Four April Game Releases We Can’t Wait For
April is right around the corner, and it’s going to be a good month for video games. If you’re safe at home and looking for something to do, here’s some of our favorite game releases for the upcoming month.
Resident Evil 3 Remake (April 3rd)
Last year’s Resident Evil 2 Remake was amazing. Utilizing the formula that made RE:7 famous, Capcom updated their horror classic from the 90s. The remake of Resident Evil 2 managed to bring the game up to modern ages, while never losing the feeling of dread and panic that the original induced. It serves as further proof that RE:2 was good in spite of its god awful controls and camera angles, not because of it.
Fast forward to this year, and we’ve got the Resident Evil 3 Remake nearly here. RE:3 built on the success of the second game, and in some ways, feels more like an expansion than a new entry in the series. It still takes place in Raccoon City during the outbreak, you just play as a new character. The added gimmick is of course Nemesis, who pursues and attacks the player throughout the game. I’ve only played the demo, but oh my god is he terrifying. Unlike Mr. X from Resident Evil 2, Nemesis is not slow and plodding. He’s fast, he hits hard, and when he’s chasing you it is down-right horrific.
Final Fantasy VII Remake (April 10th)
Perhaps the most long-awaited remake in gaming history. The idea of a FF7 remake first surfaced back in the days leading up to the PS3 launch. Square-Enix foolishly showed some updated FF7 cutscenes to show off the power of their engine and the PS3 platform. Of course, that just made everyone think FF7 remake was in the works when it wasn’t. Cue up a decade of people demanding the game actually be made and here we are.
I wasn’t a big fan of the original Final Fantasy VII, so I don’t have a lot of skin in the game. There is no “my childhood is ruined” possibility for me. What I’ve seen of trailers and demos so far, the game looks pretty decent. It looks like they’ve gotten the combat system they started in FF15 more figured out now, and the graphics of course look stellar. I’m interested to give it a try at the very least.
Predator: Hunting Grounds (April 24th)
Finally, an original game. In an era of remakes and re-releases, it’s exciting when a new game catches your eye. Predator: Hunting Grounds did just that. From the trailers, it looks to be a Dead by Daylight/Evolve-esque game. A group of players take control of a squad of humans to accomplish a goal, while the last player is the predator. As always, movie based games are hit or miss but this one looked pretty fun. Check out the trailer below and tell us what you think!
Trials of Mana (April 24th)
Technically, this game came out 15 years ago. However, Trials of Mana is being re-releases for the Nintendo Switch this month. Trials of Mana is one of the quintessential JRPG’s, coming to us from Squaresoft at the height of their glory. How good was Squaresoft at the time? Trials of Mana came out less than a year after Final Fantasy VI, largely considered one of the best games of all time. Before 2019, the game was known as Seiken Densetsu 3. Why? Because it was exclusive to the Super Famicom. It never got a North American release on Super Nintendo. Fans may recall the other games in the series: Secret of Mana and Final Fantasy Adventure (Apparently, North American fans wouldn’t have played it if it wasn’t a Final Fantasy game?). If you enjoyed them as a kid, here’s your chance to go back and complete the trilogy.
Looking for something to do while under quarantine? Check out the Shutdown Showdown! It’s a charity APEX Legends tournament benefiting No Kid Hungry. The tournaments are running on Tuesdays throughout April with proceeds going to charity. It’s just $10 to enter and you can enter solo or with your friends. Check it out here!
Image courtesy of Square Enix