Console Wars: The Launch Games Lineup (gamezone)
A look at five launch titles for each new system that may be worth your hard-earned money.
This Friday will mark the official release of the Playstation 3, with the Nintendo Wii following shortly after on next Sunday. That’s right, the launch is so close we can smell it, and those of us fortunate enough to either pick up a PS3 or a Wii will be basking in their respective glories. And for you prospective owners, still scrambling to earn and save up some extra dough for new games, you may be wondering which ones are worth not just your time, but your hard-earned money as well, since as we all know, console launches are seldom made up entirely of great games.
Launch can be a time of hits (Halo) and misses (Fantavision), but it doesn’t have to be a crapshoot when it comes to deciding which launch titles will be yours this holiday season. We have established a list of some of the more worthy games scheduled in time for this Christmas for both the PS3 and the Wii, to help gamers spend the rest of their savings (assuming the consoles themselves didn’t tap you dry).
PlayStation 3
No title for the PS3’s launch has generated more buzz than Resistance: Fall of Man. Sony’s foray into the WWII/sci-fi shooter genre does things a little differently, presenting an alternate timeline where Europe and Russia have been taken over by the Chimera, a species of alien invaders who stand to destroy humanity. Ok, so Resistance may be a little tough to classify in conventional means, but gamers should know that the game’s intense action, beautiful graphics, and some great online play elements make it the launch title to set the bar for games to come on the PS3.
As the first mech combat game to hit the PS3, Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire brings the series into the next-generation with a vengeance. The game’s awesome graphics showcase the most technically advanced Mobile Suit Gundam game to date, and will present a nice blend of arcade-style action and mech simulation. Fans of Gundam and mech-combat in general should keep this one on their radar.
The new Untold Legends title will be the first one to make the jump from handhelds to home consoles (the first two games were released exclusively on the PSP), and it promises to do so in style. The new game will feature a dependence on physics-based gameplay, utilizing the environment as a potential weapon (and even unsuspecting NPC who get caught in the crossfire). All this when combined with the customary graphical boost makes Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom a worthy action-RPG for the PS3’s launch lineup.
The latest offering from Sony’s sports franchise will be the first sports game ever (and one of the first console games ever) to offer 1080p graphics. The result for those fortunate enough to have an HDTV capable of said resolution will be some utterly gorgeous court graphics and player models, and should be one to check out if you’re a fan of Sony’s basketball series.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas
The next Rainbow Six title will catapult the series to the next-generation by using the Unreal Engine 3 (most recently seen powering Microsoft’s Gears of War on the Xbox 360) meaning that the game will be no slouch in the graphical department. Plus, the game’s emphasis on high-intensity action as well as the squad elements on which the series has made its name makes for another exciting foray into the world of counter-terrorism.
Wii
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Nintendo is coming out of the gate full-force with the Wii’s launch and putting their best foot forward, namely Zelda. The first Zelda game to launch with a console, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will offer gamers great graphics (sporting a more “mature” look with an adult Link) and will take advantage of the Wii’s unique control possibilities, allowing you to swing your sword by swinging the controller, shoot your bow and arrows, and even fish. By making use of the Wii’s abilities, Twilight Princess promises to be one of the most innovative Zelda titles ever.
Tony Hawk’s first offering on the Wii will be a departure from the standard gameplay provided in prior entries, giving you a slalom-racing theme similar to EA’s SSX series. By holding your Wii-mote horizontally, you can guide your skater from left to right, and boost them by thrusting the controller forward. Downhill Jam is one title that shows a series getting the shot in the arm thanks to the Wii’s control scheme, and should be one of the stronger titles for the Wii when it launches.
So, a Madden at a console launch is really nothing new at this point, but in the Wii’s case it may be worth more than a first glace. Madden NFL 07 on the Wii will be a reinvention of sorts for the series, due to the Wii-mote. You’ll use the controller’s motion capabilities to do everything from hike the ball and pass to juke and sprint as your receivers. Football fans will be in for a brand new sports experience when this game hits.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking; Wii Sports is packaged in with the system itself, so it’s a no-brainer that every Wii owner will have it this holiday. However, Wii Sports stands out for its accessibility. The game will offer a bunch of different sports games rolled up into one package, from bowling to tennis, each with easy to learn full-motion gameplay. If there’s one game this holiday season that could even get your grandma hooked, it’s Wii Sports.
Last year’s Trauma Center on the Nintendo DS is still one of the best games for that system, given its use of the DS’s touch screen and intuitive concept. Now, the second Trauma Center game is releasing, only this time for the Nintendo Wii. The game will make use of the Wii-mote, making it a scalpel for surgical incisions the same way that the DS’s stylus was, making for another wholly unique experience that even stands apart from the DS original.
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