That Green Dude

2017 was a fantastic year for video games and 2018 looks like it will continue the awesomeness.

 

2017 is over and what year it was for video games. There were so many great games that released last year, that it was impossible to play them all. For those interested I wrote about my “Top Ten Games of 2017“. Just thought I’d throw that out there.

Enough about 2017, 2018 is here and it looks like it will be another fantastic year for video games. The year starts off strong and looks to remain strong throughout. There are so many games releasing this year that again like last year it will be impossible to play them all. I’ll do my best though.

As with lists like this, these are obviously subjective. What might be on my list, may not be on yours. With all that said, here are my 10 most anticipated games of 2018.

 

10. Monster Hunter World

(Release Date: January 26th)

I like the Monster Hunter series but it’s one that I’ve wanted to play more of. It’s a series I’ve enjoyed but never really got into. Monster Hunter: World has got me excited and I wonder if this is the entry that finally gets me hooked.

Monster Hunter: World is the first title in the series to release for home consoles for some time, as it’s home for the past couple of entries has been the Nintendo 3DS. I’ve not played any of the 3DS entries, the last game in the series I played was Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite.

Now Monster Hunter: World may not have made this list if I didn’t play the game at EGX 2017 or its Beta but thanks to them, it makes the list. The demo at EGX was fun and gave me an adrenaline rush and when I played the Beta, I didn’t want to put it down. Because I hadn’t played a Monster Hunter game for so long, I forgot that feeling you get when you are taking down these massive creatures. I am a much different person now than I was back in 2009 when Freedom Unite released so maybe I’ll appreciate this one more.

The Beta left me feverishly wanting more. Could Monster Hunter: World be the one that finally gets me addicted to the series? I hope so.

 

9. Digimon Story :Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory

(Release Date: January 19th)

Anyone who knows me well, will know that I LOVE Digimon. I’ve enjoyed the Digimon games but with the exception of the first Digimon World and World Dawn/ Dusk they haven’t been brilliant. So when Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth released in 2016 I was excited but I kept my expectations low. However my doubts and low expectations were thrown out of the window within the first hour of me playing the game. It surpassed my expectations and it became not only one of my favourite games of 2016 but one of, if not my favourite Digimon game I had ever played.

So as you’d imagine my expectations for Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory (why does it have to have such a long name?) are rather high. The story Hacker’s Memory is told from the perspective of a hacker this time around and some characters from Cyber Sleuth return. The game also has more Digimon than its predecessor as it now has more than 300 Digimon which is plenty. There are of course quite a few Digimon missing but that’s to be expected. Some of them may be released as free DLC like last time.

I’m looking forward to this game quite a lot and from what I’ve seen so far, it looks like I won’t be disappointed.

 

8. Crackdown 3

(Release Date: Spring 2018 )

I hear an Agility Orb, I must collect it. I MUST. Why is the sound fading away? Why can I only hear the sound faintly now? The answer to those questions is that the game has been delayed multiple times.

The Crackdown series is the dark horse of Microsoft’s exclusives. When the first game released many people only bought the game for the Halo 3 multiplayer Beta that came with it. The surprise was that Crackdown was a very good game that was tonnes of fun. The sequel was fun but some of the wild and bombastic flare had gone.

What we’ve seen of Crackdown 3 though has pleased me greatly and that fun, wild energy is back. The action is crazy, explosions are beautiful and overdramatic, you can still jump from building to building and you can throw enemies half way across the city. We haven’t seen any duck grenades yet though. It all looks good but something has obviously happened with the development hence the delays. One thing that has me worried about Crackdown 3, is that different parts of the game are being developed by several developers. Plus it has been a while since we last had an update about Crackdown 3.

Am I still excited for this game? Of course I am. I need to collect all of the Agility Orbs and Hidden Orbs, I’ve got to collect them all. Even though Crackdown 3’s release date is currently slated at Spring 2018, I am expecting it to be delayed once again. Please Microsoft, let 2018 be the year Crackdown 3 finally releases. The sound of the orbs are getting fainter and fainter.

 

7. Spider-Man

(Release Date: TBA 2018)

It’s been a while since we’ve had a Spider-Man game and even longer since we’ve had a good one. The last “good” Spider-Man game was Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.

So when it was announced that Insomniac, the developers of the Ratchet and Clank series were developing a Spider-Man game I was over the moon. It was completely unexpected. Ratchet and Clank is one of my favourite game franchises and to have those developers working on a Spider-Man game gives me hope.

My hope is strengthened by the footage that we have seen of Spider-Man PS4. It looks glorious and gorgeous. Graphically the game looks very smooth and vibrant. There’s a lot of detail in the world and the Spidey’s suit looks absolutely incredible. The combat looks like the Batman Arkham games which isn’t a bad but here, Spider-Man is a lot faster and more agile. We have also seen an epic chase sequence which saw Spidey web-sling across the city and chase after a helicopter. It was a bombastic and grand sequence and helped to show the scale of Spider-Man PS4.

What we’ve seen so far of Insomniac’s Spider-Man game has been nothing short of amazing. With Insomniac at the helm and their fantastic resume of games, I think we could end up with the best Spider-Man game ever made.

 

6. Metro Exodus

(Release Date: TBA 2018)

I was late to the Metro universe. The first time I played Metro 2033 it had already been out two years. I wanted to play 2033 when it came out but never got around to doing it so when I did, I was kicking myself for not playing it sooner. It’s a slower paced shooter than most others in the genre. Instead of having constant blockbuster action, Metro’s focus is building a believable world and an incredible atmosphere. When it comes to atmosphere in the FPS genre, Metro is the best at it and its crown stays firmly on the series head.

2033’s sequel, Metro: Last Light kept the atmosphere but brought more action to the fold. There still wasn’t as much over the top action and big explosions as other games in the genre like Call of Duty. Last Light was more mainstream than 2033 thanks in part to the increase of action.

When Metro Exodus was announced at E3 2017 I was overjoyed as it had been a while since Last Light and a few years since the re-release of 2033 and Last Light for current gen consoles. It looked great, it was brilliant reveal and finally the series got a big showing.

We haven’t seen a great deal of Metro Exodus but it looks like that areas are going to be more open and much bigger than before. Bigger areas can run the risk of losing parts of the finely crafted atmosphere that the series is known for but what we’ve seen so far is reassuring.  Even though the game looks bigger, the tense atmosphere that the series is known for is still present.

I have faith in developer 4A Games, they haven’t let me down and from the looks of it, they aren’t going to with Metro Exodus.

The Metro series is based of the “Metro” book series written by Dmitry Glukhovsky. The games got me that interested in the series that I read books and they are very good.

 

5. Dynasty Warriors 9

(Release Date: February 13th)

It’s… it’s Lu Bu! I’m sorry I couldn’t help myself. Dynasty Warriors 9 is releasing after a few years away. Dynasty Warriors 8 released back in 2013 but we’ve had the Xtreme Legends and Empires side games to help quench the Musou first. The last game in the series, Dynasty Warriors 8: Empires was released in 2015 and since then the Dynasty Warriors series has gone cold, until now.

Dynasty Warriors 9 is releasing this year however, Omega Force have made some big changes to the usual formula. Dynasty Warriors 9 is open world and it isn’t just parts of Ancient China broken up into segments, it’s the whole of Ancient China. I’ve seen gameplay and the map was shown and I have to say, it looks massive. If Omega Force have created a vast, interesting world that works well, we could be seeing a permanent change to the Dynasty Warriors series.

The combat mechanics has had some big changes to it. There is a new dynamic combat system called “State Combo System”. The new combat mechanic allows the player to perform three different attacks, Trigger Attacks, Flow Attacks and Finish Attacks. I’m interested to see how this new combat system feels but from the gameplay it looks like the smooth flow and speed is still present.

Dynasty Warriors 9 also introduces several new characters increasing the already massive 83 character roster. The music is still as awesome as ever, the flashy and punchy riffs of the electric guitar are still present. The music in Dynasty Warriors is pretty good and you should check out the soundtracks from the previous games.

Dynasty Warriors 9 is shaking up the Musou formula quite a bit, with the new combat system and the big open world. Will it all work? I hope so because it has been a while since developer Omega Force have changed the formula and change is needed to keep the series fresh. There’s one thing I want to know though, will the cheesy yet brilliant English dub return?

 

4. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

(Release Date: TBA 2018)

I was praying that this would get announced for release over here as the MMO Dragon Quest X never came west, which is sad as it looked good. Thankfully though Square Enix announced that Dragon Quest XI will make its way west, even if it does mean we will get it a year later than Japan did.

Dragon Quest XI looks absolutely gorgeous, it is easily the best looking game in the series to date. In motion the game looks even better, it is very pleasing to the eyes. The iconic art style done by famed artist Akira Toriyama is always a delight to see and in Dragon Quest XI his art style shines vibrantly.

The game features a massive world but with this entry being in 3D it gives it a sense of scale. We don’t know much about the world but if it is anything like previous instalments, there will be a diverse range of locations to explore. The characters that join your party all look good and very well detailed. I don’t know which one is my favourite but that will be decided when the game comes out.

The combat in DQ XI is the traditional turn-based affair that fans will be used to and will more than likely be pleased to see return as a number of JRPGs are opting for a more action oriented combat instead (e.g. Final Fantasy XV). I for one am thankful that Dragon Quest XI is sticking with turn-based combat as the series has always been traditional and old-school, that is part of the series charm.

There’s no release date for the west as of yet but it is scheduled to release in 2018. If I had to guess when, I’d say it will release around the later half of the year. I am very excited for this game, as mainline Dragon Quest entries don’t happen every other year. Square Enix take their time with them which is good, as the end product is usually amazing. If the Japanese reviews are anything to go by, then Dragon Quest XI is apparently one of the best entries into the revered franchise.

 

3. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

(Release Date: March 20th)

Punching bad guys never gets old. Slamming bad guys’ heads against a wall never gets old. Beating people up with a bicycle also never gets old. The combat in Yakuza is incredibly satisfying. Beating up punks is something series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu has done for the past six instalments (Yakuza 0 – 5). Kiryu is somewhat a master of beating up thugs however, Yakuza 6 will be the last time Kiryu lays the smack down on the bad guys.

Speaking of fighting, Yakuza shakes up the combat system in Yakuza 6. Gone are the four fight styles that are in Yakuza 0 and Kiwami, the sixth instalment only has the one fight style but don’t worry, like I mentioned in my Yakuza 6 Demo Impressions piece, the combat is still very satisfying.

The city of Kamurocho is back in Yakuza 6 but there is a brand new city to venture around in, Onomichi Jingaicho. The city is in Hiroshima, a location which the Yakuza has never been too. A new locale is nice because we’ve seen so much of Kamurocho that I’m sure people who have played every instalment know the city inside out, I know I do.

Yakuza 6 is final part of Kiryu’s story which has spanned six games, seven when this releases. I, like many others have bonded and connected with Kiryu over the course each game. The man has gone through so much and conquered everyone and everything that has stood in his way. For long-time fans they will desperately want to know how Kiryu’s story ends. For those who started with Yakuza 0, I recommend either getting a PS3 and playing through Yakuza 3, 4 and 5 or go on YouTube and watch the cutscenes from the games you haven’t played.

Yakuza 6 won’t mark the end for the series as a whole but it is the end for the Dragon of Dojima. I’ve connected with Kiryu so much, that he has become one of my favourite characters in gaming. I hope after everything Kiryu has gone through, he finally gets a happy ending or at least a fitting swan song fit for character of his caliber. I have a feeling that I might shed a manly tear when I play Yakuza 6.

 

2. Red Dead Redemption 2

(Release Date: Spring 2018)

Ah, Red Dead Redemption, what can I say about the first game? It was my favourite game of 2010, my favourite Rockstar game so far, my favourite Xbox 360 game, my favourite game of the last generation and one of the best games I have ever played. Do you get the impression that I quite liked Red Dead Redemption?

Red Dead Redemption is sort of like the spiritual successor to Red Dead Revolver (a game that you should really play). The only things that it carries over from Revolver, is the Wild West setting and some of the characters that feature in Red Dead Revolver are playable in the multiplayer component.

Red Dead Redemption had some of the best characters ever seen in a game. Every one of them had a background and they made you feel some emotion towards them, be it good or bad. The main character John Marston was so well-developed throughout the game that you became incredibly connected to the man. The story is top-notch, one of the best from the last generation and of all time in my opinion. The multiplayer was ridiculously fun. I spent countless hours on the multiplayer and it is one of my most played multiplayer games, if not the most.

Red Dead Redemption 2 then, has some pretty big shoes to fill. It has to have a great story, rich and developed characters, a main protagonist that we can connect with, an engaging and immersive world and an incredibly fun multiplayer. That’s just to tie with the first Red Dead Redemption.

We still don’t know a great deal about Red Dead Redemption 2 and we only have two trailers for it but I expect marketing for the game to ramp up soon. Even though we don’t know that much about Red Dead Redemption 2, I am still incredibly excited for it.

It’s been a while since I ventured into the Wild West and became a cowboy. I cannot wait for Red Dead Redemption 2 and I know that developer Rockstar San Diego will not let me down. Given how hyped I am for Red Dead Redemption 2 you may be thinking, why isn’t this number one on the list? If it was any other year it would’ve been but something I have been waiting for, for so many years is finally releasing in 2018.

 

1. Kingdom Hearts III

(Release Date: TBA 2018)

I can’t actually believe I’m saying this, Kingdom Hearts III is releasing in 2018. Pinch me. Punch me. Kick me. Seriously though, I am still finding it hard to believe that we are now in the year that Kingdom Hearts III FINALLY releases, hopefully. I promise I will try to keep this as short as the others, otherwise there will be 1000-2000 words about it.

Kingdom Hearts III will be the conclusion of the Xehanort/ Dark Seeker Saga, a story that has started in the first Kingdom Hearts and has continued through several instalments. Fans of the series like myself, have been waiting years for the conclusion to the very (and I mean very) convoluted yet brilliant story. Will the darkness take over the worlds? Will Xehanort take control of Kingdom Hearts? Will Sora and friends defeat  Xehanort and bring light back to the worlds? Or will it just leave us with more questions than answers?

The worlds in Kingdom Hearts are always good, they are a mix of Disney and original worlds. So far we know that Hercules’ world will be returning but this time much, much bigger. We also know that we’ll be visiting the worlds of Tangled, Big Hero 6 and Toy Story. The list so far is very good but I am overjoyed that my favourite Disney film is finally in Kingdom Hearts. I quite literally jumped out of my seat when Square Enix announced that Toy Story was in Kingdom Hearts III. I have always wanted a Toy Story world in Kingdom Hearts and it never happened, until now. I can’t wait to discover what other Disney properties get their own world in Kingdom Hearts III.

Combat looks as if it will be the best in the series. From what we’ve seen and what we know, it looks as if Kingdom Hearts III will be taking combat mechanics from previous games and putting them all into one. There are Keyblade transformations which as the name suggests changes the appearance of the Keyblade. Apparently every Keyblade will have their own transformations which is amazing. We already know that the Keyblade can turn into a drill, a hammer and guns. I think Keyblade transformations are going to be incredible fun and I wonder what other weapons they can turn into.

Kingdom Hearts III, the game I have been wanting since I just started high school is finally releasing this year. Hopefully there will not be a delay but given how long I have already waited for it, I can handle a delay. I think I can solidly say that when Kingdom Hearts III releases, it will mark the end of not only a saga but also a part of my childhood.

 

These are my 10 most anticipated games of 2018. Do you like my list? What games are you looking forward to in 2018? Let me know in the comments below.

Have you written a list of your most anticipated games of 2018? Link it in the comments below, I want to know what games you are excited for.

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