My Most Anticipated Games of 2010

So 2009 is a great year in gaming, but with so many games being delayed to next year, you just wonder how explosive 2010 is going to be. There's probably a ton of games I'm looking forward to next year, but there's a handful that stick out in my mind:

 

1. Final Fantasy XIII - After 3 years of first being announced, then facing delay after delay, my hope began to dwindle because I thought it would never see the light of day. Then some big announcements here and there, new characters, and drastic changes to the game play and overall look, I was immediately excited. Now with a set North American release date, it is too good to be true. When that day finally comes, I have a feeling I won't be available for a while, because I'll be too occupied killing countless enemies, grinding through levels, riding chocobos...and caressing Lightning's tender thighs. Don't hate. :P

 

2. God of War III - The infamous spartan-turned-god Kratos is known for his wicked strength, killer moves, and his incredibly brutal ways of eliminating his foes. Whether that be stabbing dudes in the face, cutting them in half, taking out Cyclops eyes, dislodging heads of countless gods, and tearing through gargantuan Hydras, anyone who's played the first two God of War titles would know Kratos is not someone you want to mess with--because he'll tear you up like mince meat. So now he wants to kill all the gods and Zeus himself, so we'll see how SCEA's take on the turbulent times of Greek mythology end...and I know it'll be epic.

 

3. Bioshock 2 -"Would you kindly" was the phrase that stood out the most in my mind as I played through the twisted, 1984-ish feel of the backwards utopian, underwater city of Rapture in the first Bioshock. As I frantically fought off the menacing Big Daddies and morally decided whether or not to kill or save the Little Sisters, Bioshock was a unique world I was mesmerized in. And with Bioshock 2, I'm ready to jump back in Rapture--this time playing as a Big Daddy. And not just a Big Daddy, the Big Daddy - the very first one ever created. It's double the fun, drilling Splicers and shooting everything I see with the Rivet Gun, and there's that Big Sister to deal with. I'm a little skeptical about the multiplayer, but we'll see when the game comes around.

 

4. No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle - No More Heroes was probably one of the few Wii titles that stopped me from selling the console altogether. With its cel-shaded/cartoon-y look, it already reminded me of Killer7. And obviously it was made by the same mad genius behind that sleeper hit...none other than SUDA-51. With numerous sarcastic, often satirical references to today's pop culture, I knew right away the story was going to be widely entertaining. With its unique game play mechanics and fun combat, I couldn't stop playing it for hours on end. Travis Touchdown is back, and instead of just killing 10 ranked assassin's, he'll start at 50. And with the return of Henry and the ever sultry, tough-as-nails Shinobu, No More Heroes 2 is definitely on my wishlist for next year.

 

5. Heavy Rain: The Origami Killer - Only having seen footage of Indigo Prophecy (or Farenheit in other regions), the game's approach in cinematics and moral choices was an interesting twist on how adventure games are usually played. Now Quantic Dream is back with Heavy Rain, where cinematic game play is where the game shines brightly. It's not focused on action, but heavily on the story, its characters, and how well the players can interact with the game's world. Most of your decisions will determine how each scene will pan out, so it's up to you how Heavy Rain story goes from your perspective. It's definitely a very unique and intriguing feature, more than enough to stand out as one of my most anticipated games of 2010.

 

I'm also looking forward to Dante's Inferno, Resonance of Fate, White Knight Chronicles, Army of Two: The 40th Day, and Batman Arkham Asylum II, among others. There's probably more games I still haven't checked out yet, but this list should stand for now.

 

So that's my list. What are your most anticipated games of next year?