COMMENTARY
By Jeremy Julian @faithfulmantis
The season is coming to an end very soon, and it has been a memorable one for video game fans. Spring 2017 will be one to remember for all of gaming history because we’ve seen some remarkable games released across all platforms.
Normally video game season is the fall, but this may not be the case this year because spring was so strong. Beloved classics and new franchises alike were at the forefront of the great spring titles. Games of many different genres that cater to every type of player are out there.
The first standout titles of the year for me were Yakuza 0 and Resident Evil 7. Both incredibly different titles that both released in late January to critical acclaim. These games gave us an early indication that Japanese titles would be dominating the Spring and possibly all of 2017. Both games were great experiences that blew me away in different ways and changed things up for their respective franchises.
Late February came, and we received Guerilla Games long- awaited Action-RPG, Horizon: Zero Dawn. The game had it all, polished gameplay in a beautiful world that was all brought together by a brilliantly written and unique plot.
About a week after the release of Horizon, Nintendo released its newest home and handheld hybrid console, the Switch. I purchased a system on the day of release and immediately fell in love with it and Nintendo’s release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
This title is surely one of the best games I have ever played, and I’m still discovering new things about it months after release. About a week after that release, we received the Playstation 4 console exclusive Nier: Automata developed by Platinum Games.
When it comes to gameplay, Nier is one of the most polished games ever. I had high hopes for the title, but it crushed my expectations and then some. A title that I believe any fan of games like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta should pick up.
We received another Japanese Playstation game in April with the release of the long awaited Persona 5. Personally, this game is my game of the year so far because it has just about everything-an outstanding story with great turn-based combat mechanics. It was worth the long wait for this title.
Last but not least is another Nintendo Switch game, which would be Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. I didn’t play much of MK8 when it was first released on the Wii U in 2014 due to not having the system. I was blown away by the Switch version because of the ability to take it anywhere with me and the improved battle system.
Spring 2017 was a fantastic time for us gamers and hopefully the year gets even better going into the summer and later. It was a near perfect way for the gaming industry to start the year and consisted of great titles of varying genres made from developers all over the world.