[MULTI] 2011 Video Games Preview - Part V

[MULTI] 2011 Video Games Preview - Part V Alice: Madness Returns
Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360
Developer: Spicy Horse
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: Q4 2011

Electronic Arts is finally delivering a sequel to 2000’s American McGee’s Alice, a twisted take on Lewis Carrol’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. In case you are unfamiliar with the first game, Alice’s house is accidentally burned down, killing her entire family. Gradually losing touch with reality, Alice is committed to Rutledge Asylum where she is treated for her alleged insanity. Ten years later, she is sucked back into Wonderland, although this time it has been warped into a dark and foreboding world by her unstable psyche, prompting Alice to seek a means of restoring the magical world. Madness Returns takes place another decade later, with Alice having been released from Rutledge into the care of a psychiatrist. Her relocation incurs more hallucinations and her condition worsens, so she confides in Wonderland once again, only to find that it is still sadistically distorted by her corrupt mind. Alice will once again be equipped with the Vorpal Blade as a means of defending herself, but a pepper grinder (which functions like a machine gun), a teapot, and a hobby horse have been added to her arsenal. Developer Spicy Horse says that each enemy (playing cards and teapots, among others) will present a unique puzzle that players will need to unravel in order to determine weak points to exploit. She will also attain other abilities to aid in her quest, such as the unforgettable “Drink Me” bottle that shrinks her, useful for squeezing through tiny tunnels and other formerly impossible routes. Madness Returns features an impressive art style, depicting the vibrancy and colour of Wonderland, slightly warped and twisted by the game's perverse theme, all brought to life by a striking graphics engine. Alice: Madness Returns will certainly offer a different, somewhat disturbing adventure this year, which might provide a nice change of pace from the industry’s usual offerings.

Brink

Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360
Developer: Splash Damage
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Release Date: April 12, 2011

In the future, a flooded Earth, caused by the rapid rise of our oceans, has forced the remaining fragments of humanity to take refuge on a man-made, self-sustaining and pollution-free floating city called “The Ark”. Overpopulation on The Ark has stressed its resources and caused unrest among its inhabitants, pushing the city to the brink (aha!) of civil war. There are two warring factions in Brink – Resistance and Security – each with their own unique campaign. What makes Brink unique among other first-person shooters is developer Splash Damage’s attempt at seamlessly integrating the single-player campaign with the online multiplayer aspect. You can play the campaign by yourself, but a quick adjustment in the options menu and you can allow up to 15 other players into your campaign, filling the shoes of both allies and enemies. Players will create and customize their own unique character, choosing from a Medium, Agile, or Heavy frame as well as one of four distinct character classes: Soldier (resupplies ammo and carries heavy firepower), Engineer (repairs weapons and sets turrets), Medic (heals allies), and Operative (hacks objectives and sabotages equipment). As players progress, their character will appear more and more badass, while gaining the ability to upgrade their equipment and unlock new equipment. The player can access an objective wheel, which indicates what objectives they can attempt based on their position on the map, skill level, campaign progress, as well as a variety of other factors. Brink also features the SMART movement system, which allows players to move and climb naturally around the environments, often compared to movement in EA’s Mirror’s Edge. Although little is known about actual objectives in the game, Splash Damage claims it is trying to make teamwork a focus to combat the common online practice where each player tends to go their own way. It’s difficult not to admire the ingenuity Splash Damage is demonstrating behind the seamless single- to multiplayer campaign idea. If they manage to pull it off successfully, Brink could establish a new benchmark for online multiplayer for future shooters.

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

Platform(s): PSP
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Release Date: March 22, 2011

Dissidia: Final Fantasy was a nice fan service for PSP owners in 2009, allowing players to play as many of their favourite Final Fantasy characters in a solid fighting game. Square Enix is bringing more love to the franchise’s fans with Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy (the “012” part is pronounced “Duodecim”), expanding on the gameplay mechanics and adding several new characters to the roster. New to the sequel is the single-player story mode which takes place on a 3D world map, where players can roam freely in three-character parties, able to interact in conversations and story events, transporting to the battle screen when encountering enemies. The game also thoughtfully features the first game’s story in the new format, an addition that producer Tetsuya Nomura claims will bring the story mode’s length to around 60 hours. The combat once again features Brave attacks and HP attacks, but also adds a new “EX Mode”. Players can collect EX Force in the field to fill an EX gauge which, once full, directs players to a blue bell called an EX Core, also found in the field. Once you are in possession of the EX Core, you can enter an EX Mode during battle that initiates a Quick Time Event that prompts players to input a series of timed button presses that unleashes a very powerful and cinematic combo attack. If your opponent enters EX Mode, you can even use your own EX Mode to launch a counter-attack. There will also be computer-controlled “assist characters” who can be summoned during battle to launch special joint attacks or to defend the player from incoming attacks. As usual, players will be able to customize their characters with armour, items, and condition modifiers. Joining the original 24-character cast are a number of other series favourites, such as Tifa Lockhart (FFVII), Yuna (FFX), Vaan (FFXII), and Lightning (FFXIII), to name a few. You can also expect that Dissidia 012 will once again push the limits of the PSP hardware with fantastic sound and visual quality. This is a game that should be on every Final Fantasy fan’s most wanted list, along with anyone else looking for a fighting game infused with a little extra element of strategy.

L.A. Noire

Platform(s): PS3, X360
Developer: Team Bondi
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Release Date: May 17, 2011

Rockstar Games is infamous for its open-ended “sandbox” games (Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, Bully), but the publisher, along with developer Team Bondi, is preparing a fresh and unique take on the genre with L.A. Noire. Set in what the developer is calling a "perfectly recreated Los Angeles" in 1947, the style and theme of the game takes heavy inspiration from the film-noir style of the mid-1900s, sharing a similar dimly-lit visual style and the shady criminal underworld themes as those commonly found in such films. Players will assume the role of Cole Phelps, a seemingly rare symbol of integrity in an otherwise largely corrupt LAPD police force. Cole begins his law enforcement career quite low on the totem pole and must earn his way through the ranks as a detective. Depending on Cole’s current position within the police force, he will have a specific set of cases to investigate, all of which are based on actual cases from the time period which the developer researched from newspapers from that era. Each investigation begins with a visit to the crime scene, where players will be able to search for clues and collect evidence to try to uncover the events leading up to the crime. Afterward, players will have the opportunity to interview and interrogate witnesses and suspects using a set of questions based on your discoveries. This process is perhaps the game’s signature feature, where the new MotionScan technology becomes apparent. This technology uses 32 cameras to capture every subtle expression on the voice actor’s face, resulting in incredibly lifelike facial animations that blow away any precedent in the gaming industry. Players will not only need to assess the characters’ responses, but also judge their facial expressions and body language to determine whether or not they are telling the truth. Your ability to correctly solve cases will depend on how well you collect evidence and your interviewing prowess: the more mistakes you make, the more work you will need to do to correct them. If you are worried that this all sounds a little bit action-deprived, rest assured that Cole will also become involved in more action-oriented sequences, such as tailing witnesses, chasing suspects, and even some intense shootouts. L.A. Noire might not be the typical over-the-top action experience gamers have come to expect from a Rockstar game, but the idea is unique and interesting and features some amazing new technology. Gamers should pay close attention when the title releases this April.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds

Platform(s): PS3, X360
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: February 15, 2011

The Marvel vs. Capcom series has become a favourite among fighting fans, and Capcom is whetting fans’ appetites again this year with Fate of Two Worlds. Once again opponents will each choose three characters to take into battle with the ability to swap them in and out of the action at any time. There will be a slight change in the visual style of the game this time around, with characters being modeled in 3D as opposed to the usual 2D sprites, but gameplay will remain on a two-dimensional plane. Capcom is attempting to appeal to fighting game newcomers by simplifying the fighting mechanics by scrapping the usual four attack buttons mapped to punching and kicking attacks with a three-button control scheme for light, medium, and heavy attacks along with a fourth “special” button. There will also be a new “Simple” mode that caters to rookie fighters, streamlining some of the more complex mechanics into simpler button presses, albeit removing a significant portion of each character’s arsenal of moves in the process. While the idea of simplifying this beloved franchise might frighten series veterans, the core gameplay remains intact with the “Normal” mode that will feature the usual robust set of moves and complex combos that can only be mastered and perfected through dozens of hours of practice. The Hyper Combos and Team Combos are back, the single-player story mode is more involved than ever, online matches will gauge your performance and relay combat tendencies to potential opponents, and each character is being carefully designed to ensure they are balanced with their own unique fighting style and abilities. There will be 36 playable characters along with 2 downloadable characters, from Capcom’s Dante, Amaterasu, and Viewtiful Joe to Marvel’s Hulk, Wolverine, and Deadpool. Fighting fans may finally have a reason to move on from (Super) Street Fighter IV this February.

Mortal Kombat

Platform(s): PS3, X360
Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Release Date: April 19, 2011

One of the original mom-infuriating game franchises is undergoing a reboot this year, trying its best to enrage the anti-violence crusaders all over again. NetherRealm Studios is promising to take the series back to its roots, offering a deeper fighting experience and more violence and gore than ever before. The new Mortal Kombat will feature a new 2.5D style with characters being rendered in 3D but with the fighting taking place on a two-dimensional plane, all under an impressive new graphics engine and running at a silky-smooth sixty frames per second. The fighting mechanics have undergone a fundamental change, now featuring a four button control scheme that maps each button to individual corresponding limbs. A three-tier “super meter” has been added, which can be charged in order to enhance special combo attacks, shut down opponent combos, or perform an all-new X-ray move. The X-ray move provides a close-up view of the internal body structure of the opponent, graphically portraying the breaking of bones and rupturing of organs as the attacker unleashes their fury upon them. Some of the modes that have been confirmed include the King of the Hill online mode, where a group of players can watch fights and challenge the winners, conversing during the battle and rating the fight afterward. A Tag-team mode has been added where two players can join up and fight together with the ability to perform special assist attacks and entry attacks. The Challenge Tower is a new single-player mode that tasks players with specific challenges, rewarding them with an in-game currency that can be used to skip the more difficult challenges. Mortal Kombat will include around 26 playable characters, most or all of which are taken from the first three games (Kratos of God of War fame appears in the PS3 version). Additionally, there will be more than 50 cringe-worthy fatalities on top of the already bloody and violent standard gameplay. The new Mortal Kombat is more or a less a tribute to the franchise’s roots and to its loyal fan base, which should be more than enough motivation for MK fans, and maybe some curious newcomers too young or stubborn to have experienced its glory days, to pick it up this April.

Rage

Platform(s): PC, PS3, X360
Developer: id Software
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Release Date: September 13, 2011

You would be doing yourself a tremendous disservice to shrug off Rage because of its post-apocalyptic shooter theme, already thoroughly explored in recent titles such as Fallout 3 (and its follow-up New Vegas) and Borderlands. Rage is set several decades into the future after an asteroid has impacted Earth, leaving much of its surface a desolate wasteland. Players will play as a survivor who was placed in one of hundreds of Arks buried beneath the Earth’s surface, each containing about a dozen people with various skills that are deemed to be vital in rebuilding society. These survivors now live in small settlements in the most habitable areas of the wasteland whilst fending off bandits and mutant attackers. Players will wander the wastelands blowing away enemies, interacting with NPCs, and completing a wide variety of side quests. There will be some RPG elements mixed in with the FPS gameplay, such as an inventory system and the ability to gather parts to construct unique weapons and ammunition. While this all probably sounds terribly familiar to anyone who has played recent Fallout games, the gameplay is much more action-oriented than Fallout or even Borderlands, adopting the role as an open-world shooter more akin to Far Cry 2 along with the corridor shooting prominent in many id titles like Doom, and featuring more traditional FPS missions that focus on action-packed shootouts and huge-scale boss fights to interrupt the exploration. Vehicular gameplay also plays a significant role in Rage, from racing missions and vehicular combat to a simple means of faster transportation. It is evident that developer id Software is putting a tremendous amount of effort into making Rage a visual splendour, as the game exhibits outstanding graphical capabilities, careful attention to detail, and runs at an amazing 60 frames per second, all of which culminates in what will be one of the best-looking video games ever. Despite its obvious inspiration from the aforementioned post-apocalyptic open-world shooters, those who have seen and played Rage have raved about its amazing visuals and energetic gameplay, even garnering several best-of-E3 awards last year, offering hope that this game may be the one to top them all.

SOCOM 4: US Navy SEALs

Platform(s): PS3
Developer: Zipper Interactive
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: Q1 2011

The definitive squad-based tactical shooter franchise is back on the PS3 this year, promising to put players in control more than ever before. Players will control an “Ops Commander”, the leader of a five-man special forces squad deployed in Southeast Asia during the early stages of a violent civil war. As the squad leader, players will be able to issue orders to their squad mates, telling them to move to designated way points, take out marked enemies, lay down suppressive fire, set basic behaviours(defensive, aggressive, etc.), and issue other commands. Early reports indicate that ally AI is remarkably reliable. A new Command Mode is being introduced to allow the player to slow down the action and drain the colour from the screen, allowing for some extra time to make tactical decisions and set commands from a new perspective without compromising themselves. There will be a wide variety of missions and objectives, from intense firefights to stealth objectives, painting targets for air strikes and receiving and reacting to intel on the go. Developer Zipper Interactive has ensured that it is maximizing SOCOM 4’s graphics potential for the first PS3 SOCOM title, creating a remarkably detailed and realistic urban battlefield. SOCOM 4 will also be compatible with the PlayStation Move controller, which can be used for everything from aiming to painting targets; while moving, zooming, and issuing commands are performed with the attachment. While it might sound like another gimmicky use of the new peripheral, early reports have stated that it feels surprisingly tight and natural. An online mode will also be included, although few details have been revealed beyond the fact that some unique 32-player match types will be available. PlayStation 3 owners looking for a more tactical experience than the standard shooter fare should watch for SOCOM 4 this spring.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Platform(s): PC
Developer: CD Projekt RED
Publisher: Atari
Release Date: May 17, 2011

Back in 2007, The Witcher impressed gamers with its rich storyline and deep gameplay, but it also came with its share of drawbacks. CD Projekt RED is looking to improve on that with The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings this year. The same basic mechanics will be present, once again featuring an obvious focus on choice-and-consequence gameplay. There will be 16 distinct endings available depending on your actions and the choices you make throughout the adventure, but the impact of your actions will be seen much more commonly in more subtle ways throughout the experience. A demo shown last year showed numerous ways to complete a single level, with each objective and outcome being impacted by previously made decisions. The Witcher 2 will also feature a new a combat system that ditches the old timed mouse clicking system used in its predecessor, although actual details are still forthcoming. Still, the combat is said to be more visually striking, with a much more fluid and stylish appearance. The developer is also applying a new graphics engine to beef up the visual quality, confidently flaunting it as the best-looking RPG of 2011, a claim difficult to dispute after seeing initial screenshots. The world in The Witcher 2 is also said to be absolutely enormous, indicating that the adage that “if you can see it, you can go there” applies here. Fantasy RPG fanatics should be swooning over the rich fantasy world CD Projekt is attempting to portray with The Witcher 2, and the gameplay looks promising to match its ambition. The game is a PC exclusive for now, although there have been hints that a console version may be coming sometime in the near future as well.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

Platform(s): PS3
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: November 1, 2011

The fact that Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is one of the highest-rated video games ever and one of the top-selling PlayStation 3 games is enough to put Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception as an early favourite for the 2011 game of the year, without knowing any further details. The truth is, details are scarce at this point, but it doesn’t make the title's place on this list any less significant. Drake’s Deception is supposed to be primarily set in the Rub'al Khali desert in the Middle East, where Nathan Drake and his buddy/mentor Victor Sullivan are in search of the fabled Iram of the Pillars, branded the “Atlantis of the Sands”. Despite this, Naughty Dog have stated that a significant portion of the game will still take place in other settings around the globe. Standing in their way is a “clandestine order” with a malevolent leader that will apparently exploit Drake’s greatest fears to keep him from reaching his goal. Drake will have new stealth abilities for sneaking around and silently removing enemies, along with some new platforming abilities. Uncharted 2 is already one of the most beautiful and cinematic games of this generation, but the developer is pushing itself to raise the bar once again, focusing on improving subtle character movements and physics, as well as attempting to effectively capture the behaviour of organic elements such as sand, water, and fire. Additionally, enemy AI is being improved, multiplayer and co-op features are being expanded, and 3D support will be included. For anyone who played Uncharted 2, the third instalment is probably automatic as one of the must-have titles for 2011. For anyone who hasn’t played Uncharted 2, go out and get it ASAP and join in on the hype train for the sequel coming out this November.

Read the rest of the 2011 Video Games Preview:
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV

Written by: Mike Glubish

View the original article here