Screenshots :.
Games That Excite Us
Matt
30-05-2008
"When nothing else works, hit 'em with a rake."
"Fable 2: The Bridge of DOOOOOOM"
"Fallout 3 = <3."
We’re now rapidly approaching the half way mark for the year (doesn’t time fly etc etc) and have seen the release of many spiffing titles. With most of us happily shooting through GTA 4, rocking through Rock Band and exploding our way through the block-based fun of Boom Blocks, it occurs to us that we should get out our little UltraNinjas telescope, peer into the none-too-distant future and set sail for some of the titles that we’re looking forward to the most. It’s been a fair while since the last time we rummaged around for a trio of tantalising titles, so here’s another batch of three that you should keep your eyes out for as the weeks tick past.
Alone in the Dark (PC, 360, PS3, Wii, PS2)
I have to admit that the early hype for Alone in the Dark completely passed me by. Having played the original on my awesome 386 back in 1992 I have fallen somewhat behind the times when it comes to the Alone in the Dark series, and checking back it seems that the last few games were probably best missed anyway (not to mention Uwe Boll’s awful film version).
Taking a leaf out of both Resident Evil 4 and Grand Theft Auto’s books, the latest AITD title sees you taking control of Edward Carnaby for the first time since the original. Waking up to find that, rather inconveniently, he doesn’t know who or where he is, he soon comes across a rather menacing evil force that destroys the mansion he is in. From here it’s a gun-toting, puzzle-solving trip into madness and disaster.
There’s plenty to be excited about, too. Not only does the game look rather awesome, featuring some of the best fire effects I have ever seen, it promises to mix spectacular scripted sections with a free-roaming exploration section based in New York’s Central Park. If they can get this right and balance it up with a proper sense of fear and dread then Alone in the Dark will surely be one of this year’s surprise hits.
Release: June 12th
Fable 2 (360)
I was really rather fond of the original Fable, finding its story and atmosphere to be really rather charming and involving. It may have fallen somewhat short of Peter Molyneux’s lofty promises leading up to release (doesn’t everything?), but overall it offered about twenty hours of very satisfying RPG/action gaming.
The sequel – set some 500 years after the original – promises to build on this, giving players even more chance to mould their own lead character. Set once more in the world of Albion, the game also gives fans of the original a chance to revisit the land they traversed all those years ago to see how things have changed with the passing of time.
Detail on the game is rather thin on the ground at the moment, but we’re promised the ability to play as either gender and, should we wish, marry, have kids and lead the happy life. There’s also the intriguing aspect of having a pet dog to accompany you throughout your adventures should you treat him well, leading to all sorts of emotion-tinged situations should the little fella slip off the mortal coil.
Release: October 31st
Fallout 3 (PC, 360, PS3)
Some of you will have no doubt become aware that I get rather excited about certain games at times (BioShock being a prime example), so you can expect to hear plenty of excited yabbering about Bethesda’s post apocalyptic first-person RPG over the next few months. Even the mere mention of it seems to cause my left eye to twitch.
From the same bods who did the sprawling Oblivion, Fallout 3 is – as well as being a distant cousin to a couple of very good late-90s PC titles – somewhat of a post-apocalyptical first-person adventure, with you taking the lead character through desolated, destroyed landscapes as he tries to find out what has happened to his father. Mixing the macabre olde-worlde feel of BioShock into proceedings has left us with something that looks utterly spectacular, and hugely vast in scope.
There are, for example, supposedly nearly 2,000 different endings that are triggered dependant on your actions throughout the game. There are countless weapons, characters, quests and landscapes to use, meet and traverse. Like Fable 2, there’s a canine companion who can help you, but once he is killed in action there will be no replacement EVER. Oh, and the limited edition doesn’t come in an unfolding book or a tin; it comes in a lunchbox. A LUNCHBOX. Keep your eyes peeled for this one, as it’s gonna be a biggy.
Release: Autumn '08
Alone in the Dark (PC, 360, PS3, Wii, PS2)
I have to admit that the early hype for Alone in the Dark completely passed me by. Having played the original on my awesome 386 back in 1992 I have fallen somewhat behind the times when it comes to the Alone in the Dark series, and checking back it seems that the last few games were probably best missed anyway (not to mention Uwe Boll’s awful film version).
Taking a leaf out of both Resident Evil 4 and Grand Theft Auto’s books, the latest AITD title sees you taking control of Edward Carnaby for the first time since the original. Waking up to find that, rather inconveniently, he doesn’t know who or where he is, he soon comes across a rather menacing evil force that destroys the mansion he is in. From here it’s a gun-toting, puzzle-solving trip into madness and disaster.
There’s plenty to be excited about, too. Not only does the game look rather awesome, featuring some of the best fire effects I have ever seen, it promises to mix spectacular scripted sections with a free-roaming exploration section based in New York’s Central Park. If they can get this right and balance it up with a proper sense of fear and dread then Alone in the Dark will surely be one of this year’s surprise hits.
Release: June 12th
Fable 2 (360)
I was really rather fond of the original Fable, finding its story and atmosphere to be really rather charming and involving. It may have fallen somewhat short of Peter Molyneux’s lofty promises leading up to release (doesn’t everything?), but overall it offered about twenty hours of very satisfying RPG/action gaming.
The sequel – set some 500 years after the original – promises to build on this, giving players even more chance to mould their own lead character. Set once more in the world of Albion, the game also gives fans of the original a chance to revisit the land they traversed all those years ago to see how things have changed with the passing of time.
Detail on the game is rather thin on the ground at the moment, but we’re promised the ability to play as either gender and, should we wish, marry, have kids and lead the happy life. There’s also the intriguing aspect of having a pet dog to accompany you throughout your adventures should you treat him well, leading to all sorts of emotion-tinged situations should the little fella slip off the mortal coil.
Release: October 31st
Fallout 3 (PC, 360, PS3)
Some of you will have no doubt become aware that I get rather excited about certain games at times (BioShock being a prime example), so you can expect to hear plenty of excited yabbering about Bethesda’s post apocalyptic first-person RPG over the next few months. Even the mere mention of it seems to cause my left eye to twitch.
From the same bods who did the sprawling Oblivion, Fallout 3 is – as well as being a distant cousin to a couple of very good late-90s PC titles – somewhat of a post-apocalyptical first-person adventure, with you taking the lead character through desolated, destroyed landscapes as he tries to find out what has happened to his father. Mixing the macabre olde-worlde feel of BioShock into proceedings has left us with something that looks utterly spectacular, and hugely vast in scope.
There are, for example, supposedly nearly 2,000 different endings that are triggered dependant on your actions throughout the game. There are countless weapons, characters, quests and landscapes to use, meet and traverse. Like Fable 2, there’s a canine companion who can help you, but once he is killed in action there will be no replacement EVER. Oh, and the limited edition doesn’t come in an unfolding book or a tin; it comes in a lunchbox. A LUNCHBOX. Keep your eyes peeled for this one, as it’s gonna be a biggy.
Release: Autumn '08
