From the gory to the bloody brilliant, these are the very best things we’ve seen at Gamescom 2022 so far. We’ll be adding to this feature as we watch and play more games throughout the show, so be sure to check back throughout the week!
Dead Island 2 is fucking disgusting
After eight years in the wild, Dead Island 2 is back and it’s bloodier than ever. Despite being built from the ground up, Dead Island 2 feels a lot like the early version of the game debuted in 2014. LA’s undead-infested boulevards are instantly familiar, as is the minute-long zombie massacre, but it’s so much more disgusting. That procedural technology behind the new Gore systemNickname FLESH, means that there are unlimited possibilities dismember your enemies, chop off limbs with swords, crack open heads with a well-placed Molotov, and more. Based on what we’ve seen, it’s a game that will turn both your stomach and your head.
High on Life’s [email protected]*#ing Boss Battle
Speaking of shocking games, High on Life reveals the boss fight will definitely make an impression. It’s not like the alien ant you’re fighting is particularly tough or scary. Actually, it has nothing to do with the boss at all, but with the chatterbox blaster you fight with, which spits out more swear words than laser bolts. There’s also your dagger, proudly proclaiming that he’s going to “cut their damn hole off and damn eat it” in the darkest voice imaginable. We also played part of the game and interestingly, it’s the little touches that make High on Life special.
Killer Klowns From Outer Space is a chunky surprise
But perhaps the biggest surprise so far is that we’re getting a game adaptation of the cult 80’s horror comedy, Killer Klowns from Outer Space. It is a 3v7 asymmetric multiplayer game from the director of the game on Friday the 13th with the team of humans making weapons to defend against the invading clowns. Made in collaboration with the film’s creators, the Chiodi Brothers, it promises to capture the curly goofiness that made the original a cult classic.
Where the winds meet: an ambitious love letter to Ghosts of Tsushima
Set in medieval China, Where Winds Meet is Ghosts of Tsushima, a massive open-world RPG that promises more freedom and choice for players than the blockbuster Sucker Punch it’s clearly inspired by. That Trailer featured horseback riding, combat, hunting and more against a beautiful backdrop of Ten Kingdoms China, but it is Ability to choose your own fate this really sets the game apart, with the wealth of choices making each adventure truly unique.
The Callisto Protocol is more than just Dead Space 4
The Callisto Protocol is another one that promises so much more than a tribute to what it is inspired by. In fact, Striking Distance’s survival horror shares a lot of the same DNA as Dead Space, but it’s evolved into something new thanks to that brutal melee combat, clever stealth design, and extensive weapon upgrades. We also particularly love the mutations, which can turn relatively harmless enemies into vicious, multi-limbed killing machines in the blink of an eye.
Forspoken’s spell combo ranking system looks great
We got our best look at the action-adventure Forspoken this week thanks to a 10 minute gameplay deep dive That revealed a Devil May Cry-style rating system that rates your spell combos as you use them. There are over 100 spells and abilities, but knowing which ones to link together is important if you want to gain experience multipliers. The trailer showed enemies trapped in bubbles that you can burst with piercing attacks, to shoot into the air with a jet of water and sniff from above. There’s also a bit where hero Frey uses an ice surfboard to trick a waterfall, which isn’t a combo but is very cool.
Lies of P: A Dark, Souls-like with a touch of Bloodborne
Lies of P, the Souls-like based on a dark retelling by Pinocchio, showed brand new gameplay, uncovering new locations and enemies, and incorporating other characters from the story. In one scene, Pinocchio faces a man who calls him “son,” presumably his creator Geppetto, but given the game’s twisted nature, it’s more sinister than it could be. There’s also a hint that Jiminy Cricket could play a part, but since the happy cricket has only appeared in Disney’s version of the story before, we’re curious to see how it might turn out.
DualSense Edge is Sony’s Pro Controller
Despite a no-show from Sony on the show floor, we’ve received word that a pro-level PS5 controller is coming. Syncs the DualSense Edge, this premium controller is PlayStation’s answer to the Xbox Elite range. While it looks like a regular DualSense, it’s highly customizable, allowing for bespoke control mapping, as well as paddle switches and back buttons on the rear. It also has a switch on the rear shoulder that probably sets the travel distance of the triggers. As for price and release date, we’ll just have to wait, but it’s about time Sony offered PlayStation users a high-end controller option.
Moonbreaker: The Warhammer game we always wanted
Sony with the ‘Why wasn’t this done sooner?’ Award is Moonbreaker, the ultimate Warhammer game in all but name. It’s a digital tabletop strategy game in which you build armies from a huge variety of units before deploying them into battle. But the kicker is that you can also paint your units, choosing from dozens of shades and brush types to make each model unique. If that sounds like too much, you can use color schemes created by professional model painters to make your army look its best on the battlefield.
