29 Games To Look For In 2009

Written by Jason Fanelli  on January 09, 2009

Special: And 29 bonus titles too.

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PlayStation 3

God of War III
The third installment of Sony's highly popular slash-fest will in fact hit in 2009, thanks to recent confirmation by Sony themselves. The gameplay trailer shown at the VGAs showed fans of the series the blade-spinning combat they've come to love, as well as some new elements, including a new weapon in a pair of fiery gauntlets. If this game does in fact hit in 2009, Sony's proclamation that 2008 would be the year of the PS3 would have come a year early, and 2009 could in fact be the turn-around Sony is looking for.

inFAMOUS
Sucker Punch Software has an interesting idea: make a sandbox Grand Theft Auto style game, but add super powers to your character. Do you help the people, smite the people, or both? InFAMOUS will put the choice in your hands. Combining GTA-style play with Fallout 3-style choices and consequences should keep gamers enthralled for a while. This could be a game that surprises a lot of people, so be sure to keep your eye on it.

Killzone 2
The fights against the Helghast will soon begin again. Sony's self-proclaimed УHalo killerФ was a hit the first time, and Sony is hoping that Killzone 2 will wow players again. The trailers have shown Pixar-quality cutscenes with just as beautiful gameplay. The PS3 has some killer apps (MGS4, LBP), but Killzone, along with GOW III, could be the one-two punch to knock it over the top.



Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Only recently announced, Uncharted 2 will let players reprise the role of Nathan Drake, this time searching the Himalayan regions for Marco Polo's Golden Fleet, instead of braving a jungle paradise. The teaser played at the VGAs showed Drake teetering over a cliff in a train car, barely hanging on for dear life while also bleeding profusely from the abdomen. Sounds like a Nathan Drake predicament to me. Fans of the first game should not be disappointed.

Wii

The Conduit
A lot of gamers choose PS3 and 360 over the Wii because of graphics alone. The Conduit might be the game to change their minds. An FPS from High Voltage and Sega, Conduit boasts solid gameplay and some of the best visuals to hit Wii's little system that can. The storyline, sending you underground to deal with an international terrorist, is a strong point as well. Hopefully Conduit will lure some of those graphics fiends back to the Wii, it certainly has the potential to do so.

House of the Dead: Overkill
House of the Dead has always provided arcade buffs with fun zombie-shooting goodness. This time around, Sega is bringing the fun home with an all-new installment exclusive to the Wii. Overkill will mix the arcade style shooting with a Grindhouse-style setting, creating both an eerie atmosphere and a great play. Because of that, the game will have a campy, B-movie horror feel to it that's sure to delight both fans of the series and fans of horror in general.

MadWorld
Madworld has turned a lot of heads as of late, but not because of its unique black-white-red graphic style, but because of its over-the-top violence. Over-the-top violence, not to mention, that is coming to the Wii exclusively, of all systems. The third of Sega's Wii one-two-three combo promises to be a bloody, gory mess, something that gamers that can only afford the Wii have been waiting for. You'll be throwing bad guys into trash cans and spinning fans, ripping off arms and beating others with them, and some good ol' fashioned head-ripping to boot. This should be the M For Mature game Wii owners have been waiting for.

Punch-Out!!
One of Nintendo's classic franchises is (finally) coming back to the spotlight on the Wii. Motion controls are a natural fit with Punch-Out!!, and we've already seen three classic faces in Glass Joe, Von Kaiser, and the ever-plump King Hippo. If Punch-Out finds a way to integrate Wii Balance Board dodging controls, this could be the hit of the Wii's 2009 lineup. Motion controls or not, the game is sure to bring the old-school left-right-left boxing style back into style. This will be a must-buy on the Wii, I'd guarantee it.

Xbox 360

Halo 3: ODST
Even though this isn't a true sequel to the Halo franchise, this campaign expansion promises the same tight FPS gameplay we've come to expect from the series. Same shooting, same grenades, same overshields, same Halo. Why fix what isn't broken, right? The other entry in the franchise is venturing down a different path, but ODST will be the one to appease those wanting classic Halo.

Halo Wars
A prequel to the entire Halo franchise, Halo Wars is introducing Halo fans to the RTS way of war. The change of pace has some Halo fans worrying, but Ensemble Studios is promising beautiful graphics and a gameplay system that is easy to get into. If you're an RTS fan, this will not disappoint. If you're not, but you're a Halo fan, this could be the game to introduce you into the wonderful world of Real-Time Strategy. Even thought it might not be a true Halo game like ODST, be sure to play Halo Wars.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope
Star Ocean's first 360 adventure is one that should have Tri-Ace more than excited. This prequel will have fans spanning the entire universe laying the foundation of the entire Star Ocean franchise. Star Ocean has proven to be another tried-and-true RPG powerhouse, and the fourth installment will continue to please fans of the series.

Keep going for the multiplatform picks and a few honorable mentions.