Category: Previews

The Second World War has provided the backdrop for countless first-person shooters over the years, but there are still plenty of stories from the conflict that games have barely touched. The Defiant is looking to explore one of those lesser-seen perspectives by putting the Chinese resistance against the Japanese invasion at the centre of its campaign. While the gameplay shown during Gamescom feels familiar to anyone who grew up with classic World War II shooters, the setting gives the game a reason to stand out from the crowded genre. Continue reading “The Defiant preview (Gamescom)”

Paradox Development Studio is no stranger to grand strategy, having built a reputation with games such as Crusader Kings III and Hearts of Iron IV. With Afterworld, however, the studio is moving away from established historical settings and into a post-apocalyptic future. That alone makes the game an intriguing prospect, especially as it attempts to combine the survival and settlement-building mechanics associated with the genre with the sprawling systems that Paradox’s strategy games are known for. Afterworld is still some way from release, but an early look at the PC version suggests that there is already an ambitious foundation in place. Continue reading “Afterworld preview (Gamescom)”

Police Simulator is taking the series back to the drawing board. Developed by Grip Studios and published by astragon Entertainment, this new entry is being presented as a full reboot rather than simply another iteration of Police Simulator: Patrol Officers. The setting moves to the US-inspired metropolis of Faremont City, while the scope of the police work on offer is being expanded considerably. From issuing parking tickets and responding to traffic accidents to chasing suspects, investigating more serious crimes and working alongside a K9 partner, the game appears to be trying to cover a surprisingly broad range of police duties. An early look at the PC version during Gamescom offered a glimpse at how this new direction is coming together. Continue reading “Police Simulator preview (Gamescom)”

There are plenty of multiplayer first-person shooters that aim for realism, but few take that goal quite as literally as Bodycam. Developed and published by Reissad Studio, the game puts the player behind a body-mounted camera and attempts to make every firefight look, sound and move like footage captured in the middle of an actual operation. With its unusual perspective, physically connected character model and deliberately stripped-back interface, Bodycam has always stood out visually. Following its substantial Locked & Loaded update, however, the Early Access title is also attempting to build more depth around that impressive technical foundation. Continue reading “Bodycam preview (PC)”