What's new in games?
| 06 January 2012
Santa’s sleigh bells are still faintly ringing in our ears, but it’s a new year and a fresh 12 months brimming with thumb blistering potential in the world of videogames.
While there’s not a huge amount happening on Wii – no doubt a result of the forthcoming Wii U, 3DS fans have a lot to be excited about with titles including Resident Evil Revelations, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, Luigi's Mansion 2, Professor Layton 5 and Mario Tennis, all set to land this year.
Nintendo has to rightly keep very much on top of its game, as February will see the launch of Sony’s potential 3DS beater, in the guise of PS Vita. The new large-screen gaming handheld has already done great business in Japan and is expected to make a big impact over here when it launches.
Without a doubt the Vita must-have game will be Uncharted: Golden Abyss. The latest Nathan Drake action adventure is the first portable outing for the Indiana Jones-style series and is already causing game critics to offer generous applause for its visual beauty and exciting gameplay.
Over on Xbox 360 and there’s quite a few ‘next instalments’ in the guise of both the shooter-tastic Halo 4 and the RPG stylings of Fable 4 (also called Fable: The Journey) and Mass Effect 3. But what I’m most excited about is the unveiling of Kinect Star Wars. Finally we get to swish imaginary lightsabres in front of the TV! What’s not to like?
The PS3 has fewer console exclusives than both Nintendo and Microsoft, but by far the stand out title looks to be The Last of Us. Developed by the same talented team that served up the irresistible Uncharted games, this action adventure has a distinct zombie flavour and is bound to score a direct hit when it debuts towards the end of the year.
That’s not all – of course. There’s the latest Ghost Recon game, a re-imagined Tomb Raider, an epic Final Fantasy adventure and a big budget South Park debut. And that’s all before the launch of Wii U, the hybrid tablet/console from Nintendo that still has everyone guessing about gameplay and software support – never mind a confirmed release date.
It may well be the depths of winter but with a gaming future as bright as the next 12 months, I recommend keeping a pair of sunglasses, and perhaps a spare pair of thumbs, handy at all times.
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