Most Anticipated Video Games of 2009

Although 2008 was a fantastic year for gaming with such titles as Fallout 3, Spore, Little Big Planet, and Metal Gear Solid 4, 2009 looks to be one for the ages.

Killzone 2 - Playstation 3

The third installment in the Killzone series is set to be released in early 2009. Killzone 2 will follow the same timeline featured in the previous games and promises to build upon the story and setting. The goal of Killzone is to provide players with a unique cinematic experience, and puts the player directly in the driver's seat with its first-person POV and new lean-and-peak combat system. Cover systems have been used in games before, like Gears of War and Metal Gear Solid, but Killzone 2 allows the player to take cover behind an object, and then pop out to fire at enemies entirely in first person. Killzone 2's graphics will push the power of the Playstation 3 to its limits by sporting impressive and detailed shadows, visuals, and stunning eye-candy. Killzone 2 also features multiplayer. 32 players can go online and group into squads of up to four players. Two squads can group together as a faction of eight players. Killzone 2 also features a clan system which allows clans of up to 64 players to compete for "Valor Points", an in-game currency that clans can use to bet on tournaments. One of the first big games to hit store shelves in 2009, Killzone 2 looks to lead the way in what will be a year packed with 5 star titles.

Empire: Total War - PC

Empire: Total War is an upcoming real-time tactics and turn based strategy game coming to PC's in late February/Early March 2009. The game follows in previous Total War titles footsteps, allowing players to choose a contemporary faction and set out to assume domination over the known world through multiple paths, including military force, politics, diplomacy, espionage, and economics. Although much of the campaign is turn-based, Empire: Total War is the first in the series to let battles to be conducted in real-time. The combat system has also been given a major upgrade this time around. Empire: Total War is different from its predecessors in that it allows naval battles to be fought in real-time, the same goes for land-based battles. When a naval battle was fought in early games, it would be automatically resolved by the game's AI. Now the player is in directly in control of the battle and has complete control over the outcome. The Total War series has always been a smash hit and this installment of this series looks to continue that trend.

Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War II - PC

Dawn of War II is the upcoming sequel to the original Dawn of War series. Dawn of War II, like the previous games in the series, is a real-time strategy game set in the Warhammer 40k universe, and is set to be released in Late February/Early March 2009. The original factions available for play in Dawn of War II are the Space Marines (represented by the Blood Ravens), the Orks, the Eldar, and the Tyranids. There are several upgrades from the conventional Dawn of War game play present in Dawn of War II. In Dawn of War II, there are better bonuses for using cover, which assumes a much more important role in combat than previous games. Destroying cover also plays a big part in the combat. For example, a small squad of marines using good cover will be able to take out a much larger squad of orks that do not use cover. The AI is also greatly improved, and will seek to use cover whenever possible, making the computer much stiffer opposition than previous games. Squads will now acquire experience after killing in combat and will become stronger the longer they survive, going from a new recruit to a hardened veteran will require cunning and smart play. Commanders will also level up and learn new abilities as well as gain different bonuses, similar to Heroes in Warcraft III. All in all, Dawn of War II looks to set the RTS bar high once again and promises to be one of the best titles of 2009.

Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor - PC

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Relic Entertainment makes the list again with their new standalone expansion pack to the hit strategy game, Company of Heroes. Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor, features all-new content, including three single-player campaigns, new multiplayer modes, additional maps and units. Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor also introduces a brand new feature called, "direct fire", which allows players to have more tactical control over their units and allows for more strategic options in-game. Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor allows players who own the rest of the titles in the Company of Heroes series to have complete access to the epic battles of World War II. Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor is a must purchase for any strategy game fan.

Halo Wars - Xbox 360

We've had three strategy games so far, let's make it four. It would be a crime to leave out such a highly anticipated title, let alone one that garners as much attention as Halo Wars does. Halo Wars is a real time strategy game set in the Halo Universe, and is set to be released in Late February/Mid March. The aim of the game is to provide players with a different take on the conventional strategy game. The goal is to create a game that has much more emphasis on the combat rather than the buildup. Many strategy games require building up a base and managing your resources before you can attack your opponents. Halo Wars lets the player manage a battle rather than just allowing the player to "watch" it. Managing units and buildings can be done all with the Xbox 360 controller, through intuitive use of the controller's button scheme. The Halo series is one of the largest, if not the largest, video games series of all time. Halo Wars looks to cash in on that trend by providing lovers of the Halo series a new take on the Halo universe.

Resident Evil 5 - Xbox 360 | Playstation 3

Resident Evil 5 will feature a similar combat system to Resident Evil 4, providing the players with a third-person, over the shoulder style, point of view. The game's environment will also play a much more significant role than before. In Resident Evil 5, if Chris Redfield (the protagonist) moves between bright and dark areas, his eyes will have to adjust. This will cause the player to briefly lose sight, allowing for surprise attacks and unexpected traps. The AI is also greatly improved over previous titles and features, a scarier, more determined, lineup of enemies that possess human-like intelligence and awareness. The number of weapons available to the player is also increased; however the old pistol and shotgun standbys will still be present. Early in the games development it was revealed that Resident Evil 5 would be the first in the series to feature an offline split-screen co-op mode. Resident Evil 5 will also be the first in the series that can be considered a sequel. Chris Redfield, the main protagonist of the first Resident Evil game, will have his story picked up in Resident Evil 5; ten years after the original Resident Evil ended, and will focus on the origins of the viruses present throughout the Resident Evil series. Pushing both next-generation console systems to their limits, Resident Evil 5 will surely be one of the best games of 2009.

Infamous - Playstation 3

Infamous is an upcoming sand-box style game from the developers of the Sly Cooper series. It features a free-roaming open-ended world for the player to explore, allowing the player to choose whether or not to be a hero or an anti-hero. The player controls a man named, Cole. Cole has newly acquired electrical powers and has no recollection of his past or how he obtained these powers. Cole's primary means of interaction is through the electricity-based powers. These powers include being able to shoot electricity from his hands to nearby targets, the ability to create an electricity-based shield to repel foes, and the ability to create an explosion via an energy ball. How the player chooses to use these powers will determine the outcome and storyline of the game. All of the player's actions are tracked through what is called a karma system. This also influences the growth of Cole's powers. Some are enhanced by completing good deeds. Others are grown by ignoring cries of help from the city's citizens. The karma system will also affect how the citizens react to Cole. If the player aids citizens, they may help assist the player in later battles, whereas if the player chooses NOT to aid the citizens, the citizens might choose to ignore or help the player's opposition. It is rare that a game features such a free world to explore, let alone one that also has a free-forming story arch. Infamous looks to set the mold in terms of next-generation sand-box game play, and will undoubtedly top gamers' must-buy lists in 2009.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - Playstation 3

Uncharted 2 is the sequel to one of the Playstation 3's new IP's, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. The game follows protagonist Nathan Drake, as he searches for the mystery behind Marco Polo's lost ships. Uncharted 2 includes the same game play elements, witty story and dialogue, and themes present in the first game, and supplies gamers with additional game play elements, including stealth segments and the ability to climb freely over walls. Uncharted 2 has absolutely no load times between areas and offers seamless transition between cut-scenes and new chapters. To add to Uncharted's cinematic presence, all cut-scenes and cinematic movies were made with the help of motion capture. That means that all the character movements in Uncharted 2 are done by the people doing the voices, taking acting to a whole new level. The in game models are also the exact same models that are used in the cut scenes. They also use the exact same textures. There is no difference between them at all. Uncharted 2 is even more visually impressive than the first; pushing the power of the Playstation 3's cell processor to its limit, and has singled itself out as one of the early heavy hitters of 2009.

Ghostbusters - All systems

I know I'm not the only one that had a feeling of nostalgia sweep over them the moment they caught a glimpse of the upcoming Ghostbusters video game. The story for the game is written by the writers of the two Ghostbusters movies, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. Along with them, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson will lend their voice work to game, effectively making the game essentially Ghostbusters III (at least in spirit). The events of the game take place during Thanksgiving of 1991, two years after Ghostbusters II. Players take the role of a new recruit hired to test new equipment during an unexpected rise in paranormal activity. Along the way players will fight several familiar faces from the Ghostbusters films, including Vigo the Carpathian, Slimer, Gozer, and, yes, even the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. The player will wield the proton pack just like the Ghostbusters did in the movies, and with the wiimote and sixaxis, will be controlled using motion-sensing. The developers have vowed to stay true to the Ghostbusters films, often asking Aykroyd and Ramis for input, so how could it go wrong? The game will be released sometime during summer 2009. Until then, who you gonna call?

God of War III - Playstation 3

"In the end, there will be only chaos." Little is known about God of War III, which is why it is one of the most anticipated games of 2009. God of War director David Jaffe is stated saying, "God of War explains, or ultimately will explain, why there are no more Greek myths." He went on to explain that God of War III will essentially be "hell on earth" as the Gods and Titans duke it out, and that the game intends to explore the question "does man need god?" There have also been hints that God of War III will include a cooperative mode, however no details have been made at this time. God of War and God of War II were runaway successes, capturing critical acclaim and sparkling reviews. God of War III looks to build on that foundation. With solid game play, interesting story and character arcs, stunning graphics, and a whole world of mythology to play with, it's no secret that God of War III will be one of the biggest games to be released in 2009.

Starcraft II - PC

Although not technically one game, but one to feature a trilogy type release (one for each race's campaign), Starcraft II will almost certainly be the biggest game of 2009. The Starcraft IItrilogy has been separated by the names, Wings of Liberty, Heart of the Swarm, and Legacy of the Void (The Terran, Zerg, and then Protoss, respectively.) According to developers, StarCraft II is being designed as the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game, spearheaded by an all-new matchmaking system for ranked and ladder matches. Other improvements include advanced scenery application; this means a more detailed space terrain, including the use of floating platforms, planets, asteroids, and more refined cliffs, extensions, and even advertising signs. Players of the original Starcraft will recognize most of the units from the first game, however many of the units and buildings have been redesigned and revamped to accommodate a next generation engine, including support for DirectX10 graphics, and next-gen game play. There are also plans incorporate an in-game voice communication system. That way, you can hear your opponent laughing at you while your base becomes swarmed with zerglings and hydralisks. In a year that includes a very strong lineup of strategy-based games, Starcraft II will be leading the pack, with innovation, solid, game play, and casual and competitive friendly mechanics galore.

On The Cusp

There are many games that are slated for released in 2009 that ultimately might not make that deadline. These include Final Fantasy XIII, Alan Wake, Splinter Cell: Conviction, L.A. Noire, Saboteur, the final two installments of the Starcraft II trilogy, Heart of the Swarm, and Legacy of the Void, and perhaps Blizzard's biggest game since the release of World of Warcraft, the one and only, Diablo III. MMORPGs like Huxley, Darkfall, Aion, and Mythos have extremely long development cycles and could easily suffer a setback as all MMORPGs do. That being said, 2009 looks to be another strong year gaming, perhaps one of the strongest in a decade, and that can mean only good things if you are a gamer.