Looking ahead to 2007
After a hilarious Christmas day spent watching the family play Wii Sports and the Boxing day hangover spent in Hyrule too, I’m certainly looking forward to 2007 - it’s definitely going to be an interesting year.
The 360 still has a lot to prove but more flagship titles are on their way and the Hi-Def film download service and the launch of the HD-DVD drive should help match some of the PS3’s multimedia capabilities.
As Paul said though, the Playstation brand is a formidable one and it’ll be interesting to see how they pare off in a couple of years. At the end of the day it’s the games that make the console and Sony looks set to have a fine selection of exclusives. I can’t help lamenting the design of its joypad though - despite the inclusion of motion sensing, the dated analogue sticks and the lack of rumble will certainly have a negative impact on many games.
And then there’s the Wii. I’ve already seen proof that ‘non-gamers’ love it and the inclusion of a web browser is a stroke of genius (opening up a world of flash gaming on your TV for one thing, including the PS3’s Flow) but I can’t help worry that we’re in for a glut of gimmicky party games. Zelda proves that ‘proper’ games can work, it’s just up to the developers to get their brains thinking a little outside the box.
These are some of the games making me want a Hi-Def telly for next year.
Mass Effect (360)
The makers of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic are crafting an epic sci-fi RPG that places a galaxy of dynamic conversation and exploration at your finger tips.
Spore (PC)
Will Wright’s much anticipated opus promises generative game mechanics that allow you to nurture your own unique creatures from an amoeba to a galaxy conquering race.
Half Life 2 Episode 2 (PC, PS3, 360)
The episodic sequels to Half Life 2 need no introduction. The inclusion of the multiplayer giant Team Fortress 2 and the incredible potential of the FPS puzzler Portal means we’re just being spoilt.
Halo 3 (360)
With Earth invaded and a battle worn Master Chief facing off against the new pack mentality of the alien Brutes, the end of the world can’t come soon enough.
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
A gravity defying, motion controlled Mario runs riot on a series of globes. Can it revolutionise 3D gaming like Mario 64 did? It’s debatable but it’s guaranteed to be great fun whatever the outcome.