I’m going to spend my time here talking about games that you may have missed throughout the holiday season, including some that have not yet been released that I see have potential both to be good and to be most likely overlooked. I’m going to specifically talk about three of them, one of which hasn’t been released, and explain why they deserve at least a rent from most gamers.
First, let’s talk about Far Cry 2. In a holiday season that is absolutely jam packed with shooters, the biggest ones such as Gears of War 2, Call of Duty: World at War, and Resistance 2 will come out on top. But while it may be a bit surprising to you, console owners have mostly overlooked Far Cry 2 as just another shooter. The PC version is finding a home, as it is selling pretty well, but sadly the console versions is being overlooked; something that is a real shame.
While the above video isn’t the most exciting Far Cry 2 video i could use, it shows that just about anything can happen in the game, and there are many different ways to deal with these situations, and the game deals with realism above all else. Your guns will jam and break, you will have to deal with driving around the vast African environment, and fire is the most important weapon in the game. I can’t say I’ve played a lot of the game myself, but I have played enough to realize just how much fun and immersing it can be. Don’t let this one pass you by as “just another shooter”, because it’s one of the better games of the year, and one I will need to be picking up myself very soon.
Second is Dokapon Kingdom, which is a strange mix of an RPG and a board/party game. Doesn’t sound like your thing? Well, I think it’s one that some people shouldn’t just judge based on the look of the game, and they should play it with a few friends before they can really make any opinions on it. It’s addictive and, with the right group of people, can become a party game that beats any Mario Party game.
Yes, I would have guessed that if it is published by Atlus, it is almost guaranteed to get overlooked. It’s out for both the PS2 and the Wii, but there are no real differences between the two versions. No matter which you play, you’ll find the same mix of old school RPG action and a fun board game, with an interesting single player and some of the best multiplayer you’ll find on either system. So, grab a few friends, kick back, and enjoy a round or two of Dokapon Kingdom; it may become a nice alternative to something like Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, or even Rock Band if you let it.
The final game is one that hasn’t yet been released, but it has great potential. The current release date is December 16th, but Rise of the Argonauts has been rumored to be delayed until January. I guess we’ll find out when the time comes, but until then, let me tell you why I think this game will please both RPG fans and action game fans alike.
The game features a great story and an interesting cast of characters based on the ancient myth of Jason and the Argonauts. The story is more expansive, and it is shown in the gameplay, which has some elements from action games such as God of War, but with RPG and stat-building elements, as well as some choices that will affect your character and the story of the game overall; stuff you would find in Mass Effect. It’s being released at a bad time, and I doubt it will sell all that well, but I think it’ll be a game worth looking out for when the time comes.
Let's hope this one grabs some attention
There are a few more I could name, but these three are some of the best, and may have passed under even my radar if I didn’t feel compelled to give every game that even slightly peaks my interest a chance. Luckily, I have, and these three are some of the best examples of games that are (or could end up being) great games that just never reach the audiences they deserve. Check them out, if you ever get a chance, and maybe you’ll find a new favorite game of the year.
