My life got pretty busy the second half of 2008, leaving me with a crap-load of games I bought that still need playing. Despite this backlog of games, there are still some excellent looking games that I know I need to get when they come out in 2009 (in order of anticipation).
1. House of the Dead: Overkill (Wii, Feb. 10)
There are a few reasons why I'm most excited for House of the Dead: Overkill. First off, there was the absolutely fantastic trailer that gives this game more character than any of the previous titles in the series. Then there's the fact that this is an evolution for the franchise. You can now turn the camera 45 degrees left and right. While that doesn't sound like much, it shows that Sega is actually trying to make something new with the series and they want to keep it fresh. Anyway, the Wii Zapper capabilities are enough to ooze wanting for this game anyway. Everything else is just sweet, sweet frosting on what's sure to be a delicious cake.
2. Scribblenauts (DS, TBA)
Scribblenauts is an extremely simple puzzle game that will offer loads of options. In each level, the main character needs to be guided to a star. How you get to the star, though, is entirely up to you. Using the touch screen, you write in objects that you want to get you to the star. If the star's in a tree, you can get a beaver to eat the tree, you can get a ladder, or an saw. There are loads of options. Of course, it's natural to be skeptical since the game won't be able to have a full dictionary inside it, but from what hands-on's and previews say so far, there hasn't been an issue with the amount of words, which is why Scribblenauts is worth keeping an eye out for.
3. Final Fantasy XIII (360 PS3, TBA)
Let's face it, everyone is pretty pumped for this game. The Final Fantasy name is enough to make me want it, and the epic trailers only contribute to my thirst for XIII. What really makes me want this game, though, is how beautiful it looks. I've been impressed by virtually every single image I've seen of it. When Final Fantasy XIII finally comes to North America, it's bound to be an epic experience.
5. Heavy Rain: The Origami Killer (PS3, TBA)
Right now, there are two things that make we really, really want a PS3. There's the fact that I never owned a Sony platform and need to catch up on older games, then there's Heavy Rain. After watching the "Casting" trailer, anyone should be able to recognize that this is going to be a special game. I almost feel obligated to play it, both as an adventure nut and a video game fan. Also, look at the screen shot I posted for this game. It's stunning! There's so much working in favor for Heavy Rain that no other adventure titles seem to even have a chance of being recognized.
6. Professor Layton and Pandora's Box (DS, TBA)
When Professor Layton first appeared on my DS, I though I was getting into a light, kiddie, Brain Training-esque game. I quickly learned how wrong I was when I got my ass handed to me. Professor Layton and the Curious Village worked incredibly well as both a puzzle game and an adventure game and left a lasting impression on me. Though its sequel, which was originally released in Japan in 2007, hasn't been confirmed officially for a North American release. I'm almost positive it'll get a stateside release at some point in 2009. Strong sales and reviews pretty much ensure that this game will come to the US, which is great since I've been yearning for some more puzzles to sink my teeth in.
7. Noby Noby Boy (PSN, Q1)
No matter how much about Noby Noby Boy I read, I still have no idea what it's about. This is precisely why I have such high hopes for the game. From the same mind that brought Katamari Damacy come Noby Noby Boy. Both are insane, off-the-wall, super Japanese games that sound near-retarded on paper. Katamari worked, however. It worked really well, so I hope Noby Noby Boy works just as well.
8. Sin and Punishment 2 (Wii, Summer)
The original N64 Sin and Punishment was a gem of a game that never made it to North America until it popped up on the Virtual Console. Essentially, it's a shooter with a silly and unnecessary plot and it relies heavily on its extremely fun action. The controls were unique, moving side to side with the shoulder buttons is my preffered scheme, and it's plain, old fun. When the sequel was shown during Nintendo's montage of upcoming games, it looked nice and shiny too. Treasure, the developers, are known for their quality titles, and Sin and Punishment 2 should further solidify them as great developers. Everyone pretty much agrees they make some of the best shooter around, anyway.
9. Street Fighter IV (360 PS3 PC, Feb 17)
Really, this game doesn't need an explanation as for why it made my list of anticipated games. Street Fighter is a fantastic series and Super Street Fighter II HD Turbo only proved that the games are even more fantastic in high definition.
10. The Maw (TBA, XBLA)
If there's something that could have been learned in 2008, it's how powerful and great an indie game could be. Last year, hits like Braid and World of Goo showed that it's not the size of the development team that matters, and The Maw will continue this trend. Pet projects always get extra love and attention from their developers, and with that focus going towards something as creative as The Maw, there's a lot of promise for something speacial.