If you failed to see yesterday's post--which covered the first five (of 10) games that I'm looking forward to playing in 2012--check it out here.
For those of you who read (if not thoroughly enjoyed) that post, here are the final five games I'm hoping to get my grubby little hands on at some point in the next 12 months:
Mario Tennis (3DS)--I've mentioned before that I'm a tennis nut, right? If not, now you know. I'm also a huge fan of Nintendo's Mario Tennis games--especially its portable ones. The 3DS iteration looks to be the best of both worlds: It's got the great graphics of the console versions and the take-it-anywhere fun of the handheld versions. Will it have an RPG mode, too? My fingers and toes are crossed in the hopes that it will.
Ni no Kuni (PS3)--The Japanese version of this Level-5 RPG--made in partnership with the folks at Studio Ghibli--bombed and reviews of it weren't much better, but you know what? I'll probably buy the North American version regardless shortly after I finally obtain a PS3 (hopefully sometime in 2012). It simply looks too good to pass up, even if it ends up being a bit of a bore.
Rhythm Heaven Fever (Wii)--In all honesty, this may be the game I'm most looking forward to playing in 2012. Why? I enjoyed the hell out of its predecessors--the import-only original, made for the GameBoy Advance, and its DS-based sequel, released in 2009--and I'm fully expecting to love the hell out of this one, too, especially since it takes the series back to its roots and uses buttons only (as opposed to waggle).
Sugar Shooter 2 (Mac/PC)--I've never had as much fun shooting the clothes off of a muscle-bound baddies as I did while playing the original Sugar Shooter last year. As such, I'm chomping at the bit to do more of the same as soon as this sequel--which will be made available to Mac as well as PC owners this time around--hits the streets (or at least the Internet) sometime next year.
Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)--Can you believe this open-world RPG will be coming to North America in 2012? I can't. I'm glad it is, though, as I desperately want to play it. Don't tell anyone, but this will be my first Monolith Soft-developed game. Yep, that means I've never played any of the Baten Kaitos (GameCube) or Xenosaga (PS2) titles. Just proves there's a first time for everything, eh?
Now that I've rambled on (and on and on) about the games I'm itching to play in 2012, which ones are all of you looking forward to experiencing in the coming year?
16 comments:
Dang. I forgot about Rhythm Heaven and Mario Tennis.
I have to add those to the list. And I hadn't even realized that Ni no Kuni had been released. It makes me sad to think that such a highly anticipated game sorta bombed.
Justin: Well, if nothing else, I'm glad this post served to remind you of Rhythm Heaven and Mario Tennis :)
As for Ni no Kuni: Yeah, it was released in Japan about a month ago, I think. Completely bombed :( It's supposed to be released here sometime in 2012, though, so hopefully it'll do better here (I doubt it will).
I'm still sad we didn't get the DS version, by the way. The book that comes with the Japanese version is absolutely gorgeous!
I hope Nintendo takes your advice about Mario Tennis! Haha. And also... What's with that fourth one? That... Looks both sexy and disturbing at the same time. Haha.
I do, too, Kevin! All of the portable Mario Tennis games released so far have included a quest/RPG mode, so it's likely this one will, too, but Nintendo hasn't said anything about it yet :(
As for the fourth one: Yes, sexy AND disturbing is a good way to describe Sugar Shooter. Although disturbing isn't really the right word, if you ask me. Maybe "strange"? Still, the first was a blast.
I'm shocked not to see Animal Crossing on this list. I'm frothing over it as much or more than Luigi's Mansion 2!
I'm interested in it, Justin, but not as much as everything on these two lists. I think that's because I'm still completely turned off by the tall characters (I know ... get over it!) and I don't yet see how the series is going to expand with this release (aside from the "You can be the mayor" thing).
I'll be buying it, there's no question of that, but I'm not eagerly awaiting it at this point. Hopefully Nintendo will pull back the curtain on it soon and push me to be excited about it again.
Don't feel too bad, despite all the raving I skipped the Baten Kaitos games as well. And I was a huge Gamecube fan.
Good to know I'm not alone, Adam! :) That said, I'd like to give the Baten Kaitos games a try at some point. They certainly look good and sound interesting.
I would love Ni No Kuni DS!! Though secretly hoping for 3DS release ;) I may get the PS3 version. From the vids I've seen, I love the look and sound of it!
I've tried the Sugar Shooter demo - quite an amusing game to play! Though I still don't quite understand how the special attacks work.
And Xenoblade - what an RPG marvel that is :) I think I'm maybe half way through it? Skyrim has interrupted me though, but I may get back into Xenoblade. I want to finish it (and maybe play Zelda SS after it).
On a side note, I absolutely love the music in Xenoblade, especially Gaur Plains http://youtu.be/xweRl4LZlmo. The large areas are amazing too. A lot of them are quite breathtaking - especially when you consider its on a Wii!
I also love how you can switch between english and japanese voices. Though I've surprised myself in that I actually like the english voices (and this is proper england english too hehe)! In most games I wish there was a japanese voice option as the english voices tend to be horrid to hear.
And btw - I've played Baten Kaitos. First one came out here, though I didn't finish it. I kinda lost "steam" over it and stopped playing it (the battle system was also way to random for my liking).
Ah, a 3DS update of the original DS version of Ni no Kuni would be great, diaglyph. I doubt it's going to happen, though -- the Japanese version sold OK, but only after steep price cuts. I doubt this one will ever see light of day outside of Japan, to be honest. Still, I may pick up the Japanese version at some point.
As for Sugar Shooter: Hoo boy, I'm not sure I can explain everything here, or at least not right now. Let me think about it and get back to you, OK? I will say, there aren't really any special attacks. You basically pelt the bosses with your regular weapon until their health meter is nearly done. Then, you switch to the special attack (whatever it's called--can't remember right now) and hit them with that to rip off a piece of their clothing.
RE: Xenoblade: I'm looking forward to playing this more than you know. The last RPG I played was ... Pokemon Black? 4 Heroes of Light? And on the Wii ... FF Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon? Regardless, it's been too long.
Thanks for sharing your brief impressions of Baten Kaitos, BTW. I've heard it's a bit strange, but that's what attracts me to it, I think :)
Baten Kaitos games are worth trying. Only played the first game but it's one of the best looking cube games. the battle system is excellent as well but it takes a good while to learn it and in the early stages when your deck is small it's a bit boring, takes ages to get going. The story is a bit naff though.
Xenosaga however, don't bother. Played the first and second games and hated them. Heard the third is good so perhaps go for that if you must.
Thanks for the insights, Retr0gamer! I'm definitely planning to try at least the first Baten Kaitos game at some point. "Some point" may not occur for a while, but what can you do?
I'm not really planning to try the Xenosaga games, though. Well, unless Xenoblade really blows me away -- although as far as I'm aware they're not really connected. (Correct me if I'm wrong!) Anyway, you aren't the first to suggest the first Xenosaga games are a bit hard to swallow...
Where are people finding these negative reviews of Ni No Kuni (PS3)?
From all I've read, there's been nothing but praise heaped on both the DS and console version.
Hey there, Jyr! Actually, I can't say I've read *tons* of negative impressions of the PS3 version of Ni no Kuni, but I've definitely read some -- mostly in online forums. I've read similar things about the DS version -- again, in online forums and from folks who played the game (as opposed to magazine reviewers, etc.).
In the case of the PS3 version, though, the negative or positive reviews don't really matter much, IMO. What does matter: The sales. The poor game has sold about 100,000 copies in Japan so far, which really isn't very good for a game of such stature. Honestly, I'm kind of amazed they're bringing to NA given those sales, but I'm certainly glad they are!
It's great that Xenoblade Chronicles is coming to North America. I heard they weren't giving North American's this game and only people in Europe for some odd reason.
Hello Mr. (or is it Miss or Mrs.?) Anonymous! Yes, Xenoblade is being released in North America, too. As of now, though, only Australia, Europe and Japan are getting The Last Story and Pandora's Tower. Here's hoping those games are released later this year in North America, too.
Post a Comment