E3 2010 is soon upon us and the hype is over more present. What better time to update my 2010 hypes of this year with new games that I might have forgotten back in March or that was added with the forthcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo. Like Mario would say: "Here we GO!".
Final Fantasy XIV
PS3, PC
What better than a major Final Fantasy release set this year? How about two!?! Indeed, a rare sight it is, but the truth. Already in alpha testing, this new online iteration is set to replace the aging Final Fantasy XI and will boost a new gameplay mechanic that promises to be more engaging than its predecessor.
Developed using the same in-house engine as the 13th game of the series, the Crystal Tools engine, its creators have elaborated a rich aesthetic world that blends sci-fi and classic fantasy elements. It was also revealed that the entire soundtrack will be composed by none other than the legendary Nobuo Uematsu. Due for a simultaneous worldwide release in 2010, I will for now dream of the many ventures to come in the land of Hydaelyn.
The Last Story
Wii
As much as I love the Wii, there's one thing that's missing to make my day... RPGs. So, when it was revealed that Nintendo and Mistwalker partnered up to bring a full fledged RPG series to the Wii, I must confess that I was drooling all over my keyboard :D .
The Last Story looks like Hironobu Sakaguchi at his best. I can not help but recall some old memories from the glorious SNES era, back when RPG and adventure games were very popular and in abundance. Even one must admit that the logo of The Last Story has a Final Fantasy vibe to it. Even its name is suggest that. It is an attempt from Nintendo to spawn a new series on its console to rival the like of Final Fantasy? Who knows!?!? But one thing is certain, this one looks like a winner!
Tales of Graces
Wii
12th mothership title and the newest generation in the Tales series, Tales of Graces follows lead character Asbel Lhant, who desires to obtain greater strength. Remaining faithful to tradition, the battle system was again augmented and is now called "Style Shift Linear Motion Battle System" (SS-LMBS), which enables the characters to have two different fighting styles to choose from.
Launch on December 10, 2009 in Japan, exclusively for the Wii, Tales of Graces received a 36/40 (9/9/9/9) from Famitsu magazine and sold 113,000 copies during its first day. We still have yet to know if Namco Bandai will release it in North America, but after the success of both Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Vesperia, it wouldn't make sense if they didn't. I would be thrilled if an announcement was made at this year E3, as I love Tales of Symphonia back when it was released on the Nintendo GameCube.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
My 2010 Hypes: Gaming, Part One
A decade went by, seeing a lot of great game systems and awesome games for them. The PS2 is the crowned king in terms of console sales and games, and even thought I'm a Nintendo Fanboy, I just loved all those great JRPGs that came out an the PS2. However, Nintendo have slowly gaining on the champion with the Wii. Will it beat the best selling console of all time or will the motion controllers of Microsoft and Sony be its downfall? It is an all new decade and a lot of hypes is going around.
Two months already went by, and we have yet to see the astonishing games announced back in 2008-2009. Nintendo is ever more secretive about their projects, Sony has everything to prove, and Microsoft is betting a lot on their Project Natal. Lets not forget all the 3rd Parties out there working hard to take a piece of the action. If 2009 was quiet, 2010 will be packed with big releases and news. Here's some of the games that I'm really looking forward too.
Alan Wake
Xbox 360
In production for quite some time now, in fact since its debut at the 2005 E3, Alan Wake is a "psychological action thriller" inspired by the works of Stephen King. Being developed by Remedy Entertainment, the plot of the game is centered around Alan Wake, a bestselling writer who has not written anything in over two years.
His wife, Alice, brings him to the idyllic small town of Bright Falls to recover his creative flow. When she vanishes without a trace, Wake finds himself trapped in a nightmare. Word by word, his latest work—a thriller he cannot even remember writing—is coming true before his eyes. He then tries to find pages of the book, getting most mainly from a man named Rusty. Looks like I will have to finally buy a Xbox 360.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
PS3, Xbox 360
The Castlevania series has been around since the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), and we've saw many iterations in the last years, some good, some bad. One have my all time favorite is Super Castlevania IV for the SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), which I've played all night long when I've received my SNES for my 11th birthday. If the game is anything like the trailer shown in that 2009 Gamescon, then it will be as much have.
Final Fantasy XIII
PS3, Xbox 360
Oh... The never ending Final Fantasy! It graced so many system and it spawned numerous variations that I've stopped counting them. Nevertheless, I've always loved this series. In fact, I've started playing JRPG with Final Fantasy II, which is the fourth one back in Japan. Some will say that it is more of a big interactive movie now, with all the CGs that Square Enix is putting in, but it is still a marvelous tale to gaze upon, and judging from the japanese reviews found in the Famitsu magazine, it is worth to be played.
Metroid: Other M
Wii
Announced at last year E3 and demoed at Nintendo 2010 Media Conference, Metroid: Other M takes an all new approach at the series, but keeping it classic at the same time.
When it was revealed that Team Ninja, the creative force behind games such as Ninja Gaiden series, would collaborate with Nintendo to unfold a new adventures for Samus, it definitely took the gaming community be surprise. I must admit I felt a certain discomfort at the idea of Team Ninja at the head of this project, but more fear were put to rest when Nintendo release new information about it at their March Summit. It is a new artistic direction for the series, but I am confident that it would blow our mind.
The Legend of Zelda Wii
Wii
Little is known about the new interation of this series that I cherish, except for an artwork shown at last year E3 and bits facts told in interviews, but many rumors goes saying that a full fledged Motion Plus Zelda would come out around Christmas. I don't know if it is true, but if indeed a new chapter of Link's adventure is published by year's end, it means that Nintendo would unleash their three biggest IPs (Mario, Zelda, Metroid) in the same year, which would be a first.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Wii
I cried over the first game. Everything was so beautiful—from the level design to the orchestral music. This was one of Nintendo masterpiece game, a must have, and I definitely revisit it when the second outing comes out later in May.
Xenoblade
Wii
Originally announced at Nintendo E3 2009 Press Conference as Monado: Beginning of the World, which is brought to us by the studio that created the Xenosaga and Baten Kaitos series. That latest Famitsu shows an ambitious JRPG for the Wii, and it looks absolutely gorgeous. Plus, it was revealed that the music composer is Yoko Shimomura.
Two months already went by, and we have yet to see the astonishing games announced back in 2008-2009. Nintendo is ever more secretive about their projects, Sony has everything to prove, and Microsoft is betting a lot on their Project Natal. Lets not forget all the 3rd Parties out there working hard to take a piece of the action. If 2009 was quiet, 2010 will be packed with big releases and news. Here's some of the games that I'm really looking forward too.
Alan Wake
Xbox 360
In production for quite some time now, in fact since its debut at the 2005 E3, Alan Wake is a "psychological action thriller" inspired by the works of Stephen King. Being developed by Remedy Entertainment, the plot of the game is centered around Alan Wake, a bestselling writer who has not written anything in over two years.
His wife, Alice, brings him to the idyllic small town of Bright Falls to recover his creative flow. When she vanishes without a trace, Wake finds himself trapped in a nightmare. Word by word, his latest work—a thriller he cannot even remember writing—is coming true before his eyes. He then tries to find pages of the book, getting most mainly from a man named Rusty. Looks like I will have to finally buy a Xbox 360.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
PS3, Xbox 360
The Castlevania series has been around since the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), and we've saw many iterations in the last years, some good, some bad. One have my all time favorite is Super Castlevania IV for the SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), which I've played all night long when I've received my SNES for my 11th birthday. If the game is anything like the trailer shown in that 2009 Gamescon, then it will be as much have.
Final Fantasy XIII
PS3, Xbox 360
Oh... The never ending Final Fantasy! It graced so many system and it spawned numerous variations that I've stopped counting them. Nevertheless, I've always loved this series. In fact, I've started playing JRPG with Final Fantasy II, which is the fourth one back in Japan. Some will say that it is more of a big interactive movie now, with all the CGs that Square Enix is putting in, but it is still a marvelous tale to gaze upon, and judging from the japanese reviews found in the Famitsu magazine, it is worth to be played.
Metroid: Other M
Wii
Announced at last year E3 and demoed at Nintendo 2010 Media Conference, Metroid: Other M takes an all new approach at the series, but keeping it classic at the same time.
When it was revealed that Team Ninja, the creative force behind games such as Ninja Gaiden series, would collaborate with Nintendo to unfold a new adventures for Samus, it definitely took the gaming community be surprise. I must admit I felt a certain discomfort at the idea of Team Ninja at the head of this project, but more fear were put to rest when Nintendo release new information about it at their March Summit. It is a new artistic direction for the series, but I am confident that it would blow our mind.
The Legend of Zelda Wii
Wii
Little is known about the new interation of this series that I cherish, except for an artwork shown at last year E3 and bits facts told in interviews, but many rumors goes saying that a full fledged Motion Plus Zelda would come out around Christmas. I don't know if it is true, but if indeed a new chapter of Link's adventure is published by year's end, it means that Nintendo would unleash their three biggest IPs (Mario, Zelda, Metroid) in the same year, which would be a first.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Wii
I cried over the first game. Everything was so beautiful—from the level design to the orchestral music. This was one of Nintendo masterpiece game, a must have, and I definitely revisit it when the second outing comes out later in May.
Xenoblade
Wii
Originally announced at Nintendo E3 2009 Press Conference as Monado: Beginning of the World, which is brought to us by the studio that created the Xenosaga and Baten Kaitos series. That latest Famitsu shows an ambitious JRPG for the Wii, and it looks absolutely gorgeous. Plus, it was revealed that the music composer is Yoko Shimomura.
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