From Sony's Vita handheld to the conclusion of the "Mass Effect" trilogy, new year offers plenty of reason for excitement
Nintendo plans to release the WiiU, the successor to the ultra-popular Wii, later this year.
Last week, I took a final look back at 2011 and handed out my Game of the Year awards. This week, it's time to focus on the future.
"Borderlands 2" (2K Games, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- The original "Borderlands" was an unexpected smash hit, but there's no way this sequel is going to catch anyone by surprise. Featuring new characters, improved multiplayer and an even larger arsenal at your disposal, "Borderlands 2" is poised to be one of the year's top shooters.
"Halo 4" (Microsoft, Xbox 360) -- The first original "Halo" title developed by someone other than Bungie, "Halo 4" may be the most unpredictable title on this short list. The reason why is simple -- no one quite knows what to expect from 343 Industries, the team that replaced Bungie as caretakers of the "Halo" universe. Can the new guys capture the same magic that helped make Master Chief a household name amongst gamers? We'll find out soon enough.
"Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" (Electronic Arts, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- The wait is almost over for this action-RPG from 38 Studios, the all-star development house created by former big-leaguer Curt Schilling. With a huge open world to explore, a vibrant art style and a deep combat system, "Reckoning" is one of the year's most exciting new IPs, and could give "Skyrim" a run for its money as the top RPG of this generation.
"The Last of Us" (Sony, PS3) -- Granted, there's no guarantee that this tale of survival from the creators of "Uncharted" will see the light of day in 2012, but no other game has captured my attention like "The Last of Us." Very little is known about the game as of yet, but the reveal trailer, alone, was enough to sell me on this post-apocalyptic adventure.
"Mass Effect 3" (Electronic Arts, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- The conclusion of Bioware's epic trilogy sees Commander Shepherd and the crew of the Normandy tasked with protecting Earth from a Reaper invasion. After spending the first two "Mass Effect" games shaping Shepherd through the decisions I've made, I can't wait to see how it all ties together in the end.
"Resident Evil 6" (Capcom, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- Of all the games on this list, I'm most worried about this latest installment in the classic survival-horror franchise. Make no mistake, I love "Resident Evil," but Capcom took the series in a new, decidedly action-heavy and zombie-free direction with "Resident Evil 5." The awesome debut trailer helped alleviate some of my fears that the franchise would continue to move further away from its horror roots, but I'm still trying to keep my expectations in check. Plus, the ability to play as both Chris Redfield and Leon Kennedy has my fanboy juices flowing.
"Spec Ops: The Line" (2K Games, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- This squad-based shooter has been on my radar for a couple of years, and now that it seems ready for release I'm excited to see the role that player choice plays in the action. When a sandstorm cripples the affluent city of Dubai, it's up to your squad to go in and locate a group of U.S. soldiers who have gone off the grid. The decidedly mature tone of the game has drawn comparisons to "Apocalypse Now," and if the gameplay can back up the story, this could be something special.
"Tomb Raider" (Square Enix, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- It's been a few years since we've seen Lara Croft in a new console release, and this series reboot shows a new, grittier side to the iconic figure. With gameplay that looks to have more in common with survival-horror than the typical adventure that gamers are accustomed to from the series, I'm looking forward to seeing if the franchise can recapture the magic that helped make Croft one of gaming's most beloved characters.
"Transformers: Fall of Cybertron" (Activision, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- Forget last year's mediocre movie tie-in, "Dark of the Moon" -- I'm counting on "Fall of Cybertron" to deliver the same addictive thrills as 2010's "War for Cybertron." Oh, and there are Dinobots. You can't go wrong with Dinobots.
Last week, I took a final look back at 2011 and handed out my Game of the Year awards. This week, it's time to focus on the future.
There was no shortage of great games released in 2011, from our GOTY winner, "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim," to other instant classics like "Batman: Arkham City" and "Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception." Given last year's outstanding crop of games, it would be easy to assume that gamers are due for a letdown in 2012. After all, many of last year's top efforts were sequels, and very few franchises are built to see yearly releases -- "Call of Duty" being the most notable exception to that rule, of course.
So while many of the industry's most recognizable brands take this year off to, perhaps, begin the transition to the next generation of hardware, the door is open for a new crop of titles to emerge and wow gamers in 2012.
Of course, new games aren't the only things I'm looking forward to in 2012.
Sony is rolling out its latest handheld, the Vita, in February here in the U.S. The device, which features a touchscreen display and a second touchpad on the back, is the most powerful handheld gaming system ever designed. The reception to the Vita in Japan, where it launched late last year, has been lukewarm, as best. But with a solid launch lineup that includes an all-new "Uncharted" adventure and the endless possibilities that come along with the system's ability to interact with the PS3, it's hard not to be excited for the Vita's arrival. The Vita releases in the U.S. on Feb. 22 in two flavors -- a WiFi-only model for $249.99 and a 3G version (that requires an AT&T data plan) for $299.99.
Also this year, Nintendo is also expected to release the WiiU, its successor to the ultra-successful Wii console. Nintendo has been keeping quiet about the WiiU since unveiling it to the public at last year's E3, but its unique controller promises to reel in casual gamers while the improved processing power should appease the hard-core crowd, too. Basics like a release date, price and launch titles remain a mystery, but I fully expect Nintendo reveal all that information and more when it makes the WiiU the focal point of its E3 presentation this year.
Turning our attention back to games, here is a look at the 10 titles I'm most looking forward to playing, and why they should be on your radar, too, in 2012:
"Bioshock: Infinite" (2K Games, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- The original "Bioshock" remains one of my all-time favorite games, and even though "Infinite" isn't directly related to that game, the similarities are hard to miss, which makes this one a can't-miss in my book. If the floating city of Columbia is anywhere near as engrossing as "Bioshock's" Rapture, this could be another classic.
"Borderlands 2" (2K Games, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- The original "Borderlands" was an unexpected smash hit, but there's no way this sequel is going to catch anyone by surprise. Featuring new characters, improved multiplayer and an even larger arsenal at your disposal, "Borderlands 2" is poised to be one of the year's top shooters.
"Halo 4" (Microsoft, Xbox 360) -- The first original "Halo" title developed by someone other than Bungie, "Halo 4" may be the most unpredictable title on this short list. The reason why is simple -- no one quite knows what to expect from 343 Industries, the team that replaced Bungie as caretakers of the "Halo" universe. Can the new guys capture the same magic that helped make Master Chief a household name amongst gamers? We'll find out soon enough.
"Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" (Electronic Arts, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- The wait is almost over for this action-RPG from 38 Studios, the all-star development house created by former big-leaguer Curt Schilling. With a huge open world to explore, a vibrant art style and a deep combat system, "Reckoning" is one of the year's most exciting new IPs, and could give "Skyrim" a run for its money as the top RPG of this generation.
"The Last of Us" (Sony, PS3) -- Granted, there's no guarantee that this tale of survival from the creators of "Uncharted" will see the light of day in 2012, but no other game has captured my attention like "The Last of Us." Very little is known about the game as of yet, but the reveal trailer, alone, was enough to sell me on this post-apocalyptic adventure.
"Mass Effect 3" (Electronic Arts, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- The conclusion of Bioware's epic trilogy sees Commander Shepherd and the crew of the Normandy tasked with protecting Earth from a Reaper invasion. After spending the first two "Mass Effect" games shaping Shepherd through the decisions I've made, I can't wait to see how it all ties together in the end.
"Resident Evil 6" (Capcom, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- Of all the games on this list, I'm most worried about this latest installment in the classic survival-horror franchise. Make no mistake, I love "Resident Evil," but Capcom took the series in a new, decidedly action-heavy and zombie-free direction with "Resident Evil 5." The awesome debut trailer helped alleviate some of my fears that the franchise would continue to move further away from its horror roots, but I'm still trying to keep my expectations in check. Plus, the ability to play as both Chris Redfield and Leon Kennedy has my fanboy juices flowing.
"Spec Ops: The Line" (2K Games, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- This squad-based shooter has been on my radar for a couple of years, and now that it seems ready for release I'm excited to see the role that player choice plays in the action. When a sandstorm cripples the affluent city of Dubai, it's up to your squad to go in and locate a group of U.S. soldiers who have gone off the grid. The decidedly mature tone of the game has drawn comparisons to "Apocalypse Now," and if the gameplay can back up the story, this could be something special.
"Tomb Raider" (Square Enix, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- It's been a few years since we've seen Lara Croft in a new console release, and this series reboot shows a new, grittier side to the iconic figure. With gameplay that looks to have more in common with survival-horror than the typical adventure that gamers are accustomed to from the series, I'm looking forward to seeing if the franchise can recapture the magic that helped make Croft one of gaming's most beloved characters.
"Transformers: Fall of Cybertron" (Activision, Xbox 360 and PS3) -- Forget last year's mediocre movie tie-in, "Dark of the Moon" -- I'm counting on "Fall of Cybertron" to deliver the same addictive thrills as 2010's "War for Cybertron." Oh, and there are Dinobots. You can't go wrong with Dinobots.
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