This week I’m going to do something different and focus entirely on the videogame horror that was revealed at E3. It looks like there’s going to be quite a great group of games on the way for those of us who like to turn off the lights and hope we don’t pee ourselves AGAIN (that’s not just me, right guys?). This isn’t a definitive list, just stuff that caught my eye. Let’s separate it by publisher in random order-
Sega
Aliens: Colonial Marines – You already know you’re getting this one. Now it’s just a question of whether to wait for the Wii U version.
Ok, no one’s going to do that, but it will be interesting to see what sort of things they can implement in the game. And really, it’s another co-op shooter from Gearbox, of COURSE you’re going to buy it. That screenshot above should have cinched it.
Rise of Nightmares –A Kinect game that’s not a ripoff of a five year-old Wii game? Could it be?
This one is pretty intriguing. It’s a survival horror title where you’re acting out the actions of the person trying to survive against unimaginable horrors, making the motions of various weapons – for instance, a chainsaw- as you try to fend off zombies, mad scientists and… jesters.
Sounds great, but hold on just a second. Hands-on reports are stating that the controls are as hit and miss as you’d expect from a Kinect title and that it’s hard to move your character around without him spinning around like he’s trying to do a Black Swan. Hopefully they can get their stuff together for this one before release.
The House of the Dead: OVERKILL – Extended Cut – A PS3 port of the Wii game, now with Move support. It’s going to be in HD and feature two new scenarios as well. It’ll make for a nice little addition to the Move lineup.
Capcom
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City – We’ve known about this one for a while– it’s the new third-person team based shooter in the realm of Left 4 Dead, but Capcom unveiled a new cinematic trailer for E3. And look, there’s zombies again! Imagine that, in a Resident Evil title! It’s been a few games.
Have to say, I’m looking forward to this one. Resident Evil 5 was a better game than most gave it credit (with a friend, at least- solo it was unbearable) and this new style seems to fit it well. The game will support 8 players online and hit sometime this Winter for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
Resident Evil: Revelations – Capcom”s second Resident Evil 3DS game after Mercenaries will be this one, which features Jill Valentine facing the undead menace on a boat. The synopsis-
Taking place in 2005, between the events of Resident Evil® 4 and Resident Evil® 5, the action centers on BSAA (Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance) member Jill Valentine and introduces her new partner, Parker Luciani. The story is set principally on board a supposedly abandoned cruise ship, where Jill and Parker have been sent to search for Chris Redfield, based on his last known GPS coordinates. Far from being empty, the ship hides danger around every corner as Jill and Parker explore the confined space of the ship and must face a menacing new horror that emerges from the darkness.
Still don’t have a 3DS myself (damn you, Nintendo!) but games like this make it more likely that I’d pick one up… after a price drop or two.
Dead Rising 2: Off the Record –
You’re not done with Dead Rising 2 just yet- Capcom has yet another game on the way. This sees the return of Dead Rising protagonist Frank West as he does what you’d expect in a sequel- faces new enemies, finds new weapons, etc. It will be set in a theme park called Uranus Zone this time (oh, that Capcom humor) which allows for plenty of ridiculous zombie destruction, and it will feature the return of Frank’s controversial camera. This will be a budget ($40) retail game, probably not a bad deal for fans of the series looking for something more.
Namco Bandai
Dark Souls –
The followup to Demon’s Souls merely has to exist to make people excited. It promises 60 hours of that same frustrating but fufilling gameplay, and now it’s available for Xbox 360 too. Upgraded graphics, better implemented online play and more flexible character development means that a whole legion of gamers will be sitting in front of their tvs, cursing developer FromSoftware.
The game comes out on October 25th and I’d highly suggest pre-ordering, because for the same price as the regular game you can get the collector’s edition with a metal case, strategy guide, art book and soundtrack.
Deep Silver
Dead Island –
As sadly expected, nothing we’ve seen of Dead Island since that amazing teaser trailer has been anywhere close as good. There’s not really any way to get emotionally invested in a game when you’ve got XP numbers popping on screen every time you kill a zombie. The zombie death does look nice, though.
Ubisoft
Killer Freaks from Outer Space –
Well would you look at that! A third person Wii U title that might be worth it? Very intriguing. Obviously this is a live-action trailer but let’s hope the game retails its sense of humor.
Telltale Games
The Walking Dead–
Of course there’s a videogame coming out for the biggest zombie property around. But besides the two board games coming out the game is being developed by none other than Telltale. Nice! You’d think that for such a massive property we’d get another lame zombie shooter, not an adventure game set in the world.
It won’t simply be a retelling of the story, either, as Telltale got approval from Image to expand the story of the comic. The story revolves around a convicted criminal named Lee whose escort vehicle is attacked during the apocalypse. He manages to get away free (and alive) and ends up befriending a young girl named Clementine. She’s lost everyone too and this unlikely duo ends up exploring this terrifying new world together. Expect an adventure game that reveals a bit of backstory for certain characters and places- confirmed so far is a meeting with series fave Glenn, as well as a trip to Hershel Greene’s farm before the rest of the crew ends up there.
The first episode of The Walking Dead will hit PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, and iPad next winter.
Fables – They’re also working on an adaptation of Bill Willingham’s Fables. No real news on this one just yet but it’s pretty exciting to think of what they could do.
Konami
Silent Hill: Downpour –
The eight Silent Hill installment sure features a lot of heavy rain.
Amusingly, the story is supposed to take place in a part of Silent Hill that’s never been explored. I could care less- just make it scary and compelling and maybe I’ll come back. Silent Hill 4: The Room quite nearly did it with its claustrophobic room sections, but it’s been downhill since there.
2K Games
The Darkness 2 –
A good game that deserves a chance to become great, it looks like it’s doing everything right. Mike Patton’s back in as the voice of The Darkness and the new quad-wielding looks like a helluva lot of fun. Plus I always just really liked the cartoony mobsters of their New York City.
It’s been two years since Jackie Estacado, now the Don of the Estacado crime family, used Darkness to kill the men responsible for his girlfriend’s murder. Jackie continues to have haunting visions of his beloved Jenny since her death. He’s tried to cope by bottling up his supernatural power, and now Darkness wants out. A sudden, unprovoked attack on Jackie’s life heralds the start of a full-scale mob war, which has clearly been orchestrated by some outside force. The botched attempt opens the door for Darkness to reemerge, and sets Jackie on a journey to hell and worse, as he unravels the mystery behind the attack and the motivations of Darkness itself.
October 4th!
XCOM –
Still not sure what to make of this. You just don’t take one of the most beloved turn-based shooters and turn it into a bland FPS, but that’s just what this looked like at last year’s E3. Nothing has been seen since then, and now it’s shown up with many changes. It’ll hit next March- let’s hope the aliens don’t win.
Atlus USA
Catherine–
Excited for this one, if only for the concept. A puzzle game is certainly nothing new but one that features a plot about the horrors of relationships and infidelities is certainly worth checking out. Plus, the visuals look insane-
Atlus is dropping this one on July 26th!
Bethesda Softworks
Prey 2 –
How’s that for a trailer?
I love the original Prey, but this couldn’t be more different. You play as one U.S. Marshall Kilian Samuels, who is on a passenger flight that crashes due to some alien involvement. Flash forward a few years and not only is Samuels not on Earth anymore, but he’s a bounty hunter on the alien world of Exodus. Expect to run into Tommy from the first game at some point.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim –
Yeah, it’s not technically horror, but I don’t care. It’s easily the best-looking game coming out this year certainly has its share of supernatural elements (vampires, skeletons, the undead, etc.) and when you’re going to be fighting dragons I’m sure you won’t care. Amazing.
Phew, well that’s all for this week! See you on June 17th!