Games of 2017: Ten names to remember for January and February
2017 is going to be a big year for gamers.
Our pick of some of the biggest games coming to PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One in January and February 2017, including the survival horror franchise that could have rediscovered its form, a face-off between three of the greatest warrior races of all time, a sequel for a girl who can manipulate gravity, and a defiantly retro 30th anniversary celebration.
Gravity Rush 2
Date: January 20System: PlayStation 4The first "Gravity Rush," with its novel approach to the action genre, gained a good following, especially after relaunching for PS4. Gravity-defying Kat returns with three main styles, a similarly skilled friend, and a new city to liberate.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Date: week of January 24System: PS4, Windows PC, Xbox OneIf "Resident Evil 7" manages to nail the tense horror feeling that made the series so compelling in the first place -- even while switching to the full immersion first-person perspective of "Amnesia," "Outlast" and the "Five Nights" games -- we could have a rare big-budget addition to the contemporary genre's top tier.
Double Dragon IV
Date: week of January 29System: PS4, WinPCDormant for years until a 2012 revitalization, "DD IV" has the classic beat 'em up return to its roots in a super-retro style, courtesy of Arc System Works, the studio behind solid fighting game franchises "Guilty Gear" and "BlazBlue."
For Honor
Date: February 14System: PS4, WinPC, XBOKnights, samurai, and vVikings duke it out in a medieval multiplayer arena, with a singleplayer mode also available.
Sniper Elite 4
Date: February 14System: PS4, WinPC, XBOExcruciatingly specific x-ray slow motion fly-bys reward the most accurate hitmen in this Italian-set entry to the World War II-era franchise. Also offers co-op and versus multiplayer.
Berserk and the Band of the Hawk
Date: week of February 21System: PS4, PlayStation Vita, WinPCAdapting the Berserk comic book series using the one-versus-many approach of the Dynasty Warriors franchise as its basis. Very well received upon its 2016 Japanese launch.
Halo Wars 2
Date: February 21System: Windows 10 PCs, XBOWith its real-time strategy predecessor pushing boundaries on consoles, this follow-up promises more tactical intrigue within the "Halo" franchise universe, and this time on PC as well as Xbox.
Lego Worlds
Date: February 24System: PS4, WinPC, XBOA worthwhile branded evolution of the "Minecraft" formula that has proven itself over a lengthy early access period on PC.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Date: February 28System: PS4A visually spectacular open-world expedition for neo-prehistoric adventurer Aloy, wandering among robo-dinosaur herds and looking for the truth of her identity and reasons for civilization's fall. Presented as one of the console's biggest upcoming releases since the first unveiling in mid-2015.
Torment: Tides of Numenera
Date: February 28System: PS4, WinPC, XBOOne of Kickstarter's biggest video game successes to date, and a return to the narrative-driven fantasy world of its outstanding 1999 predecessor that is still upheld as a titan of its role-playing genre (or, more accurately, genre-blend.)