2015 was the year that rose up and shouted “I WANT ALL YOUR MONEY GAMERS!” and by gum did it get what it wanted…
Amazing games like Fallout 4, Star Wars Battlefront, The Witcher 3, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Halo 5, Metal Gear solid 5, and Batman Arkham Knight all coming out and all vying for a place on the coveted spot besides the TV. How, just how, could any year in gaming compare to last year’s bevy of bewilderingly beautiful games?
If I were a game designer I’d just give up, luckily I’m not and the real game designers won’t give up the jobs they earn money and sustenance for just because 2015 had some good games, and with that in mind let’s look at some of my personally most hotly anticipated games of 2016.
Just wow! I mean seriously?!!
Inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, Cuphead looks to take the genre of run and gun and throw it headfirst into 2016 as one of Xbox’s indie darlings. Boasting tough as nails game play and multiple big boss battles, Cuphead can be played solo or co-op and is definitely one of my most exciting games to come out this year. Just check out the trailer and you’ll be hooked!
The game that just refuses to die, and let’s face it, why should it.
This ain’t your Grandpa’s (yes that’s right I said Grandpa’s) Doom, this is next-gen Doom. The upcoming reboot of the gore filled series looks to be in good hands as developer Bethesda has taken the reigns. Expect visceral carnage and blood boiling action when this one comes screaming into 2016.
The ultimate assassin tale is back with a new bevy of bounties to fulfil.
Hitman is a third-person stealth video game in which players take control of Agent 47, an extremely well-trained assassin (you might say he’s equipped with a certain set of skills…), travelling to international locations and eliminating contracted targets. As with other games in the series, players are given a plethora of ways to approach their assassinations, meaning there is a large amount of room for creativity.
Another striking release from Mass Effect no doubt taking full advantage of next-gen quality graphics.
Mass effect Andromeda – Biowire
The biggest and most intense space opera RPG returns. Set in the Andromeda Galaxy many years after the conclusion of Mass Effect 3, Mass effect Andromeda looks set to offer the same rich decision based narrative mixed with third person action that we’ve all come to expect from the acclaimed series.
Capcom return to the ring, but will Street Fighter be another knockout?
Since Street Fighter 2 changed the way that fighting games were looked at, the street fighter series has been accepted as the pinnacle of fighting games. Street Fighter 5 appears to be no different, already being used in fight tournaments and showcased at every gaming venue you can think of, it looks to keep the same formula whilst adding a new twist in the form of V-gauge. If you’re a fighting fan and own a PS4 this is for you.
Will this Guardian deliver on its promise of being magical masterpiece?
As I type this I’m still hesitant about The Last Guardian; a game that was announced in 2009 for a 2011 release and up until 2015 was thought to be cancelled. Luckily it came back and looks to offer some of the great puzzling and story elements that you’d expect from the creators of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. It’s probably better explained by the trailer however.
Well that concludes Part 1 of our roundup of the most hotly anticipated games for 2016. I’ll be back with part 2 and if you thought this was enough to whet your gaming appetitie, we’ll be taking a look at big-hitters such as Halo, No Man’s Sky and Unchartered.
Author – Hal, Plymouth store
