Still bogged down in the midst of exams, but my final one is tomorrow (Computer Security!) and maybe I’ll have a chance to post more in the near future.
In the meantime, why are there so many phenomenal games coming out for Xbox 360, and only a handful for any other system (including PC)?
According to Metacritic (speaking of which, I promise to post the results of my data mining soon) We have on the Wii two games that are rated above 90% (Twilight Princess and Resident Evil 4), leaving Super Paper Mario in 3rd place, and after that there isn’t a single game that I have a huge urge to go and play. Now I know that we have Metroid 3 coming out in a few weeks, and Mario Galaxy and Smash Bros. Brawl coming out before Christmas, but that only brings the total of must-have games to six for the Wii (IMHO of course). Nintendo needs to step this up.
The Playstation 3 has a SINGLE game rated above 90% on Metacritic: Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The next couple down from there are Ninja Gaiden Sigma (which is a remake) and Resistance: Fall of Man (which is awesome). The only title that I would consider to be must have between now and Christmas is Assassin’s Creed, which would bring us up to four, one of which is a remake of an Xbox game.
Come on guys.
Microsoft though, those guys are just feeding me dessert all the way to the bank (Remember, Bias, I work for them).
The 360 has 7 titles rated above 90%, Including Oblivion as on PS3, we have of course Gears of War, and Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter. A little further down the list we have Burnout Revenge (a dark, dark addiction of mine). I would also suggest that there have been some innovative if not perfectly designed games which are 360 Exclusives including Dead Rising and Overlord.
What to me is absolutely shocking is the volume of titles being released in the near future which I feel I must have:
Fable 2
Release Date: TBA 2008
Platforms: Xbox 360
Website
Now, I know there were issues with the first Fable game, and it certainly didn’t meet all the hype that was generated for it. But that said, I really enjoyed it, I like Molyneux’s preoccupation with allowing you to play different sides of the story, and I think Fable 2 (set in a more Steampunk setting too) will raise the bar a little higher.
Assassin’s Creed
Release Date: November 2007
Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Windows
Website
Now this game I’ve been waiting for for a very long time. I understand that it’s being released on PS3 as well, but Hitman meets Prince of Persia is all you have to say to get me to fork over 60 bucks. Beyond that the storyline to this game is being kept under strict secret, and that tells me there’s more to this game than meets the eye.
Mass Effect
Release Date: November 2007
Platforms: Xbox 360
Website
An action RPG Space-Opera from the creators of Knights of the Old Republic, Baldur’s Gate, etc. Again, that’s all you need to say to me. “The most non-linear game we’ve ever made” helps to. From the glimpses I’ve seen so far, this game looks to deliver in spades everything Advent Rising never was, and a whole lot more.
Too Human (Well, maybe)
Release Date: TBA 2008 (Bets, anyone?)
Platforms: Xbox 360
Website
Any game that attempts to blend Norse Mythology into a sci-fi setting and quotes Nietzsche is okay in my books. I’ve actually had the privilege of watching this game being demoed when Denis Dyack and crew showed up for an information session for recruiting at the University of Waterloo (and unfortunately didn’t give me a call!). The game looks slick. It wasn’t done by a stretch yet when I saw it, and it was clear that they were having some issues, but if this game ever comes out (which gets uglied up when you sue your game engine developer and try to build your own version of Unreal 3 Engine while simultaneously doing game development), I’m sure it’ll be a hit.
Bioshock
Release Date: August 21, 2007
Platforms: Xbox 360, Windows
Website
Bioshock is heralded as the spiritual successor to System Shock 2, a game which you should surf your ass over to eBay and land yourself a copy of if you’ve never had the delight of playing. The game has been designed for Emergent Gameplay, meaning that much of what you’re supposed to be able to do in the game is by emergence of the simple game mechanics which were built in, instead of being guided by the hand of the developer. If it’s anywhere close to on the same level as System Shock, this one should be on everyone’s bookshelf.
GTA IV
Release Date: Feb-Apr 2008
Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3
Website
The latest in the Grand Theft Auto series, and from the trailers, sure to be a cut above anything we’ve seen so far (Multiplayer!). Need I say more?
Burnout: Paradise
Release Date: Q1 2008
Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3
Website
The newest Burnout game is supposed to be a complete reinvention of the series. I’m not sure how I feel about this, as the series is pretty sweet as it is, and I really don’t want Burnout to turn into one of the other many racing games that are around. Nevertheless, I’m sure it will at least be worth a look at this Winter, and if it’s anywhere near as addictive as it’s predecessor, I’ll have scurvy by the time the Spring comes.
Halo 3
Release Date: Sept 25, 2007
Platforms: Xbox 360
Website
In 2001 Halo put the original Xbox on the map, and six years later Halo 3 will close the Saga of Master Chief. Although I’m sure this won’t be the last we see of the Halo games in years to come, it”ll be the end of a story arc that’s been with us for most of the decade, and has been a defining example of the FPS genre. I’m sure Halo 3 will be the best yet in the series, and I’m also fairly sure that It’ll be a few days before I see the sun again after it comes out.
Anyway, We all have that to look forward to in the coming months, and I’m highly pleased. I’ll be getting a Wii in the next few weeks as well, so here’s hoping Nintendo once again pulls a completely new genre out of thin air and creates an entire ecosystem of games that will quake the earth once more.
As for Sony, well, you guys are on your own for now. Maybe when God of War comes to the PS3 I’ll think about coming up with $17,000 or whatever it costs to buy a PS3 when you’re in Canada, but for now, I don’t think the titles are worth the cash.
Then again, when Playstation Home comes out, I might rethink that decision. That guy looks sweet.
Tags: Platform, Releases by Morphix
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