The holidays are coming up, which means I have video games on the brain. While some people are saying the releases for this holiday season don’t compare to the loaded slate from last year, there are a ton of games I’m looking forward to, some of them sequels to my favorite next-gen games. So can it, Debbie Downers.
Here are the titles I’m looking forward to this season. Many of these are already out, but unlike some bloggers, I don’t get sweet free games to play, so I’m a little behind on my gaming.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (Playstation 3)
Available Now
I don’t own a PS3, so I only got to play the first Uncharted a little. The awesome critics’ scores on this, though, along with Blu-ray capability, means I’ll inevitably be buying a PS3 soon.
Brütal Legend (Playstation 3, Xbox 360)
Available Now
I really like the idea of playing as a roadie transported to some crazy, heavy-metal-inspired fantasyland. Even better, the roadie is voiced by Jack Black. Not to mention all the other great voice acting done by Ozzy Osbourne, Lita Ford, Lemmy Kilmister Rob Halford, Tim Curry, David Cross, Steve Agee and Brian Posehn.
Halo 3: ODST (Xbox 360)
Available Now
This is basically just a big expansion for Halo 3, but it apparently has tons of playing time, plus gives you access to the normal Halo 3 multiplayer. Although if you’re a big enough Halo fan to want this, you probably already own Halo 3. Anyway, more Halo is fine by me.
Dragon Age: Origins (Playstation 3, Xbox 360)
Available Now
I love RPGs, and Bioware makes some great ones. The fact that this game has been called the spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate means the only reason I haven’t picked it up yet is that I’m afraid I’ll wind up jobless, friendless, and on the streets due to all the time I would spend playing it. I would have to carry around my Xbox 360 and a bunch of jerky in a polka-dot handkerchief on the end of a stick (Fun Hobo Fact: that’s called a stick and bindle). It might be a risk I’m willing to take, however.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Playstation 3, Xbox 360)
Available Now
The first Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was a fantastic game. It was the first in the series to stray from the WWII setting, and although I’m always down for fighting digital Nazis, it was a welcome change. It also marked the return of Infinity Ward as the developer.
The fact that Infinity Ward is back developing the sequel bodes well, and I hear Modern Warfare 2 is even better than its predecessor. We had midnight release parties all over the country for it, because we love video games and we love to party. You can check out the pics on our Facebook page.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
11/15/09
This makes me want to swing my arms from side to side, take one step and then again. And that means I would of course be doing the Mario. You’re welcome for that blast from the past. I’m excited not only because this is an old-school, side-scrolling Mario game with better graphics, but also because it has simultaneous multiplayer gameplay (for the first time in a Mario game since the original Mario Bros.).
Assassin’s Creed II (Playstation 3, Xbox 360)
Releases 11/17/09
I enjoyed the first game, what with all the sneaking and assassinating, but it certainly had a few problems. I found it got very repetitive; every mission seemed to be the same after a while. Also, a lot of the action felt like it was automatic — you didn’t have to really do much to jump across rooftops or fight eight dudes at once.
The early reviews from the sequel have been great, though, and claim that those issues have been fixed. Can’t wait to get my hands on this one.
Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360)
Releases 11/17/09
Oh, man, I love killing zombies in video games. Or re-killing them. Or whatever it is you do when you shoot one in the head. These aren’t zombies by the traditional definition, but potato, potato, I say. That saying doesn’t translate well in print.
The Saboteur (Playstation 3, Xbox 360)
Releases 12/8/09
I don’t know a ton about this game, but the demo playthrough I’ve seen looks pretty cool. You get to run around an open-world Paris and foil the Nazis, which seems like a good time.
Mass Effect 2 (Xbox 360)
Releases 1/26/2010
Okay, this comes out well past the holidays, but I run this blog, and I’ve let that very small amount of power go to my head. So I’m including it. I think Mass Effect was one of the best games of the last few years. I played it through twice, once with Commander Mookie Shepard, and once with Commander Evil Mookie Shepard. I think it’s very cool that your decisions from the first game will be reflected in the sequel, including whether key characters are alive or dead. I like my sci-fi realistic like that.
