The reign of the Xbox is almost over. The PS3 has been looking better and better lately. It looks like 2008 will be the year of PlayStation. PlayStation 3 has a lot of big name titles coming out this year and if all the games on the list were actually released this year, all we can say is WOW. Note: The following list by no means represents the complete list of exclusive titles for each console. However, it does give us a pretty good idea of the games that are rumored to be released this year.
PS3:
Resistance 2 (PS3)
Guaranteed success. While the first one was a great game and a pretty big hit, it was still just a launch title. Imagine what they can do after a couple of years and games under their belt. 8 player cooperative! Expect great things from this game.
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3)
Another guaranteed success. Anyone who plays Gran Turismo will stick with this game. If you’re a fan, you’re a fan. The visuals keep getting better, HD replays, ’nuff said!
Haze (PS3)
Hopefully the game will finally end its long series of delays this year. This game promises intense action, including local, online, or 4-player co-op multiplayer options. The game continues to impress visually, not only with the quality of the graphics, but also with the cool and unique design elements.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Weapons of the Patriots (PS3)
Who does not know this game? The game is still months away and it’s already epic. If any game can live up to the hype this game has raised, leave it to Solid Snake, old or young. Like most of the games on this list, the visuals are amazing. The game seems to include a tremendous amount of story and gameplay. The game features a huge arsenal of weapons and combat/stealth moves. If you have a PS3, you are almost forced to buy it. You know you will.
SOCOM: Showdown (PS3)
As early as this title, few details have been released. The game will support up to 32 players online. Customizable weapons much like SOCOM 3. Also like previous SOCOM games, the focus will be online multiplayer. Early rumors say this one will go the way of Warhawk, offering online only possibly with a bluetooth headset and all. After all, the original SOCOM pioneered the use of headsets on consoles.
Little Big Planet (PS3)
Possibly one of the most innovative, tender and expected games of the year. Little Big Planet is looking to expand the PS3 audience with this build-your-own-game. Eat your heart out Nintendo Miis, this game looks great. The shear level of creativity allowed is staggering. The game also supports 4 player cooperative and versus modes. Plus, it’s kid-friendly without being offensively cute.
God of War III (PS3)
The PS2 came out strong (although it’s still around) with the original God of War, and more recently its sequel, still on the old console. People have been waiting for a true “next-gen” God of War experience and it looks like 2008 will be your year, possibly. Not much is known yet, however, game creator David Jaffe is no longer working on the series, so we’ll just have to wait and see how it all turns out.
Final Fantasy XIII (PS3) – Final Fantasy Versus XIII (PS3)
However, whether you’re a fan or not, you have to acknowledge the scale of the Final Fantasy franchise. Games continue to set graphics standards with each release. The next one, XIII, seeks to improve his reputation. Not only are they improving all the visual and narrative aspects of the game, but they are also overhauling the combat. Combat in Final Fantasy XIII promises to speed up and intensify battles.
Engine Storm 2 (PS3) [Teaser Trailer]
Another sequel to a previous PS3 exclusive, MotorStorm 2 hasn’t revealed much, but from the trailer we can expect another render bar too high for the game’s graphics to hit. Don’t get me wrong, the original looked great, but the video they showed a year earlier looked 10 times better. This was the prettiest of all racing games for a while, but we’ll see how the sequel stacks up against Gran Turismo 5 HD later this year. Some of the improvements include new cars, trucks, motorcycles, tracks, and best of all, a much-needed 4-player split-screen mode. The game is also said to include 16-player online support.
Killzone 2 (PS3)
So, the video and screenshots have shown just how good the game looks in action. But what about the gameplay? The original wasn’t exactly praised by critics, though I quite enjoyed it (minus the myriad of glitches). It was definitely not the “Halo Killer” as advertised. The sequel will have to prove itself in such a crowded shooter market. Guerrilla Games has yet to reveal any actual details about the game i.e. Co-op, Multiplayer, Customization. However, the game certainly looks good. I guess we will have to wait and see.
XBOX 360:
Ninja Gaiden II (360)
Finally on the Xbox 360, I thought we would never get here. Ninja Gaiden II, the first real, official sequel, promises to improve on everything that made the original so popular. More action, more bad guys, more blood (almost too much) and more speed. The game creators have also addressed the difficulty issues that some (many) had with the other games. They have said that without simplifying it, they will change the controls to improve and lessen the frustration of newcomers. They are also adding new weapons to the game and a bunch of new character animations to keep the visuals fresh.
Too Human (360)
An epic in the making, All Too Human is now ready to be part of a trilogy. Everyone loves a trilogy. They have created a huge world with unique technology and organic design. The game is story driven, including a very ambitious new dynamic camera system that is supposed to always give you the best view of the action during the game. The game also features a plethora of RPG elements to keep you interested. As with most RPGs, you can upgrade just about everything, from weapons to armor to special abilities that extend your combat. The game also features a unique combat system, using the right analog stick for melee and ranged attacks.
Tale 2 (360)
Sequel to a game that was a huge leap forward in artificial intelligence, Fable 2 seems to surpass its predecessor in every way. The last choice between good and evil. This time your options are even greater. Similar to another Lionhead game, Black & White, the player will be given a pet to help them through the game, as well as a friend they can bond with. Peter Molyneux, the game’s creator, has said that he wants the game to engage the player emotionally. Just a guess, but you can probably expect your dog to die eventually. As well as a game with a conscience, the game is one of the first games to introduce in-game money before its release. That’s right, you can start earning gold to spend on Fable 2 before the game hits store shelves, thanks to downloadable arcade games on Xbox Live.
Banjo-Kazooie 3 (360)
Very little is known about Bass-Kazooie 3, if that’s what it’s called. Rare, the company that develops the game, released a short trailer in September 2006. It didn’t really show off any gameplay, however, it did show off a new square art style that you can see in the screenshots above. You can expect the regular Bajo-Kazooie platform elements, collecting everything in sight, teamwork to reach different areas and defeat different enemies, and large open worlds. The Xbox 360 isn’t exactly known for having a lot of platformers, so this will be a welcome addition. The last time we had a banjo set was on the N64.
Gears of War 2 (360)
Do I really have to say something? Gears of War 2. You knew they would make it. The first was a huge success, actually surpassing Halo as the best online multiplayer game, if only because it was the next-gen Halo 2. The game features everything new that Unreal Engine 3 has to offer. More enemies on screen, more destruction, more realistic lighting, and more chainsaw action. Another day of emergency awaits us this fall.
halo wars
Halo is not dead! At least the Halo universe isn’t. Halo Wars is the first Halo game that is not a Halo game. It is a real time strategy. While the game is not being developed solely at Bungie, it is being developed from the ground up for Xbox 360 and console play. Which means they’ve supposedly fixed some of the issues that plague a lot of real-time strategy games on consoles. Did you know that Halo was originally a real-time strategy game developed for the Mac? It is true.
Splinter Cell: Conviction (360)
The next step for Sam Fisher looks remarkably like a Bourne Identity-type game. That being said, it still looks great. They’ve dropped the green-eyed glasses in exchange for a man bag (à la Jack Bauer), a hoodie, and a beard, and they’ve got a raw, dirty, basic Splinter Cell gameplay where you’re now a fugitive. of the law. The new game looks to change more than just Sam’s fad, focusing on what Ubisoft calls “Whole New Improv Based Gameplay.” Where his inventory is actually the world around him, picking up and throwing chairs, etc. Use the crowds to your advantage, similar to Assassin’s Creed. This could be a great way to refresh the series, or it could stray too far from its roots and lose fans.
4 dead left (360)
Zombies, Co-Op, Valve, Source, ’nuff said. The “43 in Left 4 Dead actually means something, it’s not just l337 talk. That’s right, 4-player co-op for a zombie first-person shooter. A lot of people have high expectations for this one, and it looks like it might be up to the task.” height of them. I’m not a fan of being human, well they’ve got you covered. You can choose to play as a zombie, or “infected” as they are called in the game. There are several different types of zombies each with different strengths and weaknesses.
alan wake (360)
Do you like psychological thrillers? Alan Wake is presented more like a “movie” game than a traditional action game. They officially call it a “psychological action thriller.” The game has been in development for a while (it won GameSpy’s Best of E3 2005) and claims to have a 2008 release date, we’ll see. It looks beautiful, the developers have spent a lot of time really capturing the mood of a thriller. They have included real-time day and night lighting and weather effects.
Honorable Mention: Heavy Rain (PS3), The Agency (PS3), LA Noire (PS3), Tekken 6 (PS3), Huxley (360), GTA4 (360 exclusive episodic content), Age of Conan (360)
That’s enough and I’m tired. This should give you something to think about if you’re shopping for a console this year. I’m sure there will be a lot of games coming out that aren’t on this list. I’ve just covered some of the biggest console exclusives for 2008.