This year’s GDC has come and gone, leaving in its wake stirrings, rumours and above all anticipation. Each new announcement causing ripples across the gaming websites, but which games left the biggest splash and which will we be eagerly awaiting throughout 2009?
Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Who can say no to a Zelda game? Despite a less than awe-inspiring title, the crisp graphics and solid gameplay carried forth from Phantom Hourglass are enough to have this title become a must have. Coming out on the DS in 2009 expect to see big things from the little man in green.
Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao
Uk-Based Blitz Games Studios took the GDC by storm with their XBLA and PSN title. Utilising brand new 3D technology combined with the retro appeal of the side scrolling beat ‘em ups that so many of us grew up on, Invincible Tiger will be a game to keep an eye on.
Tag: The Power of Paint
As they state on their website “Developed by students at DigiPen Institute of Technology, Tag: The Power of Paint is a free, first-person puzzle platformer which focuses on the players’ ability to modify their environment as they see fit, simply by painting it.” This is a game that won the Best Student Game at the independent games festival, and whether you have heard of it or not expect this to be the year of Tag.
Mass Effect 2
A snippet was all we needed for this, and thus began the twitching, the sweaty palms and the occasional shivers. I don’t even need to say what this game is about, you know, and you want some of it too.
No matter how excited I am for Mass Effect 2, I think Zelda really stole the show this year. I’m very excited, it’s always a fun game
I’ll be picking up Phantom Hourglass in anticipation for Spirit Tracks. It’s nice to see Nintendo FINALLY do some sort of innovation with Zelda (ie: industrial revolution).
Spirit Tracks all the way, I’m really excited.
As you can probably tell as I wrote this piece, I’m pretty excited about all of them. In terms of other indie games (as I felt I could only mention one) check out Unfinished Swan and Blueberry Garden too.
And I just realised I missed Arkham Asylum off this list, as the first gameplay hands on was at GDC. Damn, this is why I shouldn’t write without the help of Captain Whiskey.