Games To Watch In January page 2

05 Jan 2010 at 16:38:24 by Andy Alderson

Dark Void
Release date: 15 Jan (EU), 19 Jan (US)

Parallel universes, alien races and jetpacks are the order of the day in Capcom’s upcoming third person actioner (seems it’s a good month for these) and Dark Void will combine on-foot action with fast-paced vertical combat. The game tells the story of William Augustus Grey who, following a run-in with the Bermuda Triangle, finds himself face-to-face with an oppressive alien race which threatens the future of humanity. We liked the retro-futuristic stylings and the aerial gameplay when we got our hands on the game at last year’s E3 and it’s clear developer Airtight Games has brought some of its Crimson Skies experience to the table in Dark Void. Check out our hands-on preview, be sure to view the excellent aerial combat trailer and look out for the demo later this week.

Mass Effect 2
Release date: 26 Jan (US), 29 Jan (EU)

Arguably the biggest release of the month is EA and Bioware’s follow up to 2007’s Mass Effect. The fact that it’s exclusive to the 360 and PC will be a talking point for a start although it’s the game’s plot which intrigues us most and we hope Bioware has crafted a suitable tale for the space opera. In a feature we’ve never seen before in a game, Mass Effect 2 allows players to import their save files from Mass Effect into the sequel, meaning decisions branch across two games. TWO GAMES. Crikey. As if that wasn’t enough to whet your appetite for Mass Effect 2, Bioware has also addressed the perceived low points of the first game – combat and enemy AI – with new weapons and improved damage modelling looking sure to make the action more compelling this time around. Be sure to check out our hands-on previews of the Xbox 360 and PC versions as well as a selection of videos including the excellent cinematic trailer. 

MAG
Release date: 26 Jan (US), 29 Jan (EU)

While Microsoft has its January-exclusive in Mass Effect 2, Sony hopes to score a hit with the PS3-only MAG. Standing for Massive Action Game, MAG’s not just a clever name with Sony allowing up to 256 players to take part in any one game. Which, quite frankly, is mental. In a good way, that is. Set in 2025, the game will feature three competing PMC factions, each with their own equipment styles, as well as in-depth ranking and player development systems. You can expect some hardcore customisation options too but it’s the sheer scale of the action that intrigues us with objective-based progression in huge, sprawling maps. The fact that Zipper Interactive is in charge of development (responsible for the good games in the SOCOM series) also bodes well and we suspect MAG could be one of the online hits of the year. The open beta is now available to download so check it out for yourself before the game’s scheduled release on 29 January.  

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