Resident Evil 4 Mercenaries DLC Coming To Quest Next Year
Meta today announced that the Mercenaries DLC package for Resident Evil 4 is officially in development for the Meta Quest. Along with that announcement, the company revealed that RE4 is the fastest-selling game on the platform. It's almost as if people really want AAA games in VR.
Capcom and Oculus (now Meta) released the Quest version of Resident Evil 4 on October 21st, and in just over a month, the game has become the fastest-selling title in the Quest platform's history. Meta has never released sales numbers for any of its headsets or games, but we know several titles have made millions of dollars in profits. Resident Evil isn't likely in the top-selling ranks yet, but it will be if the high sales volume continues. Beat Saber and Population: One have big head starts, though.
To keep the excitement about RE4 VR going, Capcom is working on a DLC expansion for the Quest title. The Mercenaries expansion will launch next year and let you experience more of Resident Evil in terrifying first-person VR. The Mercenaries expansion adds a hoard-mode experience to the game, where you need to fight off a never-ending hoard of Ganados until your rescue helicopter arrives.
Meta said that Mercenaries would be a free update for Resident Evil 4 on Quest.
The 10 Best Games Of 2021
10 of the best for a year like no other We won't mince words; 2021 was a tough year for video games.In a year where more people than ever seemed to be enjoying video games, truly great new releases were few and far between.
Between delays and disappointments and the effects of the pandemic being more widely felt in the industry and beyond, it simply wasn't a vintage year for video games.
With that said, we've managed to compile our picks for the 10 best games of 2021; let the debates begin!
10) It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios/EA)In the rush to facilitate massive player counts and an always-online style of game, the hallowed art of the couch co-op game has been lost.
'A Way Out' was a noble, but failed attempt at bringing back the game you play with a mate on the couch, but the developers took all the lessons from that experiment and made one of the year's most satisfying games in the process with 'It Takes Two'.
Like a mash-up of 'Marriage Story' and a 'Mario' game, 'It Takes Two' is a winning and charming game that offers players something new to do every 10 minutes.
If you're in possession of an extra controller this Christmas, you could do a lot worse than a few hours of 'It Takes Two' with a family member or friend.
9) Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine/Xbox Game Studios)Much like the film sphere, the role of the auteur is to be cherished and championed.
Tim Schafer is one of gaming's most unique voices, and when such a talented individual like Schafer gets the financial backing to realise their visions, the result is sheer brilliance.
Over 15 years in the making, 'Psychonauts 2' is every bit as irreverent and fresh as the original.
The gameplay does what it needs to, but the story builds upon the 2005 game to tell one of the most engaging and deep, yet funny, stories in any form of media this year.
Having 15 years of personal growth behind him and numerous failures as a creative, 'Psychonauts 2' is a fascinating and rewarding dive into the human condition, while still being fun to play.
In a year when some of the biggest disappointments were from the triple-AAA side of the industry, it becomes even more important that brilliantly creative games like 'Psychonauts 2' are supported.
8) Hitman 3 (IO Interactive)2021 saw us wave goodbye to Agent 47 as he carried out his last mission, but he saved the best for last.
Agent 47 taking time out of his busy assassin schedule to solve a 'Knives Out' style mystery in a cosy English mansion was one of the most inspired moments in gaming this year.
Agent 47 takes in his surroundings in 'Hitman 3'On a fundamental level, 'Hitman 3' is identical to the other two games in the reboot trilogy, but when the core gameplay loop is as deep, fascinating and endlessly replayable as the other 'Hitman' games, it shouldn't come as a surprise the final chapter makes an appearance on this list.
The joy of toying with targets, gawking at the attention to detail in the levels or listening in to NPC chatter makes the 'Hitman' games a class apart in the world of gaming, and Agent 47's final outing (for now) is the perfect cap to one of the great trilogies in modern gaming.
7) Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games/Sony)Every console needs an icon for the kids to look up to, and this dynamic duo are still flying that flag for Sony all these years later.
'A Rift Apart' is like a Pixar film in motion, and takes full advantage of what the PS5 has to offer.
Not just merely impressive as a tech demo game, the core chaotic 'Ratchet and Clank' gameplay is back and better than ever, making this a blast to play for fans who go back to the PS2 era with Ratchet and Clank or are new to the franchise.
The gameplay is off to a fine art, and the gameplay functions like a well-oiled machine.
The Pixar comparison is apt; there is something for everyone with 'A Rift Apart' and by bringing the fun back from the PS2 era with PS5 graphics, it bridges 3 generations of consoles beautifully.
6) Resident Evil: Village (Capcom)After 'Resident Evil 7' successfully revived the 'Resident Evil' franchise, the big question was "how will Capcom mess it up this time?"
2017's 'Resident Evil 7' brought the series back from the brink, creating a more unsettling, tense first-person perspective that worked wonders for the atmosphere and put the colour back in the series' cheeks.
Long-term fans of the 'Resident Evil' series had every right to be nervous; after 4 turned out to redefine the series and action genre as a whole, 5 and 6 became episodes of '24' that were about as scary as an episode of 'Scooby-Doo'.
Players face off against Lady Dimirescu in 'Resident Evil: Village''Village' builds upon what made '7' so unsettling and manages to tell a gripping story full of memorable characters such as 2021's breakout character, Lady Dimitrescu.
Poor Jake Winters goes through such punishment in 'Village' that you'll want to keep playing just to see what happens next, and the game boasts what may well be the series' scariest moment yet - yes, even scarier than the dogs going through the windows.
5) Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (Bioware/EA)The 'Mass Effect' games may be over a decade old, but when they're remastered to such a mirror shine with modern graphics, they're worthy of a slot on this list.
The original 2007 'Mass Effect' is the game in the collection to have received the most substantial upgrade, with its graphics overhauled and those infinite lift rides eliminated and the Mako handling less like a shopping trolley.
The jewel in the crown is 2010's exquisite 'Mass Effect 2' which received some subtle tweaks in the animation and graphics department but still remains the masterpiece it was over 10 years ago, and 2012's divisive 'Mass Effect 3' has aged pretty well.
With 'Mass Effect 3' including the Director's Cut DLC and the other story DLC added in, what was a game that was missing a few elements to become truly great has become just that.
From start to finish, 'Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is a game of dizzying depth and complexity,
For fans old or new, the games are still as good as ever, and now they're available in one package; hundreds of hours of sci-fi excellence in one place? You'd have to be as evil as a Reaper to turn that offer down.
4) Metroid Dread (MercurySteam/Nintendo)Samus Aran made a comeback in 2021 to show the gaming industry at large what they've been missing.
A glorious throwback to the side-scrolling era full of the innovative gameplay we've come to expect from the 'Metroid' series, 'Metroid Dread' is a pleasing throwback with a fresh coat of paint.
Originally a Nintendo DS game and regularly appearing on "best games to never be released" lists, Samus showed she was still able to compete in the 2021 gaming landscape, and the throwback feel created by the game was a breath of fresh air in the murky-brown triple AAA video game field.
The moral of the story? Always respect your elders.
3) Returnal (Housemarque/Sony)Finnish developer Housemarque have been in the Sony stable for well over a decade now ('Resogun' was the very first free PS Plus game on PS4) but 2021 saw the talented team break into the big time with 'Returnal'.
An overnight success that took 25 years to get a mainstream hit, 'Returnal' is one of the most thrilling experiences on the market today.
'Returnal' is like when the band you love is given a big record label deal, and with the full backing of Sony behind it, the talented team behind 'Returnal' finally put out a game worthy of their boundless imagination.
Telling the story of Celeste, 'Returnal' is best described as a mix between 'Edge Of Tomorrow' and 'Dark Souls', where players must die over and over again to figure out what's going on.
Celeste from 'Returnal' is one of this years most striking protagonists'Returnal' is a demanding game and will probably lead to many smashed controllers in frustration, but 'Returnal' does such a tremendous job of hooking players in you want to beat it.
Add in a gripping story, a riveting lead performance from Jane Perry as Celeste, and gorgeous visual and sound design, 'Returnal' is a statement of intent for the PS5, and other exclusives for the console will be doing well to match up to Housemarque's opus.
2) Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games/Xbox Game Studios)A racing game being one of the best games of the year might sound absurd, but trust us - 'Forza Horizon 5' really is that good.
Similar to how 'Pro Evolution Soccer 4' is a tremendous game that a non-football fan can enjoy, 'Forza Horizon 5' is a capital F Fun game first and a racing game second.
'Forza Horizon 5' does the impossible and makes a game that can be enjoyed by anyone from someone who's never picked up a controller in their life to a veteran gamer who goes back to the Atari 2600 era.
'Forza Horizon 5' is always pushing players to do just one more race, beat one more challenge, break one more record, but if you just want to switch off and enjoy the lush graphics and vast game world, you can do just that.
The concept of a sandbox game has become muddled over the last decade, with some developers thinking ticking off objectives one by one on a map counts as a sandbox experience, 'Forza Horizon 5' is a breath of fresh air and is a game that a player can enjoy on their own terms, at their own pace.
A true miracle of modern gaming, 'Forza Horizon 5' is one of the years absolute best games, racing or otherwise.
1) Deathloop (Arkane/Bethesda)The best game of a year should entertain, thrill, dazzle and do everything better than every other game out there.
On top of that, it needs to do something truly unique and special.
'Deathloop' does just that, with style to spare.
Arkane's other series 'Dishonored' tasked players with navigating a series of sandbox enviroments to knock off their targets, and have honed that formula into something truly special.
Invoking the 60's aesthetic of early 'James Bond' films and the TV show 'Archer', 'Deathloop' makes the old seem new again.
The games main hook - an assassin is trapped in a never-ending time loop and must assassinate 8 targets to end the cycle - makes the most out of the premise, and is consistently fresh and dynamic as a result.
Julianna and Colt are chasing different goals in our Game Of The Year 'Deathloop'The razor-sharp Tarantino style dialogue is a joy to listen to, and the main voice performances from Jason E. Kelley and Ozioma Akagha are among the most biting, yet hilarious voice performances in a game this year.
Of course, a game is only as good as its setting and design, and the gameplay in 'Deathloop' always remains kinetic and exciting.
Arkane has built upon the combat system from 'Dishonored' and 2017's underrated 'Prey' and turned it into the most swashbuckling fun this side of 'Bioshock Infinite'.
Whether players are breaking the loop as Colt or protecting it as Julianna, there is always a new element to find and mess around with, which is the telltale sign of a well-designed game.
A game of the year should still be fresh and exciting in the years to come, but still act as a reminder of the year that was.
'Deathloop' is a game where time has lost all meaning, every day is the same but slightly different and players must fight against a force they don't really understand.
'Deathloop' is the game that tells the story of 2021 and is our Game Of The Year.
5 Horror Games Like Resident Evil You Should Try Out This Halloween
The horror game genre peaked during the late PlayStation 1 era. With franchises like Resident Evil setting the blueprint for the survival horror and horror genre in video games, it is safe to say that there are a lot of offerings in the current year to choose from.
With Halloween creeping over us later this month, here are a few horror game players who enjoyed Resident Evil games can choose from, ranging from various types of horror to cover everyone’s taste.
The horror game genre for video games has much more liberty when it comes to telling stories than its movie counterparts, hence the choices offered to players. Be it survival horror with a mix of action, horror where you escape a big brute, or something more psychological, here are a few horror games players can try out this Halloween.
5) OutlastImage via Red Barrels
Red Barrel’s 2013 horror game Outlast took the gaming community by storm and was one of the few games that made YouTube gaming commentary trend worldwide. The player controls investigative journalist Miles Upshur as he tries to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Mount Massive Asylum.
The game doesn’t have any means for the players to protect themselves and they have to rely on their surroundings to hide and escape from the asylum inmates trying to kill them.
Even though Outlast sometimes relies on jump scares a bit too much, the setting, atmosphere, and music make sure that the players are at the edge of their seats, while being scared.
4) Dead SpaceImage via Viscreal Games/EA
2008’s Dead Space takes the over-the-shoulder gameplay of Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 and instead of sending players to real-life locations, sends them to a spaceship infested with monsters called Necromorph.
The science-fiction horror game lets players control Issac Clarke, as he tries to escape the spaceship called Ishimura, all the while surviving attacks from Necromorphs and solving puzzles.
Horror game fans who like a bit of action in their spooky journey will enjoy Dead Space a lot, as it is a perfect blend of action and horror in one single game.
3) Murder HouseImage via Puppet Combo
While bigger studios have access to better budget and production pipelines to make polished horror games, the indie circle still manages to produce some of the most self-contained horror games inspired from the olden times.
Image via Puppet ComboMurder House is one such offering. Developed by the indie team Puppet Combo, Murder House follows a news crew breaking into the abandoned house of a dead serial killer to shoot a horror story. To their shock, the serial killer is not dead and is out to get them.
The game is inspired by old school PS1 horror games. With PS1 low-poly graphics, full voice acting, and B-Movie slasher plot, Murder House pays homage to the 80s in the most gruesome and bloody ways possible.
2) Alien: IsolationImage via Creative Assembly/SEGA
Fans have always wanted a good game based on Ridley Scott's science fiction horror movie Alien. Sadly, Gearbox's Survival Horror Co-op Shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines didn’t quite get the essence of the old movies and was riddled with promises unfulfilled and technical issues.
Alien: Isolation, however, is a complete package of claustrophobia, fear, and dread, combined together into one solid game of cat and mouse chase through a derelict space station.
Developed by the British studio Creative Assembly, Aliens: Isolation is a survival horror game set in the Aliens mythos. Set 15 years after the original 1979 Alien movie, the players take on the role of Amanda Ripley as she investigates the disappearance of her mother.
Isolation is well known for having an intelligent AI, as the Alien on the ship will adapt and try to outsmart Ripley to her death, so it is up to the players to use the available tools with them to either push the Alien back or evade it altogether.
1) Silent Hill 2Image via Konami
In 1999, a rag-tag group of Japanese developers under Konami would go on to make one of the greatest horror games of this generation for PS1. In 2001, the same team would make the sequel, effectively blurring the thin line between video-game and art, and rising to critical acclaim.
Survival horror game Silent Hill 2 was made by the now-defunct Team Silent under the Japanese Publisher Konami. Silent Hill 2 follows James Sunderland, as he comes to the fictional town of Silent Hill in search of his dead wife, after supposedly receiving a letter from her.
Image via Silent Hill 2: EE/Konami
Silent Hill 2 is loved by video game fans worldwide for its themes, atmosphere, and music. If you are a horror game fan, it is a must to try out probably one of the greatest horror games of this generation.
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