My 13 highlights of Gamescom, including 3 tips for visitors

Philipp Rüegg

25.8.2016

Translation: machine translated

The world's largest games trade fair once again attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors this year. From unknown indie games to gigantic blockbusters, everything is represented. I'll show you which titles impressed me the most during my visit and what else there was to see.

Even on my seventh visit, I still get as excited as a little kid when I enter the gigantic exhibition halls at Gamescom in Cologne. Booming music, huge flickering screens and happy gamers as far as the eye can see. As the offerings seem to grow every year, it becomes increasingly difficult to see even a fraction of all the fantastic games. Nevertheless, I took on the quest and played until my head was spinning. A lot still fell by the wayside. For example, I would have liked to have played "Battlefield 1", but that can be tested with the beta in a week's time. Here is a small but nice selection of my personal highlights from Gamescom 2016, which is not just limited to new games.

1: "Dishonored 2"

Much is already known about the sequel to the surprise hit from 2012. The steampunk-inspired action adventure game now features two playable protagonists. Corvo, who you could already play in the first instalment, and Emily, who brings her very own set of special abilities to the table. "Dishonored 2" allows for a wide variety of play styles and is fast-paced, bloody and extremely varied. It will be released on 11 November. Released for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

2: "Prey"

Immediately after "Dishonored 2", we were shown "Prey". Apart from the name, it obviously has nothing in common with its predecessor. In a utopian sci-fi world, you fight aliens on a space station that can transform into objects. So take a close look before you pick up the dead guard's weapon. You have a colourful arsenal of weapons to choose from, including a gun that shoots a kind of foam that immobilises enemies and can even create small steps. It looks stylish and is even a little reminiscent of "Dead Space", albeit not quite as gruesome. Released in 2017 for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

3: "Sea of Thieves"

"Sea of Thieves" is a somewhat peculiar game. In the demo shown, we steered a pirate ship together as a team. Hoist the sails, weigh anchor and, of course, fire cannons at enemy ships. In between, we played lively pirate songs on the instruments we had brought with us or got drunk. Probably aimed more at groups of players. Our short game was definitely a cheerful affair. Thanks in no small part to a fired-up Irish tunesmith, who I wouldn't have been surprised if he had already indulged in rum like his digital counterpart. And probably also because we sent the enemy frigates to the bottom of the sea with full broadsides. Released in 2017 for PC and Xbox One.

4: "Sniper Elite 4"

For the fourth time in "Sniper Elite 4", you get to blow out the lights on Nazi henchmen in a bloody X-ray view. At first glance, not much seems to have changed. You sneak, explore and try to take out as many enemies as possible without being spotted. If the levels really have become bigger and more open, as it seemed in the demo, then I'll be back for the fourth time for the somewhat dull but undeniably fun action. Released on 14 February 2017 for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

5: "Watch Dogs 2"

The first instalment was a bit of a mixed bag, but I was still very entertained overall. "Watch Dogs 2" seems to take itself a little less seriously and otherwise builds on the old strengths and offers significantly more variation. Missions can be solved in different ways. There are all sorts of fun toys at your disposal, such as various drones, weapons from the 3D printer and, of course, numerous hackable objects. If the presentation and story strike the right balance between humour and suspense, "Watch Dogs 2" could be great fun. Released on 15 November for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

6: "Rigs"

After we were allowed to shamelessly queue up at the Sony stand thanks to press passes, we were able to try out the multiplayer sports-baller game "Rigs". In the Playstation VR exclusive game, you sit in the Cockpit of a giant robot. You aim using head movements and control the vehicle with the pad. Two teams try to decimate each other with different weapons. If you successfully shoot down your opponents, they leave behind yellow dots that need to be collected. Once you've collected enough of them, you have to try to bounce them into a giant basketball hoop to score points. Amusing fun, even if it did make me a bit woozy.
To be released on 13 October for Playstation VR.

7: "Horizon Zero Dawn"

A game that everyone raves about so much that I really wanted to see for myself. The game is set 1000 years in the future in a mixture of Stone Age and science fiction. As a red-haired tribesman with a high-tech bow, you hunt robotised dinosaurs. The enemies are pleasingly varied in terms of attack techniques and like to wreak havoc on the environment. The large game world and various tasks, as well as the focus on hunting, are very reminiscent of "Far Cry". However, the scenario offers significantly more potential. Released on 1 March 2017 for the PS4.

8: "Ghost Recon Wildlands"

Another game that emphasises team spirit. You are part of a not entirely legal mercenary force that takes on drug lords and other villains in Bolivia. As the rascals like to hide in highly secured bases, you have to proceed tactically. In other words, only if you don't want to be discovered. The same mission was played in different ways. For example, you can load up with heavy artillery and shoot your way to the target, but risk encountering much more resistance. Or you can try the quiet option and kidnap your target in a night and fog operation. I get the impression that it's only really fun if you go into the field with friends. Released on 7 March 2017 for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

9: "Gwent"

Ah Gwent, you love it or... There is no or. The popular card game from "The Witcher 3" will soon be released as its own game. The cards have been completely redesigned and numerous new functions provide more game depth and new tactics. It's already a lot of fun. What's more, there will be extensive quest series. If that's not a hit. Unfortunately, the beta has been postponed until October. Will be released for PC and Xbox One for now.

10: "Titanfall 2"

With perfect timing, I grabbed the last free spot for a game of "Titanfall 2". The gameplay is fast-paced and the movements are even more fluid than before. You run smoothly along walls, jump from rooftop to rooftop and use the new grappling hook to grab onto a giant Titan in the air. The combat robots are still the centre of the action and have been enhanced with new melee attacks. I really enjoyed the first part and part two builds on its strengths, delivers a more extensive single-player mode and will be released on PS4 as well as PC and Xbox One. And that's on 28 October.

11: Retro corner

Source: Flickr/Tim Bartel

Whoever visits Gamescom should not limit themselves to the blockbusters. The retro corner is always a highlight for me. A collection of old consoles and computers that grows from year to year. From the Commodore 64 to the "Simpsons" slot machine, everything is there. If time allowed, I could spend the whole day here staring at small CRT monitors and duelling with others in old motorbike racing games.

12: Indie corner

Source: David Stark

The variety of indie games never ceases to amaze me. Their stands are close together, with something new to discover at each one. On top of that, you can chat directly with the developers. In the same hall, you will also find medium-sized manufacturers such as Amplitude, who presented the space strategy game "Endless Space 2". A Swiss faction was also on site and attracted attention with titles such as "Far", "Schlicht" and "Niche"

13: eSports

Source: Flickr/Gamescom

If you don't feel like picking up the pad yourself, you should definitely watch one or two eSports matches. Teams duel it out in various arenas in "Dota 2", "Counter-Strike GO" or "Hearthstone". Even if you have no idea what's going on on the screen, you'll be swept away by the shouting and the atmosphere.

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Philipp Rüegg

Senior Editor

Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.ch

Being the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur. more

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