5 Games To Look Forward to in 2016
Jan. 27, 2016With the new year comes a clean slate of sorts. While I still haven’t playedMetal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain,Rise of the Tomb Raideras well as a host of other games, I find myself already getting excited for what comes next. The main reason for this is the public consciousness, as everyone is now talking less and less about what their favorite games of last year were, and more about what they are most hyped for this year. I still plan on getting back to Kojima’s supposed finalMetal Gearas well as a slew of other games, but my rabid appetite for staying current and within the conversation has me getting caught up in the hype of what looks to be a fantastic year in gaming. As the PS4 and Xbox One start to hit their stride, this generation is starting to come into full swing.
For your convenience, I have included a gameplay video or trailer for each of the games. If you are avoiding spoilers for any of these games from a gameplay perspective, I’d advise you to not watch any of the videos.
Deus Ex:Mankind Divided
The combat system has been overhauled, with tighter, yet still methodical combat, letting Adam use new abilities such as stun darts that fire from his mechanically augmented knuckles, or the ability to change gun attachments on the fly a laCrysis. Gone are the ridiculous battery meters that must be consumed in order to execute a melee attack and in comes a more reasonable energy meter that recharges with time. The conversation system has also been expanded, allowing for more immersive and dramatic scenarios for you to take agency over. In the E3 demo we see both of these displayed with remarkably confidence from Eidos, all within a sparkly new engine that bringsMankind Divided’sabsolutely gorgeous art style brimming to life with more vibrant colors and diverse environments than in the previous installment
Despite the disappointing delay to August 23rd, I’m still suitably hyped for this game-possibly the most hyped for a sequel that I have been since Mass Effect 2. The name Deus Ex brings with it lofty standards, and lets hope that the extra time Eidos Motreal has taken to complete the game pays off.
This punishing nature is part of what makesXCOMa truly standout and original title, and the way the newest installment plans to handle this aspect of the experience should keep the pace of the game moving at a steady click as well as remind the player that they must take risks to take out alien strongholds and buy themselves more time on the Avatar Project clock. Another spcial aspect of these games is the character building system, which essentially boils down to taking in recruits and using them in combat to level up their skills and earn them new equipment. However, when a unit dies, they die, and they do not come back. Prepare to get attached to your little space marine avatars, name them, care for them, and then watch as a Sectoid splatters their guts on the pavement all over again!
Jokes aside, With a more robust and varied campaign experience that includes new enemies, a giant mobile base as well as more varied mission objectives, the outlook for this game looks very positive.XCOM 2drops February 5th.
Can Miyazaki do it yet again? The third entry, and 5th game of its style developed byFrom Softwareis just around the horizon, releasing on April 12th. I’m a bit perplexed to see the game releasing just on the coattails of the fantasticBloodborne, but my faith in these titles has yet to be shaken, and why should it? I’ve played every souls game fromDemon’stoDark, as well asBloodborne (which is technically not aSoulsgame), and not once have I walked away displeased. Each new entry manages to up the anti in some way, withDarkbroadening the overworld system, toBloodborneinjecting the combat mechanics with a dose of adrenaline. EachSoulsso far has succeeded in bringing something new to the table, without losing the soul (pun not intended) of the genre. This is what excites me most aboutDark Souls 3, not that its another game in an already legendary series, but rather to see how it will surprise me in ways the previous games have not.
Over-saturation is a concern,however, and I hopeFrom Softwaredoesn’t start spitting games out annually i.eAssassin’s Creedas theSoul’sfranchise is true delight, to be savored, rather than guzzled. Part of me thinks that the timing of this title andBloodborneis just a coincidence however, and that we should have a breather after the release ofSouls3.
Mirrors Edgeis not a game that comes across my thoughts very often, but when it does, I immediately remember just how addictive its gameplay was. This game makes my list solely on the fact that the first game blew me the fuck away when I first played it. I had just gotten a new ASUS laptop, and was testing its might with some beefy games likeCrysis 3andBattlefield 3. Mirrors Edgecaught my attention on visuals alone, and I thought it would make a nice flashy game to test out my new machine. Four hours later I found myself absolutely hooked on a flawless parkour system which had, to my surprise, been woven in to an expertly designed video game.
The people over at DICE seem to know what they are doing, and while their latest efforts onBattlefield 4andBattlefrontleave much to be desired, the studio has had a long time to work on this one, and from the short glimpses of gameplay that we have seen, it appears that the movement will be very much in line with the original, while improving on the combat system as well as adding a vast open world metropolis to explore. I have yet a reason to doubt it will live up to the lofty expectations that fans have set for it. The movement, the colors, the music-I see no evidence as to whyMirrors Edge:Catalystwon’t prove a worthy successor to the orginal. This is EA, after all, though, so I will remain skeptically optimistic until I get my hands on the game May 24th.
Many will tell you that their most significant grievance with the previous games would be the third one’s ending, and while I could share my thoughts about that for quite a while, that is not what concerns me moving forward. In the next effort from Bioware, what is most important to me is returning to what madeMass Effectgreat in the first place, but doing so in new and original ways. The series boiled down to three pillars for me and they go as follows. A great story with significant player agency, exploration that is meaningful and connects to the story, deep combat and customization. As the series went on each of these pillars either diminished or fluctuated at one point or another.Mass Effect 2enhanced the combat but sacrificed customization.Mass Effect 3gave the player more customization and improved the combat yet again, but took away a great deal of player agency within the story.
What I need to see fromAndromedais a return to these pillars, but in new ways. So far, even without gameplay, its been made clear that exploration will be a key aspect of the game, with the new and improved Mako taking center stage, and I cannot express just how happy I am to see that. Although this is the same vehicle from the first game, its been hinted that the way we explore planets in the new installment will be vastly different and more robust than in the firstMass Effect.Besides that, we can only hope that the combat doesn’t boil down to a third person shooter with loot. Mike Gamble, a producer on the game has gone on twitter with encouraging remarks, stating that he believes the armor system they have in the upcoming title will be better than in previous installments, and this my friends, is very encouraging.
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@MKparker20oh, I think the armor system we have is even better than the previous ones…!
The one real question remaining is how the team will handle dialogue and story choices going forward. In regards to the previous two pillars, it seems that Bioware has taken fan feedback into heavy consideration, and it should be no different with this aspect of the game, especially considering the outrage over the ending ofMass Effect 3. My only concern is that this game will bring back the same old dialogue wheel as the past 5 or so Bioware games. I don’t want that garbage anymore. Keep me on my toes in a conversation, make it interesting and tense. This is an aspect in which Bioware could actually take a few notes from Eidos Montreal.
All things considered, it has been 4 years now since the release ofMass Effect 3, and that should mean by the timeAndromedadrops it will be close to five years in development. Take as much time as you need, Bioware, we all know what happens when you rush games.
So there are the 5 games I’m most looking forward to this year. What about you guys, are you pumped for these games as well? Do you think your favorite game at the end of the year will be something you were looking forward to, or a title that came out of the blue and surprised you completely?
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Get Your Thoughts Published
jzier
Looking forward to Street Fighter V, King of Fighters XIV, Blazblue Central Fictiono, The Last Blade 2, and whatever fighting games come out this year.
Games I’m definitely purchasing:
Dark Souls IIIThe Last GuardianThe Legend of Zelda Wii U
Games I may purchase:
Horizon: Zero DawnEitrNiohMirror’s Edge 2FInal Fantasy VII Remake
I’m probably forgetting something…
So many!
Haven’t played XCOM 2 yet…waiting to build my first gaming PC, which should be built next week…Dark Souls 3, obviously.
Horizon, FFXV, Ratchet and Clank, No Man’s Sky, Last Guardian, Star Ocean, Persona 5, Deus Ex, Nier, WH40K Battlefleet Gothic, Dishonored 2…all got me excited to a certain degree.
Excited for these indies, too: Hyperlight Drifter, Eitr, Moon Hunters.
Psychonauts, Pathologic 2, Crowfall, Camelot Unchained, Shards Online and whatnot.
Kingdom Come is the number one game I’m looking forward to…it’s the game I’ve always wanted, even though I didn’t know it.And as a history nerd and RPG fan, it’s kinda hard to ignore ^^
Horizon Zero Dawn also looks rather good.
The two games I am really looking forward to this year are Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Dark Souls 3. If those two satisfy like I hope they do, I won’t even need to buy anything else.
Great article. And awesome alternative choices above. I’m looking forward to– DKSIII– DOOM?? (Question marks, because I want to see more of it before I make up my mind)– Mass Effect
You forgot Black Desert, Star Citizen, Eitr, Salt & Sanctuary, etc, etc…
Uncharted 4 with out a doubt (I have completed the previous three and think it was the best franchise to come from the last generation)
Mafia 3 although I’m not completely sold on this one yet – I hope they do not make it to arcady. With the original mafia being one of my favourite games ever. Mafia 2 was also good but lacked a lot of stuff imo.
Dark souls 3 I had zero intrest in this game but ever since get blood borne just over a week ago it’s got me super excited for it and now a general interest in the series.
Ghost recon wildlands from the trailers and information at hand already sounds and looks great. But I still have my doubts as it is from Ubisoft after all.
Cities skylines – I already had this on a PC but did not run good I cannot get on with PCs and prefer consoles – so when they announced that it were being ported to consoles I was happy.
And plus The E3 should be a good one this year as well there is also a PS4 exclusive game coming made by quantum dream devolper call too human ? (Probably the wrong name from the game) but looks great.
Also OP if you haven’t already I recommend you get metal gear solid 5 imo it’s excellent.
I’m currently looking forward to The Division, Dark Souls III and Overwatch, but the new Deus Ex and the new Mass Effect are definitely in my peripheral vision.
I’ve been waiting on No Mans Sky ever since it was announced. Almost to the point of bitterness.
Haha very good point. I should have titled this “5 Sequels to look forward too.” Either way you really cant go wrong with so many of the fantastic games coming out this year.
This year supposedly we will have FFXV and No Man’s Sky.
besides DaS3 i definitly cant wait for uncharted 4 (with high hopes that naughty dog confirms the last of us 2 after it… xD )next game i want is the new doom *~*cant wait to Play it also in mp and may make own maps with the Editor etc haha :’Doutlast 2 in fall this year i cant wait to get my Hands on too >___>
…may i miss some Releases so far i dont have the whole list in my head right now xD
Nothing new? Only sequels of existing series to look forward?
HA! I dont think so—Last Guardian, Below, Hyper Light Drifter, The Flame in The Flood, Little Devil, Factorio, SuperHot, The Coral Cave, Brigador, Okhlos, Children of Morta, Devil Daggers, The Final Station, Layers of Fear, first chapter of Kingdom Come—Deliverence.
