10 Games to Look For in 2009
2008 is over, and in many ways it was a disappointment. We had some great games, but we also had quite a few letdowns, especially during the holiday season. It seemed like the best games were a given, and the worst games should have at least been pretty good. Moving into 2009 we've got a few that should be released in the first half of the year, and at least a few that may not even make it into our hands until 2010 if the companies' histories can be considered.
You'll also notice a hell of a lot of sequels and spinoffs on this list: it's hard to get excited for new franchises this early sometimes, because so many of them wind up being entirely different than what we expect. But there should be plenty of innovation on this list, so while almost every game on here is a sequel, just about all of them are played in new ways or deliver some kind of new experience.
Street Fighter IV (February 17, 2009)
It took Capcom a good eight or so years to "count to three" (as fans would say), and almost another decade later, they'll be back with an all-new Street Fighter game. Taking the classic 2D gameplay and updating the look with full-3D characters that still have a hand-drawn look, Capcom is going to need some masterful design if they want to bring back the charm of SF2 way back from 1991. And the online play will be brutal, so hopefully Capcom can find a way to get more casual players to jump in together. Either way, fighting games might be a dying genre in some people's eyes, but not to Capcom.
Halo Wars (March 3, 2009)
Every time a strategy game is released on a console we get the same crap about how this new game finally makes RTS "work" on a console controller. We've heard it at least 4 times now, and so far we're unimpressed. Halo Wars, the final project by the soon-to-close Ensemble Studios, seems like it might just do it this time. Microsoft doesn't seem to care either way, though, since they've already handed out the pink slips. Let's at least hope that this fine studio that created the Age of Empires franchise has one great final hurrah for us.
Resident Evil 5 (March 13, 2009)
Capcom's long-awaited horror sequel is almost here. The fourth game was a reboot for the series, combining a fantastic storyline and great action with just enough of that movement-limiting feeling that makes the Resident Evil series so challenging. The new fifth game adds a cooperative element between the two protagonists while continuing to make sure that you can't just blindly run-and-gun it like a shooter. Previews so far have been very positive, so if you liked RE4, it seems like a given that you'll enjoy number five.
Wii Sports Resort (Spring 2009)
Of all the Wii games that get kicked around, few have the instant fun factor of the original pack-in, Wii Sports. Its infectiously simple gameplay leads to more depth than you first thought as everyone improves at each game, and its accessibility is top-notch. The sequel takes everything to a beach resort where new sports come into play, like fencing and jet skiing. With the new attachment to further refine the Wiimote's motion sensing capabilities, we're not just looking at the same stuff with sand and oceans in the background. Either way, will people pay full price for a Wii Sports sequel, and buy the appropriate attachments for the rest of their Wiimotes? Will they even be in stock in local stores? We'll find out soon.
Deus Ex 3 (Mid-Late 2009)
Not much is known about Eidos' third game in the beloved PC series, but what we do know is that the loss of several of the series' creators, most notably Warren Spector, isn't as big a deal as it might be with other revivals. Spector helmed the development of the disappointing second game, Deus Ex: Invisible War, and was one of the earlier examples of how simultaneous console and PC development, when done wrong, can almost completely kill a game's fun (and sales) for all platforms involved. I think many gamers are happy with a fresh take on the series, one that learns from past DX mistakes and introduces good stuff learned about RPG/action titles in the last decade.
Starcraft II (Late 2009)
Blizzard is finally working on the sequel to their hugely successful RTS powerhouse, but does this one offer much more than a graphic overhaul and a few changed-up units? The first game was addictive and incredibly balanced for professional play, while the particulars of the interface ensured that only the best gamers in the world had a chance of winning at the high level. Can Blizzard recapture the magic that the game's legendary American and Korean players say was best "happy accident" in gaming history?
Gran Turismo 5 (Late 2009)
It may be the fault of both developer Polyphony Digital and publisher Sony for insisting on releasing a half-finished version of their game, GT5 Prologue, but the insulting $40 price tag seems to be entirely the design of Sony. At least we don't have too much longer to wait for the real full thing and its legion of real-life cars and tracks, and maybe Sony will be kind enough to offer a discount to owners of Prologue. And hey, the longer we wait, the more time we have to save up for Logitech's incredible G25 wheel, too!
Fight Night Round 4 (Late 2009)
EA has been making the best boxing games around for years now, but they still don't quite capture the feel of being in the ring like Madden does for a football stadium or their other franchises do for their respective sports. After years of comedic button-mashers, Fight Night brought skill back to the genre, and after the commercial failure of EA's last "boxing" game, Facebreaker, we can only hope they go in the opposite direction and give us something more like a sim with lots of interesting options for training and some great boxing when you do get in the ring. Don't let us down, EA!
Diablo III (Late 2009, possibly 2010)
Blizzard may not even release this game in 2009, but we can hope, can't we? The demos seen already make the whole thing seem rather polished as it is, and the playable action that was going on at Blizzcon this year gives us hope that we might see it inside of the next 12 months. Blizzard doesn't usually release more than one game per year, but maybe 2009 can be the exception. The classic clicky-click RPG action we all love will be back, but right now the question is whether this new team, composed of many developers new to Diablo, can deliver the same addictive experience Blizzard North did back in the summer of 2000.
Rage (Late 2009)
id Software is making a new franchise after well over a decade of bringing back old favorites. But it's been a long time since they've been the king of action games - or even of genre they created, the first person shooter - so some are wondering if id Software still has what it takes to make a great game. This post-apocalyptic title has only been seen so far in trailers, but the art style and new technology from industry legend John Carmack does seem to bring something new to the table. Now we've just got to find out how it plays, and whether the simultaneous PC and console development will hurt the final product.
