Xbox 360
As we hit the second month of '09, and games start to appear once again, we thought it wise to have a good goosey gander at what you can expect to see on your PC this year; and see why '09 is going to be a year that spoils you!
Dawn of War 2
With a tighter focus on small scale squad combat for the single player campaign, Relic brings 'rock, paper, scissors' troop management to the fore in Dawn of War 2. There’s little doubt that Dawn of War 2 will solidify the statement that, of all the tabletop games available today, no other franchise offers a more visceral experience.
Mafia 2
A cup of coffee, a slice of pie and unprecedented realism is the order of the day for 2K Czech. Virtual carwashes, customisable license plates and newspapers with real 1940’s news will all ensure that Mafia 2 is every bit the sequel that Mafia deserves. Gyms are a risky addition after GTA San Andreas’s half-hearted interpretation of the fitness craze, but as long as the suits stay on they should fit the game’s setting to a tee.
Lord of the Rings Conquest
Remember what the makers of Battlefront did for Star Wars? Well now they're attempting to take Lord of the Rings down a similar route. The Conquest series offers team-based class combat much like the Battlefield series. A cocktail of Battle for Middle Earth and ‘hack and slash’ games could prove a potent intoxicant. No big budget game has ever found the secret to why games live or die by Melee combat, but it's the thing that'll make or break this one. Still, fans remain optimistic, and Pandemic is no longer the rookie collective it once was.
Dragon Age Origins
Finally, a next-gen goblin fantasy RPG from Bioware. Fans can expect the same level of character interaction, deep skill evolution and 'swords of fire +9' that they know and love, but with the added sheen of modern visuals. Contemporary issues like racism will also help to ensure that, despite the fantasy setting, the stories on offer are every bit as relevant as Hollyoaks.
Empire: Total War
Sea battles are the biggest change to the long running Total War franchise; streamlined diplomacy and improved AI are also on hand to provide what's possibly the best in the series. Expect it to become the stuff of legend as you hoist anchor and stroll along the poop deck, marshalling your troops to victory.
F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin
Despite the win for rational sequel naming earlier in the year with the restoration of the F.E.A.R moniker, F.E.A.R 2 is in danger of treading ground that’s too familiar. Melee combat has been reduced to pistol whipping, Mech sections make an unwelcome return and the lone wolf gameplay has been replaced with generic teamplay. Although by no means terrible, F.E.A.R 2 definitely risks being less forward thinking than Saddam Hussein's former regime.
Starcraft 2
Perhaps inspired by Dawn of War’s approach to storytelling, Starcraft 2’s campaign will focus solely on the Terran race with later adventures to be released as expansions. Despite the obvious visual overhaul, changes from the original seem a little sparse and Starcraft 2 seems to be losing its individuality in a sea of similar titles. However, Blizzard rarely miscalculates, and as long as it manages to balance the old fans with the new, Starcraft 2 will be a strong contender for Strategy Title of the Year.
Diablo 3
Can Diablo 3 make it when other years have been so harsh to Diablo clones such as Dungeon Siege and Titan Quest? Early footage looks slick enough, and Diablo is a franchise that is all about the loot and combat, so responsive controls are a must. As long as Blizzard keeps its eye on the ball with online play, such as eliminating the rampant cheating that plagued Diablo 2, this should provide lots of retro fun.
Aliens: Colonial Marines
Hugging, enjoyable and functional, but not when you’ve got an alien creature threatening to enslave your body in order to kill your friends. Four player co-operative play is on offer, but it will have to be special to tempt gamers away from Valve’s similarly themed horror shooter Left 4 Dead.
Wolfenstein
Achtung, it’s undead Nazis. No wait, it isn’t. Veering away from the series stalwart undead, Wolfenstein focuses on aliens in this franchise reiteration. The promise of parallel dimensions and alien artefacts is just convincing gamers that this could be another reboot similar to Indiana Jones’s latest dismal outing.
Rage
Death Rally meets Fallout 3; Rage is a post-apocalyptic racer/shooter. Story will undoubtedly take the back seat with high octane thrills, spills and blood letting on offer. Cars will be upgradeable, although we can only hope that they won’t just rely on driving skill. Quake 4’s vehicle sections were out of place and with a game that focuses on racing, the transition between FPS and racer has got to be smooth.
Alan Wake
When a horror writer checks into an insomnia clinic you know there are going to be some wacky adventures. Remedy has been tight-lipped about details, but a free roaming game world is promised, and the mechanic of the nearby city of Bright Falls changing to match the images in Wake’s books, sounds interesting. A familiar ‘When it’s done, it's done’ policy is being operated regarding release dates so let’s hope this doesn’t go the way of Duke Nukem Forever.