Video game preview: New releases this fall to bring excitement with remakes, series continuations
(Clockwise from top left: Courtesy of Sony, Courtesy of Saber Interactive, Courtesy of Meta, Courtesy of Nintendo, Courtesy of Konami)
This post was updated Oct. 3 at 8:22 p.m.
With the crispness of autumn settling in, the season’s top video games are ripe for discovery.
As the leaves turn and the air cools, this harvest season brings a variety of immersive stories and nostalgic comforts. From enchanted forests to heartfelt reunions, these autumn days offer a range of cozy quests and spellbinding adventures – perfect for the golden glow of fall evenings.
As the season shifts, dive into the Daily Bruin’s handpicked list of fall video game favorites.
“Until Dawn” (Sony)
Blackwood Mountain’s horrifying misadventures are returning for seconds.
After nearly a decade since the original’s release, the highly anticipated remake of cult classic “Until Dawn” is finally seeing the light of dawn on Oct. 4 – on gaming platforms, that is. In contrast to “The Quarry” – the spiritual successor of “Until Dawn” that featured shared themes, styles and gameplay but did not continue its story – this remake will let longtime fans and newcomers alike dive into the interactive metaslasher game with new technical and narrative improvements. Players will now be able to explore new environments, snag exclusive collectibles and experience movie-like cinematography, all bolstered by visual enhancements designed for the PlayStation 5.
While these technical improvements may not always be at the forefront of gameplay, the beloved story and characters of “Until Dawn” will return in their expected surprising – and often chilling – ways. Once again utilizing a butterfly effect choice mechanic, the narrative follows a motley group of friends, lovers and strangers as it accepts an invitation to return to an atmospheric mountain lodge – a site of a personal tragedy. However, as the trip progresses and personal qualms simmer to the surface, the members of the group soon find themselves fighting for their lives against both human and supernatural entities.
While a return to the world of “Until Dawn” is guaranteed to be a good time, your survival in it is not — the choice is yours to make.
– Davis Hoffman
“Silent Hill 2” (Konami)
Return to the infamous town where hope dies and nightmares thrive.
In “Silent Hill 2,” releasing Oct. 8, James Sunderland receives a letter from his recently deceased wife inviting him to the bleak, eponymous town of Silent Hill. Players explore the town through Sunderland’s eyes, evading monsters – including the infamous Pyramid Head – as they search for answers in this remake of a 2001 psychological horror classic.
This remake is the series’ first major release since 2012 – though this dry period was not always so certain. Konami published “P.T.” in 2014 – a teaser for an upcoming Silent Hill game – which was regarded by fans and critics as among the finest experiences on the PlayStation 4. While the full title died behind the scenes, the public had proven its appetite for a return to Silent Hill. In response, Konami tapped “Layers of Fear” developer, Bloober Team, for this “Silent Hill 2” remake to help revitalize the franchise. Bloober Team is overhauling the camera, combat and graphical experience of the original for Playstation 5 and PC. If pulled off gracefully, this could be the horror game of the decade.
Halloween is the perfect time for another visit to Silent Hill – and hopefully another horror classic.
– Martin Sevcik
“A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead” (Saber Interactive)
Hush, or it’s game over.
Inspired by John Krasinski’s blockbuster franchise, “A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead” is hitting platforms Oct. 17. In line with the eponymous film’s premise, the horror game is set in an eerie postapocalyptic land infested with blind creatures with hypersensitive hearing. Adopting a first-person narrative through the eyes of a new character, Alex Taylor, the player must navigate a terrifying world while tiptoeing to survive the creatures’ wrath.
A gambit of fear and adventure, the game was designed to create an immersive experience for “A Quiet Place” fans to feel the thrill of the films firsthand. To stick with the realistic style, players must protect themselves only with tools scavenged in the landscape, much like the movie characters did. The game’s plot goes beyond mere jump scares to include Taylor’s internal narrative, following her as she struggles with her own horrors below the surface. With the game’s spooky soundtrack and realistic visuals, its success will be far from quiet.
A masterclass of terrors, within and without, “A Quiet Place” is sure to capture the platform’s road ahead.
-Puja Anand
“Batman: Arkham Shadow” (Meta)
Become Batman to defeat the Rat King.
This October, players will defend Gotham City once again in the 10th game of the Batman Arkhamverse, “Batman: Arkham Shadow.” This game will showcase notable improvements in technology, especially in comparison to the previous virtual reality game in the series, “Batman: Arkham VR.” Released in 2016, “Arkham VR” was a point-and-click game where players could teleport from place to place and were unable to move freely. In contrast, “Arkham Shadow” integrates full 3D movement, a feature that allows players to immerse themselves into the chaos of the city beginning Oct. 22.
In addition to running, players will be able to glide, punch, grapple to higher surfaces and access numerous gadgets. The complex combat system the Arkham franchise is known for, including the critical strike system and the countering move used in previous games, is now playable in the VR platform. While players can choose to mindlessly strike at their opponents, the game provides opportunities to use strategic moves to create combinations of moves. In addition, the famous vigilante will have to fight against a new adversary, the Rat King. With the villain’s identity unknown, players will fight throughout the night and wonder who they are truly up against.
Roger Craig Smith, who was the voice actor for Batman in “Batman: Arkham Origins,” returns to invite players to experience Gotham City from the earlier stages of Batman’s career.
With full movement, players can take on the rat as the bat who is feared.
– Amy Wong
“Mario & Luigi: Brothership” (Nintendo)
The Mario Bros. are making waves once again.
On Nov. 7, the “Mario & Luigi” franchise makes its triumphant return with the release of “Mario & Luigi: Brothership.” Boasting a brand new cel-shaded art style, “Brothership” is the spinoff series’ first original entry in nine years, as well as its first for a home console. In the game, players must help Mario and Luigi return home to the Mushroom Kingdom after a mysterious portal transports them to the watery world of Concordia.
“Brothership” offers players an extensive new region to navigate as they sail the seas of Concordia, using their ship’s cannon to blast Mario and Luigi to various islands. In addition to old friends and foes such as Princess Peach and Bowser, the Mario Bros. will encounter an eclectic array of electricity-themed characters on their journey, from the heroic Snoutlet to the villainous Extension Corps. However, as indicated by its title, the core focus of “Brothership” is Mario and Luigi’s brotherly bond. The eponymous duo can only succeed in their adventure by working together – whether by navigating the overworld with collaborative Bros. Moves or unleashing mighty Bros. Attacks during turn-based combat.
Players who harness the power of brotherhood will surely experience smooth sailing.
– Paco Bacalski