The Video Game Awards were on last night (for those of you unaware) and despite the show being nearly unwatchable with celebrities attempting to make like they know what video game players like/are like, there were the requisite unveilings of several brand new video games. Although I can't say that I was anticipating any of the reveals, I do have some pretty strong feelings already as to which games I'm looking forward to, and which ones look like a load of poopy. So, in honor(?) of the 2009 VGA's, I'm going to go ahead and put down some of my personal thoughts on every World Premier featured:
True Crime
The first True Crime game on PS2 was, for all intents and purposes, the poor-man's GTA. It was of decent enough quality, at least as far as a GTA clone can go, but following a horrendous sequel, the series completely disappeared. The reveal of a brand new current-gen game in the series certainly came as a surprise, but it was even more of a surprise to see the game looking even mildly interesting. It looks, of course, like a GTA-style sandbox game, but with unique elements like air-jacking cars and insane motorcycle stunt-work. Actually, it surprisingly looks like a more well-done version of The Wheelman, which isn't a bad thing at all. Overall, the trailer intrigued me, and I'm anxious to see more detail from the game.Excitement Factor: 4/5
Tron:Evolution
I may be a bit biased by the fact that I love the movie and am excited to all hell for the new movie Tron: Legacy that's to come out, but I actually want to play this game. Tron has always been a conundrum to me in that it's a movie about video games that then comes out with its own video games that *HEAD ESPLODE*. Anyway, looks like it could be a fun little action game at the least. Plus, LIGHT CYCLES!Excitement Factor: 4/5
Deadliest Warrior: The Game
Like the show. Game looks like shite. Moving onExcitement Factor: 0/5
UFC Undisputed 2010
THQ and Yukes look like they've finally nailed what it takes to make a good MMA game, so it wasn't really a surprise to me to know they're making a new one. If they manage to clean up the menu systems and make a more reliable online, this will likely be the best MMA game ever created, but its predictability and the fact that this series will likely become raped into what every other sports series has become today puts somewhat of a damper on my excitement for this one.Excitement Factor: 3/5
Crackdown 2
I was no fan of the original Crackdown. While I felt it had good ideas, I felt it was either too unpolished or just too slim on content to be entertaining for too long. Even so, I did like a lot of the ideas that the game attempted, ideas that even similar games today haven't completely nailed. I was extremely ready to write of this Crackdown as well with no emotional investment in the first game, but following the reveal of this trailer, this is one of my most anticipated games of the year. Something about the sandbox gameplay with ridiculous powers tossed in with multiplayer elements just really resonated as something I really want to play. It's predecessor may not have been something I enjoyed playing, but Crackdown 2 definitely has my attention already.Excitement Factor: 5/5
Green Day: Rock Band
Way to take all the good will built up by The Beatles: Rock Band and just piss it away, Harmonix. I mean, I cannot really understand what they were thinking on this one. Green Day is not only a terrible band, but it can't be argued IN THE LEAST that they come anywhere close to being a worthy following act for the motherfucking Beatles. I was able to forgive Lego Rock Band as being Harmonix's play to the younger audience, but what the fuck? This couldn't have been a track pack or something? We really need to capture the AWESOME imagery and AMAZING legacy of the STUPENDOUSLY influential band that is Green Day? Look in your hearts, Harmonix. I think you know the answer.Excitement Factor: -2,000,000/5
Spec Ops: The Line
Where the holy hell did this game come from? At this point, I don't really care, because it looks ridiculously good. This is how you give a unique and fresh take on modern combat in a post COD4 world. Okay, maybe I'm overselling it a bit, but this game does look like it may be something special. The graphical style combined with the cover-based gameplay in an almost post-apocalyptic setting make it at least stand out among what is quickly being a cliche' genre; the military shooter.Excitement Factor: 5/5
Prince of Persia: Forgotten Sands
Ubisoft, you break my heart. They not only ditched the themes and asthetics from 2008's POP installment, but they seem to be seeking to taint any good memories you had of the Sands of Time trilogy. Sure, there was absolutely no gameplay shown in the trailer, but I can already tell that this is nothing more than an attempt to push out a half-assed POP game to coincide with the movie. Thanks for nothing, guys.Excitement Factor: 1/5
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Talk about coming out of nowhere, if there was one game series I didn't think Star Wars could continue it would be The Force Unleashed. I mean, not to give anything away, but Starkiller kinda... died... in the canon ending of the last one *spoiler alert*. So what gives? Am I not excited to think of the possibilities for this series if they clean up the problems from the last one? I'm absolutely excited, but part of what I loved about the last game was the excellently realized storyline, ending perfectly with Starkiller's sacrifice. I certainly hope Lucasarts doesn't kill that one part that truly worked from the last game by explaining away Starkiller's death with an utterly stupid deus ex machina. Cautiously optimistic.Excitement Factor: 3/5
Medal of Honor
Remember how I said that military shooters were becoming cliche'? Remember how I said that Spec Ops looked good primarily because it looked like a uniquely fresh take on modern combat? Even if you don't, let me tell you that none of these elements apply to what was shown of the new Medal of Honor. It looks like the developers simply said, "Okay, what did people like about that OTHER modern warfare game? Okay, let's make everything in our game look SIMILAR, but slightly different". I guess I was kinda daring this game to impress me, and it didn't meet that dare. I'm still somewhat optimistic, but it's not looking good.Excitement Factor: 2/5
Batman: Arkham Asylum 2
ALREADY!? Didn't the last one come out just THIS year?! If it weren't for this fact, I'd be uber-psyched for another Arkham Asylum, but the fact is that the turnaround is a bit shocking. If it's more of the same, I won't complain, but based solely on the setting and what little bit we saw of the Joker, I'm hoping the game at least LOOKS drastically different. Fingers crossed.Excitement Factor: 4/5
Halo Reach
The main event of the night was... well... adequate. Besides the fact that there's some drastic controversy as to whether or not the graphics in the trailer are indeed the final game graphics, they didn't really show enough to make it clear how or even if this game is going to be different at all from the other installments, something that disappoints me, but fans of the series I'm sure enjoyed it. It just felt like if you're not really into Halo, there's no reason to be excited by what they showed, but I suppose that's the case with almost every returning franchise's entry during the night.Excitement Factor: 3/5
Log in to comment