Happy New Years gamer guys and gals! I hope you’ve already broken all of your resolutions, especially the one you foolishly made about playing fewer video games. Truth be told, it probably seemed like a simple feat as nothing special seems to get released in the early part of the year. That’s usually the case, but in this much rumored new console year (to which I disagree), we have a plethora of big time entries coming at you in the first quarter. That’s right. A plethora. Deal with it.
(Bookmark this page to remind you where all your money has gone when your accounts are dried up by March 31.)
Game of the Year! And it’s only January!
January
15 – DMC: Devil May Cry (PS3, 360) – Thanks to George Lucas I still get truly terrified whenever the word “Prequel” comes into play. But reviews for this Dante origin are much higher than expected (Metacritic of 87). The crazy combat action game proves to be awesome for both newcomers and old fogie fans. I guess I’ll be having another romp with the son of Sparda after all.
22 – Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (PS3) – Sony knows how to get exclusives to deliver, and Ni No Kuni is not only hilarious to say out loud in a serious conversation, but is already setting the bar for game of the year. The RPG/Anime looks like just about the prettiest darn thing my Dualshock has ever laid eyes on.
Other notables:
8 – Anarchy Reigns (PS3, 360)
29 – Hitman Trilogy (PS3, 360) – Oh hooray, another HD remake with terrible controls and sub par graphics. Pass.
Jack has come a long way.
February
5 – Dead Space 3 (PS3, 360) – Sigh, what a boring year. I really wish an alien would behead me in a horrific and gory fashion. Wish no more crazy person who isn’t fit for society. You’ll be huddled in a corner telling imaginary monsters to stay away in no time.
5 – Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3, Vita) – Remember that awesome Vita I told you to buy? And remember how Sony has announced absolutely nothing for it ever since. Yeah, sorry about that. But good news! Sly Cooper is coming as a cross-play between both systems. (Technically Ratchet and Clank will come to Vita in January, but it’s a delayed release from the PS3 version a couple months ago, and I have a zero tolerance policy on delays. If it’s not ready don’t announce it. Grrrr.)
19 – Crysis 3 (PS3, 360) – Why wait for next gen when you can play the Crysis games?! I think they have to put disclaimers on their games now warning that your brain may melt and they are not to be held responsible (even though they absolutely are).
19 – Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3, 360) – Revengeance isn’t a word. Luckily you don’t have to be an Engrish major to enjoy Kojima inspired games. MGR:R looks like it will be very fun in a frantic, Vanquish sort of way.
26 – Rayman Legends (WiiU) – Watch out Mario! Rayman is gunning for your “best platformer” spot. Some may say (read: I say) that Rayman has already claimed that title with Origins.
Other notables:
4 – Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)
12 – Aliens: Colonial Marines (PS3, Xbox, WiiU)
12 – Omerta: City of Gangsters (360)
26 – Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus 2 (Vita)
Why wait for next gen consoles? Crysis 3 is almost here!
March
? – GTA V (PS3, 360) – GTA fans are going to get this game no matter what I say. With the promise of bigger and better, which is great, I fear that this will overshadow other equally good albeit less popular games that should be appreciated too.
5 – MLB 13 The Show (PS3, Vita) – If baseball is your thing, and sports games are your thing, and hyper realism is your thing, and pitching duels are your thing, and you’ve played an MLB game before… then buy MLB 13 The Show. It’s your thing.
5 – Tomb Raider (PS3, 360) – I’ve got a good feeling about the newest Croft adventure. This outing will give us a survival horror in a deep contrast to the usual treasure hunting and cave spelunking. But there will still be a blue tank top. So it’s totally classic Tomb Raider.
5 – SimCity (PC) – Still have that old Windows 95 computer? I kid, this is an all new current gen SimCity. Not only can you build water pipes and prisons… I’m sorry. I don’t know anything about this game. People seem to be excited by it. Supposed to be a real hoot to touch your inner city planner.
12 – God of War: Ascension (PS3) – While I’m no fan of forcing multiplayer into perfectly fine single player games, I have no doubts that the production value on GoW:A will be great. Keep an eye out for this one or Kratos will pummel you, in first person!
19 – Gears of War: Judgement (360) – I honestly don’t know where the Gears franchise is going now. I mean, the baddies are gone and the world is saved. Maybe this is the epilogue of how Marcus finally realized his dream of starting a Mexican restaurant on the corner of 3rd and Main.
26 – BioShock Infinite (PS3, 360) – As long as it doesn’t get delayed again, Infinite looks very interesting. A new setting might just be the fresh idea 2K needs to keep this franchise relevant.
26 – The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct (PS3, 360, WiiU, PC) – No doubt capitalizing off the success of the Tell Tale Games point and click adventure, TWD is now going to try it’s undead hand at a first-person shooter. Uber fans will still buy it like the, well, zombies that they are. I don’t expect it to be very good though…. Please don’t eat me.
Other notables:
? – Metro: Last Night (PS3, 360)
5 – Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 (PS3, 360)
5 – Castlevania Lords of Shadow: Mirror of Fate (3DS)
12 – StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm (PC)
26 – Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel (PS3, 360)
Unscheduled
Q1- Animal Crossing New Leaf (3DS)
Q1- Beyond: Two Souls (PS3)
Q1- Pikmin 3 (WiiU)
March is going to be a crazy month for games. I personally am going to stand back and let the AAA companies duke it out and then play a few of the victors. But let’s face it, we’re all just holding out for The Last of Us in May.
Philip is the self appointed co-head of Virtual Katz and the editor in chief of the Link’s A Lefty Gaming Blog as his escape from the real world. He sits at a white collar job but day dreams of video games all day. Philip and his wife will be expecting a baby girl in February and she will be strictly forbidden from playing with motion controls.
Written By Philip W
Philip is a proud member of the Virtual Katz team and the editor in chief of the Link’s A Lefty Gaming Blog as his escape from the real world. He sits at a white collar job but dreams of video games all day. Philip and his wife had a baby girl in February and she is strictly forbidden from playing with motion controls.
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