Both the editorial staff of FreeGameTips and its collaborators tell us which games they are going to spend time in this atypical summer but with space for leisure.
Summer, a time between going back and forth in the sun and “throw the shawl over me, it is already refreshing”. Many are already enjoying or preparing for vacations, despite having spent a few months in the bedroom due to the pandemic. Both the editorial staff of FreeGameTips and its collaborators again choose options with which to spend these hot months believing, innocently yes, that we are going to be able to finish them at the same time that we continue entertaining you in this your home every day.
The most chosen genre for the feathers that you read every day is without a doubt the RPG, although there are no shortage of bets such as virtual reality, walks through Karumocho or the always efficient platform titles. As a brand of the house there are also retro video games, since these, always, transport us to summers of youth and infinite memories.
Half-Life: Alyx – Salva Fernández (Editorial Coordinator)
He had long been behind virtual reality glasses for PC for the sole purpose of playing the new Half-Life. The Valve saga is synonymous with steps forward, revolution. Turning point. Alyx wants to be the spearhead of virutal reality, and what I have so far confirms it. In fact, my first hour has been in what should be the first 10 minutes of play. But it is impossible not to be on the roof with Alyx Valance looking at books and being able to read what is on the back cover. Painting and writing with extreme precision with a marker in the window. Throwing soda cans from one hand to the other. In short, feeling that this really is the virtual reality that one expected, that of an interaction never seen, that of physicists of another level. I have been told that the game grows and grows, and that it does not stop surprising. And it was a long time since I felt so surprised, that I didn’t feel like I was facing something never seen before. The last time at that level was when I stepped on the three-dimensional world of Mario 64. Hopefully this really grows as I have been told. The desire to experience something unique is always present. And for now, the first impact has already earned me.
Shadowrun -Francisco Alberto Serrano Acosta (Editorial Coordinator)
Since I was able to play Cyberpunk 2077, my imagination is thirsty for dystopian futures that take me away from the current dystopian present and one of my pending subjects is the great Shadowrun of Mega Drive, a game that I have started several times but have not been able to finish, although has always caught me. The setting, the freedom it offers, the graphic work and the charms of Shadowrun, perhaps the great benchmark for futuristic board games together with Cyberpunk 2020 itself. It will be a way to distract the wait for the CD Projekt game and enjoy one of those classics that always have to be present.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Sergio C. González (Editor News and RRSS)
My game this summer is Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. There are few JPRGs of such duration that I have played three times, much less if we talk about three different platforms; but Monolith Soft’s work will be one of them. The story of the Monado captivated me on Wii, I returned as best I could on New Nintendo 3DS and now I will continue savoring this combat system in its best conditions. I played just ten hours last month and realized it was going to become my game of the summer. I want to enjoy it on vacation, without pending Reviews or other titles to think about. I am used to completing long-lasting works during summers, so this time will be no less. That world and that way of interpreting turn-based combat with elements in real time still seems to me an example of how to perfectly execute a modern ARPG without giving up the canons of yesteryear.
The Yakuza Remastered Collection – Alejandro Castillo (Redacción)
I haven’t understood a summer for years without strolling through the streets of Kamurocho. Last February we received The Yakuza Remastered Collection, a compilation of three of Kiryu’s life’s core installments, now in Full HD and updated from its original appearance on PS3. It is a unique opportunity to discover (or revisit, as in my case) what happened during the maturity of the Dragon of Dojima in Yakuza 3, Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 5. From the tropical landscape of Okinawa to the cities of Osaka, Fukuoka or Sapporo, among other. A virtual tour of deep Japan only found at one of SEGA’s biggest brands over the past decade.
Deadly Premonition and Ghost of Tsushima – Pedro Herrero (Redacción)
With The Last of Us Part II concluded and prior to the arrival of its unexpected – but desired – sequel, it’s time to replay Deadly Premonition and rediscover one of the most peculiar games of the last ten years. Personally, I like to talk about one of the best bad games in history, since it is undeniable that it suffers from both serious playable deficiencies -especially related to control- and a visual aspect that is far from being moderately decent . However, its virtues are so unique that you can be perfectly capable of forgiving those shortcomings: a plot of crime and murder with supernatural touches that it catches, certain surprising playable mechanics and a plethora of crazy characters among which stands out its tremendously charismatic and irreverent protagonist, FBI agent Francis York Morgan. At the end of this month we have another great name such as Ghost of Tsushima, which will undoubtedly occupy my spare time during the month of August … and probably September. Isn’t that right, Zach?
Ghost of Tsushima – Borja Ruete (Redaction)
In a situation as special as the one we find ourselves in, playing video games can be an important escape route. But like every summer, the gaze falls on the shelf and the number of titles placed there never decreases. Still, this summer I will get a novelty, because I have a pending trip to medieval Japan. Ghost of Tsushima, new to Sucker Punch — creators of InFamous — stars Jin Sakai, a former samurai who must sacrifice his own code to fight and defend his home. He will become a ghost, a being from the shadows who must destroy his enemies to avoid the conquest of the Mongol invader. With a very cinematic touch, this open world game invites us to wield the katana and feel like a true samurai warrior.
Jak & Daxter and Crash Bandicoot – Paula Croft (Guides)
The arrival of summer represents, for many, the opportunity to return to our homes and reunite with our families. For this reason, what better time is there to relive in company those classics that marked our childhood? In my case, this summer I will mainly dedicate it to the Jak & Daxter trilogy and the Crash Bandicoot trilogy. Thanks to the recent masterpiece that Naughty Dog has brought us with The Last of Us Part 2 and the announcement of a new installment of the most endearing marsupial saga, it is the perfect time to return to the origins where it all started with those adventures and platforms that captivated an entire generation.
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town – Ricardo Fernández (Contributor)
As if four hundred hours building friendships with animals, managing an island or filling the museum with trophies were not enough, this summer I plan to spend it on a farm, in Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town. This genre, the agricultural simulation genre, is capable of keeping me glued to the screen for a good number of minutes and never ending boredom. It also reminds me of my childhood, my summers in Garcibuey (Salamanca) surrounded – and living together – with cows, chickens, sheep and all kinds of animals that do not know the perfumes of Jean Paul Gaultier. It is perfect for quick games whatever the season, but in my opinion it is best enjoyed in this season. And unlike 30 years ago, I won’t sweat like a tick working on the farm here.
Greedfall – Laura Luna (Contributor)
We live in interesting times in a strange summer. Video games have been a sweet refuge throughout the quarantine and during the days when I limit my outings in this new normality, it is the turn of Greedfall. I know that it went unnoticed and that it lacks several flaws such as repeatability, but an RPG with so much flavor of Dragon Age – and in the absence of having in our hands that longed for fourth installment – catches my attention. I am drawn to its gray-toned story of colonialism brought into a fantasy world, with unforgettable characters with whom to live sword and witchcraft adventures, and I feel like immersing myself in an imaginary that goes beyond the topics of traditional fantasy. Surely I will continue with my usual role-playing habit of playing a rogue as a player character, because traditions are never lost. Perhaps you will find in Greedfall beautiful landscapes in which to lose myself for hours, even if it is virtual.
Fallout 76 and Wasteland 3 – Virginia Mejías (Contributor)
To escape the high temperatures I have planned to spend my vacations in the frigid lands of Wasteland 3. I was lucky to feel the first hours of what will be my new home in Colorado, and I was frankly delighted. The harshness of the environment and its people will not make it easy for my rangers. But we accept the challenge.
Wasteland 2 was a formidable experience. The careful postnuclear setting and the adult tone of the title hooked me. Like the challenging turn-based combat system. After finishing it I knew that I had been waiting for an RPG like this for a long time. Wasteland 3 promises to be a much more ambitious title. Microsoft resources have been put at the service of Inxile in order to make the wishes of this group of veterans come true. August is still a bit far away, so for now I will stay in the wilderness of Fallout 76 with a very cool Nuka-Cola. Appalachia summer content awaits.
Dragon Quest XI S – Sergio Melero (Collaborator)
This unusual summer will help me reencounter one of the universes that has fascinated me the most in recent years: the wonderful world of Erdrea. And I will do it through Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of a Lost Past Definitive Edition for Switch, where I can once again follow in the footsteps of the lighting, remembering unforgettable events and discovering, along with such charismatic characters as Jade, Servando or Veronica, the new content offered by this version. And it is that, for those of us who love the most classic JRPG genre, the Juhi Horii video game is like a dream come true that further increases the quality of the franchise. Adventures, role-playing, epic combat and a whole world full of small towns and cities that remain marked in the heart, await me during the hot summer months.
Ratchet & Clank and Spider-Man – Marta Oller (Collaborator)
After seeing the technical wonder of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart shown in the presentation of PS5, this summer I will take the opportunity to replay his PS4 version of Insomniac Games. Want to see more about this version of PS5 are not lacking, so it is a good option to go taking away the bug this summer and liven up the long wait. This time, there’s nothing better to quench the heat than doing it on top of a refreshing holotabla in Ratchet and Clank. His flamboyant action-packed planetary voyages in the hands of his charismatic – and beloved – characters are more than a good proposition to get on the ship with them without any resistance. In addition to Ratchet and Clank, I have yet to finish Marvel Spider-Man, another title from the Insomniac Games catalog. In the latter, we see a great job by the studio that makes us feel at home among the dizzying streets of New York with its fast-paced arachnid action. And it is that “good” Parker puts it on a tray. His unique abilities, charisma, and light-hearted personality permeate this title with something that few in the superhero video game niche can aspire to. However, it should not surprise us, let’s not forget who is behind it: Stan Lee, Kaare Andrews and Steve Ditko, thanks for so much.
Assassin’s Creed Saga and others – César Otero (Contributor)
Laptops and 2D + Desktop and 3D is always a winning combination, especially in the summer. This weird 2020 hot dog – the year plus WTF! that we are living- catches me as always with a stack of new ones to pass, but also right in the middle of the marathon, long postponed to the complete Assassins Creed saga, which was pending for a long time. And to disconnect and detoxify from so much Templar revisionist parkour – as well as let the console cool down so that the fan doesn’t create a cosmic singularity – I have two little gems ready: Sonic Mania and Streets of Rage 4 on Switch, two works of art to which the portable format feels luxurious and they are pure joy. But of course, there I have Ellie putting eyes on me … So I do not rule out asking 4-5 days off to the Creed of these two months that we have ahead to go with her and Abby. I don’t think Ezio cares.
Mass Effect: Andromeda and others – Joaquín Relaño (Collaborator)
This will undoubtedly be an atypical summer, all because of the so brought and carried virus that will make 2020 a year to forget. But it will be summer, after all, and fortunately we will have our beloved video games to disconnect and escape from this so-called new normality while we wait and hope that normality will return. For my part, I will continue to reserve weekends to travel to another galaxy thanks to Mass Effect: Andromeda. I have already accumulated more than 100 hours of play, and I still have a 65% adventure to complete. An engaging title that invites you to lose yourself in its wonderful and incredible worlds, and which was unfairly undervalued at the time. And on the other hand, I will dedicate myself, already with a view to my daily work, to revisit, or play for the first time, classic and current Capcom titles. There are few games in the huge catalog of the Japanese company that had not yet played. The next two will be Rival Schools 2: Project Justice and Star Gladiator 2: Nightmare of Bilstein. 3D fighting games that Capcom only released in its day for arcade salons (when they were already in danger of extinction in these parts) and Dreamcast (console that I did not get to own), and whose tasting was once available thanks to the blessed emulation I kept procrastinating for lack of time and saturation of new games to taste.
Judgment – Aarón Rodríguez (Collaborator)
For the upcoming summer afternoons, I’ve decided to spend that time playing Judgment, a title from the hand of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, creators of the Yakuza series. Despite the fact that the core of the game maintains the bases established by the franchise starring Kazuma Kiryu, there are considerable differences both in playable matter, with a somewhat more agile system when it comes to fighting enemies in combat, as in contrast from its protagonist, Takayuki Yagami, a former ex-lawyer who is currently working as a detective solving cases of a different nature who is involved in a strange case of serial murders involving a member of one of the Tôjô Clan subsidiary families. Along with its interesting plot, various video games are included that include things such as a clearly inspired shooter on rails in Yakuza Dead Souls, Sega classics, dart games or the batting center along with side missions of different styles, some of them very carefree in its development, making this a very complete and ideal title to enjoy at this time of year.
Octopath Traveler and Nintendo Mini – Rubén Vázquez (Collaborator)
I scourge myself day by day watching those sealed games on the shelf waiting for the day when I finally open them. Octopath Traveler has been waiting for 2 years for his opportunity and it is time to give it to him.
The demo of 2017 left me wanting more, but due to other more interesting releases I have been extending its premiere until this year. From what I tried I liked both the music and the history of Primrose, so I would have to change the course of the game a lot to want to leave it halfway. I am aware of all the criticism that has come to him, but I am curious about the stories of those 8 characters who promise to give me dozens of hours of entertainment.
In addition, I have decided to play Nintendo’s retro mini consoles to see those scanlines that are talked about so much in Meristation and thus enrich my knowledge about retro games a bit. A summer with a lot of pixels awaits me.
Final Fantasy X – Jose María Villalobos (Collaborator)
In a matter of entertainment I have always thought that summers should be used for long works, those with an almost eternal aroma, in keeping with what lies ahead. Throughout the year it is normal to always leave these pharaonic monuments in line for priority. The hustle and bustle of the day to day leaves no room to breathe in large inhalations and exhalations, it is time to run, and the little remaining time we usually dedicate to episodes of series, movies and medium or short games. Summer is to take a wheelbarrow and throw for the beach carrying the mamotreto that is Los miserables by Víctor Hugo. If it is about games, role-playing games take the cake, of course. In my case, I plan to enjoy a title that for me is a memory and it is summer. I mean Final Fantasy X. I will never forget the first summer experience on the PS2 and a tube television. Now on Switch, I am attracted to getting lost on these dates and once again for the colorful Spira. I wish again that the bright Mediterranean light makes me squint; May the melody that Uematsu composed for the beach that welcomes us a thousand years into the future, snuggle my ears again, wrapped in the sound of the waves. It is time to return to drama, to love, to runaway laughter on the balcony of the world. It is time to return to the trip in capital letters, to the epic that made us touch the sky almost a lifetime ago. It’s time to go home.
