Just Cause 3
Avalanche Studios has made a name for themselves with the previous two Just Cause games focusing on gonzo destructive action. Just Cause 3 aims to elevate the franchise to even greater heights on the current generation of systems, courtesy of having even more ways for you to embrace the thrill seeker inside you. You can still grapple around like it’s nobody’s business and steal nearly any vehicle you want (jet surfing FTW), but now you’re given a wingsuit to help you fly around the environment like you’ve always wanted. You can dive bomb into enemy territory and drop off some C4 charges before flying away as the encampment explodes in the background. Just as nature always intended.
Infamous 2
Sucker Punch’s superhero franchise certainly helps you feel like a man who can wield lightning (and fire or ice), no doubt about it. But the second game also wants you to feel like you’re a superhero who spends their free time as an athlete. Cole’s new suite of powers let him traverse New Marais much better than his first time in Empire City. Improved static thrusters, an ice launch, and a tether made out of lightning that helps you get around like Spider-Man? Hell yeah. Even simple things like poles specifically meant to help you launch to higher buildings add some fun to getting around the city. And that’s not even counting the crazy amount of powers you can go through on both good and evil choices. Wanna call down lightning storms or create a storm of ice while fighting giant monsters? This game certainly provides.
Far Cry 4
There’s no denying the fun and excitement that can come from exploring the island of Kyrat in Far Cry 4. While the animals can be overly aggressive (particularly eagles), there’s almost a kind of disturbing adrenaline rush from fighting off a pack of hyenas and then having to survive the militia discovering you by the skin of your teeth. Even if you’d rather just relax and gawk at the scenery, the game happily provides you with that courtesy of gliders and gyrocopters you can ride to view the island in all its beauty. Plus, wingsuits, man. Is there anything that can’t be improved with those?
Crackdown 2
Just Cause 3 isn’t the only game to boast epic destruction and wingsuits. While this entry in the series isn’t as polished and great as the first outing, it can’t be denied that Crackdown 2’s addition of four player co-op increased the amount of destruction to great effect. There’s just some kind of stupid appeal in four Agents cruising around Pacific City fully leveled up with rocket launchers blowing each other to bits or flying around using wingsuits. Here’s hoping Crackdown 3 delivers on that front, at least.
Batman: Arkham Knight
Let’s be real: at some point, we’ve all pretended to be Batman, and who wouldn’t? Just look at his gear, his car, his costume. Even if you don’t want the superpower of money and all that it provides, it can’t be denied that being able to fly around the city and spread terror in the heart of your enemies is pretty sweet. Gotham City is large and gorgeous enough that dive bombing and pulling back up becomes a game unto itself, and launching into the air straight from the Batmobile becomes downright exhilarating that you want to do it whenever you can.
Assassin’s Creed IV
The Assassin’s Creed series has always prided itself on its deep, convoluted mythology, but the gameplay is what people keep coming back for. Nowhere is this more apparent than with ACIV, which decided that the best solution to bring players back on board after the last game ended a trilogy was to focus on dicking around. Edward Kenway gives no cares about the Assassin/Templar War and just wants to be a pirate and get some treasure. That’s something players were able to get behind with no problem at all. Climbing stuff to access viewpoints was still as addicting as ever, and the added fun came from being able to travel the Seven Seas and board enemy ships for some pirate vs pirate action. A pirate’s life, indeed.
Saints Row 4
Saints Row 3 is when the series decided to leave the territory of “GTA parody” to “crime comedy on acid,” but Saints 4 is the perfect balance of crazy and coherent. Aliens taking over the earth and leaving the fate of humanity to the President of the United States? Yeah, that makes some degree of sense. Aliens putting said President and their fellow Saints in a VR world where they can acquire superpowers to escape the real world? Doesn’t make a lick of sense (the game even calls itself out on this), but who cares when you’ve got super speed and can run around listening to Walk the Moon while lighting aliens on fire and throwing them to the other side of town?!
Dishonored
Dishonored admittedly doesn’t have the same level of crazy that Just Cause 3 does, but it’s got a unique amount all on its own. While it’s a stealth game through and through, having to fight off enemies with your blade and powers from the Outsider can get pretty hectic, particularly if you’re going for a saintly no-kill run. You’ll either have to break your rule or high tail it away and wait for them to chill out to knock them out from behind. Or you could say “forget it” to that whole saintly thing, be like this guy and stealth kill it the hell up:
Sunset Overdrive
Insomniac Games is known for their stylistic weapons and off-brand humor, and Sunset Overdrive definitely excels at those. The humor may not be for everyone, but the weapons are classic Insomniac. A gun that shoots explosive teddy bears, another that launches vinyl records at high velocity, and a firework gun are things you have to try for yourself to see how fun they are to use on your enemies. Even the act of getting around is crazy fun on its own, whether you’re bouncing on every car and surface you can see or grinding like it’s Jet Set Radio for a new age. No matter what you’re doing in Sunset City, you’re sure to get your fill of action.
What games do you play to embrace the thrillseeker in you? Let us know in the comments below.
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