IconoCritic’s Top 10 Games of 2010
With the new year upon us, it’s time to start looking forward at the coming year and evaluate the gaming landscape. Thankfully 2010 doesn’t look to disappoint. With the recession hitting many game developers hard, many of the A list titles got pushed back to the first quarter of 2010. With this glimpse of 2010 I will try to highlight some of my most anticipated titles. Although there is no guarantee that all of these games will come out in 2010, delays do happen and are a given in the gaming industry, I will be assuming that all of the games listed will be released on their anticipated release dates.
In no particular order, here are my must buy games being released in 2010…
BioShock 2
Release Date: 9 Feb 2010
Genre(s): First Person Shooter
Publisher(s): 2K Games
Developer: 2K Marin, Digital Extremes
Rating: M
Continuing 10 years after the end of the first BioShock, little girls are disappearing mysteriously. You play the very first prototype Big Daddy, able to wield plasmids and weaponry at the same time. You must go up against the Big Sister, a Big Daddy like opponent that protects the little sisters of Rapture. You will also have to deal with creepier and more plentiful Splicers this time around. Including a multiplayer portion this time around, BioShock 2 is looking to only improve upon what was a solid first offering.
Final Fantasy XIII
Release Date: 9 March 2010
Genre(s): Role Playing Game
Publisher(s): Sony Computer Entertainment of America
Developer: Square Enix
Rating: T
Although this game has already been released in Japan, it is finally coming to the US and Europe in 2010. This installment is most notable for being the first to be multiplatform, being released for the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360. The latest in the long running series, Final Fantasy XIII takes place on a new world called Pulse where people are chosen to be fal’Cie, mechanical beings that have almost godlike powers. It also brings back the Active Time Battle system but will operate differently, allowing the player to chain together large numbers of attacks to gain extra attack bonuses.
God of War 3
Release Date: 16 March 2010
Genre(s): Action Adventure
Publisher(s): Sony Computer Electronics of America
Developer: SCEA Santa Monica
Rating: M
God of War 3 concludes the trilogy with amazing new graphics, new technology allowing for the damage done to enemies to show and to also rip out the guts of said enemies. Continuing shortly after the end of the second game, you again play Kratos who is still hellbent on taking down the Olympian Gods. As seen in the E3 demo with the aide of the Titans take down the rest of the Olympians. It has yet to be seen if you take on the Titans also, but I’m really hoping we do as I can only imagine that being as epic as some of the fights in Shadow of the Collosus.
MAG – Massive Action Game
Release Date: 26 Jan 2010
Genre(s): MMOFPS
Publisher(s): Sony Computer Entertainment of America
Developer: Zipper Interactive
Rating: RP
MAG is your standard fare first person shooter. What makes it special is that it boasts the capability of 256 simultaneous players fighting all in the same instanced map. Aside from that, it sounds like your standard fare of guns, planes, and artillery. I can only imagine how much chaos there will be with this many people in one instance and if the MAG servers will be able to handle it. Thankfully Zippit has been doing extensive beta testing with those lucky enough to be selected.
Heavy Rain
Release Date: 23 Feb 2010
Genre(s): Interactive Drama
Publisher(s): Sony Computer Entertainment of America
Developer: Quantic Dream
Rating: M
From the same developer who also brought us Indigo Prophecy (Fahrenheit in the rest of the world) comes Heavy Rain, an astonishingly realistic looking neo-noir type game where your every action has a consequence, even to the point of completely eliminating characters from the game if you misstep. With detailed character development and realistic emotions on the characters, I expect this to be next years most cinematic game.
Gran Turismo 5
Release Date: 1 Nov 2010
Genre(s): Racing
Publisher(s): Sony Computer Entertainment of America
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Rating: RP
Gran Turismo 5 is basically the classis series in glorious 1080p. Every screenshot I’ve seen and the prologue game showed just how powerful the Playstation 3 is. It sports many of the classis like Ferrari, Porshe, and other cars you can only dream of owning. Weather effects are still iffy at this point but realistic damage is said to be in game.
Mass Effect 2
Release Date: 26 Jan. 2010
Genre(s): Action, RPG
Publisher(s): Electronic Arts
Developer: BioWare
Rating: M
Mass Effect 2 is the latest in the trilogy from BioWare. Continuing shortly after the end of the first game, you again are playing as Command Shepard commanding the Normandy as it’s under attack by an unknown assailant. You are shortly thereafter “upgraded” and are off on your way in another extensively detailed and intriguing game like only BioWare can do. Along with a new regenerating health system and overhauled weaponry system, there are a variety of new characters that are being introduced with all too familiar voices.
Alan Wake
Release Date: 18 May 2010
Genre(s): Psychological Thriller, Action
Publisher(s): Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Rating: T
Alan Wake was originally announced when the Xbox 360 was originally launched and has been slipping deadlines ever since. All of that should be coming to an end as it was announced on August 17th, 2009 that it was finally finished and is just being polished. The story is sounding amazing as the self-titled character lives through a nightmare that he unknowingly wrote. In addition to guns, the game boasts the use of light itself as a weapon which should add an interesting twist to the gameplay as many of the screenshots show varying degrees of darkness throughout the game.
Dante’s Inferno
Release Date: 9 Feb. 2010
Genre(s): Third Person Action Adventure
Publisher(s): Electronic Arts
Developer: Visceral Games
Rating: M
Based upon the famous epic poem by Dante Alighieri, Dante’s Inferno takes the player through all nine Circles of Hell to save his beloved Beatrice from Satan himself. Weilding a scythe obtained from Death himself and a cross that was a gift from Beatrice, you play Dante, a knight of the Third Crusade. Just seeing the divine comedy brought to life should make for an interesting game and provide a variety of enemies and venues to play through.
Darksiders: Wrath of God
Release Date: 5 Jan. 2010
Genre(s): Action Adventure
Publisher(s): THQ
Developer: Vigil Games
Rating: M
In Darksiders: Wrath of War you play War, one of the four Horseman of the Apocalypse who is framed for starting Armageddon. The entire world is torn asunder and you must discover who framed you while attempting to regain your powers. Showcasing many of the same elements as the Devil May Cry series, Darksiders should offer a variety of of enemies as you take on the forces of Heaven and Hell.
Special Mentions
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction
Halo: Reach
I Am Alive
Fable III
Max Payne 3
FFXIV
ModNation Racers
Star Trek Online
StarCraft 2
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Did I miss any important ones? What are you looking forward to? Which do you think will suck?
If you liked this article, you might also like:
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- [YIR] My Favorite Games of 2009
- God of War Collection
- Mass Effect 2 Voice Actors Announced
- Sony Patent Reveals PS2 Software Emulation
Author: Justin "Trip" Drew (39 Articles)
Justin is a full time Network Security Admin for Rackspace and technology geek. When he's not securing people's networks he can be found playing video games, watching movies, and occasionally playing fetch with his dog Mac.
20 Jul 2010, 2:19 am
Joined your mailing list, impressive layout:)