Shadow of the Colossus at forefront of week’s best games

Some games are just made to stand the test of time. While “Shadow of the Colossus” deserves all the adulation it’s getting, the week saw other exciting releases that should please fans of strategy games and retro-style arcade shooters.

The epithet “beloved classic” may be a tad exhausted, but few words describe “Shadow of the Colossus” more accurately. The 2005 release is a legend, thanks to its unparalleled artistry, subtle yet powerful storytelling, and unforgettable gameplay. Now, the game is back as a PlayStation 4 remaster, and it’s received a graphical upgrade that’ll make your eyes pop out.

If you were never made aware of the original, you’d be forgiven to think this is a brand new game. “Shadow of the Colossus” 2018 is gorgeous; its wide, open environments are breathtaking, the action explodes with cinematic flair, and the colossi look better than ever. If powered by a PlayStation 4 Pro, it looks even more phenomenal at 4K.

The gameplay is thankfully untouched. There are 16 colossi hidden in a huge open world; your job is to find and kill them. To slay a giant, you’ll have to climb its body and hack away at its weak points. But this is rarely as easy as it sounds due to the rich variety of colossi, each of which exhibits unique behaviors. At times you’ll even have to figure out how to use the environment against your enemy. As such, “Shadow of the Colossus” is as much a puzzle game as it is an action-adventure title.

Whether you’re playing it for the first time or reliving fond memories, “Shadow of the Colossus” is the quintessential PlayStation experience.

Platform: PlayStation 4

Civilization VI: Rise and Fall

“Civilization VI: Rise and Fall” is the feature-rich first expansion to the highly addictive “Civilization VI".

Chief of the new features is the Great Ages mechanic, which simulates the rise and fall of empires during global eras. As the leader of your civilization, your choices will either usher in a Golden Age (where everybody worships you and your empire prospers), or a Dark Age (where progress slows to a crawl and your people can’t wait to revolt). You also get to dedicate your resources to specific efforts – such as enhancing military might or boosting religious zeal.

The Loyalty system adds complexity to city management. Citizens devoted to you work and fight harder; unhappy ones can tear the city from your grasp. You can even win over new cities through loyalty; impress them enough with your awesome leadership, and they might just join your empire.

Other additions include the Governors, whom you can recruit to give you access to powerful new abilities; nine new leaders, eight new civilizations, and several new units; new natural and manmade wonders; emergencies that convince civilizations to temporarily band together to solve a crisis; and more.

Platform: PC

Bleed 2

Retro games never get old, and “Bleed 2” is proof that pixelated graphics and old school side-scrolling shooters have a bright future in gaming.

In this fast-paced run and gun game, you play as a superheroine gifted with a bunch of nifty abilities. For example, you can soar and maneuver through the air, allowing you to dodge hailstorms of bullets. You can reflect projectiles with well-timed sword slashes. You can even slow down time.

Of course, none of that will mean anything if you don’t have hordes of bad guys to shoot and slice up. Fortunately, “Bleed 2” tosses armies of miscreants at you, from bazooka-toting goons to giant caterpillars. The standouts, however, are the enormous bosses, which are as tough as they are a joy to fight.

The game is a bit on the short side with only 7 levels. Replayability comes from the 4 difficulty settings, which change up enemy positioning and boss patterns. There are also various unlockable characters, weapons, and abilities. And if you ever want to share the fun with a friend, you can dive into the 2-player local co-op for twice the chaos.

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Dandara

At first glance, “Dandara” resembles every other indie retro platformer on the market. But take a second look, and you’ll be surprised to find one of the most innovative takes on the genre.

In “Dandara’s” topsy-turvy world, you play the eponymous heroine, whose gravity-defying powers allow her to dash towards and stick to any surface regardless of its orientation. This is how Dandara navigates the world; despite the game being a 2D metroidvania, at no point will she ever walk, run, or jump like any conventional platforming hero. The levels are as inventive as the controls, complete with devilish traps, environmental hazards, rotating mobile platforms, and of course, tons of enemies to riddle with bullets.

Said controls, while initially unwieldy, quickly becomes compelling and yes, fun. The game is on the “demanding” end of the difficulty spectrum, though. And with checkpoints so few and far between, it can potentially grow frustrating. Nevertheless, “Dandara” is a fresh and exciting experience that should delight gamers who are up to the challenge.

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS

— LA, GMA News