Ben-DutkaThe PlayStation 3 is already having one helluva year, and it's going to get a whole lot better before 2008 is over. 2009 looks great, too, with the likes of Killzone 2 , God of War 3 , Heavy Rain , and Infamous leading the way, but for now, let's take a look at PSXE's most anticipated holiday PS3 games.
5. Far Cry 2
When it comes to shooters, there are always plenty to choose from. But we can't possibly ignore this hotly anticipated sequel, as everything we've seen – news, screens, videos, etc. – has ramped up our expectations. For those of you who played and enjoyed the original, be prepared for more top-notch FPS entertainment, except this time, they're takin' you out to the wide-open plains where danger lurks around every corner… One of the reasons this game makes our list is simply because it's offering a completely new environment; what we have here is very far removed from the tropical paradise we explored in the original. Besides, given the interesting features and guaranteed-to-be-solid gameplay mechanics, is it any surprise that so many gamers out there want Far Cry 2 ? Scheduled to arrive in October (it's a jam-packed month!), we can't wait to give it a try.
4. Dead Space
As soon as we heard someone describe this game as " Resident Evil in outer space," our interest level shot through the roof. But at the same time, we're expecting something more dynamic and diverse than RE or Silent Hill ; there appears to be more of an action focus in Dead Space . Furthermore, we've seen plenty of footage already, and each trailer and video has shown some very intense and creepy gameplay. It may not have a recognizable title and it may get lost amidst a sea of sequels, but we have to pull for IPs that show promise. Besides, Resident Evil 5 is still a ways off, and 2008 can really use a dose of survival/horror fun. Provided EA does what we think they're capable of doing, and provided all that awesome footage makes the final experience appropriately creepy and engaging, we figure Dead Space should be a big winner.
3. Bioshock
Yeah, the Xbox 360 and PC fans will tell you PS3 owners get this a year late, but we can't ignore the fact that it's still an unbelievable title. Having adored the 360 version in 2007, we see no reason the PS3 version in 2008 should be any less revered. There's little doubt it'll be the superior version, what with all that extra downloadable content, and even though the competition is stiffer, Bioshock still kicks ass. The simple fact of the matter is that PS3 owners will get one of the best games of the generation, and there's absolutely no excuse if you pass on it this time around. It's one of the most thrilling, absorbing, an atmospheric shooters we've ever experienced, and although the pacing of the story seems iffy, we have no other major complaints. This holiday season, 2K's massive accomplishment will shine once again; it's a PSXE guarantee.
2. LittleBigPlanet
Innovative, revolutionary, addictive. We're hoping all three words apply to Media Molecule's ambitious cooperative-based platformer, and if it does, it'll be the massive release Sony wants it to be. You can't deny its inherent appeal to a wide variety of gamers, and given the downright insane level of customization and user freedom, LittleBigPlanet looks fantastic. This may be the very first game in history that really taps into our imagination and creative abilities, and we can put that ability on display! The PlayStation Network community will expand greatly when this game releases, you can be sure of that, and it's a great lead-in for PlayStation Home. How many different variations of SackBoy are there? How many completely unique levels can be created? How many hours can be spent devising something entirely new from scratch? The answer to all of these question is, of course- N/A. Or, better yet- an unlimited number.
1. Resistance 2
Until we saw several new videos that first popped up at E3, we weren't sure if our most anticipated PS3 holiday release would be LittleBigPlanet or Insomniac's wildly anticipated sequel. But over the past couple of months, we have seen such amazing pieces of Resistance 2 footage, that we can't help but make this #1 on our list. It goes well beyond the much-publicized 60-player online capability, and it's not all about the massive enemies we've seen in those videos; it's more about the overall package. We're expecting better everything : better visuals, better story, better gameplay, better depth, better presentation, better sound, etc, etc, etc. The developers are clearly working hard to fully embrace the philosophy that a sequel should be "bigger and better," and we love the current direction they're taking. The beta is right around the corner, and we get the feeling that Resistance 2 will stick firmly at #1 after sampling the fine-tuned FPS goodness.
