Flash Forward

The first big release window of the year is now behind us. We were lucky this year as we got quite a few great games to play. Usually the quality of the games we got would mean they would be releases right before Christmas. However, since my article, which last year got widespread attention in the industry, the Video Game release schedule has begun to shift. In first three months of this year we have gotten such blockbusters as Mass Effect 2, Dante’s Inferno, God of War 3, Final Fantasy 13, Bayonetta and Darksiders to name a few. We’ve been lucky since typically this is the lean period in game releases where companies release crappy mascot kart racing games. Does anyone remember Star Wars Super Bombard Racing? That came out in April 2001 and while I am not saying that I have proof that there is a direct correlation but we all remember what happened that September.

Later this week will see the release of Splinter Cell Conviction. A few weeks from now will see Red Dead Redemption dropping. I’m so looking forward to that game that I put it on the google calendar that I share with my girlfriend. A few days after that is Super Mario Galaxy 2. Then, in June, we have Transformers, Naughty Bear, Metal Gear Solid and Metroid. July is a weak month but by Labor Day we could have Halo: Reach and Batman Arkham Asylum 2 in our hands. All of those (and I missed a bunch of big ones) before the big Christmas season, where if the rumors are true, we could have a new Zelda blowing our faces off with awesome. On paper this year looks to be a banner year for games. Right up there with 2007. My question to everyone reading this is – what game are you most looking forward to this year and why? What about your least? Since games cost around sixty-dollars new most of us won’t be able to get all of these games. Probably not even half of them. So just looking at the list what games has everyone marked as a buy or rental or skip? Please be honest so I can be thrifty in the coming months on my gaming habit.