There’s no arguing that 2013 wasn’t a great year for gamers everywhere. The release of games like BioShock Infinite, Battlefield 4, Grand Theft Auto V and The Last of Us means the new year has some big shoes to fill. But the future looks brighter than ever. New, more powerful consoles mean that games will be getting bigger, badder and more beautiful than ever. With the release of launch titles like Killzone: Shadow Fall and Dead Rising 3, we already have a glimpse of just how good games can get when supported by this level of horsepower under the hood of new consoles. What do we have to look forward to, you ask? Let me show you.
1.Destiny
Developer: Bungie
Console(s): PS3, PS4, Xbox360, XboxOne
Expected Release: September 9, 2014
Ever wonder what you’d get if you mixed Halo’s gameplay and Mass Effect’s scope with a dash of Borderlands’ loot system? Destiny is your answer. This original content from the guys behind Halo is poised to be a revolution for the way games are made and played. Not only does Destiny practically invent its own genre by combining MMORPG scale and customizability with first-person shooter gameplay, but the game’s narrative is scheduled to continue for a full decade. Yes, you read correctly: this game will keep going for 10 years. To put that in perspective: the PS3 has been around for just over seven years. With gorgeous graphics and cooperative-focused gameplay set on places like Venus, Mars, Titan and Old Russia, this sci-fi extravaganza is set to be a huge hit and an instant classic.
2.Titanfall
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Console(s): Xbox360, XboxOne, PC
Expected Release: March 11, 2014
When giant mechanical war machines straight out of James Cameron’s Avatar are falling out of the sky while jetpack-wielding super soldiers are practicing parkour against the ruins of a destroyed, futuristic city—you know you’re going to have a good time. This brainchild from one of the creative minds behind Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is the poster-child for what the XboxOne has to offer, and for good reason. Deemed the next “CoD killer” by industry heads and reporters alike, Titanfall gives you the chance to step into a Titan and reap destruction upon your enemies. Like Call of Duty, online multiplayer gameplay is the focus of Titanfall. Not much has been revealed about the game’s actual campaign, but fans don’t seem to care. I don’t blame them. This game looks like Michael Bay levels of mindless fun.
3.inFAMOUS: Second Son
Developer: Sucker Punch Productions
Console(s): PS4
Expected Release: March 21, 2014
Those lucky enough to have access to both an XboxOne and PS4 will have to squeeze as much time into Titanfall as you can before Second Son comes out. This PlayStation exclusive is third game in the Infamous series and takes place in Sucker Punch’s backyard of Seattle. Set 7 years after Infamous 2, you play as a new conduit by the name of Delsin who must learn to control the power of smoke. However, Delsin learns early on that he has the ability to steal other conduits’ powers, giving gamers an innumerable amount of gameplay possibilities such as the already revealed neon power. What that means, I don’t know. But you can bet I’m off-the-walls excited to maybe be able to control gas station ‘open’ signs come March 21st.
4.Watch_Dogs
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Console(s): Xbox360, XboxOne, PS3, PS4, PC, Wii U
Expected Release: Quarter 2, 2014
Watch_Dogs isn’t supposed to be on this list, having originally been scheduled for a release in late 2013. However, like many games before it, Watch_Dogs has been delayed, as have my late nights spent hacking Chicago residents’ smartphones. Gamers play as Aiden Pearce, a mysterious hacker with the ability to control a myriad of electronic devices all over a stylized, open-world Illinois. This third-person shooter centers on the idea of interconnectivity and how it can be used to give you an upper hand in the midst of technological warfare. While we still don’t know exactly how long the wait will be before we can jump into the world of Watch_Dogs, at least we won’t have to wait as long as we have for Kingdom Hearts III.
5.Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Developer: Sora Ltd. and Namco Bandai Games
Console(s): Wii U, Nintendo 3DS
Expected Release: TBA 2014
It’s time to pull your Wii U out of the closet and dust it off (if you ever even got one). Super Smash Bros. is like cancer in the sense that everyone is connected to someone whose life has been changed by this game. While that may sound morbid, I guarantee you’ll be smiling when you get your hands on the next Super Smash Bros. installment. All your favorites like Link and Pikachu are back for the fight as well as some new faces like Mega Man, Maple Story’s Villager and yes, even the Wii Fit Trainer. I for one can’t wait to drop a Kirby-sized anvil on that virtual, smug-faced instructor who thinks I’m unbalanced and overweight. Bitch.
