What’s In Store For The Rest Of 2024? P.1

2024 has been one of the calmer years so far when it comes to new game releases, but quantity doesn’t mean a lack of quality in this respect. Helldivers 2 took the industry by storm when it was released in February, Nintendo fans got to enjoy the remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door in May, and Dragon’s Dogma fans finally got Dragon’s Dogma 2 in March after a hiatus of 12 years for the franchise. If anything, gamers have had more of a chance to really explore the ins and outs of a game they have enjoyed before the next highly anticipated game releases (or they’ve finally had a chance to dive into a game that they didn’t get to fully experience last year during the incredibly packed release schedule of 2023.) Despite the slower game release schedule of 2024, there’s still an exciting lineup scheduled to be released as we head into the latter part of the year, so many so, that this will have to be a multiple-part installment! 
 

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
 

Starting the list off strong with arguably one of the most anticipated titles of 2024, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom marks a return to the beloved franchise after the roaring success of Breath of the Wild and its equally applauded sequel, Tears of the Kingdom. Set in the world of Hyrule, the game promises to expand the lore and introduce new gameplay mechanics. Players will get to explore a vast open world filled with intricate puzzles, mythical creatures, and hidden secrets. Echoes of Wisdom is expected to incorporate new mechanics, such as a time-manipulation system that allows players to interact with the environment in unique ways. The game will also feature a more robust crafting system, enabling players to customize their weapons and tools, no doubt inspired or perhaps borrowed from its highly successful predecessor, Tears of the Kingdom. Although TOTK might be a tough act to follow, Nintendo rarely fails to impress with a game in the Zelda franchise, so let’s hope their knack for rich storytelling and engaging mechanics continues in this installment on September 26th of this year.

Concord

 

Concord has certainly been generating a lot of buzz since reviewers and gamers have been able to sink their teeth into it, but not all news is good news for this new hero-shooter. Players have quickly pointed out the creative similarities between Concord and the beloved Guardians of the Galaxy IP. Both feature a ragtag group of unlikely space heroes, but audiences aren’t quite sold on the story and characters featured in Concord as many have reported that the story still leaves much to be desired. The folks at Concord have reported that they have plans to air a new 2-minute animated clip of the story to be shown to players every week when they boot up the game, so there is plenty of opportunity for the story to develop. Gamers have also been quick to draw parallels with Overwatch when it comes to first impressions. They are each a hero-shooter with the lore behind each hero that will be slowly released through short animated episodes and a general theme of “group of heroes in space.” Those who have played Concord have corrected these assumptions after really diving into the game. Concord has 6 classes of heroes to choose from as opposed to Overwatch’s 3, it forces you to change characters after a win in competitive mode, it does not feature ultimates, and it features more creative and versatile traversal mechanics. The characters might be a bit of a miss for players, but they have enjoyed the actual gameplay, complimenting the fidelity of the game’s graphics, the gunplay, unique character abilities, and overall enjoyability. Concord could have a promising future ahead of it if gamers can see past the $39.99 price tag.
 

World of Warcraft: The War Within
 

Staying true to their promise to give WoW more attention in the coming years, Blizzard is launching the next expansion on August 26th. The War Within is the game’s 10th expansion, and it kicks off the start of a planned trilogy. It delves into the long-anticipated conflict between the Alliance and the Horde, aiming to deepen the narrative and explore new lore. Some players have been wary of how much they would enjoy seeing so much of the Alliance, but the developers have promised that it’s all part of the plan and that everyone’s interests are going to be represented in the story. Interestingly, the story only features one open outdoor arena within the expansion, and instead takes place predominantly in caves. While this might seem dreary, developers assure players that the purposeful use of this setting will prompt players to approach gameplay a bit differently and offer them a new way to play and enjoy the game. Some might not be a fan of this change in environment, but I can’t fault a nearly 20-year-old game for trying to mix things up a bit. 

Squirrel with a Gun
 

Squirrel with a Gun has delighted and confused audiences since word first got out, and players are finally going to see for themselves if the game itself can live up to the hype on August 26th. Labeled as a shooter, sandbox, and puzzle platformer, it sounds like the game itself isn’t so sure what it wants to be, but that doesn’t mean it won't be fun. Apparently, you’re a squirrel that has escaped from an underground facility, and you’ll be fighting the agents trying to get you back as you solve puzzles and collect acorns. If you’re creative enough with your weapons and traversal, you’ll collect golden acorns and unlock hidden parts of the map. The trailer teases multiple different guns, hilarious ragdoll physics, and plenty of opportunity for shenanigans. It might not be a AAA release, but I’m betting there will be a bounty of hilarious gameplay clips circulating after launch. 

Star Wars Outlaws
 

Star Wars Outlaws may have more expectations to meet than your average game given the massive and dedicated fanbase of the franchise it belongs to, but it also means it already has an audience ready and waiting to get their hands on it. Early review codes are out, and although most reviewers have not been blown away by the game, the reception has been optimistically positive. True to the name, the game focuses more on the grimy and rugged parts of the universe where crime is plentiful. The narrative follows Kay Vess, a smuggler caught in the dangerous world of galactic crime. You’ll find yourself involved in lockpicking, sneaking around, speeder riding, and other “scoundrel fantasy” elements in the game’s missions. Star Wars Outlaws continues to break the familiar mold by not featuring an already well-known character. While there will be plenty of cameos, notably Jabba the Hut. The main criticisms of the game predominantly involve the mechanics. Gunfights are reportedly paced slowly and perhaps too easy for players, and the maneuverability of Kay’s speeder is tedious and unforgiving. 
 

That's the first batch, stay tuned for more games to add to your library!