2011 was a sensational year for games. To be honest 2012 could come and go without a single title being released and we’d still have plenty of top-tier games from last year to keep us busy and quite happy.
But alas the tide of stellar, unmissable releases is already upon us as this weekend saw the release of KINGDOMS OF AMALUR : RECKONING (at last!) and THE DARKNESS II. The former; a hugely-hyped and massively high scoring game from the creator of Oblivion and Elder Scrolls 3 as well as legendary comic book artist Todd McFarlane. It’s been called Skyrim meets Fable and World of Warcraft, only with the greatest combat system ever used in a Western RPG and it’s bloody brilliant.
The latter is the stellar sequel to the sleeper hit of 2007. With Starbreeze handing the reigns over to 2K Marin (Bioshock 2) to create this follow-up and it’s a real doozy, boasting gorgeous graphics, stunningly brutal and fun gameplay and a cracking story.
Demos for both games are available on LIVE.
But what for the rest of the year? Not only will these 12 months offer us CALL OF DUTY 10 (you read correctly) and (probably) GTA V, but also the launch of the Wii-U, Nintendo’s newest console and their first foray into HD gaming. E3 will also probably boast the announcement of the XBOX 720. Or XBOX Loop. Or whatever they end up calling it. While Sony launch their PSVITA in a couple of weeks time (which is somehow managing to actually sell less copies at the moment in Japan than the PSP, go figure). Exciting times indeed as we round the corner into the next generation of home consoles.
And who knows, we may even see the long-awaited releases of THE LAST GUARDIAN and XCOM. But I doubt it.
But what titles should you spend your hard-earned money on this year? Below I list (in order) my TOP 12 GAMES that are definitely coming out in the next 11 months and then I follow it up with a chaser of other notable mentions. Enjoy! ( :
01 FAR CRY 3 TBA 2012
The sequel to one of my Top 5 games of all time. Each instalment may change development hands but this is looking nigh-on perfect.
02 TOMB RAIDER Q3 2012
Lara returns in a reboot that is set to make her the most relevant, exciting and talked-about heroine in video games once more – only this time; for the right reasons. This looks sensational.
03 HALO 4 Q4 2012
The first Halo game not to be made by Bungie (let’s not count Halo Wars)? The return of the Chief? Count me excited.
04 BIOSHOCK INFINITE TBA 2012
The long-awaited true follow-up to Bioshock looks better and better with each passing month. Could easily be the game of the year.
05 MASS EFFECT 3 9th March
The stunning finale to one of the greatest game franchises of all-time. Mass Effect 3 will be talked about for decades to come.
06 MINECRAFT XBLA Q2 2012
THE success story of 2011 is finally leaving PC’s and coming to XBLA soon. If they make it work – it will eat your life away.
07 JOURNEY TBA 2012
This long-delayed PSN only title is set to dazzle when it eventually emerges. From the creators of Flow and Flower, I’ve had the sincere pleasure of playing this and it’s a true original.
08 THE WITCHER 2 17th April
For some, the greatest RPG of 2011 was not Skyrim, but was this PC-only sequel which exploded onto the scene in an array of sex, violence, and high-accolades. Finally console owners will have a chance to see what all the fuss is about.
09 BORDERLANDS 2 1st Sept
Borderlands was some of the most fun I’ve had online with friends but if there was one thing it had – it was potential. This sequel looks to expand on everything that was right with the original and shrug off all the dull bits. Should be something special.
10 DRAGON’S DOGMA 25th May
An over-looked gem here from Capcom which boasts a 4-player co-op online RPG open world to explore with friends. I’m super excited for this and it’s recently come to the attention of many as it will boast a demo of Resident Evil 6 on the disc. Clever Capcom.
11 TWISTED METAL 14th Feb
One of my all-time favourite (and oldest) gaming franchises returns this month and I couldn’t be more psyched!
12 RESIDENT EVIL 6 20th Nov
This surprise announcement trailer boasts loads of gameplay and shoehorns almost all the characters into one game for the first time ever – returning to the series origins to celebrate it’s anniversary this year. It’s actually got me excited for RE again.
Also noteworthy are MAX PAYNE 3, GHOST RECON : FUTURE SOLDIER, STREET FIGHT X TEKKEN, SSX, SILENT HILL : DOWNPOUR, ALIENS : COLONIAL MARINES, STARHAWK, ASURA’S WRATH, NI NO KUNI, ALAN WAKE’S AMERICAN NIGHTMARE, SYNDICATE, DARKSIDERS II, FABLE : THE JOURNEY, CALL OF DUTY 10, HITMAN : ABSOLUTION and THE LAST STORY.
