Video Games
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Gamers can look forward to exciting new software
photo courtesy of Electronic Arts
The Godfather II video game is based on the acclaimed movie series.
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Published: January 15, 2009
Most gamers spend the early part of the year catching up on software they couldn't get around to during the holiday glut. Maybe you've been meaning to check out Fallout 3 or Fable II, or dig in and finish up that LittleBigPlanet level you've been working on.
But there are plenty more games on the horizon. Here's a rundown of some of the notable games coming in 2009 to a console near you…
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin (Monolith, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC): This sequel to the horror action game is one of the year's first major titles, coming out Feb. 10.
Skate 2 (Electronic Arts, 360, PS3): Pull off fantastic skateboarding tricks without the risk of scraping your knees or breaking bones.
Resident Evil 5 (Capcom, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3): Chris Redfield, hero of the original RE, goes to Africa to find the source of an infection that has wiped out most of the human race.
Brutal Legend (EA, 360, PS3): Jack Black provides the voice of Eddie Riggs, a roadie who dreams of being a rock god, in this adventure from Psychonauts mastermind Tim Schafer.
Harmonix's Beatles game (MTV, systems unknown): The creators of Rock Band are building this rhythm game based on the Fab Four's career. Meanwhile, Guitar Hero fans will learn how much abuse their fingers can take with a Metallica edition (most systems).
Godfather II (Electronic Arts, 360, PS3, PC): This video game sequel, based on the acclaimed movie series, lets players form their own mob family and strive for power.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (Rockstar, DS): Return to Liberty City in the first GTA title for Nintendo's handheld. Also due soon: "The Lost and Damned," a downloadable new chapter for last year's GTA IV.
Killzone 2
(Sony, PS3): Jeff Pedersen, a former Winston-Salem resident who now lives in London, provides the voice for one of the lead characters in this first-person shooter about a squadron of soldiers on an alien planet.
God of War III
(Sony, PS3): The ancient Greek warrior Kratos returns for another installment of the intense game series.
Infamous
(Sony, PS3): Sucker Punch, the studio behind the delightful Sly Cooper series, lets you try on the leotard of an electricity-powered superhero -- or is he a supervillain?
Prototype (Sierra, 360, PS3): Alex, the amnesiac protagonist here, not only has superpowers, but can also change shapes and take on his enemies' powers. Will he use them for good or eee-vil?
Champions Online (Cryptic, 360) and DC Universe Online (Sony, PS3): Speaking of superheroes, you'll be able to build one from scratch in either of these massively multiplayer virtual worlds.
Alpha Protocol (Sega, 360, PS3): Neverwinter Nights 2 developer Obsidian updates the role-playing game, substituting sword-and-sorcery with the cloak-and-dagger of modern-day espionage.
Heavy Rain (Sony, PS3): Fans of the disturbing Indigo Prophecy can look forward to being creeped out again by this thriller from France's Quantic Dream.
MadWorld (Sega, Wii) and Bayonetta (Sega, 360, PS3): Platinum Games, the studio behind this pair, was formed by veterans of the cult classic Okami. So you know they'll be stylish, and MadWorld promises to be the goriest Wii game yet.
Of course, there are plenty more sequels in the pipeline, including Halo Wars and Halo 3: ODST (Microsoft, 360), Street Fighter IV (Capcom, 360, PS3) and Pokemon Platinum (Nintendo, DS).
And this may be the year we finally see long-awaited games such as Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIII, Rockstar's detective drama L.A. Noire or Microsoft's psychological thriller Alan Wake. Even without them, the competition for your entertainment dollar will be intense.
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