This fall is shaping up to be just as fantastic as last year's with the quality of video game releases. Last year we saw quality such as Crysis, World in Conflict, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Bioshock, Assassin's Creed, Phantom Hourglass, Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, Mass Effect, Halo 3, CoH: Opposing Forces, and of course the Orange Box quintet. Because I'm having trouble keeping the upcoming releases all straight, here are the following titles that are getting me lit up.
September:
The start of September is the beginning of fall, and what better way to start out by having possibly the biggest PC release of the year in Spore? The more I've read of this game, the more and more excited I am about it. The charm and simplicity make the game very accessible while being broad and deep as well. In this on-again, off-again relationship, I'm way, way on with just six days to go -- it releases Sunday, Sept 7th.
Also in September, and one of the biggest reasons I got a Playstation 3, The Force Unleashed pushes, chokes, and blasts its way on to multiple platforms on September 16th. One of the most exciting action demos I've played this year, TFU has Force elements previously unseen. A sanguine melding of the epic feel of recent classics like the Jedi Knight series with the brutal gameplay of God of War, The Force Unleashed can help but be a hit. The true nature of the game, however, will lie with the level design, something I haven't seen much of yet -- will this be a varied romp through distinct levels inhabited by creative enemies, or a bland series of repetitive worlds with a bunch of Stormtroopers? And what about the story? Will we see a compelling cast of characters and events like The Empire Strikes Back, or a predictable cast of wooden goofs like The Phantom Menace? We'll see in two weeks.
The very same day as TFU drops comes Crysis: Warhead, a simultaneous series of events that proceeded along with those played out in the Crysis of last fall. This time you assume the role of the slightly cliched Psycho as he wreaks havok on the alien-inhabited North Korean-controlled isle. If this just does all the same things that Crysis does with a different stort, it will be worth the budget title cost of $29.99.
Two weeks hence, on September 23rd comes two more great-looking titles, Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway and Lego Batman.
September finishes up with a pocket-sized bang as Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood releases on September 30th. I've already described the nearly beyond belief Sega-franchised Bioware-produced RPG on Nintendo DS hardware effort before, and it will finally be available in four weeks. I've very much been looking forward to this title and breaking out my DS for some fun. I can't see how this isn't going to be great, with a great company detailing a classic franchise on the best hardware ever invented for turn-based RPG games.
October:
We're only just to October?!
October starts out cool but heats up in the third week with the exceptional-looking Fable II. The first game, at release a Xbox exclusive but ported to PC as well, was a remarkable action-RPG with deep storytelling and questing, and this new edition aims to improve on the model. Only for 360 at launch, but may be found elsewhere in the future.
Also near the end of October we expect Dead Space and Far Cry 2, and both have the possibility to be classic shooters.
Another exciting, kid-friendly, and accessible game in October is LittleBigPlanet, a cooperative world-building platformer that allows for incredibly creative custom-designed levels with accurate physics that support up to four-player online multiplay. Plus the game is just freaking adorable. This is one that should be lots of fun to play in person with a group, or just have fun with the intuitive sandbox creation tools to make the level of your dreams -- or nightmares!
The last week of October may just be the most exciting yet, where we see the one-two punch of the third installment of two incredible video game franchises: Fallout 3 and Red Alert 3. Early looks at Fallout 3 have demonstrative massive worlds full of wonderous and dangerous things, modelled in incredible and terrible beauty. Red Alert 3 also has incredible and terrible beauty, but in the form of a star-studded cast that includes Jenny McCarthy, George Takai, J K Simmons, Jonathan Pryce, and many more. Oh yeah, and the game itself promises to be a hard-hitting and thoughtful RTS thanks to innovative units, varied maps, and a fully cooperative multiplay campaign. Both release October 28.
November:
Finally, as fall winds down, the releases get even thicker.
Two great shooters, Resistence 2 and Gears of War 2 duel for the most graphic platform-exclusive sequel. Each should have some great action elements from early looks.
Also the first week of November is Tom Clancy's EndWar, which smacks of last year's World in Conflict. EndWar boasts impressive voice controls, allowing you to play completely free of keyboard and mouse. The game has a simple core gameplay of helicopter verses tanks verses transports theme, but expands on that model with support units and tactical combat based in real-world locales. Plus the game looks great.
Other possible releases towards the end of the fall include Need for Speed Undercover, a return to the Most Wanted / Underground roots and away from the poor ProStreet title, as well as a Prince of Persia for next-gen titles, a series I've greatly enjoyed throughout the past few years.
And oh yeah... Grand Theft Auto 4 releases for PC as of November 21st! Have to get the kid to bed early so I can claim my turf in Liberty City!
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