[Multi] 2012 Video Games Preview - Part I (#41-50)

2011 kicked ass. Our ass, to be more specific. Most of you are probably still plugging away at just one more quest in Skyrim, just one more Battlefield 3 or Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer match, one more mission in Assassin's Creed: Revelations, or just one more dungeon in Skyward Sword, meanwhile a pile of other games you swear you'll get around to someday soon sit untouched nearby. The good news is that the holiday madness is finally over and you will have some time to play catch-up on all the amazing games 2011 had to offer. The bad news is that the lull won't last long, as 2012 has a remarkably formidable software line-up of its own ready to assault your piggy bank. Okay, maybe that's good news too, in a way. 2012 will see no fewer than two new platforms launching in the PlayStation Vita and Nintendo's Wii U, along with a host of very promising software that already has the year shaping up to give last year a run for its money. We've narrowed down the games expected to be released in 2012 into a countdown of 50 games that we're looking forward to playing the most. Obviously the year still holds many secrets that are yet to be revealed (we have no idea what the Wii U holds in store for its launch), but there is already much to get excited about. Enjoy!

(Please note that release dates are subject to change)

50. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Slant Six Games, Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: March 20, 2012

There has been no lack of displeasure voiced by long-time Resident Evil fans in recent years over the series’ tendency to gravitate away from its survival horror roots toward a more action-oriented style of gameplay. Unfortunately for those people that sentiment is likely to be magnified with Operation Raccoon City, a squad-based third-person shooter that seems to be much more about killing than surviving. That doesn’t mean that it should be ignored however, as those willing to overlook the fundamental gameplay changes should have a solid shooter wrapped in Resident Evil lore to look forward to. Set during the events of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, players will choose four of six playable members of the Umbrella Security Service (USS) tasked with containing the Raccoon City outbreak and eliminating any witnesses that could incriminate the company’s activities. Each team member has his or her own unique weapons and special abilities (medic, sharpshooter, explosives expert, scientist, etc.), so players will want to carefully consider the makeup of their squad. The gameplay itself seems to be pretty much in line with standard shooter fare, but with a Resident Evil twist. Players will be able to utilize a new cover mechanic that should not be unfamiliar to shooter vets as they blast their way through hordes of zombies and other grotesque abominations like Lickers and Hydrants. True to the spirit of RE will be a variety of herbs and sprays to heal squad members with as well as to ward off infection, and Capcom says the plot will fill in some missing bits and pieces to the series’ storyline. Operation Raccoon City is a far cry from the games its plot is inspired by, but with some solid shooting mechanics and an opportunity for some entertaining co-operative gameplay, hopefully Capcom will deliver an enjoyable if not entirely faithful spin-off to one of the industry’s most popular franchises.

49. Prototype 2

Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360
Genre: Action Adventure
Developer: Radical Entertainment
Publisher: Activision
Release Date: April 24, 2012

Let’s face it, Prototype was disappointment. With a cool gameplay concept and some stylish, action-packed trailers, Activision built up some considerable hype prior to its 2009 launch, but failed to live up to expectations. Why then would anyone be excited for the sequel? In a word: potential. It was evident in the original, and we’re hoping that developer Radical Entertainment has learned its lesson so that the potential of this concept can be realized. The story follows a different protagonist this time: Sgt. James Heller, whose family was killed after the Blackwatch failed to protect them during the events of the first game, seeks out revenge on Alex Mercer (star of the first game) but ends up absorbing some of his powers instead and begins putting them to use against the Blackwatch with eventual goal of killing Mercer. Unlike Mercer in the first game, Prototype 2's star actually seems to have a purpose this time around. The basis for the gameplay remains similar to its predecessor, with Heller able to assume other people’s identities, and he will be creating mass chaos throughout New York City. Shape-shifting has been fine-tuned to become more tactical, Heller will be able to use a new dodging ability and has several other useful new abilities, enemy AI has been improved, and an improved upgrade system will allow players greater control over customization of Heller's abilities. Heller has also been imbued with powerful tendrils that sprout from his arms to smash or throw large objects, suspend enemies up into webs Spidey-style, and literally tear enemies apart limb from limb. Conversely, Prototype 2 won’t force you to come down so hard on civilians, giving players the option to let them be. Though there don’t appear to be many massive changes, Radical is insisting that it is fixing the common complaints from the first game for the sequel. If they can do that, Prototype should be an enjoyable way to induce some virtual carnage, and provide a worthy villain to would-be rival franchise inFamous.

48. Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

Platform(s): 3DS
Genre: Action RPG
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Release Date: TBA 2012

While it has been all quiet on the console front lately for Square Enix’s popular Kingdom Hearts franchise, the series will continue to chug along in handheld form with its first appearance on the 3DS. The command-based battle system from Birth by Sleep and Re:coded will once again be utilized in Dream Drop Distance, along with some interesting new gameplay features. The new “Free Flow” mechanic will provide players the opportunity to bounce off walls, grind rails, and swing off of poles for a fast and furious style of combat. Also new to the series are the “Reality Shift” moves which utilize touchscreen commands to string together powerful attack combos. For example, Riku’s “Holy Rope” Reality Shift pauses the action in order to allow players to draw out Riku’s path from enemy to enemy on the touchscreen, after which he will faithfully dash from foe to foe in a continuous impressive and destructive display. Also new to Kingdom Hearts 3D are “Dream Eaters”, of which there are two varieties: Nightmares eat good dreams and replace them with nightmares, while Spirits eat nightmares and replaces them with good dreams. It’s a bit unclear as to what role the Dream Eaters play in the game, but we do know that players will be able to hunt and collect these creatures, and some of them will act as allies in combat. Players will rotate between Sora and Riku throughout the game, and expect some new characters to the Kingdom Hearts series to make an appearance (Neku, Joshua, and Beat from The World Ends With You join the cast) as well as some new levels based on the Disney universe (The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Pinocchio have been confirmed to provide some of the locales). Dream Drop Distance is shaping up to perhaps be the best handheld entry in the Kingdom Hearts series and one of the best third-party efforts for the 3DS yet.

47. Street Fighter X Tekken

Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360, Vita
Genre: Fighting
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: March 6, 2012

What a world we live in where two rival fighting franchises can be brought together in a single game to duke it out for the amusement of fighting fans everywhere. Capcom has ditched Marvel for the time being and has found a new ally/opponent in Namco Bandai to bring us Street Fighter X Tekken, the first of two titles featuring two of the industry’s top brawlers (the other being Tekken X Street Fighter, which will be developed by Namco Bandai and is scheduled for next year). This one, developed by Capcom, features gameplay derived considerably more from the Street Fighter series than from Tekken, right down to the refined Street Fighter IV visual style. Players will choose two combatants from the Tekken and Street Fighter rosters (a few guest characters like Cole McGrath from inFamous and Sony mascots Toro and Kuru will also be present on the PS3). The first team to have one of its fighters’ health reduced to zero loses the round, and the first team to win two rounds is crowned the winner. The fighting system generally follows Street Fighter's six-button configuration and 2D-plane, although a few elements from the Tekken games will be blended in, such as throws and combos that utilize Tekken’s four-button style. Emphasis is clearly placed on the tag-team element (as evidenced by the “one fighter down and you’re out” method of winning and losing), with a wide variety of opportunities to use switches to your advantage, such as the ability to switch characters mid-combo or while an opponent is in the air, combine Super Combos, or even have both characters on-screen simultaneously for a limited time. The ability to execute these Cross techniques are dependent on the “Cross Gauge”, which fills over the course of the match and can also be used to pull off EX Attacks, Cancels, and other special abilities. Players can also customize a set of gems for each match that will affect their characters’ stats depending on the conditions of the fight. Early indications are that the Tekken characters have been tweaked nicely to fit into this unfamiliar fighting style, and Street Fighter fans will feel right at home in Street Fighter X Tekken. When two of the world’s best fighting game developers put their heads together, it can’t possibly be a bad thing.

46. Prey 2

Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Human Head Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Release Date: TBA 2012

Most of you may not even remember the first Prey, which quietly came out way back in 2006 on PC and Xbox 360. It featured an interesting Portal-esque mechanic (before Portal was ever even heard of) and a very unique arsenal of alien weaponry, but was otherwise a fairly generic shooter even for six years ago. If you’re one of those people, fret not, because the sequel has relatively little in common with its predecessor. In fact, based on what we know so far, it’s a bit surprising that this game even bears the Prey name. Players will take control of U.S. Marshal Killian Samuels, a passenger on an aircraft that crashes into an alien object known as the Sphere. Years later, Samuels finds himself as a bounty hunter on an alien world called Exodus. Whereas the first game was more of a corridor shooter and extremely linear in nature, developer Human Head Studios is adopting a much more open-world shooter concept not unlike those found in Fallout: New Vegas or Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Players will wander the steamy, neon-lit, punk-style streets of a large city on Exodus, where they will interact with residents to acquire missions and side-quests that will earn them cash and experience vital to moving the plot forward. Human Head is also aiming for a very fast and fluid acrobatic style of movement that allows Samuels to leap across gaps and scale walls almost parkour-style not unlike in Mirror’s Edge. While Samuels believes himself to be the only human living on Exodus, the developer has confirmed that at some point in the game he will encounter Domasi Tawodi (a.k.a. Tommy), the protagonist from the first game. It’s difficult to say at this point how well Prey 2 will turn out given the radical philosophical changes from the first game and Human Head’s relatively unproven track record, but if they can create a world worth exploring and the unique gameplay style is executed as well in practice as it sounds in theory, Prey 2 may be a potential sleeper hit for 2012.

45. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

Platform(s): PS3
Genre: RPG
Developer: Level-5
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Release Date: TBA 2012

Probably the most obscure title on our list, you’ll be forgiven if you don’t have this one on your radar yet. In fact, it’s a bit of a surprise that Ni no Kuni from established Japanese developer Level-5 (the studio behind Dark Cloud, Dragon Quest VIII and IX, White Knight Chronicles, and the Professor Layton games), is even coming to North America and Europe given the alleged decline of JRPGs in recent years. After achieving exceptional sales and high praise on the DS in Japan though, we’re excited that it will be. What should strike you first is the game’s absolutely gorgeous aesthetic style that combines remarkably charming, cartoony-looking characters with highly-detailed, vibrant worlds to explore. The story follows a young boy named Oliver, whose mother tragically dies in the process of saving her son from drowning after he sneaked away with a friend one night. A doll, given to Oliver by his mother, comes to life as a fairy soon after though and informs him of a parallel world where his mother may yet exist. Equipped with a magical book containing various magic spells given to him by the fairy, Oliver journeys to this mysterious world in search of his beloved mother. The magic book contains a plethora of spells that can be cast in battles, and players can organize their characters and manage their battle tactics to prepare themselves for the game’s many varieties of enemies. Additionally, Oliver can summon warrior creatures to fight alongside him should the need arise. The battle system is fairly simplistic and pretty standard fare for JRPGs, but these confrontations are a visual splendour and apparently contain enough depth and variety to keep combat feeling fresh and exciting dozens of hours into the experience. This is pretty much the stereotypical Japanese RPG, but indications suggest that Ni no Kuni may do it better than has ever been done before. If you’re at all a fan of the genre, this is definitely a can’t-miss title in an era where quality JRPGs are becoming increasingly rare.

44. Starhawk

Platform(s): PS3
Genre: Shooter
Developer: LightBox Interactive
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: TBA 2012

Warhawk is commonly recognized as one of the premier multiplayer titles of this generation, despite being released more than four years ago. It’s time for an upgrade though, and Starhawk, deemed to be the “spiritual successor” to Warhawk, is absolutely teeming with depth. The third-person shooter and vehicular combat components of the game will make their triumphant return (this time in space), but what is most exciting is the extra layer of complexity and strategy Sony is infusing with a new RTS-style base-building component. Players can now deploy supply pods from orbit by spending Rift Energy, which will develop into structures like walls, turrets, lasers, supply bunkers, and numerous others shortly after striking the ground. These structures can also be upgraded throughout the match. This added element of strategy will become vital to emerge victorious in objective-based matches. For example, it might be a good idea to make heavy fortifications around your flag in a game of Capture the Flag, and trigger-happy players may benefit from maintaining a supply bunker so that they can occasionally visit to stock up on weapons and ammo. For those more interested in the action, they will be happy to know that Starhawk will feature a wide variety of weapons and vehicles, 32-player multiplayer matches, a single-player mode (which was absent from Warhawk), and a Gears of War Horde Mode-inspired cooperative mode. What was already an incredibly fun multiplayer game will become that much more interesting with the new RTS features and several new modes, making Starhawk one of the truly unique multiplayer titles to look forward to in 2012.

43. Torchlight II

Platform(s): PC
Genre: Action RPG
Developer: Runic Games
Publisher: Perfect World
Release Date: TBA 2012

Torchlight caught dungeon-crawling fans a bit off-guard in 2009: despite its super-basic gameplay design, players became hopelessly addicted thanks to its brilliant visual style, smartly-executed levelling procedure, simple but fun combat, and incredibly robust loot system. Despite all the praise, there was one glaring omission that had nearly all fans clamouring for a sequel: multiplayer. Enter Torchlight II, whose main selling point is the long-awaited co-op feature. Players will allegedly be able to team up with up to seven other players (the number of players is not yet confirmed) via LAN or online to disperse the hordes of a brand-new world. Mutliplayer isn’t the only reason to get excited for Torchlight II though, as developer Runic Games is fleshing out the whole experience. Though dungeons will once again be randomly-generated, there is also a large overworld featuring numerous hub towns and open terrain spread out over a three-act story that is told through cinematic cut-scenes, populated of course by endless hordes of enemies carrying valuable and not-so-valuable loot. Players will be able to customize the physical appearance of their character, and can once again choose a pet to accompany them throughout the adventure. There will also be four classes to choose from, each with their own specializations: Engineer (heavy melee fighter), Outlander (ranged weapons and low-level magic), Berserker (quick attacks and animal powers), and Embermage (powerful spell-caster). Torchlight II may not offer quite the same level of depth as Diablo III this year, but that shouldn’t stop this charming action RPG from devouring dozens of hours of your time if you’re an avid loot-plunderer.

42. The Darkness II

Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Digital Extremes
Publisher: 2K Games
Release Date: February 7, 2012

Back in 2007, developer Starbreeze brought us a solid horror shooter title called The Darkness (based on the comic book of the same name), following mafia hitman Jackie Estacado, who also happens to be possessed with some fearsome demonic powers. Digital Extremes has decided to pick up the IP for 2012, and plans to add a ton of gameplay upgrades. The story in The Darkness II picks up a couple of years after the first game, with Jackie having found a way to repress The Darkness through the help of an occultist. A sudden attack on Jackie’s life, however, leaves him on the verge of death and forces him to unleash The Darkness and hunt down his would-be assassins while continuing to uncover the motivations of The Darkness itself. The Darkness II will play similarly to its predecessor; however numerous changes should make for an even more satisfying experience. Jackie now has the ability to “quad-wield”, allowing him to simultaneously wield firearms and control Darkness powers. Jackie’s demon arms are more versatile this time around, able to pick up and toss enemies around, slash them in half, or tear them to pieces. Since points are awarded for using special abilities, players are encouraged to torment and impale enemies rather than simply shooting them. The introduction of four skill trees (Demon Arm, Darkness Powers, Hitman, and Executions) gives players greater power of customization, effectively deciding the type of killer they want Jackie to become. Veterans of the first game will remember the power to control Darklings, which has been retooled into a single Darkling that follows Jackie around. The Darkling will attack enemies and perform other attacks, and the player will be able to assume direct control of the Darkling in certain areas. The Darkling also has a distinct personality, offering humorous quips throughout the experience. Add in a couple of fairly robust four-player co-op modes and striking new cel-shaded visual style, and The Darkness II is definitely one to watch for veterans and newcomers alike early this year.

41. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time

Platform(s): PS3
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Sanzaru Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: Q2 2012

It’s been a long time since gamers saw a new Sly game. In fact, the PlayStation 2 was alive and kicking and the PS3 was more than a year from launch when Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves, the last time Sly made an appearance, delighted fans on the PS2. Seven years later, and developer Sucker Punch has relinquished control of the franchise to allow Sanzaru Games (Secret Agent Clank) to bring the series back to life on the PS3 with Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. Set after the events of Sly 3, the story picks up with the pages of the precious Thievius Raccoonus having been lost in time thanks to Bentley’s unfortunate time machine. Sly and the gang suit up and head into the time machine to recover the missing pages of the family tome. One of the first things you will notice is that while the remarkable cel-shaded visuals of the original trilogy make a return (in gorgeous HD this time), the game world has a noticeably darker tone to it, with the characters themselves sporting an older and more mature look. The gameplay remains largely the same though, including a primary hub world in which players can find branching missions. The parkour-style platforming provides the basis for the gameplay and there will be multiple playable characters, but one of the key new features in Thieves in Time is the costumes. While collectible costumes are typically an inconsequential aesthetic reward in most games, they serve an important purpose for Sly in Thieves in Time. For example, a gypsy outfit gives Sly the ability to slow time while a samurai suit makes him resistant to fire. These costumes, which are found after progressing a certain distance through a level, are not only key to defeating bosses at the end of these levels, but can also be used to replay missions where players will now be able to open up previously inaccessible areas, giving the game a much higher replay value. Sly’s long-awaited return will be most welcome to fans who will find Thieves in Time quite familiar despite some significant changes, but hopefully its transformation into the current generation will capture the attention of a much larger audience befitting of the series’ legacy.

Make sure to check out the rest of our 2012 countdown:

Part II (#31-40)
Part III (#21-30)
Part IV (#11-20)
Part V (#1-10)

Written by: Mike Glubish

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