TOP BANANAS
ABOVE: Donkey Kong plays ice hockey in Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games
LAST week’s E3 convention in LA highlighted plenty of new games coming up. Here are a few to watch out for over the next few months and beyond…
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
Wii, DS
RELEASE: Late 2009
After
the success of Mario & Sonic At The Olympics, it was only a matter
of time before Sega and Nintendo went on a second date, this time
producing Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games.
It’s an
obvious move but the on-ice rivalry works well as two of gaming’s
biggest names go head-to-head in events ranging from speed skating to
Alpine skiing, all against the backdrop of the 2010 Vancouver Games.
The big news on the Wii version is that it’s compatible with the
Balance Board.
Need for Speed: Shift
360, PS3, PC, PSP9
RELEASE: September 2009
EA’s
long-running driving series has been a bit of a shambles in recent
years but the franchise cranks back into gear with Shift, out in
September across the 360, PC, PS3 and PSP.
The new game boasts more
than 80 authentic licensed cars from a classic Escort Cosworth to the
Pagani Zonda F.
There are also 20 tracks including Silverstone, Brands
Hatch and a London street circuit. It’s not quite like playing Forza
but it’s certainly on its way, aided by impressive graphics, a decent
in-cockpit view and some stunning
collisions and crashes.
Splinter Cell: Conviction
360, PC
RELEASE: September 2009
There
has been plenty of industry buzz about this one, with Splinter Cell
returning to its roots as a 360 exclusive (along with a PC version).
Sam Fisher is out of retirement to hunt down his daughter’s killers,
aided by some interesting updates and a couple of new weapons.
No
longer confined to the dark, the ageing hit man can now hide in broad
daylight, cover provided by the crowds of people populating the various
cities in which the game is set.
Visuals are breathtaking and the
developers have included a few new tricks including a ghost feature in
which your enemies track your last known position, allowing you to
creep up behind them and remove their windpipe with a blade.
Not for
kids as the violence is ramped up, including some nasty interrogations.
Brink
360, PS3, PC
RELEASE: Spring 2010
One
game that took a few by surprise at E3 was Brink, a first-person
shooter from Bethesda blending single-player, co-op and multi-player
gameplay, letting you develop your character regardless of the mode.
Set on the Ark, a man-made floating city made up of hundreds of
separate islands, the game is a twist on a future in which the ice caps
have melted and the oceans have risen.
But the Ark is on the brink of
civil war with the main character forced to take control using an
array of weaponry and some very interesting movement controls.
It’s
early on but Brink looks very promising and should be a hit when it
splashes down some time next year.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
360, PS3
RELEASE: Late 2010
It’s some game that grabs the attention from a new Metal Gear Solid announcement but Castlevania did just that at the Konami conference.
Announced last year as Lords Of Shadow (a cover name while the game was
in development), Castlevania looks to be a truly stunning, next-gen
version of the classic title, set in a medieval world blighted by the
undead, vampires and werewolves.
You are the wronged hero out to
retrieve an artefact that can resurrect his dead wife, your only weapon
a dirty great whip made of chains.
There’s plenty to explore, from
frozen wastes to Gothic dungeons, with plenty of foul creatures
en-route including a huge Cyclops that looks truly eye-opening.
The
only drawback is that it’ll be more than a year before we get to play
it…
Thanks to the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Hollywood Walk of Fame for giving me a room during the E3 Convention in LA. If you’re heading to Hollywood and need a decent play to stay at a good price, head to HolidayInn.com
Your own profile, post pics, BLOG
Digg
StumbleUpon
del.icio.us
Newsvine
reddit
Print This Page
Email To A Friend
Contact Us
Get RSS
