As South Africa enters its 21-day lockdown in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus, it has left many civilians in the isolation of their homes. Many see this as a great opportunity to spend quality time with some family and loved ones, while others cherish diving into forms of entertainment to occupy their time and pass the weeks (when not working remotely, in that case). To cushion some of the tedium, Nexus has decided to create a daily feature in which we recommend games of varying lengths and content that could pass the time. Our eighth recommendation in Lockdown Gaming is about to get very emotional with Final Fantasy VII. With Final Fantasy VII Remake finally a week away from release (I never thought I'd be saying that in 2020), I figured it would be fitting to revisit one of my all-time favourite games, the original Final Fantasy VII, and really dissect what it meant to me and a lot of other fans. Unlike previous Lockdown Gaming pieces, today I'm going to get a bit sentimental and look at the impact of the most popular Final Fantasy game in Square's legendary franchise, and understand just why it's so beloved a whole two decades later. The year was 1997. Final Fantasy VII released on the original PlayStation to enormous critical and commercial praise, and deservedly so. It marked a massive turning point in the series, which up until then, had favoured traditional 2D sprites. This time, apart from some stunning pre-rendered backgrounds, Square took full advantage of the PlayStation's capabilities and leaned the series heavily into 3D territory. This included all new CGI cutscenes (which were groundbreaking for its time), and 3D character models during gameplay. The world was quick to pick up on Final Fantasy VII's growing impact on the gaming industry, and catapulted it into a nothing short of a phenomenon in video games. Technical achievements aside, I believe that the true success - the true heart and soul - of Final Fantasy VII was its story, characters, and music. Penned by Kazushige Nojima and Yoshinori Kitase (who also served as the game's director), Final Fantasy VII's story took narratives in gaming to new, emotional heights - a notion not exactly new to the series. All throughout the 90s, while video games were still figuring out the logistics of a compelling narrative (arguably up until Metal Gear Solid that decade), Final Fantasy was secretly already taking leaps in the storytelling department. Final Fantasy VI, perhaps being the most prominently discussed, took stories in video games into unexpected places. For all intents and purposes, the sixth game was as instrumental to video game narratives finally being taken seriously as Final Fantasy VII - only difference being that Final Fantasy VII bolstered itself with terrific technical breakthroughs for the franchise that lended itself to a broader appeal. Final Fantasy VII told a story steeped in fascinating lore, history, and world-building that made it incredibly unique at the time. Our iconic spiky haired protagonist and former military goofball, Cloud Strife, joins a group of terrorists called Avalanche to bring down Shinra, the industrial governing corporation responsible for draining Earth's finite energy source (Mako) in the city of Midgar. However, Cloud's past quickly catches up to him as he's now forced to confront Sephiroth, a remnant of evil that threatens humanity's very existence. As far as characters go, the success of these iconic models can be attributed to the wonderful designs of Tetsuya Nomura (who is currently directing Final Fantasy VII Remake) and Yusuke Naora. Each character is lovingly crafted to reflect their personality in some way. Sephiroth is drawn with sharper edges emphasizing his evil presence, Cloud is drawn with a softer touch to show his vulnerability balanced with the strength/resolve of his large Buster Sword, and Tifa is designed with both maternal and independently strong qualities in mind. These are just but a few of the iconic characters that make up Final Fantasy VII's tremendous cast. The second point I want to touch on about the game's characters is their personalities and how it felt like a culmination of everything Square had learned about the series up until then. Cool and hip designs aside, they were each written with distinctly human touches that every player could relate to on some emotional or personal level. Cloud represented the silent tortured, subdued and calm; Tifa represented the outgoing and protective; Barret, the headstrong but wounded; Aerith, the bubbly, optimistic and nurturing; Vincent, the suave and edgy; and Red XIII, whose friendship with Barret blossoms and reminds us of our own connections to our pets. Of course, there are a lot more characters that I skipped over, but as far as the main cast goes, these are still among some of the most well-rounded, interesting, and instantly likable characters I've ever seen in a game. It's great too, then, that Final Fantasy VII finds ways to propel the narrative forward through character interactions alone. For example, Cloud's fateful meeting with Aerith makes for some of the sweetest, most natural, and moving dialogue in the entire game. Their chemistry is remarkably emotional yet oddly restrained, showing the pair's budding dynamic running deeper than friendship at times, all the while never really giving us these damning answers (I'm on the Cloud x Tifa ship, personally). Yet, this is just one of the many examples in which Final Fantasy VII manages to flesh out its characters through simple spoken interactions alone - something that video games weren't doing that much of in 1997. Final Fantasy VII's terrific overworld was something that - and in many regards, still is today - revolutionary. For the first few hours of the game, the story and action is contained in Midgar. For any normal game, given Midgar's towering presence and colossal city size, this would've been the only setting. However, after completing Midgar's segment, the overworld actually opens up. I fondly remember experiencing this as a kid for the first time, and being in absolute wide-eyed awe at the fact that there was this entire world outside of Midgar - and an insanely gargantuan one at that. The game had only just begun, and gradually, Final Fantasy VII went from a contained action blockbuster to a fantasy epic. As a point of debate today, Final Fantasy VII's turn-based combat back then may have been a wise creative choice (and I'm sure also a technical one due to the limitations of the original PlayStation hardware at the time), but it remains a fine example of this hotly debated mechanic done right in video games. Despite showing its age when played today (and trust me when I say, it really does feel clunky and impractical, with time doing no favours for it), there's still this odd charm to the combat that scratches that nostalgic itch. I'm impressed at how the remake is currently evolving the combat, but it's a formula that desperately needed change if it were to survive in this current climate of RPGs (and also, if you aren't Persona 5 or Fire Emblem, good luck). Before I proceed, I just want give a massive SPOILER WARNING to what I'm about to talk about. Final Fantasy VII is one of my favourite games of all time because, for the first time ever playing a game, I cried - as if my heart was ripped out of my chest. I was still young back then, but seeing Aerith's death was a moment that has forever changed my perception of storytelling in video games. No longer were they just arbitrary check-boxes about saving princesses in castles. Gaming had grown up, and this scene just exemplified the emotional power of what narratives had become. Every fan I've spoken to constantly brings up this one devastating scene as the moment they knew Final Fantasy VII wasn't just going to be a simple video game. Years later, it would become something far more important to them. In that lies the game's truest and greatest accomplishment. Finally, there's one more thing I want to touch on: Final Fantasy VII's music. Of course, what Final Fantasy VII discussion would be complete without mentioning composer Nobuo Uematsu's masterpiece of a soundtrack. If the character designs and story didn't give the game enough character, it's music certainly did. Consisting of some of the catchiest melodies ever composed for a game, the music was (and still is) a significant part of its identity and appeal. Just hearing the first few notes of "One-Winged Angel" or "The Prelude" is enough to instantly relax me, take me back to simpler times, and just prepare me for another memorable journey across Gaia. So why should you play Final Fantasy VII during the lockdown? Once again, I ask "why should you not"? On top of the main story easily being well over 60+ hours (you can bump that number up to 100 if you're the addictive type like me), it's also widely available for a great price on all modern platforms, including PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. The main reason to play Final Fantasy VII - if you haven't already as a fan in preparation for the remake - is to just experience why it's highly regarded as one of the all-time greats. I envy those who will play it for the first time. That's something I would give anything to relive again. Other Lockdown Gaming Features: Lockdown Gaming Day 1: Skyrim Special Edition Lockdown Gaming Day 2: Persona 5 Lockdown Gaming Day 3: Fallout 4 Lockdown Gaming Day 4: NieR: Automata Lockdown Gaming Day 5: Bloodborne Lockdown Gaming Day 6: Anthem & Fallout 76 Lockdown Gaming Day 7: Alien: Isolation Remember to visit the South African Coronavirus Website for more information on safety and prevention tips. Stay safe! Emergency Hotline: 0800 029 999 WhatsApp Support Line: 0600-123456

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic, developer Naughty Dog has now announced that The Last of Us: Part II will be delayed indefinitely, with no new release date set. Originally, the anticipated sequel was scheduled to release at the end of May, but has now been pushed further up to an unconfirmed new date until the situation with the pandemic is settled. READ MORE: Review: Resident Evil 3 Naughty Dog recently issued a statement on their social media stating that their upcoming title, The Last of Us: Part II, has been delayed indefinitely from its original May 29th release date. However, the studio has assured fans that the game is nearly done, but state that due to logistics beyond their control, they cannot release it on its planned release day. This marks the second time that The Last of Us: Part II has been delayed, as it was also originally planned to launch in February before being pushed up to May, and now, with no planned release date. A message from us about the delay of The Last of Us Part II: pic.twitter.com/aGsSRfmJ8a— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) April 2, 2020 Kotaku editor Jason Schreier predicts that this isn't the first time we'll be seeing delays for video games. While games releasing in April should be safe, beyond that, it's possible that games will be delayed as well. This means it's also likely that Ghost of Tsushima, which is planned to launch in June, might face a similar fate. Bookmark this post... https://t.co/QSdzMC8ROX— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) April 2, 2020 As the outbreak continues to become a serious problem worldwide, it's great that companies are taking precautionary measures until a time is right when the pandemic is resolved. The Last of Us: Part II will certainly be worth the wait, though we have challenges to overcome first. Stay home, stay safe!

Capcom have been on a rather successful video game roll over the past two years. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, Devil May Cry 5 and Resident Evil 2 were all hits. Rightly so, there’s been a lot of anticipation and hype surrounding their Resident Evil 3: Nemesis remake. The original game was highly successful way back in 1999 and fans of the franchise have been itching to get their hands on a proper remake. Does Resident Evil 3 (2020) do justice to the original game from way back then? In Resident Evil 3. players will take on the role of Jill Valentine, with the game set a little while after the Arklay Mountains mansion incident. Within the first five minutes of the game, players will know that they are in for a treat. A first person segment segment plays out and this immediately establishes the game’s excellent sound design. When the game switches over to its full third person view, Jill quickly finds out that she needs to flee her apartment. Things escalate really quickly and soon enough you’ll find yourself out on the streets of Raccoon City. Multiple in-game mechanics from the Resident Evil 2 remake have made their way into the Resident Evil 3 remake... Gameplay in Resident Evil 3 plays out in a very similar fashion to last year’s Resident Evil 2. Multiple in-game mechanics from the Resident Evil 2 remake have made their way into the Resident Evil 3 remake while bafflingly, some elements have been removed. The ability to stab knives into zombies and escape their clutches has been removed for some reason. While this might seem like a small edit in the grand scheme, Jill now has to struggle with the player hammering the action button to escape from a zombie grab. Her knife has unlimited usage but ultimately seems quite weak compared to its predecessor from the previous game. Controlling Jill’s movement is fluid and Capcom have opted to add a dodge mechanic to alleviate some frustration from dealing with multiple enemies. Pressing the dodge button at the right time initiates a “Perfect Dodge” animation in which Jill will move out the way, time will slow down and you will be allowed to fire off an attack with pinpoint precision. Given the fact that zombies in the game are quite literally bullet sponges, dodging and avoiding them at every opportunity is recommended unless you really want to go on an undead killing spree. Pressing the dodge button at the right time initiates a “Perfect Dodge” animation... Unfortunately much of what made the Resident Evil 2 remake great involved having a large environment to explore and puzzles to solve. Resident Evil 3, however has taken the opposite approach. Instead of having a large open environment with a lot of backtracking and interconnected exploration, the game is a lot more linear with a clear path from start to finish. You can still explore and find additional items in safes and optional rooms but the game is pretty straight-forward and far more action orientated than its predecessor. Nemesis, being a key factor in the game, is not exactly the terrifying menace he was in the original game. Mr. X in the Resident Evil 2 remake induced a sense of anxiety in you as you’d run around the Raccoon City police station. Nemesis does none of that. Instead, Nemesis feels like an overpowered chunk of meat with extendable tendrils. He’s also used sparingly in some select encounters and we wish that he would have been more present in the game like Mr. X was. When you do encounter Nemesis, he’s easily pacified too and the whole premise around him in the early game seems like a wasted opportunity. Thankfully, in the late game Nemesis takes on a different role and this is satisfying in every aspect. Circling back to the zombies in Resident Evil 3, they aren’t quite the same as in the Resident Evil 2 remake. This time around they are far more “jelly-like” and the gore displayed when shooting at them has been significantly toned down. The *spoiler alert* Hunters in the game were however a step up and we wish that they featured a lot more than they did. These enemies are relentlessly fast and quite tough to beat while not presenting an impossible challenge. Kudos to Capcom for designing them so well. Graphically, Resident Evil 3 is absolutely gorgeous. The graphics are flat out amazing and there are plenty of moments in the game where you’ll be in awe at how great it looks. Carlos and Jill look incredibly great too with both characters being quite a step up over Resident Evil 2’s rather emotionless Claire and Leon. Environments in the game are quite diverse and the attention to detail is truly remarkable. The soundtrack and voice acting is on point and so too are the weapon sound effects. Overall, Resident Evil 3 is more of the same while being watered down in some aspects and excelling in others. It does just enough to satiate fans and disappointingly, is over far too quickly. The entire single player campaign will take you just over five hours to complete at a leisurely pace. While there is some replayability in the form of unlockable challenges to take on once you’ve finished the game, gamers will definitely find this lacklustre. The “Hardcore” mode adds another layer of complexity to the game but once you’ve played through it once, you’ve essentially experienced the main meat and bones of the title. Resident Evil 3 is still, however, extremely fun to play. The streamlined action orientated gameplay and the story it tells is enjoyable and while a lot of potential was squandered, the game still shoots for the stars.

As South Africa enters its 21-day lockdown in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus, it has left many civilians in the isolation of their homes. Many see this as a great opportunity to spend quality time with some family and loved ones, while others cherish diving into forms of entertainment to occupy their time and pass the weeks (when not working remotely, in that case). To cushion some of the tedium, Nexus has decided to create a daily feature in which we recommend games of varying lengths and content that could pass the time. Our seventh recommendation in Lockdown Gaming is not without some irony, but it is one of the most intense survival horror experiences in gaming; the wonderful Alien: Isolation. In 2014, developer Creative Assembly made an incredible survival horror game that sadly may have flown under the radar of many gamers at the time. Since then, it has gained a cult following, and rightfully earned its place in the halls of gaming's horror greats. I'm of course talking about Aliens: Colonial Marines- Sorry, I stuttered, I mean Alien: Isolation. Alien: Isolation is basically the 1979 Ridley Scott classic morphed into a video game, down to the tense, palpable atmosphere and strong emphasis on - you guessed it - the overwhelming feeling of isolation. Instead of playing as Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley, you instead play as her daughter, Amanda Ripley. Set 15 years after the events of that original film, Amanda comes across the Nostromo's flight recorder. Desperate to track down her mother's location, Amanda stumbles upon a gigantic space station. She soon learns that it's mostly abandoned, and a familiar foe now stalks its vents. Alien: Isolation felt like a godsend when only the previous year, the Alien gaming series had been violently tainted with Aliens: Colonial Marines, one of the worst video games of the last decade. Isolation came along and breathed life back into not just the survival horror genre - which had been on a tragic downward spiral ever since Resident Evil 6 abandoned the genre to make a generic action shooter - but breathed a newfound confidence into the Alien series that felt remarkably faithful to the lore and tone of the universe. Isolation was one of the few video games to keep the horror genre afloat in 2014, which had a short supply of some effective genre standouts, joined by The Evil Within and P.T. on the better end. Isolation works because it strips away all the action set piece fluff and hones in on creating an atmospheric horror experience. To that extent, it succeeds well beyond expectations. The game's highly intelligent A.I. is one of its highlights, and probably the biggest critical praise thrown its way by fans and critics. The xenomorph's ability to learn and adapt to your movement and paths meant that it never repeated a path of its own and always changed positioning, meaning no two playthroughs would ever be the same. Amanda roaming the empty hallways of the space station is eerie enough, but with a clever xenomorph mercilessly hunting you down by turning your own tactics against you, it made for a memorable and unique gaming experience that we rarely see done, even today. Alien: Isolation's atmosphere is one of my favourite aspects of the game. The long stretches of hallways, the gloomy bedrooms, the dark vents, the barely functional electricity, it all culminates to create a haunting, terrifying feeling of helplessness that hasn't been successfully done to this extent since 1999's Silent Hill. Armed with, well, not many gadgets except for a radar device to track the alien's movements, and occasionally thrown a weapon to fend yourself with, Amanda's smarts became your smarts as you were suddenly playing a game of outwitting and outrunning the xenomorph. Finally, Alien: Isolation is actually bloody scary. I know that's something that's thrown around a lot and hardly has any weight to it when talking about video games or films, but Isolation really deserves (and earns) that title more than any horror game I've played recently. Thanks to a terrific feeling of dread, some iconic soundtrack choices, brooding tension, and cleverly implemented A.I., Isolation rises above expectations and delivers the quintessential Alien survival experience that we've been waiting for in gaming. So why should you play Alien: Isolation during lockdown? Considering that the title is fairly aged now, it should be affordable on store fronts for a relatively cheap price. On top of that, it's also surprisingly one of the longer horror games in recent memory. The main story should clock you around 20 hours to beat, which is quite lengthy in an age where horror games rarely breached the 10-12 hour mark. The weather is looking dreary, so why not snuggle up to one of the finest horror games of the last decade? Other Lockdown Gaming Features: Lockdown Gaming Day 1: Skyrim Special Edition Lockdown Gaming Day 2: Persona 5 Lockdown Gaming Day 3: Fallout 4 Lockdown Gaming Day 4: NieR: Automata Lockdown Gaming Day 5: Bloodborne Lockdown Gaming Day 6: Anthem & Fallout 76 Remember to visit the South African Coronavirus Website for more information on safety and prevention tips. Stay safe! Emergency Hotline: 0800 029 999 WhatsApp Support Line: 0600-123456