Top 10 New Franchises
1. Prototype
Release: June
Developer : Radical Entertainment
Platforms: 360/PS3/PC
This game is full of so much awesomeness, that I don't think my 360 will even be able to contain it. You play as one of the most badass gaming characters ever as he rampages across a disaster-struck NYC, killing or destroying everything in his path. His mutant abilities to transform body parts into weapons, like huge claws, massive spikes, or thick armored plates, make him nearly impossible to kill. And you can consume other people to take on their appearance, or to learn their skills or watch their memory. Consuming memories is how you learn the backstory to the game, which is a sweet idea for narrative work.
2. Borderlands
Release: June
Developer: Gearbox
Platforms: 360/PS3/PC
This is another game that has me psyched for its sheer coolness. The game takes place on an alien world with a wild-west feel. With no government in sight, the raiders and explorers roam free through the desserts, driving sweet combat buggies as they fight off rivals and dangerous beasts. But though the game has a lot of driving and shooting, its an RPG/shooter hybrid, and the RPG side shows strongly with the loot. The game supposedly has over 650,000 unique guns already, due to a weapon creation system in the game that generates more guns than any dev team could possibly hard code. Seriously, over half a million different guns, do you need anything else?
3. Champions Online
Release: June
Developer: Crpytic Studios
Platforms: 360/PC
The newest MMORPG from Cryptic Studios, the makers of City of Heroes and City of Villains. This one is going to have a very in-depth character creation system, where you design your own superhero, from his appearance to his powers to weaknesses. The screens and info so far look great, so this is definitely the next MMO on my list.
4. Dragon Age: Origins
Release: TBA 2009
Developer: BioWare
Platform: 360/PS3/PC
The developer on this one should say it all. As the newest RPG from the developer of Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, Jade Empire & Baldur's Gate, there is no way that Dragon Age can't be good. It's a huge fantasy world, with tons of our favorite fantasy creatures, but with the excellent game design of BioWare. And each character class has a unique begin to the game, going through a lengthy origin sequence, which adds a lot to replay value.
5. Darksiders
Release: August
Developer: Vigil Games
Platform: 360/PS3
This is another one with a pretty badass premise. Armageddon has just begone, and the earth is now a battleground between angels and demons, battling over the last remnants of humanity. You play as one of the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse, War. And its your job to annhialate all the other bastards that are roaming the wasteland that was once our world. Did I mention you get a giant sword, a warrior horse, and gattling guns?
6. Saboteur
Release: Summer
Developer: Pandemic
Platform: 360/PS3
From the famed developer Pandemic (Battlefront series among others), this looks to be a highly unique stealth game. Set in WWII behind enemy lines (I believe its Paris), the character takes on the role of a partisan fighter who is attempting to sabotage Nazi plans and help bring them down from the inside. The game has a unique art style for many of the sequences (I believe its the un-saved areas), where everything is shades of grey except for the red Nazi flags & symbols, kind of like Pleasantville. It looks to be a very original and action-packed title.
Release: TBA 2009
Developer: Raven Software
Platform: 360/PS3/PC
This is another title from a well-known developer. Raven is releasing a trio of heavy-hitters this year, including the new Wolfenstein, and the new X-Men game, but Singularity may be the most unique of the three. The story puts the player on a strange island where an accident manipulated the time continuum. The island will go through periodic shifts, where everything around you changes from its broken-down contemporary form to its brand-new Cold War version. The game also lets you manipulate time yourself, like the ability to send objects forward or backwards in time to collapse/rebuild them, freezing objects by pausing time, and decaying your enemies into dust. The puzzle opportunities sound as intruiging as Braid's, but in 3D.
8. Demigod
Release: April
Developer: Gas Powered Games
Platform: PC
This game is set to combine all of the best elements of RTS and RPG into one. Players choose their race/team and then select a Demigod, choosing either an Assassin or a General unit. The Generals play much more like RTS, commanding all of your little minions around the battlefield to take out the enemies. Assassin units are highly powerful on their own, so rather than micromanage your troops, you let them fight on their own while you hunt down key opposition to kill yourself. The size of the battles is impressive, the scaling looks spot-on, and there are some awesome creature/unit designs, like the impossibly huge Castle Demigod.
9. Halo Wars
Release: March
Developer: Ensemble Studios
Platforms: 360
This one is already out, but its from 09, so it deserves a spot on the list. Take the most popular console FPS and turn it into a console RTS- sounds kind of crazy right? But Halo was originally conceived as an RTS by Bungie, and it still kicks ass after returning to its roots. I''ve only gotten to play the demo so far, but I'm hoping to get the full version for my birthday later this month. The game uses a built-for-360 control scheme, which makes it one of the best (if not THE best) RTS games on consoles. It's action-packed, it includes all of our favorite units (like Warthogs and Scorpion tanks) and keeps the feel & integrity of the Halo universe. Ensemble was shut down after finishing the game, but that only makes it more alluring.
10. Batman: Arkham Asylum
Release: June
Developer: Rocksteady
Platforms: 360/PS3/PC
This may be based on one of the oldest IP's in action fiction, but the game itself is a new franchise. It isn't based on any movie or tv series, so the developers were free to do as they'd like. The game's premise is that Batman was following a recently-captured Joker into Arkham Asylum, when the madman breaks out and takes over the joint. The place is massive, including tons of underground and secret areas, so the whole game takes place in the huge madhouse. The action and stealth seem integrated well, and are a blast from what I've read so far. This game may finally redeem the Batman name in video games, and even may him a hit again, like Dark Knight did with movies.
- Scott
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