3D Dot Game Heroes – Developer: Silicon Studio | Publisher: Atlus (NA) | Out: May
Already breaking our rules with the very first entry (as 3D Dot Game Heroes is already out in Japan), Silicon Studio’s quirky block-themed title makes the list for two simple reasons. First, it’s just out in Japan, and second, it’s an unofficial homage to The Legend of Zelda. ‘Nuff said. Essentially a dungeon-crawler with block characters, the game is a pastiche to the 8-bit retro genre with a wonderful twist: you can create your own 2D sprite characters to play within the 3D world. A European release has just been confirmed so expect the blockheads soon.
Agent – Developer: Rockstar North | Publisher: Rockstar Games | Out: TBC
One of the few announcements not already leaked on the run-up to Sony Big Cheese Jack Tretton’s speech at this year’s E3, the prospect of a new Rockstar game exclusively on the PS3 is enough to make most Sony fans froth at the mouth. Despite being in stealth development for over two years, little is actually known about Agent other than it’s set in the 70s and will focus on the murky underbelly of the deadly espionage world. Needless to say, it will be big. It will also likely be the subject of the predictable “It’s coming to the 360, too!” rumours for the next five years. Yay! Can’t wait for that.
Alien Breed: Evolution – Developer: Team17 | Publisher: Team17 | Out: Q2 2010
You have to go back to the early 90s to get an insight into just how long Alien Breed: Evolution has been in development. Since then, its troubled gestation smacks of a Duke Nukem Forever-esque fiasco with false-starts, publishers going bankrupt and a game that has changed direction more times than a startled deer on meth.
With its climactic release on XBL recently, thankfully it’s a happy ending for Team17 and their sci-fi top-down shooter/exploration title. Released episodically, due to their screw-you-publishers-who-either-fold-or-pass-on-our-game stance and how self-publishing inherently takes longer, PS3 fans will have to wait until 2010’s second quarter to get their hands on the first of three planned chapters.
Aliens Vs. Predator – Developer: Rebellion Developments | Publisher: Sega | Out: February 19th
Aliens Vs. Predator on the PC was one of the first games to severely put the willies up gamers when it was released back in 1999. Claustrophobic, feral and exceedingly deadly (especially if you were a marine), developer Rebellion are returning to the franchise that put them on the map (we’re not forgetting the Jaguar version) with a new imagining/remake for next-gen consoles.
Recent footage showcasing alien, predator and cannonfodder colonial marine gameplay suggests an FPS with more than a few fresh elements in what has become a somewhat overcrowded and stale genre. The game also appears to be more violent than The Joker after losing his car keys. Something our friends Down Under originally had an issue with.
Aliens: Colonial Marines – Developer: Gearbox Software | Publisher: Sega | Out: TBC
At one point Sega had three Aliens games in development at the same time. Ultimately, with an in-built fanbase and a series of films to assist with its promotion, Aliens Vs. Predator was given the nod while Obsidian’s untitled Aliens RPG was cancelled. People feared for Aliens: Colonial Marines during this culling period with many convinced the subsequent layoffs at Gearbox was a death knell for the squad-based Aliens based FPS. Thankfully Sega have since reaffirmed that it’s not “Game Over!” for Aliens: Colonial Marines with the title expected to make an appearance after AvP sometime this year.
Written by David Weddle and Bradley Thompson, a scriptwriting duo best known for their work on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Battlestar Galactica and, oh my, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, watch for an acerbic, hard-as-nails colonial marine pulling off his shades and stating the blindingly obvious. Yeeeaaaaah!
Alive and Undead – Developer: ShortFuse Games | Publisher: ShortFuse Games | Out: Q3 2010
A PSN exclusive from Sweden’s ShortFuse Games, Alive and Undead is a 2D side-shooter vampire hunter. Yes, you read that right. It also promises online co-op and protagonists that go by the names of Smith and Welson on a quest to kill Death himself.
Interestingly, the studio are considering making Alive and Undead a community funded game. In fact, if you have some spare cash and fancy investing in a game, check out their website for further details. We’re not sure what such an entrepreneurial venture suggests with regard the likelihood of this game ever seeing the light of day but, we have high hopes.
Alpha Protocol – Developer: Obsidian Entertainment | Publisher: Sega | Out: Q2 2010
Combining two popular genres – the RPG and the spy arena – Obsidian’s Alpha Protocol will attempt to deliver something a lot us have always dreamed of: the thrill of being caught up in the covert and action-filled world of espionage. Without, you know, getting jabbed with a poisoned umbrella tip in the process.
Published footage of the game in action shows a complex yet intuitive RPG system as a backdrop to a truly intriguing story. Players take on the role of Michael Thorton, a spy who quickly finds himself on the wrong side of the secret intelligence fence. With a realistic dialogue mechanism and some Bourne-like action, Alpha Protocol is definitely one to watch.
American McGee’s Alice – Developer: Spicy Horse | Publisher: EA | Out: TBC
The twisted fairy-tale jury is still out on whether or not we’ll actually get to see American McGee’s Alice on consoles this year. If we do, expect another macabre take on the classic Alice in Wonderland story populated with neurotic versions of The Mad Hatter et. al.
Developed by the team behind another of designer American McGee’s properties, Grimm, there’s every chance this game might already be a victim of EA’s recent declaration regarding how the publishing giant plan to publish fewer games in 2010 than in recent years. We’ll keep an eye out nonetheless.
Anarchy: Rush Hour – Developer: Gaijin Entertainment | Publisher: TBC | Out: Q1 2010
Not much is known about Moscow developer Gaijin Entertainment’s new racer Anarchy: Rush Hour. We do know that it’s set in Russia’s capital so there’s a good chance the streets will bare some resemblance to the actual city considering the studio’s location. Other than that – watch this space.
Army of Two : 40th Day – Developer: EA Montréal | Publisher: EA | Out: January 8th
The return of everyone’s favourite socially-inept fist-pumpers, Army of Two’s second outing takes the budding bromance to Shanghai. And then blows it up. Expect Tyson Rios and Elliot Salem, mercs extraordinaire, to sport new moves (they can now sprint for example) as co-op is taken to the next level with the likes of feigning death and utilising a co-op “playbook”.
The first Army of Two fell a little flat with critics and players alike. We have a feeling its sequel will have learned from its predecessor’s shortcomings and could really deliver the biscuits.
