Welcome to a special Mother’s Day edition of RPGs Coming This Week! Well, as long as your mom is into sci-fi survival horror (with turn-based OR adventure gameplay) or young people beating up other mecha from the cockpits of their own mecha. And while that notion would once have seemed preposterous, this is also the week where I just saw a clip of Sally Field discussing how she plays Zelda games on her Switch 2, thanks to Robin Williams introducing her to the series during the filming of Mrs. Doubtfire. In short, games are for everyone, so whether it’s you or your mom, we have a trio of games this week worth looking into!
Intro by Mike Salbato
Directive 8020 – May 12th (PS5, XBX, Windows)
Directive 8020 is the newest entry in Supermassive Game’s Dark Pictures Anthology series. Diverging from the teen slasher movie vibe of their previous horror narrative adventures Until Dawn and The Quarry, Directive 8020 is a science fiction story following the crew of the Cassiopeia after it crashes on an uninhabited planet. Taking inspiration from classic sci-fi horror films like Alien and The Thing, the crew is hunted by a shapeshifting alien that assumes the appearance of various crewmembers. It’s up to you to decide who lives and dies, with a branching narrative and an increased emphasis on exploration and traditional survival horror elements like stealth and resource management. I appreciate that Supermassive is branching out into more traditional horror game mechanics, and the introduction of the new Turning Points system that allows you to return to previous story points should keep more narrative-focused players from becoming frustrated even if they meet a bad end.
by Ben Love
Nitro Gen Omega – May 12th (PS5, Switch, XBX, Windows)
Nitro Gen Omega is an open-world RPG emphasizing frenetic mecha combat alongside strategy planning. Humanity has lost the war against AI, now living in floating remnants of civilization in the sky. You and your crew of mercenaries tackle tough missions to eke out a living in the harshness of the wasteland, using your customizable mechas to wreak havoc against enemy machines. Will your developing bonds fall flat, or will your party ultimately triumph?
With an intriguing premise alongside a look and feel that screams mecha and shonen anime, in Nitro Gen Omega you can not only upgrade and customize your mechs, but during combat you’ll meticulously plan out your actions. Once the strategy phase is complete, you’ll see how those decisions play out with either positive or negative results. Your traveling crew will form bonds as well, reacting accordingly to their harsh realities. The vibrant Nitro Gen Omega has an energetic air that seems chockfull of replayability given its boast of not only multiple unexpected events, but also with its open world to explore and a plethora of player choice. I’ll be quite curious to learn more when it releases this week!
by Audra Bowling
Vultures – Scavengers of Death – May 13th (Windows)
Vultures – Scavengers of Death is a unique blend of survival horror and turn-based strategy, the debut title from Colombian development duo Team Vultures and publisher Firesquid Games. The PlayStation-inspired low poly aesthetic and playable characters (the big, beefy Leopoldo and the lithe, stealthier Amber) proudly evoke the ’90s Resident Evil titles. What sets Vultures apart is the turn-based combat and grid-based movement, utilizing these limitations to create tension and atmosphere similar to how PS1 survival horror titles used tank controls and fixed camera angles for the same purpose, but in a new format. [Editor’s Note: I have a feeling there may also be something here for Parasite Eve fans.] The end result feels fresh and surprisingly appropriate for the genre, so look out for a full review from yours truly before the game releases on Steam this week! There is a demo available to try out, providing just enough of a taste for the game to really sink its talons into you.
by Ben Love
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