The Top 11 Upcoming Downloadable Games
What's better than buying, downloading, and playing a full-feature video game from the comfort of your own home? Online games are the bread and butter of busy gamers, and there are still a great number of titles just around the corner.
If you're a trackball-wielding PC user, frequent member of the PlayStation Network, or a card-carrying Xbox Live Arcade buyer, these are the 11 upcoming online games you'll want to spend your points and cash on.
11. Fez
Developer: Kokoromi; TBA on PC/XBLA
By far the most unique game to come out of this year's Independent Games Festival, Fez changes the rules on perspective in a classic way. Every level can be rotated on the fly, featuring a fresh take on 2D-in-3D perspective. As you try to get little protagonist Gomez to the end of each level, you'll be forced to tilt your brain and work through tons of twisted levels. With retro-style graphics and catchy chiptune music, Fez should appeal to old gamers and casual players alike. We can't wait to put on our thinking caps.
10. Flower
Developer: thatgamecompany; TBA 2008 on PSN
Simple PSN games that use the SIXAXIS have proven to be quite addictive, and Flower looks like it'll be another charmer. In this spiritual successor to fl0w, you control a single petal, using the wind to awake life in barren, colorless landscapes. Bound for PSN this year, Flower will use bright graphics, soothing music, and simple gameplay for what looks to be another enthralling experience.
9. Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars
Developer: Psyonix Studios; TBA on PSN
The guys at Psyonix Studios are crazy geniuses. Who else would think of combining soccer, beach volleyball, and RC racing into a single game? The crazy thing is, it actually works! Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle Cars (or SARP Battle-Cars) puts you and your friends in an enclosed arena with nothing but two goals, an explosive ball, and tons of mayhem. This game particularly shines when you've got four players ramming, racing, and flying around a field all at once. Don't dare miss this one when it launches!
8. The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai
Developer: Ska Studios; TBA 2008 on XBLA
Good "beat 'em up" action is hard to get for less than $60 these days, but Dead Samurai should be worth whatever the price may be. This brainchild of designer James Silva pairs wickedly fast, gruesome action with insanely complex-yet-easy-to-pull-off combos that get your blood pumping. Besides, how badass is a kitchen worker that uses meat cleavers like katanas?
7. Fat Princess
Developer: Titan Studios; TBA 2008 on PSN
The ridiculous (yet hilarious) controversy that follows Fat Princess belies the fun game beneath the ear-catching title. Really, Sony's PR and Sales division must have been popping champagne at the Internet traffic. Fat Princess takes a great spin on team-based, capture-the-flag cartoon violence with one awesome goal: protect your princess and fatten her up! Don't be too stuck-up to try this game when it drops. With 32 possible players per map, you'll be sure to have fun learning the values of high-calorie diets and teamwork.
6. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation
Developer: Slant Six Games; October 14, 2008 on PSN
If Sony makes a SOCOM, the players will come. That's about all the convincing that any tactical third-person shooter fan needs, especially since this pre-SOCOM 4 appetizer will have six unique squads, an improved lobby system, and new maps for series veterans. No health packs, shields, or lasers will be found here. Just good 'ol true-to-life simulated squad combat. Don't fret if you're not part of the public beta; Confrontation will be ready quite soon.
5. Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode Two
Developer: Hothead Games; TBA 2008 on PC, XBLA, and PSN
Everything Penny-Arcade touches transforms into gold, and their first foray into gaming was no exception. The intimidating hype behind PA Adventures was no match for the game's witty humor, inspiring combat, and superb artwork. We're waiting for the next episode to grace our hard drives, and every day seems longer for it.
4. Puzzle Quest: Galactrix
Developer: Infinite Interactive; October 2008 on PC and XBLA
The first Puzzle Quest was a simply learned, hard-to-master puzzle game that surprised even the stiffest critics by being more than another "Bejeweled" variant. Rather than rehash their medieval roots, Infinite Interactive has made an impressive list of changes to their new Puzzle Quest, with more tweaks than we can list in this small blurb. All we can tell you is that Galactrix will be worth your while -- customizable ships, shiny graphics, and a new gravity-based puzzle system await you this October. Trust us. We could hardly put it down.
3. Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
Developer: Backbone Entertainment; Fall 2008 on XBLA and PSN
Capcom has proved, once again, that you really *can't* release a Street Fighter game too many times. We've got our credit cards prepped and ready for Super SF II Turbo's HD remake, and every piece of artwork we get our hands on just makes the yearning that much harder. Of course, this edition of SFII is what hardcore fighting fans have *really* been craving for more than a decade. With artwork handled by the UDON crew, a soundtrack built by the musical masters of OverClocked Remix, and tons of modes, we're DYING to play. Work faster, Capcom!
2. Mega Man 9
Developer: Inti Creates; September/October 2008 on XBLA and PSN
Sometimes, we feel that video games have gotten way too easy. When we were mere tykes, we had to dodge gunfire, kill robots, and leap over dangerous pits of death with just two buttons -- A & B. Capcom must feel the same way, because Mega Man 9 is hard. It's hard, hard, hard, hard, HARD. If you're expecting to be able to wall jump, power slide, and charge your Mega Buster, tough cookies! It's out on WiiWare now, but if you have a next-gen console, enduring the last few days until the PSN and XBLA launches will be difficult indeed. Hang in there -- you'll get to die in Mega Man 9 over and over soon enough.
1. Portal: Still Alive
Developer: Valve Corporation; TBA 2008 on XBLA
It's Portal, but with new maps, new challenges, and more GLaDOS. What more can we say? You want, we want it, and the whole gaming world wants it. If you've managed to beat every time trial and test in the original, get ready for more mind-bending tasks. Portal: Still Alive will include levels from the popular Flash-based version, giving us just one more reason to break out our Companion Cube merchandise and Jonathan Coulton soundtracks.
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