15th August
Hello and welcome back to our regular feature where we write a little about the games we've been playing. This week, we all melt into puddles by our computers, but Dom also devotes themself to the new Fire Emblem; Connor gets enthusiastic about new fighting game on the block, Marvel Tōkon; Chris can't stop thinking about the Star Wars XCOM-like game he played; and Bertie organises a Eurogamer community hike.
What have you been playing this week?
Here's another question: do you remember what you were playing last week? You don't have to! The What We've Been Playing archive has you covered.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, Switch 2
As you can probably tell from my preview, I have been playing nothing but Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave this week. It's good. Too good. My Switch 2 sits watching me from my desk like the Green Goblin mask during work hours. When I close my eyes, I see all the little figures from my anime chess game waiting on their grids for my grand strategy. When I go to bed at night, I can hear phantom echoes of the level up dings and critical hit crashes. The game isn't even out yet. This is going to be a monster. Be warned, you still have time. It's too late for me.
-Dom
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, PS5
I can't go into much detail about the highlight of my Tōkon adventures this week (keep an eye on the site for more) but I've had a grand time playing Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls. Once I locked myself away from PC players and all their technical issues, and joined the PS5 players, I've been having a blast.
I initially was all-in on Ghost Rider, but I've since pivoted to Star Lord as my point character. In truth, I think I'll swap again. It's so easy to get to grips with characters, thanks to the auto combos, that gradually learning the cast isn't a burden at all. In fact, it's quite fun. Maybe I'll check out Captain America next.
-Connor
Star Wars: Zero Company, PC
I've played no more than I was allowed to in the recent preview, but it's just been on my mind for the entire week since. Zero Company's a belter - I worry it might fall into that horrible sales chasm where turn-based tactics games so often go these days, but hopefully that fear's unfounded because it deserves to be a hit.
Anyway, one thing I didn't mention in much detail in my preview that I love about it: one character, Jae, who you meet along the way and can recruit as an operative has a brilliant passive ability. Whenever you get an enemy down to very low health - say less than 6HP remaining of 100 - she'll do an automatic execution shot that finishes them off. I can see the practice of stacking these little bits of bonus damage - assists, finishers, etc. - becoming quite essential on higher levels/difficulties.
But more importantly, when she does this I just think it's neat. I've been itching to boot this up ever since it was cruelly ripped away from my hard drive after the preview ended, at least in part because I just want to trigger the effect a few more times.
-Chris
Big Walk, PC
This is so exciting! It's the first week I'm writing an entry here that might be echoed in the comments. Do you know why that is? You won't believe it. It's because we played a game together! Yes that's right: we did what we probably should have done so many times, so many weeks before, and organised a Eurogamer reader gaming night, of sorts. The game in question: Big Walk.
There was a broader goal than just hanging out: I wanted to do it to write a piece about our expedition for a theme week we're going to spring on you soon - spoiler: we're all going hiking (I can't back that up). But the desire to hang out and play games has been there for a long time. We've even flirted with the idea on the Eurogamer Discord a few times (the door is open - come join us). But, you know, life.
Nevertheless, we made it happen. We packed a Big Walk session with 12 people - the max; it was bulging - and larked for hours. There was genuine, unforced laughter! People said they enjoyed themselves! And I believe there's a push to play again. I call that a success.
-Bertie