Over the past few months we have once again been treated, spoiled even with the variety of games shown at the yearly game conventions that captures the attention of us gamers; E3 Expo in June, Gamescom in August, and Tokyo Game Show in September. While we are only halfway through August, we have already seen a myriad on wonderful indie titles as well as the big blockbuster AAA game titles from our favourite big companies. Here’s just some of the few big hitters you should be keeping an eye out over the upcoming year.
Sunset Overdrive (Xbox One)
Developer: Insomniac Games
An entirely new IP from the hit makers of the Ratchet and Clank and Resistance Franchise, developer Insomniac starts the next generation with an Xbox One exclusive title which is as witty as their R&C games with a shooter twist to it, Sunset Overdrive! In the game you are an employee of FizzCo who is tasked to clean up the mess from a launch party of a new energy drink, Overcharge Delirium XT. Your task is to fight these OD’s humans and stop them.
A cross between an action game and a third person shooter, you have the usual platforming elements mixed in with the shooter experience. It has a very colourful look to it which many shooters or even games lack nowadays as well. I may not have an Xbox One but if there’s one game that would make me want to get it, this would be it. Insomniac has a great track record, so I’d believe this would be another hit in the making.
Release Date: October 28 2014
Xenoblade Chronicles X (WiiU)
Developer: Monlith Soft
Another spriritual sequel to the Xeno series by Monolift Soft comes Xenoblade Chronicles X. It is an open world RPG title where you can explore via foot or in your giant mecha called “Dolls” which can fly, hover and transforms into all sorts of vehicles. Like the original Xenoblade Chronicles, battles takes place in real time ala FFXII and the combat is further evolved from the original too with more skills available to use.
While we do not know much yet the game seems pretty impressive to me. I like that Japanese developers still have the ability to make wonderful deep RPGs like the ones we used to enjoy a lot in the PS2 era. I really hope that this game will succeed and pave the way for more great future RPGs in the next generation! I do also like that Hiroyuki Sawano will be doing the score too, an added plus to anime fans!
Release date: 2015
Bloodborne (PlayStation 4)
Developer: From Software
Another spiritual sequel to the hit 2009 game Demon’s Souls is Bloodborne. The game is set in Yharnam which is famous for its medical remedies. Many travellers have made the way to Yharnam to seek remedies but it is discovered that it is overrun with a curse that leaves the city’s population deranged.
This seems to be another lore-filled adventure with a murderous streak like its predecessors. The battle system seems to have upgraded a lot this time round as well with a new gun weapon on the left and a scythe on the right which is said to evolve as the game progresses further. There’s even a dedicated healing button, convenient for those moments on the verge of death. Check out the preview from Gamescom!
Release date: 2015
Evolve (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Developer: Turtle Rock Studios
From the same guys that have given us Left 4 Dead comes another multiplayer extravaganza, Evolve. You have a team of 4 unique characters going against a giant monster that would…Evolve throughout the game. As the humans, your task is to simply take down the monster but as the monster, you can choose to kill the humans or evolve to the highest level and complete the secondary objectives! And this isn’t your standard FPS game, it’s set in an asymmetrical multi layered map filled with a variety of scenery, smaller monsters, and all sorts of multi layered paths sprawling with anything and everything.
I was lucky enough to be given an opportunity to try the game recently and having said that, each character and class is pretty unique, and all of them are required to work in unison to take down the monster. Communication is the key to winning in this game as the humans though I must say; the monsters are a whole new level of fun. Toying with the humans from the beginning or hiding and evolving slowly, its an entirely different ball game. This seems to be the next great multiplayer game.
Release Date: February 10 2015
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Developer: Kojima Productions
The most ambitious project coming from Kojima Productions is Hideo Kojima’s latest epic stealth title MGSV: The Phantom Pain. An entirely open world stealth experience coupled with base building and a touch of Kojima’s wacky humour, Naked Snake’s latest adventure sets him out for revenge after the Ground Zeroes incident to get back on the people that have brought down MSF.
As seen in the trailer, you have a huge canvas with a start and end point. How you get there is up to you. Like Ground Zeroes this year, this game will have much bigger maps which means for much bigger exploration and variety of paths to explore. Snake also seems to have an entirely new cardboard box that can do all sorts of ridiculous moves, as per the Kojima standard. Compared to GZ, this seems to be a much more ambitious title and I can’t wait to see what Kojima has in store this time round.
Release Date: 2015
I feel that these 5 games are some of the games to look out for in the upcoming year ahead. We are quite blessed While some of you may and will disagree with said choices, do tell which big game will you be looking out for in the coming year ahead and why? Share you thoughts below!
Source: IGN, Nintendo, PlayStation, CVG
