Top Ten Under-Hyped Games of 2011
by Stephen Kelley, posted on 05 July 2011 / 18,339 Views
One realizes just how fast “time flies” when July suddenly comes around and we have the realization that half of the year is behind us. This year looks to be a great year for gaming, especially during the third and fourth quarters of 2011. Some games seem to be getting almost all of the hype including Gears of War 3 and Modern Warfare 3. While those games will sell very well, and get everyone talking, there are other games which many may not realize are coming out this year. These games sit in a “second string” to the others, whether they are new IPs or reboots sequels to long missing old franchises. These are the ten under-hyped games of the second half of 2011, in no particular order.
Note: I’ve only included games that we will definitely be playing this year barring a random delay, and those that are confirmed to be heading to the west.
Dark Souls
Dark Souls – From Software’s follow-up to the cult 2009 hit Demon’s Souls appears to take what was awesome about the first game (i.e. the setting and difficulty). The developers have already stated that the game will be “significantly harder” to Demon’s Souls, which is a tall order as many gamers felt the first game was “too challenging”. Another thing to be excited about is the less linear aspect of the game, an announcement that makes the dungeons and outdoor areas that much more awesome. It sounds to truly be the game that separates gamers from mere mortals. Dark Souls hits the PlayStation 3 and X-box 360 in the U.S. and Europe in October.
Dues Ex: Human Revolution – Many gamers have tired of the endless forays into typical Tolkien-esque fantasy worlds within just about every role playing game, whether it be one from the East or West. Deus Ex: Human Revolution looks to be just what the doctor ordered for these folks, as it leaps into a cyberpunk setting for all your adventuring. A prequel to Eidos’s original game Deus Ex over 11 years ago, Human Revolution appears to be just what fans wanted plus a “new” setting to draw in new players. Using references to conspiracy theories and a fear of machines taking over the world, Deus Ex: Human Revolution seems to be the perfect game for sci-fi fans this August.
Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny
Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny - If there is any type of game that Wii owners have been clamoring for since the consoles birth, it is the Japanese RPG. With the big media campaign for Xenoblade, Last Story, and Pandora’s Tower, many have forgotten that there is a high profile RPG on the Wii coming out fairly shortly (and also PS3). Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny follows the tried and true formula of the series with one huge twist, rather than simply tending a farm you are also exploring the ocean and a multitude of small islands. Players take control of a male and female character as they traverse the seas on a giant beast named Ymir. The beast can raise sunken islands and ships from the sea for players to explore and farm.
Silent Hill: Downpour – While fans have been underwhelmed with a few misfires within the Silent Hill franchise, it seems that the series may have gone back to its roots and on its way to pleasing survival horror fans. The game follows an unorthodox hero in Murphy Pendleton, a prison inmate hurled into unspeakable horror after his prison transport bus careens off the road, killing everyone inside. Hopefully the game makes a great piece of Halloween entertainment, as it hits this October.
Resistance 3 – This being the “year of threes” with almost all big games being the third in a series, it seems one of those games has gone by the wayside. While Resistance 2 was critically lukewarm, it seems Resistance 3 has gone out of its way to please critics and fans alike with improved multiplayer, bigger levels and a more balanced experience. The game takes place four years after the last game and humanity seems to be on its last legs, that is until a possible way to end the horrors is discovered.
Twisted Metal – Fans of vehicular combat games have had a pretty weak lineup to contend with for the last few years. Full Auto was okay, but was seen as a mediocre racing game with machine guns added infor a bit of flavor. Can Twisted Metal go back to its earlier “glory days”, it sure looks that way with a huge online presence, customizable cars, and a huge cast of creepy characters.
Call of Juarez: The Cartel – The Call of Juarez series has always been one of my “guilty pleasures” as a gamer. The games have a few problems, but are usually of a pretty solid quality, get good reviews, and sell decently. While they are not more popular I will never know. The last two games have lead us through the bloody late 1800’s with the story of Ray McCall and his many hardships in and around Juarez, Mexico. The developers took a huge risk by shifting this third game up over 100 years to modern times, and a new scourge of Juarez. Instead of nefarious gold hunters and renegade Civil War deserters, we are presented with drug runners and government officials butting heads. With two player co-op, a new scenario, and online let’s hope the gamble pays off.
Serious Sam 3 – While Duke Nukem will always be the “king” of goofy first person shooters no matter the quality of the game, Serious Sam has always been a close second amongst most fans. Relying on ridiculous fast paced gameplay, this Croatian made FPS was always some sort of underdog when it came to the shooter scene. This game is actually a prequel to the original Serious Sam game, and is set during Sam’s long-time arch nemesis Mental's original invasion of Earth. According to press clippings “The game will be set in 22nd century Egypt and feature a 16-player co-operative campaign mode.”
The Darkness II – With an avalanche of shooters containing huge manly “space marine” and “elite soldier” characters, it’s almost refreshing to see a shooter starring a goth mafia hit man that has huge demons on his back as the main protagonist. Jackie Estacado is back and this time he is more powerful than ever. Now Jackie can shoot firearms and use his darkness powers at the same time, something that should make shootouts very epic. The developers took cues from feedback from the first game in the series, and are making the game more similar to the original comic book the series is based on, and is using a cel-shaded graphical style to flaunt the fact.
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron - fans of “artistic” games like Okami and Flower should definitely take notice of El Shaddai. The art style alone might just be worth the price of admission as I was literally floored with how awesome this game looked whilst playing the demo last week. Takeyasu Sawaki did all the character designs, so I wasn’t shocked as he was the guy that designed Okami and Devil May Cryand to be honest it almost seems like this game is a marriage of the two games. The game is loosely based on the Judeo-Christian apocryphal Book of Enoch, and is about as trippy as 50 hits of LSD. Fans don’t have to wait long as this games rolls out later this month!
Stay tuned next week for more top ten lists, and while you are at it, what are some games you feel are under-hyped that come out this year?
