GameCentral readers reveal the games they’re most looking forward to this year, from Watch Dogs: Legion to Crash Bandicoot 4.
The subject for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader Ollie, who wanted to know what games you’re planning to get from now until Christmas. Do you already have a plan (and a budget) or does it all depend on the next generation console announcements?
Although this year’s line-up has been greatly impacted by the coronavirus, and a lot the next gen plans remain obscured, we still had plenty of different suggestions, even if Cyberpunk 2077 was the clear favourite.
Valhalla is waiting
I’m really looking forward to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. I know Ubisoft games get a lot of stick for being formulaic but there’s a reason it happens so often: it’s fun and really popular! I do think with the last few games they’ve been trying to change things up each time too and this new one seems quite a bit different to the last in terms of the setting and the combat and role-playing.
I’m not expecting anything revolutionary but I am expecting something that’s fun and gives good value for money. The Viking setting is always going to be a winner and I like the look of how the boats work and the strategy stuff with setting up your settlement.
The Assassin’s Creed games are great for just sitting back and relaxing with, like a more violent Animal Crossing, and I will definitely be there for this new one.
The Colt
Last throw
I hope I’m not going to look like an idiot when it’s revealed next week but I’m honestly most looking forward to Halo Infinite this year. That’s partly because there’s not much else (not convinced by Cyberpunk 2077 – the dialogue was awful) but also because I’d just like to see Halo come back and be a big deal again after years in the doldrums and Microsoft not knowing what to do with it.
Of course, I still don’t know what they’re going to do with it at the moment but since they’re essentially betting the farm on it (it’s the only first party exclusive at launch, unless they’ve changed their mind) I assume it must be something good.
Microsoft’s build up to the next gen launch has been… weird but I’m hoping they can pull things off okay. This is the last roll of the dice for more than just Halo and I at least am hopeful it goes well. Although I do get the feeling they’re no longer really playing the same game as Sony.
Kimble
Earned trust
It’s got to be Cyberpunk 2077, not only because it looks fantastic but because it’s really the only choice. I am very doubtful that Marvel’s Avengers is anything other than a shallow cash grab and I’m really not interested in any more Ubisoft open world games.
CD Projekt’s open world games though… that I’m all about. I loved that game and really appreciated how it was kept updates with free little bits of DLC and two really excellent expansions, that were better than most real games.
I’m hoping for the same or better for Cyberpunk 2077 and while I’m a bit worried about the first person view and character creation (would’ve preferred a made character) they have basically earned my trust through everything they’ve done up to this point. I just hope it actually does come out this year, because the one area where I don’t trust them is sticking to the release date!
Coffey
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Watch list
Am I going to seem lame if I say Crash Bandicoot 4? I know a lot of it is nostalgia talking but I’ve always loved the Crash games and the remakes so far have been excellent. Knowing that the same team is behind a new game fills me with a lot of confidence, so that is definitely going on my watch list.
I’m also interesting in Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, although they’ve kind of got the opposite problems. Cyberpunk I feel like we haven’t seen enough on, and I’m worried that they’re hiding something, and Assassin’s Creed it feels like we’ve already seen half of the game.
It’s a difficult thing maintaining the hype for a modern game and I don’t envy companies the problems, especially when everything keeps leaking. But really it’s not how much you show but what you show and that’s why Crash has got me excited.
Elton
Month one
The obvious answer to this is Cyberpunk 2077 but since it is so obvious I’m going to say that I’m also looking forward to Watch Dogs: Legions. The last game was a lot better than I think many people realise and is the only recent Ubisoft game that has some bit to its dialogue and characters. And this one being set in a post-Brexit dystopia is very well timed and I hope will have something interesting things to say.
The gimmick of you being able to play anyone in the game world is also interesting, so it’s got both things going for it. I’ve not been too impressed by the graphics yet, but they’re fine and obviously they can improve before release.
How much it will rely on the Ubisoft formula we’ll have to wait and see but Watch Dogs 2 wasn’t too bad in that sense so I’m optimistic that this is going to be worth a day one purchase. Or at least month one.
Vacouty
Reclaiming the board
Personally, I’m really looking forward to the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 remakes. I know they’re old games but I used to love them back in the day and Activision did a bang up job with the Crash Bandicoot games so I think there’s every reason to hope these will be good.
They obviously want to make it a franchise again, so it doesn’t make any sense for them to half-ass it like they did last time. Especially now that EA are doing Skate again and will happily eat their lunch.
Edian
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Possible heartbreakers
I had hoped that Deadly Premonition 2 would be a must-have item, but alas. Upon your review of the first game, I rushed out to buy it. Something like the next day. I won’t be doing that with that with the sequel, which is a shame. I’ll still want to play it for myself at some point, but not at full price. Probably somewhere nearer the £15-20 mark, maximum.
Paper Mario: The Origami King will be coming into my collection. Err, when I find the time to do so. Are Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 and Psychonauts 2 still coming out this year? I hope so. I can’t take many more heartbreakers after Shenmue 3. Was that this year? Time has become a vat of swirling porridge – always the same, kinda boring and far too much of it.
But Bloodlines 2 has game of the year potential. Okay, it’s a bit of a wild card as I’m not basing that on the quality of the original, rather the potential of the concept. Of course, Cyberpunk 2077 is the one to beat – even though I have misgivings. The Witcher 3 was not that great and Geralt was a truly dreadful vacuum of a character so I don’t entirely trust the developer’s judgment. And it’s first person only. Sigh.
Marvel’s Avengers and Watch Dogs: Legion (if that comes out this year, I have my doubts) will have to do very well in the reviews for me to buy them.
All of these won’t matter, of course, if Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 ends up happening this year. As there’ll only be time for that.
DMR
GC: Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 and Psychonauts 2 are both still down for 2020 but neither have release dates.
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