I didn’t receive any disagreements with my Christmas gaming awards, so I must be pretty good at these list things.
So I’ve decided to do another one looking forward to the best offerings of 2k17. If you think I’ve missed anything, or want me to discuss any other titles, drop me an email - mike@theocelot.co.uk
As an Xbox owner, I have to say that Halo is one of my favourite franchises on the planet. And I’m probably on my own here, but I thought the original Halo Wars wasn’t a terrible game! A little clunky sure, but overall it didn’t disgrace the universe in the way many believed it would.
So I’m actually looking forward to the return of the Command and Conquer style top-down RTS title with Halo Wars 2.
However, again as an Xbox owner, I’m looking on in jealous agony as Horizon: Zero Dawn looks set to drop in ‘17, with its jaw dropping visuals and ROBO-DINOSAURS?!
The 90s Power Rangers fan-kid in me exploded with excitement when I saw the first trailer at E3 a couple of years back, and Horizon is quickly becoming one of the few really good reasons to jump over the console wars parapet and pick up a PS4.
Another title that would twist my gaming arm to the ‘dark side’ would be Gran Turismo Sport. As I mentioned last month, I grew up on GT racers, mainly learning how to avoid careening, kamikaze siblings in tuned up hatchbacks 30ft from the finishing line.
A new Gran Turismo title has me very excited as a racing fan, and hopefully they can once again take the fight to the dominant Forza Motorsport series to give gamers some choice in the marketplace.
Sitting firmly in both camps are a number of incredibly enticing games, including one of my personal favourites; Mass Effect: Andromeda. The Shepard-less voyage has been long awaited with EA claiming to have righted all of the supposed wrongs from Mass Effect 3 BEFORE release this time… We shall see, but for the most part, I’m looking forward to diving back into another epic, futuristic world created by BioWare.
(If only they were allowed to create Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 3)
Speaking of a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars Battlefront II is slated for a 2017 release. The second iteration of the re-invigorated shooter will retain its epic visuals and map size if Battlefield 1 is anything to go by, but will likely include elements from The Force Awakens and Rogue One.
If DICE play this right, and include some single player functionality this time, I sense we could have a contender for shooter of the year.
But of course, the biggest news, is the out of control bison in the back of the room: Red Dead Redemption 2. You’ve all seen the trailers and we think this could be something simply mind blowing.
Even though GTA Online is still receiving incredible support, we think the next Red Dead is going to have simply sublime story content, visuals and of course come with a fully loaded, wild-west version of the aforementioned GTA Online.
Just imagine roaming around the Wild West, stealing cattle and setting up imaginary gangs whilst drinking copious amounts of alcohol.
Sounds like any night out in Bristol to be honest…