The Big Event Games

Remember when Rambo and Commando were big event movies? Hot damn, it used to be so easy to impress people! Stick a muscular guy in a Cambodian village and give him a big black gun and you’ve got top class entertainment for the whole family. But as with everything else these days the stakes have gotten higher, much higher. The big event games are coming, the epics of our time, games that will leave you breathless, eyes wide in wonder and mouths agape. What’s your fancy?

       

Venture on dear reader, and find out what tasty morsels lie in store after the jump!

Remember when Rambo and Commando were big event movies? Hot damn, it used to be so easy to impress people! Stick a muscular guy in a Cambodian village and give him a big black gun and you’ve got top class entertainment for the whole family. But as with everything else these days the stakes have gotten higher, much higher. The big event games are coming, the epics of our time, games that will leave you breathless, eyes wide in wonder and mouths agape. What’s your fancy?

HALO 3

       

There’s just no stopping Halo 3 from becoming an juggernaut at retail. It’s the kind of rare franchise that crosses the boundary between the hardcore and casual fans. I bet the accountants at Microsoft are getting dizzy just anticipating how much cash this game’s gonna bring, and gamers have been thrown into a state of absolute frenzy since seeing the first trailer at E3.

KILLZONE
         

Once billed as Sony’s “Halo Killer”, a title that likely brought more grief than good for Guerrilla, the sequel to their premiere entry in the Killzone universe is still somewhat shrouded in mystery. It can be argued that no one’s ever really seen a single frame from Killzone 2, heck we don’t even know that it’s called Killzone 2, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s going to be huge when it hits. Having passed up E3, the sentiment is that Guerrilla either has something very, very special to show, or is having some trouble living up to that amazing video from last year. Personally I’m hoping for the former.

HEAVENLY SWORD
        

There are some question marks hovering above this game right now, is the whole thing set in numerous arenas such as the one we’ve seen in the trailers and screens? What’s the storyline? Will we be adventuring and exploring? Whatever the case, I predict this one’s going to be big, really big. Ninja Theory, the guys behind the wheel don’t have a particularly healthy track record, but they’ve been working on this for a long, long time and the quality of the product is becoming ever more apparent.

ELVEON
       

I was lucky enough to get a good look at this title when it was shown behind closed doors at E3, and all I have to say is “wow”. My hat goes off to the boys at 10tacle, the depth and history of the world they’re creating is massive, and the game itself suitably ambitious in nature. You too will say “wow”.

MASS EFFECT
         

These guys also made KOTOR, that’s Knights Of The Old Republic… need I really say more? The buzz kicked up by this title at E3 by those who saw it showing behind closed doors has reached critical mass… get it? Arf!

METROID PRIME 3: CORRUPTION
       

Ever since Samus made her comeback on the ‘cube, there’s been no slowing the old gal down. The prospect of Retro Studios marrying their game design genius with  the Wii’s innovative new control input is enough to give any hardcore gamer a strong case of the “gimme, gimme’s”

METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS
         

Likely the culmination of one of the greatest sagas in the history of videogames. The Metal Gear games have always been the perfect marriage of cinematic storytelling, great gameplay, and technical prowess. The fourth and possibly last in the series looks to once again redefine what we’ve come to know of the tactical stealth espionage genre. Thank you Kojima.

GEARS OF WAR
       

Once considered by me to be the “warm up to Halo 3”, Gears of War blew the hinges off E3, and geeks in attendance had to be carted away on trolleys, many catatonic, some still conscious but drooling like babies. Wait till Emergence Day hits and you see just how good this game looks, and just how badass it is to play, just you wait.

SUPER MARIO GALAXY
         

It doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom and big bad uber soldiers with massive guns y’know. Mario’s back in the first true sequel to Mario 64, and he’s bringing with him the power of Mr Miyamoto’s videogame Wii-zardry… (I’m on a roll here!)

ASSASSIN’S CREED
         

If the team’s previous effort,Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, is anything to go by then Assassin’s Creed is going to be a breakout blockbuster for sure, but better than that it’s going to have the most innovative gameplay this side of Miyamoto. Have a close look at these screens, the last one in particular. Look from face to face in the crowd, all real people who will act and react to you. Welcome to the next generation.

Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess
       

Some people have been waiting patiently for this game since that first Gamecube tech demo. It’s finally coming, and bigger, badder and better than ever before. This game’s going to be the Gamecubes swansong, and usher in Nintendo’s revolution in a big way.

FINAL FANTASY XIII
       

There’s been thirteen of them (more if you count the various spinoffs) and the first was supposed to be the last.  Square’s got huge plans for this game, and we’ve only just begun to get a glimpse at what it’ll offer.

AQUATEEN HUNGER FORCE
       

We’ve been promised the world by Flargen and Dingle, the developers of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Realistic Meatwad AI, Shotgun toting Carl and even a geographically accurate representation of the Moon (with 1/3 less gravity than our earth even). Personally I’m inclined to agree with them, bring on the action bills I say!

So what do you guys think are the titles on the horizon that qualify as epic? Games that will not only sell tons, but become bonafide classics.