A new year is upon us, and that means a brand-new set of games will be coming out. As a lifelong gamer myself, there are many games that specifically have my attention, and I am really looking forward to. Below is a list of some of the games that I can’t wait to play this year.
Keep in mind that this list is based solely on my opinion. If your favorite game(s) don’t appear on this list, don’t cry, we all have the right to play and enjoy the games we want to. Now, without further ado, let’s get started.
Gravity Rush 2
I was first introduced to the world of Gravity Rush through the inclusion of Kat in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (a game that really deserves a sequel). I later got the first game on PlayStation Vita, and found it to be quite an enjoyable game. Controlling gravity to fly, fight enemies, and find collectibles was an enjoyable experience. The world of Hekseville was also a charming place filled with mystery and likable characters; even though the story itself left a lot hanging. This is where the sequel comes in, where we finally get the answers to Kat’s past, as well as exploring an entirely new world with new Gravity powers to toy with. Gravity Rush 2 looks to expand on its predecessor’s formula with the power of a home console backing it up, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds. For those of you who want to play the first game but don’t own a PSVita, never fear, as it is also available remastered on PlayStation 4.
For Honor
Ubisoft’s unique blend of hack-n’-slash gameplay with shooter structure turned many heads back when it was first revealed at E3 2015, and for good reason. For Honor features Knights, Vikings, and Samurai fighting each other with an intuitive combat system known as “the art of battle.” Multiplayer matches feature various shooter-style game modes such as controlling territory to defeating enemies. A single-player campaign is also present that details the war between the three factions. This is a concept that is too good to pass up, hopefully Ubisoft can deliver and make a truly inventive game.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
BioWare and EA’s Mass Effect trilogy is one of my favorite game series of all time. With strong combat, amazing characters and stories, and a galaxy that was fleshed out and truly felt real. Thus, my expectations for the franchise’s first next-gen outing are quite high. Andromeda looks to take the series in a bold new direction; we are leaving both Shepard and the Milky Way galaxy behind, and instead following Ryder as s/he explores the nearby Andromeda galaxy. Combat will be expanded upon, giving players no limit to what skills they want to learn, jetpacks to give players more movement, and destructible environments thanks to the power of EA’s Frostbite engine. The series’ traditional Paragon/Renegade morality system is also being thrown out the window, instead making things a lot more ambiguous and up to the player. Series staples will still remain however, such as squad mates, multiple dialogue options, loyalty missions and romanceable characters. Andromeda is the most ambitious game in the Mass Effect series, and it could mean anything for the franchise. I’m certain BioWare will make an enjoyable game that pushes the series into brave new territory.
Yooka-Laylee
I have fond memories of RareWare’s golden age back during the days of the Nintendo 64. Banjo-Kazooie, Diddy Kong Racing and Donkey Kong 64, were all a part of my childhood. Years later, RareWare is a shadow of its former self, having not made a hit game in a decade. However, a sect of former employees left to form a new studio, Playtonic Games. Their first game? A spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie. Initially funded via Kickstarter, the game was a massive success, reaching all of its funding goals, meaning that we can have the best possible version of the game. Yooka-Laylee follows Yooka, a chameleon and Laylee, a bat as they travel through various worlds inside books as they restore them to their former glory. An adventure’s sure to be filled with adventure, humor and memorable characters. 3D Platformers have all but disappeared in recent years with the exception of Mario, and it looks like Yooka-Laylee could cause a resurgence in the genre. Along with my next entry…
Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy
I never played the original Crash Bandicoot games as a kid, but I eventually did get to play the first two via the PlayStation Network. Now a fan, I am eagerly looking forward to this remastering of the first three games; Crash Bandicoot, Cortex Strikes Back and Warped. Developer Vicarious Visions has gone through a lot of effort to recreate the original games’ style for modern hardware. Animations and backgrounds are spot-on, and the game itself looks beautiful. New additions include time trials for the first three games, as well as an improved save system for the first game. All while it looks to keep the series’ amazing gameplay intact. The Bandicoot hasn’t had a game in almost a decade; and this release, crafted with love for the marsupial, could see him a brand-new game.
Marvel versus Capcom Infinite
What seemed like an oddball crossover grew to become one of the most celebrated fighting game franchises of all time. I myself was introduced to the series through Marvel versus Capcom 3, later going on to play the previous two games. Now, the series returns with Marvel versus Capcom Infinite. This time, players fight with a team of two characters from Marvel Comics like Iron Man, Captain America and Captain Marvel; or from Capcom Video games like Ryu, Mega Man X and Morrigan Aensland. The Infinity Stones will give players a boost during gameplay, all while retaining the series’ trademark fast pace that makes it fun for both noobs and pros at fighting games. Infinite will also feature a cinematic story mode, making it a first for the franchise. After a few years of silence, the ultimate crossover fighting game franchise is back, and it looks to be a fight worth fighting for.
Project Sonic 2017 (Tentative title)
Now I am cautious about this entry. Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the franchises I used to love to pieces as a kid, but as I grew older I started to dislike it more and more. Although the original genesis games were acclaimed; unpolished gameplay, ridiculous stories, and gameplay styles that had nothing to do with Sonic plagued most of his 3D games. Just when it finally seemed like Sonic was getting somewhere with Colors and Generations, the series hit rock bottom again with the dreaded Rise of Lyric. Now, SEGA has two Sonic games coming out this year; the retro-inspired Sonic Mania, and a modern game simply titled Project Sonic 2017. Project Sonic 2017 is on this list as opposed to Mania because I grew up with the 3D games, and I myself am excited for a new Sonic. That being said, I am worried about this one. The one trailer we have seems to imply a return of the dark, edgy stories that often end in atrocity for Sonic (*cough* Shadow, 06, *cough*), as well as the return of Classic Sonic from Generations for no discernable reason. However, we know very little about this game, maybe the story won’t be godawful, maybe the gameplay will be an improvement on Colors and Generations, who knows? I’ve been a fan of the blue blur for this long, so I suppose I’ll just ride it out. But seriously SEGA, please make sure this one doesn’t suck!
Star Wars Battlefront II
I played many Star Wars games as a kid, from Episode I: Racer to LEGO Star Wars to of course, Star Wars Battlefront. So when EA and DICE announced a brand-new, next-gen Battlefront game, I was excited. When it was released, I looked past all the negativity and entitlement surrounding the game to find a game that was… decent. DICE’s Battlefront had incredible graphics and made excellent use of the Star Wars license, but it needed more. Now with another Battlefront game confirmed for this year, we can only wonder what will happen. What has been confirmed is a true, fully-fledged single player campaign, one of the most lamented things missing from the previous game. Beyond that, details are scarce. Nevertheless, I’m excited for this next game.
Destiny 2
When you created Halo, one of the most iconic and influential gaming franchises of all time, you have a big legacy to live up to. Nevertheless, Bungie took this challenge head-on with their next game franchise, Destiny. After a huge amount of hype, the game was a massive success and is played by thousands of people still to this day. Praise was given to the gunplay, art direction and lore, but the story was criticized as non-existent and the game itself overly reliant on grinding. Not to mention, the lore that contained Destiny’s meat was placed onto Bungie’s website for unknown reasons. Four expansions have improved the game considerably, but it’s time for a sequel. Without last-gen hardware to hold it back, Bungie can now make Destiny larger and more complex. Rumors imply larger game words with towns and outposts, an improved story and a release for PC. Destiny is a franchise with near limitless potential, and as a player since the beta, I couldn’t be more excited for what could be coming next.
So those some of my most anticipated games coming out this year. Only time will tell if these games live up to my expectations, but I am optimistic. In the meantime, game o
