Top 7 Games of February 2012

When the hell did this happen?!

Knuckling down to scribble up what I fully expected to be another dry month of merge offerings, I took a gander at the release schedules. A moment later my jaw hit the floor.

The next four weeks (and one day, Leap Year bitches!) are awash with robotic terrorists, wise-cracking thieves, demonic dons, mind-hacks, time paradoxes and planet sized Buddahs getting smacked in their jowly chops!

Suddenly the fact the deified October/November 2011 period has been and gone is okay. Unexpectedly, the excruciating wait for Mass Effect 3 or the Witcher 2 is now very manageable.

February 2012 is going to kick all kinds of ass, on all kinds of platforms.
And best of all, it totally snuck up on me.
Like a Ninja.

But instead of sharpened Katanas and Wakizashi it has genre pushing, high octane, triple A titles. (And instead of an actual person it’s, you know, a month.)

Still, the laboured Ninja metaphor holds. And here’s why...



#7
Title – Shank 2
Developer – Klei Entertainment
Publisher - EA
Released – February 8th

Although the original fell just short of expectation, Klei are back for round two. Evidently, now it’s prison rules! New weapons, refined controls, varied AI, counter attacks and gory executions abound in this gruesome arcade title.

With some luck, and a helping of skill on the part of Klei, this should chainsaw right through any bones of contention gamer had with the original.



Hopefully Klei will attack the sequel’s plotting with the same ravenous vigour their brawny protagonist brings to shoving grenades into the mouths of his enemies! And the prospect of annihilating wave after wave of unlucky foes with a friend (fleshy or digital) delights as much as the 800 MS points asking price.

Either way, there’s not long to wait to find out if Klei have perfected their hack’n’slash’n’slash’n’slash formula the second time round.



#6
Title – Syndicate
Developer – Starbreeze Studios
Publisher - EA
Released – February 24th

The first of two dystopian sci-fi shooters this month, Syndicate is a dynamic reboot of the 1993 Bullfrog Productions isometric adventure of the same name.

Almost two decades on, Starbreeze seem to be chucking everything, even the kitchen sink, at this re-launch, merging smooth FPS mechanics with environment expanding Head-Chips and technology trouncing Breeches.

Syndicate offers 19 weapons, 87 attachments and Alt-Fire modes to toy with, while (at long last) fresh limb animations such as scrambling, close quarters kills and firearm tilting provide an intuitive veneer to the gameplay. Still, pristine ultramodern art design plays its part.

The illusion is amplified by hacking (breeching) wall terminals, turrets, personal shields and people’s soddin’ brains and bending them you your will.
You won’t finish Syndicate without firing a shot. But not all of them need be from your own gun!



Unfortunately, it seems Starbreeze are sticking with the tried and tired mute protagonist approach, so there are certainly caps to Syndicate’s innovation. People still talk in the future right?

Maybe they just tweet instead!!!


#5
Title – Uncharted: Golden Abyss
Developer – SCE Bend Studio
Publisher – Sony Computer Entertainment
Released – February 22nd

Undoubtedly the Vita’s first legitimate system seller, Nathan Drake stars not only in his first handheld adventure, but his first outing without Naughty Dog’s direct input. As ever, Nolan North lends his unmistakable voice. And with fresh treasure to hunt and characters to rub the wrong way, Golden Abyss looks set to rival November’s ‘Drake’s Deception’ for cinematic* flair.

*Or at least as cinematic as a game can be on a five inch OLED...



Besides the obvious advancement in portability, Golden Abyss introduces touch input to the series without compromising its traditional dual stick approach. With touchscreens front and rear, Nate can navigate traps, scramble ruins and gun down pirates, brigands and assorted jerkholes with the swipe of a finger.

Mobile mayhem? Handheld horseplay? Portable piracy?

Hell, you had us at ‘Uncharted.’

#4
Title – Asura’s Wrath
Developer – Cyber Connect 2
Publisher - Capcom
Released – February 24th

Some of you were less than impressed with last month’s Asura’s Wrath demo. I’m sorry to say some of you were terribly wrong.

Whether or not you usually dig on the hyper kinetic, Over-The-Top-And-Then-Some, hamtastic Uber-Violence of Japanese Manga is irrelevant, Asura’s Wrath is the future.

Shallow gameplay and reliance on QTEs aside (can someone PLEASE explain to me the issue with interactive high-octane cut-scenes?) Capcom’s deliberate, unapologetic focus on story-telling is a breath of fresh air against the oppressive humidity of titles wherein the tale is not impetus but apology.



Asura’s Wrath may not represent the extreme games can journey in this direction (MGS4 still the pinnacle of interactive storytelling) but the decision to prioritize plot-twists over XP and character over customization is a brave and ingenious step by Capcom.

You should reward this by renting, buying or borrowing. Just make damn sure you give Asura’s Wrath a fair chance. It’s good for the business, which in turn, is good for the gamers i.e. You!

If nothing else, its f#cking bonkers. That’s got to count for something right?



#3
Title – Metal Gear Solid HD Collection
Developer – Kojima Productions
Publisher - Konami
Released – February 3rd

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. That’s three prolific games for a reduced retail price, five if you include the original Metal Gear and its sequel.

With this HD collection, Konami has made the very measure for all past and future bundles, finally knocking Valve’s Orange Box from its pedestal.

This legendary franchise has ever been at the cutting edge, in terms of gameplay, concept, plot and technology. As such, the re-mastered presentation and 60 frames/second rate deliver these aging classics to your oversized monitors in staggering clarity.

The Mullets? Numerous and Majestic!

While former PSP title Peace Walker might struggle to overcome initial system limitations, 2004’s beautiful Snake Eater (indisputably the series’ apex) puts many a 2011 title to shame!



Overlooking minor complaints, MGS2’s dated controls, Peace Walker’s bite sized levels, the MGS HD Collection serves as an entry point to intrigued beginners, a second chance for players originally too irked by narrative bulk and, best of all, a love letter to THE brand that defined intelligent gaming in the early 21st century.

I have a rule with games: never go back.

But for Snake? For Snake, I’ll make an exception. And make it gladly.

#2
Title – The Darkness II
Developer – Digital Extremes
Publisher – 2K Games
Released – February 10th

Unashamedly violent, self-indulgently cruel and worryingly compelling, The Darkness II is perhaps the most exciting FPS launching in the next six months. Neither drenched in WWII nostalgia or Modern/Post-Modern Military jargon, it takes a visceral, layman’s approach to gunplay and splices in a twist of the fantastical for good measure.



It also chucks in a few gallons of blood and a seemingly inexhaustible reserve of expletives!

But if eating hearts or decapitating rival gang leaders with car doors isn’t enough (Seriously? What class of a sadist are you?!) The Darkness II promises a story driven endeavour, chronicling Jackie’s re-acquaintance with the evil that saw his sweetheart killed, and a mysterious occult faction bent on snatching the Darkness from his very soul!

The promise of cell shaded graphics and upgradable, ahem, tentacles sweeten this deal with the devil. But the biggest draw The Darkness II has going for it isn’t its gloom or its gore.

It’s the fact it’s a blistering, energetic laugh riot of a game. Play the demo.
Now, Wise Guy!

#1
Title – Binary Domain
Developer – Yakuza Studio
Publisher - SEGA
Released – February 24th

A peculiar choice for the hotspot but the fact is Binary Domain seems the most ambitious, high concept title of the month. And not enough of you seem to know about it!

Plot-wise, it seems a bizarre amalgamation of Terminator and Battlestar Galactica. Aesthetically it looks like a blend of iRobot and Evangelion. And judging from a host of gameplay videos, it plays like a synergy of Mass Effect, Resident Evil, Metal Gear Solid and Uncharted.

Your personal feelings toward iRobot notwithstanding, none of the above franchises are to be sniffed at!



Binary Domain distinguishes itself by pitting players against waves of resilient AI foes an awful lot tougher than protagonist, Dan Marshal. That’s the thing about robots, to them having their heads blown off is but a minor inconvenience!

While you mount a frenzied ballistic defence against legions of armless, legless, relentless machines, the Consequence system churns away, gradually altering your experience. This system drags player choice away from meaningless binary decisions, instead processing GAMEPLAY data and aligning your squad-mates accordingly.

Foolishly order your sniper to the front lines and she’ll be pissed. Bravely cover your tank character and he’ll approve of your cojones. Send your buddy to face off with a thirty foot mech solo, armed with only a sharpened toothbrush and, well, let’s just say you won’t be getting that ‘World’s Best Squad-Leader’ mug you’ve been pining for!



Consequence is (finally) sewn into Binary Domain’s fluid core gameplay. Couple this with the ability to bark orders into a headset for real time responses, and a plot loaded with existential questions, fascinating international policy, technological predictions and civil anarchy and you know what you get?

No? Neither do I!

We literally have no clue what Binary Domain has in store. Exciting eh?

Let just hope it’s not utter pants.