Next Generation Gaming Previews

As this current generation of video game consoles slowly begins to wane in popularity and a new generation of consoles begins to hit the market, we should take a moment to remember the good times we’ve had with our current crop of video games. But that’s enough thinking about the past. Because who can spend time thinking about old, outdated games when there’s new, incredible looking games on the horizon?

With the Xbox 360 already out and the PS3 and Wii on their way, the next generation of console wars is almost in full swing and there’s a whole boatload of amazing games that you need to be on the look out for.

“Lost Planet: Extreme Condition” – Xbox 360

In this futuristic 3^rd person shooter, you’ll not only be battling hordes of insect like aliens called the Akrid and human “snow pirates”, but you’ll also be contending with the ever present harsh landscape. In “Lost Planet”, you take the role of Wayne, an amnesiac soldier whose father was killed by the Akrid.

As Wayne, you’ll be meeting and subsequently killing Akrid of all shapes and sizes. Some of the enemies you’ll be facing will take up the entire size of the screen making for unbelievably fun boss battles. But the most notable feature of “Lost Planet” is the fact that you will not only be battling the Akrid, but also the freezing temperatures which constantly drain your t-energy(thermal energy). Defeated enemies drop heat packets that will restore small amounts of t-energy which makes so frantic fast paced battles to not only complete the mission, but to stay alive as well.

“Gears of War” – Xbox 360

“Gears of War” is another futuristic 3^rd person shooter coming soon for the 360 but promises a much different type of action than “Lost Planet: Extreme Condition”. Instead of frenzied pace of battle in “Lost Planet”, “Gears of War” presents slower but still action packed game play.

In “Gears of War”, you take control of Marcus Fenix in an apocalyptic battle to save the planet from the Locust Horde, a species of strange creatures from below the earth’s surface. But as you play as Marcus Fenix, don’t expect run and gun game play a la Halo or Quake. In “Gears of War” finding cover is the key to survival. Seeking cover behind anything from destroyed vehicles to fallen buildings is crucial to staying alive long enough to beat back the ruthless Locust Horde. One of the most interesting elements of this game is the chainsaw bayonet that comes on your standard battle rifle which you can use to shred any enemies that invade your personal space.

“Resistance: Fall of Man” – Playstation 3

Imagine, if you will, a world where World War II has never taken place. Instead of the free world uniting against Hitler and the Axis powers, the human race must ban together to save Earth from a vicious race of aliens named the Chimera. This is the world of “Resistance: Fall of Man”.

In this 1^st person shooter’s alternate past, the Chimera have overrun most countries on earth and are now leading an assault on Great Britain, one of the last bastions on the planet for humans. With the appearance of the Chimera, the human race has also incorporated their alien technology into the human weapons of the era. “Resistance” promises a large selection of imaginative weaponry and many of the guns will also have a secondary fire mode.

In a time where it seems like World War II 1^st person shooters grow on trees, it’s good to see a developer inject some new life into an overdone gaming genre.

“Assassin’s Creed” – Playstation 3

Unlike all of the previous games previewed so far, “Assassin’s Creed” will rely on stealth and cunning in place of guns and explosions. In this game you take control of Altair, an apprentice assassin at the castle of Masyaf which is in modern day Syria. As Altair, you find yourself in the time of the Third Crusade. Richard the Lionhearted has led his soldiers into the Holy Land to try and reclaim it for Christianity from the Muslims and it is up to Altair and his assassin brothers to stop the Crusade with as little loss of human life as possible.

Though “Assassin’s Creed” boasts impressive graphics and realistic environments, the main draw of this game will be the computer’s A.I.(artificial intelligence). As you traverse levels, you will undoubtedly draw the attention of the townspeople and guards alike. These characters called NPCs(non-playable characters) are not just hollow inhabitants, but unique characters that all react to your actions. Scale a wall effortlessly and expect a crowd to form and admire your acrobatics. This can also be a double edged sword for a guard may see the large gathering of people and inspect the situation to find you scaling a wall looking for your next victim. But this is only one of many, many situations that could be encountered in “Assassin’s Creed”.

“Red Steel” – Nintendo Wii

Always innovating the landscape of gaming, Nintendo’s unique “Wii” controller is allowing gaming to take a new direction. In “Red Steel”, players will use the “nunchuck” controller to navigate a 1^st person shooter where you use your controller to point and fire at enemies.

Though the “Wii” promises to be the cheapest next-gen console on the market, it will still deliver next-gen graphics and “Red Steel” is a perfect example of how much potential the “Wii” has.

But one of the most notable additions in “Red Steel” will be the sword play. Forget simply pressing a button to swing your sword. In “Red Steel”, players will flail their controllers around to swing their sword and block incoming attacks.