6 Big Game Releases In SA This Week

A host of new games are hitting our consoles and PCs this week, including a zombie-survival spin-off story, a return from a Japanese RPG stalwart, and a solitude space-adventure.

The Last of Us: Left Behind (standalone version)

12 May (PS4, PS3)

Previously, gamers had to own a copy of The Last of Us to play the Left Behind expansion, which shows what life was like for Ellie before we meet her in the core post-apocalyptic game.

This expansion was released to rave reviews, so Sony is now making it available for anyone, regardless of whether you own the core game or not. It probably won’t hold much appeal for people who didn’t play The Last of Us, but if you fall into that category, I’d urge you to play the game as soon as possible. It’s one of the bets games of the past console generation, and Left Behind makes for a great companion piece.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster

15 May (PS4)

An updated version of last year’s Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster drops this week, and this latest edition brings the popular role-playing game to the PS4, complete with save transfers from the PS3 and Vita versions, as well as original and remastered soundtrack options.

The first game follows Tidus, a young man who finds himself in a mysterious world ravaged by a monster called Sin. The follow-up featured only three playable characters, and introduced an innovative variation on the job system.

Lifeless Planet

13 May (Xbox One)

Lifeless Planet is a third-person action-adventure that features an old-school sci-fi story and spectacular environments in the spirit of classic action-adventures, and we get to play it this week.

You play as an astronaut on a deserted planet, trying to figure out what happened to the colony there. It’s kind of a mystery game, so to say more would begin to spoil the plot. Your best bet is to watch the trailer above and see if it piques your interest.

Lost Orbit

12 May (PS4, PC)

In this top-down arcade-style game, you control a quick and nimble space ship that has to weave in and out of tight areas, dodging missiles and lasers in order to survive. It’s billed as a “dodge-‘em-up” rather than a shoot-‘em-up, because you’re not exactly armed to the teeth. Instead, your best bet is to get out of the way of enemies. If you’re in the market for a twitchy reflex-based game, Lost Orbit has you covered.

Color Guardians

12 May (PS4, Vita, PC)

This pick-up-and-play game has you running ever forward in a side-scrolling world whose color has been stolen. Your job is to collect globs of paint while you dodge enemies and avoid obstacles. It’s deeper than your average auto-runner, and it looks great, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Although it’s more of a casual game meant for shorter gameplay sessions, it packs a punch.

Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains

12 May (3DS)

Enormous, violent titans roam the earth in this series, so most of the population has confined itself in walled cities in order to stay safe. It’s all well and good until a titan tears down a wall. Enter our hero character, a scout who goes out titan hunting either alone or with friends (if you have an online connection).

Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains a wide-open action game that looks like it could be a lot of fun if the developers manage to pull it off just right. And if you’re not familiar with the anime the game is based on, you can watch the first two episodes for free on the Nintendo eShop.