I read an interesting feature in a January 2011 issue of OXM questioning why we don't see more quality games release in Summer, or Q3. Indeed, they made some good points: the kids are out of school; more free time equals time for seasonal jobs. I don't know about you, but as a full-time college student, I'm lucky to even get to pick up a controller on the weekends, meaning the time to dig into my appalling backlog of shoulda-coulda-woulda-but-didn't-play games is Summertime. Despite these facts, publishers avoid those hot months like the Plague. The majority of quality new releases tend to grace us in the Spring or otherwise, right around the Holiday crunch.
Yet, that doesn't seem to be the case this year. It's possible that studios are finally seeing the untapped potential of Summer months, but the more likely explanation is that 2011 is simply so jam-packed with promising software--from the conventional to the strange, sequels (and "threequels") to new IPs, East to West, there simply aren't enough months in the year to ease the inevitable blows to our wallet. In fact, some of my most anticipated releases this year will be dropping in the Summer--thank goodness!
That said, I wanted to examine my most anticipated releases between May 10 and mid-August (these mark the duration of my Summer). Without further ado, they are...
8.) Star Fox 64 3D (Barrel Rolling to a 3DS near you July 16!)
With the iconic yet oft-forgotten Nintendo franchise Star Fox on life support, a remake of Star Fox 64 is just what the doctor ordered for despairing hardcore fans such as myself. Star Fox Command, Star Fox: Assault, and Star Fox Adventures, while appealing to a few people here and there, all failed to recreate what made the N64 game so memorable and enjoyable. The game looks beautiful from what's been shown so far and I'm interested to see how it translates to glasses-free 3D and handheld controls.
While my New Year's Resolution of frugality will probably prevent me from owning a 3DS by the time the game comes out, it's out there, and I'll find a way to play it, damn it. The original is one of my all-time favorite games, so even if it is just a remake of an old classic, I "had" to put it on here.
While my New Year's Resolution of frugality will probably prevent me from owning a 3DS by the time the game comes out, it's out there, and I'll find a way to play it, damn it. The original is one of my all-time favorite games, so even if it is just a remake of an old classic, I "had" to put it on here.
7.) BRINK (PC, PS3, Xbox 360; May 17 May 10)
What's one of the best possible ways to build hype your years-in-the-making FPS in an market already swimming with them? Set out to fix everything that is wrong with the genre, and announce these ambitions to the world. Boasting a SMART (Smooth Movement Across Random Terrain) parkour mechanic, deep character and weapon customization, and a synthesized competitive multiplayer and campaign, BRINK is the sole FPS this year that has piqued my interest.
What's one of the best possible ways to build hype your years-in-the-making FPS in an market already swimming with them? Set out to fix everything that is wrong with the genre, and announce these ambitions to the world. Boasting a SMART (Smooth Movement Across Random Terrain) parkour mechanic, deep character and weapon customization, and a synthesized competitive multiplayer and campaign, BRINK is the sole FPS this year that has piqued my interest.
You'll play as a member of either the Security or Resistance faction, with four unique classes to choose from. After a catastrophic flood that almost drowned out humanity, survivors seek refuge on a dystopian megacity called The Ark. Unfortunately, it's a little bit stretched for space. The Resistance want to take over; the Security wish to save The Ark and bring the rebels back in line. According to Splash Damage, there will no clear indication of which side is "right," and there is an overarching theme of ambiguous moral choice. According to the game's lead writer, "The choice between right and wrong is boring – there is no choice. It’s the choice between right and right that’s got more going on." Can't wait to see if the game lives up to Splash Damages' hefty claims.
A once dubious Western release, us North American Japanophiles can now rest easy--we will be getting Catherine! Hopefully not too watered down or censored. The story... well, I couldn't really tell you what it's about, but here's a small taste of what you're in for with this game. See his face at 0:19? Yes, Vincent. I'm scared, too.
To my understanding, it's a suspenseful, psychologically twisted, action/puzzle game. Genre-wise, it's not something I would typically go for, but Atlus's unrelenting and unapologetic willingness to take risks, and to embrace its weird "Japanese-ness" really draws me to the game. Here's hoping it doesn't give me nightmares...
5.) Dead Island (PC, PS3, Xbox 360; August 1)
Here's a game with four years of development behind it. When it was announced, it was highly anticipated, but lost steam as it continued to be pushed back. Then, in February, this awe-inspiring trailer hit the web, and faith in the zombie title was restored. And Dead Island became an internet sensation. No big deal or anything.
It's been described by developers as a "first-person melee action game." Reportedly, Dead Island's gameplay takes a page out of Dead Rising's book, where you're not in the best location to find conveniently placed rocket launchers and machine guns, but you've got zombies crawling around every corner, ready to eat your face off. So how do you mow 'em all down? Pipes. Axes. Anything you can find. Unlike Dead Rising, though, it appears storytelling and narrative will take priority over kookiness. It's also supposed to take place in an open world and to have "minor RPG elements." Fallout 3 meets Dead Rising? Well, when you put it like that... day one buy.
4.) Shadows of the Damned (PS3, Xbox 360; June 7)
You know you're in for a great Japanese game when Suda51 (No More Heroes 2, Killer7), Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil 4, Vanquish), and Akira Yamaoka (soundtrack, Silent Hill series) are all heading the project. Shadows of the Damned (abbr. "DMD") is said to be a psychological action thriller--something these men know a thing or two about. Garcia Hotspur, a self-proclaimed demon hunter, is on a mission to save his girlfriend who has been dragged down into the bowels of Hell.
Apart from a bad ass looking gun with a skull on the end, an absinthe vending machine, and some really demented concept art, not a whole lot is known about this game. However, while telling gamers about DMD, Suda51 claimed, "it's one of the greatest games I've ever worked on in my lifetime." Hold the phone... this game is the real deal.
3.) Pandora's Tower: Until I Return to Your Side (Wii; May 26 - Japan)
While Pandora's Tower is only hitting Japan in May, and whether the game will even make it state-side is yet to be seen, it's worth a mention being Nintendo's next original IP. First announced in January, waning Nintendo fans wondered if their next title would be something truly different from anything the Big N has done in the past. After watching its debut trailer, it does look surprisingly somber and, dare I say, mature compared to Nintendo's prior work. Also, that chain flail weapon is pretty neat.
The story revolves around Ende and a young girl named Ceres. Ceres was chosen to sing at the town Harvest Festival, and now is plagued by a horrific curse. Collecting the flesh of beasts that you defeat within twelve different towers will help to heal her... for a short while. If she goes untreated for too long, it's game over. And the only way to permanently reverse the curse is to vanquish the game's (twelve?) bosses, restoring her to health piece by piece of boss flesh. Famitsu reports that the game is an Action RPG. Please let this one come to the West, Nintendo! You've already let us down with The Last Story.
2.) Alice: Madness Returns (PC, PS3, Xbox 360; June 14)
American McGee's disturbing take on Alice in Wonderland makes a triumphant reappearance with Madness Returns. The game takes place in London, where Alice is still trying to maintain her sanity. It features many different sectors of Wonderland, each with its own visual theme, and each of which Alice must journey through to uncover a missing piece of the her family's mysterious death.
The game offers all kinds of little additions to make gameplay fun and interesting. There are four unique, upgrade-able weapons, from a basic butcher knife to a teapot that shoots drops of boiling hot water; platforming sections; unlockable abilities, such as one that allows Alice to float down using her skirt; and puzzles galore. So many things have been said about this game that make me hyped for it, that I can't even list it all here, but here's a preview with plenty of information for you to sink your Vorpal Blade... err, I mean teeth... into.
1.) El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron (PS3, Xbox 360; Q3 2011)
Folks, there you have it--not just my most anticipated game of the Summer, but of the entire year. El Shaddai is being worked on by Sawaki Takeyasu and a handful of other Clover Studio alums at Ignition Entertainment's Japanese studio. Some of these devs worked on games like Okami, Viewtiful Joe, and Devil May Cry. There are so many intriguing things about this game, but the first thing you'll notice is the art style. It's minimalist, yet eccentric and simply breathtaking. Love it or hate it, it's certainly a memorable approach to visual design in a game.
The combat is streamlined--one button to dodge, one to attack, and so on. Pulling off a variety of combos is dependent on your timing and rhythm. Holding the attack button longer, tapping it faster, and so on will give you different results. Additionally, you start off the level with no weapons--to really lay the hurting on your foes, you must steal their weapons. Eventually, they will get worn out with use, and you will have to purify it or steal a new one from another enemy. There is more than just one weapon, of course, and they each come with their own variety of moves.
What about the story? It's a (very) loose and Japanese take on the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Book of Enoch, which are Biblical texts (though not considered by most to be canon). Enoch, the main character, is a human and God's right-hand man. He's been told to go down to Earth and defeat the seven fallen angels who have disgraced him; if Enoch fails to do so, God will destroy the world in a massive flood. There's so much more I'd like to tell you about, but... instead I'll grace you with this fantastic 20-minute preview. The actual preview starts 3 minutes in, so skip to that point unless you'd particularly like to hear them talk about Peeps and Cadbury Eggs. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to watch that preview... again.
My only question: is it Summer yet? No? How about now?
5.) Dead Island (PC, PS3, Xbox 360; August 1)
Here's a game with four years of development behind it. When it was announced, it was highly anticipated, but lost steam as it continued to be pushed back. Then, in February, this awe-inspiring trailer hit the web, and faith in the zombie title was restored. And Dead Island became an internet sensation. No big deal or anything.
It's been described by developers as a "first-person melee action game." Reportedly, Dead Island's gameplay takes a page out of Dead Rising's book, where you're not in the best location to find conveniently placed rocket launchers and machine guns, but you've got zombies crawling around every corner, ready to eat your face off. So how do you mow 'em all down? Pipes. Axes. Anything you can find. Unlike Dead Rising, though, it appears storytelling and narrative will take priority over kookiness. It's also supposed to take place in an open world and to have "minor RPG elements." Fallout 3 meets Dead Rising? Well, when you put it like that... day one buy.
4.) Shadows of the Damned (PS3, Xbox 360; June 7)
You know you're in for a great Japanese game when Suda51 (No More Heroes 2, Killer7), Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil 4, Vanquish), and Akira Yamaoka (soundtrack, Silent Hill series) are all heading the project. Shadows of the Damned (abbr. "DMD") is said to be a psychological action thriller--something these men know a thing or two about. Garcia Hotspur, a self-proclaimed demon hunter, is on a mission to save his girlfriend who has been dragged down into the bowels of Hell.
Apart from a bad ass looking gun with a skull on the end, an absinthe vending machine, and some really demented concept art, not a whole lot is known about this game. However, while telling gamers about DMD, Suda51 claimed, "it's one of the greatest games I've ever worked on in my lifetime." Hold the phone... this game is the real deal.
3.) Pandora's Tower: Until I Return to Your Side (Wii; May 26 - Japan)
While Pandora's Tower is only hitting Japan in May, and whether the game will even make it state-side is yet to be seen, it's worth a mention being Nintendo's next original IP. First announced in January, waning Nintendo fans wondered if their next title would be something truly different from anything the Big N has done in the past. After watching its debut trailer, it does look surprisingly somber and, dare I say, mature compared to Nintendo's prior work. Also, that chain flail weapon is pretty neat.
The story revolves around Ende and a young girl named Ceres. Ceres was chosen to sing at the town Harvest Festival, and now is plagued by a horrific curse. Collecting the flesh of beasts that you defeat within twelve different towers will help to heal her... for a short while. If she goes untreated for too long, it's game over. And the only way to permanently reverse the curse is to vanquish the game's (twelve?) bosses, restoring her to health piece by piece of boss flesh. Famitsu reports that the game is an Action RPG. Please let this one come to the West, Nintendo! You've already let us down with The Last Story.
2.) Alice: Madness Returns (PC, PS3, Xbox 360; June 14)
The game offers all kinds of little additions to make gameplay fun and interesting. There are four unique, upgrade-able weapons, from a basic butcher knife to a teapot that shoots drops of boiling hot water; platforming sections; unlockable abilities, such as one that allows Alice to float down using her skirt; and puzzles galore. So many things have been said about this game that make me hyped for it, that I can't even list it all here, but here's a preview with plenty of information for you to sink your Vorpal Blade... err, I mean teeth... into.
1.) El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron (PS3, Xbox 360; Q3 2011)
The combat is streamlined--one button to dodge, one to attack, and so on. Pulling off a variety of combos is dependent on your timing and rhythm. Holding the attack button longer, tapping it faster, and so on will give you different results. Additionally, you start off the level with no weapons--to really lay the hurting on your foes, you must steal their weapons. Eventually, they will get worn out with use, and you will have to purify it or steal a new one from another enemy. There is more than just one weapon, of course, and they each come with their own variety of moves.
What about the story? It's a (very) loose and Japanese take on the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Book of Enoch, which are Biblical texts (though not considered by most to be canon). Enoch, the main character, is a human and God's right-hand man. He's been told to go down to Earth and defeat the seven fallen angels who have disgraced him; if Enoch fails to do so, God will destroy the world in a massive flood. There's so much more I'd like to tell you about, but... instead I'll grace you with this fantastic 20-minute preview. The actual preview starts 3 minutes in, so skip to that point unless you'd particularly like to hear them talk about Peeps and Cadbury Eggs. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to watch that preview... again.
My only question: is it Summer yet? No? How about now?
LOL'd at "Barrel Rolling to a 3DS near you".
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of 3DS, I notice a disturbing lack of Ocarina of Time 3D on this list! =-0
I love me some Ocarina of Time, but it fell just short of this list!
ReplyDelete