Tuesday, July 8, 2008

MOST POPULAR GAMES

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Published by: Bethesda Softworks
Developed by: Bethesda Softworks
Release: October 2008
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E3

Most Anticipated PC Games of E3 2008

Jason, Steve and Charles select the ten games they're most anxious to see.

July 3, 2008 - E3 may not be the bonanza it was in years past, but this year's show should at least reveal some new info on a few anticipated titles. With mammoth companies such as Activision-Blizzard pulling out of the show's lineup, though, you can't help but be concerned for the show's future. Will people still care in two or three years' time if companies with the reach of Blizzard hold their own private events to make big announcements? Will E3 still be the event people look to for all the industry's biggest news, or merely more of an minor blip where readers see a slightly increased number of previews on games they already know about?

For now, it's tough to say how it'll all turn out, so we'll just focus on what's at this year's show. Below we've ranked what we're most looking forward to seeing. And just to be clear, we had to bump quite a few games off the list that are entirely worthy of being included. This includes Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization, Call of Duty World at War, Warhammer Online and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, just to name a few. Rest assured that we'll be covering all those games (and more) at the show. But for now, here are the ten that we just can't miss.

10) Rise of the Argonauts
Genre: Action RPG
Developer: Liquid Entertainment
Publisher: Codemasters

Mix the great team at Liquid Entertainment with the world of Classical mythology and action RPGs and you've got a recipe that we just can't resist. Focusing mostly on Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece, Rise of the Argonauts manages to bring in characters and creatures from the most popular Greek myths and presents them in a format that allows for fast-paced combat and rich storytelling. Now if we could just convince them that Hercules should actually be called Herakles, we'd be set.

9) Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
Genre: Real-time strategy
Developer: EA Los Angeles
Publisher: Electronic Arts

Yeah, we miss Westwood too, but we're glad that their Command and Conquer series has found a good home at EA LA. After handling C&C 3 and Zero Hour, the team is finally ready to tackle Red Alert 3. This series is a favorite of many of the editors here at IGN, so we're particularly excited to see it return. EA LA promises to deliver all the zany hallmarks of the series, from parachuting bears to time-traveling Commies. This time around, the conflict escalates as the Empire of the Rising Sun enters the fray. With an entirely new faction, the game promises to be even more exciting and satisfying than any Red Alert title to date.

8) Crysis Warhead
Genre: First-person shooter
Developer: Crytek
Publisher: Electronic Arts

Crysis was a fantastic shooter, but Crysis Warhead promises to be much more action packed. We've seen the game in action and it looks hot. What's not to like? You still have large battlefields and the wild powers of the nanosuit, but there's a lot more kinetic energy in Warhead. And the state-of-the-art graphics engine still looks unmatched a year on. It's just simply beautiful to see in motion.

7) Left 4 Dead
Genre:First-person shooter
Developer: Valve
Publisher: Valve

It's crazy, but even though we've played the same Left 4 Dead demo over and over again for the past year, we simply can't get enough of this cooperative online shooter. The best way to describe Left 4 Dead is sort of like you being one of the Army soldiers in the horror movie 28 Weeks Later. Sure, you and your buddies have got automatic weapons, but there's an ocean of zombies hurtling at you. Have fun.

6) S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky
Genre: First-person shooter
Developer: GSC Gameworld
Publisher: Deep Silver

Despite having some significant flaws, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl got under your skin like few games before it. It was incredibly immersive, atmospheric, and unforgettable experience, challenging you to explore and survive in the radioactive wastes around Chernobyl. Clear Sky is the follow-up, and if GSC Game World can deliver a more polished game, this is definitely going to be one to play.

5) Alpha Protocol
Genre: Roleplaying
Developer: Obsidian
Publisher: SEGA

There are few RPGs set in the modern world, and even fewer still focused on espionage. The fact that Alpha Protocol is such a game and that it's being developed by Obsidian should be enough to generate a lot of interest. Obsidian did a bang-up job with Neverwinter Nights 2. If Alpha Protocol lets you indulge your inner Bond or Bourne, that's a great thing.

4) Spore
Genre: Simulation
Developer: Maxis
Publisher: Electronic Arts

The gaming world's been waiting for this one for quite a while, and now we're suddenly only a few months away from release. We all got a chance to try out the game's creature creator released a few weeks ago to see how powerful and intuitive Spore's tools are, but what about the actual game? Will it be more of a passive experience where you just create and observe, or will there be a significant amount of gameplay to engage? We'll only know for sure after the game comes out, but before then we're always excited to see whatever Maxis is working on.

3) Far Cry 2
Genre: First-person shooter
Developer:
Publisher:

Yeah, it's a sequel, but don't expect Far Cry 2 to be anything like the original. First off, it's a different developer. Ubisoft took over from Crytek, and the sequel seems set to offer an interesting take on open-world first-person shooter mechanics in the vein of something like S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. With a wide assortment of upgradeable weaponry, a dynamic narrative, and stunning visuals, we're hoping this game lives up to its potential.

2) Empire: Total War
Genre: Strategy
Developer: Creative Assembly
Publisher: SEGA

Creative Assembly's Total War series has always been able to deliver some of the most ambitious and visually thrilling historical strategy games we've ever seen, so it's no surprise that we're really looking forward to their latest sequel. And though we've loved fighting in feudal Japan, ancient Rome and medieval Europe, we're especially excited to see Empire Total War finally bringing the series the global war of imperial ambition of the 18th and 19th centuries. It's the perfect setting for a total war game with colorful battles, varied technology and lots of powerful nations in direct conflict with each other. Oh, and we mention that there are fully playable sea battles? What's not to like?

1) Fallout 3
Genre: Roleplaying
Developer: Bethesda Softworks
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

It's been over a decade since the first Fallout released and any who played it have likely been keeping a close eye on Bethesda. The developer best known for its open-world Elder Scrolls RPG series made some controversial decisions with Fallout 3's design, most notably moving it into a first-person perspective. Those concerned whether or not the "spirit" of Fallout has been retained or lost will have to wait until the game's release date, which at this point remains nebulous. We can say so far Fallout 3 is certainly looking pretty, has some interesting ideas, and seems to retain some degree of humor in the dialogue and game world. We'll bring you more at E3.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Tomb Raider Underworld

Also known as: Tomb Raider: Underworld
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Tomb Raider Underworld
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Published by: Eidos Interactive
Developed by: Crystal Dynamics
Release Date: November 2008
Genre: Action
Lara's adventures continues in Tomb Raider Underworld. The game features a dynamic weather system that adds realism to the environment, as well as full motion capture for Lara to bring a more natural fluidity to her movements. » More
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Tomb Raider Underworld First Look
Lara returns to raid once again.
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Need for Speed Undercover
Also known as: Need for Speed 09, Need for Speed 2009
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Need for Speed Undercover
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Published by: Electronic Arts
Developed by: Black Box
Release Date: November 2008
Genre: Racing Action
EA's dominating racing series takes a left turn with this uniquely action-oriented entry in the franchise. » More

Need for Speed Undercover
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: PC
Release Date: December 31, 2008
Release Region: United States
ESRBNeed for Speed Undercover
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: PC
Release Date: November 1, 2008
Release Region: United States

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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Published by: Electronic Arts
Developed by: Bright Light Productions
Release Date: November 2008
Genre: Action
In the game of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, players return to Hogwarts to help Harry survive a fraught sixth year. They also have a chance to engage in exciting wizard duels, mix and brew magical ingredients in Potions class and take to the air to lead the Gryffindor Quidditch team to victory. Players even get sidetracked by Ron's romantic entanglements as they journey towards a dramatic climax and discover the identity of the Half-Blood Prince. » More
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Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Also known as: Spider-Man: Webslinger [working codename], Spider-Man: Spiderman: Red vs Black [rumored title]
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Spider-Man: Web of Shadows immerse players in an all-new action-adventure saga that gives them unprecedented control, never before seen in a Spider-Man game. Armed throughout the battle and confronted by an unrecognizable New York City, players choose to play as a heroic web-slinger or a volatile, destructive anti-hero, fighting with or against a vast number of fan-favorite Marvel heroes and villains, switching instantly between sides, and deciding which missions to undertake to save mankind. An all-new combat system combines web slinging and customizable superpowers to give gamers the freedom to fight and explore in a free-roaming, open-ended environment. Battles blend Spider-Man's speed and agility with the landscape, challenging players to master fast moving acrobatic combat, powerful new web-slinging moves and destructive combo attacks, as they take the fight from the streets, up the sides of buildings and onto rooftops.


Published by: Activision
Developed by: Shaba Games / Treyarch
Genre: Action
Release Date:
US: October 2008
Europe: Unreleased
Australia: Unreleased
Also Available On: PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS

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Pro Evolution Soccer 2009

Also known as: PES 2009, Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, World Soccer Winning Eleven 2009, World Soccer Winning Eleven 2009 (JPN), Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (UK)
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Published by: Konami
Developed by: Konami
Genre: Sports
Release Date:
US: Q3 2008
Japan: Q3 2008
Europe: Q3 2008
Australia: Q3 2008
Also Available On: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2
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The 2009 installment of the award-winning sports franchise brings a raft of extensive new additions that will further bridge the gap between PES and the real thing. The new game has undergone a stunning graphical update to ensure its players look and move even more like their real-life counterparts. Similarly, all-new options allow users to tailor the game to their own tastes, while new moves, innovative new control elements and key online elements will further the realism of the new game.