Rift - PC - 3/1/11
Rift is a new MMORPG being put out by Trion. They've been trying to compete directly against World of Warcraft, but it's likely just a means of getting attention. The company says that they can spawn events anywhere at anytime because of the nature of the "Rifts" that they can open in the game world. We shall see.
Fight Night Champion - Multi-Platform - 3/1/11
The first Fight Night game to receive an M rating due to violence, EA tries to take the series into a more realistic world where haymakers don't win every fight. The M rating might work against the title, so it'll be interesting to watch how sales for this title fare against previous games.
Pokemon White and Pokemon Black - DS - 3/6/11
The Pokemon juggernaut continues rolling forward and is a large reason that Nintendo is still the king of the handhold game kingdom. Interesting that they decided to put out this game, knowing what was coming out later in the month. Hmm..
Dragon Age 2 - Multi Platform - 3/8/11
I was ready to dismiss this game entirely until I tried out the demo. The active combat system really brings the fighting alive and makes me feel more involved in the game. The previous game was definitely written for the PC market and then ported over, but this one is much more console oriented, much to the chagrin of PC gamers. Bioware seldom disappoints, so expect something good here.
Homefront - Multi Platform - 3/15/11
Homefront is if Red Dawn met a FPS. America has been invaded, and it's up to a rag tag group of freedom fighters to help get supplies to the army, while battling the invaders every step of the way through their own backyards. It looks like it could be interesting, but may also fall into the "just another FPS" category. The ratings will be sure to reveal where it belongs.
Yakuza 4 - PS3 - 3/15/11
It's hard to completely dismiss the Yakuza series. Sega is a very... spirited developer these days and can come up with very interesting environments and, well, flat out Japanese type games. Yakuza's well known for it's very open world that allows you to take part in many different activities between killing rivals, and that's kinda cool, right?
Okamiden - DS - 3/15/11
Okami on the DS where you can finally control things with a stylus, the way you should have been able to the entire time. 'Nuff said.
Crysis 2 - Multi Platform - 3/22/11
Crysis is well known to be a beautiful game that seriously tests the limits of your PC. They claim to be raising the bar with what home PCs and consoles can do visually, and, well, the Crytek engine has got some real stuff to prove after a lack luster showing on the demo. Maybe we'll hear more as we get closer to the 22nd.
LEGO Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars - Multi Platform - 3/22/11
Fans of the LEGO series have something new to look forward to now. The latest imagining of the Star Wars universe, modeled after the Clone Wars series on Cartoon Network, is hitting home consoles. From what we hear, missions are taken directly from episodes in the series, so everything will feel right at home for the fans.
The Sims Medieval - PC - 3/22/11
For the Sims fans in our lives, EA is putting out a new take on The Sims, called The Sims Medieval. It touts enhanced graphics and reworking the core game elements of the main series into leveling up adventurers and sending them on epic quests. If you ever wishedfor the Sims to be in a fantasy realm instead of modern day, this is your game.
Nintendo 3DS - 3/27/11
Rather than go over all of the launch titles for Nintendo's new hand held system, we'll just sum them all up here. The 3DS is already completely sold out in Japan and is making its US debut later this month. The steep $249 price tag may be too much for Nintendo's traditionally younger and casual audience, or the system may be dismissed after launch as a gimmick. It's likely to sell well initially, but is this Nintendo's next big thing, or next big flop? Time will tell, and Sony will be watching very carefully. I won't be able to give an accurate opinion until I get my hands and eyes on it.
April is a mere month away, and looking pretty bad for the first half. Fortunately some very beloved sequels will be hitting shelves in the second half, and we'll all be able to celebrate with some nice delicious cake.
