The protagonist and their companions (who insert themselves into the team as the story progresses) each have their own unique abilities that tailors to each dungeon's environment and unique enemies. One example and particularly devastating combo is being able to teleport while dishing out a flurry of fire attacks at melee range and throwing literally anything using telekinesis at a distance. On top of this, battles offer short and interactable cut-scenes when executing the right moves, making the button mashing oh-so-satisfying.
In addition to the combative game-play, players can also experience the story and forge bonds with the available companions in visual novel-esque style narratives, giving every cut-scene a quaint, refreshing take that differs from other story-driven anime-inspired rpgs. If simple yet stylish action adventures are on the list, Scarlet Nexus is the game to pick up. Available for on the PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One & Series X, and Microsoft Windows.
Next up on the list is the favorite child from Square Enix’s staple- Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade. The base game (FFVIIR) was originally released on the PS4 and received nothing but positive reviews for its nostalgic characters and storyline as well as bringing in new combat mechanics that were only shown in newer installments to the franchise such as the award-winning FFXV. Now, FFVIIR is available for the PS5 as a physical/digital copy as well as an upgrade for those with a PS4 copy looking to update their game with the new generation graphics. The update comes into the gaming scene with a brand new never been seen expansion that follows a certain iconic materia-stealing ninja- Yuffie Kisaragi.
From the trailers, players can see that they not only control Yuffie but her new companion Sonan, a warrior from the same region. Both heroes infiltrate the dark and sinister underground labs of Shinra led scientist Prof. Hojo in the hopes to steal what they only know as the “Ultimate Materia”. The powerful bosses they encounter during their search may be some familiar faces to veterans of the series- supersoldiers subtly named after colors, Nero and Weiss, who were also boss enemies in the FFVII spin-off: Dirge of Cerberus.
The story is a fresh take, showing new sides to Yuffie that were never seen in the original game. So if anyone is looking for an action-packed modern fantasy role-playing adventure with a riveting story and characters as easy on the eyes as they are challenging to fight? Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Intergrade is the game to set sights and over-sized shurikens on. Available only on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
This next one is a personal favorite, developed by Capcom is the latest installment to the popular Resident Evil series: Resident Evil: Village or otherwise known as RE8. Prior to the game’s release, the company built a lot of hype around the game’s lush and beautiful environments, suspense-inducing and engaging combat, and (most notably) their riveting and eye-catching characters. In return, they not only gathered a devoted fanbase, but received massively astounding positive reviews to match- critics praising both the story and action-driven gameplay to accompany their signature heart-racing scares.
The story takes place after the events of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard where players once again take control of Ethan Winters. After the horrifying events in the bayous of Louisiana, Ethan relocates to Eastern Europe with his wife Mia as well as their adorable baby girl named Rosemary. The happy family experiences tragedy when Mia is shot down by the very people that helped and relocated them- Chris Redfield being the one to pull the trigger. As he was being taken away, Ethan and his captors get attacked by an unknown force and the poor father finds himself fighting for his life in a remote village infested with bloody hungry zombies known as Lycans. He learns that his daughter was taken hostage within said village and takes up arms to find and rescue her all while learning about the deep, dark secrets that jump at him with bloody teeth bared.
Due to the game’s impressive success and by popular demand, Capcom announced during E3 2021 that they are currently working on DLC content. At the moment, there is no information on what the DLC could pertain, but fans are already predicting (and hoping) that it will include more story content, maps, and characters. Fingers crossed that all of this comes true, especially anything that involves the Four Lords of RE8.
Resident Evil: Village is available for platforms PlayStation 4 & 5; Xbox One, Series X & S, and PC.
There are plenty of notable games available for Switch as well that deserve honorable mention but here are KindaGeeky’s top three picks: The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles (Capcom), Persona 5 Strikers (Atlus and Omega Force), Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Nintendo).
For more info on any of these games, feel free to click on the links below and enjoy the rest of the summer filled with glorious gaming abandon. Always remember to stay…
KindaGeeky.
SOURCES:
Scarlet Nexus
● Official site: https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/scarlet-nexus
● In-depth tips and tricks guide:
https://game8.co/games/Scarlet-Nexus
● Game informer gameplay:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=paCXRXtOzwU
Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Intergrade
● Official Site: https://ffvii-remake-intergrade.square-enix-games.com/
● IGN Walkthrough: https://www.ign.com/wikis/final-fantasy-7-remake/INTERmission_Yuffie_DLC_Walkthrough_-_Intergrade
● IGN Gameplay: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P1rTSxGYCn8
Resident Evil 8: Village
● Official Site: https://www.residentevil.com/village/
● Castle Demo: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QBKNOH7zNDc
● Behind the Scenes Visual and Mocap: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1uav6Dl9Y-g
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
● Official Site: https://www.ace-attorney.com/great1-2/us/
Persona 5 Strikers
● Official Site: https://atlus.com/p5s/
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
● Official Site: https://www.zelda.com/skyward-sword-hd/
