Five of the Most Anticipated Video Games of 2012

2011 is going to be difficult to beat when it comes to the quality and quantity of top-notch games released. Against last year’s games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Batman Arkham City and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, among others, 2012 is facing an uphill battle. Which, apparently, it very much intends to win.

There are a number of high-profile games being released this year, some of which will become classics even before reaching the hands of gamers the world over. And while there are dozens of titles that deserve genuine mention, I will try to keep this list short, sweet and, above all, awesome.

And the top five most anticipated video games of 2012 are …

• Mass Effect 3 (03/06/2012 – PC/PlayStation 3/Xbox360): When Mass Effect was released, it bore on its shoulders a massive responsibility in the eyes of gamers, and it delivered on its promise in a way few games have. With an engaging storyline, amazing graphics, game mechanics and an expansive and intertwined universe, it was truly a memorable title. Mass Effect 3 promises to continue that saga, adjusting itself to your decisions and behavior during the past two games (if you’ve played them, of course) to deliver what promises to be a memorable final chapter in Commander Shepard’s story.
• Diablo III (TBA – PC): Following Blizzard Entertainment’s philosophy of “It will be released when it’s ready,” it’s not exactly certain we’ll see Diablo III this year – but it’s the closest it’s ever been to prime time. Originally announced in the Summer of 2008, the game promises to continue the saga left behind by its predecessors as an excellent, expansive Fantasy/Horror-themed RPG. With many game modes, including multiplayer co-op, it is sure to be a favorite of those who enjoy adventuring with friends.
• Halo 4 (Fall, 2012 – Xbox360): It’s difficult to mention Halo in a crowd of gamers without drawing applause. Five years after the conclusion of the original trilogy, 343 Industries – who now spearheads the Halo franchise, will be bringing the legendary Master Chief back into the intergalactic epic. While few details have been provided, we know this will be the first game in a planned new trilogy, and that mindlessly shooting enemies will make way for the exploration of a new massive alien planet. Of course, making gamers more engaged in their adventure is always a winner in my book!
• Guild Wars 2 (Fall, 2012 – PC): The last decade proved MMORPGs to be a massive success (pun intended), and publisher NCSoft knows this business well. However, the majority of the post-2005 era MMOs have something in common — they tried to ride on the success of World of Warcraft … and failed. GW2 however, promises to do something else entirely, vowing to bring together elements of the immersion and progressive advancement of single-player games with the atmosphere of an expansive environment and the camaraderie of playing with friends – with no tiresome and repetitive grinding. To sweeten the deal, players who purchase the game don’t have to pay a monthly subscription to keep playing.
• Tomb Raider (Fall, 2012 – PC/PlayStation 3/Xbox360): This is a title that went under my radar until recently, but one that has had me excited from that moment on. For the past few years or so, the franchise has been sadly lukewarm, with few of its games making headlines. This year’s iteration, however, takes the Survival Adventure genre to a new level, introducing players to Lara Croft’s origin story, and how she came to be the hardened survivalist we’ve known her to be. If the game can spark as much interest as it did during the PlayStation days, it’ll be more than satisfying.

This year promises to be one to remember in gaming history, and in an industry where companies are looking at innovation to gain an edge, the next 12 months are sure to have something for everyone.

Tagged play smart, video games