I usually wait 'til December to post the annual TPS preview list, but hell, I'm so psyched for some of these, I just can't contain myself. Plus, hey, Christmas time in casa Diggler is pretty much 30 days of solid drinking, so I can't guarantee much of anything next month.
Disclaimer time; some of these'll no doubt see delay as the year progresses - much like
last year - but unless otherwise stated, they're all very much on track for a 2008 release at the time of writing. That said, check further down towards the bottom for some less confirmed, grain of salt-tinged rumor mongering. Which is always fun.
Far Cry 2
(PC)
 | | See that? Shit's in-game. I tell no lie |
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The Pitch: With Jack Carver long gone (yay), Far Cry heads off in a more realistic direction, mixing all that was great with the PC original, with some startlingly impressive new graphical technology
Ditching the sci-fi twists and turns of the first game's latter levels, not to mention its numerous shat-stained console
follow-ups, the true Far Cry sequel sees a return to the series' earlier routes. The wide open environments, the amazing sense of freedom, and that exquisite AI to be precise.
Much like Far Cry in its prime, the graphics engine is particularly impressive, boasting real-time day/night cycles, gameplay-altering weather effects, and even the ability to destroy pretty much everything you can see. This not only includes the obligatory blowing up of buildings and sniping branches off trees, but you can even set fire to bushes with a flamethrower, then watch the wind carry said flames off and set ablaze nearby grass. All based on what direction the breeze happens to be blowing. It's shockingly realistic stuff, shaming even Crysis.
Let's just hope the gameplay can match up when she touches down this February.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
(PS3)
The Pitch: Solid Snake's final outing, rounding off the long-running, off-the-wall stealth series with what appears to be a more action-based climax
 | Don't do it Snake! PS3
ain't out for the count
yet |
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Recently put back to the second quarter of '08, Metal Gear's troubled development and string of delays has to be the most epic disappointment in gaming of late, not to mention the biggest blow to the PS3 yet. One in fact, that could spell dire consequences to the machine's ultimate success.
At least the game itself appears to be worth the wait, if recent footage is anything to go by. Video demonstrations
show a far more focused and refined Metal Gear, bearing more resemblance to a
Splinter Cell or a
GRAW than the somewhat dated and convoluted mechanics of
old. That said, barmy female robot bosses and crotch grabbing take-downs tell us that yep, this is indeed good old Metal Gear never the less.
As a pleasing side bonus, it'll also ship with a heavily stripped down multiplayer component. Konami will then (somewhat confusingly) release a separate and more extravagant game entitled Metal Gear Online, for those who yearn for more. Okay...
 | | Those more into the dated JRPG antics of old - caring not for the likes of Fable - also have White Knight Story to look forward to in 2008. Unfortunately for 360 fans, it's very much PS3 exclusive however |
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Fable 2
(Xbox 360)
The Pitch: More open-ended, light-hearted medieval adventuring from Peter Molyneux, promising to make good on all those un-kept promises from the original
Looking to be one of the RPG highlights of the year - for those who dig on action games at least - Fable's progressing nicely too from what we've seen. I could use better graphics and some concrete plot details, but the addition of a canine companion for the entirety of the game, considerably more choice than its
predecessor, and an innovative new context-sensitive combat system that enforces environmental interactivity (read: bar fights) all fill one with hope that this'll exceed its lofty ambitions.
Peter even promises that he'll make us cry. Hot dead dog action confirmed?
Battlefield: Bad Company
(PS3/Xbox 360)
The Pitch: Single player-focused addition to the much-loved Battlefield series that actually - gasp - gives us a proper, fleshed-out storyline for once
 | While no PC port has been confirmed
as of yet, there's always hope,
loyal Dicers |
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Bad Company may look a little rough around the edges right now - making one ponder how likely a 2009 slip is - but there's no denying that the destructible scenery and sense of freedom to its battles both bode well for an impressive new addition to the much-loved franchise.
As someone who's dug every Battlefield game yet - even the under-rated Modern Combat - it'll be nice to see Dice take that game's underlying single-player premise to the next level, and hey, 24 player online play can't hurt either. It even looks funny. With four soldiers going rogue in search of a truck full o' gold, it's Three Kings the game.
And fear not, PC owners, let down by what may well be another console-only Battlefield title. You may have your own reasons to celebrate if rumors further down the page are to be believed...
Dead Space
(PS3/Xbox 360)
 | Dead Space.
Pwetty |
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The Pitch: Alien meets Resident Evil 4, in a survival horror themed sci-fi shooter set in space
Only announced recently - with a 2008 release date to match - all we know of Dead Space so far are the brief glimpses gleaned from its monstrously awesome
trailer. Ever reliable Wikipedia (cough) claim the game'll boast some sort of gravity gun in addition to the typical shooter-based dismembering, but beyond that, your guess is as good as mine. I'm sure intrigued though.
EA's seemingly new found love for interesting and original products like Space certainly brings a smile to the face, particularly in light of their recent and controversial Bioware purchase.
Splinter Cell: Conviction
(Xbox 360/PC)
The Pitch: Splinter Cell goes public, as an on-the-run Sam Fisher must blend in with crowds, avoid attention and clear his name without the help of the shadows
 | | Conviction's plot supposedly revolves around Anna Grimsd?tt?r, with Sam going rogue to protect her from an as of yet unspecified threat |
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Along with Metal Gear, Left 4 Dead and a ton of other poor souls, Sam Fisher's latest was another victim of 2007 delay-itis. Unlike most though, many may have welcomed the brief respite from Splinter Celling, given how god-damn relentless the sequels have been lately.
This new outing couldn't be any further from the traditional Fisher antics of old mind you, with more of a
Hitman-meets-Assassin's Creed vibe than anything. On the run from the cops, Sam'll be tasked with hiding among crowds, firing off distractions, and pulling off the most daring getaways at a split-second's notice, minus the black suit, green goggles and heavy breathing of Lambert down his ear.
As a huge fan of the Bourne Identity flicks - well, the latter two at least - this seems to be taking huge influence from the Matt Damon series incidentally. With a similar brutality to its hand to hand combat, and that unrelenting sense of having to think on your feet, it looks to be the most exciting Splinter Cell yet. I'll miss the visor, mind...
Fallout 3
(PS3/Xbox 360/PC)
 | | F3 looks worryingly iffy on the visual front so far, perhaps a little too retro for its own good... |
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The Pitch: Long-awaited follow-up to the post-apocalyptic RPG series of the late '90s, now spearheaded by Oblivion devs Bethesda
For all my love of American RPGs - not to mention sci-fi dork-gasms - I've only played five minutes of Fallout in all my years. A deep, dark secret to be sure - one that no sane gamer should admit to - but the turn-based combat just didn't suck me in. Chill, I'll give it a proper go one of these days.
That said, Bethesda's taking over of the series for its upcoming sequel - and thus taking the formula into real-time, first person territories - has me all sorts of excited. From what we hear, the game'll retain the much-loved (I guess?) dark sense of humor from the originals, while continuing with the wealth-of-choice and limitless freedom Bethesda has since become known for.
Killzone 2
(PS3)
The Pitch: Infamous FPS sequel to the not-so-hot PS2 game, promising some of the most mind-blowing graphics ever put to screen
 | | Another year, another post-apocalyptic space marine shooter, but Killzone's undoubtedly the prettiest of the bunch |
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The first game stank, no arguments there, but Killzone 2 houses a wealth of potential regardless. No misguided Sony-loyalty at work, I assure you, this game'll be massive.
Let's be honest; its predecessor's problems stemmed almost exclusively from dated PS2 specs and its god-awful pad, no? Killzone 2, needless to say, will have no such problems. At this point in time, it's pretty much the most technically impressive and graphically stunning videogame ever seen in fact. Sorry Crysis, sod off Gears, Killzone 2 calls shenanigans!
I have faith Guerrilla will deliver the goods, giving us one of the year's finest shooters of them all, and if their recent promises are anything to go by, possibly even a multiplayer beta some time soon too.
 | | Let us not forget, we also have the vague and incomprehensible Peter Jackson-helmed Halo game in development too |
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Halo Wars
(Xbox 360)
The Pitch: Bungie's FPS series turns real-time strategy, courtesy of Age of Empires development team Ensemble Studios
Only Halo could get The Dig psyched for an RTS game. Early footage of Warthogs, Ghosts and dozens of troops waging intergalactic war set prior to the events of the holy trilogy shows tremendous promise though, and with
Halo 3 rounding off the Master Chief tale for at least the foreseeable future, one places immense faith in Halo Wars proving that there is in fact more to this franchise than just Bungie-produced first person shooters.
Still no
official release date as far as I know, but I think a late '08 launch ain't too optimistic.
Dragon Age
(PC)
The Pitch: Bioware's mysterious new RPG moves closer, taking things back to their more D&D-inspired PC roots ala Baldur's Gate
Bioware have certainly had their hands full of late, with Mass Effect's long-awaited release right around the corner, not to mention the likes of the Sonic RPG and their KOTOR-rumored MMO in development. It's easy to forget then, that the Docs have a whole other game on the go too, one in the works for over four freakin' years.
 | | Bioware may well be Dig's fave development team of them all. Who else could excite at the thought of a Sonic RPG?! |
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It's a PC-exclusive single player RPG that I chatted up on these here pages last year, but alas, an '07 release was not to be. In fact, the past 12 months saw nothing Dragon Age-related outside of a GFW magazine cover story. Thankfully for us, it was packed full o' details!
We learned that the game is to be drastically darker than we're used to in the genre, and in spite of its inclusion of tried and tested fantasy archetypes of old, far more "realistic" too. Combat is said to be tactical, yet real-time and brutal, with the likes of Lord of the Rings and HBO's Rome both listed as major influences. The game'll also use a brand new engine known as Eclipse, rather than the now beaten-to-death Aurora engine, or Mass Effect's Unreal 3.
Speaking of Mass, its ace conversation system and character interactions will of course come present and correct, and the party system is also said to be pushed pretty hard, with the "group of comrades" vibe, friendly banter and sense of friction seen in
Saving Private Ryan cited as primary inspiration.
Of course, there's also that trademark Bioware storyline to get excited about. Moral choices aplenty, multiple endings, hell, even multiple beginnings (you heard that right), I expect great things. Generic name aside, Dragon Age sounds like another Bioware masterpiece in the making.
Alan Wake
(Xbox 360/PC)
The Pitch: Long-delayed third person survival horror game - one guesses - taking inspiration from the likes of Twin Peaks and Stephen King
 | | Let us not forget, the cats behind Alan are good old Remedy Entertainment, those of Max Payne fame |
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Rapidly turning into the new "S.T.A.L.K.E.R." of these lists - one I continually plug every Christmas in spite of its stubborn refusal to show up, thus making me look stupid - perhaps 2008 will finally prove Alan's time. Impressive tech demos aside - showcasing alarming weather effects and gorgeous landscapes - footage and screens have been as depressingly scarce as ever this year, but the odd minor plot detail has at least leaked forth since we last talked Wake.
Following the disappearance of his girlfriend, the game picks up with renowned horror novelist Alan retreating to a quiet mountain town to recoup, where his latest novel starts to come to life with unnerving repercussions. The Twin Peaks inspiration proves quite literal too, with the proceeding plot playing out like episodes of a TV show. You'll even have a fully recreated 10x10 kilometer portion of the Pacific Northwest to run around in, as Alan tries to unravel and survive these most spooky of events.
LittleBigPlanet
(PS3)
The Pitch: A beautifully zany co-op platformer, Planet looks set to demonstrate the true power of the Playstation Network via user-generated downloadable content
 | | Further evidence of Sony's innovation in the download space, one looks forward to the day the store shelf can match up |
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The first time you see Planet, it's easy to dismiss it as a mere 2D platform game. An insanely pretty, gloriously fun one, but still. When you realise it supports 4-players simultaneously - online at that - things pick up however, particularly when you start seeing some of the barmy, puzzle-based tomfoolery your gang's able to persue.
If this was all there was to Planet, that'd be fine, but luckily for us, it's barely half the story. This, you see, is half game...half game
creator. You can craft your own levels from scratch, not only while you play, but with others in the room too. Thinking up demented new concepts, putting them to use in real-time, then bouncing ideas off your pals looks simply splendid fun...but then the ability to upload such creations to a central database, download fellow players' efforts, then vote on the best from around the globe, round LBP off with a wealth of amazing longevity and stunning community potential. Can't wait.
Grand Theft Auto IV
(PS3/Xbox 360)
 | | IV does indeed house multiplayer functionality of some kind, supposedly accessed via your in-game cell-phone |
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The Pitch: Latest addition to the "violence in video gaming" poster child, possibly boasting a more mature and serious slant than seen previously
As someone indifferent to the series, GTA's delay to '08 wasn't the big deal to me that it was to many, but it'll be nice to see another super slick free-roamer hit the shelves regardless. It's probably the one genre that's benefited most from next-gen technology in my opinion, with the likes of
Crackdown and Saint's Row breathing fresh and invigorating life into a style of game that...I really cared not for previously.
I'm hoping for a strong multiplayer component with this one in particular, especially in light of what its peers have pulled off recently. If it's not meant to be however, blazing around a fully reconstructed rendition of New York city should provide endless fun in and of itself. Oh wait, it's "Liberty City" isn't it? Suuuure...
Spore
(PC)
The Pitch: The ultimate god game, allowing you to craft life from the single-celled organism stage, right up to space-conquering armadas, and everything in-between
 | | The Sims introduced a whole new audience to videogaming. Can Spore do the same? |
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A zillion years late, Will Wright claims his latest creation'll touch down some time within the next six months. Do we believe? Perhaps.
Any game by the reknowned genius behind
The Sims deserves our attention though; not that that was a game for everyone, but say what you will, it changed this industry forever.
More importantly than that, Spore seems just about the most ambitious game ever created, letting you build up civilizations from the smallest scale to the largest, doing whatever you want along the way. Not to mention of course, its insane online functionality, that'd take an hour to even start explaining. The question is, can the execution live up to the premise?
In Will, we trust.
The Crossing
(Xbox 360/PC)
The Pitch: Ground-breaking multiplayer shooter that melds single player FPS action with online play in a way never seen before
One to chuck into the "no official release date" category, but all being well, I wouldn't be surprised to see The Crossing hit towards the latter half of the year. The game's borderline impossible to describe while doing justice - particularly in a mere handful of sentences - but the fundamental goal in Arkane's off-the-wall FPS seems to be the true fusing of single and multiplayer gaming. That's all.
 | | Dark Messiah was a mild let-down, true. Can Arkane deliver the goods this time? The ambition's sure there... |
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The first "cross-player" game of all time, as they themselves put it, The Crossing is far from just your standard team-based shooter you see. Nor is it an MMO. It's what can only be described as an "online single player game", one where while playing through its solo campaign, real life players will join you, taking over the enemy AI ala Agent Smith wannabes.
That alone sounds cool as hell, potentially injecting the smartest bad guys ever seen into an FPS, but it doesn't stop there. Apparently that same single player campaign will regularly cross over into the multiplayer versus mode you see. You may have a mission to infiltrate a base and steal some documents amidst a warzone for example, and just like that, it'll plump you into a 20 man server, with real players waging war around you, while hindering your efforts along the way. Co-op mode figures into this too, but my head explodes trying to comprehend how.
It all sounds completely insane, and incredibly innovative, but the rub may come from not only the inherent technical issues and lag that still plague online games, but also a flood of hero wannabes refusing to play the role of the anonymous enemy. We'll see.
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
(PS3/PS2/Xbox 360/PC)
The Pitch: Long-awaited follow-up to the cult classic, blending Grand Theft's mission structure with Battlefield-esque action
 | | In light of Far Cry 2 and Crysis, Mercs' much-hyped free-form destruction feels a fair bit more tepid than this time last year |
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Mercs' ongoing delays don't bode particularly well, and as a die hard fan of the
original game, even I must admit to feeling less psyched the more I see.
Not only do the visuals appear worryingly more ropey as the title progresses, but for me, it seems to be losing much of that stunning atmosphere and under-stated style show-cased so beautifully in the first game too. This all looks a little cheesy and Rambo-esque by comparison.
Still, I loved that sucker so damn much, any follow-up will no doubt deserve a good seeing too regardless, and since we discussed the game last year, online co-op has thankfully been confirmed for the entirety of the campaign. In a minor blow to PS3 jihadists, it's also gone cross-platform too, at long last blessing PC guys with their first taste of the Mercs-verse.
Burnout Paradise
(PS3/Xbox 360)
 | | Paradise will use the Vision Camera and Playstation Eye to snap photos of your rivals when you run 'em down, catching 'em in split-second moments of road rage to no doubt much hilarity |
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The Pitch: The ever enjoyable cut-throat racer's fifth installment, opting for a more open-ended, Test Drive-style take
While I still have doubts that the free-roaming car game genre holds any real advantage over the bog-standard racer - particularly in light of the tremendous linear games of late - the thought of any new Burnout title will forever see me giddy regardless.
Paradise will apparently follow Test Drive's fine example of crafting a living, breathing world for you to drive around - picking and choosing challenges along the way - but unlike that game, will hopefully boast far more interesting events along with a driving model worth two shits.
Hearing some of the online features planned for this game make me think it could be hella fun too, and as a side bonus to PS3 owners looking for purchase validation, word is their version is noticeably better on the visual front as well.
Ninja Gaiden 2
(Xbox 360)
The Pitch: Long-awaited follow-up to Dig's fave beat 'em up of them all, with a stronger emphasis on blood, guts and good old amputations
 | | This month's DS title - NG: Dragon Sword - will supposedly bridge the gap between the two primary games |
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With Microsoft losing exclusivity on both Bizarre Creations' and future Bioware productions - not to mention of course, Bungie's recent fleeing for the hills - it's good to see they've at least been smart regarding Team Ninja, snatching up publishing rights to Gaiden 2 and thus removing potential Sony snatchings. At long last, '07 saw official confirmation of the game's existence, with a 2008 release date thrown in for good measure.
Ryu's back for the long-needed sequel of course, showcasing his trademark speed and style in more blood-soaked ninjitsu, with the new-found ability to remove pretty much any body part rounding off the action with a pleasing Kill Bill vibe. Word is, the game may be slightly easier on the difficulty front too, with some sort of regenerating health system thrown in for those lacking Gaiden's pre-requisite mad skills. Ya pansies.
Real-world locations make an appearance this time incidentally, including both Tokyo and New York to name but two, which could prove fun to slice your way around like a blood-covered psychopath. I must say however, it ain't looking a world apart from
Sigma so far, neither graphically nor gameplay-wise, and some multiplayer wouldn't go amiss either.
Too Human
(Xbox 360)
 | | Not only has Human been delayed and reworked more times than I can count, but Silicon Knights are now bogged down in legal issues over the game's use of the U3 engine. It's been a long, winding road... |
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The Pitch: Silicon Knights' infamous futuristic dungeon crawler, Too Human can only be described as Diablo meets Phantasy Star meets WoW meets Blade-Runner
Human's one of those oh so rare titles who's reputation and infamy have taken on a far grander scale than the game itself at this point, ultimately rendering its final quality almost insignificant. Indeed, the game boasts such a bizarre and sordid history, it's one - much like Duke Nukem Forever - that I'd love to see a documentary on some day.
Sadly, this industry tends not to focus on such behind the scenes darkness, instead plumping for good old hype, but if nothing else, at least we'll get to play the damn thing next year. I hope.
A Diablo inspired beat 'em up-slash-grinder, with 4-player online co-op and a deep, multi-layered story, it sure sounds interesting, but at this point could go either way to be honest. The damn thing's been in development for so friggin' long now, there are literally PS1 screens out there...
Final Fantasy XIII
(PS3)
The Pitch: Latest in the long-running Japanese RPG series, and the first of a plethora of FF13 branded games to head our way
 | | Along with a PS3-exclusive RPG, we know of at least two other FF13 titles in development, including a beat 'em up spin off of some kind |
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This time a year or two back, a new Final Fantasy would have meant SFA to me. With the PS3's continuing lack of major triple A titles though, one puts faith in exclusives they may not normally have bothered with. More importantly than that though, since working my way through the previous game in the series these past few months, I've become a devout born again Fantasy fan, one positively anxious for another outing in this most glorious of universes.
With early footage showcasing stupefying battles and fantabulous gunplay, it looks set to continue 12's fine example of more fast-paced combat too, something drastically lacking in the series 'til more recent outings. Sounds good to me.
While no official release date has been confirmed as of yet, the consensus seems to be late 2008. Fingers crossed...
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
(PS3/Wii/Xbox 360)
The Pitch: Videogame gap filler set between the two movie trilogies, Force Unleashed takes the action-heavy Jedi games of old, then ramps up the Force powers to ludicrous levels
 | | Unleashed sees you playing Vader's secret apprentice, as he takes an early stab at overthrowing The Emperor. Goes well, then? |
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Star Wars titles have been uncharacteristically missing lately, with only the PSP's "take it or leave it" Renegade Squadron keeping us remotely busy. As far as
real games go though, the solitary offering to boast concrete details has been the long-in-development Force Unleashed.
It houses the hallmarks of a damn fine game too, bridging the gap between prequel and original trilogy, with a combat-heavy action title surprisingly choc-full of plot and intrigue. In a shocking twist, Lucasarts seem to be taking the game way more seriously than the usual license fodder though, spearheading brand new physics technology and destructible environments you've seldom seen anything like before.
With the ability to chuck stormtroopers into metal walls and have them leave dents, then fling 'em through windows and see glass shatter in a million pieces, it should prove perfect for the Force-heavy antics of a Jedi sim. Word is, co-op may even be included, but how that'll fit in with the much-hyped plot remains to be seen.
And how about that Wii version? Could it be the fabled lightsaber emulator we've been yearning for since the system was first announced? Come on Lucasarts, you know it makes sense.
Army of Two
(PS3/Xbox 360)
The Pitch: Tag-team wall rappelling, firing and maneuvering, with good old tampon-jammed-in-bullet-hole antics, in the recently delayed co-op shooter from EA
 | | It's funny what difference a year can make |
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Excitement levels for Army of Two have hit a serious low next to this time last year, not just due to its relentless delays and multiple overshadowing peers, but primarily its negative word of mouth. Rumor has it, the game's tried oh so hard to turn itself into Gears of War you see, but unlike that game, lacks the superb handling and fun combat that made it so memorable.
The addition of an awfully contrived agro system seems a terribly forced way to ram tactics down the player's throat too, strategies that should be working themselves far more organically into the proceedings if you ask me.
Still, two player games are always fun, so let's not count her outta the picture just yet, eh? Especially with graphics like
that.
Left 4 Dead
(Xbox 360/PC)
 | | Dead Rising meets Half-Life 2? One hopes |
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The Pitch: Turtle Rock and Valve take their own stab at co-op, in a 4-player online horror-themed zombie shooter
Originally due this month, but another one since delayed 'til Q2, Left 4 Dead should at least shine more brightly without all the FPS company of late.
I'm always singing the
praises of co-op games, a firm believer that they hold the key to world peace, and this looks like pure, undiluted proof if ever I saw it. The frantic balls to the wall setting of turbo charged zombies raping humanity seems perfect for visceral online multiplayer thrills, and the end result more than lives up to its promise if early journo verdicts are to be believed.
The game will boast a versus mode too incidentally, one where other players can "take over" zombies at will, breathing a little extra AI into the proceedings, in a small, heavily simplified glimpse at the sorta criss-cross online gaming we'll go on to see in the previously mentioned The Crossing.
Project Offset
(PS3/Xbox 360/PC)
The Pitch: Picking up where the disappointing Dark Messiah left off, Offset could well be the first epic fantasy FPS to truly deliver the goods
 | | Let's just hope they change that name, eh... |
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There's still no release date for this bad boy as far as I know, but glimpses of
footage and pleasing screenshots of late show it coming together remarkably well, hence a distant 2008 release doesn't seem quite so improbable.
Undoubtedly the closest a game has come yet to pulling off something just as epic and spectacular as Lord of the Rings in interactive form - with siege warfare, flying dragons and massive monsters aplenty - seeing it in action almost defies belief.
With multiplayer and - again - co-op supposedly in for the ride too, this baby should be huge, and quite possibly the greatest fantasy FPS since the golden days of Hexen. More concrete infos are still somewhat vague beyond that though, so don't go crying if she slips to '09. Ya pussy.
Resident Evil 5
(PS3/Xbox 360)
The Pitch: Old skool Resi hero Chris Redfield heads to Haiti - we think - to battle (worryingly black) zombies in the latest - and bound to be greatest - addition to gaming's original, stylish horror series
Even after all these years, RE5 still lacks a solid release date too, but from Capcom's own mouth a handful of years back, it'll be "2008 at the earliest". Which is fair enough.
 | | Photo-realistic racism ahoy! I jest. Potential game of the century here, even if part of me yearns for a Wii port... |
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The reason for the wait? Supposedly the team's insistence on a super smooth 60 frames per second. Judging by the impeccable trailer of E3 this year though, it'll be worth it. In fact, this is quite possibly my most wanted title right now; a glorious update to one of gaming's true recent highlights, ramping up
RE4's superb vision and tense gunplay to a whole new level.
From the scorching Black Hawk Down-esque setting, to the worringly advanced AI, to the intriguing new heat effects - which see Chris suffering blindness and hallucinations when left out in the sun for too long - greatness no doubt beckons. Most interesting to me though, is Capcom's confirmation of an online component, but as to what that entails exactly, we'll have to wait and see I guess.
My nob-slapping gushings aside, I do have a whinge. After bathing myself in the Wii's exceptional port of Resi 4 these past few months, I must confess to my belief that motion control heralds the second coming. I - any many others - may find it hard going back to bog-standard analogue sticks for a sequel. Never thought I'd say that...
Rumor Mill
Finally, we have some as-of-yet unconfirmed rumors to chuck in, that may or may not be 100% horse shit;
Gears of War 2 (Xbox 360) - From the mere
microsecond Gears hit it big in '06, we've heard murmurings of at least one follow-up. While such word of mouth was most likely wishful thinking back then, more recently such whispers have turned somewhat concrete, some saying we'll even see a sequel as early as Christmas '08. With the Unreal 3 engine itself done and dusted, a two-year gap between games certainly seems feasible. Just what would lie in store for such a beast though? More vehicles? 4-player campaign mode? A plot that makes sense? Shit yeah!
God of War 3 (PS3) - Already semi-
announced earlier this year, word is we'll be getting the full Sony info-splurge any day now. I think expecting an '08 release would be a little
too eager, mind you, but hey, it can't hurt to dream.
Battlefield 3 (PC) - If Bad Company's emphasis on single player shenanigans does little to moisten your briefs, the PC-only Battlefield 3 might be more your pace. Supposedly set to feature a colossal 80 player online mode, Vista exclusivity, and a late 2008 release date, nada's known beyond that, and even this could be bull-shat.
Resistance: Fall of Man 2 (PS3) - Insomniac have been almost singlehandedly spearheading the PS3 line-up thus far, with two superb releases under their belt already, both defying the machine's early age with immense polish and stunning technical achievements. With Ratchet recently released and scoring well though, the lack of a third game announcement seems somewhat conspicuous at this point, particularly if their "one game per year" pace is to continue. I for one, loved the first Resistance - boring first act aside - and place it just one notch below the mighty Halo on the console FPS front. Rumor has it, this sequel - which all signs point towards being very much legit - follows the Chimeran invasion of US soil, with all but two levels taking place in the good old US of A itself. If it can continue the cool story, stunning art design and mind-blowing weaponry made famous in the first game, I'll be there with bells on. But how about making that 2-player mode online this time chaps?
Team Ico Game (PS3) - Make that
games, as supposedly the talented visionaries over at Team Ico have not one, but
two PS3 games on the go right now. One may or may not be a PSN downloadable co-operative
Shadow of the Colossus spin-off. Either way, I hope to find out more next year, and possibly see one released. Job advertisements in gaming mags confirm the team definitely has
something in the works...but what exactly is it?
iD Software Projects (PS3/Xbox 360/PC) - I seriously doubt we'll see iD's new game, the Doom meets Oddworld meets Mad Max-tinged "Rage" in 2008, but you never know. Recent video demonstrations showcased by John Carmack himself look absolutely gob-smacking, and the thought of iD melding Motorstorm-esque desert driving with their trademark, violent FPS action certainly excites in theory. What I
do think we'll see next year however, is the long-hinted at new Wolfenstein game. Indeed, iD themselves have said on numerous occasions such a beast is in development for the Xbox 360 courtesy of Raven Software, although one presumes it would eventually show up on PC and PS3 too. I would place bets on a huge unveiling at some point very soon.
Star Wars: Battlefront III (Unknown Systems) - Word of mouth has been so relentless with this one in particular, I think it's safe to say that Star Wars' most profitable gaming series has a follow-up in development
somewhere right now. Rumors include word of 360 exclusivity, along with former Goldeneye devs Free Radical behind the reigns. At the time of writing, their official website even lists a "mystery project" in the works, not to mention
this. Le plot thickens.
Battlefront II was surprisingly fun, so next-gen upgrades sure sound good to me.
Motorstorm 2 (PS3) - With Motorstorm going down as possibly the greatest PS3 game yet, a sequel also seems inevitable. Particularly with the racing genre's ability to seemingly pump out sequel after sequel like there's no tomorrow (am I right, PGR? Burnout? Ridge Racer?). Supposedly it's coming next year, but that's all we know. Can't wait, though.
Prince of Persia: Ghosts of the Past (Unknown Systems) - Ghosts' existence was recently leaked by the enigmatic Surfer Girl, who's forever-interesting rumor
blog proves quite the addictive read, and she even had screenshots to back it up. Throwing away the darker and more "hardcore" vibe seen in
Warrior Within - and to a lesser extent,
The Two Thrones - Ghosts supposedly delves far more into Sands of Time territory, which as an epic fan of that work of art, sure stiffens my meat for one. In fact, early word tells of tremendous influence from both Zelda and Ico in its style and storyline, with those aforementioned screens showcasing a ghostly white figure almost indiscernible from Yorda, it must be said. Other than the fact it's a prequel, supposedly kicks off a whole new trilogy, and is due some time in 2008, we know little else, and in fact based on Ubisoft Montreal's endless string of delays, this may well be a no go too.
Still. Chinese whispers of a Beyond Good & Evil sequel certainly make up for that...
Regardless of how many of the above reveal themselves to be pure fakery, there's some huge friggin' games in that there list. I'm pleasantly relieved how frequently the PS3 features in fact...I just wish I could say the same for the Wii...
