InFamous: Second Son (PS4, March 21)
This is admittedly a personal choice for me, having immensely enjoyed the first two entries in the series featuring Cole McGrath. This time around, however, we will be seeing the world through the eyes of Delsin Rowe (voiced by the ubiquitous Troy Baker). The world has changed with the death of Cole and the Beast, and though all Conduits were said to have died, some survived, and the Department of Unified Protection is formed to hunt down the Conduit “terrorists.” Enter Delsin, who will come to possess either “smoke” or “neon” powers, which allows for two very different ways of playing.
The comic-book feeling of the first two games should continue in this PS4 exclusive, and it will be interesting to see if Delsin can truly shine as a new character, and not a poor substitute for the charismatic Cole.
Destiny (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, September 9)
It’s nice to see that Bungie is thinking beyond the scope of its monstrous Halo series, Destiny stands to be a breath of fresh air while still maintaining the deep sci-fi elements that made Halo an engaging story as well as gaming experience. The game looks to combine the characteristics of a first-person shooter and a role-playing game, taking place in what Bungie calls a “shared-world experience,” where players will be “matched” with others as they play.
While the post-apocalyptic world is not a unique concept (especially since The Last of Us turned the genre on its head last year), the premise of trying to return to a “Golden Age” of exploration and technology seems promising.
Super Smash Bros. (Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, release date unknown)
This should come as a no-brainer. It’ll have been almost six years until we’ve received a Super Smash Bros. game, and the obviously-titled Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U should help to fill the void. Developer Masahiro Sakurai has said that the game will be a cross between the frenetic gameplay of Melee and the slower, more casual pace of Brawl. While the experience will probably not be revolutionary, it will most likely be a hit with groups of gamers getting together for a fun shared experience.
With a new game comes new characters, of course, and so far we can look forward to newcomers Megaman, Rosalina (Super Mario Galaxy), Villager (Animal Crossing) and the Wii Fit Trainer.
Watch Dogs (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, Q2 2014)
The announcement of Watch Dogs had journalists and gamers salivating during E3 2012, and with good reason. The game takes place in an alternate version of Chicago and is seen through the eyes of a computer hacker who can do a whole range of things without laying a finger.
The game looks somewhat like a futuristic Assassin’s Creed, but it also stands to make a very valid point about our relationship with technology. How much ownership do we truly have when we turn on a computer? And how much privacy do we have, really? Watch Dogs will debut at a critical moment in history, as the world remains embroiled in its concern over the spying of the NSA.
Road Not Taken (PC, release date unknown)
Now for something completely different — a cute-looking puzzle game. Taking place in the aftermath of a winter storm, you control a character with near god-like powers, as you gather foods, reunite couples and clear trees while you move around a checker board. The game purports to be about life’s surprises, so here’s hoping some great emotional storytelling is involved as well.
