Games of the week – Destroy All Humans!, Maid of Sker, Othercide and Neversong
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Othercide
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: Tactical role playing game
Price: £32.99
Mother leads the way
Othercide turns the tactical turn-based genre on its head, gently borrowing elements from other titles and wrapping it into a sublime Gothic-like mix. You take up the role of the Mother, who commands her sword and revolver-yielding warrior Daughters into battle against The Other. The unique, stunning black-and-white art style, with hints of red, sets the gloomy mood perfectly. Your success will be determined by planning each move – it is often difficult, sometimes frustratingly so, which may deter light gamers, but overall it is filled with satisfying combat.
Skip to the end: Hugely challenging tactical role player made fulfilling by combat systems and spot on art.
Score: 8/10
Destroy All Humans!
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia
Genre: Multiplayer
Price: From £24.99
Blast from the past
There is something undeniably fun about playing as aliens who attack Earth, even 15 years after Destroy All Humans! was first released. Now the game has been revived with improved graphics which work for today’s consoles, while maintaining much of the same premise as it did in 2005 – it’s set in 1950s America – and all of the lame yet fitting humour that came with it. Most of the missions are pretty much the same, with just one completely fresh addition – a few more would have been welcome for fans of the original game. Destroy All Humans! is confidently stupid and pulls it off well through and through.
Skip to the end: Destroy All Humans! gets a fitting revival that doesn’t lose sight of its original objective, no matter how absurd it may seem.
Score: 7/10
Maid of Sker
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: Horror
Price: £19.99
Defend until the end
A first-person horror based on a Welsh folklore tale, Maid of Sker is set in an old spooky building as you fight for survival. It starts off with promise, in a well-crafted creepy setting, but the scare-factor does wear off quickly – and the enemies aren’t really all that frightening either. However, the ability to hold your breath to avoid being noticed by those out to get you is an interesting touch – be careful how you time it as well, as you may find yourself taking a big gulp of air at the wrong point.
Skip to the end: Creepy setting and limited unique mechanics aren’t enough to make Maid of Sker the horror it could be.
Score: 6/10
Neversong
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS
Genre: Adventure
Price: From £4.99
An emotional ride
Neversong puts the story front and centre, tapping into the players’ emotions – so much so, that early on we’re warned the game can be upsetting because of its “loss and hope” theme. The plot follows Peet, who awakes from a coma to discover that his girlfriend is missing, as well as all the adults in his village who set out to find her. The powerful storytelling coupled with charming art and variety of puzzles make Neversong a compelling play, despite being shorter in length than we would have hoped.
Skip to the end: Neversong takes players on an emotional journey with a well-crafted story, but its short length leaves us wanting more.
Score: 7/10
