A few months ago, no list of the upcoming fall season’s most anticipated video games would have been complete without “Grand Theft Auto IV” — but that was before the game was delayed until next year.
So what’s left for gamers? Plenty.
These games look promising enough to deserve spots on your holiday wish list:
“Mass Effect”
Platform: Xbox 360
Release date: Nov. 20
Genre: Action/role-playing
If this one ends up being nearly as good as it looks in previews, expect it to land near the top of many year-end “best of” lists.
From the developer of “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic” and “Jade Empire,” “Mass Effect” puts players into the shoes of a human who must accomplish a familiar goal: Stop the extinction of all intelligent life in the galaxy.
But “Mass Effect” aims to distinguish itself in how players choose to accomplish that quest. Moral choices promise to shape how others perceive your character — and not as purely good or evil, but as a mixture of both.
“Assassin’s Creed”
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PCs
Release date: Nov. 13
Genre: Action/adventure
Plenty of games have stressed stealth, but none has starred a blade-wielding assassin in 12th-century Jerusalem. That’s just one reason we can’t wait for “Assassin’s Creed” — one of many reasons, actually. As Altair, you can scale the sides of buildings, scamper along rooftops and dive into bales of hay. The catch? You must do so without drawing too much attention to yourself, lest you face the wrath of guards or passersby.
From the early looks we’ve had of the game, the trick is knowing when to take flight and when to slow down, bow your head and blend in with the crowd. Of course, fighting is necessary at times — but a good assassin knows his job is much easier if his prey doesn’t suspect he’s coming.
“Super Mario Galaxy”
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Release date: Nov. 12
Genre: Platformer
Mario takes center stage for Nintendo once again in a game likely to be one of the holiday season’s bestsellers. His job, as before, is to traverse a 3-D world full of obstacles and enemies to save Princess Peach, who apparently has yet to figure out how to keep from being kidnapped by the evil Bowser.
This time, though, Mario’s actions are managed by the motion-sensing Wii controller. As the title suggests, Mario must jump from galaxy to galaxy conquering mini-planets in his quest to save the ever-imperiled Peach. Again.
“Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare”
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PCs
Release date: Nov. 5
Genre: Shooter
In case the title failed to make this clear, the fourth iteration in the excellent “Call of Duty” series — unlike its predecessors — does not take place during World War II. What this means is updated weaponry and missions in locales not confined to Europe, Russia or North Africa. Here you’re stalking terrorists, not Nazis.
Fortunately, it also means a continuation of the same intense firefights the series has become known for — in environments much richer in detail than before.
“Rock Band”
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2
Release date: Nov. 23 (Xbox 360, PS3); Dec. 10 (PS2)
Genre: Rhythm
Sure, the “Guitar Hero” series has the pedigree (and a new version, “Guitar Hero III,” out this week), but “Rock Band” has the buzz. As well it should — by turning your family room into a concert hall, it’s poised to give “Guitar Hero” all it can handle in the battle of the virtual bands.
The “Rock Band” bundle will include the game, a guitar, a drum set and a microphone, for a whopping $170 ($160 for the PS2 version) — and that’s not including a second guitar, which the game also supports. Although you could buy the game by itself, it wouldn’t be much fun, not when it includes the master tracks of songs by such bands as Nirvana, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Metallica and Foo Fighters. Rock on.
–Newsday |
