Special Edition: Our Most Anticipated Shooters
The Top 5 Most Anticipated Multiplatform Shooters of 2009
So far, 2009 looks to be one of the most exciting seasons for multiplatform games. There’s a wide array of upcoming releases that should have any serious shooter fan excited. We can hardly wait for the following games to be released – and we’re pretty sure these games will live up to the hype.
Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
I’ve never been a fan of games based around a movie franchise because only a few of them are actually any good. Five years ago, Starbreeze made an impact by getting on that exceptionally short list when it released The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. While it intended to tie together the Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick films, the game easily exceeded the two films. It featured an excellent story, good dialogue and interesting characters. Gameplay was an amazing blend of FPS, stealth and exploration, set at a pace that offered very little room for dull moments. It was an instant favorite. Sadly, it was too short and didn’t offer a multiplayer mode.
Thankfully, these two points are addressed in the very soon-to-be-released sequel, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. Early this month, a demo was made available on Xbox Live, followed by one on The PlayStation Network a week later; and honestly, I cannot wait to get my hands on the final build. Dark Athena comes with an enhanced version of Butcher Bay with a bit more content, as well as multiplayer modes. You can choose to start off with the stunningly re-mastered Butcher Bay or get right into Dark Athena. Either way, gamers should be in for a hell of a ride.
Dark Athena takes advantage of Riddick’s ability to see in the dark and relies more heavily on stealth, at least during the earlier parts of the game. The latter half will have more to offer run-and-gun players. Riddick finds himself trapped aboard a mercenary ship under the command of the homicidal Captain Revas. While he battles a bunch of deadly drones, Riddick’s story also progresses quite naturally and you’ll get to meet some truly interesting characters. I believe it is this balance between combat, stealth and plot that make The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Arena one of the best titles you can get this year.
Red Faction: Guerrilla (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
Red Faction: Guerrilla takes place 50 years after the events of the first Red Faction. The Earth Defense Force (EDF) has transformed into an evil organization that kidnaps people and forces them to work in camps for EDF’s profit. Your former allies are now the enemy. This time around, you play Alec Mason, who recently moved to Mars both to work as miner on the red planet, attempting to escape a supposedly troubled past. Things don’t go according to plan, of course, as certain incidents lead him to become a member of the Red Faction.
Aside from the updated storyline, however, Red Faction: Guerrilla promises a few more interesting changes to look forward to. Most notable, perhaps, is the shift to being to a third-person shooter. Volition has also improved on the Geo-Mod system and created a more expansive, open-world setting. This is a setting that enables you to reduce practically everything to rubble! Vehicles are also making a comeback in this installment, which include mean looking all terrain vehicles and giant construction mecha jury rigged with different weapons. Just like the environment, all these lovely modes of transport can be wonderfully and satisfyingly destroyed. This installment will also offer a host of multiplayer options, which is a very welcome addition. All in all, Red Faction: Guerrilla looks like a very strong update to a consistently solid series.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
Set to be released in the fourth quarter of the year, very little is known about Modern Warfare 2. It is highly anticipated for the simple reason that its predecessor happens to be one of the most critically acclaimed, multiple award winning and best selling games ever. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare very nearly perfected the FPS genre, with a campaign mode that boasts of a compelling narrative, as well as extremely immersive and intense gameplay. The multiplayer modes ensured replay-ability and cemented it as an instant classic. This is why every serious gamer, myself included, is extremely excited to just how far the sequel will push the envelope.
Wolfenstein (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
Similarly, not much has been revealed about Wolfenstein, the long-awaited sequel of the highly successful Return to Castle Wolfenstein. The Castle Wolfenstein series beats all the other titles on this list in terms of longevity. The original, released for the Apple II, DOS, Atari 400 and Commodore 64 in 1981, holds the distinction of being the first stealth-based computer game. By mere pedigree alone, Wolfenstein is worth looking forward to. Wolfenstein is being developed by Raven Software using id Software’s Tech 4 engine, the same engine that runs behind Doom 3 and Quake 4.
Set in an alternative version of 1943 during the height of the Second World War, special agent B.J. Blazkowicz must once again stop Heinrich Himmler and the SS who plan to master a mysterious supernatural power known only as the Black Sun. This time around, our hero has access to a supernatural realm called The Veil. Within it, he has special abilities like being able to slow down time, get past obstacles, and defeat enemies that would otherwise have impenetrable shields.
Bionic Commando (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
I saved Bionic Commando for last because this is the one I am most excited about. It is also the one I consider to be the most long overdue. Capcom’s original Bionic Commando, released in 1987, introduced a novel grappling hook mechanism to the otherwise stagnating side scrolling platform games, which turned it into an instant arcade classic. It was released on the NES in 1988, and became one of my favorite titles. Unfortunately, it would take Capcom over a decade to come up with a significant update for the series, Bionic Commando: Elite Forces for the Game Boy Color. I only rediscovered this beloved classic when an enhanced remake of the NES version called Bionic Commando: Rearmed was released for Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and Windows. One of the best downloadable games ever, it retains the amazing gameplay of the classic, but kicks it up several notches with an improved AI, and graphics that were just jaw-droppingly beautiful. All this has served only to whet my appetite for the seventh-generation console installment set for release in May 2009.
The storyline of Bionic Commando has taken on a more serious and cynical tone compared to the original, which I believe adds a certain depth to the character. In this iteration we play as bionically-enhanced agent Nathan “Rad” Spencer who has been framed for a number of crimes by his superiors and sentenced for execution. However, on same the day Spencer is to be executed, an experimental weapon called the Witherer is detonated by the mysterious terrorist group known as Bio Rain, reducing the Ascension City to ruins. The government realizes that Spencer is uniquely qualified to infiltrate the city and they have no choice but to turn to him for help.
Aside from the update in the storyline, the gameplay promises to be true to the spirit of the originals but will also introduce a lot of current generation innovation. Judging from the released footage, Bionic Commando is looking out to be a gorgeous game as well. An online multiplayer mode has also been confirmed and I can’t wait to see how that will work out. It’s been far too long since a serious update to the Bionic Commando series came out, and I am thrilled that it will finally be swinging by in just a few months.
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March 21st, 2009
FYI - Bionic Commando was originally a coin-op arcade game.
Good list!
March 24th, 2009
Extreme development in gaming graphics
has ultimately made it a VIRTUAL REALITY !!!
Good post ..:D
March 24th, 2009
Good post, but where’s Borderlands?
March 24th, 2009
Where the hell is Borderlands? *sigh* Seems like we have another cult hit to live on in obscurity on our hands…
Seriously, I recommend doing some research into Borderlands. Take a look at the CinemaBlend special and read a couple interviews; you’ll like what you see.
April 23rd, 2009
Just to let you know, Infinity Ward has completely dropped Call Of Duty from the name of their next game. It is going to be released as just Modern Warfare 2.
August 4th, 2009
I cant wait for Battlefield Bad Company 2 and check this one out. Flashpoint 2 dradon rising. Looks better than bad company because more destructable and better weapons
October 6th, 2009
I wonder if Half life 3 will be done some day, hope I am not in too small a minority on that one