After a few quiet months and one or two public
relations nightmares, the folks at Sony Computer
Entertainment finally opened up with a gamer's
day to show off the company's 2007 lineup. It's
much more like what we've hoped to see all along,
with a handful of great action games (Warhawk,
Uncharted) and intriguing
downloadable titles (Pain,
Little Big Planet). With this software
lineup, Sony might regain some of the ground
they lost in 2006, as they've got more than a
couple games that make a strong case for picking
up a PS3.
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Classic pulp adventure comes to life in this
exotic action-adventure game packed with
treasure, pirates and combat that would put
Indiana Jones into the hospital. Clamber over
and through the hazards of a lush island while
following a trail of clues to the secret of a
lifetime.
Why it's hot: Naughty Dog has
long been one of Sony's best developers; owners
of the original PlayStation and PS2 probably
have fond memories of Crash Bandicoot
and Jak & Daxter. Here, they've
upped the ante with wickedly lifelike animations
and impossibly physical gameplay. The company's
attention to detail means the story and voice
acting probably won't be anything to sneer at,
either.
Why it's not: Don't worry:
you're not the only one wondering if this is
just a Tomb Raider retread. With
great acrobatics coming courtesy of other games
(hello, Assassin's Creed!),
Uncharted is going to have to show off
more than some nifty animations and gunplay to
make a dent in the genre.
Ratchet & Clank Future
It's
old-school Ratchet and Clank. No
more Deadlocked collar, no more arena combat.
Just loads of platforming, over the top weapons,
and gorgeous worlds to explore.
Why it's hot: Take the designs
of the first two Ratchet games and
enable loads more graphic effects and a lot more
weapons and you'll have a good vision of
Future. Insomniac seems to be making
another very pretty world, and we're already
blown away by the early visuals.
Why it's not: After platforming
out way through several versions of
Ratchet's world, will we really want to
kill another dozen hours doing it again, no
matter how good it looks? Plus, the PS3's online
system would have been perfect for the combat-oriented
latter half of the PS2 series. Hopefully
Insomniac will pack in enough compelling
multiplayer modes to make us forget
Deadlocked.
Warhawk
Who
needs story? Warhawk is now an
online-only team-based battle for up to 32
players. You'll start out on foot, and can pick
up basic rifles, jump into tanks and gun
emplacements, or nab the titular Warhawk gunship,
easily the focal point of the whole experience.
Why it's hot: Warhawk
is light years ahead of the rather weak
demo we saw a year ago. It's fast and super-responsive;
pulling a double-barrel evasive roll into an
Immelman before demolishing two enemy planes in
quick succession is the most rudimentary move
you'll pull.
Why it's not: Online-only could
be a hitch, and the touchy controls make for a
demanding learning curve. Even experienced
flyers take their time getting used to the
game's high sensitivity, and that leads to quick
and frustrating death online.
Lair
Two
kingdoms are at war in a land plagues by
volcanoes and facing dwindling resources. Elite
dragon-riding units on one side seek to repel
the attacks of the other, and you get to strap
in as a high-flying dragoneer.
Why it's hot: Aerial dragon
combat that seamlessly segues into ground
battles -- that's something we've wanted since
Panzer Dragoon and Drakengard,
and Lair's got it. Dragon lovers haven't seen
beasts this well visualized on a console before,
and some of the world's other inhabitants are as
unique as the odd inhabitants of Shadow of
the Colossus.
Why it's not: Last year,
Lair was the best-looking game in Sony's
first-party lineup. Now it's strictly middle of
the road, thanks to SixAxis functions that
aren't as responsive as Warhawk's, and an
overall look that remains slightly muddy.
Little Big Planet
One
to four players take on the personas of strange
little stiched-up dolls, then run through
developer- and user-created levels filled with
weird objects and cool physics.
Why it's hot: Irrepressably
cute, LBP is impossible to resist due to the
endearing animations and often amazing physics.
Massive customization adds an X factor to the
value equation and a mix of competitive and
cooperative spirit should keep the game lively.
Why it's not: Like many of the
PS3 Network games, it's hard to tell whether or
not Little Big Planet will have
legs. The customization options are neat, but
how will we weed out great levels from lousy?
Heavenly Sword
Dripping with themes of revenge and redemption,
this is a seriously combat-heavy title, much
like God of War with a stunning
female lead. Heavenly Sword is one
of the best-looking PS3 games yet, with music
and animations that are as impressive as the
heroine's flowing red hair.
Why it's hot: Have you seen the
heroine? Now with a more painted 'graphic novel'
look, this chick is incredible. And the three
fighting styles (range, speed and power) deliver
more combat options than we can count. Sinning
blades and crushing blows aren't just for Kratos
anymore. Add loads of onscreen characters and
debris and this might be action heaven.
Why it's not: Heavenly
Sword is evolving into something that's
not so much an ultra-original take on action as
a slick pastiche of all the mechanics we've
grown used to: Devil May Cry combos
and God of War button-press battles.
Even so, if they can nail the currently
irritating weapon pick up system (it's a pain to
accidentally grab a table and therefore be
unable to use your sword) then Sony may be onto
something.
God
of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)
Daxter developer Ready At Dawn
takes on the early events of Kratos' servitude
to the Greek gods. Exploring the years between
when he killed his family and the opening
moments of the original game, this might be on
the small screen, but so far it looks as action
packed as the other two installments.
Why it's hot: Daxter
was a fantastic translation of a console series
to the PSP, and we figure Ready At Dawn
can work magic once again. What we've seen shows
off a Kratos that is just as brutal and fluid as
the guy we've grown to love. The enemies look
just as twisted (even if more of them are human)
and the Greek setting is largely as impressive.
Why it's not: Scale is a
massive part of the GoW series, no
pun intended. And as nice as the PSP screen is,
it probably can't nail the architectural majesty
we love. More important, though, is the tone of
the game. If this tale is all about his violence
in service of Ares, it could be harder to
stomach.
Hot
Shots Tennis
The
Hot Shots Golf formula is applied
to tennis. Unlock new players and courts in
Challenge mode, and master your timing to nail
beautiful serves and impossible smashes.
Why it's hot: The same
qualities that make the golf series so great
apply here: loads of character customization,
easy controls and appealing visuals, but a deep
play mechanic that keeps you on your toes for
hours.
Why it's not:Oh, we really wish
this was a PS3 release; the garish characters
and customizable options scream for better
graphics and online play. And doubles would be a
much better option without the ridiculous need
for a multi-tap.
Folklore
Two
characters explore a Netherworld filled with
faeries and backed by a collection-based action-RPG
backbone. Collect faerie IDs in combat, then
load them up as weapons for powerful ethereal
attacks.
Why it's hot: The character
designs are unique and very cool, and you'll see
fantastic weapon effects as each mythical
creature is deployed as a weapon. And while the
combat and weapon system seems arcane at first,
it quickly becomes second nature.
Why it's not: Well, it's a lot
like Kameo, innit? Sure, each
character has their own unique world, so you'll
get an eerie wooded land and blasted out
hellscape, but the story right now seems to take
a definite back seat to the faerie weapons.
NBA
08
It's
more solid five-on-five ball with slick graphic
sheen. NBA 07 was Sony's first
foray into high definition sports, and for the
follow-up they're charging forward with more
detailed visuals and gameplay.
Why it's hot: Last year,
NBA 07 looked like yet another sports
title that was stripped-down and rushed out to
meet a console launch date. Now the graphics are
more truly next-gen in movement and lighting,
and the game has a stronger set of options,
controls and behavior. If the online game works
out, EA's struggling Live series could hit the
boards, and 2K Sports might even have to watch
out.
Why it's not: At this point,
there's not a sports franchise that couldn't be
accused of fiddling with mechanics and visuals
to sell yet another year's worth of games, and
NBA 08 is no exception. This time
there are a lot more modes and options than last
year's anemic game, but without polish and AI to
match the slick visuals, will it merit the
upgrade?
Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow
Delve into the hidden past of Gabe Logan's
longtime partner Lian Xing in this sequel to one
of the best PSP games out there. Xing goes
missing, prompting Logan to investigate her true
origins and intentions.
Why it's hot: We loved
Dark Mirror, and this looks like more of
the same, with new and better weapons, an
impressive water mechanic, and a deeper
storyline by noted writer Greg Rucka.
Why it's not: Underwater levels
in any game are notoriously painful, and we're
nervous about the waterwork in Logan's
Shadow. If it's anything like the
gameplay in Ninja Gaiden, our PSP
might just fly out the window.
Pain
Fling one of several pain-resistant characters
into a cartoonish environment. The goal is to
break stuff and rack up points, either in a
free-for-all mode or in one of the challenge
modes like Mime Toss or Horse.
Why it's hot: The two FlatOut
games proved that ragdoll physics plus massive
leaps through the air can be loads of fun. And
we dare anyone not to laugh when Pain's little
guy flies through the hole in a massive donut
then tackles a mime.
Why it's not: Can you play
Pain for more than ten minutes? It
might be a great party game... or just a one-trick
pony.
SOCOM Tactical Strike (PSP)
The
game: It's classic SOCOM, sort of
-- instead of one soldier, you'll control the
Able and Bravo halves of a four-man fire team.
Infiltrate using serious tactics. Evaluate an
approach, form a plan and then execute the
attack.
Why it's hot: Choose from nine
special forces squads, load out with an
impressive array of weapons and then put the men
into battle with a solid control system. It's
SOCOM plus Rainbow Six,
which ain't bad at all.
Why it's not: We like
SOCOM's fast action, and Tactical
Strike might be a little too slow for
fans of the series; the tactical planning, while
deep and interesting, also slows things down
considerably.
High Velocity Bowling
Well,
it's, er, bowling. Use the motion controls build
into the SoxAxis controller to position your
approach, thow the ball and apply spin.
Why it's hot: Wii Sports
set an obvious standard, and now Sony weighs in
with this downloadable version of the classic
Saturday night pastime. The SixAxis works well
as a motion-sensing controller, and you've
actually got more control over the ball than in
Wii Sports. It looks nicer, too.
Why it's not: Naysayers will
chafe at the copycat nature of the game, but
then again, who ever said Nintendo had a lock on
bowling sims?
