5. Tales of Berseria

Tales of Berseria is the latest in the long line of Tales of video games and it doesn’t disappoint. It has the most emotional journey that any Tales of protagonist has been given sending Velvet to literally hell and back on her journey of vengeance. She is joined by a motley crew and has a brilliant relationship with the antagonist of the piece that elevates the already high stakes. Not only that this story connects wonderfully to Tales of Zesteria giving the world a stunning sense of scope. It may have the sense of – if it ain’t broke don’t fix it – when it comes to the gameplay and a complacency with the graphics but ultimately that doesn’t matter when you have such a moving story with such a charming cast of characters.

4. Nioh

If you’ve read my review of Nioh you will likely be very surprised by Niohs placement in the top 5 games of 2017. Its placement however is actually quite a simple one it never stopped being interesting. As my first step into the world of games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne Nioh was a shock to the system and I found it jarring and with such a lack of commitment to storytelling I didn’t find it as engaging as other RPGs I’ve played in my life. Once that initial shock faded though I found myself coming back again and again to Nioh especially with my childhood friend in tow as we teamed up to bring hordes of yokai to their knees. This game since I first played it has stayed with me and with every new level I conquer, with every new guardian spirit I unlock I enjoy myself more and more and it is down to the compelling and addictive gameplay.

3. Horizon Zero Dawn

Guerilla Games what a team they created a world teeming with life when they created Horizon Zero Dawn and in my opinion it’s down to two main elements 1. The world that has been crafted is a beautiful and vibrant one filled with monsters that you want to bring to heel 2. Aloy the lead protagonist is so charming, so fascinating and her journey is so compelling that you will almost immediately fall in love with her and want her to succeed in her adventure. Add to that a challenging world where you feel like you truly are a hunter/gatherer and you’re going to have an unforgettable 60+ hours of gaming.

2. South Park: The Stick of Truth

I know what you’re thinking, this game doesn’t count, The Fractured But Whole is the big South Park game that came out this year but I would disagree on this matter. The reason The Stick of Truth made it onto the top 5 games of 2017 list is that it’s a more innovative and enjoyable game. It’s wonderful the comedy hits home a lot more and The Fractured But Whole sadly felt less interesting than The Stick of Truth. The battle system is charming and nuanced, the graphics are top notch allowing you to feel immersed in South Park, Colorado and the story is just god damn brilliant.

1. Gravity Rush 2

When I began compiling this top 5 games of 2017 list the first game that popped into my head was Gravity Rush 2. This is without a doubt the most innovative game I’ve played in the last year. From the stunning world that looks like a painting come to life to the glee-inducing gameplay Gravity Rush 2 fires on all cylinders. I never stopped having fun, I completed every sidequest not because I wanted every trophy but because I wanted to. I didn’t even play the first Gravity Rush but it didn’t matter I fell into this world and I loved every minute of it and it has stuck with me since January 16th.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this list it’s been an incredible year and if you’re still reading I’d like to say thank you for this year. I started GamEir back in 2016 after a serious health issue and some stress problems and having GamEir as a place to discuss my views has been an absolute joy. I’ve played a lot of games I’d not have played if I was not the GamEir and because of that I’m very happy and I’ve met a lot of great people from cosplayers, voice actors, and fans. I’m looking forward to 2018 and what it may bring thank you and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year and keep playing those games.

The post GamEirs Top 5 Games of 2017 appeared first on GamEir.

Wondrous new worlds, flights of gravity defying fancy and the continuing adventures of the Gravity Queen herself Kat and her feline sidekick Dusty. Gravity Rush 2 hopes to continue the thrill and joy from the first game as it makes the transition from PS Vita to the PlayStation 4.

I never played the first Gravity Rush, so I went into Gravity Rush 2 with no expectations. My first impression of Gravity Rush 2 was the attractive graphics. Technically the graphics don’t push the PlayStation 4 to its limits but it’s visually sumptuous, the vibrant colours and lush backgrounds paint a beauty world for the player to fall into. I spent hours watching the lavish world go by, and the world of Gravity Rush 2 is teeming with life. People are going about their lives, airboats flying overhead and large islands held aloft by gems that power everything.

The story of Gravity Rush 2 follows on after the conclusion of Gravity Rush so be warned there are spoilers ahead for anyone who hasn’t played the first Gravity Rush. After being deposited into a new world via the gravity storm at the end of Gravity Rush Kat and Syd have been slaving away on a mining craft with an assortment of oddball characters. A long way from home and with Kat missing her trusty sidekick Dusty (meaning she has lost her powerful gravity shifting abilities) Kat and Syd trudge along day in day out mining ore and pining after their lost lives and friends. Eventually, Kat is reunited with Dusty and regains her powers, and from there the adventure begins anew.

Gravity Rush 2 is a fantastic game, from the story to the gameplay and everything in between there is little to complain about with Gravity Rush 2. The gameplay is where the game shines; it’s manic and energetic. Playing as Kat is a wonderful feeling akin to that of being a kite caught in an updraft with thankfully a lot more control in the player’s hands. The ability to gravity shift is something easily learned but challenging to master. The use of the motion sensor of the PlayStation 4 controller is brilliant. You can decide how intrusive it is when it comes to your gravity shifting movement, and so I endeavoured to find a happy balance and after a few minutes of tweaking the settings I reached a balance that allowed the gravity defying to feel genuinely surreal but still keeping that control I wanted.

The meat of the gameplay is all based on Kat’s gravity shifting and how she throws herself at the sky, this is how she describes it. It’s a lot of fun traversing the various islands throwing yourself at one island to the next. Utilising this ability in combat is so much fun especially when you lift up three or four enemies like they were nothing and fling them at other enemies. You can then upgrade Kat’s shifting abilities via gem collecting. You get gems to buy upgrades by completing the various side quests and challenge missions in the game; the story missions only offer experience to level Kat’s health, and gravity gauges up. The decision to not earn gems in the story missions is smart as it forces the player to try out everything at least once and there’s a high chance once you try one of the many side quests or challenges you will get hooked. I’m currently trying to finish the last of the side quests, but it’s not easy, especially with the number of side quests clocking in at over 40. One of the reasons the side quests work so well is that they further flesh out the world that Kat lives in adding more characters to interact with and the game returns to these colourful characters often.

One aspect I wasn’t sure about but ended up being one of the most well thought out was online. Gravity Rush 2 lets you know that if you play online, share your excellent photo’s with its online community you get rewarded and with genuinely useful and fun rewards. You can also join in treasure hunts where other players will take a photo where they found a treasure and then they will send you on a photo hinting at where it is and from there the hunt begins. After finding the treasure both you and the person who gave you the hunt get rewarded meaning everyone wins. It’s a system that utilises the online aspect excellently.

There are problems however with Gravity Rush 2. The camera can be an issue when you’re in combat with enemies and can cause issues when you’re dodging attacks or throwing projectiles. The maps don’t always render properly, and now and then I found myself in poorly texturised streets, and it pulled me out of the otherwise immersive experience. On top of that, there were times when I would fling Kat at a surface and she would go into the wall instead of sticking to it. These are minor issues I had, but overall I couldn’t stop myself playing Gravity Rush 2 for hours on end.

Game director Keiichiro Toyama-San was quoted as saying, ” There’s a whole world here, and I want you to discover every last corner!”

I can say without a shadow of a doubt I will discover every corner of this beautiful world that I’ve been introduced to. Gravity Rush 2 is out on the 20th of January so be sure and pick it up if you are a fan of old school JRPG’s with a modern twist.

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