Now if we can only confirm that Alan Wake will indeed be released in 2009. I'm crossing my fingers we don't have to wait until 2010 to get our hands on this gem.
BORDERLANDS
Sorry but there is just no way I won't include a science fiction first person shooter on this list. Although this FPS also has some RPG elements to it, which I like. (Kind of like Mass Effect?) The story of Borderlands takes place at the edge of the galaxy where colonists are racing to planet Pandora. The colonists are in search of a better life and planet Pandora has some valuable mineral resources that is first come first serve so everyone wants a piece as they race into this futuristic "gold rush." However, most colonists leave after realizing the planet doesn't really have much to offer like they thought. Some were left behind and chaos and lawlessness ensues as the remaining population struggles to stay alive . After seven years on planet Pandora, winter ends and spring begins bringing many frightening creatures out of hibernation. The colonists try to find a way off the planet before they meet their demise in this new Mad Max inspired franchise.Borderlands, developed by Gearbox Software, will feature four player co-op as well as single and multi-player modes. (I love me some four player co-op!) You'll be able to choose between 3 different characters, each with their own special ability which you can then customize as well. The game also includes vehicular combat which adds some variety. An interesting fact to point out about this game is the amount of weapons available at your disposal. There are over 650,000 weapons to choose from, human and alien combinations. Yea, most of us can't even count that high. OK, maybe it's just me but that number is staggering. I doubt I will even have enough time to try out each weapon but don't doubt me when I say I'll try.There is no specific release date announced yet but sometime in 2009 looks to be the goal.
F.E.A.R. 2: PROJECT ORIGIN
First-Encounter-Assault-Recon- F.E.A.R. 2 starts off thirty minutes before the end of the first F.E.A.R. game. The survival horror game is back and I am ready for it! The psychic demon child named Alma, who looks very similar to the creepy looking girl in the movie "The Ring," is back as well and is close to destroying reality and replacing it with her own to get back at the people who did her wrong. You will not play as the same character as you did in the first FEAR game. You will play as Michael Beckett, a Delta Force operator. The game takes place in the same universe and has some of the same characters but the world in general will be "more open." Which is nice to hear because if I see Monolith drag me through one more cubicle infested office, I may have to take this game off my list. For those who did play the first F.E.A.R. you know what I am talking about. Lets just say I spend enough of my real life in a real cubicle. I don't need to see every floor of an office building again as that makes for some pretty repetitive gameplay. From the gameplay I have seen so far, F.E.A.R. 2 looks to have many more creepy moments to scare you and your friends lurking around every corner. This is not a kid friendly game as blood splattered walls are everywhere with possessed demons running around (Exorcist style) and are sure to leave a disturbing visual imprint in your mind. Like in the first FEAR, I hope to see the blood-filled room where the blood drips upward instead of downward. Scenes like that keep me coming back for more. Don't let me down Monolith!
F.E.A.R. 2 is scheduled to be released February 10, 2009 in the U.S. and February 13, in Europe.
RESIDENT EVIL 5
I won't talk too much about RE5 since I just posted my demo impressions a few days ago. If you have never heard of Resident Evil, you have either been living in Antarctica or you could just be a oblivious noob. I'm not saying that's a bad thing but any fan of survival horror games should know about this franchise and Resident Evil 5 will hopefully make you a fan for life. You might even want to go back and play older Resident Evil games to get familiar with this very special franchise.I, unfortunately, have not played any of the more recent Resident Evil games (RE 3 & 4) since I did not own any of the consoles these prior games were developed for. Thankfully RE5 will be made for the PS3 and Xbox 360 this time around. The developers of RE5, Capcom, have stated that the development team consists of staff who worked on the original Resident Evil which is the one where I screamed like a little girl. (Hey, at least I didn't pee my pants.) The setting of RE5 looks like it has a "Black Hawk Down" type of feel to it, as witnessed in the demo. Which basically means you're stuck in a dirty hellhole with tons of crazies trying to kill you. Ahhh.. good times are a coming!Resident Evil 5 is scheduled to be released in North America on March 13, 2009. Looks like I already know what my birthday present will be! (Even if I know I am buying it for myself)
PROTOTYPE
This is the one game I wanted to work on most while at school in Vancouver, BC. Developed by Radical Entertainment and just down the street from my school, I applied for an environment artist position but unfortunately, the position was not for Prototype so I was no longer interested (too picky? Yea probably.) but that's another story. This sandbox game takes place in New York City (I know, I know.. another one) but this sandbox game involves a twist. As the main character, Alex Mercer, (who has no memory of his past) has the ability to consume the bodies of characters he kills in the game which gives him access to their memories, experiences and can take their physical shape and form. A "shape-shifter." Alex will also have the power to transform into other specialized forms for special attack and defend moves. He will need these new abilities in order to find out about his past while the city grips with a paralyzing virus outbreak. As Alex Mercer, you will need discover your past and find out who or what has turned you into a genetically mutated shape-shifter.Like EA's Mirror's Edge, the movement in Prototype is inspired by Parkour. So look for the controls to be smooth and easy so you can focus more on the combat. There was a multi-player mode confirmed originally but then scrapped for some reason. Radical did however, delay the release of this game in 2008 and I can only hope that it was to lock down an in-depth multi-player experience. Because c'mon, if a new game comes out now days, why would you not implement a multi-player mode? A single player campaign is just not enough to satisfy the masses and will most likely end up being a rental if other features and modes are excluded.
Prototype is scheduled to be released sometime in June.
THIS IS VEGAS
Another sandbox game!!? You betcha! This one takes place in Sin City. Ooohh yyeaaa! That's right, do anything you want in this game because as the city slogan states, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Developed by Surreal Software (Hey Alan Patmore, call me, yea?) you can fight, race, gamble and party your way into taking Vegas from "family friendly" to the adult playground Vegas is known for and should remain for years to come. Surreal Software are the creators of "The Suffering," but there doesn't seem to be any suffering in store for players in this game. I'm looking forward to this sandbox game since it takes place in a city other than NYC (Sorry GTA IV, I had to quit you) and also for the fact that Surreal Software has a talented group of artists, programmers and their own real-time proprietary game engine I haven't really seen yet. I hope good news is in store for this game studio and I look forward to the "This is Vegas" release.This is Vegas is scheduled to be released March 2, 2009.
HALO WARS
Whhhaaa? Not Halo 3: ODST? That's right, I am more excited to see Halo Wars in 2009 than the next addition to Halo 3. I am not sorry at all about this statement. Halo 3 is the one game that can get me so emotionally and physically upset that I risk endangering myself, my loved ones and quite possibly the eardrums of unsuspecting little kids on the other end of my Xbox Live headset. Some of the words that come out of players mouths in this game (including mine) are atrocious. Some insults I never even knew existed so I am hoping someone is recording them, for history's sake.Which is why I am looking forward to a change in the way the Halo universe is presented. Ensemble Studios (who are, quite shockingly, closing it's doors after Halo Wars is released) announced to the world in it's first trailer that the Halo Wars are upon us. After viewing this trailer, the hype machine begun and fans of the Halo series were left drooling at this incredible cinematic. But what about the actual gameplay? Well, that's where I am feeling a bit skeptical. Halo Wars is a Real Time Strategy game (RTS) which takes place 20 years before Halo: Combat Evolved. I have never played an RTS game in full. I have experimented with a few but for the most part, my attention span did not cooperate. But there is still hope! Since I am an avid fan of the Halo games, which could be considered the one franchise that started my hardcore gaming addiction, I have confidence that Ensemble can add a new fan to the RTS genre if done right. Bungie Studios has had little involvement with the development process of this game so if you don't like Halo Wars, don't bother whining on the Bungie forums. In fact, don't bother doing it on the Ensemble forums either because they'll be long gone when this game gets released. I do want to see however, Ensemble Studios make a killing with this game to show Microsoft how stupid they were for closing the doors of a game studio full of fresh talent. I don't know all the details on how or why this occurred but if this is going to be Ensemble Studios last hurrah, I hope they go out with a bang!
Halo Wars is scheduled to be released on March 3, 2009. Yet another game to celebrate with during my birthday. I might as well celebrate all month long now.
AFRO SAMURAI
Afro Samurai is a game based off of the Japanese manga and anime series of the same name. Developed by Namco, the game is a hack and slash type game but with an incredible artistic style sure to please video game and anime fans alike. To me, it looks like the closest a video game has ever come to bringing comic book like art to life with it's cel-shaded style. This game is sure to generate a following from hip hop heads around the world as the one and only Rza, who produced the soundtrack for the anime series, will also produce the music for the game. Listen for artists like Big Daddy Kane, Talib Kweli, Q-Tip and the Gza as you slash your way through this hip hop anime style game. And if that wasn't enough, Samuel L. "Motherfuckin' Plane" Jackson will voice the joint smokin' Afro Samurai. How in the hell can this game fail? I mean, I'm not that into hip hop anymore but that doesn't mean there aren't millions of hip hop fans waiting to play a game that they can relate to. No, not all the head and limb decapitations, I'm talking about the music! With Guitar Hero and Rockband, where is Hip Hop Hero, y'know? Well, hopefully this game will hold it down until another developer creates something like Guitar Hero for fans of other kinds of music. Who knows, maybe DJ Hero will be the one to do it.Afro Samurai is scheduled to be released January 27, 2009.
STREET FIGHTER IV
Ok, I am not into Mortal Kombat, Dead or Alive and Soul Calibur type fighting games but Street Fighter is somehow different and special to me. One reason, ok the main reason, why I don't like fighting games is because I suck at them! My girlfriend can vouch for me on that because she somehow destroys me (along with my manly confidence) every time. It's embarrassing! So after getting my ass handed to me for the last time in DOA, I promised I would never play a fighting game like that again. But nnooooo.. Capcom just had to make a visually stunning 3D Street Fighter title with gameplay based on a traditional 2D plane. Which means the developers are staying true to Street Fighter II, for it seems fans liked that version the most. I agree.Most of the original characters in Street Fighter II make their return including Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and my favorite (because his special move was so simple) Blanka. I look forward to sending waves of electric volts into whatever character my girlfriend chooses as I try to regain that fighting confidence I lost long ago.We will be introduced to new characters in this game as well including El Fuerte, who is a luchador. No word yet if Jack Black (Nacho Libre) will be doing the voice. But that would add a bit of welcomed humor into this legendary game franchise.Street Fighter IV is scheduled to be released February 17, 2009. Look for me to regain my manliness on or around February 18, 2009. I'll keep you posted.
DAMNATION
When will a game developer make a vertical First Person Shooter? I am just so tired of playing horizontal FPS games. Wait, what? There is a vertical shooter being developed? Schweet! It's about time someone developed a shooter other than the repetitive and lackluster FPS games I've been playing over the years. Billed as a "shooter gone vertical," Damnation takes place in an alternate American history where the civil war has lasted several decades. You will be able to perform "daredevil acrobatics" in a conflict against an arms dealer who will do whatever it takes to dominate the world.This game originally started off as a Unreal Tournament 4 mod and won second place in Epic Games, Make something Unreal contest. Amazingly, the developers state that each level will take about 3 hours to complete. No word yet on how many levels there will be but the Damnation website shows six possible locations. The game is sure to include unique vehicles including a 4-wheeled bike which will be capable of riding up walls to kill an enemy or quite possibly, to get away from an enemy chasing your ass.Developed by Blue Omega Entertainment, Damnation uses the Unreal Engine 3 and from screens I have seen, it is very obvious. The textures and color palette used in this game is very similar to Gears of War so I assume fans of that game will make a smooth transition to the expansive environments and characters inside the world of Damnation. Look for a demo to be released in early January for the Playstation Network and Xbox Live. I know I'll be.
Damnation is scheduled to be released February 24, 2009.
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