Well technology, believe it or not, is not cyclical. So we have even better graphics and violence to look forward to. I've got my eye on a couple sequels that I am really looking forward to, and will most likely write up reviews for. I'm sure there are going to be some great titles out there of original games, however, I know what to expect out of sequels. I could never condone running out and buying a game simply because it's predecessor was enjoyable like I do, but here are a couple titles we should theoretically see great things out of in the next few months.
Grand Theft Auto IV(PS3 & Xbox 360- 4/1/08)
April almost seems a cruel amount of time to force us mere mortals to wait for a sequel that may possibly be anticipated just as much as Halo 3. Sure, Vice City and San Andreas are very well made games (I'm much more partial to Vice City out of the two.) but they weren't actually sequels. Sure the game points to the moral decay of our society, but I'm of the opinion that if Rockstar didn't take on the job, someone would. The game takes place back in Liberty City, which is looking more beautiful than ever. From the street level to the tops of buildings, everything looks incredible. From what I've read and seen, it looks like Rockstar is doing their best to make things even more realistic. For instance, instead of strolling into your local Ammunation and buying a rocket launcher from your one armed pal Phil. You have to pull out your cell phone, call an arms dealer, and buy guns from him out of his trunk. How cool is that? What I have always liked best about these games, is how large the playground is. I have always been a huge fan of games like Grand Theft Auto, Spiderman(3 was pathetic, but other two are great) and even the Tony Hawk franchise. I am really looking forward to pulling some innocent bystander out of a vehicle that I am need of way more than her, and just cruising around Liberty City listening to Lazlo talk to crazy people on the radio.
Burnout Paradise
I was only recently pulled into this series, as Paradise will be the fifth installment. But Burnout Revenge is the most fun I have ever gotten out of a racing game, so I'm expecting good things. The demo is available online for both the 360 and the ps3 so feel free to check it out as I did. Paradise takes a different turn from the format I was familiar with on Revenge. Instead of flipping through individual races, the entire city is open to you, and you go around and find races and crashes yourself. Sort of like Grand Theft Auto, but you can't ever get out of the car. My initial reaction to this, was very optimistic due to my love for this style of play as I stated earlier. But I must admit after playing through the demo, I'm actually thinking less of this title than I would have had I not played it. However demos are just that, demos, and I never think it fair to judge a game off of the unfinished product that they thrust out onto the market. Lots of people out there, played the Halo 3 beta, after purchasing a great game for just that reason, and become convinced that Halo 3 was not as great as it could be. Well of course it wasn't, it's wasn't finished. My main qualm with Paradise is that they may have added just too much. Some of you may say too much can never be a bad thing, but I think in a racing game it really can add too much complexity. You race to one location and there are five different ways to get there, that's just too much. Maybe I'm just resistant to this much change, but I liked the way Revenge was set up. Rarely would I hate a demo enough to not ever purchase the game, but I am going to wait the few months it takes for Paradise to drop a few bucks. On a side note, the soundtrack looked promising as always, so even if you're not enjoying it a ton, you can at least enjoy the music.
Ninja Gaiden II( Xbox 360- 4/1/08)
Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox might actually be my favorite game of all time. At least my favorite game in the last couple years. The game is incredibly difficult, but that makes beating it all the more satisfying. When Sigma came out, I freaked because I thought I would actually have to purchase a ps3, but fortunately the game wasn't really any different. Well now all my dreams have come true, and there's a new action packed game, with new crazy Japanese plot that will make no sense. Not only that, but its only coming out for the 360! It's like Santa decided that once a year was not enough to grace us with his presents. Of course, this is assuming Santa is as huge of a fan of ninjas brutally killing a bunch of freaky demons. But who isn't? The game looks similar to the last Ninja Gaiden, which is not a problem to me at all, but if you weren't into that title, you probably will not be into this one. The game is hard, its no mortal kombat, and takes much more than button mashing. The only real changes I noticed were of course, new weapons and creepy dragon-like things that want to kill you. Also the bodies do not go away, which means that after you kill the twenty guys you kill in one place, blood will be everywhere. Needless to say, this won't be a game for the little ones.
Advance Wars: Days of Ruin ( DS -1/21/08)
Advance Wars always make handhelds worthwhile. A simple tactical game that doesn't really heavily on graphics, is the reason that anyone above the age of eight, owns a Nintendo DS. All the previews have been saying that this new installment will be darker than the others, and abandon the friendly CO's from the previous games. This isn't a title that I will skip out to the store and purchase giddily on release date, but its still something that I am looking forward to. This classic turn-based style game is not as original as Puzzle Quest, but you know what they say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." If anything the graphics should be improved, but from there, I see no reason to change the old formula.
Those are the games under my radar for the next couple months. You can expect reviews for them as they come out. The future is looking bright people, stay excited.
Because stopping would only prove that he has won, and adaptation only makes me stronger
Goodnight, you princes of Persia. You kings of Camelot
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