So here we are. Tomorrow is the first day of June and we’re officially half way through with 2007. Back in January I put together two little lists of the top 5 most and least anticipated games of 2007. The past 6 months have been a time of learning. We all learned that the large and powerful can sometimes be horrible shamed by the small and innovative. We’ve learned that countdowns are the best way to promote games. We’ve learned that no matter what anyone says, nothing can kill World of Warcraft. Most important we’ve learned that whatever predictions one makes in January, will be completely invalid by June. So I shall do my best to update these two lists, with all the new gooey information that the past 6 months has given us.
The Most Anticipated
5) Super Mario Galaxy- Well, it isn’t out yet. Chances are it won’t be out this year. Ebgames has a ship date of 12/31/07, which I guess just makes it in under the wire. Bonus points to Ebgames for trying. Since this game is not a game of 2007, it is being removed from this list. You should still look forward to it, but don’t hold your breath.
New 5) Metroid Prime Corruption – I have never been a huge fan of Metroid. I think that takes me to some lower level of gamerhood, and earns me a “shun the non-believer” from most Nintendo fans. Regardless, I have actually become somewhat excited about this game. After a series of disappointing FPS games on the Wii, I have come to the conclusion that Nintendo needs to show other developers how FPS games need to work before any of them will get it right. I have high hopes that Metroid will be the game that does this.
4) Legend of Zelda The Phantom Hourglass – This one should be coming out in October. It retains its spot on the top 5 merely because it is a Zelda game in Windwaker style on the DS. It is just a recipe for fun.
3) God of War II – Okay, this one actually came out. I actually feel somewhat silly for not placing this one higher on the list. It could have been the most satisfying game I’ve ever played. If you are new to the God of War series then I highly suggest you pick this up along with its predecessor and play them straight through. Remember though, this game is for the older crowds only and the bloody violence and gore is way too much for anyone who can’t legally buy the game themselves.
2) Spore – Nope. This game got pushed back until sometime after the robot revolution. There is no way it will see a 2007 release, and may not even see a 2008 release. A wave of disappointment and depression washes over all the devoted each time the name of Spore is mentioned.
New 2) Shadowrun – I’m placing this one the list because it is one of those games that has a ton of potential. The game was released last week, and has sold pretty well. It does not really stack up to the glory of a game that Spore will be, but it is the best we’ve got this year. I have yet to pick the game up, but it is on my purchase list later this month. Once I pick it up I will write a full review.
1) Super Smash Brothers Brawl – While it isn’t clear if Nintendo has a 2007 release date still planned for this game, it is starting to be more promising. Every day director Masahiro Sakurai posts some new and exciting information on the game’s official website. Pretty soon there should be some big announcements about release dates and secret characters. We may still see a November or December 2007 launch for this title.
The Least Anticipated
I probably made the most mistakes with this list, so I will attempt to correct some of them here.
5) Age of Conan- This game has been pushed back to 2008, and still have a pretty strong chance of being a terrible game. I made a mistake in not doing my Conan research. Apparently there is a big backstory the game. Still, the idea of merging the single player experience with the MMO just isn’t an appealing concept. I could see casual players getting enjoyment out of the game, but I can not see this game gathering the following of World of Warcraft. Still, with a 2008 release it is off the list.
New 5) Big Brain Academy – Wii Degree – There is nothing more boring that watching someone do homework. The Wii is a social console that is best when played with groups of people. There is something about a brain training game that just doesn’t fit on that console. More so, this game comes from the Big Brain Academy people rather than the Brain Age people so it promises to be a whopping disappointment.
4) Pokemon Battle Revolution (Now with More Suck!) – Well, it was bad back in January when it was going to be the first game released with online support for the Wii. Well, it has since lost that title to the infinitely superior Mario Strikers. It also hasn’t done anything (like Strikers has) to fix that whole “friend code” fiasco. (and now the point of the picture that leads this article) But now you can show people your Pokemons online!
3) Lord of the Rings Online – It came out, and it really wasn’t all that bad. After playing the beta for about 2 days I was bored of it, but it does have somewhat of a following among people who have enough money for both it’s subscription fee and World of Warcraft’s. The game is pretty, but it is also simple and small. With limited end game, and serious lack of creatures and models the game just doesn’t stack up to its competition. Plus, it is somewhat distracting to have Gandalf show up to help a level 1 Minstral when he should be doing something a bit more important.
2) Halo 3 – I still have very little hope for a good storyline ending in Halo 3. I understand that Halo is “Tha gratest gaem evar,” but i really just don’t see the need in another similar, buggy and imbalanced game. Unless there are some massive changes to Halo 3 that have not yet been released in the Beta, it is still going to be a massive disappointment.
1) Grand Theft Auto IV – I’ve been way too harsh on the GTA series. I am personally not looking forward to this game, but I also don’t like games in this genre. Unlike Halo, a game that is butchering a genre I really like, Grand Theft Auto just isn’t my type of game. I won’t be taking this off the list, and it really is my least anticipated game, but I take back all the things about it being a universally bad game. If this is the type of game that you enjoy, then I could understand why you would want to pick it up.
2k7 has been so far has been pretty good. GoW2 was much better than I anticipated. I’m still working through FF12 (almost done), Rogue Galaxy, and Odin Sphere and they’ve been all pretty good so far but not mindblowing. I’m not really looking forward to Halo 3 or GTA 4 either although the trailers looked nice. Another one to look out for is Lair.
I’d like Odin Sphere too… if I could find the thing. I’ve been checking stores every day for the past week, nothing.
Lair looks good, but to be honest… I think it just looks so good because what we have to compare it to in the PS3 world is virtually nothing.