When every new year begins, a fresh batch of
release dates soon follow. Teaser
trailers and updates start flooding in as the developers inch closer to their
deadlines. Meanwhile, gamers flock to
forums and websites to see the titles piling up, wondering what they should be
adding to their pre-order lists. If they
were fortunate to escape the holiday sales unscathed, their wad of cash is sure
to diminish as they explore the gaming possibilities of 2014. We all like an assortment of genres,
preferring one game mechanic over the other.
Will a particular video game give me countless hours of
entertainment? Will the gameplay be
fluid and responsive? Is the story going
to be satisfying? These and many more
questions flutter through our heads as we peruse our gaming prospects. I usually try to go where I’ll get my money’s
worth; I don’t like risking day-one purchases on lesser known titles. Reviews are my friend in most cases, but I
like watching gameplay videos on the web to make a decision. Solid controls, fresh combat, or a unique
atmosphere are what I look for in any game.
An intriguing, well-written story is an aspect that sways my wallet a
lot of the time as well. Whether from
Japan or from Western developers, RPGs is one of the first genres I check
out. Of course, others are attracted to
the next shooters releasing, and some prefer the slower pacing of puzzle
games. However, with so many interesting
games releasing this year, and with the varying degrees in what people like, I
will only be focusing on the titles that have caught my eye. As more announcements and dates surface, I
may do an additional post in the future.
Wish my wallet was bigger.
Tales of Symphonia Chronicles (PS3) –
February 25
I
warned you that I loved JRPGs. The fact
that this series was one of the first that I played compelled me to pre-order
this HD re-release. It is a
high-definition remaster of the PS2 edition of the original Tales of Symphonia, which came out on
the Gamecube in North America back in the day.
A remaster of the sequel, Tales of
Symphonia: Dawn of the New World, will also be included in this collection. For those who disliked the dub, you’ll be
happy to know that Chronicles will
give players the option of dual audio—either English or Japanese voice tracks
for both games. The story is set in a
fictional world called Sylvarant. It
follows a young boy named Lloyd Irving, who decides to accompany his childhood
friend named Colette Brunel on her journey to regenerate the world. As the group progresses in their quest,
secrets of another world and the true meaning of the world’s regeneration
begins to come to light.
When
this was announced, I immediately went onto Amazon and pre-ordered it. I remember I was about 11-years-old when I
first played this game on the Gamecube. Nintendo Power had featured an article about it, and I just had to get my hands
on it. The plot twists and fun combat had
me hooked, and my little mind had been so pre-occupied with what would possibly
happen next in the story. I enjoyed
getting to know the relatively large cast of characters. The version I played lacked a number of side
quests and combat elements exclusive to the PS2 version—which really disappointed
me when I found out later. However, I’m
glad that I have the opportunity to experience them with this HD
collection. Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of
the New World on Wii was the lesser of the two games; its lack of the original
voice actors and lackluster combat really irked me. That doesn’t mean I won’t play through it
once more when my copy of this collection arrives in the mail.
Thief (Xbox One, PS4, 360, PS3, PC) –
February 25
From
Eidos Montreal and published by Square Enix, this is the reboot of the cult
classic Thief series of stealth games.
It was initially announced back in 2009, so fans have been chomping at
the bit for a while now. Gameplay is
very stealth heavy—combat being a less effective alternative for a
situation. Each level will have numerous
paths and approaches the player can exploit, and enemy AI is supposed to be
smarter than in the other games, possessing an awareness of the level design
and some hiding spots. The story is set in
a dark fantasy world, melding aspects of the Victorian age and the steampunk
genre. You control a master thief named
Garrett, who has returned to The City to find it being ruled over by a tyrant. Strange things are occurring within the city,
and a plague has descended on its residents.
The rich, however, have endured and are still living in good fortune. Garrett must decide whether he will become a
savior or remain a thief in the larger scale of events.
I don’t
have much experience with the Thief series; I’ve never actually played any of
the previous games. They apparently were
quite challenging and offered fun gameplay.
Nonetheless, since the first teaser trailer of this reboot, I’ve been very
intrigued. It holds a Dishonored vibe,
and that isn’t bad thing in my book. Who
doesn’t like sneaking in the shadows, manipulating the environment around them
to their advantage? Knocking out a few
guards can be pretty entertaining as well.
In most games where you get the option, I usually take the stealthy
route, leveling up my stealth skills and selecting abilities that benefit my
nefarious intentions. Living the life of
a master thief is something I don’t want to miss out on. Potentially saving a city in the process is
just icing on the cake.
Dark Souls II (360, PS3) –
March 11
Developed
by From Software, this video game is an action RPG with open world elements. The director has stated that this installment
is indirectly tied to the events of Dark Souls, unlike Demon’s Souls that was
more of a standalone story. The concept
of time will apparently be a factor in the story, and it will focus on a
character looking to find a cure for their agony. The overall narrative sounds similar to the
previous two games’—the character attempting to take control of their own
destiny and fate in a cursed, fantastical world. It’s been claimed that the narrative will be
emotional and engaging as it was in Demon’s Souls. The overwhelming difficulty will return in
full force, trampling all those who stand in its path. The usual multiplayer aspects of the series
will most likely return, allowing players to invade worlds and leave helpful
messages on the ground for all to see.
My
brother and I have yet to beat Dark Souls.
It’s a type of game where you play in spurts, or where you get so
frustrated by the difficulty you don’t pick it up for at least a month to cool
off. I’m not joking when I say that
regular/lesser enemies can one-shot you in this. Also, when you get to the bosses, you nearly
fall over in shock, wondering how in the world you’re going to defeat
them. You shouldn’t feel bad about dying
a lot, though, because the games are marketed as being extremely brutal. You’re going to be a punching bag, and you
should love it. These games are quite
atmospheric and vast in their world-building.
Instead of info-dumping, you discover the world and its characters
through exploration. Lore and history is
found rather than provided to you upfront, which encourages you to take a look
around. I’m curious to see what the
developers have in store for players—what terrible creatures and areas await.
Dragon Age: Inquisition (PS3, PS4, 360, XbOne, PC) – Fall 2014
This
has to be one of my most anticipated games of the year. Even with each game having its ups and downs,
I’ve always loved the fantasy world of Dragon Age, its characters and plot
twists keeping me coming back for more. Using
Frostbite 3 engine as a foundation, Inquisition is going to be combining
elements and gameplay from DA: Origins and DA2 to find a happy medium for fans. More emphasis will be placed on tactics and a
player’s ability to position and prioritize in a fight. The developers plan to deliver fast-paced
combat but with a strategic flair. Many
fans will be overjoyed to hear that environments will not be reused as they
were in DA2, and the option to play as different races has returned from DA:
Origins. Continuing from the events of
DA2, the Veil has been torn, allowing demons and spirits to pour into the
world. Mages are rebelling, the Qunari
are invading, and the entirety of the world has been thrust into chaos. Players will be taking control of the
Inquisitor, the person tasked to restore order and close the tear in the
Veil. As a separate entity from the
Chantry, Templars, and the Circle, the Inquisitor must travel across Thedas to
rebuild the Inquisition and put a stop to
Yes,
Dragon Age 2 had a lot of flaws, and I have constantly nit-picked at the
endings of each installment. While
others hated the lack of a clear antagonist in DA2, I argue that one did exist—one
that was rather bold for the writers to try creating. Putting the character named Anders aside, the
overall politics and clashing personalities combined to make one big antagonist,
which was different and something that I enjoyed. Anyway, after seeing gameplay footage and the
improvements in art and graphic design in Inquisition, I’m looking forward to
what BioWare has to offer. I don’t think
they’re taking the harsh criticism they received from the last game lightly. BioWare, give me deep characters, decent
romance options, and hard decisions where the stakes are high. I’ll be right there to throw money in your
face.
No comments:
Post a Comment