All articles tagged with #combat system
A leaked Control Resonant review suggests improved melee combat and solid performance on open-world-like maps, while signaling potential storytelling weaknesses as Remedy reloads the franchise; the embargo was briefly breached by Cultura Geek ahead of the September 24 launch, with pre-orders reportedly strong.
Insomniac's Marvel's Wolverine leans into brutal, melee-focused combat and a Sinister-led setup, but the game largely reuses the studio's Spider-Man/Arkham-inspired systems; its violence is graphic and the DualSense haptics are impressive, yet the action often feels weightless and the narrative risks not redefining Wolverine or impacting future films. Release on PS5 is set for 15 September.
Beast of Reincarnation nails its action with a flexible combat system and varied builds, but its lifeless world, thin characters, and repetitive exploration drag the experience down, making it worth playing mainly for the swordplay.
Four hours with The Blood of Dawnwalker, a vampire RPG from Rebel Wolves led by ex-Witcher 3 director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, show a bold time-limited structure: you have 30 in-game days to rescue your family, and every choice costs time, driving a tense, replayable prologue. Combat adds directional attacks and parries in a hybrid system, while the world has no strict main quest, guided instead by an Infamy Court system that injects consequences. A developing romance with Anca and tough, choice-rich quests hint at a standout, potentially breakout RPG for 2026.
The June 2026 Persona 4 Revival broadcast reveals three big changes: a visual upgrade with a larger, more dynamic Inaba and revamped UI and level-up screen; a reworked combat system adding Baton Pass-style chaining along with new Send Flying and Prime Time mechanics to ease MP management; and fully voiced dialogue with a new cast plus localization tweaks that align more with the Japanese text, potentially nudging humor changes that may disappoint longtime fans while offering a more engaging Social Link experience.
Hands-on with Stranger Than Heaven reveals a weighty, parry-based combat system that maps left/right bumper actions to stance-specific strikes and uses directional blocks for precise counters, all while sticking to a knife-wielding, no-dodge approach. Encounters with waves of enemies and a challenging miniboss showcase a tense, Souls-like rhythm, but the author remains unsure what Makoto Daito fights for or what RGG Studio is ultimately aiming to say, especially given recent controversies around the Tupac cameo and broader studio direction. At its core, the demo excites with its brutal, methodical combat, even as the larger narrative questions linger.
The article discusses how the game Expedition 33 transforms the traditionally exhausting mechanic of parrying into a glamorous and rewarding combat feature, emphasizing its strategic depth, visual flair, and high payoff when executed perfectly, ultimately changing the author's perspective on parrying in games.
Crimson Desert features a deep, multi-layered combat system inspired by fighting games and arcade classics, emphasizing player freedom and impact with a wide array of moves, environmental interactions, and fantastical mounts, including dragons and mechs, all designed to offer a dynamic and customizable experience without strict patterns or counters.
Bloober Team's upcoming sci-fi horror game Cronos: The New Dawn impresses with its tense combat system involving enemy merging mechanics, challenging players to manage threats and resources carefully, and shows promise as a compelling addition to the horror genre, with a release expected later this year.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the sequel to the cult classic RPG, is twice as big as the first game and features a revamped combat system aimed at accessibility while maintaining the depiction of real medieval martial arts. The game promises a true RPG experience with a classless leveling system, customizable skills, and branching dialogue, and will also include a wider range of ethnicities.
Dragon's Dogma 2's combat system in the action-RPG game is intentionally unrefined and chaotic, designed to challenge players' expectations and create a sense of unpredictability. Unlike recent trends in action-RPGs, the game lacks sophisticated combat mechanics such as dodge rolls, counters, and combos, and emphasizes party combat with limited player control over AI companions. While the combat may feel sloppy and unfocused, it aligns with the game's theme of embracing the unexpected, creating a space where anything can happen, even if it means sacrificing technical refinement for a more unpredictable and immersive experience.
Team NINJA's upcoming game, Rise of the Ronin, features a deep combat system set in historic Japan during the Bakumatsu period, allowing players to utilize various melee weapons and firearms. The game emphasizes draining enemies' Ki, mastering Martial Skills, and becoming proficient with different fighting styles. Players can expect a mix of Japanese and Western weapons, long-ranged weapons like bows and firearms, and ingenious grappling rope actions. Rise of the Ronin is set to release on PlayStation 5 on March 22.
Moon Studios' upcoming action RPG, No Rest for the Wicked, features deliberate and tactical combat reminiscent of Dark Souls, with a focus on visceral and strategic gameplay. The game's top-down perspective and isometric camera offer a fresh take on the action RPG genre, with a variety of weapons and unique movesets, as well as a dynamic resource system called Focus. Boss battles, such as the encounter with Warrick the Torn, emphasize the game's relentless and challenging combat, promising a thrilling experience for players.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink for PS5 is an action RPG with a strong emphasis on combat and RPG elements, featuring a diverse roster of playable characters and a single-player story campaign alongside Monster Hunter-esque co-op quests. While the campaign is relatively short at 15 to 20 hours, it offers intense action and impressive set pieces, with the combat system combining precise hacking and slashing with RPG mechanics. The game's optional quests, however, do not reach the same heights as the main campaign. Despite some graphical roughness, the game's fantastic character roster and thrilling combat make it one of the PS5's best action RPGs, especially for those willing to embrace the grind.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon - Infinite Wealth retools the combat system, offering a more flexible movement and proximity-based attacks in a stunning new Hawaiian setting. The game features the return of main hero Ichiban Kasuga and series stalwart Kazuma Kiryu, who embark on a compelling conspiracy involving a local religious sect and multiple crime syndicates. The game's brawling feels like the best of both worlds, with a strong supporting cast, contemporary themes, and an expanded job system. The game also offers a vast amount of supplemental content and minor design decisions that enhance the overall gaming experience.