This month there are a few more games I want to highlight: once again, more than I was initially expecting. But hey, all the games I want to mention here are a lot of fun, and we’re getting some very good replay value with them, too.As usual, I’ll start with honourable mentions.
HoloCure: Save the Fans!
A fan game inspired by Vampire Survivors and Magic Survivors, HoloCure sees you playing as hololive talents whilst they fend off crazed fans. All the weapons and items you can collect in game are based on hololive. It’s an addictive game, so it would be irresponsible of me to give you the link to download it yourself. This link, in fact.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
The massive expansion to Monster Hunter Rise is upon us, and it brings new monsters to fight in Master Rank quests. There are also new skills to put to use. It’s easy to put hundreds of hours into Monster Hunter Rise alone, and this expansion only adds even more.
Portal: Companion Collection
After Nintendo’s June Nintendo Direct Mini, a certain pair of games were released on the Switch’s eShop bundled together. Those games were Portal and Portal 2, released together as the Portal: Companion Collection. So now you can think with portals on a Nintendo console.
That covers my honourable mentions for this month. My main highlight is a spin-off game that takes a certain turn-based strategy series and gives it a Warriors spin – for the second time.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes brings the cast of Fire Emblem: Three Houses into the Musou genre. There are plenty of familiar faces, but this game has a new story. The story revolves around a mercenary named Shez (or whatever name you choose), who is defeated by the one known as the Ashen Demon.
From there, Shez meets three people who will be very familiar for Three Houses players, and eventually chooses on of three houses to join. That choice will shape Shez’s destiny, as well as that of Fódlan.
The usual Warriors gameplay is here; the one vs. one thousand style, as it were. You are also able to command allies during battle, assign adjutants, unleash special attacks – you know, all that good stuff. It’s interesting to see the weapon triangle make a return, since it wasn’t entirely present in Three Houses.
The Warriors games are ones that I can easily put hundreds of hours into, and have done with the likes of both Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors. Clearly Zelda and Fire Emblem are perfect matches for the genre.
Whilst there is enjoyment to be had from strategically positioning soldiers on a grid, sometimes you just need to get involved in a more active type of battle – and Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes certainly scratches that itch. I’m having lots of fun playing this game, and that’s all I can really ask for.
Rory Muses 