ADVENTURES A’HOY! From pirates to gods to cars, we’re delivering on all your gaming fantasies.

By Andre Coetzer

SEA OF THIEVES
It’s been a while since Microsoft released a first party exclusive for its consoles and PC, so naturally the excitement went through the roof when it was announced that legendary game developers Rare would be releasing a brand new IP for the Microsoft systems.

Sea of Thieves is a new type of multiplayer game that delivers all you need to live the life of a pirate. Whether adventuring as a group of salty sea dogs or sailing the beautiful oceans solo, the massive open world allows you and your friends to live out every pirate fantasy imaginable. There are countless ways to make your mark in Sea of Thieves, the more voyages and adventures you undertake, the greater your reputation becomes and the more opportunities unfold before you. You and your sea shanty singing crew can approach the world and its wealth of challenges however you choose.

Sail for the sheer joy of discovery or undertake dramatic voyages, following maps and untangling riddles, all while encountering other player pirates, who might be friendly or will try to sink your ship and loot your gold. Sea of Thieves is incredibly fun when you have your friends play along, but it might be a tad daunting if going in solo, so it’s highly recommended as a multiplayer adventure but less so as a solo experience.

Although the world might be massive, loaded with opportunities for loads of pirate fun, the game does feel a bit samey after a while, however Rare has promised to constantly update the game and give the players the adventure they crave. If you love multiplayer games and own an Xbox or PC then Sea of Thieves is must have.

GOD OF WAR


Since the PlayStation 2 days, God of War has been a powerhouse of action-adventure gaming on the Sony console, featuring head-turning graphics combined with brutal god killing action. And now in 2018 God of War returns to the PlayStation 4, but this is not your granddaddy’s God of War. A lot has changed for hero Kratos and it’s an incredibly welcome change. The original God of War was set in Greek mythology, with hero Kratos battling it out with Zeus and the other gods of Olympus.

Now older and wiser our hero returns to find himself in the world of Norse mythology. But that’s not the only change, Kratos is a father now and his son Atreus will do anything to please his rage-filled father. As mentor and protector to a son determined to earn his respect, Kratos is faced with an unexpected opportunity to master the rage that has long defined him. It’s a personal journey of a man trying to do what is right for his son. Set within the untamed forests, mountains and realms of Norse lore, be prepared to face brand new types of creatures, monsters and gods, all determined to put an end to the father and son. But the story is not the only massive shift for the God of War series, a brand new intimate, over the shoulder free camera brings the action closer than ever, combat is up close, frenetic and unflinching.

Kratos possesses a new weapon in the form of a magical axe, a brutal melee weapon but also a versatile tool for exploration. The new God of War is an absolute dream to play and potentially one of the best looking games on the system. The shift in story and setting is a welcome change to the series, refreshing the Sony console classic into a new era. It’s without question one of the best games of the year and a must-own for any PlayStation owner.

BURNOUT PARADISE REMASTERED


Known for its incredible speeds and jaw dropping-crashes, Burnout Paradise received universal praise when it was originally released on the PS3 and Xbox 360. Now many years later, it sees its re-release on current-gen consoles with updated graphics in glorious 4K resolution and a solid 60 frames per second, plus all the additional DLC that was released post-launch.

Set in the massive open world of Paradise City, players get to choose where and when they race their supercharged vehicles. From the busy city streets to the winding roads of the mountainous outskirts, Paradise City is filled to the brim with racing goodness. Unlike other racing games, the races are scattered all other the map allowing you to pick and choose which race you want to do and when. From pulling up next to a rival racer at a red robot or hunting down a rare supped up car along the busy streets, the variety in race types is phenomenal.

Of course what would a Burnout game be without its spectacular crashes? In other games one avoids crashing at all costs, yet in Paradise it is encouraged. It’s a visual spectacle as you slam into a rival car at 300km/h, with the action slowing down to show you every metal crunch and car parts flying all over the track. Burnout Paradise is a fantastic remaster and holds up to today’s high standards. It’s a high adrenaline, white-knuckle racer that puts most current games to shame.