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Here are the games that are coming up in 2012 that I'm most looking forward to, in no particular order.
Mass Effect 3
Bioware's action RPG Mass Effect 3 is the newest in the Mass Effect series, bringing improved game-play: a retooled combat system, cover scenarios and the addition of new AI elements. Players will be able to import saved game files from the first two versions, with the ability to change imported characters' appearance and class with additional features and hair-styles. There will also be a four player multi-player co-op mode.
Prototype 2
Action game Prototype 2 is Activision's continuation of Alex Mercer's story, bringing us new protagonist and shapeshifter Sergeant James Heller. Players will have exciting new powers and fighting capabilities such as tendrils, dismembering enemies, throwing tanks, throwing uppercuts at helicopters, and of course, intimidating enemies. Did I mention that I'm really looking forward to experimenting with tendrilling several people at once? There's a Facebook app and ProtoSlice, a free iPhone app.
Halo 4
The great Halo story continues from 343 Industries, developer of Halo 4, the first in the new Halo trilogy, the "Reclaimer Trilogy." We are very excited that we will be able to play Master Chief for the first time since Halo 3 four years ago. But who's counting? New characters, weapons, vehicles are great, but we can't wait to see the redo of Master Chief's identity and relationships. Plus, he gets awesome new armor.
BioShock Infinite
This masterpiece in the BioShock FPS franchise brings an AI called Elizabeth to the game, whose interactions with the player-controlled Booker DeWitt creates a more interactive storyline set in a flying Steampunk floatopolis. Developer Irrational Games is tossing in new style enemies, refreshing an already powerful storyline and adding new combat and design elements. The combat possibilities on the Skyline transport track promise to be a creative element, adding very exciting game-play.
Far Cry 3
Returning the FPS genre to more open-world game-play, Ubisoft Montreal's Far Cry 3 will bring new combat mechanics to the intriguing story of protagonist Jason Brody who fights to survive on a tropical island. There will be new attack and take-down mechanics in the game. The combat possibilities of an experienced survivalist fighting in a story mode map that is ten times larger is intriguing, giving players the power to choose when and how they want to complete missions.
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
Ubisoft Paris brings back the latest in the Tom Clancy Ghost Recon tactical shooter series, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. I am looking forward to doing team-based missions in multi-player and "optical camouflage," a new feature using that enables a type of active camouflage which allows team members to become instantly invisible, and the ability to control active drones. There will be full Kinect integration in customizing and shooting weapons.
Inversion
Namco Bandai's new game Inversion has main character (and cool dad, naturally) Davis Russel fighting bad guys to save his daughter, and ultimately, to save the world. But he gets to play and shoot guns in zero gravity. The Gravlink device in the game can manipulate the gravitational force on objects, crush things in the way, float enemies at will and pick up cars. FINALLY I can channel the Force — well, gravity, at least.
Call of Duty: V.next
The much loved Call of Duty series from Activision studio Treyarch is very much anticipated by core FPS aficionados. The intense fighting as an infantry grunt in the D-Day invasion, the Pacific theater of WWII and the Cold War has created a fan base ready for more combat, different and bigger maps and different guns. And, of course, who doesn't love fighting Nazi zombies?
Firefall
I first encountered Red 5 Studios's Firefall at PAX Prime, a free-to-play FPS-MMO hybrid, which has open-world cooperative campaign and competitive multi-player modes. You join one of the three Assault, Media or Recon Battleframes (classes) to defeat the Chosen, the invading aliens and save the earth from the Melding, a freak energy storm. The game also has customized weapons and abilities with module "packs." And, you get to fight giant arachnid-tron-thingies.
Sound Shapes
Sound Shapes is one of Sony Playstation's game offerings for the upcoming Playstation Vita platform in 2012. I demoed the game at PAX Prime. It's not just a side-scrolling platform game. The game is both a sequencer and an art maker. Sound Shapes uses the Vita's full range of functionality, including the back-touch panel, to create and manipulate levels of shapes that launch musical notes, and still further, to create more sounds by your interaction with the musical shapes in the course of a game. Different instruments can be used as "sound elements" to compose a graphic obstacle course using the interactive musical shapes. Players can upload and share their musical-shape-art levels with other players. The future does sound bright indeed.
I realize there may be some readers who feel strongly about some games that may not be on my list. Please feel free to list your suggestions in the comments below this post, and tell us why it's your anticipated favorite for 2012. We're looking forward to a great year in gaming at GeekDad.
