7 for '07 - PlayStation 3
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In Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, Kyuzo was the most skilled among all the others, but he was also a man of few words - his confidence spoke for itself. In this console war, the PlayStation 3’s makers are doing enough talking for all three next-gen systems. However, that doesn’t change the fact that when you get to its core, the PS3 is still the most powerful console on the market. Though Sony may be hoping for a ten-year life cycle with its latest, we don’t really see that happening (once Nintendo and Microsoft make moves in releasing their next systems in five years or so, that will practically force Sony’s hand), but despite a slow start, the system is already showing a lot of potential in its first year alone. We really had to take a lot of time while considering this list, and a number of really interesting-looking games - like Devil May Cry 4, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames, and Stranglehold - were cut in favor of those that hold just a bit more promise. While we are quite pleased with how the final list turned out, those games not listed are almost equally impressive, and that truly speaks to the system’s strong lineup on the way.
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Assassin’s Creed – From its developer to its art direction to its mere concept, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed promises to be one of the real heavy hitters in the PS3’s lineup this year. Set during the Third Crusade, players take control of Altair, an assassin attempting to track down the sinister figures orchestrating the war and...relegate them to the past tense. Supposedly set in an open-world, Altair can travel between three ancient cities, making his way unnoticed to his targets by blending into the crowds and scaling buildings. If it stays true to what was originally shown last year, Assassin’s Creed could successfully marry the winning concepts of Crackdown and Thief in a single game. I say “if” because it seems that the game may have more of a sci-fi edge than originally thought, something that we admittedly find a little worrisome. Apart from that, however, Assassin’s Creed still looks to be one of the more interesting titles headed to next-gen systems in 2007, and if it is successful, a franchise that should entertain us for years to come. |
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Grand Theft Auto IV – While the 3D Grand Theft Auto games found their way to other systems eventually, there was a time when those blockbuster titles were at least timed exclusives on the PS2 or PSP. And right now, we imagine Sony is looking back on those days and saying, “Good times, man. Good times.” You see, when the much-anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV finally hits later this year, it won’t just be coming to the PS3, but also to the Xbox 360...simultaneously. As one would expect, we can expect more of the same open-world gameplay that made previous games so popular, this time in a more true-to-life New York-knockoff Liberty City. Apart from that, both versions look to offer similar features, including a long overdue overhaul of the graphics and exclusive downloadable content. That being said, it is really up to Sony to make sure gamers know that its version is the one to get, because a game as big as GTA IV is a surefire hit, no matter what system it is on. |
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Lair – With a number of developers and publishers “jumping ship,” so to speak, and taking their games multiplatform, Sony is in dire need of exclusives for its new console. The PS2, despite facing off against two technically superior consoles, managed to come out on top thanks to a slew of titles that you couldn’t find anywhere else. While some of the old guard remains, with games like the next Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid still listed as exclusives, it’s unknown if either of those will even make it out this year. However, of the games we do know will come out this year, Lair certainly tops the list of ones to watch. The concept behind Lair is a relatively simple one, as you ride atop a dragon, attacking other dragons and opposing armies in an attempt to turn the tide of battle. Where this game really looks to shine, though, is the control – designed by Factor 5, Lair already has the pedigree of the GameCube’s fantastic Rogue Squadron games behind it, and that combined with the motion control of the PS3’s SIXAXIS controller will surely be one heck of a ride. |
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Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots – If it remains exclusive and on schedule, Metal Gear Solid 4 could be the PS3 title to own this Christmas. Set sometime after the events in MGS2, this title stars (or appears to anyway) a much older Solid Snake, surrounded by characters from prior games in the series that have barely aged at all. The storyline is also intrinsically tied to Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, although how remains to be known. Of course Hideo Kojima is known for his bait and switch tactics when it comes to teasing new installments in the franchise, so at this point we can’t be sure of a whole lot. What we have seen to this point is very intriguing though, and given Kojima’s previous accomplishments we expect nothing short of greatness. |
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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – The Elder Scrolls IV is the game that just will not die...heck, we were ready to put it on the Wii’s list, and it isn’t even coming there! On the Xbox 360, Oblivion has continued to enjoy a life well beyond the main campaign thanks to great downloadable content. Now the game is already out on PS3 (our review is here), and it’s so good that we had to include it on our list. Especially since it comes with the Knights of the Nine sidequest right on the disc. Since Bethesda devoted a large part of its efforts to simply getting the game to run on the PS3 and working out the niggles, downloadable content isn’t available right away, but we expect the game will share the same sort of longevity the Xbox 360 version has once it is. And that’s to say nothing of the Shivering Isles, a full on expansion already released for the Xbox 360 and PC we expect to appear on PS3 at some point that gives a new region to explore, new characters to meet, and a new reason to forget what the real sun looks like. |
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Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune – Uncharted may be the most unfamiliar game to gamers on this list. Last year, it made a brief appearance at E3 as an unnamed PlayStation 3 project from Naughty Dog, and it’s only recently started to gain more steam as the official title was revealed and a few details leaked out. However, even though it may have survived only as anonymous shaky cam footage being bounced around on the Internet, we here at VGGEN have had our eye on this game for quite some time and with good reason. For one thing, even early on the game looked amazing and, while we try not to focus on graphics, the power of the PS3 may be Sony’s one trump card. In that respect, it is certainly nice to know that the developers are truly trying to tap into what the system has to offer. So far Drake’s Fortune looks like a mix between Indiana Jones and Lara Croft (not that the two characters are that dissimilar), and, with Eidos pushing back their PS3 lineup until 2008 at least, this game could be just what Sony’s new system needs in the meantime. |
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Warhawk – This one started as a remake of the original PlayStation game, with developer Incognito seemingly pulling out all the stops for Warhawk’s PS3 makeover. The game had an ambitious single player campaign (which let you switch between on-foot, vehicular or aerial combat), a similarly ambitious multiplayer, and of course next-gen graphics. Not only that, but it was the only game on hand to show of the tilt-sensitive SIXAXIS at E3 last year. A lot can happen in a year, and this new Warhawk has certainly seen some changes. Perhaps the biggest shift is that Warhawk will now be multiplayer only, supporting up to 32-players online over the PlayStation Network. And, speaking of which, rumors have been swirling that the title will also be download-only, which would certainly be a boost to the system’s burgeoning downloadable content. Either way, the title is certainly poised to bring together some of the most underutilized features of the PS3 in one package. |
Posted: 05/04/2007