The sports arena is set for a strong showing in the first half of 2012, with EA's extreme snowboarding game "SSX" (Feb. 28) leading the charge. If the Australian Open has you in the mood for more tennis action, "Grand Slam Tennis 2" (Feb. 14) will soon be hitting the court. Also on the way: "Major League Baseball 2K12" and "MLB 12: The Show" (March 6), and Tiger's yearly outing, "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13" (March 27).
Shooters are also set to make a splash with new twist on the genre, a few reboots and plenty of sequels. The gravity-defying "Inversion" (Feb. 7) and squad-based shooter "Binary Domain" ( Feb. 28) are the new dogs. The sci-fi series "Syndicate" (Feb. 21) is being rebuilt as a first-person shooter. Other favorite franchises make their return this spring in the form of "Mass Effect 3" (March 6), "Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City" (March 20), "Max Payne 3" (May 15), and "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier" (May 22).
After a bad year for role-playing games, 2012 is shaping up to be something of a renaissance for the genre. Leading the pack is "Final Fantasy XIII-2" (Jan. 31), sequel to the divisive (but best-selling) 2010 adventure. The all-new "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" (Feb. 7) has the strangest pedigree in recent memory: art by Todd McFarlane, creator of "Spawn," game mechanics by Ken Rolston, lead designer of the phenomenally successful "Elder Scrolls" games, and a high-fantasy universe conceived by ... three-time World Series-winning pitcher Curt Schilling?! Curiosities aside, our most anticipated RPG is the Wii-exclusive "Xenoblade Chronicles" (April 2). Hailed by overseas critics as a landmark for the genre, the game is finally coming to America, thanks to a grassroots campaign protesting its absence. Will it live up to the hype?
| On tap in 2012? |
| One of the biggest additions to the gaming world this year will be Nintendo's Wii U. This new console -- which has been touted mostly for its strange, tablet-style controller -- will bring the Japanese gaming giant into the high-definition era. It's slated for release in the second half of the year. Like the Wii U, there are plenty of top-tier games set for 2012 that don't have firm release dates. Here are the games we're dying to play (and hoping don't get bumped into 2013): |
| ? Assassin's Creed III -- More face-stabbing on the way. |
| ? BioShock Infinite -- An adventure in the sky. |
| ? Darksiders II -- Death takes his revenge. |
| ? DmC: Devil May Cry -- Dante gets rebooted. |
| ? Fable: The Journey -- An RPG on rails for Kinect. |
| ? Halo 4 -- A new Master Chief trilogy begins. |
| ? The Last Guardian -- Team Ico's next beautiful adventure. |
| ? Tomb Raider -- A younger Lara Croft. |
On the hand-held front, we can't wait for "Resident Evil Revelations" (Feb. 7) for Nintendo's 3DS. "Revelations" reunites Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, the protagonists of the original "RE," and, fittingly, promises a return to the series' horror roots. But the biggest news in hand-helds is the PlayStation Vita (Feb. 22). With on-the-go gaming so completely dominated by phones, one has to wonder how traditional hand-held systems can stay relevant. Sony answers this challenge with what is more or less a portable version of a home console. In addition to its touchscreen, the Vita features two joysticks -- just like home controllers -- and massive graphical power. Of the ridiculous number of games releasing alongside the Vita, we're most looking forward to "Uncharted: Golden Abyss,"
"Resistance: Burning Skies," and "Reality Fighters."
rvogt@dcexaminer.com
gprince@dcexaminer.com
Source: http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/2012/01/2012-offers-gaming-fun-all/2123651
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