I'm a terrible completionist when it comes to video games- however, I've beaten a couple of my neglected titles recently- and there's more coming out that I can't wait to get my grubby little mits on. There's also one or two that are already out that I could buy right now- but I am employing some restraint and witholding myself from doing so (or at least until next pay day).
Bastion (PC) - out now
I'd heard a lot about Bastion, and it was featured yesterday on Steam, so I had a look at the videos for it and wow- it looked awesome. It was all colourful and and bright, and the levels build themselves beneath you as you walk. It looked fun and addictive, and it had that retro, action-RPG charm to it. I thought I'd give it a go, so I downloaded the demo.
It's pretty much all the things I saw in the video. I'd also heard that one of the coolest features is the reactive narration, whereby a silky voiceover describes the action as it unfolds- and I can confirm that this is indeed cool, and really adds to the experience. The gameplay is fun and I can see that I would enjoy this.
It's £11.49 on Steam, and I shall probably get it, but having just pre-ordered FIFA 12 I think I'll wait a little (unless someone wants to buy it for me from my Steam wish list...)
FIFA 12 (PS3) - out September 30th, 2011
If you've read my previous "What I've Been Playing" blog posts you'll know that I'm a FIFA addict of silly proportions. You'd think I'd have given FIFA 11 a rest by now, having done just about all I can in it- yet here I am, steering Everton to their first ever European Champions League title just two days before FIFA 12 comes through my letterbox.
The tweaks they've made this year are more than just the obligatory ones needed to justify yet another annual cash-in- they're core gameplay changes (particularly in terms of playing defensively) that will change how matches flow and make them realistic. I've played the demo quite a bit and I'm read for the full thing. Bring it on.
Another annual franchise has been the WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW games, coming to us from THQ and the top dogs of the wrestling world, the WWE. However, this year they're doing it a bit differently- they're looking to right some of the wrongs of previous iterations, and are rebranding the franchise WWE 12.
Along with slightly prettier graphics and improved character models, WWE '12 is set to offer players a simplified button layout, using the face buttons as in previous (and consequently superior iterations of the game), smarter AI, a new physics engine and a Create-An-Area mode.
Aside from SmackDown! vs. RAW 2010 I bought every game in that series, and had a love-hate relationship with them. I'm hoping WWE '12 gets rid of the bits I hate.
Guild Wars 2 (PC) - out 2012
Seriously, when is this coming out? More detail than just 2012 please.
I started playing the original Guild Wars in 2006 and loved it, especially as it was my first taste on an MMORPG. I've not really played World of Warcraft besides the trial, but I always thought Guild Wars' artistic direction was more sophisticated (oh, and there's no subscription fee either- which is why I bought this over WoW). I played a lot of Guild Wars, but unfortunately it kind of neglected, and I never finished the main campaign, let alone even touched the expansions.
However, I loved it all the same, and would like to make it up to the franchise when I get Guild Wars 2- I want to play it properly, because Guild Wars would have been so rewarding if I had done so.
I don't know a great deal about the new features other than there's new classes/races, improved mechanics and an expanded catalog of items and weaponry. I am looking forward to this- because I will play it properly this time (he says hopefully).
Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I am a massive Sonic the Hedgehog fan and, much like many 16-bit Sega Megadrive die-hards, I've not had much love for Sega's attempts to showcase Sonic in a 3D title.
Sonic Unleashed- where you played half-Sonic-half-werewolf- was half-good-half-shambles, as the bits where you played as Sonic were awesome and yet the "Werehog" sections left me cold and wanting to frisbee the disc into orbit in pure rage, a token of a broken hope which could have been, yet never was.
Still, I limped back like an abused yet loyal pet to the franchise with the arrival of Sonic Colours on the Wii- and that was brilliant, and gave me hope for a bright future. And while I don't want to get my hopes up too high- Sonic Generations look freaking amazing.
The conceit is simple- you play as both the classic retro "chubby" Sonic of the 90s and the contemporary, much maligned, lanky version of Sonic, in a game which uses classic levels in both classic side-scrolling and modern 3rd-person platforming variations. I played the demo for Classic Sonic in Green Hill Zone Act 1 and fell in love with it, and I can't wait for it. It looks beautiful and a whole lot of fun.
2 comments:
The lack of skyrim makes this entire list invalid.
I've never played an Elder Scrolls game, which makes any desire for Skyrim invalid :p
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