Top 11 Games to Watch in 2009
OPINION
2009 is shaping up to be just as good as 2007 and 2008 were to gamers but with a few exceptions as there seems to be two new IPs to every one sequel. Check out the games of 2009 you may not have been considering purchasing...
But for all that 2007 and 2008 were what can we expect from 2009? We already have a good idea as to what we should expect to see in the first few months (with a very thankful reprieve coming in January) as well as a handful of titles destined to arrive in the Fall but which titles truly stand out? Here's my rundown of the top 11 games to keep an eye on in 2009. Why 11? Because 11 is the new 10.
Be forewarned however: don't expect to read up on titles like Street Fighter IV and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Games like those are damned certain to sell bajillions of copies and don't need to be mentioned.
#11: Prototype
Developer: Radical Entertainment
Publisher: Sierra
Tentative Release Date: April
One of the few titles that did not receive that ax from sequel-hungry Activision, Prototype has all the signs of a great go anywhere, destroy anything game. Born somewhere between John Carpenter's The Thing and a tyrant from Resident Evil, players control Alex Mercer, a shapeshifter that has the ability to absorb enemies, alter his body, and unleash devastating attacks upon the environment. The game takes place in a near-future New York City where Alex must hunt down those responsible for turning him into a monster and, naturally, destroy everything that gets in his way. It is worth noting that Radical Entertainment is responsible for The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, a game that sold surprisingly well amid Marvel's attempt to bring about Hulk fever in the populace over the last few years. Prototype is even built on a heavily-modified version of the same engine so if Radical can stay the course then we are in for a very entertaining jaunt.
#10: Red Faction: Guerrilla
Developer: Volition
Publisher: THQ
Tentative Release Date: Summer
Volition's Red Faction franchise is a torrent of mixed feelings in people. On the one hand, the first game in the franchise, which introduced us to modifiable terrain with its Geo-Mod engine, was very good while its sequel, which was more of a mainstream shooter with almost no focus on the Geo-Mod tech, was abysmal. Guerrilla, however, looks to bring back the glory days of the series with some very fundamental and, on inspection, well thought out changes. The biggest change obviously comes in the switch to the third-person perspective which works quite nicely and gives the player a better viewing angle. The Geo-Mod tech has changed this time around and instead of focusing on terrain the engine will allow you to take down buildings. It would surprise you to know that Volition had to hire architects and structural engineers to come onto the project because, while the engine was sound and calculating everything correctly, almost anything the artists and designers would come up with would collapse as soon as it was spawned into the world. Throw in a open-world campaign to freely explore and an intriguingly good multiplayer component and you're looking at one of the surprise hits of 2009.
#9: Saboteur
Developer: Pandemic Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Tentative Release Date: Spring
A game that has received very little press since it was announced back in 2007, Saboteur is potentially one of the great new IPs of 2009. Set in Nazi-occupied Paris during the early days of World War II the player controls an Irishman who joins the local resistance (insert joke about the French here). While most will collectively groan at another WW2 shooter, looking beyond the surface you'll find a surprisingly D-Day-less game; in fact Saboteur has almost nothing to do with the Allied invasion at all. A rather underused setting, the game shares quite a few similarities with Medal of Honor Underground should you recall that excellent PS1 title. The game has a lot going for it, with an art style similar to that of a Frank Miller property, the ability to roam most of Paris and a strong emphasis on stealth and evasion, something you normally don't see in, well, any game that involves Nazis. Let's just hope this game gets more time in the lime light soon...
#8: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Tentative Release Date: Fall
Sam Fisher has been going through some tough times as of late. His daughter has been killed, he's been labeled a fugitive, Third Echelon has fallen into a state of bureaucratic hell and, worst of all, old colleague and friend Anna Grimsdottir has gone missing. 2006's Double Agent, a departure from the traditional Splinter Cell formula, gave us an intriguing singleplayer game while delivering a very disappointing multiplayer, causing players to deem 2005's Chaos Theory as the best title in the series' history. The game's development has been turbulent as well, though very little is still known about the game. After the mixed reception of early gameplay footage and the massive success that was Assassin's Creed rumors of complete redesigns have continued to pour out into the community. There has been no hint whatsoever as to the status of the multiplayer component (if there even is one) either, leaving many to wonder whether this Xbox 360 exclusive will be an entirely singular affair. With over two and a half years under its belt Conviction is sure to be looking good now using the Assassin engine. While the series' popularity has begun to wane in the time since Chaos Theory, Conviction may be just what is needed to get this series back on track. Expect this one to be well worth the wait regardless of what the final product arrives as.
#7: Borderlands
Developer: Gearbox Software
Publisher: Ubisoft
Tentative Release Date: Summer
It's no secret that one of my favorite developers in the industry is Dallas, TX's Gearbox. Having started out as a Half-Life mod developer, the company has grown by leaps and bounds over the past ten years, creating the excellent Brothers in Arms series, porting both Halo CE and Halo 2 and is even hard at work on the definitive game based on Ridley Scott's Alien franchise. Borderlands, a new IP, is generally considered to be a cross between Fallout 3 and the Halo, combining the open world and deep role playing system of the former with the combat of the later. The game incorporates a weapon creation system, allowing players to create any weapon they see fit, with combinations numbering in the millions. Players are said to be able to recreate almost any video game weapon even created which this writer will test with Turok 2's cerebral bore gun. Knowing Gearbox's ability to create a dramatic story there's no doubt Borderlands will be a sweeping tale that you'll love so keep an eye out when this one arrives.
#6: Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising
Developer: Codemasters
Publisher: Codemasters
Tentative Release Date: March
The Flashpoint franchise is one known for a surprising amount of controversy and contempt amongst fans. Split straight down the middle, veterans of the original love-it-or-hate-it game have trouble identifying themselves as to where the heart and soul of this series truly lies. ArmA, the spiritual sequel to Flashpoint, was created by Bohemia Interactive, the original developers of the franchise while the official sequel, subtitled Dragon Rising, is being developed by Codemasters. While Codemasters has a mixed history of both good and bad titles Dragon Rising is shaping up quite nicely, with some impressive visuals and the promise of sticking to the series' tried and true go anywhere, pilot anything, die easily realistic theme. Hopefully this one won't be nearly as aggravatingly hard as the original game was.
#5: Darksiders: Wrath of War
Developer: Vigil Games
Publisher: THQ
Tentative Release Date: Summer
Recently launched Vigil Games has high hopes for the future, and with a pretty strong team on their hands it looks like Darksiders is coming along quite well. Set after a prematurely induced apocalypse, players take on the role of War, one of the four horsemen, who has been framed for causing the end of the world. Players will travel across a devastated earth as angels and demons battle one another for dominance of what remains of the planet seeking out the true cause of the apocalypse. Controlling similar to that of the Ninja Gaiden and God of War series, the game will no doubt lead to some incredibly gruesome deaths. Darksiders' art design is done by none other than studio co-founder and famed comicbook creator Joe Madureira, who's well known for his work on Uncanny X-Men and The Ultimates 3. Darksiders looks to be an excellent entry into the third-person hack-and-slash genre and will at least hold gamers over until God of War 3 arrives.
#4: Heroes Over Europe
Developer: Transmission Games
Publisher: Red Mile Entertainment
Tentative Release Date: March
The flight-sim market is a very particular one for gamers. On consoles it's very hard to convince to try a non-Ace Combat title, but 2005's Heroes of the Pacific proved that such a feat can be done. The upcoming Heroes Over Europe pits players against the Luftwaffe, from the Battle of Britain to the final days of the conflict over Berlin. Players will engage the Germans using realistic tactics (i.e. flying out of the sun to blind your opponent) while at the same time maintaining an arcade nature with the ability to dole out one-shot kills and the ability to decimate entire squadrons of fighters with an interesting combo system. The game will also come with 16 player online multiplayer, so for those looking for a proper alternative to the Ace Combat franchise without having to settle for a bargain-bin title look no further than Heroes Over Europe.
#3: Dead Island
Developer: Techland
Publisher: TBD
Tentative Release Date: Fall
Zombies are a staple of video games, reaching back all the way to the Atari 2600. Recent titles like Dead Rising and Left 4 Dead seem to have revitalized the genre however (no offense Resident Evil) with quantity finally catching up with quality. Unlike these recent games, however, Dead Island looks to offer a slightly different take on how to do a zombie game. Taking place on a vacation paradise island that has been ravaged by an undead virus, the player can completely explore the island in a very non-linear fashion, reminiscent of a more open-world Far Cry. The game, while in the first-person perspective, will have a strong emphasis on melee combat and ammo conservation as well as the setting of traps and defenses to fend off the horde. The game's engine also incorporates character deformation, allowing you to see zombies (as well as survivors) fall apart before your very eyes. Different types of zombies will be incorporated as well, rumored to have a sampling from everything from the new age Resident Evil parasite zombie to that of the traditional Romero zombie. This looks to be a fun Oblivion-esque undead romp that should be shambling into stores in the second half of next year.
#2: They
Developer: Metropolis
Publisher: Interactive Media Consulting
Tentative Release Date: Winter
If there's one game that I can't help but bring up every couple of months it has to be They, a multiplatform title that will hopefully arrive somewhere toward the end of 2009. The game is a linear first-person shooter set in near-future London that has been devastated by terrorist attack and, conveniently, an alien robot invasion. Similar to Borderlands in concept, They has a very strong emphasis on weapons customization but instead of focusing on building any manner of gun you want They has a weapon tuning system to where you customize your singular weapon based on components you find as you progress throughout the story. The game is shaping up to have a robust AI with a look very similar to that of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. Called Phantoms, the aliens are semi-transparent and can possess robots and make them a far greater challenge to take down. The game will even incorporate a traditional assortment of multiplayer modes and, if the game can receive the right amount of marketing, could be one of the surprise hits of 2009.
#1: Heavy Rain
Developer: Quantic Dream
Publisher: SCEE
Tentative Release Date: Winter
Good god in heaven. With full confidence it is safe to say that Heavy Rain is the best looking game ever made, knocking the likes of Crysis and many others down several pegs. Many believed that 2006's tech demonstration dubbed The Casting was near impossible using even today's tech until the recent GDC demonstrations back in August. After having seen the game in action I can officially declare myself a believer that Quantic Dream has something very special on their hands. Though the game's plot is shrouded in mystery what little is known about the game indicates that the story will revolve around four main characters in a modern and dark noire setting, a change of pace from their previous game Indigo Prophecy (Fahrenheit) which incorporated a supernatural plot that was very cinematic. Like their previous game however Heavy Rain will put a very strong emphasis on character development to the point that players become attached to the people they play as. Quantic Dream also wants players to play through the game from start to finish without getting frustrated by incorporating a non-linear story system that lets players continue on even though they got the character they were playing as killed. If there was ever a definitive title to get you to purchase a Playstation 3, Heavy Rain is certainly it.
In summation, 2009 will be yet another excellent year for gaming, with yet another wave of sequels due that will entice veterans and newcomers alike as well as a whole slew of new IPs that will sell millions upon millions thanks to their unique attributes. Far beyond the list you've just read more new and exciting titles will no doubt be revealed and released within the confines of 2009 like I Am Alive, Halo 3: ODST and Bioshock 2. Check back soon where I'll go over the top 11 announcements to expect to hear in 2009.