Blimey, that was a bit dull wasn’t it? In contrast to the last few years, January 2014 wasn’t exactly the triple-A smorgasbord we’ve become accustomed to. Just last year, we were treated to DmC: Devil May Cry and Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch to name but a few, although this time around, big releases were in short supply. That’s not to say there wasn’t anything worth our hard-earned cash, but in the 4-5 years I’ve been doing these articles, I haven’t quite witnessed a January so dry as this one.
Still, there were still a few gems scattered throughout the month, which at least in the U.K. proved a dismally wet and windy affair. First up, we had the much-anticipated Season 2 opener of The Walking Dead, All That Remains, which continues Clementine’s adventures following the emotional Season 1 climax. The Indie onslaught continued into the month with Don’t Starve, a survival-based game that really pushes players to their limits — how far along did you make it?
Moving on, we saw the first retail-based PlayStation 4 game hit shelves in the form of the excellent Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, which coats last year’s seminal adventure in a stunning 60fps/1080p makeover. Meanwhile, PS Vita gets in on the action with OlliOlli, and Dragon Ball Z fans were treated to brawler Battle of Z. Sadly, that’s about all there is in terms of worthwhile releases this month. So, not the greatest line-up, but there’s more than a few games there worth your attention.
After chatting about it via email, PSU.com decided to slap our Game of the Month accolade on a very worth contender — Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. It was a close call though, as Don’t Starve very nearly won it; some might say it should have, although one cannot deny TR’s brilliance. Yes, it’s a $60 game, but for newcomers Definitive Edition brings a stunning-looking version of an already-fantastic adventure, complete with all existing DLC and a few other bits and pieces to boot. Featuring stunning set-pieces and gripping combat, Lara Croft’s reboot should have Nathan Drake looking over his shoulder if he’s to retain the action-adventure video game crown, that’s for sure.
Read our summary of the game below, and be sure to check out our full dissection of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition here.
"Overall, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition lives up to its name. If you haven’t already taken Lara’s latest adventure for a spin, then pick this up for PS4 asap. However, the lack of new content means owners of the original release may want to pass, as despite how good the game looks and plays, there isn’t really enough new stuff packed into Definitive Edition to warrant a purchase if you have it on PS3. For newcomers though, this is an absolute must-have."
Let us know what you think deserves the award for January 2014’s Game of the Month in the comments section below.