TOP BANANAS

ABOVE: Donkey Kong plays ice hockey in Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games

14th June 2009

Your Shout ( 0 )

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