1.) Assassin's Creed 3
Is this really a surprise? It shouldn't be if you've been following along. I am beyond excited for a fifth (we'll call it a third) entry in the series. Why? Because Ubisoft is taking us state-side with a brand new setting: the American Revolution. It is rare that the setting in a game can get me so excited for a game, but American history is of particular interest to me, not to mention the fact that I loved Assassin's Creed 2 (we'll get to Brotherhood and Revelations later...).This time we play as Connor, an assassin with ties to both the English and Native Americans. This should prove to be an interesting dynamic. One part of him wants to protect his home-land from the evil invaders, but does that mean he will side with the new Americans? Or will he side with his English side? Regardless, I'm sure the game will turn some heads with it's attention to detail, even if that means more controversial subject matter (slaves will not be ignored in AC3).
Ubisoft released a gameplay trailer last week which was the talk of the industry. It showed off many of Connor's new moves and, perhaps most importantly, bears. I'm actually most excited at the idea that buildings may now be able to be entered in some way. In the trailer, Connor runs through a room and out the window across from him. This could open up a whole world of possibilities.
Assassin's Creed 3 releases in October among a very busy schedule. I know I'll be picking it up day one.
2.) The Last of Us
To be clear, no release date has been announced for The Last of Us at this point, but I feel fairly confident Sony won't let this one come out any later than November 2012. Naughty Dog has been releasing top-tier Sony games for years now, and they've only been getting better and better (Uncharted 3 is better than Uncharted 2). For their next game, they've decided to begin anew. The Last of Us is a completely new IP and seems to be a mish-mash of ideas from other games. It's cinematic like the Uncharted games and its setting brings back images of I Am Alive.When we learn more about The Last of Us (probably at E3, where we'll get a release date), I'm sure this game could become even more anticipated than the next game on this list. But until then, the promise of another game from my favorite studio that looks just as cinematic as their previous three games is enough for me to look forward to it more than nearly any other game being released this year. That says a lot about the authorship of games.
3.) Hitman: Absolution
Hitman: Absolution should become more forgiving for those gamers who love to blow things up. There's something to be said for the gamer who can ignore all of the stealth-hints and shoot every living thing. I count on Hitman: Absolution giving those gamers perks and rewards (perhaps more specialized heavy weapons for use further down the road). But it will undoubtedly reward the more stealth-minded gamer. Perhaps that person will unlock silencers or gain a perk (of sorts) to better notice environmental "accidents" to kill the target. Either way, I'm sure Absolution will be a lot of fun and I'm very much looking forward to seeing more about it.
4.) Resident Evil 6
Resident Evil 4 remains one my all-time favorite games. When the series seemed destined to become a parody of itself, Capcom realized their errors and decided the series was in desperate need for a revamp. RE4 came along and focused the series on action set-pieces and mixed in with spooky locales. The game was a triumph and has been ported to nearly every console in the last few years (Gamecube, PS2, Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 - seriously, there's no reason not to have played this game). Many fans were sorely disappointed with the next entry in the series. Resident Evil 5 insisted on adding cooperative gameplay that ultimately fell apart when you were attempting to play alone (the AI was a complete mess). Furthermore, the recent release of Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City was a complete failure on all fronts and has left many fans weary of the sixth proper entry in the franchise.So why am I anticipating the release of Resident Evil 6? Easy. I have absolutely no idea what to expect. It seems to star multiple characters that fans of the series have come to know and love (including my personal favorite Leon Kennedy). The trailers that have been released seem to suggest that we'll be travelling around the globe, something this series has never done in the past. Gameplay in RE5 was fine (an evolution of the fourth game, really) and I'm expecting that to return in RE6. Hopefully Capcom has learned a few lessons on co-op gameplay since the last game, and RE6 will return the series to the standards the fourth game set.
5.) Far Cry 3
I remember when the first Far Cry title was released. It was first released in the Spring of 2004 and at the time it was the pinnacle of high-end graphics in gaming. Far Cry in 2004 was comparable to Crysis in 2011. It was the reason we went out and purchased new gaming PCs. Four-years-later, Far Cry 2 was released. The original game's faults became all the more evident once the flashiness of the visuals had worn off, and Far Cry 2 was further evidence of this. Now, another four-years-later, we're looking forward to the release of Far Cry 3 in September.With Far Cry 3, Ubisoft seems intent on mixing the previous two titles together: a gorgeous tropical island (Far Cry) and a completely open world (Far Cry 2). Footage released at last year's E3 showed off combat that had to be scripted, but it wasn't. The player is given tons of choices in how to approach any combat situation they may approach. Want to stealthily remove enemies until you reach your goal? Got it. Maybe you have a little John Rambo flowing through your veins? Blow everything up. Or perhaps you play your games like Gandhi? Sneak around everyone. This prospect is nothing we haven't seen in the past, but it's a promise I don't think I've ever seen fully realized. Here's to hoping Far Cry 3 can do that.
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