Ask The Crew: Which Game Are You Looking Forward To In 2010?

No, not those 2010 games.

Ah, the new year. It brings the promise of a new beginning, assisted by resolutions and promises. The new year also brings a whole new roster of video games. Some of you may be looking at the pile of games you received during the holidays, thinking you’ll never conquer them. Like rock climbing, to keep going you have to look up, not down. So don’t feel guilty that you haven’t finished Assassin’s Creed II or Dragon Age. The slow summer release season will come soon enough and you’ll finish your Italian or Ferelden adventures then.

Here’s what the Review Crew is looking forward to in 2010. What are you hoping to play this year?

Mass Effect 2

I am looking forward to this sequel because of all the things BioWare did right in the original: the attempt to mix RPG and shooter elements, the multitude of choices, and the interesting world building. To top it off, there was a story about saving the galaxy that I’ve been waiting to advance ever since I first finished ME1. Yes, there were problems with the first game but in my professional opinion, it was a sweet game. And now BioWare has had two years to polish all the good things gamers enjoyed and to fix all the problems.

On top of that, in the many interviews I’ve read (and conducted), BioWare folks keep hinting that it’s possible for your Commander Shepard to not survive this game. Isn’t that wacky? Look for our review this Tuesday.

- Natalie Sit

Bioshock 2

I can’t wait to return to Rapture. My heart races just thinking about it. In fact I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this excited for a release.

The idea of returning to Rapture 10 years later raises so many questions. How has it changed? Is most of it now filled with water? And what about this Big Sister, the ex-little sister outfitted with Big Daddy armor?

While I do feel some skepticism with where this title is headed (I hated playing as a Big Daddy in the first game) I have faith it will be just as mind blowing as the first game. Please 2K don’t let me down!

- Mike Yawney

Heavy Rain

I nabbed my first hands-on with this game at Sony’s CES booth earlier this month and was pleasantly surprised. To be honest, I hadn’t paid much attention to this Playstation 3-exclusive game since it was announced in 2006, but what I saw at CES held me entranced. Using context-based controls and quicktime events, Heavy Rain weaves a great-looking playable film noir movie. The demo was a pleasure to watch as much as it was to play. One fight scene in particular had me so involved I had to remind myself to breathe, and, after only playing for 15 minutes, I found myself feeling a close connection to the characters in front of me.

I’m not about to make any verdicts on this becoming a game of the year, but I’m very curious to play Heavy Rain in full and experience this cinematic game that’s been four years in the making. Look for it at the end of February.

- DM Le Bray