The Big Video Game Releases of 2011

Last year saw some great releases, but 2011 looks increasingly likely to go a step better. The sheer amount of titles that are on the precipice of release are, as a slight understatement, very exciting indeed. Even before we had reached Christmas, the anticipation for certain games was a lure too tempting to resist – and thus, I found myself trapped in a Tron mindset wondering when the games became available to pre-order.

But for those of you who are more cancelled gamers than console gamers, we have a run down of the titles set for release this month.

Platform: PS3, X360, PC
Release date: 28 January

“In space, nobody can hear you scream. Unfortunately, on Earth, everybody will know you are playing the terrifying sequel to 2008's survival horror shooter Dead Space, as you whimper in fear.” scary stuff! This is a game that you truly don’t want to miss, even if you are playing it from behind the sofa. Set three years after the original, Engineer Isaac Clarke returns in Dead Space 2 for another blood-curdling adventure in the sequel to the critically acclaimed Dead Space.

After waking from a coma on a massive space city known as “The Sprawl”, the lone survivor of a horrific alien infestation finds himself confronting a catastrophic new nightmare. Battling dementia, hunted by the government, and haunted by visions of his dead girlfriend, Isaac will do whatever it takes to save himself

The latest review which comes from Official Xbox Magazine UK gave the game an impressive 9/10 rating,  praising its weapons, “commendably snarky script” and “higher intensity”. Its down fall, however, comes in the form of a “non-essential” multiplayer mode which feels nowhere near as sharp as the story game. This might put some people off, but as an extra to what is already a superb game, it shouldn’t cause too much damage to its outstanding reputation.

Playstation 3 Magazine ( PSM3) gave the game a 92%  and the US version of the Offical XBOX Magazine (OXM) gave the game a 9.5/10. Viewing this games trailers, it is not for the faint of heart, but it is a rewarding survival game where players must solve puzzles and combat enemies with the abilities that Isaac controls.

He can slow down enemies and objects temporarily, pick up and throw items, and take part in vacuums and zero gravity environments which make this game more than just a point and shoot-em-up.

Dead Space 2 is set to be one of the biggest games this year with, such critic’s as Richard Stanton calling it a “beautiful… relentless beast” and a “considerable achievement” . The folks over at EA Redwood Shores have really sat down and thought long and hard about how to please the Dead Space fans by developing “what they look for, listen to and, most of all, what they expect”.

Dead Space 2 is released on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on January 25 in the US and January 28 in Europe.

What’s Hot rating:

Platform: PS3, X360
Release date: 21 January

MindJack, set in third-person, has the player assume command of a rogue government agent who has the rather handy ability of hacking in to innocent bystanders, vehicles and enemies, and control them remotely to do his bidding. Although the campaign is decidedly single player, MindJack apparently translates “seamlessly” into co-op modes – well maybe not seamlessly, but enough to stop you from chucking your controller across the room.

This game might not be great, honestly. It looks like there is a real chance that it could be yet another incredibly generic game, unfortunately; from its name to its look. And these new screens aren’t doing it any justice. Robots, some guns, more guns, more bad guys. I still have high hopes for it, though.

Mindjack hits shelves on January 18 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

What’s Hot Rating:

Platform: DS
Release date: 14 January

Now, for the DS and DSi, we have Kingdom of Hearts re:coded. After finding a secret message hidden in Jiminy Cricket’s journal, King Mickey orders the mystery to be investigated and once again the Disney/Square Enix adventure begins. Originally a series of eight mini-games released in Japan, Re:Coded is a worldwide release of all the episodes for the DS with added features, as well as a fully revamped control system.

Although this pretty exceptional game has a slightly monotonous start in the early stages, the game’s developers have mixed things up so that as the hours tick by and you become more engrossed in the game because it stops you from getting bored of it. The Hollow Bastion level hosts a 2D platformer sequence similar to the likes of Super Mario, which is quite fun.  The game also has a shooter game interlude, which is a great laugh, too.

For the entirety of the Coliseum world, the game decides it’s going to be a turn-based RPG for a bit – and a pretty good one at that. It does slow down the pace of the game but it’s certainly more enjoyable to defeat the Heartless this way rather than mindlessly jabbing at the A button over and over.

I’m always in two minds about the Kingdom Hearts series. It’s a wonderful series full of warmth and intrigue, but I also keep thinking “Who is it aimed at?”. I think I asked this question because I still think its one of the better franchises (not greatest, but better) of the last decade, so I have to wonder what the direction for Kingdom hearts is now. Still, it’s great game for the DS.

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Platform: PS3, X360
Release date: Out now

Forget first-person shooters and action games;  indulge yourself in the soothing, charming and humorous world of Sackboy’s second adventure. For all of those who don’t own a Nintendo Wii, this game provides a beautiful mixture of platform gaming and silliness with creative flair of each individual player, whether it be in first player of co-op.

This game is one of the most interesting and individual titles in recent years, LittleBigPlanet 2 also has frantic moments of fun and sheer creativity. Stephen Fry resumes his role as the Narrator, which is such a great touch as hes as one of the best narrative voices in all of western society.

The level-building option returns better than ever with tons of new items, ideas, and entertainment value. Honestly, this game is phenomenal in every right except for one thing – which really bugs me – which has followed into the second in the games series, the jumping. It has this horrible nack of overshooting or undershooting your target  because when you jump, it doesn’t jump the way you expect it to; you sort of float when you jump, which make it very difficult to do exactly what you want.

What’s Hot Rating:

Platform: PS3
Release date: 21 January

Some of the best console games are platform-exclusive; such as the mighty Mass Effect 2. But, a year after the game’s Xbox 360 release, Bioware’s classic title is coming to Sony’s box of tricks. Perhaps it’s not quite the definitive version PS3 users were promised, but it’s still one of the best role-playing action games you can get.

The original Mass Effect was an utterly incredible title. Not perfect by all means, but truly groundbreaking. The third-person, team-based space game did a great job of combining genres, while combing them with emotion and excitement. Unfortunately, though Mass Effect 2 still scores some hits in terms of story and characterization, it doesn’t feel as innovative overall in terms of design and overall game-play.

Mass Effect 2 begins right where the first left off, but that’s not to say that everything is business as usual. BioWare has clearly made efforts to listen to the complaints that they receive from the first one – which is always a great start for a sequel – making several big changes to the original formula.

Firstly a upgraded AI, Huge step up in terms of graphics and much more precise controls which make the game even more interesting and enjoyable to play. And when in contention with such games as Gears of war, Call of Duty, and Fallout 3, all of these changes are to Mass Effect 2‘s advantage in terms of the game overall.

However, when trying to change the games other complaints, it seems a bit more overkill than anything balanced or improved; which affects it overall. This game is really impressive even if I have stepped on it a bit, but I think the reason I feel so strongly about it is because of the high standards that the first Mass Effect had set. Superb game, but not enough to hold its own against this years later releases….still an epic game, though!

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So as the year progresses, we are going to see some truly epic games released. But which of these are you waiting for the most? If you also have a game that you think will be one of the 2011's greatest games, let us know!

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