[Multi] 2012 Video Games Preview - Part II (#31-40)

40. Resistance: Burning Skies
Platform(s): Vita
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Nihilistic Software
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: TBA 2012

First-person shooters don’t have a particularly promising track record on handheld platforms, which is a bane for developers given the incredible popularity of the genre. If there is any handheld that will offer the tools to overcome the difficulties of developing a quality FPS though, it’s the dual-analog PlayStation Vita, and developer Nihilistic Software looks like it is making the most of the platform’s potential with Resistance: Burning Skies. Burning Skies takes place in 1951 after the events of the first PS3 game, Resistance: Fall of Man, with players assuming the role of a firefighter named Tom Riley during the Chimeran invasion of the United States. Admittedly, Burning Skies doesn’t feature a whole lot of significant upgrades from its console brethren; however the fact that a handheld FPS can look and feel as natural as a console FPS is a revolution in itself. The dual analog sticks are vital in making for a comfortable control scheme, and the visuals aren’t far off from the recently-released PS3 counterpart Resistance 3. The Vita’s unique capabilities kick in through the utilization of the touchscreen, where players can direct grenade throws, melee with the fire axe, and execute secondary functions of weaponry (such as tagging enemies with explosives) by making motions with their fingers on the Vita’s front screen. Burning Skies is likely the first notable FPS Vita owners will be able to get their hands on, and Nihilistic looks like their setting the bar high early as we enter an era where the genre will finally make its presence felt on the super-small screen.

39. Syndicate

Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Starbreeze Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: February 21, 2012

The reboot of Syndicate is bound to polarize fans of the series this year. While it’s exciting to see the beloved franchise re-emerge after a very lengthy hiatus, this game from Starbreeze Studios probably isn’t what most fans had in mind when they heard about the comeback. Peter Molyneux’s early series gained its sterling reputation in the mid-90s by establishing itself a quality real-time strategy franchise, but the 2012 reboot is betraying its roots by entering the crowded first-person shooter market. If nothing else, fans should be satisfied with the fact that the spirit of the franchise remains intact. The cyberpunk style and brutally messy feuds between corrupt, power-hungry mega-corporations will once again provide the backdrop for Syndicate. Instead of simultaneously controlling a team of four agents on missions to bring down rival corporations though, players will step into the shoes of just one of these agents. One of the core gameplay concepts is breaching, the ability to force enemies to bend to your whim through the use of bio-chips implanted into the agents’ heads. For example, players can cause enemies to commit suicide, turn their weapons toward fellow guards, or cause weapons to backfire. Fans will be happy to find out that many of the weapons from the original series will make a return too, and a four-player co-op mode will give players an experience that is much more faithful to the original gameplay found in early Syndicate games, with an almost unprecedented level of strategy and collaboration for an FPS, particularly in terms of breaching. There is little question that the talented people at Starbreeze (The Darkness, The Chronicles of Riddick games) will deliver a visually stunning game with tight gameplay and an engrossing story (the voice acting should be outstanding) that remains at least somewhat true to the spirit of the franchise, which should be reason enough to put Syndicate near the top of gamers’ watch lists for 2012. The question that remains, however, is whether fans of the series will be able to overlook the radical change from the gameplay formula that gave the series its popularity.

38. Final Fantasy XIII-2

Platform(s): PS3, X360
Genre: RPG
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Release Date: January 31, 2012

Until now, only the critically-acclaimed Final Fantasy X has gotten an actual direct sequel. Few would have chosen Final Fantasy XIII, the latest single-player game in the franchise that received rather mixed reviews, as the second candidate to get the sequel treatment. While some fans may be frustrated that Square Enix is continuing to explore this universe instead of moving onto a new storyline or revisiting a more exciting past one, the publisher is promising that it has heard the complaints of Final Fantasy fans and that FFXIII-2 will exceed its predecessor “in every aspect.” Combat has been tweaked (ATB and Paradigm Shift return), adding powerful, cinematic attacks via quick-time events in certain battles and allowing players to tame defeated beasts and add them as members of their party. Those who tire of being a passive observer in conversations may be interested to hear that Square Enix has added dialogue options to conversations (called “Live Triggers”), though these choices will have no consequence on the gameplay or the outcome of the story (there will be multiple endings though), so don’t expect the kind of depth that can be found in a BioWare game. The story picks up right after the events of the first game, but follows Lightning’s sister Serah and her friend Noel as they search for Lightning after she mysteriously disappeared. The quest relies heavily upon time travel: from a central hub called the Historia Crux, players will jump through time gates to different times and places, and can reopen time gates if they didn’t like the way it played out the first time. One of the most welcome changes for most fans will be the much more open-world feel of the game, a refreshing change of pace from the traditional narrow, linear paths players are forced to follow in previous games. Additionally, numerous side-quests and missions will add some depth and variety to the main story. Many of these changes seem like a step in the right direction for a series that has been losing its footing. If you were a fan of FFXIII, the sequel will be well worth visiting. If you were less impressed by the first game, there might just be enough improvements here to convince you to give it a second chance.

37. Quantum Conundrum

Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Airtight Games
Publisher: Square Enix
Release Date: Q1 2012

The downloadable marketplace has provided a worthwhile platform for developers to try some risky and truly unique gaming experiences. Quantum Conundrum is one of those games, and the fact that Kim Swift, the lead designer on Valve’s Portal, is heading up the game’s design just adds to the intrigue of this game. The plot follows a young boy as he visits the mansion of his uncle, Professor Fitz Quadwrangle, who happens to be a mad scientist of sorts. Upon arrival, a large explosion occurs in the mansion’s laboratory causing Quadwrangle to vanish. The boy then discovers an inter-dimensional glove device that the Professor was working on, and begins to work out how to find his missing uncle. The gameplay takes place from a first-person perspective and revolves around the capabilities of this device, which allows the player to activate different dimensions to solve puzzles in the mansion’s many rooms. In addition to the normal dimension, there is the “fluffy dimension” (pictured above), where everything becomes ten times lighter in weight and takes on a soft and fluffy look (even pictures on the wall reflect the change, turning people and objects into fluffier versions of themselves). This might be useful to easily relocate otherwise immovable objects, such as a sofa, in order to solve a puzzle. Another dimension slows down time to a twentieth of its normal speed, and another reverses the direction of gravity that may be helpful in reaching seemingly inaccessible heights. There is one more dimension, but Airtight Games is keeping that one under wraps for the time being. The unique concept, clever puzzles, and witty sense of humour in Quantum Conundrum will draw obvious comparisons to Portal, not to mention that they share the same designer. If it turns out to be anywhere near as cleverly fun as Portal, Quantum Conundrum will definitely be a game to remember.

36. DmC: Devil May Cry

Platform(s): PS3, X360
Genre: Action Adventure
Developer: Ninja Theory
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: TBA 2012

Change is often a risky and controversial concept in the video game industry. Case in point: DmC, the so-called “reboot” of the Devil May Cry series and the first in the franchise from a developer other than Capcom (Ninja Theory of Heavenly Sword and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West fame is heading up the project). Fans were outraged when the first images of the radically redesigned protagonist Dante were introduced. Once you move past the aesthetics though, it becomes increasingly clear that the spirit of Devil May Cry is very much intact. Dante is still a cocky, black humour-spouting badass, albeit in a younger more inexperienced form. Environments still feature very gothic-inspired architecture, although the visuals are noticeably brighter and more colourful. Combat is still fast and fluid, but there as an emphasis on aerial combat; that is, launching enemies into the air and assaulting them with a stylish and lengthy combo of attacks. Ninja Theory is also adding a layer of depth to the combat, or perhaps more accurately, two layers. Holding down one of the controller’s triggers will activate the Angel and Devil modes, each of which introduces a whole new repertoire of moves and their own unique arsenal of weapons. The game world itself takes on a personality of its own as well. Taking place in Limbo City, described as a parallel world to our own, the demonic forces at work twist and distort the world to the hindrance of Dante. Streets and alleys will suddenly close themselves off, doors will spontaneously spawn demons, and platforms inexplicably catapult into the distance. While Devil May Cry 4 was a very respectable entry into the series, it became increasingly clear that the franchise was in need of some fresh ideas. Whether Ninja Theory’s dramatic alterations are the right ideas to give the series new legs, given the developer’s strong track record we’re willing to give them a chance.

35. Asura's Wrath

Platform(s): PS3, X360
Genre: Action
Developer: CyberConnect2
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: February 21, 2012

As respected as Capcom is as a publisher, the company’s reputation has waned in recent years, thanks in large part to its resistance to embrace new IPs in favour of countless iterations of flagship franchises like Street Fighter and Resident Evil. So when we see Capcom taking a risk by dropping a unique new IP like Asura’s Wrath, we sit up and pay attention. The story follows Asura, a demigod who served as a general in the Emperor’s court, but was framed by fellow demigod Deus for killing the Emporer and then proceeded to kill Asura’s wife and capture his daughter. You can probably see now how the game got its title. In pursuit of his daughter, Asura is defeated and awakens millennia later to resume his quest to save his daughter and defeat his rival demigods. Action sequences are unrelentingly fast and brutal, with devastating combos, quick-time events, chase sequences, and numerous other frenetic and violent abilities, the action fails to cease. Even better, Asura’s abilities become more powerful the angrier he gets. As his eyes glow white with intense rage, he unleashes heavy impacts from his fists that are demonstrated in painful slow-motion, combos are accentuated by lightning and a reddish hue distorting the background, and he can even sprout additional arms if he gets angry enough. If all those arms are torn off he’ll continue to fight with his head and legs. Skirmishes against a wide variety of bizarre enemies culminate in truly epic multi-tiered boss battles, where players are encouraged to build the Burst meter to unleash damaging Burst attacks, as well as an Unlimited Mode to launch continuous barrages of heavy attacks without having to wait for them to recharge. The whole game has that distinct bizarre Japanese feel to it (if you haven’t picked that up already), right down to sarcastic, witty exchanges of insults as demigods trash-talk with each other while they punch one another across the moon. If you like action-heavy adventures and assuming the role of a fearless badass (see: Devil May Cry, God of War), Asura’s Wrath should be right up your alley when it releases early this year.

34. XCOM

Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360
Genre: Shooter
Developer: 2K Marin
Publisher: 2K Games
Release Date: TBA 2012

If you scroll up the page a bit, you could almost copy and paste the sentiments regarding the return of Syndicate into the preview of XCOM. The franchise that gained its renown through a series of strategy games in the 1990s will be controversially reborn in 2012 as a first-person shooter. It seems that 2K Marin has taken the backlash from fans to heart though, as the developer delayed the title from its original 2011 release date to add more tactical-based gameplay that stays more faithful to the spirit of the original games. XCOM is still an FPS based in a colourful, stereotypical 1950s suburban United States mired in the throes of a strange alien invasion. These aliens aren’t you’re average big-headed, wide-eyed extraterrestrials though. Instead, they are mysterious blobs of black goo that slime their way across the landscape to attach themselves to their prey and suck the life out of them, along with other supernatural beings like a “Titan” that levitates above the ground and telekinetically absorbs objects in the environment and blasts out balls of violent energy. The game features some interesting weaponry to disperse the unwelcome visitors, such as a lightning gun and the “Blobatov” (a type of Molotov cocktail). Collecting data by defeating enemies and completing missions yields rewards like new weaponry and information on methods of dealing with foes, and missions will be dynamic in that some tasks may only be available at certain times depending on how the game’s events are progressing in your playthrough. Long-time fans of the franchise will be happy to know that 2K Marin has used the extra development time to add a stronger team-based element to the campaign, whereby players can direct their three squadmates to move to cover, attack enemies, or distract enemies via a command wheel. What had seemed like a fairly standard run-and-gun shooter with a unique story and setting and a handful of interesting concepts is being infused with a welcomed dose of strategy, which may be enough to really separate XCOM from the parade of conventional shooters adorning the industry every year.

33. Dragon's Dogma

Platform(s): PS3, X360
Genre: Action RPG
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: March 27, 2012

Capcom has made no qualms about the fact that it is trying to westernize much of its software, and Dragon’s Dogma (yes, another new IP from Capcom!) seems to characterize this strategy. Capcom is sticking close to all the stereotypes of the open-world RPG genre popularized by western developers like Bethesda and BioWare, with a huge medieval-inspired world that traverses fields, forests, lakes, mountains, towns, and a centralized major city. The main character, which is totally customized by the player, is hunting down a dragon that literally ripped out and stole our hero's heart, but for unexplained reasons he survived the event and is a little ticked off about this. The massive game world is heavily populated with all manner of real and mythical creatures like wolves, goblins, and harpies; but the real stars of the show are the abundance of much more immense and impressive beasts such as dragons, hydra, cyclopes, and griffons, to name just a few. Tackling these monsters will require a Shadow of the Colossus-esque technique of climbing the beasts to find vulnerable spots where you can deliver a more damaging blow than simply hacking away at the ankles of these massive foes. Though most of everything you’ve read to this point sounds reminiscent of numerous games that have come before it, Dragon’s Dogma is employing an interesting concept with the other NPC characters that will accompany you on your journey. You will be able to create and customize your own primary companion, but you will have to enter an online space called the Rift to hire your other two followers. The characters you find in the Rift are actually the customized followers of other players, and will cost varying amounts to hire depending on their experience. If someone else borrows your custom follower, they will actually bring back loot and experience they gain while accompanying other people on their journey. Players will have a significant degree of control over their party as well: mages and inexperienced players may choose to hang back and let their followers go to the dangerous areas, while melee-focused and more attuned players may wish to put their companions in more of a support role. There is still a lot of uncertainty about Dragon’s Dogma since we haven’t seen much of it in action and this is Capcom’s first swing at this type of game, but there are enough interesting ideas here to grab our attention, and it has a talented enough team of developers behind it to pull it off nicely.

32. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Valve, Hidden Path Entertainment
Publisher: Valve Software
Release Date: Q1 2012

In many ways, Counter-Strike is like the anti-Call of Duty, so it should be a relief to tactical shooter fans to hear that a long-awaited update to the popular shooter is interrupting the steady flow of run-and-gun shooters in 2012. If you’re the type to rely on kill streaks, perks, and respawning to prop up your score in online shooters, prepare to be introduced to a much more unforgiving style of gameplay. Successful Counter-Strike players must rely heavily on individual skill, teamwork, and knowledge of their surroundings. With Global Offensive, Valve is trying to keep this core gameplay concept intact as much as possible while adding a handful of new features to update the series. Most of the game modes and maps remain from past entries, although some new maps are in the cards and some of the old maps will receive updates, while a new mode called Arsenal is being introduced. The premise is pretty straightforward: two teams of five (PC gamers can set up servers for larger matches) are either planting bombs and protecting hostages (Terrorists) or defusing bombs and attempting to rescue hostages (Counter-Terrorists). Beginners will start with very few options, often forced to take only a pistol into the match, but through skilled play and victories in matches players will earn money that they can spend on more pertinent weaponry like shotguns, sniper rifles, assault rifles, smoke grenades, Molotov cocktails (something new) and body armour. Choose wisely though, because death will force you to purchase your load-out all over again; and with no first aid kits, respawns, or regenerative health, death can come swiftly. Unlike so many other shooters on the market, Global Offensive makes teamwork vital to success. Charging headfirst into firefights is a death sentence and will quickly cause your team to lose a player, so accuracy, coordination, and efficient use of equipment are highly recommended, along with a healthy knowledge of the maps and which routes potentially yield the best results for each game mode. Valve is doing little to reinvent the formula that has made Counter-Strike one of the most popular online shooters of all-time, and for fans of the franchise that should be the best news of all. With a few new additions and upgrades and an updated visual style, Global Offensive should become the definitive tactical shooter in 2012.

31. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

Platform(s): PC
Genre: Strategy
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Release Date: TBA 2012

After nearly a year and a half now, we’re betting that the 5 million-plus gamers that have been enjoying one of the great RTS games of our time in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty are ready for an injection of new content into the experience. That injection should come sometime this year with the Heart of the Swarm expansion/sequel. The campaign will pick up after the events of Wings of Liberty with around 20 new missions that focus on Sarah Kerrigan and a Zerg empire. Additionally, there will be a few new maps for multiplayer battles complemented by 8 new multiplayer units (three for the Terran, three for the Protoss, and two for the Zerg), though the Protoss Mothership and Carrier and the Zerg Overseer will be removed. Some other units will gain some new abilities as well, such as the Zerg Ultralisk and Baneling, which have each gained researchable burrowing abilities, and the Hellion which can now upgrade to a heavier and more powerful unit. We're hearing that a new marketplace for Battle.net is also apparently in the works, and Blizzard is also implementing some upgrades to the graphics engine.There isn’t a whole lot else to say as Heart of the Swarm will mostly feature the very same gameplay that won over millions of RTS fans and earned it more than a few votes for the PC Game of the Year in 2010. If you are a fan of Wings then it is more than likely that you’re ready for more StarCraft II, it is more than likely that you’ll buy Heart of the Swarm (which we hear will be cheaper than WoL), and it is more than likely that it will be absolutely awesome. This is Blizzard we’re talking about here after all.

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

Part I (#41-50)
Part III (#21-30)
Part IV (#11-20)
Part V (#1-10)

Written by: Mike Glubish

View the original article here