Bulletstorm
Being the nationalistic guy that I am, I have a lot of faith in Polish studio, People Can Fly, and their upcoming project in association with Epic, Bulletstorm. When, in an interview with Xbox360Achievements, Creative Director Adrian Chmielarz says that “awesome” isn't good enough for something to make the grade in Bulletstorm, it has to be "****ing awesome" to earn its place, you know that you’ve got something to look forward to.
More than one reason to buy Bulletstorm.
Metal Gear Solid Rising
I’m pretty sure I’ve written this somewhere before, but Afro Samurai could prove to be one of the most important precursors to future action games. You see, that E3 demo that showed off Raiden’s precision slicing, well Afro Samurai did it first. And it was awesome. So by deduction, a game developed by a much bigger, prolific and efficient team such as Kojima Productions would have to be even more awesome, right? So while it mightn’t make this year, Metal Gear Solid: Rising is definitely up there for me.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
There is too much pessimism in gaming and gaming journalism. There is something about The Legend of Zelda series though, that rekindles my desire to believe, my youthful exuberance for optimism. Sure, it had a rough E3 showing. Sure, it’s stuck in a relentless cycle that has been yearning for a fresh approach. Sure, Shigeru Miyamoto seems like he’s past it. But, I still want to believe that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will show that the series is still the benchmark for triple-A gaming quality conventions.
L.A. Noire
Being a Rockstar fanboy (and proud to admit it), L.A. Noire is easily one of the most interesting titles of the year. The setting, the concept and the story make it stand out as one of Rockstar's most ambitious projects. Then you have the new technology that leaves the faces of 2010 looking robotic in comparison. L.A. Noire mightn't share the scale of GTA IV or Red Dead Redemption, but it has the ingredients to make it one of the industry's greatest achievements. It's refreshing to see a developer try a genre outside of their comfort zone, and despite my impatience for the announcement of GTA V, I can't help but feel more than a little bit excited about such a promising experience. There's always a chance that a project this complex could go horribly wrong, but ask yourself this - could L.A. Noire be in safer hands? I think not.
Batman: Arkham City
I'm resigned to the likelihood of this failing to match the quality of Arkham Asylum, but that hasn't stopped me drooling over it. After all, who doesn't want to kick arse with the Dark Knight? We all do, and let's be honest with each other, video games based on comic books are rarely special. However, Arkham Asylum was outstanding in every way. It was near flawless, aside from an underwhelming final encounter with the Joker. Rocksteady Studios has been reluctant to give away too many details about what we can expect to see in the finished product, and it's this secrecy which gives the fans goosebumps. With so much source material to pick and choose from, Arkham City could be Bruce Wayne's finest hour yet.
Batman is so going to make him scrub ALL that paint off.
The Last Guardian
There are plenty of stellar releases in 2011, so it's extremely difficult to only write about about three of them. Mass Effect 3, Uncharted 3 and Gears of War 3 are obvious contenders, but I had to go with Fumito Ueda's The Last Guardian. There's a strong chance that this is going to slip into 2012, but it's impossible to ignore as long as there's a sliver of hope in 2011. I consider Ico and Shadow of the Colossus to be among the greatest games of all time. If you need proof to showcase video games as a form of art, look no further. The Last Guardian is another title shrouded in mystery, but you know what to expect from Ueda. It's not going to generate the same revenue of your annual monster franchises, but it doesn't need to. The Last Guardian is guaranteed to be a beautiful game, and whoever decides to buy Call of Campers: Modern Lagfest 3 instead will be missing out on something very special indeed.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
After what seemed like an eternity of hype and waiting for Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword seems to have crept up on everyone. Sure, there's the potential for it to be delayed again as per Miyamoto and co's perfectionist tendencies, but it will likely be more than worth the wait. Twilight Princess was arguably constrained by its life beginning as a Gamecube-only title, so to have Skyward Sword developed ground-up for the Wii is a very exciting prospect. With an art style that harkens back to the delightful Wind Waker and full support of MotionPlus, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is almost sure to reach the pantheon of the Wii's most beloved and critically successful games.
Radscorpions get a serious overhaul.
Kid Icarus: Uprising
I'm immensely looking forward to the release of the Nintendo 3DS. From what we've read, it seems like the 3D aspect will actually work and it's got a stellar lineup ahead of it. Out of all the titles to be seen on the console, Kid Icarus: Uprising has to be the pick of them for several reasons. Pit's series has finally made his return after over twenty years away from home consoles, and in his great character design from Super Smash Bros Brawl. The graphics also seem to be great for a handheld, and I'm very curious to see how they pull of the combination of air and ground combat, and if Eggplant Wizard will be as infuriating as ever.
The Last Guardian
Ico and Shadow of the Colossus are undeniably two masterpieces on the PS2. Their haunting atmosphere, combined with beautiful art direction, make for some of the most memorable and affecting games of all time. It's entirely possible that it will be delayed and won't see 2011, but there's always hope that Team ICO will be able to produce the lofty standards that we expect and they expect of themselves before the end of the year. Whenever it may be released, expect something very special.
Ryu ga Gotoku of the End
Anyone who has played the Yakuza (known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) will be familiar with the exceptional storytelling that has made it one of Sega's flagship titles. In a bizarre twist however, the developers of the series announced that the latest instalment in the series would not have the typical gangsters-and-politics story and bare knuckle gameplay that fans are so used to. This time, Kamuro-cho goes under attack by... zombies! In Ryu ga Gotoku of the End, gameplay sees you take the reins of one of four characters, each armed with firearms of their choice. Including a character whose firearm IS his arm. It'll be cool to see exactly how Sega explains this one and even then, it's sure to just be some manly, good fun.
Just a bunch of cool dudes hanging out, drinking sake, gambling coin, and killing zombies.
The Sims Medieval
I admit it: I think The Sims Medieval sounds like an awesome concept. It's all the wishful architectural thinking applied to castles with all the traditional fantasy elements like wizards and whatnot. The game focuses on a larger picture as well, so (hopefully) there won't be too much boredom. Although details are pretty scarce at the moment, I'm just looking forward to putting peasants in pillories.
Catherine
It might never get an English release, but that doesn't stop me from being hyped for Catherine. This game looks so perfectly messed-up that I think it'll be a blast to play, even if just for the story. I mean, what other game has creepy sheep men and giant fetuses leering at you as you climb up blocks in nothing but your underwear in your nightmares?
Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 2 is my favourite game of all time. Hence, you can imagine my anticipation for the closing chapter in the saga of Commander Shepard. Within the Mass Effect universe, BioWare has created an engrossing narrative, filled with dynamic characters and poignant themes. The race to save the galaxy is coming to a close, and Mass Effect 3 should deliver an explosive ending to the award-winning trilogy. With gameplay perfected in the second entry, story and character development should be the focus of the final game. If BioWare can fulfil the audience’s desire to see the return of familiar faces, tie up the loose threads and adhere to the series’ brilliant storytelling standards, Mass Effect 3 will be another jewel in the role-playing genre.
A look into Anthony's future when Mass Effect 3 gets canned.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
I never had the opportunity to play the original Deus Ex (shame on me!). I did, however, play Deus Ex: Invisible War, and with no preconceptions, viewed it as a outstanding shooter and role-playing hybrid. A number of years later, and queue the jaw-dropping trailer for Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Eidos’ rendition of a future city – with one metropolis built atop the other – combined with the game’s political and technological undertones, should make for an enthralling adventure. Deus Ex: Human Revolution may be described as a lovechild of Fallout and Mass Effect, yet with an unique identity of its own. Fans of the original Deus Ex should be very, very excited for Human Revolution.
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon
The remainder of the titles I am looking forward to in 2011 are a tough tussle between a trio of threequels – Killzone 3, Gears of War 3 and Uncharted 3. There is, however, another game I am anticipating just as much – Project Aces’ reboot of the Ace Combat series, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon. No developer makes flight games like Project Aces – the immersing feeling of flying in an air force is conveyed with grand storylines, detailed landscapes and memorable air combat. The debut trailer for Assault Horizon reveals but a snapshot of the changes to the series, but is more than enough to make us impatient. The introduction of helicopters, flying through skyscrapers, and a grittier, closer style of combat fill out the list of new features. Ace Combat: Assault Horizon may not just be a rebirth for the series, but for the entire genre of console-based air combat titles.
Portal 2
It's no secret that Valve is my favourite developer in the industry. Their game quality and originality is of an alarmingly high standard that few other developers match with such consistency. Every new Valve title brings with it promises of originality and outstanding polish, and each release almost heralds the end of one era and the beginning of a new. Portal 2 is shaping up to be no exception to these rules. What started as a short experimental project for The Orange Box, the original Portal blossomed into a real Game of the Year contender for it's year of release. With Portal 2, Valve appear to have taken the formula and evolved it into a bigger, better, and even more ambitious experience than ever before. With Gabe Newell himself hyping that Portal 2 is the best game the company has made, it's impossible to not be giddy with excitement.
Shadows of the Damned
Goichi Suda and his merry band of developers over at Grasshopper Studio have exploded over the last few years. Killer7 gave them a good boost of attention in the Western world, and the successful No More Heroes franchise has proved they're here to stay. The company's latest big project, Shadows of the Damned, looks to be a delightfully ridiculous venture into a Rodriguez-esque world of cheesy one-liners, supernatural mania, and a little bit of the old ultra violence. Remincent of From Dusk Till Dawn, Shadows of the Damned won't be a game for everyone, but I know it will be a game for me, with unpredictable surprises and fantastic characters around every corner.
Here's Tom with the weather.
El Shaddai: Ascent of the Metatron
I've always wondered why realistic videogame visuals are so popular. The polygonal world of videogames is a canvas for developers to do with as they please, so why does it always have to be realistic? Why not create vast dreamscapes, impossible realms, and imaginative worlds that break the laws of physics and defy realistic artistic conventions? Games are, to me, all about escapism, and I adore developers who have the bollocks to create truly imaginative and breathtaking worlds that do not, nay could not, exist in the world as we know it. El Shaddai looks to be just that, and its all thanks to Takeyasu Sawaki, who was unsurprisingly one of the lead artist for Okami. I cannot wait for this visual masterpiece.
That's a wrap! Our wallets and purses are sure to ache, but as we've detailed across these two features 2011 is looking to be an absolutely fantastic year for high quality original gaming. Make sure to stay with PALGN for coverage and reviews of all the mentioned games, as well as so much more.
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