Winner: Nex Machina: Death Machine
The winner of this month is a shocking surprise, but only if you missed it. Made by the indie developers Housemarque, a team well known for their fast-paced arcade twin-stick shooter, their latest title draws inspiration from Smash TV and Robotron. What it lacks in innovation to the genre it greatly makes up for by being close to perfection on the genre formula. Still, this game is not reliant on the nostalgia and gives off its own unique experience. Beating out AAA titles to stand on at June’s releases for this year, Housemarque has yet another hit on their hands.
Runner-Up: Tekken 7
The ninth installment of the well-known fight game franchise, Tekken, being a powerhouse genre, there was little doubt that their latest game wouldn’t make a splash upon release. Tekken 7 introduced two new mechanics: Rage Art and Power Crush. Rage Art allows players to execute critical attacks with damage being roughly 30% varying based on the character when the health bar is critical. Power Crush will allow players to attack even when being hit by enemies. The prior bound system has also been replaced by Screw Attack. Screw Attack will cause opponents to spin sideways when airborne, opening them up for additional hits after hitting the ground. Tekken 7 also sports a roster of 36 characters with 9 new characters to play with and master for the competitive gamers.
Honorable Mention: Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
The remastered trilogy of the Crash Bandicoot series, arguably one of the most anticipated games of the month, kept gamers waiting ’till the very end. The changes to the game are focused on the graphics. It gives an updated and refined look to a beloved trilogy of games. What has not changed is the game play. For better or worse, each game plays just like the original titles, and is a stand out remaster for those nostalgic for the series and giving the chance for others to experience the series for the first time.