100 Games Of 2010

Assault Heroes – Developer: Wanako Studios | Publisher: Sierra Online | Out: TBC

Who knows why it’s taken four years for this XBL game to receive the PSN treatment. Maybe they take exceptionally long coffee breaks over at A2M’s Wanako Studios. As recently discussed, Assault Heroes is less about compelling, nuanced plot, and more about shooting everything in sight in an array of vehicles (and on foot) from a top-down perspective. Vehicles, explosions, flamethrowers – if it’s favourably priced, PSN fans might welcome the tardy action title with open arms.



Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 (tentative title) – Developer: Rocksteady Studios | Publisher: Warner Bros. | Out: TBC

Every once in a while a game comes completely out of left-field and surprises everyone with its quality. Such was the case with this year’s addictive, moody and sublimely polished Batman: Arkham Asylum. Reaching the lofty heights of #4 on TSA’s Staff Games of 2009 list, if we were to sit around a table back in January of this year and predict that a super-hero game from fairly unproven Rocksteady Studios would feature so highly on a list of the year’s top titles, people would have claimed we were off our meds. More fools us. Proving the age-old super-hero adage of “With great sales comes inevitable sequels,” Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 was officially confirmed during this year’s (deeply flawed) VGAs. From the footage shown, it would appear The Joker is a bit worse for wear, either from the recent beating Old Bats delivered in the first game or due to the virulent effects suffered at the hands of the Titan virus. Either way, he’s as maniacal as ever and voiced wonderfully once again by the unsurpassable Mark Hamill. Interestingly, this time out of the Bat Cave Warner Bros. will be handling publishing duties, obviously scurrying SquareEnix Europe (the artisans previously known as Eidos Interactive) back into the shadows now that the allure of big money is on the table. Finally, for those wondering: “Isn’t Arkham Asylum pretty much done? What would cause Batman to go back to the nuthouse again?”, a new website goes someway in addressing the possibility of Batman lurking further afield and into the Greater Gotham area itself. Rocksteady’s Paul Denning has also come out and admitted that Arkham Asylum, as a location, has probably run its course. Just don’t go expecting the sequel to be an open-world sandbox caper similar in fashion to the likes of GTA. Just wouldn’t work, apparently.



Battlefield: Bad Company 2 – Developer: EA DICE | Publisher: EA| Out: March 5th

Showing some much-needed PS3 love, DICE’s recent exclusive Battlefield: Bad Company 2 beta on Sony’s platform was deemed a resounding success with thousands of you jumping up and down on the servers and giving Arica Harbor a thorough pounding in the process. With 45 million confirmed casualties and more buildings destroyed than a Roland Emmerich movie, all signs indicate that BF:BC2 is looking like something very special indeed. In fact, didn’t a particular TSA Staffer who participated in the trial announce on Twitter that Modern Warfare 2 had just been owned by this beta? Oh my, strong words. The rest of us get to voice our own opinions on the matter come March.



Bayonetta – Developer: Platinum Games (Sega) | Publisher: Sega | Out: January 7th

When two respected publications both grace a title with their elusive maximum scores respectively, you have to sit up and take notice. Apparently the game creator Hideki Kamiya always wanted to make, Bayonetta follows the story of the titular witch who just so happens to be covered head to toe with magical hair and can shoot guns from her feet. We admit that we were a tad sceptical when Bayonetta’s concept was first mooted, but with Devil May Cry, Okami and Viewtiful Joe under his belt, it’s pretty hard to doubt the pedigree of Kamiya-san. Of course, we can’t mention Bayonetta on the PS3 without bringing up “Port-Gate” – the revelation that Platinum Games happily handed the 360 code-base over to Sega and were only involved in the PS3 version in an advisory capacity. The fact is, Bayonetta on the PS3 does not perform as good as it does on its lead-platform, the 360. That said, it’s still a kick-ass title and worthy of your time and hard-earned cash. And with Sega recently coming out intimating that the Western PS3 version will contain numerous tweaks over its Japanese cousin, maybe the gulf between the warring console versions will have narrowed. We find out next month.



Beyond Good & Evil 2 – Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier | Publisher: Ubisoft | Out: TBC

One of this writer’s all-time personal favourites on the original Xbox console (it also saw a release on the PS2, PC and GameCube), Michel Ancel’s subtle and nuanced Beyond Good & Evil became a cult-classic to those who place infectious gameplay as the paramount factor when classifying what makes a great game. Though a sequel was always planned from the getgo, poor sales of the first title resulted in Ubisoft becoming quite noncommittal toward the project’s three part arc. When a few images surfaced last year only to be followed by deafening silence in the subsequent months (until that leaked video of Jade running through a city materialised), portents suggested that the global recession had killed off yet another possibly great game. Not so apparently, as though Beyond Good & Evil 2 is not officially announced (didn’t we have rules for this list?), General Director of Ubisoft France, Geoffroy Sardin, recently confirmed that rumours surrounding the game’s demise or a moratorium on its development are false. The game is still being actively worked on – they just don’t know if they’ll ever release it. Colour us perplexed.



BioShock 2 – Developer: 2K Marlin/ 2K Australia | Publisher: 2K Games | Out: February 9th

It seems everyone and his dog is developing the follow-up to one of the best games of 2007 (or 2008 considering this is a PS3 list). With two 2K Studios and Digital Extremes also chipping in with the do-we-really-need? multiplayer element of the game, everyone is pretty excited to get a chance to return to Rapture and see what else the aquatic dystopia has to offer. More Little Sisters no doubt. This time out players embody the first ever Big Daddy and will be able to move around the ocean floor thanks to the bulbous diving helmet provided. The first BioShock was a landmark game in the history of gaming. We have high hopes for its successor.



Blue Toad Murder Files : Episodes 3 – 6 – Developer: Relentless Software | Publisher: Relentless Software | Out: TBC

Hats off to Relentless for pushing the envelop (oh no, I didn’t just type that, did I?) with their family-oriented whodunnit, the Blue Toad Murder Files. Already Masters of the Couch™ thanks to their Buzz! franchise, taking bold strides and pretty much creating a new genre has to be admired – even if the new venture isn’t necessarily targeted at the likes of you or I. If you’re looking to get a taste of some Miss Marble-esque tomfoolery (seriously, think before you type Kovacs), the first couple of BTMF casual homicide hunts are available right now, with more episodes planned throughout 2010. Check out our recent impressions of the first murder-mystery here.



Blur – Developer: Bizarre Creations | Publisher: Activision | Out: Q1 2010

With four letters in its title, it can only mean one thing: a new racing game. Joining the ranks of FUEL, Pure and a whole host of other titles that probably support this opening paragraph’s theory but we can’t recall right at this moment, Blur comes from the same team behind the most excellent Project Gotham Racing on the Xbox platforms. Crossing the platform divide to work on their first racing PS3 game (they also created the somewhat forgettable multiplatform title The Club), Blur will face tough competition in 2010 if it wants to reach the heady heights of the racing genre podium. Of course, if anyone can take home the chequered flag, it’s the PGR guys.



Brink – Developer: Splash Damage | Publisher: Bethesda Softworks | Out: Q3 2010

Having cut their teeth developing the multiplayer aspect on some of gaming’s most recognisable IPs (Doom 3, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, Return to Castle Wolfenstein), the mite silly sounding Brink is Splash Damage’s first original property to come out of the UK developer’s London studio. Taking place on The Ark, an isolated floating city in a futuristic and drowned Earth, Brink features two opposing factions fighting it out in a utopia turned hell-hole. With overcrowding and survival of the fittest kicking into a new level, the result is mankind perched on the very brink of total annihilation. Hmm, maybe that name wasn’t so silly after all. What attracts us most to Brink is two-fold. First, the character customisation system is one of the best we’ve seen (admittedly we’ve only got an early glimpse) with the ability to create some truly unique and colourful denizens of The Ark at a level we’ve not seen since the APB presentation at this year’s Develop conference. (If you haven’t seen it, watch it. It’s truly mesmerising.) Second, the recent footage showing off Brink’s SMART (Smooth Movement Across Random Terrain) system reminds us of Mirror’s Edge but injected with 200cc of rhino testosterone. In case you’ve missed it, here’s what we’re talking about:



We’ve still got a long wait before Brink finally hits. In the meantime, we’ll be dreaming up freaky looking characters to unleash on The Ark when it opens its doors to visitors around Autumn 2010.



Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Developer: Mercury Steam | Publisher: Konami | Out: TBA

It’s irrelevant at this point whether or not Lords of Shadow started off as a legitimate Castlevania game or not. The fact is, it is now. Developed by Spanish studio Mercury Steam, the title’s most newsworthy fact is that game legend Hideo Kojima is acting as some sort of advisor/producer. With the Metal Gear maestro having long suggested an interest of being involved in a Western style game, we’re assuming he twigged Castlevania: Lords of Shadow on Konami’s list and thought: “That’ll do nicely.” (Actually, more likely “Sō desu ne” considering he probably thinks in Japanese). It’s all very peculiar as, at least ostensibly, the game’s hack’n’slash style is a huge departure from Castlevania’s traditional and hallowed aesthetic and tone. It does boast a stellar voice cast including Patrick Stewart, Robert Carlyle and Natascha McElhone. In the minus column, however, Mercury Steam have yet to set the gaming world alight with a kick-ass title. Clive Barker’s Jericho has a Metacritic score of 61% for instance

Agent – Developer: Rockstar North | Publisher: Rockstar Games | Out: TBC

One of the few announcements not already leaked on the run-up to Sony Big Cheese Jack Tretton’s speech at this year’s E3, the prospect of a new Rockstar game exclusively on the PS3 is enough to make most Sony fans froth at the mouth. Despite being in stealth development for over two years, little is actually known about Agent other than the fact that it’s set in the 70s and will focus on the murky underbelly of the deadly espionage world. Needless to say, it will be big. It will also likely be the subject of the predictable “It’s coming to the 360, too” rumours for the next five years. Yay! Can’t wait for that.



Alien Breed: Evolution – Developer: Team17 | Publisher: Team17 | Out: Q2 2010

You have to go back to the early 90s to get an insight into just how long Alien Breed: Evolution has been in development. Since then, its troubled gestation smacks of a Duke Nukem Forever-esque fiasco with false-starts, publishers going bankrupt and a game that has changed direction more times than a startled deer on meth. With its climactic release on XBL this very week, thankfully it’s a happy ending for Team17 and their sci-fi top-down shooter/exploration title. Released episodically, due to their screw-you-publishers-who-either-fold-or-pass-on-our-game stance and how self-publishing inherently takes longer, PS3 fans will have to wait until 2010’s second quarter to get their hands on the first of three planned chapters.



Aliens Vs. Predator – Developer: Rebellion Developments | Publisher: Sega | Out: February 19th

Aliens Vs. Predator on the PC was one of the first games to severely put the willies up gamers when it was released back in 1999. Claustrophobic, feral and exceedingly deadly (especially if you were a marine), developer Rebellion are returning to the franchise that put them on the map (we’re not forgetting the Jaguar version) with a new imagining/remake for next-gen consoles. Recent footage showcasing alien, predator and cannonfodder colonial marine gameplay suggests an FPS with more than a few fresh elements in what has become a somewhat overcrowded and stale genre. The game also appears to be more violent than The Joker after losing his car keys. Something our friends Down Under originally had an issue with.



Aliens: Colonial Marines – Developer: Gearbox Software | Publisher: Sega | Out: TBC

At one point Sega had three Aliens games in development at the same time. Ultimately, with an in-built fanbase and a series of films to assist with its promotion, Aliens Vs. Predator was given the nod while Obsidian’s untitled Aliens RPG was cancelled. Aliens: Colonial Marines was an unknown factor during this culling period with many people convinced the subsequent layoffs at Gearbox was a death knell for the squad-based Aliens based FPS. Thankfully Sega have since reaffirmed that it’s not “Game Over!” for Aliens: Colonial Marines with the title expected to make an appearance after AvP next year. Written by David Weddle and Bradley Thompson, a scriptwriting duo best known for their work on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Battlestar Galactica and, oh my, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, watch for an acerbic, hard-as-nails colonial marine pulling off his shades and stating the blindingly obvious. Yeeeaaaaah!



Alive and Undead – Developer: ShortFuse Games | Publisher: ShortFuse Games | Out: Q3 2010

A PSN exclusive from Sweden’s ShortFuse Games, Alive and Undead is a 2D side-shooter vampire hunter. Yes, you read that right. It also promises online co-op and protagonists that go by the names of Smith and Welson on a quest to kill Death himself. Interestingly, the studio are considering making Alive and Undead a community funded game. In fact, if you have some spare cash and fancy investing in a game, check out their website for further details. We’re not sure what such an entrepreneurial venture suggests with regard the likelihood of this game ever seeing the light of day but, we have high hopes.



Alpha Protocol – Developer: Obsidian Entertainment | Publisher: Sega | Out: Q2 2010

Combining two popular genres – the RPG and the spy arena – Obsidian’s Alpha Protocol will attempt to deliver something a lot us have always dreamed of: the thrill of being caught up in the covert and action-filled world of espionage. Without, you know, getting jabbed with a poisoned umbrella tip in the process. Published footage of the game in action shows a complex yet intuitive game mechanic as a backdrop to a truly intriguing story. Players take on the role of Michael Thorton, a spy who quickly finds himself on the wrong side of the secret intelligence fence. With a realistic dialogue system and some Bourne-like action, Alpha Protocol is definitely one to watch.



American McGee’s Alice – Developer: Spicy Horse | Publisher: EA | Out: TBC

The twisted fairy-tale jury is still out on whether or not we’ll actually get to see American McGee’s Alice on consoles next year. If we do, expect another macabre take on the classic Alice in Wonderland story populated with neurotic versions of The Mad Hatter et. al. Developed by the team behind another of designer American McGee’s properties, Grimm, there’s every chance this game might already be a victim of EA’s recent declaration regarding how the publishing giant plan to publish fewer games in 2010 than in recent years. We’ll keep an eye out nonetheless.



Anarchy: Rush Hour – Developer: Gaijin Entertainment | Publisher: TBC | Out: Q1 2010

Not much is known about Moscow developer Gaijin Entertainment’s new racer Anarchy: Rush Hour. We do know that it’s set in Russia’s capital so there’s a good chance the streets will bare some resemblance to the actual city considering the studio’s location. Other than that – watch this space.



Army of Two : 40th Day – Developer: EA Montréal | Publisher: EA | Out: January 8th

The return of everyone’s favourite socially-inept fist-bumpers, Army of Two’s second outing takes the budding bromance to Shanghai. And then blows it up. Expect Tyson Rios and Elliot Salem, mercs extraordinaire, to sport new moves (they can now sprint for example) as co-op is taken to the next level with the likes of feigning death and utilising a co-op “playbook”. The first Army of Two fell a little flat with critics and players alike. We have a feeling its sequel will have learned from its predecessor’s shortcomings and could really deliver the biscuits.

Deadly Premonition – Developer: Access Games | Publisher: Marvelous Interactive (Japan) | Out: TBC

Starting off as Rainy Woods, Deadly Premonition resurfaced this year as a budget priced Silent Hill/Siren dare we say contender. It also sticks in my mind as a game that was an Xbox360 exclusive for all of one day. In reality, the game simply wasn’t announced with the full associated platforms when brought back from the dead and to our picky attention.

From the new recent footage on offer, it would appear Deadly Premonition is gaming’s equivalent to Snakes On A Plane, hailing from the “So Bad It’s Good” school of schlock. The graphics are muddy, the acting and voice work atrocious, and it appears to heavily “borrow” from a number of more established horror games. So we’re looking forward to it then? Oh yes!



Deus Ex 3 - Developer: Eidos Montréal / SquareEnix | Publisher: SquareEnix | Out: TBC

If you thought people were pissed at Final Fantasy VIII after falling so headlong in love with Final Fantasy VII, you should check out the reaction fans had toward Deus Ex’s 2003 sequel Deus Ex: Invisible War. Personally, I thought the follow-up was a gritty, futuristic jaunt, well executed albeit a little clunky and slow-moving in places. Then again, I never played the original. Die-hard fans of the first game, however, hated it for its dumbed down augmented system and a move away from its RPG origins. So, we don’t envy the task ahead for the Montréaleans making Deus Ex 3 for they’re sure to piss someone off. Take the backlash from the fans when a cover system was unveiled for the new title as a prime example.

Deus Ex presents a cyberpunk world infested with clandestine government forces and almost cabalistic covert groups hell-bent on making the future more unpleasant than it already is. Throw in bio-modification, fervent religious doctrine and more conspiracy theories than you could shake a grassy knoll at, and you get a dangerous yet intriguing universe to visit. Little is known about the new Deus Ex other than it will be a prequel, and that the augmentations will take the form of four distinct categories: Combat, Stealth, Technology and Social.

Doom 4 – Developer: id Software | Publisher: Bethesda Softworks | Out: TBC

Still regarded as one of the big daddies of the FPS clique, Doom 4 is apparently deep in development with more information promised to be revealed at next year’s QuakeCon. What we do know is that it will use id Software’s new Tech 5 engine, technology that will also drive id’s other FPS RAGE (which we will discuss in Part 8 of this series), and – for the tech-heads – is actually based on DirectX 9 specifications thus does not require DirectX 10 to run.

The chances of Doom 4 raising its beastly head by this time next year are pretty unknown. We place it here on this list more as a placeholder. Who knows, it might make it.



DUST 514 – Developer: CCP Games | Publisher: CCP Games | Out: TBC

PC gamers will likely be all-too familiar with EVE Online. A sci-fi based MMO, the game has over 300,000 active subscriptions and a loyal if not zealous following. Developed by Icelandic gaming house CCP (Crowd Control Productions) Games, the developers revealed at this year’s Eve FanFest that the company were working on a title for the seventh generation of consoles (that’s us). Further details emerged later on in the year at GamesCom where DUST 514 was officially unveiled.

DUST 514 is an intriguing concept for how it plans to integrate with the extant EVE universe. A companion game of sorts, while PC EVE Online gamers will continue to shape the universe from orbit, console gamers will get the opportunity to fight ground battles on the game’s plethora of planets. Both games are hence intrinsically linked, with conquests and defeats played out on the surface having lasting ramifications to the wider EVE setting.

It’s a novel idea and one that might actually work. What also attracts us to DUST 514 (apart from being an MMOFPS) is just how purty the graphics are. Check out some footage on the interwebs if you need convincing.

EA Sports MMA – Developer: EA Tiburon | Publisher: EA | Out: TBC

Despite UFC über-meathead Dana White threatening to blacklist any fighter who signed up for their likeness to appear in EA’s retort to THQ’s new UFC Undisputed franchise, recent early glimpses of EA Sport’s Mixed Martial Arts title indicate we have nothing to worry about.

Of course, Dana should have known better to tell any man who looks like a shaved bear what to do, as signing up to the rival product is exactly what a whole host of his brawlers went and did. We’re assuming when big names like Fedor Emelianenko and Randy Couture defied White and accepted EA’s cheque, the UFC president probably wished he had kept his mouth shut as there’s no sign of such blackballing actually coming to light.

With THQ releasing a follow-up to their successful inaugural UFC title also next year, we’re seeing a FIFA/PES type schism appearing in the MMA world. The winners are the gamers of course, with those of you out there who like to beat the tar out of your fellow oily man soon to have two new titles to channel your frustration through.

Earth No More – Developer: Recoil Games | Publisher: Radar Group | Out: TBC

We’re going to go out on a limb here and designate Earth No More as “Game Most Likely Not To Happen” on this list. An FPS set in a town experiencing a strange outbreak of red tentacles (happens all the time around these parts), Recoil Games have announced that the title is on hold indefinitely due to financial reasons. Take into account the recent allegations of IP theft by Cinemagraphix Entertainment directed at 3D Realms (now Radar Group) who allegedly (there’s that word again) were pitched the idea of Earth No More back in 2005 by Cinemagraphix, and the omens are not good. And we’re not talking about red tentacles.



Earthworm Jim – Developer: Gameloft | Publisher: Interplay | Out: TBC

The news this year that Gameloft had received permission to develop an Earthworm Jim game for what included next-gen consoles was greeted with jubilant jumping up and down by the game’s (now aging) fan-base. For the uninitiated, Earthworm Jim was a platformer designed by Dave Perry and Doug TenNapel that proved quite popular on the likes of the SNES and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis back in the mid 90s. It even spawned a cartoon.

The attraction of Earthworm Jim, apart from its addictive one-more-go gameplay and colourful art style, was its tongue-in-cheek antics. In what other game can you play a worm capable of pulling himself from his own space-suit and lassoing his head to a hook in order to advance to the next platform? Genius.

Earthworm Jim 4 will likely be a PSN title. If it makes it at all.

Edge of Twlight – Developer: Fuzzy Eyes | Publisher: Southpeak Interactive| Out: TBC

When I first imagined writing this 100 PS3 Games of 2010 list, one of the immediate things that jumped into my head was “Oh, I’m going to have to probably mention Edge of Twilight”, something I was not looking forward to considering the title’s current limbo status.

Nothing to do that that vampiric teenage girl wet-dream snooze-fest, Edge of Twilight features bounty hunter Lex, who, being a halfbreed, is one of the only few people who can cross between two worlds.

This third-person perspective title featuring intricate steampunk imagery and some interesting action sequences hit a wall this year when its Brisbane-based developer Fuzzy Eyes announced the game had run aground due to issues with publisher Southpeak Interactive. A recent press release states, however, “all outsourcing parties [are] still working hard on EOT development.” We didn’t know the project had been outsourced, but we’ll take any good news if it means the title eventually gets a release.



Enslaved - Developer: Ninja Theory | Publisher: Namco Bandai | Out: TBC

Heavenly Sword is a really good game. There, I said it. Not the best game ever created. Nor is it earth-shattering. But it’s also not mediocre or even bad as some may want you to believe. Of course, this is just a personal opinion and we all have them, but what Ninja Theory managed to create with Heavenly Sword was truly spectacular in terms of art. We won’t descend into the “Are games art?” debate here, but the look and presentation of Heavenly Sword was second to none. It was polished to an inch of its life.

It’s because of this attention and care Ninja Theory showed to its PS3 exclusive launch-title that we’re fascinated at what they have in store for their upcoming multiplatform title Enslaved. Similar to some degree to their previous venture, Enslaved offers intense combat and environment traversal on an Earth 150 years in the future. Blasted and now unrecognisable, players take on the role of Monkey and an AI companion, Trip. The game’s title is in reference to how Trip “enslaves” Monkey by hacking into his mind through the use of a fancy headband. The title is also in reference to the game’s setting, as she does this in an effort to keep them both alive and out of the nefarious hands of slavers.


Explodemon! – Developer: Curve Studios | Publisher: Curve Studios | Out: TBC

Looking like a cute, mini version of Iron Man, Explodemon! is a PSN title from developer Curve Studios. The game has an interesting background with designer Jonathan Biddle working on its prototype in his spare time. The main reason we’re so looking forward to Explodemon! is due to the titular hero’s unique approach to defeating enemies. He blows himself up. The game’s official site also has the following (and somewhat baffling) description: “Explodemon! is a 2.5D action platform game with an explosive main character. Mixing classic platforming action – from classics such as Mario and MegaMan – with the refined contemporary gameplay of Halo and Half-Life 2, it brings old-school gameplay bang up to date.” You had us at “explosive main character.”

Crysis 2 – Developer: Crytek | Publisher: EA | Out: TBC

A strong candidate for the “Game Most Likely To Be Dissected By Pixel-Counters In An Effort To Justify Their Lives” award, we are in no way underestimating what the arrival of a Crysis game on consoles means to the wider FPS arena.

The original Crysis on the PC was a powerhouse in the graphics department. But, just like that pretty girl you lusted after only to then get and discover she had the personality of a step, some people didn’t want to stick around and actually play Crysis. That’s not to say the game doesn’t have its supporters, but there are those who consider Crysis’ gameplay to be simply not on par with its visuals. This is not meant as a slur on Crytek by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it’s more a testament to just how beautiful the game is.

Crysis was a wonderful achievement and we’re more than optimistic that their next venture, Crysis 2 – due to launch on multiple formats next year – could really shake up the FPS genre for years to come. The source of this hope lies in the studio’s groundbreaking CryEngine 3, an engine (really?) capable of producing some startling graphics no matter what hardware it’s running on. We reckon CryEngine 3 would dazzle on the ZX Spectrum. Of course, we’re kidding. Who’d want to play an FPS with rubber keys? You’d get owned in no time.



Dante’s Inferno – Developer:Visceral Games | Publisher: EA | Out: February 12th

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, the crush the guys over at Visceral Games have on Santa Monica Studios and their God of War III title is so big that if I was a wife or husband of one of Dante’s Inferno’s producers, I’d be checking their phone for incriminating text messages. It’s not that we’re saying the games are quite similar, we’re saying they’re practically identical. In fact, we’re pretty sure if you pre-ordered God of War III and Dante’s Inferno from the same online retailer, you’ll never receive that package. At least, not according to temporal mechanics which dictates the two would cancel each other out. Of course, this is Jean-Claude Van Damme in Timecop type quantum physics so, who knows?

Admittedly, there are differences between Dante’s Inferno and the God of War series. For instance, while Kratos’ tale is a twisted bastardisation of Greek mythology, Visceral have chosen to corrupt something slightly more recent in Dante Alighieri’s 14th century epic poem, The Divine Comedy. The point is: if early footage and imagery hasn’t already convinced you, the recent demo should demonstrate just how close these two games really are. From the relentless combo chains to the Quick Time Events, Dante is even faced with inexplicable barriers preventing him further progress until certain baddies are vanquished.

So, we think it’s going to tank then? On the contrary, just because a game is (incredibly!) similar to another, that’s not to say it can’t still be a worthwhile investment of time, money and effort. Not to mention the technical feat Visceral have achieved by locking the game in at a consistent 60 frames per second – one of the Holy Grails of this generation. Dante’s Inferno also possesses some unique elements from utterly grotesque levels to its own finishing moves that will curdle your blood. It also looks like mindless fun as you descend into the many strata of Hell in search of boobies. Oh wait, God of War has boobs too. Scratch that.



Dark Void – Developer: Airtight Games | Publisher: Capcom | Out: January 15th

The gaming business is all about innovation. Whether it’s squeezing more juice out of finite resources or presenting a challenge to gamers with new and abstract gameplay methods – studios consistently find themselves in a constant struggle to keep things as fresh as possible for a discernible audience. Airtight Games are such innovators.

Looking at the gaming spectrum and realising that it needed a good shake-up, the Dark Void creators decided to introduce the concept of the “vertical shooter.” Of course, this is not the first time we have heard this particular expression, but let’s be honest, Damnation wasn’t any damn good. From the recent footage of Dark Void, however, we get the feeling that this time it might be a tad different. Where “different” is synonymous with “not pants” in this case.

Dark Void has all the hallmarks of a budding franchise. An interesting premise, high-velocity action sequences, and a protagonist who has access to what is essentially a jet-pack. Actually, discard everything here before those last two wonderful and suitably hyphenated words. We’ll start again. Dark Void shows promise purely based on the fact that its protagonist has access to what is essentially a jet-pack. Plain and simple. In this crazy gaming world full of stealth elements, insane weaponry and treasure hunters who can climb mountains while never getting tired, sometimes the kid in us just wants a guy with a jet-pack.

And we’re not the only ones. Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B, also liked what they saw in Dark Void (*ahem* jet-pack) and immediately snapped up the movie rights. Will the game actually be any good? Well, we don’t have that long to wait to find out, but we have a sneaky suspicion that this could be the dark jet-pack horse of 2010.



Darksiders – Developer: Vigil Games | Publisher: THQ | Out: January 5th

If Dante is spinning in his grave after what Visceral Games have done to his beloved canticle, imagine what subterranean breakdancing moves the guys who wrote the Bible will be doing when they discover the changes Darksiders’ Vigil Games have inflicted on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

The source of the issue is the face-lift the harbingers of destruction have received in the upcoming title. Gone are Conquest and Famine, two of the respected founding members of the ruinous Fab Four, replaced instead by two new upstarts, Strife and Fury respectively. But, come on, who really cares about biblical canon? (Don’t even ask what happened to Pestilence.)

Players take on the role of War, probably the most famous of the grim quartet, and with your trusty steed, Ruin, you attempt to seek out who prematurely triggered the Apocalypse and thus destroying the world. In your quest you’ll search for your fellow Horsemen above and below ground, solving puzzles while you layeth the smacketh on anyone that even looks at you sideways. After all, you are War. It’s kinda in the job description.



Data-Fly – Developer: ORiGO Games Ltd | Publisher: TBC | Out: TBC

Deemed vaporware for what must be a number of years now, the appearance of a new image a couple of months back from what we’re assured is ORiGO’s upcoming Data-Fly injected a modicum of plausibility that this game might actually see the light of day. Of course, that graphic was a lizard sitting on a rock so, well, don’t hold your breath.

The premise of the game is admittedly intriguing. Taking on the role of FLY, a nymph-esque female character we’re told is actually a nanotech enriched AI cyborg … type … thing, you attempt to rescue your creator, Azadeh, from a military base. The trailer (below and an exclusive to PlayStation Universe) pushes all of our geeky sci-fi buttons, despite the fact that it’s obviously just pre-rendered fanciness. But the themes of evolution and science run amok suggested in the footage may be enough for us to keep one genetically modified eye on this. Just in case, you know, it actually gets a release date.






DC Universe Online – Developer: Sony Online Austin | Publisher: SOE | Out: TBC

The MMOs are coming! The only question is: when?

The first of a number of massively multiplayer games on our 100 PS3 Games of 2010 list, DC Universe Online has a number of obvious winning factors going for it.

Probably the most salient of these is the fact that the property is absolutely teeming with recognisable characters people already possess some sort of affinity with. From the Man of Steel to firm fan-fav Batman, DC Universe Online takes the DC comics pantheon of superheroes and invites you to join their ranks.

Other positives include the pedigree of SOE when it comes to pulling off such a venture. After all, everyone might hark on about World of WarCraft these days, but SOE’s Everquest launched five years before the mammoth life-stealer and is still extremely popular among its fans. Of course, we should mention that for every Everquest there’s a Star Wars: Galaxies, an MMO you don’t hear much about these days.

Another plus is Jim Lee’s involvement in the property as Executive Creative Director. Comic-book fans will immediately recognise Jim’s name, knowing all too well that the super-artist was at least some way responsible for Marvel’s turnaround in the early ’90s thanks to his groundbreaking (although brief) stint on the rebooted X-Men comic. What all this means is that when it comes to the design of the core characters of the universe, they’ll at least look absolutely kick-ass.



Dead Nation – Developer: Housemarque | Publisher: SCE | Out: TBC

Hailing from Finland’s Housemarque – the same studio that gave us twin-stick shooter Super Stardust HD – Dead Nation, (considering Zombie Apocalypse and Burn! Zombie Burn! are already drinking all the free booze) is admittedly quite late to the PSN undead party. But we absolutely love zombies. Well, more accurately, we absolutely love killing zombies. Expect undead carnage dispensed with two thumbs of directional destruction from the Fins sometime next year.



Dead Rising 2 – Developer: Blue Castle / Capcom | Publisher: Capcom | Out: Q1 2010

Dead Rising was a fun no-holds barred zombie-basher for the Xbox 360. However, the fact that a million minds didn’t cry out at once when its sequel was announced as a multiplat title, should give you some idea of how integral it is in the mindset of 360 zealots. In other words, it was fun. It’s just not viewed as a Sacred Cow or anything. Though this is likely more to do with the fact that it was more a launch title for the Xbox 360, so it’s not like the original could have simultaneously graced the PS3 even if it wanted to. Then again, it’s not like we ever saw a port either.

Dead Rising 2 returns you to a world overrun with the undead. As Frank West, a photojournalist who seems more at home with a baseball bat than a Nikon, the object is to stay alive – and have some fun in the process. Considering this time you’re in Fortune City, an obvious gaming-universe version of Las Vegas, that might be harder than you think.

The sequel is now under the auspicious care of Blue Castle Games but with Capcom and creator Keiji Inafune still heavily involved. In fact, many of the original Dead Rising Capcom team now work at Blue Castle so we’re not seeing any real issue here. But let’s get down to brass tacks. You can brain zombies in this game with the head of a moose. I’d repeat that sentence again for emphasis if I wasn’t still in shock from writing it in the first place.



Dead Space 2 – Developer: Visceral Games | Publisher: EA | Out: TBC

The first Dead Space was a welcome respite from the incessant sequels we were bombarded with this year. Sometimes it’s just nice to pick up something that comes with no expectation or frame of reference whatsoever. Along with Mirror’s Edge, Dead Space went someway in introducing the concept of an EA finally shaking off the shackles of its Industry Bad-Guy persona; a publisher willing to take a chance on new IP and proffer something different to a user-base slowly becoming jaded by sequelitis.

Dead Space was not a perfect game but it was damn enjoyable. With a sequel now officially on the cards, we’re hopeful that space engineer Isaac Clarke’s next encounter with the Necromorphs will be even better than his first. This time out Isaac overcomes his inherent shyness, and instead of being his usual reticent self, will actually have a voice in the sequel. Gone is the stricken Ishimura ship as a location, with a station near Saturn called Sprawl now taking on duties as a deadly playground overrun with alien nasties.





Dead to Rights: Retribution – Developer: Volatile Games | Publisher: Namco Bandai (America) | Out: TBC

2002’s Dead to Rights brought new meaning to the expression “One man and his dog.” With his faithful hound, Shadow, no-nonsense cop Jack Slate patrols Grant City, a corrupt cesspit inhabited with more criminals than citizens. One of the most vicious yet totally obedient dogs we’ve ever seen – kinda like a bizarre mix of Cujo and Lassie – the availability of having Shadow to run into the fray and bite enemies in the nethers might be a tad gimmicky, but it does offer something different.

The original Dead to Rights made heavy use of Max Payne-esque Bullet Time shenanigans and presented a plot very much along the lines of a John Woo Hong Kong action flick. Recent footage of the sequel also shows why the censors were getting a little hot under the collar with certain elements of the game. Apparently it’s OK to blow someone’s head clean from their shoulders, but controlling a dog to chew their face off is a big no-no.