12.05.2012

The Rush is Over... For now.

The rush of new releases for this year is seemingly over. With only a few stragglers left, and the last of the big names dropping yesterday, what's going to be next on every ones radar? Quality titles like Dead Space 3, the reboot of Devil May Cry, and the adored Ni No Kuni, are all releasing soon after the New Year.

So what do you find yourself pumping the most time into? It doesn't feel as crowded as last year's ridiculous onslaught of games, or does it? Personally, I'm putting most of my time between three games; ranking up with some buddies in Call of Duty Black Ops 2, my impressions of the game can be read - here, I've been unraveling the mystery shrouded American Revolution and stabbing faces in Assassin's Creed 3, and popping head shots in a very well made Halo 4. Three beefy games to get through. Add in a personal life, a girlfriend, work, soccer, and trying to keep this blog going, it gets pretty daunting from time to time. The other issue is that I've already ended up putting new releases on the back burner. Let's throw in the extremely massive Borderlands 2 which I'm nearing the end of, but haven't even bothered to pick up in over a month at least. The shameful thing is I paid for the season pass and haven't even touched the DLC. There's also my weekly ritual of NHL 20xx with friends that hasn't happened in over a month due to the same busy issues for all of us. On top of that, let us add in my love for Battlefield 3 and how I paid for their Premium account and find myself always sliding back into it for a game or seven. My gluten for a Platinum Trophy in Batman Arkham City is still pretty evident. Damn that Riddler. I'm a sucker for all things Final Fantasy and end up popping on usually 6-13 from time to time to get things done I haven't. Nothing is more difficult than picking up a Final Fantasy game you haven't played in months, and trying to figure out what you were supposed to do next within the story.There's also always Red Dead Redemption, which in my opinion my be Rockstar's greatest game ever, or just one of the greatest games ever for that matter. I forgot about Trials: Evolution, which is insanely frustrating yet addicting at the same time. Which I guess, leaves us at Dark Souls. Probably creeping into my list of favorite games of all time. At first, I loathed the game. As I gave it time, and probably a few years off my life, I have fallen in love with it. So there's the urge to always grind through Anor Londo, or swing into the new Artorias of the Abyss DLC. Plain and simple, there's a lot of good gaming that has been released in the past year, and beyond, that is still holding onto my consoles.

So you've got around a month to bang out any story you feel compelled to complete. Let's look at some choice releases coming in the next 2-3 months time.

Devil May Cry - 1.15.2012 - A reboot to the series that has come with scrutiny, but after playing the demo and seeing a lot of video on it, this is a game I look forward to see released.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch - 1.22.2012 - An underdog for sure, but the beautiful art style, and famed creators, Level 5 and Studio Ghibli, this is sure to be a cult classic at least.

Dead Space 3 - 2.5.2012 - The third entry in the beloved action/horror/survival game from EA. Taking you to an ice planet where the necromorphs have started to take over. Definitely one I will keep my eye on.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - 2.19.2012 - I had to check to make sure I spelt this one right, but the story line of Raiden is now front and center in this return to Metal Gear. You'll be slicing and dicing till your fingers bleed. Or your eyes, we'll never know which one gives first.

Bioshock: Infinite - 2.26.2012 - It may never end at this rate. Ken Levine brings back Bioshock with new settings and storyline in the beloved Bioshock franchise.

The amount of quality games being released, just from judging their names, is overwhelming. It's within a month and a half that these 5 are released. Not to mention I have left out Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, Aliens: Colonial Marines, Tomb Raider, God of War: Ascension, Gears of War: Judgement, Dead Island: Riptide, oh, I also forgot, there's the small indie project of a game being released called GTA V, maybe you've heard of it? That will be released between April-June, probably landing at some point in May. That time of the year has become Rockstar's window of release, and other developers and publishers have mostly taken notice to steer clear of them.

So with all of the madness, and assumed emptied pockets, where does your dollar go? It's going to be an awesome time for great games. Just make sure you save enough time to go to the bathroom and eat and talk to people.

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