Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: The video game industry finally felt like it was back in full swing in 2022 after numerous game delays and pandemic setbacks. While the PlayStation 5 is still largely out of reach for many, there were plenty of other consoles available this year, including the Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PCs.
Along those lines, more eagerly awaited films were released this year than the previous one. While some of those entries, such as Gotham Knights and Sonic Frontiers, fell short of expectations, others that we’ll discuss later exceeded them.
Business-wise, 2022 got off to a strong start with Microsoft’s $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard in January, despite continued allegations that CEO Bobby Kotick had participated in sexual harassment, discrimination, and the development of a toxic work environment. Later the same month.
Sony Interactive Entertainment spent $1 billion to purchase Bungie, thus insuring that the PlayStation and Xbox would continue to battle with one another for exclusives. Although this was fantastic news for gamers, it was less so for game makers who must now specifically target a certain group of people.
There were some breakups as well as new partnerships. After a 30-year partnership, Electronic Arts revoked its FIFA license. This year, E3 was also postponed, so game developers and studios had to find other ways to publicize their upcoming titles.
The film and television industries continue to find video game adaptations to be an appealing prospect, and the year 2022 undoubtedly highlighted both the achievements and shortcomings of that endeavor. Uncharted by Sony received mixed reviews but performed admirably at the global box office. Ushering in a new franchise for Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg. The highest-grossing domestic video game film, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 from Paramount made almost as much money as Sony’s movie.
A third film and a limited series spin-off for Paramount+ were quickly confirmed by Paramount. Mortal Kombat 2 received Warner Bros. approval and was directed by Simon McQuoid; Gran Turismo received Sony approval and was helmed by Neil Blomkamp, and Five Nights at Freddy’s received Blumhouse approval and will be helmed by Emma Tammi. On Monday, Universal released the first trailer for an animated Super Mario Bros. movie that aims to rival Sonic’s popularity.
Despite the rather brilliant decision to set Resident Evil after the events of the games rather than adapt the games themselves, Netflix’s Resident Evil was canceled after one season. On the small screen, however, there is still some hope. Amazon Prime Video is working on a God of War prequel, and Netflix will attempt a Horizon prequel. More television adaptations will undoubtedly become popular if HBO’s The Last of Us achieves the high standards that its trailer suggests it will.
Resident Evil on Netflix, despite the rather brilliant decision to set the show after the events of the games rather than adapt the games themselves, was canceled after one season. On the small screen, however, all is not hopeless. Netflix will attempt to produce a prequel to Horizon while Amazon Prime Video is working on a God of War prequel. A lot more television adaptations will succeed if HBO’s The Last of Us sets the high bar that its trailer suggests it will.
The following are TIME’s top games of the year:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Cowabunga! In this action side-scroller with arcade-style graphics that is based on the 1987 animated series, the Heroes in a Half-shell hit the streets. The voice actors from the animated series are back in Shredder’s Revenge, which also offers contemporary updates like a deeper 2D environment and an excellent soundtrack. Choose between Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, April O’Neil, and Master Splinter in Shredder’s Revenge to face off against the Foot Clan, Bepop, Rocksteady, Krang, and, of course, Shredder.
The only drawback to Shredder’s Revenge is that it ends far too quickly. As you fight enemies from New York’s sewers and city streets to Dimension X, you can gain health boosts from pizzas along the way. It’s a blessing that each character has a distinct playstyle and set of unique skills, as this gives the game a replay value that’s lacking in most arcade-style games.
accessible on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
All of your favourite Star Wars characters, from Anakin to Rey, as well as the thrilling battles and memorable scenes, have been painstakingly recreated in LEGO form here. The Skywalker Saga is a great way to introduce young gamers to the galaxy far, away even though it covers the storylines of nine films.
It goes without saying that adult fans will also find plenty to enjoy here. The Skywalker Saga truly unites the best elements of the Lego Star Wars video games with a wealth of Easter eggs, entertaining and varied combat, a focus on exploration, and local co-op.
In order to make the use of force powers, blaster shots, and of course lightsaber battles more fluid, it refines character movement (keeping in mind that these are block figures) as well as the camera positions. The Skywalker Saga promotes relaxation and promises a good time in contrast to the majority of the games on this list, which are high-stress and difficult.
accessible on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, XBOX One, XBOX Series X/S, and PlayStation 4.
8. Resident Evil Village: Shadows of Rose
The DLC for Resident Evil Village isn’t merely extra material. It also contains a distinct narrative that wraps up the Winters saga that started in Resident Evil: Biohazard. Shadows, which is set 16 years after the end of Village, centres on Rose Winters, Ethan’s daughter, as she enters the mind of a mouldy, conscious fragment in search of a crystal that will take away the abilities that have made her a social outcast her entire life. That’s just typical Resident Evil pseudo-science and dream logic; it doesn’t matter how it exactly works.
The most important aspect of this experience, which reverts to the third-person perspective that the previous two entries broke away from, is the sheer terror Shadows is able to conjure.
The horrors encountered there are all brand-new as players travel through familiar Village areas that have since become run-down. The return to House Beneviento in the second act, which is so tense in how it employs… Better to just let you witness the horror for yourself, I suppose.
available for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, XBOX One, XBOX Series X/S, and PC. Early December will bring the Nintendo Switch cloud version.
7. Sifu
In Sifu, you take on the role of a martial arts master’s son seeking vengeance for the passing of his father. Sifu is a beat-’em-up video game with a martial arts combat system that really emphasises the value of practise. It was inspired by Jackie Chan movies. One of the game’s most original mechanics is that every time you die, your character ages, making it possible for you to use stronger attacks but depleting your health overall to the point where your character may eventually lose the ability to fight and you will have to restart the level.
Sifu does more than just throw wave after wave of enemies at you. It also emphasises improvisation, crafting weapons from the environment, and even the option to talk out some battles rather than engage in combat. It makes every battle a unique game of death, forcing you to learn both discipline and adaptation.
It is Available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
6. The Last of Us Part 1
Naughty Dog’s third foray into the first The Last of Us instalment justifies itself as its own unique experience worthy of a spot as one of 2022’s best games, despite the fact that it may be a little bit of a cheat and therefore couldn’t be ranked higher in good faith. The same old, beloved tale is being told: Smuggler Joel battles Cordyceps-mutated humans and rival militia factions while escorting a teenage girl named Ellie across the wreckage of the United States.
It’s the pinnacle of video gaming, from character creation to environment design, vocal performances to combat. Part 1 is more than just a PS5 port; it completely recreates the game with modern animation, graphics, and improved controls, making the experience, whether you’re playing it for the first time or replaying it, even more memorable. And it serves as the ideal review before the January premiere of HBO’s adaptation of the series.
5. Stray
The entire game is played as a cat, and you do everything a cat would do, including jumping on things, knocking things off shelves, scratching up carpet and doors, and meowing a lot. You end up in a walled city designed in the cyberpunk style to protect the last of humanity as a stray who becomes separated from his family after falling from the lush greenery of the outside world.
However, all of humanity has since perished, leaving only their robot companions, who have taken on the lifestyles of their former owners, including the class structures that brought about humanity’s demise. You progress from the lower levels of the slums to the higher levels while being accompanied by a helpful drone, completing puzzles and side quests, and unlocking information about the world you are exploring. You’ll be surprised at how invested you actually become.
Available on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.
4. Elden Ring
Sword and sorcery have never been portrayed as being simple. Elden Ring, which was written and directed by Dark Souls auteur Hidetaka Miyazaki, and features world- and story-building by George R.R. Martin, is the pinnacle of high fantasy entertainment. Its scope is also enormous, sometimes to the point of being frustrating. There are so many side quests, locations to discover, armour and weapons to unlock, enemies to fend off, and areas to explore that it’s all too easy to get sidetracked from the main objective.
In that quest, your uniquely created character is sent on a quest to fix the Elden Ring and take over as the new Elden Lord. Trial-and-error is prevalent, and in the tradition of Dark Souls, the combat is extremely taxing and challenging, but it’s also rewarding and prompts players to grow from their mistakes. Additionally, since it’s an open-world game, you might frequently find yourself in a fight that you’re not at all prepared for. While results may vary, Elden Ring stands out for its sheer ambition.
available for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, XBOX One, XBOX Series X/S, and PC.
3. The Quarry
Another achievement for horror gaming is Supermassive’s ethereal sequel to Until Dawn. In The Quarry, a group of camp counselors decides to have one last hurrah before packing up for the summer, but a curse is over the land and a werewolf prowls the night in a nod to the summer camp horror films of the 1980s.
The Quarry, starring well-known actors like Brenda Song, Justice Smith, Miles Robbins, and Ariel Winter, as well as horror icons like Ted Raimi, Lin Shaye, Grace Zabriskie, David Arquette, and Lance Henriksen, offers hundreds of decision branches that have an impact on the game’s outcome and the characters’ relationships, as well as hiding spots and the story you witness. The Quarry is a dream nightmare scenario with likable characters you want to see survive the night, unexpected twists, a co-op option, and great replay value.
Available on the PC, Xbox One, XBOX Series X/S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
2. Horizon: Forbidden West
In this follow-up to 2017’s Horizon: Zero Dawn, the post-apocalyptic hunter Alloy is back. In this expansive, open-world sequel, which is twice as big as its predecessor, players are free to roam the wastelands of the western United States. This means there are twice as many robots to find, side quests to complete, and upgrades to locate. By reviving A.I. Gaia and restarting the Earth’s biosphere, which was decimated centuries ago by a human war against machines, Alloy works to put the world back together with the help of both old and new allies.
Forbidden West is a pleasure to play with fluid, simple combat and movement, and graphics that show off the PS5’s capabilities. Its emotional weight, memorable characters, and powerful allegory about what happens when people put their trust in avaricious billionaires whose egos outweigh their technological know-how, however, are what make it stick with you.
Available on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
1. God of War: Ragnarok
God of War: Ragnarok is the standard that all action-adventure games should strive for, with its myth-shattering storytelling, deft tonal shifts, emotional character arcs, and bone-breaking action. Ragnarok is such a sight to behold that you’ll want new glasses to see it all the better in a year full of gorgeous video games. In Ragnarok, which takes place three years after the events of the previous film, Kratos and his son Atreus are once more trying to bring harmony to Midgard. However, this harmony is all too quickly shattered by the Aesir and the impending Ragnarok.
Kratos worries that Atreus is leading them into a conflict with Odin that will have unimaginable repercussions while the boy tries to discover his origins. They encounter gods and monsters from Norse mythology as they journey across the nine realms with the sage Mimir. These encounters test their fortitude, but more importantly, their relationship. It is a tale of Kratos searching for something other than war. And for Atreus, it’s a tale of growing up in which the results of maturation determine the kind of god he will be. and for athletes? It’s an emotionally charged and epic saga, and it’s also the best game of the year.
Available on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
