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February was a quiet month on Game Pass, so I’m going to use that as my excuse for not blogging – of course, the real reason is, I got lazy. The great news is, I’ll at least mention the games that were added last month.
Let’s go!
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
I first played Bloodstained a long time ago… I want to say that it was on PC Game Pass, so maybe it’s only now coming to consoles. I don’t know.
Although I didn’t play the Castlevania games, I have at least tasted what that might have been like. The setting is memorable and the artwork delightful. The character customisation is deeper than some RPGs and the game never feels too long. Quite the opposite, the scheduling of the narrative and level exploration is near-perfect.
If you’ve never played this game, I highly recommend you do. As someone who never played sidescrollers that often, Bloodstained inadvertently introduced me to games like Ori, Hollow Knight and Yoku’s Island Express.
A real gem.
Dead Island 2
There’s nothing like the arrival of a AAA title on Game Pass! Again, I feel sorry for those who paid the full price. Surprisingly, there’s a lot of game here. The first Dead Island was one of those games that came from nowhere, and when it did arrive, it seems it wasn’t popular immediately. I even recall it being difficult to even buy! I had to track down a second-hand copy at Blockbuster of all places.
When I finally got to play it, however, what a game it turned out to be. This was, I believe one of the first games that allowed so much crazy weapon customisation – actually, that might have been Fallout – and presented more than a few enemies on the screen at one time. It was the zombie game zombie fans had been waiting for. That was the beauty of Dead Island, it felt like a zombie apocalypse; it wasn’t over or undercooked.
Dead Island 2 is a little overkill in some regards. Does this detract from the visuals, the feel, the procedurally generated dismemberment, or the environmental effects? No way. The zone system for moving through the game makes sense and I appreciate how the quests try to freshen up the norm: at the end of one quest, I was forced to go back
through hordes of undead after reaching the end. Whilst this could be considered filler, which I suppose it is, it was still something I’d never experienced before.
Check it out!
Return to Grace
I have a soft spot for atmospheric walking simulators and Return to Grace doesn’t disappoint. Last month, Game Pass subscribers were treated to Close to the Sun. An old game, but an intriguing story, if somewhat clunky in its delivery on console.
Close to the Sun was the appetiser then for what was to follow. Return to Grace is timely because it’s all about AI. As a space archaeologist – that’s right, you’re an explorer in the last frontier – you uncover the ancient resting place of a long-lost AI god called Grace. It’s sort of a shame that the AI is called Grace (not that Grace isn’t a wonderful name) and that it was essentially the caretaker for the solar system. I was expecting something a little grander.
It’s visually stunning and the story is where the game shines. Get to know the fractured personality of Grace and come to your own conclusions…
What else is new?
A Little to the Left
Brotato
F123
Go Mecha Ball
Palworld
Super Mega Baseball 4
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank
What’s on its way?
Lightyear Frontier
Space Engineers
What am I playing?
As usual, this section will be filled with Sea of Thieves and Darktide. Though I will add one more game to the list. My free time seems to be dwindling, something to do with getting older, so I tend to stick to what I know, which is poor form.
Sea of Thieves is one of the comfiest games around, even more so if pirates are your thing. You may already know, but it’s a mixture of atmosphere, outstanding scenery and everchanging climate. On the open sea, you never really know what might happen and that’s what continues to pull me back.
The usual grind of voyages continues to be satisfying and though I no longer have an aim, I’m always left stunned by the realisation of the world. Sometimes, it’s even satisfying to set sail alone and take in the wonder of the world.
I’ve finally levelled another character to 30 in Darktide, so I’m going to start another one. I currently have a Zealot and a Psyker, I wasn’t keen on the Ogryn, so I’m going to go with the Veteran for my final character.
My only criticism of Darktide is the lack of content. There’s a lot of levels, but once you’ve maxed a character, there’s not much else to do. Some new game variants would be a welcome addition. I’m picturing a colosseum-esque game mode.
Finally, I’ll get to the new game I’ve been playing. It’s an old game, but it’s cross-platform co-op and scratches an itch: Remnant: From the Ashes. The gunplay is more than satisfying and the continual character development and intriguing boss battles make this a must play, especially if you’re a fan of the Souls series.
So, what games are you playing on Game Pass? Give us a shout over on our socials.
As always, much love!