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GamePro's 2008 Fall Preview Guide!

• By GamePro Staff
• September 26, 2008 12:12 PM PST
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#85: Darksiders: Wrath of War

TBA 2009: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
In 10 words: Four horsemen mistakenly trigger apocalypse, go all God of War.

#84: Dead Space

October: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
For years, man has yearned to travel into space, to break free of the bonds of Mother Earth and be killed horribly, preferably by some hideous alien species. Now you can live this dream with Dead Space, EA's third-person horror adventure that takes cues from Resident Evil 4 and The Thing.

Taking the role of space engineer Isaac Clarke (an homage to sci-fi authors Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke), you get to explore a derelict spaceship; manipulate objects with a handy tool that simulates telekinesis; jump from wall to ceiling in antigravity; and most likely, die a terrible, grotesque death within the jaws of a necromorph, the game's abominable enemies. Necromorphs take a variety of two-, four-, and eight-legged forms, and simply pumping bullets into them isn't a smart strategy-you'll have to target weak spots, blasting off legs, arms, and pincers. And, since no space omelet has ever been made without breaking a few eggs, you can expect liberal use of blood sprays and viscera in the game's gruesome, multipart dismemberments that serve as icing on an already gore-soaked cake. This one's not for the faint of heart.

#83: Duke Nukem Forever

TBA: PC
Loyal fans have waited over 10 years, but The Duke's next adventure is night... we think. During a recent episode of The Jace Hall Show, eagle-eyed gamers caught quick glimpses of in-game footage from Duke Nukem Forever, Including Duke's unique breed of awesome guns (including the Shrink Ray), and memorable puns ("Duke's in a bad, bad modd"). Jace loved the game, and he's not just your everyday internet talk show dude-he helped develop F.E.A.R., Condemned, and Project Origin. In this case, "when it's done" chat come soon enough.

#82: Dark Void

2008: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Gears of War with jetpacks. Rocky mountain high (and higher).

#81: Doom 4

TBA: PC
When CEO Todd Hollenshead confirmed that id Software was working to bring "the next installment of our flagship franchise to Earth," Doom fanatics took the hint. Though details on Doom 4 are non-existent, we're expecting to see a "Hell of Earth" scenario a la Doom II, as well as a simultaneous PS3, Xbox 360, and PC release. And because id Software wiz kid John Carmack is on the case, dazzling graphics are practically guaranteed. Other challenges remain: we're hoping that Doom 4 adds vastly more depth to the demon-blasting action, and also supports a proper online deathmatch mode. The granddaddy of the first-person shooter genre deserves no less.

#80: Destroy All Humans: Path of The Furon

September: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Humanity takes it in the ear once again, as feisty alien Cryptosporidium returns for more killing, probing, and social satire. In The Path of the Furon, Crypto takes on the 1970s with its Watergate, disco music, bell-bottomed jeans, and other stuff mankind has since worked hard to repress. Puny humans can be transformed into super-bouncy balls with the Superballer, or manipulated into lethal situations with the time-altering Temporal Fist.

#79: Diablo III

PC: 2009/2010
If you've never played a Diablo game before, the premise is simple: it's essentially a big gory slot machine. You fight through swarms of demons and monsters, compulsively picking up dropped items and gold. Diablo's simplicity was always its greatest strength, and Diablo III wisely sticks to its hugely popular point-and-click formula.

Diablo III is set in a fully 3d world, a series first, which enables several new gameplay features. Physics now play a major role, so fireballs and hammer swings send zombies flying into walls and each other. You can also smash down walls and traps to wipe out dozens of enemies at a time. Overall, though, the look of Diablo III is familiar: dark, grim, and brooding, with a high camera angle to accommodate the teeming hordes of enemies. And what hordes they are. We saw dozens of undead descend on a Barbarian, dropping from ledges and crawling up walls to reach him. The Barbarian smashed through them with a huge mallet, picking up loot and experience as he went. Item collection has always played a pivotal role in Diablo games, and Diablo III's streamlined inventory screen makes swapping weapons easier. Healing is easy, too; some enemies drop red health orbs that instantly heal you. No more fumbling for the potion hotkeys!

So far, Blizzard has only released information on two character classes (out of five total). Barbarians are a carryover from Diablo III, and excel at smashing through enemies with brute force and big, scary-looking weapons. The Witchdoctor, on the other hand, raises zombie dogs and other minions to do his bidding. An improved version of Diablo II's Necromancer, the Witchdoctor also throws zesty fireballs and locust swarms to dissolve nearby enemies. The gameplay featured in Blizzard's early videos looks very satisfying and addictive, but it's far too soon to get worked into a lather over a game that is, in all likelihood, years away. Still, out of the 106-some games included in this year's Fall Preview Guide, Diablo III may be the game we're most excited to play.

#78: Facebreaker

September: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii
Facebreaker is an exaggerated, over-the-top boxer that harkens back to games such as Nintendo's Punch-Out!. In Facebreaker, players pummel each other senseless in button-mashing brawls that can be ended with a powerful "Facebreaker" attack. Boxers such as the fat ninja Steve can perform a host of wacky attacks, such as a kick to the groin or a double-fisted thunderclap to the ears that stuns an opponent for a few seconds. For those looking for an authentic boxing experience, Facebreaker is most certainly not it. However, its interesting trophy system (you win your opponent's busted mugs as an award) and goofy roster should provide some giggles.

#77: Fight Night Round 4

2009: PS3, Xbox 360
With Fight Night Round 4, EA is trying to accurately recreate the sweet science that is boxing. Round 4 will introduce a new physics system, which will enable pugilists to hit their opponents with glancing strikes or to perform a series of short, clubbing blows while fighting toe-to-toe. Electronic Arts promises a roster of more than 40 real-world boxers such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis and, oddly enough, the ear-chomping, bewildering-statement-making ("I want to rip their stomachs out and eat their children!") Mike Tyson. We expect Round 4 will also deliver some powerful graphical upgrades, making it the most realistic-looking boxer yet.

#76: Fallout 3

October: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
It's the end of the world as we know it, but we feel fine because Bethesda has resurrected the cult-favorite role-playing series Fallout. Like their earlier Oblivion, players will be able to enjoy the post-apocalyptic action in the first-person perspective as well as the third. Here, players can customize their character before taking him or her out into the wastelands of Washington, D.C. to search for dear old dad, opting to become either a hero to millions or public enemy number one. Adventurers will also be able to form two-man parties and be accompanied by the ever-faithful hound Dogmeat. If you dug Oblivion or BioShock, Fallout 3 is your next fix.

#75: Far Cry 2

October: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Far Cry 2 is a far cry from Far Cry. This first-person shooter takes place in Africa, and players assume the role of a malaria-stricken mercenary. You'll choose to play as one of 12 mercenaries; the mercenaries not chosen then become non-player characters in the game' story. The idea here is simple: Kill, stay alive, and hunt down the terrorist leader known as the Jackal. The protagonist's illness complicates matters: players will have to take medicine on a regular basis to stay healthy. Fail to take this medicine, and the main character becomes sickly and grotesque. Free-roaming environments allow a player to explore at their discretion, and you'll be able to burn savannas or cut down trees with gunfire.

#74: Fatal Frame IV

2008: Wii
They say a camera adds 10 pounds. But in Fatal Frame IV, your camera will also save your life from a host of creepy Japanese ghosts. Fatal Frame IV has been subtitled Mask of the Lunar Eclipse and promises first-person horror with an as-yet-unnamed female protagonist who battles vengeful spirits using a supernatural camera. But aside from these details, information on the game is thus far nonexistent. As this is a Wii-specific game, it's perfectly natural to assume the Wii Remote will be used to, say, shake off ghost attacks and the like. We're expecting it to his the States late this year.

#73: Final Fantasy XIII

2009: PlayStation 3
Ridiculous superstition be damned. Square Enix is moving ahead with the thirteenth installment of the role-playing juggernaut, the first on the PlayStation 3. Despite being announced over two years ago, Final Fantasy XIII is still a mystery shrouded in an enigma. Its plot revolves around a female protagonist, Lightning, who's been sent on a quest by intelligent crystalline beings. Lightning wields one of the Fantasy universe's handy gun-swords, although hers has been shown to be able to manipulate gravity.

Hard details are, sadly, lacking. The developers have said that the active-battle system, a turn-based play style with real-time elements, will return. But combat will be modified so as to reduce waiting time and dramatically speed up the fighting. Early footage shows Lightning smashing opponents into walls and objects to score more damage, adding a bit more intensity to the action.

Thirteen, traditionally, has been considered unlucky. Yet these 13 elements, included (or omitted) from the latest Final Fantasy, would be a wondrous bout of luck indeed.

1. More Chocobo breeding.

2. Wandering on-screen monsters-thus eliminating random battles-as seen in FFXII.

3. Considerably less dance numbers than Final Fantasy X-2.

4. Tie-ins with Final Fantasy XIII Agito and Final Fantasy XIII Versus.

5. Less angst, more sassiness.

6. Motion controls that don't feel tacked on.

7. Cut-scenes that adhere to the philosophy "brevity is the soul of wit"

8. Trophies that can be carried over to the PS3's Home

9. Online play in any format.

10. Expanded monster summoning.

11. Player control over all party members, especially in combat.

12. Unreal Technology to complement the game's already beautiful graphics.

13. A scene as touching as Aeris's death in Final Fantasy VII.

#72: Final Fantasy XIII Agito

TBA: Mobile phones
Final Fantasy XIII Agito offers handheld role-playing action, but Square Enix has said current cell phones aren't sophisticated enough to handle this game. As a result, Agito is being planned for the next-generation of cell phones and -- go figure! -- a release date has yet to surface. Agito begins in a magic school, and players can play as one of 12 characters, each of whom wields a different weapon. Some of these characters have yet to properly grasp the definition of weaponry, however; two of the 12 have been seen wielding a deck of cards and a flute.

#71: Final Fantasy XIII Versus

TBA: PS3
Conflicting reports out of Japan have alternately stated Square Enix has put development of the PlayStation 3-exclusive Final Fantasy XIII Versus on hold and that reports of the game's development cessation are, in fact, bunk. The game is one-third of the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII series (along with Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII Agito), and Square Enix representatives have stated Versus is very dark in tone. The game's director says Versus will be more action oriented in its role-playing, with elements of third-person shooting. Its mysterious main character will have access to a variety of weapons and, oddly enough, his eyes and hair color will change as he fights.

#70: Fracture

October: PS3, Xbox 360
In 10 words: special grenades build barriers, dig holes. Destructible environments FTW...kablooie!

#69: Fable 2

Octomber: Xbox 360
Peter Molyneux wants to teach you about love. So he's giving you a dog, a faithful companion who will crawl to be at your side even after you've left it in the dust to go hit on barmaids. An action role-playing game, Fable 2 lets you choose a male or female protagonist and then wholly customize him. Your deeds will determine if he's thought of as a hero or heel, but be warned: In Fable 2, heroes are going to have make real sacrifices, such as suffering deformities or going without gold and prestige. The game will also have pregnancies (and venereal disease!); one-button combat for magic, shooting, and swords; choices that impact the game world (do you help the town sheriff or the thieves' den?); interactive cut-scenes; the option to purchase every building in the game; and cooperative play.

#68: Gears of War 2

November 2008: Xbox 360
Gears of War 2 is going to be the must-own Xbox 360 game of 2008. Why? Because Gears 2 still feels like the good 'ol original third-person shooter but much improved, and it's awesome! You run around, tactically seeking cover and shooting the crap out anything that moves. The biggest difference in Gears 2 lies in the notion of "stopping power," which impacts your speed as you continue to take bullets. This impedes your ability to rush an opponent hoping for a last second grenade stick or shotgun smattering. Along the same lines is the new grenade "concussive force," which stuns you for a period of time depending on your proximity to detonated grenades. Standing on top of a grenade will still blow you to bloody bits, but most of the time you will find yourself lying face down in the dirt, struggling to stand back up before an attacker rushes to chainsaw you. And speaking of sawing chains of death, if you smack into another player with chainsaws raised and ready, you will lock into a chainsaw duel. You'll want to immediately mash the B-button as quickly as you can, and to the fastest masher goes the bloody spoils.

There are also more ways to embarrass and harass "downed" opponents. Downed players crawl around on all fours, unable to shoot and spill blood in their wake. But just because you're down does not mean you're out. Press the A-button rapidly to crawl away to safety in hopes a nearby teammate will revive you before... well, you know. For instance, Gears 2 features multiple forms of executions, or fatalities as I like to call them. There are weapon-specific fatalities, a brutal brain-bashing melee fatality, and the infamous curb stomp returns. But that's not all you can do with downed opponents; pick them up to use them as a human meat shield for as long as want. When you're done, a simple neck snap will finish them off.

Many returning weapons from Gears 1 have been fine tuned for optimal balance, and the introduction of such weapons as the 5-round burst Gorgan Pistol and Scorcher flamethrower are welcome additions. Active Reloading has been tweaked too, not only increasing damage but accuracy and range as well. Active Reload is a reloading mini-game featured in the first Gears of War that rewarded the player with more powerful bullet damage if timed correctly.

And finally, three new multiplayer modes have been thrown into the mix: Guardian, Submission, and Wingman. Guardian is the new Assassination from Gears 1 where you are broken up into two teams and one player is assigned the role of team leader. As long as the team leader is alive, you will continue to respawn in waves. The goal is to take out the other team's leader, while protecting yours, and then eliminate the rest. Submission, formerly known as Meat Flag, challenges you to take hostage a feisty non-playable character and carry him to a secure zone. The challenging parts of Meat-Flag Submission are that the hostage totes a shotgun and his own kill count on the leaderboard and the secure zone is surrounded by lasers that must be turned off by your teammates. Wingman is a simple team deathmatch mode where teams are broken up into two-player attack squads. For instance, a ten-player lobby would consist of five teams of two. You and your teammate sport the same character model and the goal is to kill anyone that doesn't look like you.

#67: Guitar Hero World Tour

October: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PC
All hail the musician methos: "We play together." That means your entire band is hopping on the tour bus this year for Guitar Hero World Tour - guitar, bass, vocals, and drums. And guess who's in the spotlight? Shred masters step aside, because drummers are the new hotness. So without further adieu, we introduce you to the new Guitar Hero drum set.

POINT 1: Look and feel. There is an extra pad on the World Tour drum kit compared to Rock Band's setup. The high hat and crash cymbals are elevated directly above the snare and two tom pads, which looks and feels more authentic. The bass kicker is located on the floor underneath the drum pads.

POINT 2: Shhhh... Synthetic rubber cushioning makes the GH drum kit quieter than the competition and allows for fast-action drum rolls. From the snare and tom pads to the cymbals, rubber is better than plastic.

POINT 3: Bands and tracks. World Tour leaves the cover songs behind and jam packs over 80 master tracks into this year's set list. Confirmed bands and songs include Linkin Park, The Eagles, Van Halen, Sublime's "Santeria," Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell," and Foo Fighter's "Everlong."

POINT 4: Music Creator. Finally! No more 12-step computer hacks to tab out your own custom tracks. In World Tour you can record and release your own songs using a full-featured, in-game recording studio and mixing program. And that's not all! GH Tunes allows you to share your music with other Guitar Hero players online.

POINT 5: Wired or Wireless? It has been confirmed that the drum set will be wireless. There will, however, likely be a cord that connects the bass kicker pedal to the rest of the drum kit, but how can you complain about that?

#66: Guitar Hero: Metallica

Q1 2009: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2
Guitar Hero fans have surely heard of or played the recent Aerosmith band expansion pack for GHIII, but no amount of shredding can prepare you for a Metallica add-on. Guitar Hero: Metallica was first referenced in an Activision security filing alongside GH: Aerosmith, On Tour, and World Tour; then was later confirmed on Metallica's official website. "An all Metallica Guitar Hero game . . . fact or fiction?" read the news update. "Idle Internet gossip, wishful thinking, or the real deal? Let's just say that perhaps, just maybe, if you've already mastered "One" on GHIII there might be a pile of 'Tallica songs in your future." Another post was made on the website a couple weeks later apologizing for the lateness of some audio and video postings, stating that "The audio guys are a little tied up prepping for that not-so-top secret GH thing."

Considering that GH: Metallica won't be hitting your living room until early 2009, after the release of World Tour, it's highly probable the game will incorporate the new drum set and microphone that will ship with World Tour. And if the Metallica expansion is anything like the Aerosmith release, it's safe to assume you will be playing through the band's entire career. We're excited, and you should be too. Here is senior editor Sid Shuman's GH: Metallica track wish list for a start:

Enter Sandman

Eye of Beholder

Fade to Black

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Harvester of Sorrow

Master of Puppets

One

Ride the Lightning

Sad but True

#65: Golden Axe: Beast Rider

September: PS3, Xbox 360
Golden Axe: Beast Rider reworks an arcade classic, adding a free-roaming play style, a variety of beasts of burden, and plenty of gore. As the female warrior Tyris Flare, players will have access to a host of weapons (including the fabled Golden Axe) and magic, as well as rideable creatures such as the gorilla-like Miragars who, in a furious state, can rip and tear nearby foes into bloody shreds. There will also be the opportunity to ride a huge raptor that must constantly be fed or else it will buck Tyris off and attempt to eat her. It's essentially more God of War-stye hack-and-slay play, but the shimmering production values give us hope.

#64: Ghostbusters: The Video Game

September: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PC
There were seven Police Academy films and only two Ghostbusters movies. On any planet, including Bizarro World, this would be considered a crime against humanity. Now, however, there is a cause for jubilation: the third Ghostbusters film won't be made, but rather played. Original writers Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis have returned to helm the game. Players will control rookie Ghostbusters and hunt down spooks, specters, and poltergeists in delightfully comic fashion. The PS3 and Xbox 360 visuals look stunning, and the gameplay style forces players to zap ghosts before sucking them into the 'busters' signature ectoplastmic traps. Expect appearances by Slimer (as a weapon, no less0, the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, and Gozer the Gozerian. Joy has returned.

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