Are you ready? September officially marks the start of the biggest season of the year for the gaming industry. Fall brings a flurry of new releases, all arriving between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. The bad news is that a number of big games we thought were coming out this year - like Splinter Cell: Conviction and BioShock 2 - have now been pushed into 2010. So while your GameQ may be a little less crowded than normal, here are the six key games that you'll want to make sure are in your GameQ for day one delivery. Could one of the titles below end up winning Game of the Year?"
Batman: Arkham Asylum might surprise you.
Sony's biggest game this fall is Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.
Military action goes around the globe in Modern Warfare 2.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
The first big game for the fall actually shipped out of the GameFly warehouses in late August. But don't let its early arrival fool you. Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the best games of the year, and as IGN said, the best comic-book game ever made. This dark and gritty action game starts with the Joker trapping Batman inside Arkham Asylum. The caped crusader is forced to fight his way out as he battles a series of enemies using both free-flow combat and an innovative predator mode that encourages stealth gameplay. The production values are phenomenal, but most importantly, the game is fun to play and the world is richly detailed like BioShock. While most games inspired by comic books fail to impress, Arkham Asylum will forever change what you think of the genre.
Easily the biggest release of the year, Modern Warfare 2 from Infinity Ward promises a rip-roaring military excursion around the world...
Halo 3 ODST
Wait, there's a new Halo game coming this fall? Yes, it's true. While Halo 3 ODST originally started as a small expansion pack for Halo 3, it has evolved into a full-fledged Halo game that's set during the events of Halo 2 (Confusing? Yes, a bit). This time you don't play as Master Chief. Instead, you are "the Rookie," a member of the ODST - which stands for Orbital Drop Shock Trooper. You and your crew will drop into New Mombassa and fight against the Convenant. The storytelling in ODST is slightly different than Halo 3. Here, each mission plays out as a flashback scenario, where you play as a different member of the ODST crew. Beyond the single player, you'll also get a new multiplayer mode called Firefight, which is similar to Horde mode in Gears of War 2. With seven shared lives amongst your teammates, you must fight against waves of Covenant forces. Also, ODST will ship with access to the multiplayer beta for Halo: Reach in 2010. So, this is one game you may end up renting twice.
Uncharted 2: Among Theives
With the recent price drop to $299, I expect a lot of gamers will be picking up a PS3 for the first time this fall. Whether you are a longtime PS3 owner or a new one, the game you'll want to rent is Uncharted 2: Among Thieves from Naughty Dog and Sony. This high-action adventure game wowed the critics at E3 in June with over 90 minutes of in-game cinematics and big-budget action moments. As explorer Nathan Drake, you are thrust into an international race to find the lost kingdom of Shambhala. There's lots of gunplay, puzzle solving, and above all else, beautiful environments that come to life on the PS3. While Uncharted may not be as gory as other action games, it has an epic adventure feel like an Indiana Jones film. And if that wasn't enough, Naughty Dog has also included multiplayer for the first time, along with an entirely unique online co-op campaign.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Here's a game that needs no introduction. Easily the biggest release of the year, Modern Warfare 2 from Infinity Ward promises a rip-roaring military excursion around the world. As Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson, you are a member of the elite military organization Task Force 141. Like the first Modern Warfare, you are fighting against a Russian Ultranationalist organization all over the world. While Infinity Ward is keeping a lot of the game under wraps, you'll be heading to Russia, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and Brazil. The gameplay looks to include everything from a snowmobile chase to underwater sequences. And, of course, that's just the campaign. For multiplayer, expect both a special co-op mode called "Special Ops" with a unique set of two-player missions, as well as the regular Modern Warfare multiplayer you've come to expect. All in all, Modern Warfare 2 is the game to beat this holiday season. If you have a 360 or PS3 it's a must-rent title.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
For the second holiday season in a row, there aren't a ton of big Nintendo releases for hardcore gamers. Still, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a game that should appeal to families and those with a sense of nostalgia. This side-scrolling Mario game was unveiled at E3 and looks very similar to the classic games you remember from the '80s. The difference? There is now four player co-op on all the levels. The characters? Mario, Luigi, and two Toads. The bad news is that there will be no online support for multiplayer, meaning that everyone needs to be on the same couch. Still, there's a level of competition as you race to be the first to finish a level or collect the most coins. My favorite part of the game? Riding on a Yoshi, which lets you "eat" a fellow player and spit him out to either help or hurt his progress! There are also a series of new Mario suits, including a propeller suit to fly and a penguin suit that lets you freeze enemies. New Super Mario Bros. Wii isn't going to win Game of the Year, but it looks like a fun addition to the Wii library.
Assassin's Creed 2
This fall, Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series returns for another lap around the track. But, instead of being set during the Third Crusade, this new adventure moves to Italy during The Renaissance. You're a new assassin named Ezio, and you'll venture through Venice, Florence, Rome, and other locations on your quest for revenge. While the gameplay looks similar to the first, there are a host of new features, like a flying machine so Ezio can glide above the rooftops when needed. And, I bet there will be some pick-pocketing as well! The other element is the modern day, Quantum-Leap angle to the game with the character Desmond, who steps into the Animus device to transport himself back to the Italian Renaissance. Ubisoft has hinted that Desmond will do more in the second game than the first. Does that mean he will get to engage in modern-day combat? We'll just have to play the game this November to find out.
