After coming off the back of a year like 2011, the games industry has a daunting task to make 2012 even better. However, whilst it'll be difficult, the following titles coming out this year will no doubt help eclipse the previous epic 12 months. So get those Christmas money & gift vouchers ready, 'cos there's going to be a crap-load of great stuff coming this year!
Halo 4
Master Chief is back. After focusing on the tales of the ODST's and the fables of Noble team, the original Spartan returns for a fourth Halo instalment. You would have thought that he'd at least been promoted for all of his Covenant-destroying exploits in the first three Halo games! Taking over at the helm of the franchise, from Bungie, is 343 Industries and seeing what direction they take future Halo titles should prove as interesting as the Chief's new adventures itself.
Tomb Raider
Reboots have seemingly been all the rage these last few years, but one series that has been in dire need of one is Tomb Raider. The new Tomb Raider title will see an fresh-faced, recently graduated, 21 year old Lara off on her first adventure and, if the trailer is anything to go by, she will get more than she ever bargained for as she fights for survival on mysterious island. It's far cry from the first, or even the last, Tomb Raider game, but this new entry certainly has the series starting to attract the attention is once did.
Mass Effect 3
The war for the galaxy's survival has began. The price of failure is extinction. All in a day's work for Commander Shepard. With all new multiplayer added, we will witness the climatic finish to this trilogy's story. However, with the ability to import saved games from the previous two games, it's not just the story Bioware have written. It's the player's story as they discover the consequences of their choices made in Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2. I wonder if sparing Conrad Verner was worth it...
SSX
Having played a lot of SSX on the PS2 back in the day, I'm really happy too see a new SSX title in 2012. Whilst retaining it's wacky uber-tricks, this game will look a lot more grounded and realistisc than it's predecessors; with a roster of new and re-designed returning characters, and with help of satellite mapping, ready to take on some of the world's deadly descents on real-life locations. However, that's not to say that it'll be a sedate. Trying to outride an avalanche in a whiteout as well as trying to avoid the rocks, trees and hidden hazards of the slopes is far from it!
Final Fantasy XIII-2
Final Fantasy XIII was neither the best or worst game ever to come out of the Square Enix, but it certainly was the most visually appealing. In only the second direct sequel to a main Final Fantasy title, this title hopes to correct the flaws and criticisms that were aimed at the first game. In my eyes though, a game with a excellent plot line is able to immerse the player in a rich & detailed universe simply through what they see and hear from the screen. Square Enix have been masters of this kind of story telling so the last 25 years. Final Fantasy XIII did this and I don't see it being any different with XIII-2.
Soul Calibur V
Set 17 years after the events of the last game, Soul Calibur V arrives with a cast of brand new characters and returning favourites that brings more of the same great weapon-based fighting goodness; only this time with a guest appearance far more appropriate than Yoda or Darth Vader: the master assassin, Ezio Auditore da Firenze! Just because he's there are no more Assassin's Creed titles he can appear, shouldn't stop a great character from popping up elsewhere!
Street Fighter X Tekken
If there ever were gaming 'what-if' moments, then this game would be one of them. Capcom's interpretation of Tekken fighters taking on their Street Fighter cast is, no doubt, a beat-em up fan's mouth watering prospect for 2012. Ryu vs. Kazuya. Chun-Li vs. Nina. Guile vs. Hwoarang. It's time for the fanboy arguments to be finally settled. And with fights also set about in 2 vs. 2 Tekken Tag style, this will have fans of both franchises excited for it's March release.
BioShock Infinite
Gone are the murky depths of Rapture. Instead BioShock Infinite invites us to investigate the mysterious going-on's of Columbia; a steampunk air-city in 1912. It is certainly a different direction for the series, given the change in locale and time period, but it can't be all bad having a companion in Elizabeth, who not only is able to complement and augment the player's attacks with her abilities in combat, but is somewhat easier on the eyes. It sure does beat those creepy looking Little Sisters!
Assassin's Creed 2012
What lies in store for the Assassin's Creed series? All we know right now is that will be a new game coming out in 2012, but no other details have been released or confirmed. Will the supposed main character, Desmond, finally get a starring role after four games sitting on the sidelines or will we see a whole new protagonist all together? And where will it be set? Some of the locations that have been rumoured are Medieval China, Victorian London, Feudal Japan or the American Revolution. Where ever and whenever it might be, all we can do is wait to see what world Ubisoft will wow us with next.
Journey
Subscribing the 'Less is More' way of thinking comes Journey; a game where you play as a silent and nameless robed woman whose sole objective is to cross the vast desert to reach the mountain in far off distance. She has only one action - jump - and if you're lucky enough to bump into someone else online, you won't be able to communicate with them via talk or text either. All of this comes as no real surprise; coming from the same developers who brought us the artistic titles
Flow and
Flower. And whilst anything can happen along the way, we can be guaranteed another stylishly beautiful game.
Grand Theft Auto V
If the rumours are to be believed, then 2012 will see the return of Rockstar's most famous franchise. GTA5 looks set to return to Los Santos - a district in GTA: San Andreas - but other than that, everything else is pure speculation at this point. What we can expect, at the very least, is the sort of fun that can be found with copious amounts of wild shooting, reckless driving and just-because-we-can hijacking in a open-world urban sprawl.
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Level 5 are no strangers to producing stylised game. With the Professor Layton series and Dragon Quest VIII & IX as part of an impressive back catalogue, this JRPG brings the stunning art and music of the legendary animation house, Studio Ghibli, to the gaming arena for the first time. Even the storytelling - the epic tale of a young boy, Oliver, who embarks on a journey to become a master magician whilst traversing between two parallel universe - has Studio Ghibli's signature! This will be a definite treat for anyone who enjoyed films like Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle or Ponyo and if it plays as well as it looks, then we are in for one hell of a treat.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
When I think of PC online gaming, Counter-Strike is one the first titles I think of, so it's another welcome return of an familiar name. But unlike Call of Duty, there are no air-strikes, kill streaks or spawn camping. It's just guns, grenades and your ability to react faster than your enemy. CS:GO's inherent simplicity & no frills combat rewards those with that have dedicated themselves to mastering their map knowledge, teamwork and quick reflexes; even if it leaves little room for newcomers to become anything more than cannon fodder. This will be certainly a game for true, hardcore FPS fans.
Final Fantasy X
When FFX first came out for the PS2, it was simply one of the best RPG's around. Even to this day, it is considered one of the most popular and successful entries in the Final Fantasy series. FFX had, at the time, outstanding graphics for the PS2 and remains visually impressive despite being a 10 year old title. But to now hear that Square Enix are remastering the game, from the ground up, to bring it into HD, is exciting news indeed. Even if it did suffer from minor translation and dubbing issues, FFX conveyed a deep, multi-threaded story that provided a tonne of character development for each of party member. And now with all new graphics powered by the PS3/Vita, a gaming classic has second chance to wow us all over again.
Uncharted: Golden Abyss
If there is one game that is the star of the launch line-up for the upcoming PS Vita, then it has to be Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Not only will it fully utilise the Vita's lush HD display, but the game's mix of touch screen & dual analogue stick controls, as well as it's use of the in-built three-way accelerometer, will be able to fully take advantage of the Vita features; with devastating good results. Nathan Drake in your pocket? Sign me up!
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