A Celebration of the Video Game Industry’s Achievements
Luke Randall and Bobby Sweeney
This year was a remarkable one for the video game industry, with an increase of $16.2 billion over 2017’s estimate. Several large franchises reinforced their elite reputations with new and unique releases, like “Red Dead Redemption 2” from Rockstar Games. This also proved to be a year of beginnings with notable new games such as “Spider-Man” for the Playstation 4.
Red Dead Redemption 2
“Red Dead Redemption 2” takes players back to the Old West, through intense train robberies, fierce shootouts, and majestic rides on horseback. The main storyline, a prequel to the original, focuses on outlaw Arthur Morgan as he rides with his gang of bandits around “Red Dead’s” expansive world.
While the first hour of the game is story-centered, the sheer number of side-missions and “easter eggs” through its open world is enough to distract a player for days on end. One of these side-activities is hunting “mythical” creatures, ranging from a mountain lion to a massive crocodile. “Red Dead’s” campaign offers plenty of intense action and masterful story building to fulfill the needs of everyone.
“Red Dead’s” music score and sound design is also brilliantly crafted to immerse the player in the mellow fields, the rocky mountains, and the newly emerging cities of the western United States. The absolute freedom given to players and attention to detail makes this Western action-shooter a necessary addition to anyone’s collection and a leading candidate for the year’s best game.
God of War
“God of War” serves as a new beginning for the god-slaying antihero Kratos. In past games, players have followed Kratos as he exacts his revenge on the Pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses by brutally killing every last one of them. However, the new installment, simply titled “God of War”, begins with Kratos dealing with the death of his wife and his relationship with his son.
The game centers on Kratos’ role as a father as he teaches his son to fight and resist the rage that once controlled Kratos. Throughout the game, the player assumes the role of Kratos, with his son, Atreus as a helpful side character. As the father-son duo travel the 9 Realms of Norse mythology, Kratos trades his Blades of Chaos for his new Leviathan Axe. In combat, players are placed against giant serpents, huge trolls, and deadly dragons.
The static camera placed behind Kratos results in the player feeling like an underdog, fighting earth-shaking enemies. As “God of War’s” captivating story takes center stage, immersive combat and cinematic fight scenes encourage players to continue exploring and fighting in its diverse landscape. “God of War” boasts an emotionally-gripping story backed with intense, cinematic fights in the pseudo-reboot of the franchise.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
The fourth installment in the “Call of Duty: Black Ops” series takes a step back from the futuristic abilities and weapons in “Call of Duty: Black Ops 3” and takes place in the modern day, where a group of expertly trained soldiers, named “Specialists”, complete covert missions for a private corporation.
Unlike the previous three games, “Black Ops 4” has no traditional campaign story mode, but instead chooses to reveal the story through “specialist missions” that reveal a cutscene after completing side missions and activities. The developers of “Black Ops 4”, Treyarch “will be almost exclusively on competitive multiplayer and cooperative Zombies mode,” in order to focus on improving the already great multiplayer experience “Black Ops 4” is known for.
One of these changes is the removal of the ability to heal by staying in cover over a period of time. Now a button is pressed to use a “medpack” that starts to heal the player that also has a cooldown on its use that recharges over time. Overall, the fast-paced combat and flashy abilities make the fourth “Call of Duty: Black Ops” game a very solid addition.
Super Smash Bros Ultimate
“Super Smash Bros Ultimate”, the newest installment in the “Super Smash Bros” franchise, consists of 70 characters, the largest roster to date. The famed fighting franchise is well known for its inclusion of not just Nintendo characters, but many other famed characters from the world of video games. Beloved Nintendo favorites like Mario return with long awaited newcomers such as King K. Rool and Simon Belmont. Ultimate also includes 103 stages for the fighters to battle it out and introduces over 850 songs, all from each character’s home franchise. This variety completely contrasts with the original Super Smash Bros. game, which only had 8 characters and 10 stages.
However, one of the largest additions, as well as one of the most requested additions, was the return of a story mode. The first story mode in a Smash Bros. game was in the third installment of the series, “Super Smash Bros. Brawl”, titled “Subspace Emissary” where the fighters in the game had to team up to defeat the villain “Tabuu.” Super Smash Bros. Ultimate expands up this shallow premise, by introducing another villain, named “Galeem,” who captured all of the fighters besides Kirby, and it is up to Kirby to free the others and stop “Galeem” from taking over the world.
Another welcome inclusion is the promise of downloadable content (DLC) when buying the “Smash Pass,” which Nintendo promises will include 5 fighters that will be released over time. “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” furthers the already masterful franchise with including many fan-favorite characters and game modes that are sure to please any Nintendo fan.
