Games I'm Looking Forward in the Upcoming Months

Final Fantasy XIII-2 

Release Date: 1/31/12

 

Taking place 3 years after Final Fantasy XIII at the end of Final Fantasy XIII Lightening disappears and is assumed to be dead, with the exception of her sister. Over time the people of Cocoon begin rebuilding their lives on Grand Pulse. In the upcoming years Snow has left to find Lightening for Serah and Grand Bodhum, where Serah is living, is attacked. Serah is saved by Noel Kreiss during the ambush and claims to know Lightening beginning a journey through time to learn more about the future Noel comes from and stopping it from happening. Final Fantasy XIII met with both praise and harsh criticism. Some enjoyed the Final Fantasy XIII for its throwback to more classic gameplay mechanics while those who opposed them were more vocal against the developers implementing a linear game with a 15+ tutorial. After playing the demo I was pleasantly surprised how well the combat played to Final Fantasy XIII with noticeable tweaks such as in-game combat command prompts and taming monsters that each hold specific abilities that grow over time. Also changed are the two new playable characters Serah, Lightning’s young sister, and Noel Kriss a mysterious young time traveler who uses duel swords.

 

 

Some of the mechanics from Final Fantasy XIII return to ensure that Final Fantasy XIII-2 feels like a direct sequel. Whither you hated it or loved it the Paradign system returns with the same concept. You will be able to assign specific classes such as Sentential, Ravager, Commando, and Medic to each character and change these talents within combat, and attacking with enough fury will cause the enemy to stagger allowing the player to inflict more damage. However captured monsters are only limited to one class and can be assigned to a specific slot in the menu. One of the biggest changes is blunt damage that can reduce a characters maximum health within that specific battle, encouraging the player to finish the fight as quickly as possible and get the highest possible rating. Enemy encounters have changed as well. Instead of seeing the enemy itself you will randomly trigger a circle and to avoid combat or incite it you must either escape the circle or make contact with the enemy. SquareEnix definitely took concepts from Final Fantasy XIII and refined them to ensure that it felt like a sequel while listening to the criticism of the fans.

 

The Darkness 2
Release Date:  2/7/12

 

The original Darkness was an easily missed title during the early years of this console generation that delivered a deep story, satisfying shooting mechanics, and incredible powers. It’s been about 4 years since we last saw Jackie Estacado and the Darkness 2 drops the mafia leader into more gruesome carnage and revengeful intentions. The campaign opens with Jackie still moaning over the Death of his girlfriend Jenny and coming to grips with the Darkness which catapulted him from a failed hit to the leader of the Estacado family leader. However being the leader of a powerful crime-syndicate isn’t all glory and Jackie is once again attacked forcing Jackie tap into his dark power, which he has suppressed till now, to save his life and annihilate his enemies. Those have played the first Darkness know that this malicious deity is a powerful ally but only in the light. 

 

 

Combat within the Darkness 2 has taken a new turn that allows for more bloody results. With the Darkness 2 you can quad wield which includes your two Darkness arms and two guns. This makes more a lot of interesting shoot outs that allow you to eviscerate your enemies by shooting them, ripping them in half, or tearing an unlucky victim’s heart out. Unlike the original title you can only call on the help of one darkling to distract enemies or puncture the eyes of someone. You can level your abilities by collecting essences which are gained by performing elaborate kills. The Darkness 2 looks like it will be an excellent title and I personally can’t wait for its release.

 

Alan Wake's American Nightmare
Release Date: 2/15/12 (House Party)

 

Alan Wake’s American Nightmare takes place after the events of Alan Wake and Mr. Wake must save his wife from his evil double Mr. Scratch. Mr. Scratch has created an opening into Supernatural world of the Darkness which allows him to rewrite reality using text. American’s Nightmare plans to offer a series of modes and a lot of content despite being a download title. 

 

 

Right from the beginning those who have played Alan Wake will feel right at home here. In order to eliminate enemies’ players must shine light onto them to evaporate their shields and then shoot them. New enemies such the slipper, which splits into two when light is shined onto it, and weapons such as the nail gun ensures that the player doesn’t become bored with old mechanics. Returning is manuscript pages that foreshadow the future allow players to prepare themselves with the upcoming events to solve puzzles and rewrite history. Custom soundtracks were a big part of the original title and are returning into this title such as a new song from the Old Guards of Asgard. A new mode known as Fight Till Dawn which is an arcade style mode that requires players to survive till the timer runs out.  For an XBLA title I’m surprise that Remedy is putting such effort into it and I can’t wait for the final product to be released. 

 

Mass Effect 3
Release Date: 3/6/12

 

One of the biggest titles of this generation has to be the Mass Effect series. Molding Commander Shepard’s fate, while the impending threat of Galactic annihilation by a race of advance machine race known as the Reapers has been on the minds of gamers since 2007. Mass Effect 3 is the conclusion of Commander Shepard’s immense odyssey and from the videos and articles that circulate around the internet it can be assured that it will conclude with a bang. 

The Reaper invasion has begun and now it’s up to Shepard to rally the many races that inhabit the galaxy to bad together and stop the Reapers. Mass Effect 3 starts with Commander Shepard on trail for his actions in the Arrival DLC and the Reapers attack. Shepard joins Anderson in repelling the invasion but ultimately fails and must retreat. Shepard is restored within the Alliance with rank and everything, all that is left is to prevent the total destruction of everything in the known galaxy. If anyone can do it Shepard can. 

Bioware seeks to make Mass Effect 3 accessible to all players whither you are picking it up for the first time or have been playing the series since the beginning. Action Mode, Story Mode, and RPG Mode all offer different ways to play the same. Action mode allows for automatic conservation responses and normal combat difficulty. Story mode with have low level difficulty while the story will require manual responses. And RPG mode is the traditional Mass Effect experience. Also included is a cooperative mode called “Galaxy at War” that allows players to take control of their favorite races, each with specific special abilities, around the Mass Effect universe and tackle unique missions that impact the single-player campaign. 

 

 

Bioware isn’t leaving anything to chance and ensuring that Mass Effect 3 delivers what is expected from the series. It isn’t long before you make a critical decision that will shift what species will support your cause and if you played pervious Mass Effect titles then that choice becomes even more difficult as you can betray the person you saved multiple times. I WANT THIS GAME!

 

Bioshock Infinite
Release Date: 8/1/12

 

With incredible trailers and gameplay demos Bioshock Infinite has left many in awe as they wait for the eventual release of this incredible game. Set in the glorious floating city of Columbia in 1912 players will take control of Booker DeWitt, a disgraced Pickerton Agent, tasked with rescuing a young woman named Elizabeth. Unknowing to Booker Columbia is in the middle of a civil war and seeks to either kill or use Elizabeth’s supernatural powers to tip the struggle in their favor. The leader of the Founders, Zachary Comstock, seeks to keep Columbia as a settlement for American citizens. However Vox Populi, led by Daist Fitzroy, opposes the ultranationalist. Despite finding and fighting through the civil plight Elizabeth and Booker’s real struggle is against Elizabeth’s immense mechanical guardian Songbird. Songbird was created to protect Elizabeth and ensure she never leaves Columbia. The trailer that showcased Songbird shows that not only does she fear ever going back with the aerial juggernaut but also as her only friend that she loves. 

 

 

The developers of Bioshock Infinite want to maintain that border between science-fiction and things relevant to that period of time. Throughout the world of Columbia you can see images of directly relate to the WWI and weaponry indigenous to that period. Also included are tonics known as vigor’s, similar to plasmids. This grant those who drink these various tonics different powers but can only be recharged by drinking the vigor associated to that power. Elizabeth also has an array of powerful powers that range from conjuring rainstorms to tearing into space and time; however the player has no control over her powers. Similar to the little sister concept in the other Bioshock titles using Elizabeth’s powers can be harmful to her encouraging the player to make certain hard-hitting choices. As you play the developers assure that the bond between Elizabeth and Booker will grow making this decision much more difficult. Unlike Jack or Delta these characters will interact with one another and the world around them ensuring that every decision you make isn’t being made by a mute robot. 

Since this is an entirely new world the developers have developed new ways to travel. The Skyline is a rail-based system that allows Booker, and others, to travel quickly throughout the different branches in Columbia; it’s like being on a one-handed roller coaster. Another new enemy is called the Handymen who are robotic-like monsters that have a human heart and head, probably a response of putting a “Big Daddy” character within this game. 
 

 

Bioshock Infinite seems to be redelivering the same awe that came from the first Bioshock title. To create such a world and experience has been met with great applause. There’s very little not to love from the demos and trailers of this amazing title, however can they deliver it in the end product.