Here's a sampling of what Xbox 360 owners will be enjoying in the coming year.
By Daniel Share-Strom
2008 was a banner year for the Xbox 360, software-wise, and 2009 looks to continue that trend. What follows is a general outline of what games we can expect this year. And what a year it’s going to be! Any console receiving such diverse titles as Resident Evil 5, Final Fantasy XIII, Tekken 6, Alan Wake, Halo: ODST, and Splinter Cell definitely has a healthy software ecosystem. ‘The 360 has no games in 2009’, indeed!
Please note:
-The list is organized alphabetically by genre, then chronologically by release date, then alphabetically by game title.
-release dates ARE subject to change at any time, and this list will be updated as new titles are announced.
-Certain titles have been excluded from this list. Anything with the name ‘Developer X Project’, titles expected to do poorly with the critics, as well as titles with too little known information (such as Mass Effect 2 and Forza Motorsport 3), have not been included. As such, few downloadable titles are shown here.
ACTION
January 13, 2009
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest
Electronic Arts
Take a side in the battle for control over The One Ring! Take on the roles of famous characters from both sides of the conflict—Oliphaunts, Balrogs, and even the great Lord Sauron himself. Up to 150 characters can be onscreen at a time. 16 players can have at it online, with a four-player cooperative-ready campaign available online or in split-screen mode. But the die-hard fan will want to check this game out for one reason: a completely separate campaign that supposes Sauron had indeed regained control over The One Ring!
January 27, 2009
Afro Samurai
Namco Bandai
Samuel L. Jackson reprises his role as Afro Samurai, ever questing to become the number one warrior. He vows to take the title from Justice, the man who killed his father. Following the plot of the anime series, Afro traverses huge open environments, and fights using an innovative gameplay system in which the enemies are affected by the musical score. As always, the series trademark gore is out in full force!
Q1 2009
Ghostbusters: The Video Game
Atari
Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Bill Murray reunite in digital form as Spengler, Stantz, Zeddmore and Venkman. Work alongside the original Ghostbusters to rid the recently-overrun city of its’ ghost problem. Using familiar and new weapons and gadgets, you will hunt, fight, and capture many kinds of ghosts, demons, and other nasties in your scary and funny bid to save New York City.
Q1 2009
Just Cause 2
Eidos Interactive
Rico Rodriguez and his wacky, high-octane antics return. Once again, he’ll be skydiving, grappling onto cars, and traversing many types of terrain—this time on the South East Asian islands of Panau.
Q1 2009
Wanted: Weapons of Fate
Universal Studios
Based on the action-thriller Wanted, continue the story of Wes Gibson, curving bullets, using Assassin Time, and making good use of cover to fulfill Wes’ dream of becoming the world’s best assassin.
Q1 2009
WET
Sierra
Rubi is what’s known as a ‘problem fixer’—and a good one, at that. But when it turns out that one contract isn’t who he appears to be, she must go on the run to find the man who left her for dead and killed many others.
Q2 2009
Ninja Blade
Microsoft
Ken Ogawa and his ninjas were tasked with destroying horde of monsters infesting modern Tokyo or risk the extinction of the human race. However, one of their own betrayed them and Ogawa narrowly escaped with his life. He is now left to fight alone while putting together the pieces of his father’s betrayal. Utilize many unique ninja tools and abilities to help him succeed, such as Ninja Vision (which finds enemy weak points and secret paths), Todome Attack (destroy an enemy’s heart by dealing a fatal blow), and special grappling hooks, swords, and grenades. Quick-time events will keep you on your toes even during cutscenes.
Q2 2009
Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins
This game, based on the fourth film in the Terminator saga, follows the 30-year-old John Connor in his bid to prevent the extinction of humanity.
TBA 2009
Alan Wake
Microsoft Game Studios
Players take on the role of horror novelist Alan Wake, who, trapped in the nightmarish town of Bright Falls, must solve a terrible mystery or risk being trapped there forever. Go anywhere at any time in this town of freakish demons, and uncover a story of suspense, engaging characters, and outrageous twists. But be careful when exploring at night—for your enemies seem to draw their power from the darkness.
TBA 2009
APB
Webzen
If you’ve ever wanted to play a massively multiplayer Grand Theft Auto, now’s your chance. APB centers around a turf war with two main factions: the Squads (police), who uphold the law, and the Gangs, who do everything in their power to break it. Players choose a side—the Gangs do graffiti, steal, and find any method they can to earn cash, while the Squads attempt to stop them. When the Gangs commit a crime, an APB is put out to a Squad member (or members), with an invisible skill-matching system seamlessly keeping it interesting.
TBA 2009
Banjo-Tooie
Microsoft Game Studios
The bear and bird reunite for an XBLA adventure of epic proportions. Explore a huge world, gathering jiggies as you solve puzzles, play as Mumbo, a T-Rex, Submarine, Money-Van, Washing Machine, and many others. Learn tons of new moves to help thwart the evil desires of a resurrected Gruntilda.
TBA 2009
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Eidos Interactive
Become the Dark Knight as he tosses the Joker to Arkham Asylum. Unbeknownst to Batman, the villains have set a trap for him—one that kickstarts an ‘immersive combat gaming experience’.
TBA 2009
Bionic Commando
Capcom
Ten years after the events of the classic Bionic Commando (with slight changes to names and events), don again the grappling hook of decorated government officer Nathan Spencer. Betrayed by your commander (Super Joe), your bionic arm is removed and you are wrongfully imprisoned and given a death sentence. When a terrorist group detonates an experimental weapon in Ascension City, Joe offers you a deal: if you can take your new bionic arm and defeat the terrorists, your name will be cleared. Features online multiplayer action for up to 10 players.
TBA 2009
I Am Alive
Ubisoft
This intense game of survival places players in the ruins of a devastated Chicago, players must think, react, and take risks that will affect themselves and their companions.
TBA 2009
Metal Slug 7
In a bid to finally catch General Morden, six of the USA’s finest soldiers must run and gun through 80 explosive missions, fighting through Morden’s newly-acquired army of super-soldiers from the future!
TBA 2009
Splatterhouse
Namco Bandai
A remake of one of the SNES’ goriest games, Splatterhouse follows Rick Taylor in his bid to rescue his girlfriend, who has disappeared after entering the rickety West Mansion. In order to find her amid all the demons in the house, Rick finds some interesting things to do with a sentient mask and a chainsaw.
TBA 2009
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
Ubisoft
Sam Fisher has changed. The end of Double Agent saw him on the run from his friends at Third Echelon. Minus his trademark high-tech equipment and information from friends in his ear, Sam is now a full-fledged fugitive and must improvise to survive. Your environment is your inventory—use it as you wish. Quick thinking and adaption will be critical to your success, but don’t forget that your enemies can use them, too. Blend in with the crowd to avoid attention, or start a deliberate panic to help take enemies’ minds away from the real threat. Black market friends will help you to gain access to gadgets and weapons, or you can improvise your own. Finally, learn who to trust as you play with or against your friends in the middle of a civilian crowd—they look just like anyone else, so you’ll need keen observational skills and quick reflexes to survive this conviction.
ACTION-ADVENTURE
TBA 2009
Beyond Good & Evil 2
Ubisoft
Jade returns in this sequel to the critically acclaimed ‘Beyond Good and Evil’. Little is known about this project, save for its’ much more realistic art style and the return of Jade’s ‘uncle’ and sidekick, Pey’j the pig.
TBA 2009
Cipher Complex
TBA
When a recon satellite is mysteriously blasted from orbit, the government calls on operative John Cipher. Tasked with finding the truth at all costs, Cipher must exact information from behind enemy lines.
ADVENTURE
Q1 2009
Brütal Legend
Vivendi Games
Double Fine, the masterminds behind Psychonauts, have another very original genre-bender up their sleeves: Brütal Legend combines fantasy with rock-and-roll, and ‘heavy metal’ means ‘heavy’ and ‘metal’ in the most literal way. Jack Black stars as Eddie Riggs, a roadie of a heavy metal band who’s been sent back in time to find his purpose in life. An ancient force offers him great knowledge in exchange for building and leading a legion of monsters, including demons, dragsters, amp stacks, leather, and chrome. As Eddie, the player will lead them to drive this world into the Age of Metal.
TBA 2009
Overlord II
Codemasters
Embody a new Overlord, commanding more powerful Minions, and bring down an empire. The Minions are smarter, deadlier, funnier, and just itching to get on with the massive-scale battles that will no-doubt ensue. New abilities for the minions include the ability to destroy buildings and scenery, as well as ride wolves and other magical animals into battle.
FIGHTING
Q1 2009
Street Fighter IV
Capcom
Considered the first ‘true’ sequel the classic Street Fighter 2 franchise, the long-awaited fourth entry features a cast list of epic proportions. The entire original Street Fighter cast returns, along with newcomers like super-spy Crimson Viper, lucha libre El Fuerte, and mixed martial artist Abel. Features a unique cel-shaded art style that blends the crisp, animated look of the classics with fluid 3D animation. Classic side-scrolling fighter gameplay, new special moves (including Focus attacks, Super Combos, and the awe-inspiring Ultra Combos), a dynamic camera, and many more new features are sure to make this a fight for the ages.
Q3 2009
Tekken 6
Namco Bandai
Familiar faces and all-new characters unite to create the largest roster ever for this legendary series. Deep character customization allows players a touch of individuality as they take the fight online to become the world champion.
TBA 2009
UFC 2009 Undisputed
THQ
Step into the octagon as one of the best mixed martial artists in the world, or create your own fighter and rise to dominance. Photorealistic graphics move it beyond a game into the realm of a player-controlled television show.
FLIGHT-SIM
Q1 2009
Tom Clancy's HAWX
Ubisoft
In the near future, a private military force has accumulated enough power for a direct assault on the USA. Players will command incredibly advanced jet fighters, complete with advanced piloting assistance. As players get better and better, the assistance will die down, but they must carefully weigh the risks of choosing performance over security.
PUZZLE
Q1 2009
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix
D3 Publisher
In the newest take on the Puzzle Quest formula, a scientific accident has goaded another race to attempt the extermination of mankind. Players gain skills, craft items, manoeuvre among political factions, and upgrade their space fleet in an attempt to stop the attack. The puzzle board is now hexagonal, and allows for a range of strategic depth as the player’s position in the universe affects the board’s gravity.
RACING
TBA 2009
Fuel
Codemasters
Set in an alternate reality present, Fuel presents a world where large chunks of the globe have been ravaged by climate change from environmental abuse. Oil prices have skyrocketed, and racing junkies are king. Pitting their home-brewed vehicles against each other to win fuel supplies, they must travel the 5,000-square-mile game world, which includes the tsunami-wrecked pacific, the Nevada wastelands, the Grand Canyon, treacherous snow-capped mountains, thick forests, hot deserts, abandoned resorts, and more. A dynamic weather system, with day and night transitions, sunshine, torrential rain, tornadoes, sandstorms, thunderstorms, lightning strikes, and blizzards, can alter the strategies of a race in an instant. Explore the world with other players online and compete in hundreds of multiplayer challenges.
RPG
February 2009
Alpha Protocol
SEGA
To stop an international crisis, agent Michael Thornton must cut himself off from the society he’s sworn to protect. Player decisions ultimately affect what type of secret agent Michael becomes, and every action has a consequence for both his and the world’s future.
March 3, 2009
Star Ocean: The Last Hope
Square Enix
This prequel recounts the origins of the Star Ocean universe, spanning multiple planets and combining sci-fi and fantasy. Set during the aftermath of World War III, experience exhilarating combat that expands on the franchise’s trademark real-time battle system, with out-of-this-world graphics and visual effects.
Q2 2009
Champions Online
2K Games
In this superhero MMO from City of Heroes creators Cryptic Studios, players will choose from billions of customization options to create a hero who crusades for peace and justice. Cross-platform play is available between Xbox 360 and PC in a world that spans the entire Earth.
Q1 2009
Borderlands
2K Games
Acclaimed developer Gearbox presents a delightful mix of first-person action, player customization, and vehicular combat. Hundreds of thousands of weapons, each with their own manufacturers, specs, and advantages. Earn rewards for advanced tactical maneuvers, and gain combat proficiencies in tons of specialties. An unparalleled content generation system allows for infinite amounts of randomly-generated missions, environments, enemies, weapons, item drops, and character customization, all spread out over a massive world and playable over online coop.
Q1 2009
Dungeon Hero
Gamecock
Set in a real-life dungeon, this is not a cavern with bags of gold everywhere. War is afoot. Take control of melee, ranged, and magic skills as you fight through an infinite horde of monsters. Fight alone, or in cooperative mode, to save this dark place.
Q1 2009
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 Fusion
Activision
Iron Man, Invisible Woman, Venom, Green Goblin, Spider-Man, Hulk, Captain America, Wolverine, and sixteen more heroes and villains unite to combat Doctor Doom’s global assault on Latvia. New to the sequel is the ability to share superpowers between, and add new enhancements to, the characters, which is presumably where the ‘Fusion’ comes from.
SHOOTER
March 13, 2009
Resident Evil 5
Capcom
Former S.T.A.R.S. member Chris Redfield goes to Africa in this breathtaking new entry in the Resident Evil saga. As Chris, your life is constantly in danger from what looks to be a mix of Resident Evil 4’s Ganados and the series’ trademark T-Virus. Swarms of infected will constantly charge you, including some the size of buildings—and some who can knock them down! Luckily, he’s joined by newcomer Sheva Alomar, who is just as handy with a gun as he is. She joins Chris for the entire adventure, allowing local and online cooperative play for the first time in the series. Capcom has promised to live up to the unenviable task of tying up all the series’ loose ends. Will Chris make good on his bid to finally rid the world of the Umbrella Corporation, the virus, and the evil Albert Wesker?
Q1 2009
Aliens: Colonial Marines
SEGA
Players take on the role of a member of the United States Colonial Marine squad in a terrifying new chapter of the Aliens story. Utilize classic franchise weapons, such as pulse rifles and flamethrowers, as well as brand new tech. Survive the nightmare alone or with up to three friends in coop mode, where each player has their own distinct goals.
Q3 2009
Bioshock 2: Sea of Dreams
2K Games
Nothing is known about the sequel to 2007’s biggest surprise hit, save for the trailer showing a grown-up Little Sister staring out at the sea as what seems to be a city forms from nothingness. But is it a true sequel? Or a prequel? And how will 2K Games improve upon 2007’s winning formula? Only time will tell.
Q3 2009
Halo 3: ODST
Microsoft Game Studios
Halo 3: Recon is the highly-anticipated expansion to the biggest gaming event of 2007. Bungie has heard the cries of Halo fans who were angered by the Master Chief’s sudden departure from the conflict on Earth in Halo 2, and is rolling out a brand-new campaign. Players step into the dark boots and helmet of a UNSC Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (ODST) and take the fight to the Covenant in the ruins of New Mombasa, destroyed when the Prophet of Regret jumped to Slipspace inside Earth’s atmosphere. Without the aid of chemically-enhanced strength or recharging energy shields, players will be forced to think much more tactically and stealthily. Running on the Halo 3 engine, the game includes all the requisite extras, such as new weapons, 4-player coop, enhanced saved-films and Forge features, and all multiplayer maps and modes from Halo 3 (and then some!)
TBA 2009
Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, The
Vivendi Games
This next-gen retelling of the atmospheric Original-Xbox shooter tells of Riddick’s quest to escape the galaxy’s most deadly prison. New features include as-yet-unknown online multiplayer capabilities, as well as a new expansion pack set after the original game (the titular ‘Assault on Dark Athena’) Immediately after the conclusion of the main game, Riddick and Johns encounter the Dark Athena and its’ captain, Revas. Starbreeze is being cryptic on any further details, but this is definitely one to watch.
TBA 2009
Huxley
Webzen
A massively multiplayer first-person shooter by Webzen, in which up to 5,000 players can share the same game world. In a post-apocalyptic earth, humans are divided into two sides, Sapiens and the mutated Alternative. The battle centres around Lunarities, a newly-discovered energy source essential to both races, and each will do anything in their power to wipe out the other and take control of it. There’s a virtual online city in which players can chat, buy weapon upgrades, and participate in large-scale battles. A player’s actions in the world of Huxley affect not only themselves, but their party and entire race.
TBA 2009
Red Faction: Guerrilla
THQ
Set 50 years after the events of the first Red Faction, Guerilla moves the player to Mars as an insurgent fighter for the Red Faction movement, who battles the oppressive Earth Defense Force. THQ has not forgotten what made this series famous, and is boasting a 100% destructible, fully open world with lots of big guns to play with. Watch where you’re aiming! Mars is swarming with not only EDF forces, but Red Faction resistance fighters, and settlers caught in the cross-fire! There’s also a highly robust multiplayer game, with many destruction-based game modes.
TBA 2009
Wolfenstein
Activision
The latest entry in the Wolfenstein series sees players forced deep into the heart of a ar-torn Germany, where Hitler’s experimentation with technology and the supernatural threatens to give them the Nazis that advantage in World War 2.
SPORTS
Q1 2009
Blood Bowl
Focus Home Interactive
Create a team of bloodthirsty Warhammer characters (including Orcs, Elves, Humans, Dwarves, and more), and toss them onto the diamond in the most literal game of fantasy football around.
TBA 2009
Backbreaker
NaturalMotion’s Backbreaker football game is a revolution in physics. By using a highly refined version of Euphoria, characters will never do any action the same way twice. This technology has powered biology and robotics, and uses the intense processing power of current-generation consoles to simulate nervous systems, muscles, and player biomechanics in real-time—there are NO predefined animations in the game.
TBA 2009
Fight Night Round 4
Electronic Arts
EA returns to the ring with their latest entry in the visceral boxing franchise. Fight Night Round 3 was one of the first games to show off the sheer visual muscle of the next-gen consoles, and this new entry will undoubtedly look even better. The deal gets even sweeter—unseen in gaming since NES Punch-Out, boxing legend Mike Tyson will be lending his likeness to this game. Cover your ears!
STRATEGY
Q1 2009
Halo Wars
Microsoft
The swan song of Ensemble Studios, the strategy masters behind the Age of Empires series, Halo Wars combines the universe and characters of Microsoft/Bungie’s beloved sci-fi franchise with intense RTS-style gameplay. Set in the year 2532, 20 years before the events of the first Halo, Halo Wars follows the crew of UNSC flagship Spirit of Fire as they touch down on planet Harvest and are thrown into humanity’s first deadly contact with the evil Covenant.
TBA 2009
Kingdom Under Fire II
This dark new entry in the KUF series introduces a new storyline, including a mysterious third faction in between the Human Alliance and the Dark Legiona. Playable in single-player or massively-multiplayer modes.
Remember, these are only some of the most high-profile games coming to the 360 in 2009. There are many more promising titles in the works, and who can predict the number of sleeper hits we’ll be seeing? Yes, doubters be damned, the Xbox 360 is in for one wild year.
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