2011 is going to be a huge year for videogames. I know as gamers we say that every year, but the amount of titles coming out this year that are primed to be smash hits is astounding. Below are the top 5 games I am most interested in this year, and hope they succeed in passing my expectations:
LA Noire: After the unquestionable success of both GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar has created quite a foothold in the gaming industry as one of its top developers. Later this month comes their newest IP LA Noire, a very gritty crime story set in 1950’s Los Angeles. The game sports some of the greatest motion capture tech ever put into a videogame and it even uses 400 actors to achieve the most realistic experience gamers have yet to see in a videogame. It’s going be the closest thing to a movie that has ever been done in a videogame and Rockstar looks to have yet another blockbuster on there hands.
Infamous 2: As a sequel to the Sony exclusive Infamous, Infamous 2 has some significant shoes to fill. Completely re-designing the main character Cole didn’t do developer Sucker Punch any favors with hardcore fans of the original, especially getting rid of the voice actor who played him. In fact, the game takes place in a different city as well, going from a natural urban setting to a more down-south Lousiana style city. You could argue Sucker Punch is taking some risks as the game is significantly different from what made the first so popular, but then again, none of us want the same game anyway, so let’s hope for the best. It appears your decision to be good or infamous will actually play much more important role which should bring a different experience, but the jury is still out n whether or not this one will be better than its predecessor.
Gears of War 3: Without a halo this year, Gears of War is hands-down Microsoft’s biggest exclusive of the year. Microsoft may have forced Epic Studios to delay the games release from the original April date but it certainly looks like its going to pay off big time as the beta is no doubt attracting more costumers by the day. From what’s been shown so far in previews and the beta, Gears of War 3 looks like its going to be the best in the series. The multiplayer is fantastic, as both the matchmaking and the gameplay are at the top of their game. The story of the game takes place about a year or so after the events of Gears of War 2. With humanity sinking its last functioning city, Jacinto, Marcus Fenix and crew seemed to have successfully thwarted the locust threat. However, near the end of Gears of War 2, the locust Queen explained the locusts themselves were fighting another war with creatures called the Lambent. The lambent, apparently, are even scarier than the locusts, and humanity is now forced to deal with them too. Sucks to be them, great to be a gamer.
Batman Arkham City: When developer Rocksteady released Arkham Asylum two years ago, it became the best videogame based around a comic book character ever. Admittedly, that wasn’t saying a whole lot, but Arkham Asylum was more than just a game. It was a physical recreation of a prison that had been referenced thousands of times in comics, tv shows, movies and more. To be able to actually walk through the walls, see the cells of the inmates and deal with the lunatic villains on the loose was the kind of experience that Batman fans had always dreamed of in a videogame. Arkham City looks to spread the game out a bit as the Joker seems to have turned the city of Gotham upside down. How the gameplay will adapt to the larger setting will be the key, but the core of the gameplay should stay pretty similar. Kevin Conroy returns as the voice of Batman, Mark Hamil returns as the Joker (which he says will be his last turn at the role), their performances were both part of the magic that made Arkham Asylum such a memorable game so its great to see them back.
Uncharted 3: There isn’t a whole lot to say about the uncharted series that hasn’t been said before. The games are brilliant. The voice acting is amazing; the graphics are jaw-dropping. It’s like watching a spectacular action film that just keeps going and going. Drake has always been one of the most charismatic and loveable main characters ever since Naughty Dog thought him up. Uncharted 3 looks to continue the prestigious series with a new villain, a new story, and even more effort put into the multiplayer. The teaser trailer that’s been released is shows just how good Naughty Dog is at making beautiful games. Uncharted 3, also known as the only reason I still have a ps3.
I know there are more big games coming out this year. If you’re an Elder Scrolls fan, Skyrim is probably already your Game of the Year. Rage, ID softwares newest IP, also looks like it’s shaping up to be fantastic as well. There’s also games that haven’t even been announced yet, like the inevitable Call of Duty and Assassin’s Creed games. Like I said, 2011 looks like it’s going to be a great year for Videogames.
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