2013 was a big year for gaming, it will go down in history as the first year that a game broke sales records for any single property in entertainment, with Grand Theft Auto V becoming the fastest IP to make $1billion (it took three days).
That title alone broke seven Guinness World Records proving that gaming is no longer the preserve of spotty little boys and overweight loners in their 30s. In 2013 gaming officially hit the mainstream and was in the news again with the nextGen console launch. But since the hype of the PS4 and XBox ONE launch has died down, the one issue that has held some wiley gamers back from getting involved is the distinct lack quality nextGen titles. However, that is set to change this year and here are five titles we can’t wait to get our hands on in the first half of 2014.
Thief – Expected late February
I wrote about Thief after a hands-on event back in October and I’m happy to say my excitement still remains. Archetypal stealth and steal action-adventure title Thief is being rebooted this year and looks stunning, with rich and detailed environments ripe with goodies to loot and plenty of secrets and hiding places.
Along with it’s superbly rendered steampunk-esque backdrop, it’s choice-based and multi-approach gameplay make this game seriously engaging. Think Dishonoured, meets Assassin’s Creed, meets Prince of Persia.
Titanfall – Expected early March
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Titanfall is the most anticipated XBox ONE third-party exclusive and it could have helped Microsoft win the nextGen Christmas battle outright if it had been released last year at launch. But no worries, it’s almost here now, and will undoubtedly attract late adopters. Players will be able to summon giant robots (Titans) to join them in battle, and will have the option of jumping in the suit to take on their enemies juggernaut style or let the mech-beasts deal death autonomously in shadow or defend mode. The game also combines classic FPS gameplay with free-running environment traversal – now that’s dope.
Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes – Expected late March
The prologue to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, will serve as a “training manual” for the main title that will be “hundreds of times larger” according to the game’s creator Hideo Kojima.
Speaking to Siliconera via Twitter, Kojima said: “GZ is both a prologue to the MGSV story and, at the same time, a tutorial for a new MGS, which transitions to sneaking simulator.” Whilst Phantom Pain will see vast environments with real-time changes, we can still look forward to getting our appetites wet with this upcoming prequel and learning a little more about the ultra-secret MGSV storyline.
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Watch Dogs – Expected “Spring 2014”
Watchdogs from Ubisoft was originally penned as a nextGen launch title but was disappointingly pushed back to this year due to bug fixes and technical limitations. Watchdogs presents an exciting near-future gaming premise and prospect, and thanks to the delayed release will hopefully take full advantage of nextGen power and the second-screen craze that dominated last year’s gaming conferences.
Mario Kart 8- Expected Spring
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Mario Kart’s enduring success is due in part to Nintendo keeping it’s winning formula largely unchanged over the years, but with the Wii U there are some welcome advances that include anti-gravity racing and flying vehicles to add some welcomed new spice to this classic title.
