Looking forward to the biggest titles of 2019. I cover what games you should be watching out for and why. Here’s what I’m hoping for out of this year.
My recap of the Hottest Games of 2018 was well received, and I wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped support the end of the year Scorum Super Series. Now with the New Year fully behind us, it's a wonderful time to look forward to what is on the horizon in the world of gaming.
Despite some ill-intended trends in gaming, 2018 did bring us solid library of games, but I think 2019 is poised to out due last year. Not only do we have a handful of highly anticipated games (some I will cover today), but we also have a few insanely hyped games that may or may not get released this year, which I will cover at the end.
Regardless, there is lots to be excited about, but before I jump into my list, I want to talk about a few general gaming trends I would like to see in 2019
- Reworking of micro-transactions in full priced games. Micro-transactions are the bane of all gamers, but regrettably they aren’t going away anytime soon. The price to produce AAA games has risen but the price of games have not. They have remained $60 USD since I was a little kid playing NES. Developers look at other ways to extract cash without raising the base price of games. This has led to micro-transactions. AAA developers must be cleverer moving forward in how they will handle this problem because the current trend is not sustainable.
- Refocusing on Single Player experiences. This problem is a knockdown effect of the above mentioned. Another recent trend is the moving away from games as a final product and instead moving towards games as a constant service—e.g. games that require subscriptions, micro-transactions, season pass, cloud gaming, and a wide variety of mobile games. Most of all games including the above mentioned are almost always multiplayer games, as single player games are much more difficult to extract ongoing cash from a player base. This always-online experience threatens to killed single player games.
- Expanding to a more diverse gaming library. The easiest way to explain what I mean is to think back during the PlayStation One era and consider all the sports games we had. We had titles for all the major sports, as well as separate games for their college counterparts (remember NCAA Football), we had multiple soccer series, boxing games, and our pick of tennis games. In addition we had a wide variety of extreme sports with multiple series of skateboarding, BMX biking and snowboarding. We didn’t just have one game of each, we had choices for each. The same thing can be said about almost all other genres of games as well. However, since then, that has all changed. No college sports games, very few games outside soccer, basketball, football, or hockey. EA sole licenses almost all sports leagues and have prevented anyone else form making games.
Those are my three gaming trend wishes for this year: solving the micro-transaction dilemma, refocusing on single player experiences, and expanding the gaming library to include more diverse types of games. I'm skeptical any of these things will be addressed, but a boy can wish, can’t he?
Okay, so now on to my gaming list.
The Division 2
March 15, 2019
Set in Washington DC seven years after the original game, Division 2 looks to build on the temped success of its predecessor. There were a lot of great elements about the original Division. Ubisoft delivered a solid 3rd person cover based multiplayer shooter. Being able to easily join up with your friends to complete missions was really fun, but outside of your first 20 hours of gameplay, the game started to show its cracks and weaknesses.
As time went on Ubisoft attempted to address some of the major underlining issues, namely a broken PVP system and buggy shooting mechanics. While developers were able to improve the state of the game over the years, it never did feel like it reached its full potential, but nonetheless, there were still a lot of good takeaways from the original.
Now they are back at it again with a sequel set in DC with even more multiplayer action and base building. No longer are gamers tasked with building up a central base like in the original. Instead, this time we will be building up and crafting in locations all over the map.
Regardless, gamers are most anxious to see how they address the PVP gameplay, as it was a low point for the original. Many details are still being withheld, but Ubisoft did confirm 8 player raids would be featured in the sequel. This should be music to a gamers' ears who felt like the Darkzone PVP in the original was broken and not fun at all—myself included.
Ubisoft has soured in a lot of gamers mouths due to their lackluster releases and grimy sales tactics, but despite this, they still can make excellent games. They need a strong release for Divison 2 right out of the gate to stave off a wave of criticism that is likely already building. Gamers weren’t too happy with the state of the game when the original launched, and I’m not sure Ubisoft can endure another similar episode. This game as a lot of potential but it’s anyone’s guess if Ubisoft has their business in order.
Anthem
February 22nd, 2019
BioWare, makers of the Mass Effect and Dragon Age, are back again, but this time with a new IP. BioWare seeks to do something a bit different with Anthem compared to previous releases. Anthem will be a 3rd person action role-playing game just like all other BioWare titles; however, unlike previous releases, Anthem will have co-op multiplayer as a core mechanic.
BioWare is a perfect example of what I talked about before with games moving away from single player experiences towards always-online games. Previously BioWare made offline single-player games with a few online modes thrown in for extended replayabilty. But at the core, all previous BioWare RPGs were single-player games with no internet connectivity required.
BioWare has now left that all behind for an always-online pseudo-mmorpg akin to something like The Division (above mentioned). Despite BioWare shifting its focus, I am still interested in Anthem. I’m been a firm believer in BioWare’s games in the past, and despite a rocking release for Mass Effect Andromeda, the final product after months of updating was a fun open world 3rd person rpg.
I’ve spoken to a friend who has played the Anthem beta, and he said that the game was extremely buggy but had a lot going for it. Despite the bugs, he still enjoyed his time with the game and says he will be picking it up. BioWare really needs a strong release to get them back on the level they once were.
With the game coming out next month, we won’t have to wait long to see if they can deliver the goods once again.
The Last of Us Part II
Release Date: TBA
I absolutely adored the original The Last of Us. A combination of stealth, action, crafting, and survival all set with a zombie backdrop. It wasn’t just me who loved the game, as it quickly rose to the tops of the PS library and ended with a review score of 95 on Metacritic.
Now I know what you might be thinking: it's 2019 and the zombie craze is over. And you would be right; however, if there is anyone who can make us care about zombies again this year it’s Naught Dog Studios.
Fully expect narrative heavy gameplay that will pull at your emotional strings like a marionette. Going by previous sequels by Naught Dog, I think we’ll see a lot of the same game mechanics brought over from the original TLoU into the new release. Additionally, gameplay clips from the trailer show very similar mechanics as the original.
On the subject of the trailer, let’s talk about a couple of big reveals. The first is that we see that Ellie, the younger girl from the original, is now a bit more mature and is seen as the main protagonist. No longer is she a young naïve child following Joel at every turn. Instead, she becomes the hero as the game expands on the groundwork laid by the first title.
If there’s one moment that shows Ellie’s new found confidence, it’s the girl-on-girl passionate kiss that’s on full display in the trailer. Sending the easily-offended reaching for their pearls, the decision to show this side of Ellie once again highlights Naught Dog’s dedication to fully exploring the human condition in all its facets. Anyone who played the first game knows the brutally evil world Ellie lives in, and if she can find a single second of solace, she deserves it.
There’s been no release date yet, so it’s not 100% confirmed the game will drop in 2019, but early builds of the game and rumors that are leaking hint at a 2019 release date.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Release Date: 2019
Star Wars fans have been starved for the game they have desperately been craving. Something deep and rich in lore, unique, well-conceived, and made with true passion. The last iterations of Star Wars game have left many gamers angry and dying for a great release. Respawn, makers of the Titanfall, look to finally deliver on a Star Wars gaming experience desperately needed.
Titanfall 2, the previous released game by Respawn, was a FPS masterpiece. Don’t look for sale records for validation as the game didn’t do well financially—mostly due to poor timing for the release—but it was critically acclaimed for its accomplishments. There was no question that love and attention to detail was poured into the game. Now Respawn has the opportunity to do the same but for a much bigger franchise and audience. One might even say the biggest franchise of them all: Star Wars.
We don’t have many confirmed details but there are a few. We know the game’s protagonist is a young padawan named Cal who fights back shortly after the Jedi-genocide of Order 66. The developers also confirmed it would take place shortly after Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith, placing the game between the prequels and original trilogy.
It’s also been confirmed that the game should release for holidays 2019, so just shy of a year from now. Although developers did say there would be some multiplayer elements—fear not—this is a single player game through and through. We also know, via the teaser trailer, Respawn is spending lots of time, with the supervision of EA undoubtedly, motion capturing animations and cinematics. Thus, it’s not out of line to be expecting a top-notch high quality product. With a Star Wars budget and Respawn at the helm, I think this is the title fans have been waiting for.
Dreams
Release Date: 2019
Dreams is one of the games I’m most excited about for the upcoming year, but it’s also the game that I have the hardest time explaining or even talking about. Perhaps a misnomer to even call it a “game.” Dreams skirts the line between a game, an application, and a tool.
Primarily, Dreams in a sandbox game that allows you to build, create, and share your own games with other users. Brought to you by the developers behind LittleBigPlanet and Tearaway, their new game pushes the boundaries even further of what constitutes a “game,” and by that, I don’t mean an art-house endeavor akin to Journey or Flower. Instead Dreams provides you with the tools and ability to create your own games for yourself and others.
Gamers familiar with the sandbox creative mode in LittleBigPlanet will have a point of reference for Dreams. However, the latter doesn’t provide you with a base game the way that LBP did. Rather users get full control over the tools even allowing for coding and programing, something that is intimidating for me.
Even if you don’t feel you would be proficient in game making or that you don’t feel creative, Dreams may still be for you. The developers claim it’s an experience for everyone and they hope to foster creativity it all their audience. If you are looking for a game to break the mold in 2019, Dreams is the title for you.
Honorable Mentions
Here are a couple of games that I am incredibly excited about. I’d even go as far as to say that the two below games are they one’s I am most excited for by a long shot. However, I didn’t include them above because it is unlikely we will see them launch in 2019, although there is a chance we could see either game within the year so I’m included them as honorable mentions.
Cyperpunk 2077 – Based on a pen and paper table top game, Cyperpunk 2077 is the next IP by highly praised CD Projekt, makers of the Witcher series. Cyperpunk promises a first person rpg experience with rich world building and storytelling. If CD Projekt delivers yet again, as they have done in the past, there’s a chance this game redefines the genre. If you like dystopian futures and emergent gameplay, you don’t want to miss this one.
Death Stranding – I absolutely love the Metal Gear series. I haven’t missed a single one. Starting during the NES era and running until Metal Gear Solid V on the PS4, I’ve been there for them all. Since then the central designer and creator of the series, Hideo Kojima, has parted ways with Konami and the Metal Gear franchise. Sony was quick to offer him a job and an enormous budget. What he has created is a game called Death Stranding that is poised to be a mind-bending AAA experience that I won’t be missing, a guaranteed buy for me.
To Gaming in 2019
So there we have it: what I’m looking forward to this year in gaming. The gaming landscape is certainly shifting. I fear trends could easily regress instead of progress, but that largely depends on how gamers respond to those very trends. One of the most frustrating things is to see a great game, full of passion and love, be completely destroyed by boardroom decisions. There are a lot of great games on the 2019 horizon, but, as the saying goes, the devil is always in the details. Execution is everything, so let’s see who actually delivers the goods this year.
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