Gamers eye slashing line-up
2008-01-18 07:22
San Francisco - Video gamers,
finally emerging from the pixelated haze brought on by last
year's bumper crop of best-selling titles, are now turning
their attention to upcoming releases.
Last year was one of the best in recent memory for the
video game industry, featuring a string of A-list titles such
as Halo 3, Call of Duty 4 and Guitar Hero, causing some analysts to fret that 2007 will prove a tough act to follow.
"People tend to forget there was some explosive growth,
driven not only by premium titles but ultra-premium titles like
Guitar Hero, which cost $100, and Rock Band, which cost $170," said Jesse Divnich, an analyst with The simExchange, an online prediction market for game sales.
Still, quite a few games are poised to hit store shelves in
the next couple months. Here is just a sample of anticipated
titles coming out for Nintendo's Wii,
Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3.
No More Heroes - Wii
What it is: Play as a contract killer who acquires a
light-sabre-like "beam katana" and proceeds to hunt down rival
assassins in a bid to become the undisputed top hitman.
Why you'll want it: It's made by Goichi Suda, a Japanese
designer known for quirky fare such as Killer 7. His games
feel like interactive anime, and fans of martial arts films
will revel in the stylishly bloody action.
Reality check: The gruesomeness may repulse Wii owners
drawn to the console's family friendly image. Few developers
outside of Nintendo have made the Wii's motion controls work
for something that doesn't involve rolling bowling balls or
tossing darts.
Burnout Paradis - Xbox 360, PS3
What it is: The latest iteration of the popular racing game
whose whole point is to drive with utter, reckless disregard
for fellow motorists, forcing them to crash and causing as much
damage as possible to any vehicles in the vicinity.
Why you'll want it: Realistic graphics and the ability to
challenge other players online in an open-ended world prove
this edition was designed from the ground up with this
generation of powerful gaming machines in mind.
Reality check: Some fans of the series are dismayed at the
open-world idea, and worry that it will make it too difficult
to retry failed events.
Devil May Cry 4 - Xbox 360, PS3
What it is: Play a demon hunter who brings the pain to
Hell's minions with his mighty sword, Red Queen, and
double-barrelled pistol, Blue Rose. String attacks together into
spectacular combos that rack up your score and acquire even
more impressive powers.
Why you'll want it: This is the first appearance of this
Japanese action franchise on new game consoles and marks the
first time Xbox owners can get their hands on the well-regarded
series.
Reality check: Apart from prettier graphics, previews say
the game doesn't seem to deviate much from the series' tried
and true formula.
Super Smash Bros Brawl - Wii
What it is: The long-awaited third edition of Nintendo's
hugely successful fighting series. It's been nearly seven years
since the last Smash title, and expectations are high that
this game will be a, well, knock-out.
Why you'll want it: Pick from more than two dozen classic
characters such as Mario, Zelda or Pikachu. Combining simple
controls with a broad variety of characters, abilities and
items, the game should appeal to casual and hard-core players.
Wireless online play may jump-start Nintendo's gaming network.
Reality check: First, you have to get your hands on a Wii,
which are still in short supply. That's about the only thing
expected to hold back this game.
Lost Odyssey - Xbox 360
What it is: A role-playing game featuring an epic story of immortals exploring a magical world. The game was crafted by an all-star team of renowned Japanese talent including Hironobu Sakaguchi, producer of one of the most popular RPG franchises
of all time, Final Fantasy.
Why you'll want it: Critics are raving about the incredibly
evocative story and the detailed art design.
Reality check:The turn-based combat system may feel tired to fans of the genre. The game is also very long, coming packed on four DVDs and contains a novel's worth of text and dialogue.