The G catches you up on some quality titles
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End - Remaster (PS5, PC)
I went straight into this remastered PS4 classic after finishing the excellent Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. I was not disappointed. A Thief's End is considered by many to be the best entry in the series, and a fitting end to the story of Nathan Drake, treasure hunter. The remaster is superbly done, with crisp high-res graphics and subtly optimized gameplay. This one features a lot more action and a lot less stealth than Indiana Jones, and on balance I prefer stealth - but the 3rd person shooting and platforming are all well done. The story is surprisingly compelling, focusing as much on interpersonal relationships as the quest for Henry Avery's treasure. I have two complaints, though. First, whereas Indiana Jones captures the sense that you are a human being with physical limitations (which heightens tension in key moments), the action here is more like what you find in a superhero film drunk on CGI and VFX. I found that annoying and distracting. Second, there's no map! Sure the game is pretty linear, but there are more open stages - making the decision to forego a map super annoying. Rating: 8/10.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (Series X, PS5, PC)
Cyberpunk 2077 is one of my favorite games of the past decade - I've played through it twice and will probably do so one more time. It's that good. Phantom Liberty is a meaty addition to the story, designed to be played about 2/3 of the way through the main story. It opens up a new section of the map, Dogtown, which is the autonomous fiefdom of a warlord and his private army. The story begins with a downed plane, carrying the President of the USA. You are contacted by a member of her inner circle to go into Dogtown to save her. But nothing - as you can imagine - is what it seems. As you progress through the storyline and its many double-crosses, Phantom Liberty poses interesting questions on the nature of consciousness in a transhuman, AI-powered social landscape. As far as expansion packs go, this one is about as good as they come - and definitely a worthwhile purchase for fans of the game. Unfortunately, it's not quite as compelling as the main questline. Rating: 8/10.
Stray (Series X, PS5, PC)
In this one, you - a cat - become lost in an underground world populated by robots. Your journey to the surface uncovers a dark secret - as well as a message of hope. Sound enticing? That barely does the game justice. Stray is beautifully rendered, melancholic and completely absorbing. In fact, it's one of the most remarkable games I've ever played. My only complaint is that it isn't long enough. Rating: 10/10.
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POSTED BY: The G--purveyor of nerdliness, genre fanatic and Nerds of a Feather founder/administrator, since 2012.
