This Week in Gaming (Week 22)

[TheLostSwede]

In case you missed it, we're about to enter the last week of May and soon summer is here. It's a pretty busy release for new games, even though there are no AAA releases, there are still plenty of interesting new games being released. This week's major release involves not getting sacrificed to the gods. The rest of this weeks' releases range from being the saviour of Persia to being in charge of Titans and that's just the first two releases. This is followed by taking the reins of a martial arts cat, exploring the black priory and racing F1 cars. Hopefully we've managed to cover most bases this week, but there's always next week for those of you that didn't see anything that tickled your fancy.

Soulmask / This week's major release / Friday 31 May
Soulmask is a sandbox game that prioritizes an authentic survival experience. As the "last one" blessed with the mysterious mask, players will grapple for survival in a primitive land steeped in mysterious faiths, carving out a path to ascendance. Start from nothing, explore, build, recruit tribesmen to fortify your clan, and ultimately unravel the mysterious truths hidden behind the civilizations of this world. Steam Link




The Rogue Prince of Persia / Monday 27 May
Jump into this action roguelite installment in the Prince of Persia series as you flow between death-defying platforming and acrobatic combat as the Prince himself. Battle through the capital city again and again with one goal - find a way to save Persia from a Hun invasion wielding dark magic. Steam Link



Reus 2 / Tuesday 28 May
Become a God once again in Reus 2 by taking control of mighty giants whose command over their elements allows you to shape worlds, create an ecosystem of resources and enable human civilizations to thrive. Your choices will determine the fates of these fragile human beings, whose autonomy may lead them to great heights. Steam Link



Nine Sols / Wednesday 29 May
Nine Sols is a lore rich, hand-drawn 2D action-platformer featuring Sekiro-inspired deflection focused combat. Embark on a journey of eastern fantasy, explore the land once home to an ancient alien race, and follow a vengeful hero's quest to slay the 9 Sols, formidable rulers of this forsaken realm. Steam Link



Skald: Against the Black Priory / Thursday 30 May
Skald:Against the Black Priory is a retro-style party-based RPG set in a grim-dark fantasy world of tragic heroes, violent deaths and Lovecraftian horror. Take a chance and roll the dice as you embark on a compelling story filled with deadly creatures, branching story and tactical, turn-based combat. Steam Link



F1 24 / Friday 31 May
Be one of the 20 with EA SPORTS F1 24, the official video game of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship. Unleash your champion in pursuit of a legacy-defining F1 Career, the mode's first major update since 2016. Drive like the greatest and feel at one with the car through the all-new EA SPORTS Dynamic Handling System. Steam Link

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[P4-630]

That's not the 2024 RedBull F1 car they use in the game..

The RB F1 car in the game is using the 2023 sidepod design.

 

[neatfeatguy]

@TheLostSwede

I generally glance over the up and coming releases you post to see what's out there. I didn't even think about it until now, but you should post links to more than just the Steam store if the games can be found in multiple locations. I know that many of the games posted tend to just be on Steam, but some are releasing on other digital stores such as Skald being on GoG and F1 24 being on EGS.

Not everyone uses nor relies on Steam to be there one stop gaming shop.

 

[Aken Bosch]

@TheLostSwede

I generally glance over the up and coming releases you post to see what's out there. I didn't even think about it until now, but you should post links to more than just the Steam store if the games can be found in multiple locations. I know that many of the games posted tend to just be on Steam, but some are releasing on other digital stores such as Skald being on GoG and F1 24 being on EGS.

Not everyone uses nor relies on Steam to be there one stop gaming shop.

Maybe they have a sponsorship deal with Steam and not with the others, so what? Get over it. You have the entire internet at your disposal to search, nobody is forcing you into anything.

 

[Chaitanya]

Have played almost all the PoP games(all the ones that were released on PC missed PSP titles and most titles that were released on Android) and will give new one a try. Should be a fun game to kill some time.

 

[neatfeatguy]

Maybe they have a sponsorship deal with Steam and not with the others, so what? Get over it. You have the entire internet at your disposal to search, nobody is forcing you into anything.

Oh noes. I hurt your personal feelings, too! I keep doing that in posts I make. What I am ever to do so you guys don't take comments personally? I guess some constructive criticism isn't good anymore these days because people take it personal. Thanks for your suggestion, but your opinion wasn't asked for.

I'm plenty sure that TheLostSwede can provide an answer to my suggestion if he so feels the need to do so. If none is supplied it doesn't hurt my feelings. I figured it might be useful to offer all outlets instead of one.

 

[QuietBob]

Wow, that Skald RPG has more DOS lineage than my retro PC running Windows XP

 

[TheLostSwede]

@TheLostSwede

I generally glance over the up and coming releases you post to see what's out there. I didn't even think about it until now, but you should post links to more than just the Steam store if the games can be found in multiple locations. I know that many of the games posted tend to just be on Steam, but some are releasing on other digital stores such as Skald being on GoG and F1 24 being on EGS.

Not everyone uses nor relies on Steam to be there one stop gaming shop.

I didn't even post links to steam before, only to the game site or developer, steam was just a last resource if there were no other options.
That link should take you to alternative purchase options, if there are any.
I'm sorry, but I'm not going to spend my Sundays finding links on other sites for these games. This is just a side hustle for me, not a fulltime job.
However, you're free to add them in the comments.

Maybe they have a sponsorship deal with Steam and not with the others, so what? Get over it. You have the entire internet at your disposal to search, nobody is forcing you into anything.

No, TPU doesn't.

Have played almost all the PoP games(all the ones that were released on PC missed PSP titles and most titles that were released on Android) and will give new one a try. Should be a fun game to kill some time.

Did you ever master the original?

 

[Tomgang]

Oh please don't Tempt me with new games.
I still have the 4 worst games from 2023 i need to complete and i am still waiting for the days befores servers come up and run again.... I'm sure that will happen very soon now...

More serious if any game this coming week should be tried, it will be Soulmask. That game look most like what i seek from a game.

 

[W1zzard]

Maybe they have a sponsorship deal with Steam and not with the others, so what? Get over it. You have the entire internet at your disposal to search, nobody is forcing you into anything.

We don't, but why would you buy something on a platform other than Steam when available? I don't want to spam this with links, but I found hunting for the Steam link every time I wanted to check out something.

 

[BSim500]

We don't, but why would you buy something on a platform other than Steam when available?

DRM-Free build? For others, it's simply wanting to support healthy competition. I own plenty of games on Steam, but I certainly don't want it to end up the only store in town either.

 

[Denver]

We don't, but why would you buy something on a platform other than Steam when available? I don't want to spam this with links, but I found hunting for the Steam link every time I wanted to check out something.

I always prefer to buy from gog rather than steam when the game is available on both, because in my view DRM-free should be the standard. Microsoft and Epic are the last option, the game has to be very good for me to subject myself to dealing with layers of key loggers.

 

[64K]

DRM-Free build? For others, it's simply wanting to support healthy competition. I own plenty of games on Steam, but I certainly don't want it to end up the only store in town either.

I always prefer to buy from gog rather than steam when the game is available on both, because in my view DRM-free should be the standard. Microsoft and Epic are the last option, the game has to be very good for me to subject myself to dealing with layers of key loggers.

For me I also buy on GOG when I have the option for the above reasons but also it's the only way to own a game anymore. Steam could go down or come under bad management one day. There is no guarantee that I would still be able to play the games that I paid for on Steam. Someone always says that Gaben or Steam has said that if the service did go down then the Steam DRM would be removed from all the games but I've never seen that officially stated anywhere. I'm not sure that is legally even possible since it's the Publishers that choose whether or not the game has the Steam DRM. With GOG I DL and back up and they're mine even if GOG goes down.

Also GOG barely turns a profit overall. Around 1.2 million profit last year and it lost 1.15 million in 2021. I like the service and I like making my contribution to their continued future hopefully.

 

[s3thra]

GOG FTW!

With GOG, if I want to archive an older version of a game I can do so easily by downloading the installer packages. I did that recently when I caught wind that Fallout 4 was going to be updated and would likely break existing add-ons.

I can do that on GOG because it's MY game that I bought.

 

[Chaitanya]

Did you ever master the original?

No always used to run out of time in last or 2nd last level and restorted to using cheats to increase time in order to complete the game.

 

[Prima.Vera]

The F1 game series are the biggest scam in the game industry. They release the same game, year after year, with so minor improvements, that those should be offered for free, or at least for like 5$ to those who already purchased the game last year, or 2-3 years ago. In all honestly, they should give some special big discount for those who already own the game. Just adding a new team, or a new track and be forced to pay 70$ ??!??
EA, F**K YOU VERY MUCH!!

 

[neatfeatguy]

The F1 game series are the biggest scam in the game industry. They release the same game, year after year, with so minor improvements, that those should be offered for free, or at least for like 5$ to those who already purchased the game last year, or 2-3 years ago. In all honestly, they should give some special big discount for those who already own the game. Just adding a new team, or a new track and be forced to pay 70$ ??!??
EA, F**K YOU VERY MUCH!!

My daughter is a huge F1 fan. If I wanted to be bored with knowing more about it I could ask her. She takes it upon herself to fully update her knowledge of the game. She's got F23 and proceeded to explain to me the difference between the previous year's game and that one; good and bad changes and so on.

In the end it sounded like it wasn't really any different from all the Madden games.....just a reskin from the previous year with minor tweaks, some good, some bad.

 

[PLAfiller]

Two hack-n-slash side scrollers in one week?! oooh ...oh..oh..ohhh...my. Colour me interested!

 

[HOkay]

Another GoG fan here! It's annoying having yet another launcher, but GoG Galaxy can act as your one stop launcher for all your games if you want. But same as everyone else, I like to download the offline version of the installer so that I have the game forever. I never actually use those versions since I use GoG Galaxy to keep everything up to date, but I have them just in case.

I'd prefer links to all available stores, but it's easy enough to find links myself so on balance I think I'd prefer TheLostSwede & co keep more of their Sundays tbh!

 

[W1zzard]

I always prefer to buy from gog

No doubt, but I don't think any of the last 50 games are on GOG ?

 

[Denver]

No doubt, but I don't think any of the last 50 games are on GOG ?

What do you mean the last 50 games? The big AAA titles? Yes, unfortunately very few of them appear at launch. Btw of those that are announced here, I remember that Frostpunk 2, Warhammer, Indika are available on Gog.

 

[AVATARAT]

Nowadays the bugs-safe option is to wait 3 months before buying a new game, so there's a good chance it's on GOG

 

[Onasi]

Nowadays the bugs-safe option is to wait 3 months before buying a new game, so there's a good chance it's on GOG

Oh man, I see that, to quote Austin Powers, you like to live dangerously. I personally usually don’t even entertain the idea of buying a game until at least 1.5 - 2 years have passed, all the DLC is out and bundled in a GotY edition or whatever and the patches and drivers have stabilized for the title. Oh, and it’s deeply discounted.
3 months is way too early, you’d be lucky if the supposedly “released” game is at a satisfactory enough stage to count as an olden days beta by then. Sure, exceptions exist, but better safe than sorry.

 

[L'Eliminateur]

Oh man, I see that, to quote Austin Powers, you like to live dangerously. I personally usually don’t even entertain the idea of buying a game until at least 1.5 - 2 years have passed, all the DLC is out and bundled in a GotY edition or whatever and the patches and drivers have stabilized for the title. Oh, and it’s deeply discounted.
3 months is way too early, you’d be lucky if the supposedly “released” game is at a satisfactory enough stage to count as an olden days beta by then. Sure, exceptions exist, but better safe than sorry.

Wow, ¿are you me?
i do the same thing, i'm sick tired of being a paid alpha tester at full sticker price, i'm not in any hurry to play in a less than perfect finished state

If it was for me i'd also buy on GOG but my problem is that they DON'T have any kind of regional pricing like steam so games end up being several times more expensive on gog than steam even at the same discount%, regional pricing is a must here.
Funny thing is that their website says they do have regional pricing and it's applied automatically but we still see the same USD pricing so it must be outdated info.

 

[BSim500]

Nowadays the bugs-safe option is to wait 3 months before buying a new game, so there's a good chance it's on GOG

Same here. These days it takes anywhere between 5-30 patches and 6 months to 5 years for some released games to be "Actually Finished (tm)". No rush to buy Day One, let alone be a pre-orderer unpaid beta-tester anymore.