The Games of 2008: Part I

Games of 2008, Part I

2007 has been a very good year for the gaming industry, with dozens of spectacular titles that we shall play for quite a while. StuffWeLike has decided to compile a list of games we should expect for 2008. With this year being so great and all, we hope the next will be equally exciting and we aren’t wholly disappointed (yet)!

In Part I, we cover the games whose release dates have been announced and hopefully will not be delayed. Of course, we may have missed a few games here and there. If so, be sure to tell us in the comments! So here’s Part I!

Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom (XBOX 360)

Release Date: January 8

Genre: Role-Playing Game

Circle of Doom continues the Kingdom Under Fire saga and franchise, but kicks out the strategy factor and adds more of the RPG. Circle of Doom sounds more exciting, as it features randomly generated dungeons with thousands, I repeat- thousands of on-screen enemies that will test your RPG mettle. Also included will be a 4-player co-op and an innovative control system.

Haze (PS3)

Release Date: January 15

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Haze is being touted as one of PS3’s most awaited releases. Considering it is a PS3-exclusive, this might just end up becoming the Halo of PS3. Developed by Free Radical Design, it has a more serious tone and allows you to play a soldier enhanced with “Nectar” that will boost his abilities (bit like Crysis?) and will feature making moral decisions and such. Definitely worth looking forward to.

Endless Ocean (Wii)

Release Date: January 22

Genre: Adventure(?)

Endless Ocean takes a break from the usual gun-toting, barrel-blasting stock of games that are around these days. In Endless Ocean, you take control of a scuba diver and explore the underwater beauty of the fictional Manaurai Sea and discover species and such. Endless Ocean has received flak in Japan for boring gameplay, but has also been praised for being unique and calming.

Burnout Paradise (PS3, XBOX 360)

Release Date: January 22

Genre: Driving/Racing

Burnour Paradise is a complete reimagining of the Burnout series and a more professional take on it. It is touted as being purely next-gen, top-to-bottom. It will feature a full city to explore and no conventional multiplayer lobbies or game menus! A lot of changes in this one, so Burnout fans will want to check out the re-envisioned Burnout. Regardless, this title appears to be one looking forward to for all driving/racing fans.

Devil May Cry 4 (PS3, XBOX 360)

Release Date: February 5

Genre: Action

Under development at Capcom Production Studio 4, DMC 4 puts you in control of a brand new protagonist – Nero. It follows the usual horror-themed, monster-bashing, close-quarters-combat formula. Considering the reputation of the Devil May Cry series, they are one of the few that can do it right and that alone makes Devil May Cry 4 checking out.

Turok (PC, PS3, XBOX 360)

Release Date: February 5

Genre: First-Person Shooter

The latest in the line of Turok games, Turok allows you to use unconventional and unique weapons in a fight for survival in a dangerous, natural environment. Powered by the Unreal Engine 3, it allows you fight dinosaurs, who thankfully star as neutral AI and not mandatorily enemies. Turok allows stealth kills as well. Taking all this into account, it’s making this one hell of a game to check out.

Space Siege (PC)

Release Date: February 5

Genre: Role-Playing Game

Space Siege is a sci-fi RPG from Gas Powered Games, the developers of the oft-criticized Dungeon Siege and its sequel. Space Siege is more promising and involved you fighting aliens to defend humanity. The catch is, that you can install bio-modifications to augment your abilities, while at the same time alienating yourself from the people you strive to defend. Packed with moral dilemmas, bio-augmentation and alien-bashing RPG action, this makes for a good game right now.

No More Heroes (Wii)

Release Date: February 5

Genre: Action

In No More Heroes, under direction by Goichi Suda, you play as Travis Touchdown, an otaku geek who wins a bloody beam katana in an online auction. From there, he kills a hitman becoming a high-ranking member of an assassin organization and thus sets forth on his life as an assassin. Gameplay is open-ended as you pick up contracts and beat your enemies with your beam katana. The fact that your beam katana is controlled by your Wiimote is enough to get all hyped up for this title.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)

Release Date: February 10

Genre: Fighting

The latest installment of the Super Smash Bros. series, Brawl continues the tradition of letting you play as one of Nintendo’s character’s, from a roster ranging from Pit to Mario to Wario to Link and everyone in between. Brawl will feature a much deeper singleplayer storyline and will feature more simplistic fighting moves. Something you have to buy if you’re a Nintendo fan!

Lost Odyssey (XBOX 360)

Release Date: February 12

Genre: Role-Playing Game

With a story put down by award-winning novelist Kiyoshi Shigematsu, Lost Odyssey is an RPG that tells the tale of Kaim, a man who has lived 1000 years. Little is known about this title, but it is definitely going to be an artistic treat, with comic artist Takehiko Inoue and music composer Nobuo Uematsu involved in production. Also, LO is to break barriers by being shipped on 4 Dual-Layer DVDs!

Assassin’s Creed (PC, DS)

Release Date: February 15

Genre: Action

Sure, you’ve played it on your loveable PS3 or XBOX 360, but why shouldn’t we PC-lubbers play assassin? If you don’t about it already, Assassin’s Creed is a third-person stealth game that allows you to play a sinister assassin during the Middle Ages. Allowing you near-infinite freedom in terms of movement, Assassin’s Creed has received considerably praise.

Dark Sector (PS3, XBOX 360)

Release Date: February 26

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Dark Sector comes from Digital Extremes, the guys who co-developed the Unreal Tournament games as well as Pariah. Dark Sector puts you in control of a CIA Agent investigating Eastern Europe during the Cold War when he is exposed to mutating stuff that causes him to grow a freaking glaive in his right arm. Sounds pretty awesome, but not extremely awesome. Worth looking into, though – this might come out to be a very polished title, since it has been in development since 2004 at least.

Universe at War: Earth Assault (XBOX 360)

Release Date: February 26

Genre: Real-Time Strategy

While its PC version is already out, its 360 version will hit stores next year. Developed by Petroglyph, who made a promising debut with Star Wars: Empire at War, UaW is a real-time strategy game that puts in control of one of four factions – the Hierarchy, the Humans, the Masari and the Novus. It appears to be a fairly unique game right now, and is being touted as a “celebration of classic sci-fi”. Good game or not, it’s worth checking out purely for the entertainment value.

Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway (PC, XBOX 360, PS3)

Release Date: February 26

Genre: First-Person Shooter (Tactical)

The latest in the famed Brothers in Arms series, Hell’s Highway continues the heavily-tactical, very realistic and World War II theme of the past games. Powered by the Unreal Engine 3, Hell’s Highway introduces new units such as bazooka teams and machine-gun teams, as well as radio teams to fight it out. With a strong reputation and many rumoured features, Hell’s Highway is going to be one hell of a game to check out, no pun intended.

Army of Two (PS3, XBOX 360)

Release Date: March 4

Genre: Third-Person Shooter (Co-Op)

Army of Two is a third-person co-op shooter that lays a heavy emphasis on strategies and teamwork while you and the other member of your army fight to save the world. Story is pretty vague as of this moment, but the game will allow you to fight co-op either with an AI or a close buddy of yours. Ao2 is facing flak for being developed and produced by EA Montreal and EA respectively, but it might just end up good, who knows?

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Soulstorm (PC)

Release Date: March 7

Genre: Real-Time Strategy

Soulstorm is the third expansion pack to Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, a highly acclaimed RTS based on the even more highly acclaimed tabletop strategy game. Being standalone, this expansion means that you can simpy pick it up and get playing. A slew of features has been announced, including aerial units, a medal system for multiplayer games and a new “Faith” system for Sisters of Battle.

Battlefield: Bad Company (XBOX 360, PS3)

Release Date: March 24

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Developed specifically for next-gen consoles, Bad Company is already looking to be a promising addition to the Battlefield franchise. A notable feature is destructible environments, which look pretty realistic from what we’ve seen so far. Other features include an emphasis on ironsights, lesser soldier classes and laser designation!

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (PC, XBOX 360)

Release Date: March 28

Genre: Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (Singleplayer included)

Set in the famed Conan franchise, Hyborian Adventures is an MMORPG under development right since 2003! Interestingly, HA will be both a multiplayer and singleplayer adventure, as you play by night in Singleplayer and by day in Mutiplayer. Also worth noting is its “Real Combat” system that will allow you to directly control the character’s swings. The system will supposedly be easy to learn for veterans as well, so fear not! And expect an M-rated adventure, because Funcom will not be reducing the graphic nature of the game!

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