The year is almost over and 2012 has seen its share a Triple-A blockbuster titles including Mass Effect 3, Assassin's Creed 3, Hitman: Absolution, Halo 4 and Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Next year might be the final year for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. There are rumors that we will see new consoles from both Sony and Microsoft by next holiday season. So lets take a look at five of the most anticipated games for the current generation of consoles that are due out next year.
5. Gears of War Judgment:
Judgement is the fourth game in the Gears of War franchise and will take place before the events of the first game. It will also be the first title not to star Marcus Fenix as its main protagonist. The game will star series regulars Damon Baird and Augustus Cole. While most gamers have mixed feelings about the game's script, the series has a pretty cool premise and the games often feature a lot of action, beautiful designed environments and great antagonists. I look forward to seeing to see what developer People Can Fly do with the series.
4. God of War Ascension:
Kratos is returning in Ascension and gamers can expect a bloody path of visceral destruction. The game will be a prequel to the origin game and will be set six months after Kratos murdered his wife and child and about 10 years before the original game. Gamers will get to see a more human Kratos and a better understanding of how he became a one-man army of devastation. Ascension's multiplayer aspect also looks pretty sweet and will feature a small narrative with players becoming the champion of their Greek god of choice.
3. BioShock Infinite:
BioShock: Infinite is the long awaited third entry in the first-person sci-fi franchise. The game is currently being developed by Irrational Games for a February 26, 2013 worldwide release on the Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms. The original BioShock introduced gamer to the underwater world of Rapture. The game featured large detailed environments and a compelling narrative that covered many philosophical questions about morality and elitism. Infinite will not be a direct sequel to the original two games and will not return to the city of Rapture, it instead will take gamers the floating air-city of Columbia. The game won best of show at E3 2011 and we can't wait to play it.
2. Tomb Raider:
A legend of the early era of the original PlayStation, Lara Croft is returning. She is being re-imagined for new audience and will appear inexperienced and vulnerable. Crystal Dynamic will have a tough time recreating the influential heroine, but if the early footage of the game is an indicator, it appears that they have succeeded. The game looks darker and more realistic than anything seen in the previous games of the series. Tomb Raider will release on March 5, 2013 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows PC. Hopefully Lara Croft will be able to compete with this generation's adventurer Nathan Drake.
1. Grand Theft Auto V:
Rockstar's latest open-world crime saga will feature three protagonist and looks to return the series to some of the light-hearted fun of earlier games in the series. While it doesn't look as slapstick as Saints Row 3, it does look far more entertaining than Niko Bellic's dark and moody narrative. According to Rockstar, Grand Theft Auto V will be its biggest open world game to date, plus the game's return to the fair-weathered city of Los Santos will provide plenty of cool extracurricular activities like water skiing. Grand Theft Auto V will release in the spring for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Wii U and Windows PC versions of the game are being considered, but have not been confirmed.
