Most anticipated games of 2012

Some of us will remember 2011 as one of the best years of modern gaming. With huge titles like, Batman: Arkham City, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Portal 2 and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception leading 2011’s star-studded line-up, one can only wonder if 2012 will be able to top such a terrific year. Well the simple answer is yes. 2012 Is going to be absolutely massive for the video game industry with new software and hardware set for release – here’s my personal rundown of 2012’s most anticipated.

10. The Last Guardian
Hailed as one of the lead innovators in the video game industry, Team Ico’s next project is hot on our list for 2012. Anybody who’s played Ico and Shadow of the Colossus will tell you how absolutely incredible and unique both of those titles are and with teaser footage showing more mesmerizing content, The Last Guardian is sure to shine. Unfortunately the original release date for The Last Guardian was somewhere in 2008 and continual delays are certainly making the video game industry lose faith and patience in Team Ico. Nevertheless, 2012 is make or break for this particular title and if it comes out, prepare for an experience like no other. In the mean time check out the HD collection of Ico & Shadow of the Colossus double pack if you didn’t have a chance to play through these classics.

09. Dragon’s Dogma
The challenging RPG has certainly made its way back into the hearts of conventional gamers after the success of Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls. Now it’s Capcom’s turn to give the devilishly difficult formula a whirl with their interpretation of brutal role-play gaming. Dragon’s Dogma promises an in-depth world filled with beautiful monsters and intertwined with technically challenging combat mechanics. The footage we have seen so far suggest it will be a faster paced version of Dark Souls, so prepare for more frantic gameplay.

08. Street Fighter x Tekken
The fighting genre made a miraculous come back in 2011 with Street Fighter IV, Mortal Kombat 9 and Marvel vs. Capcom 3 seeing huge amounts of success. Now it’s time to build upon those foundations as 2012 prepares for Soul Calibur V, Dead or Alive 5 and Street Fighter x Tekken. Pitting two of the genres most successful franchises against each other continues to push the boundaries of genre crossovers, but what we’ve seen so far has done nothing but impress us. The Tekken characters seem to blend nicely into the Street Fighter formula and we’re looking forward to pitting Ryu against Jin Kazama.

07. Ninja Gaiden 3
The Ninja Gaiden reboot on Xbox is widely considered to be one of the most influential action adventure titles of modern gaming. Unfortunately Ninja Gaiden 2 failed to live up to the high standards the original set, leaving many fans of the series bitterly disappointed. Now Tecmo Koei bring us the third installment in Ryu Hayabusa’s tale, incorporating a more story-oriented experience into the brutal and violent hack ’n’ slash gameplay Ninja Gaiden is known for. We have high expectations and faith that this is going to be the best the series has to offer and another pinnacle moment for the action adventure genre.

06. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Well if Ninja Gaiden can’t do it, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance sure will. Another action adventure title set for 2012 but with the expert development staff of Platinum Games behind the project, this is sure to dazzle. As a huge Ninja Gaiden fan, I am terrified that this title will completely outclass Tecmo Koei’s efforts, but that’s not a bad thing at all for the industry. Metal Gear Rising should hopefully be the first of a long line of spin-off games in the legendary Metal Gear series.

05. Grand Theft Auto V
Rockstar are certainly pushing the boat out in 2012 with Max Payne and Grand Theft Auto V. Both franchises have huge followings and high expectations surrounding them, but there’s little doubt that they will sell in the millions. Unfortunately, figures tend to taint the critique of Rockstar games because even if the game isn’t that impressive (Grand Theft Auto IV), it still sells astonishingly. Looking back in hindsight however, it’s very difficult to call the last entry in the GTA series a good game. Rockstar need to completely overhaul the driving and shooting mechanics to make GTAV the best sandbox experience you can get your hands on.



04. Halo 4
I think we’re all excited just because of the name Halo. Nothing is known about Master Chief’s next adventure, but one can hope for a terrific sci-fi FPS experience. The series has so much to live up to and we can’t wait to see what 343 Industries has done with our beloved Spartan.



03. The Last of Us
If anyone had asked me 10 years ago whether I’d consider Naughty Dog to be my favourite developer of the modern era, I’d have laughed in their face. Lord behold, here we are as Naughty Dog lead development quality with their superb Uncharted series. The next project for the team is The Last of Us, which has been unveiled with a very interesting teaser trailer. Very reminiscent of I Am Legend starring Will Smith, the trailer showed two survivors hiding from what looked like infected zombies. One can only speculate what kind of game it could be, but we’re betting on a nice hybrid between Uncharted’s third-person adventure and Left 4 Dead’s amazing cooperative mode.



02. Bioshock Infinite
Bioshock was another game that set brand new standards for first-person adventure games. Blending terrific atmospheric gameplay with a great story and innovative enemies, Bioshock really was the perfect package. Similar to the Ninja Gaiden series however, the sequel Bioshock 2 failed to impress on numerous levels. Offering nothing new over the original, fans were left disappointed at the lack of difference between the two games. Fortunately for us, Bioshock Infinite takes the game away from Rapture and to a brand new city in the sky. With a new theme, new enemies and game mechanics, 2012 will finally see the true sequel to the superb Bioshock.



01. Resident Evil 6
Resident Evil has always been a staple video game franchise. Many fans were left lost amidst the transition from classic survival horror to action horror, but it’s undeniable that while Resident Evil 5 lacked any real creative spark, Resident Evil 4 is one of the best modern games conceived. Going back to what makes Resident Evil so fantastic, the sixth installment brings back Leon Kennedy and Chris Redfield as they battle their way through various infected locations. The brand new trailer looked stunning and it’s definitely going to be one of this years biggest and best games.



There you have it! If that doesn’t wet your appetite for 2012, then I simply don’t know what will. Oh wait, I do – that’s just a small sample of this years big games as we will also see Hitman Absolution, Final Fantasy XIII-2, Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning, Syndicate, DMC: Devil May Cry to name a few more for 2012. So stay tuned as we bring you all the latest reviews of the top titles right here at webuy.com

Igor Kharin.

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Best Games of 2011

Now that all the gift giving and receiving is over I’m sure plenty of you opened your stockings to find games ready for you to indulge in. 2011 was a phenomenal year for games and I wanted to take this opportunity to walk you through what I consider to be the best games of 2011.

10. FIFA 12 (all platforms)
FIFA 12 is a self-explanatory pick – as the best sports simulator on the market bar NHL 12, it’s impossible to ignore the limitless replay value this game can offer. Boasting incredible graphics, terrific physics and game mechanics, there’s really no excuse not to enjoy this game.

09. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (all platforms)
Activision continues dominating the first-person shooting market by grossing over $750 million in Modern Warfare 3’s first week of sales. Some may complain that nothing has changed and it’s the same experience as before, but there are noticeable changes that make this installment the best the series has to offer. In particular smaller maps prevent camping, new killstreak variants ensure gamers of various skill levels can enjoy the game online, the campaign concludes in thrilling fashion and endless replay value keep you hooked to Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3.

08. L.A. Noire (all platforms)
Games that came out earlier in the year tend to be forgotten when people write their game of the year lists, but L.A. Noire deserves particular recognition and praise. Rockstar not only created a thoroughly entertaining detective game, but they have influenced the video game industry with the innovative Motion Scan technology used to digitize the faces of the actors in the game. This technology if progressed, could be an integral part of the video game industries future. As a result, L.A. Noire need to be remembered as potentially a pivotal game in 2011.

07. Dead Space 2 (X360 & PS3)
Dead Space is my favourite modern horror franchise. Coming out of nowhere, this psychological thriller boasted incredible gameplay mechanics, terrific atmosphere and a whole load of horrifying aliens to decimate. The hit sequel introduced a voice for lead protagonist Isaac Clarke, which to some may or may not have been an integral addition, however it certainly added an extra layer of psychological menace to the story as Isaac battled against the aliens and himself. That aside, if you’re looking for an intense 3rd person shooter, this is where to go.

06. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
Skyward Sword continues to do what every The Legend of Zelda does upon release – build upon the same formula bit by bit. Nothing really has changed since the good old days of The Ocarina of Time, but the introduction of some modern-day gameplay elements alongside Wii Motion Plus, makes Skyward Sword one of Nintendo Wii’s best games by a long way. With the Wii U coming out this year, it’s safe to say that there won’t be a better game released on the original Wii than Skyward Sword, so if you’re looking for a dramatic exit, then give Skyward Sword a go.

05. Dark Souls (X360 & PS3)

I wish I could put this game at number 1, I really do – but it’s just too difficult. Dark Souls is an incredible role-play game. It balances a beautiful world with fantastic gameplay, atmosphere and mechanics to create the perfect adventure. The online interaction with other players is also second to none. However, and it’s just such an unfortunate however, it’s too difficult. Dark Souls isn’t cheap, but it’s very brutal and at times, incredibly frustrating. If there was just some way to release a Director’s Cut or introduce some way to make it a tad easier for players who aren’t capable of handling the insane difficulty curve, it would be my game of the year and a much better RPG than The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

04. Portal 2 (all platforms)

What started as nothing more than filler for The Orange Box has now become an Internet sensation and as a result, spawned one of 2011’s best titles. Portal 2 followed in the glorious footsteps of the original, intertwining hilarious narrative and dialogue with clever physics-based puzzles using a Portal Gun. The story is intriguing, the puzzles are challenging and the whole experience culminates in fantastic fashion. The introduction of a multiplayer mode allowed you to play with a buddy on and offline, which was a brilliant addition to the series. Portal 2 is one the best modern games you’ll play without doubt.

03. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (all platforms)

Some of you will be shocked that Skyrim isn’t number 1 on my list, but I don’t see how it deserves that position in all honesty. The game is certainly terrific – the expansive world and endless quest logging makes for an engulfing but in my opinion, a suffocating experience. There’s too much going on for me and while I understand all of the positive elements of Skyrim, I believe it’s too ambitious and the development team weren’t big enough to cope with the sheer size of the vision they originally set out for Skyrim – why else are there horses flying about mountains and dragons merging with buildings? That aside, Skyrim is probably (sigh) the best role-play game ever made, even though I feel like I’m lying to myself when I say that.

02. Batman: Arkham City (all platforms)

How do you top a game like Arkham Asylum? You don’t, that’s the simple answer unfortunately. What Arkham City does is acknowledges that the original title was just so freaking good that the best thing to do is continue straight along the same path. As a result, Arkham Asylum brings almost nothing new to the table in terms of combat, but introduces a more expansive city to traverse (North Gotham) and a brand new elegantly designed story. With the introduction of new characters the story was entertaining and made Arkham City just as much fun as the original. Lots of side-missions and secrets make North Gotham a dark and vivid place to explore well worth your time.

01. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (PS3)

My number one choice is hands down Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. 2011 was a terrific year for video games but the third installment in Naughty Dog’s series was clearly head and shoulders above the competition. In terms of technical proficiency, the game was stupendous, marvelous, and simply brilliant. Not only was it the most beautiful game of 2011, it was the most exciting and most engaging. Drake is a fantastic protagonist who holds a fantastic ensemble of characters together as a dramatic and thrilling story unfolds in Drake’s Deception. 2011 didn’t have a better game than this.

Hope you had a brilliant New Year and if you didn’t get your hands on any of these games, get down to your local CeX and pick them up – you’ll be in for a real treat.

Igor Kharin.

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