A typically crowded release schedule is assaulting
players' minds and wallets this holiday season, it's no wonder that many
gamers are probably confused by the sheer number of high-profile titles
coming out. Its been an interesting few years for gaming in general, as
the rise of motion controls and the new mass audience (or whatever trendy
label you want to use) has up-ended the traditional expectations of
players and what they have come to expect. This has led some to speculate
that either the new gamers will fade away, or that they will somehow
replace existing gamers. Neither extreme speculation seems to draw much
credibility when you look at the games that the industry is producing.
Instead of catering to one section, there seems to be more games in more
genres for more different player types than anytime in the past five
years. In addition to the demographic trends that have been gone over
excessively on many industry-oriented sites, the biggest change we see
around the corner is the most welcome. Now that the consoles have
established their positions and developers have familiarized themselves
with their capabilities, the focus has finally turned to software. This is
the time in the console lifecycle when things begin to get interesting for
gamers. Divining trends from hardware sales numbers might be an
entertaining diversion for some but our perspective is that amateur accounting pales in comparison to actually playing the games.
Examining the industry's upcoming fall/holiday
lineup shows several other more interesting things happening. While
most of the arguments going on involve pointless comparisons, game
developers themselves are using this time of transition and change to
experiment and go in new, sometimes completely unexpected directions. This
has led to much franchise-hopping. In terms of trends, this can only be
seen as a good one for gamers. Developers can get tired of doing the same
things, and players find themselves replaying the same franchises with
minimal changes. However, it looks like things are changing and this
year's lineup is evidence of this. While some of the developer/game
combinations might seem dubious at first, the chance to bring new ideas
and innovations to some of gaming's most enduring franchises is something
most gamers will probably welcome. Much of the focus has been on the
console wars over the past few years, but it seems like the smaller
battles between publishers in specific genres will become almost as
interesting this fall. Players will probably see more competition in the
racing, sports, shooter and platform genres than they've had in awhile.
This should make for much better games overall, which is a situation that
is long overdue. There's plenty to look out for in the software schedule
in the busy months ahead, so here we list the major titles we think will
have the biggest impact, along with a few sleepers you might want to check
out, in sequential order*, so go mark you calendars and have fun. That's
what it's all about.
* Note: Release dates listed subject to
change/revision by manufacturers.
Metroid: Other M (Wii) Expected
release date: September 1st
Nintendo's plan to have Team Ninja take
over the latest installment in the long-running franchise was bound to be
controversial, but the trailers and initial previews seem to point to a
title that will offer a mix of the classic Metroid gameplay, in both 2D
and 3D sections, along with extended cut-scenes and a deeper storyline
than usual. A series of sleek trailers seems to indicate that the game
will turn out much better than hoped, but we won't have to wait much
longer to find out. While many gamers aren't really jazzed on this yet, we
have a feeling this could become a sleeper hit for Nintendo.
Halo: Reach (Xbox 360) Expected
release date: September 14th
Purported to be Bungie's final Halo
title, the fourth installment in this series could be one of the biggest
games of the year. Most of the previews are emphasizing a return to the
roots seen in the first game. This time, the story doesn't revolve around
Master Chief, but an elite squad of Spartans trying to defend the doomed
planet Reach from a devastating Covenant attack. This is more a prequel
than a sequel in terms of plot which should make for an interesting title.
Bungie is also promising to include an expansive multiplayer mode and some
of the most impressive visuals seen on Xbox 360 to date. Given the
consistent high-quality Bungie delivers and the coolness that was ODST,
Halo fans are definitely going to be in for a treat this year.
Playstation Move (PS3) Expected
Release date: September 17th
Not so much a game as a new controller
and scheme for the next-generation console. The arrival of a motion
control system and few interesting games could change the balance of power
with this generation of gamers. While it's launch lineup might seem a
little derivative of Wii (see Sports Champions), the use of motion
controls in more hardcore games like Socom 4 and Resident Evil 5 will be
the proof whether this is an innovative technology, or another me-too
bust. It will be interesting to see if Sony supports the Move controller
over the long term or drops it quickly if it doesn't take hold with their
hardcore audience. Another factor to look for is whether the Move
withstands additional competition from Kinect when that system launches
two months later.
FIFA 11 (Multi) Expected release
date: September 28th
What's a sports title doing on a
hardcore list like this one? Anyone who's played the series since its '09
edition will tell you that not only has EA delivered one of the best
soccer sims on the market, it might just be the best sports game on the
market period. This year's improvements include more dramatic facial
expressions and animations, expanded be-a-pro mode that allows you to play
as a goalie and much more. This is definitely shaping up to be a solid
title, and anyone who caught world cup fever over the summer will want to
check this out.
Dead Rising 2 (Multi) Expected
release date: September 28th
Capcom had one of the biggest hits early
in the high-def era with the first Dead Rising and the long-anticipated
sequel is set to arrive with more zombie-crushing fun. The new game is set
in Vegas and has a new protagonist, but the basic gameplay mechanics of
pickup and slash have remained intact. Dead Rising 2's also promising to
deliver even more zombies on screen at the same time, and many new objects
to use as well. This should increase the fun exponentially. While the
first game was a huge hit, it looks like the second will be a success as
well.
Haunted House (Wii) Expected
release date: September 28th
For those gamers who might want
something a little less intense to play in celebration of Halloween, the
newest iteration of Atari is releasing a new version of their classic 2600
title. Haunted House looks to take many of the classic gameplay elements
of the original and move them forward with updated graphics, a new
cartoony feel and some other surprises. It's bargain-basement price should
garner interest from older gamers and maybe a few younger ones looking for
a spooky Wii adventure.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (Multi)
Expected release date: October 5th
This might be one of the most intriguing
games to come out this year. While the Castlevania series is legendary,
most attempts to move it into 3D have met with mixed receptions. Konami is
trying to reboot the game once again, this time with developers Mercury
Steam at the helm. This might not seem so promising, but the legendary
Hideo Kojima is lending his hand and expertise to the game. Early looks at
the game show a title that mixes a heavy and moody plot, traditional
Castlevania play mechanics and characters, along with some God of
War-style boss encounters. Whether this mix works in practice remains to
be seen, but long-time CV fans should at least be hopeful.
Enslaved (Multi) Expected release
date: October 6th
Ninja Theory, the developers who created
the under-rated PS3 title Heavenly Sword have returned with an entirely
new multi-platform game that promises some interesting features. Set
several hundred years in the future in a post-nuclear war America, the
game follows two characters who are bound together in a complex
relationship. The character you play, Monkey is a survivalist who is
working to escape the barren wastelands, while his companion Trip is a
devious young woman who has trapped him with a devious headband that will
kill him too if she doesn't survive the trip. Enslaved may not be the most
well known title on the list, but it looks to feature high-quality motion
captured visuals and some interesting gameplay mechanics. This should be
one of the more interesting titles to come out this season. With so many
other high-profile releases, this looks like it might get lost in the
shuffle. Hopefully, this promising title will find a good audience.
NBA Jam (Wii) Expected release
date: October 5th
The classic arcade sports title from the
early 90's is being resurrected this year and it looks to be a solid
contender amongst gamers. Featuring the classic gameplay gamers have come
to expect from the series, this new edition includes a roster featuring
contemporary players along with a few surprises as well. The game's
revised graphics engine that makes this an appealing and accessible title.
NBA Jam's developers are also promising plenty of secrets and unlockables
for players to attain. NBA Jam was a huge success back in the day, but
whether modern gamers will be awed by its simpler, more straightforward
gameplay is a question that is yet to be answered.
Medal of Honor (Multi) Expected
release date: October 12th
EA is jumping on the Modern Warfare
bandwagon with its own revised franchise. Unlike previous titles that were
set in World War II, this new release has you in the role of a special
operations force known as the Tier 1 operators. These are considered the
military's best fighters and they are enlisted in a series of high-stakes
covert missions throughout contemporary environments including Afghanistan
and Iraq. The trailers and visuals look incredibly detailed and sport
plenty of polish and special effects. Whether this dramatic, contemporary
reboot takes hold among the MW faithful will probably depend on their
loyalty to the Modern Warfare brand and how much innovation EA's studios
put into this reboot. MoH is also facing stiff competition from
Activision's latest Call of Duty title, Black Ops, this will definitely be
an interesting firefight to watch this year.
Epic Mickey (Wii) Expected
release date: November 1st
When legendary game designer Warren
Spector announced plans to team up with Disney and reboot its most iconic
cartoon character, a lot of gamers scratched their heads. Now as more
details have emerged, what was once a doubtful prospect looks like it
could be one of the best titles released this year. As far as the plot is
concerned, it's a genius concept. Several of the older, forgotten
characters have taken over the magic kingdom and are trying to erase the
current stars of the Disney universe. It's up to Mickey to repaint the
Disney parks. Through this, you'll be able to explore and restore many of
the famous park's rides and attractions. Epic Mickey's production values
look spectacular throughout and its innovative painting mechanism looks
like loads of fun. This looks like it could become one of those quite
sleepers that becomes an instant classic for fans of the platforming
genre.
Tron: Evolution (Multi) Expected
release date: November 2nd
Mickey Mouse isn't the only classic
Disney franchise getting a reboot this year. Tron has become a
cult-classic over the years and this fall's long awaited cinematic sequel
is being joined by a video game companion. Evolution takes place between
the two films and looks to fill in the 30 years or so of plot details. The
game promises to feature the iconic light-cycle races from the films, disc
battles and much more. However, it's coming out before the movie, so if
you might want to wait until you see it to play the game if you don't want
to ruin the surprise. This still looks like it could be a cool game, if
the ingredients come together in the right way.
Goldeneye 007 (Wii) Expected
release date: November 2nd
One of the more unexpected sequels to
come about this year has to be the sequel to the classic N64 shooter
Goldeneye. Long rumored, but never officially confirmed until this year's
E3, this new version changes a few important elements, including using
Daniel Craig's Bond as the agent in charge. Other revisions include the
ability to sneak up on opponents, massive multiplayer modes and motion
controls to name a few. Of course, the most important element in Goldeneye
was always the multiplayer modes, and this new version promises these in
spades. Its definitely one of the more exciting Wii titles to come out
this year, and if it controls and feels as good as the original, it could
definitely become a huge success for Nintendo.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 (Multi)
Expected release date: November 2nd
Given its long history of competition
with EA's FIFA series, Konami's PES games seem to have fallen back in the
past few years. While FIFA has made tremendous strides, it seems like PES
has struggled to keep up. It's lack of licenses in comparison is only the
beginning, with some sloppy implementation of new features, disappointing
execution and somewhat static gameplay mechanics over the past few years,
it's hard not to wonder whether this series has lost its way. This year's
installment promises to improve things, with new features including more
precise ball control, better player animation and movement, an expanded
master league mode and, improved AI. These changes sound impressive on
paper, but we'll be waiting on the sidelines to see how things turn out.
Gran Turismo 5 (Playstation 3)
Expected release date: November 2nd
Polyphony Digital has finally moved
beyond the previews and preludes and is getting ready to release its
long-awaited driving simulator. Gran Turismo 5 looks to be the most
ambitious racing title ever released. The specs released to date are
simply awesome. The game will feature over 1,000 different car models,
damage modeling at long last, dozens of real-world and fictitious courses
and some new licenses, including NASCAR. All of this in a single game -
it's an impressive technical accomplishment to say the least. Whether the
new game can possibly live up to the years of development and incessant
hype is a question that will be answered soon enough. Given the
developers' long-standing attention to detail and precise gameplay, it
seems like the PS3's crown-jewel racer will be worth the wait.
Xbox Kinect (Xbox 360) Expected
release date: November 5th
One of the biggest launches this fall is
obviously going to be Kinect. Microsoft has already poured a ton of
resources into this highly-advanced motion-control system. It looks to do
Wii and Move one better with full-body motion controls that don't require
a controller. The launch lineup seems a bit anemic, but no one ever went
broke imitating what already works, this case on Wii. While it's interface
is definitely innovative, the new device has engendered polarized
reactions from gamers who either love it or hate it. Kinect's impact on
the system's future cannot be understated - Microsoft is betting the farm
that this will transform the 360 platform from a niche game console with
an impressive online service to a fully functioning set-top box that will
become ubiquitous in living rooms. The likely result of this strategy is
that there will be no middle ground, either this gamble will pay off
big-time, or won't work at all. Either way, it's definitely looking like
the most interesting launch this year.
Call of Duty: Black Ops (Multi)
Expected release date: November 9th
Treyarch have stood in the shadows these
past few years and watched as Infinity Ward's more successful Modern
Warfare titles have taken most of the awards. With the recent unpleasant
events, now seems to be as good a time as any for the developers to up
their game. Black Ops represents a new beginning, as it takes the other
Call of Duty franchise out of World War II and into the more modern era
with missions ranging from Vietnam to the present day. As the title
suggests, you're now in command of a clandestine force with levels that
offer more variety. The game's slick trailers and elements look quite
impressive, but the question is whether the Modern Warfare audience will
stay with the series. Increases competition from EA's reboot of Medal of
Honor will also play a key role in whether the latest Call of Duty earns
its own sales medal.
Littlebigplanet 2 (Playstation 3)
Expected release date: November 16th
Along with Uncharted 2, Littlebigplanet
from Media Molecule was one of the PS3's most impressive titles. However,
this year's installment looks even bigger. Instead of merely creating
platform game levels, the new game promises a more versatile and expansive
canvas for gamers. It will allow players to create entire games in a
variety of genres, with a much deeper set of creation tools to use.
Expanded sound, music and other special effects will allow for even more
diverse looking games including racing and shooters to name a few. Sackboy
and friends were a definite hit last year with a small target audience,
but the new game is much bigger. Whether it enjoys success with it larger
ambitions is probably not up to the developers, so much as whether gamers
are once again in the mood to be creative.
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Multi)
Expected release date: November 16th
Many players are probably wondering why
Ubisoft is rushing out the third AC game in as many years, since this
might make the series seem overexposed. A brand new multiplayer mode, with
some really unique play mechanics, plus an engaging storyline are two key
reason why this latest sequel is happening. The game takes place several
years after the original game and once again finds Ezio at war with the
evil Templars. This time around, the action takes place in a massive
recreation of medieval Rome, instead of multiple cities. Many of the
elements from AC II are back, and in more elaborate form such as the city
building aspects. New this time is the ability to recruit and use other
assassins in the single player mode, and multiplayer, too. This should
make for an even more exciting game with another immersive storyline and
some impressive improvements, it should be one of the best games of the
season.
Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit (Multi) Expected
release date: November 16th
There's little doubt that EA's long
running Need for Speed series has become increasingly erratic over the
years. It's veered from the excellent (NFS: Carbon) to the not so good (NFS:
ProStreet). This year's edition feels like yet another reboot - but the
excitement this time around is probably more than a little bit deserved.
Instead of giving it to yet another anonymous developer, EA has chosen to
give Criterion Games the task of restarting the engine. For those of you
who don't remember, these are the same developers who brought you the
Burnout series. As you might expect from the title, this also marks a
return to one of the more successful NFS styles, basically cops and
robbers, with both enlisting a massive number of high-tech sports cars in
their chases. The trailers released to date look simply incredible, and
they definitely show a game with tons of potential. If there's any team
that can reclaim its glory its Criterion. This might be one of the biggest
racers of the year. It might not eclipse Gran Turismo, but it looks likely
to leave Split Second and the disappointing Blur in the rear-view mirror.
Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)
Expected release date: November 20th
This is another case of a developer
known for another franchise taking an unexpected move into a completely
new direction. In this case, it's Retro Studios. Previously known for the
Metroid Prime series, this switch to Donkey Kong Country was a huge
surprise. While the trailers seem to stay pretty close to the SNES
originals, there are bound to be some interesting twists this time around.
While it might seem like an odd choice to revive a somewhat forgotten 2D
franchise, the huge sales and critical acclaim that New Super Mario Bros.
Wii received last holiday season is probably a huge factor in explaining
why this series is coming back. Given the studio's track record at brining
new life into venerable Nintendo franchises, this is definitely a game
you'll want to keep an eye out for this year.
- The Laser Staff
