SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 12 — Fantasy adventuring shuns magic for medieval accuracy in Kingdom Come: Deliverance, an accomplished labor of love arrives on console platforms in Owlboy, forest jaunt Fe debuts after an eye-catching 2016 reveal, and Bayonetta 2 takes a second shot with a Nintendo Switch remaster during the same week as international releases for Dynasty Warriors 9, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II and a remake of Secret of Mana.
Dynasty Warriors 9
For PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows PC
From February 13 (international), since February 8 in Asia
Take part in more fantasy recreations of historical battles with historical characters at their helm, in which heroes turn the tide of these encounters through overwhelming proficiency in battlefield combat. Extremely well received upon its Japanese debut.
koeitecmoamerica.com/dw9
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
For PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows PC
From February 13
An ambitious first title from new studio Warhorse, it aims to offer a realistic medieval role-playing adventure -- no dragons, no magic, and a commitment to realism wherever possible: expertise comes through learning and practice, armor affects defense and visibility, and so on.
kingdomcomerpg.com
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II
For PC
From February 14
Entries to well-loved, attentively crafted Japanese role-playing adventure franchise “The Legend of Heroes” seem to take an age to reach international shores -- as a PlayStation 3 and Vita release, this one took two years to arrive, at a time when Sony was busy pushing the PlayStation 4 instead -- but generally they are worth the wait. A PS4 edition is set for April.
trailsofcoldsteel.com
Owlboy
For PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
From February 15
A small-team homage to platform adventures of the early 1990s (notably “Super Mario Bros 3” and the “Kid Icarus” franchise) that, like 2017’s “Cuphead,” took an absolute age in development to arrive but was hailed as a faithful and polished second coming when it landed a 2016 PC release.
owlboygame.com
Secret of Mana HD
For PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Vita
From February 15
A small-team homage to platform adventures of the early 1990s (notably “Super Mario Bros 3” and the “Kid Icarus” franchise) that, like 2017’s “Cuphead,” took an absolute age in development to arrive but was hailed as a faithful and polished second coming when it landed a 2016 PC release.
owlboygame.com
Bayonetta 2 (including Bayonetta)
For Nintendo Switch
From February 16
A shapeshifting, super-competent, gun-toting witch with fearsome hair is on a mission to save the world from oblivion. “Bayonetta 2” makes the jump to Nintendo’s latest console, already more popular than the game’s original Wii U home. “Bayonetta 3” has been announced but not yet dated for the Switch.
bayonetta2.nintendo.com
Fe
For PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
From February 16
As a foxlike forest cub, save your woodland home and its inhabitants from silent interlopers by roaming through the landscape and using the power of song. Swedish studio Zoink previously produced the well-received “Stick It to the Man!” and “Zombie Vikings.”
ea.com/games/fe. — AFP-Relaxnews