Video games: a smooth return to school

Posted Sep 3, 2022, 10:00 AMUpdated Sep 3, 2022 12:09 PM

It’s back to school and to start over gently, the editorial staff of “Echos week-end” has selected a few video games to discover or rediscover.

Stray

It’s definitely one of the most surprising games of the year, with a high percentage of cuteness. Sorry for the word barbaric, but get ready for an onslaught of cuteness, because you’re regarding to step into the shoes of a cat! Not a parlor cat, not a ceremonial cat, not an alley cat, a stray cat. And height of bad luck for him, he finds himself – alone – lost in a city that seems to have fallen into oblivion. Without humans (you know the people who are supposed to feed you and respond to your least desires), without rats, with almost nothing. Apart from robots, a few disturbing creatures and a drone that will soon be the unique, but useful, companion of this cat.

Stray is a game that feels good, not restful but almost, thanks to the quality of the graphics (game tested on PS5) and the careful realization of our four-legged friend. It is a delight to see it moving or rubbing once morest objects. Because the animal has everything of a cat and if it has some feline qualities, it is nonetheless an almost ordinary clerk. He will walk around, jump, observe, poke around, solve puzzles to advance in the story. But he will also have to be quick to escape some local blood-sucking insects. The game is not very difficult, fairly linear and should appeal to the whole family. A magical atmosphere (including musically) created by a small studio in Montpellier, Blue Twelve .

Stray isn’t just for cat lovers. It is an extremely pleasant, soothing and gentle game. And the SPA jumped at the chance to raise awareness among the French, and especially the youngest, regarding adoption. The humane society – associated with Havas Play – modeled five real cats directly in the video game “Stray”. Pastelle, Doc, P’tite Shrimp, Zoya and Câline have been reproduced faithfully, from the legs to the mustache! Five cats in emergency situations explains the SPA. But to be able to download the mod, you will need to own the game on PC. To find out more, go to dedicated SPA website .

most : I still purr with pleasure as it’s so beautiful. The least : a bit short and easy for an animal that has nine lives.

Blue Twelve’s Stray is available on PC, PS4 and PS5.

Two Point Campus

It’s back to school. Yes already. Even for students, in a hurry to return to their favorite campus, that of Freshleigh Meadows which has nothing to envy to MIT in terms of science, that of Piazza Lanatra where the best cooks are trained, that of Mitton University where the ‘we imagine the robots of tomorrow. Or better that of Noblestead, Scottish style, specialist in chivalry or why not try to pierce the magic of Poule de Lard. You have understood that studying here is not for serious people. Two Point Campus follows in the footsteps of its equally wacky predecessor: Two Point Hospital .

The concept is the same, except that instead of dealing with sick people and exhausted healthcare staff, you’ll have to help cohorts of students complete their studies happily. We therefore need amphitheatres, offices for tutors, libraries, toilets but also battlefields or jousting grounds (with its princess mannequins to train in gallantry) and other surprising places of study. And for the out-of-school period, think regarding student residences and above all building homes that are well equipped with leisure activities and stimulating drinks. Without forgetting the essential BDE (called here Student Union), to be able to organize parties. Two Points Campus is a bit like the management version of the Sims at university, with the same concern for entertainment.

It’s often funny, quirky, without being difficult, even if money remains at the heart of the concept. Because in this game developed by the British from Two Point Studios, teachers, assistants and janitors are expensive. But they are essential for learning cooking, philosophy, robotics, magic or chivalry. It will above all be necessary to take care of the well-being of our guests, who risk, while working, catching rust (on their beautiful uniform, a gleaming armor) or diseases which are fortunately not very contagious, such as bookworms or knightly sprains.

It will also be necessary to promote student love and create student clubs for lovers of brisk walking, gardening, reading or quick naps. It’s quite funny to watch this little world strolling (with a very cartoon design) on campus. You will know more regarding their need, especially if a roll of toilet paper appears above their head.

Two Point Campus does not bring big surprises compared to its sibling (Hospital), but it offers a bit of freshness. Management is still just as simple and the quirky spirit persists. What make you want to return to the benches of the university (especially for the festive evenings and the noodle stand). Special mention also to the soundtrack and the talent of the head of university radio.

most : More entertaining than a lecture hall. The least : Still missing a few crazy objects

Two Point Campus published by Sega Europe is available on PC (version tested), PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch.

Spider Man et The Last of US

At Sony, we recycle for this back to school and no one will complain. The Japanese group first marketed the PC version of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered. Insomniac’s game, released on PS4 in 2018, is getting a welcome makeover on PC (on PS5 since the end of 2020). The opportunity to follow the new adventures of Peter Parker, associated with Mary-Jane and an NYPD captain, in his fight once morest crime. Among the enemies: Wilson Fisk, Electro, Rhino, Scorpion and many others. The scenario – panting – does not move, but the game benefits from improved graphics and in particular the reflections on the glass surfaces of New York. The Spider-Man game the PC was missing.

But the spider is going to have some competition when it comes to checkout, with The Last of US Part 1 releasing on PS5 in late August. Ten years following the appearance of this game that changed the face of video games. The adventure is still thrilling with the attempted survival of the silent bearded Joël and the young Ellie in an apocalyptic world, populated by infected. The Last of US bears its seal of adult gaming with a dark and brutal universe. We are also seized by the change on this PS5 version with incredible graphics. They really add to the emotion and the depth of this game which becomes almost the equal of The Last of US Part 2 . One regret, the price, probably a little high for a remake, at least for those who had the chance to play it on PS3 or PS4.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered PC est disponible sur Steam et l’Epic Games Store

The Last of Us Part 1 est disponible sur PS5