Banana Scoop

Being a video game blog along with movies and television, I’m going to try and catch up with the relative lack of posts the video game category currently has.  And today I’m going to go through the list of games that I’m buying brand spanking new [used games are a different issue to be discussed in a different time].  2012 had quite the roster of highly anticipated games, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the following 5.  Ordered based on release date.

1. Mass Effect 3 [released date: March 6, 2012]

This one’s already been released and I bought it opening day. Luckily the Mass Effect 3 following on PS3 isn’t as big on the Xbox 360, so I was still able to obtain a copy without pre-ordering.  And a mere 3 days later, I had logged in over 30 hours of playing this title and was honestly emotionally compromised at several points.  There is far more magic than to be explained than this mere list when it comes to the Mass Effect franchise.  But instead of getting into all that, I’ll just talk about how engaging it is as well as the addictive nature of the multiplayer.  The highly controversial ending in my opinion couldn’t take away from the other 29 hours it took me to play this game, and apparently Bioware is released free DLC as a thanks for sticking with them through the rough times.  I’ll more than take it.

2. Prototype 2 [release date: April 27, 2012]

When I first picked up my PS3, I bought two accompanying games to get me started.  One was Mass Effect 2, a highly regarded franchise, and Prototype, an open ended GTA with mutant powers.  The problem with Mass Effect 2 was that it required one hour plus sitdowns to accomplish one mission.  So I ended up playing Prototype inbetween broken intervals and I truly liked the destruction and mayhem that went with it.  There were a couple of issues with it like the bland landscape and it’s relatively repetitive mission structure, but these are both issues that I hear producers Radical Entertainment fixed.  Now I can’t wait to sling my whip again as James Heller fighting the first game’s protagonist, Alex Mercer.

3. Borderlands 2 [release date: September 18, 2012]

I only discovered this gem when a friend let me borrow it claiming it was really fun.  I posted my experiences here, and now I find myself watching the Borderlands 2 trailer at least once a day to make me happy.  Producers Gearbox seemed to fix most of the blatant issues seen in the first game and adding a couple of things no one expected.  The monsters look crazier, the guns more dangerous, and the overall game better.  I’ve already got a group of friends organizing what classes we’ll be so our party is diverse as it is effective when it comes down to defeating Handsome Jack.

4. Bioshock Infinite [October 16, 2012]

My first tumble with Bioshock proved to be a thrilling and heart pounding ride.  I loved the way Irrational Games [formerly 2k Games: Boston] fleshed out Rapture’s dark and rich history in the form of tapes, colorful characters and it’s haunting atmosphere.  I expect no less as Irrational Games takes us thousands of miles above the seafloor of rapture to Columbia, another dystopia with an equally haunting and memorable atmosphere.  Handymen, Sirens, and Patriots await our adventure in pursuit of the lovely Elizabeth.

5. Assassin’s Creed 3 [October 30, 2012]

I’ve never owned an Assassin’s Creed game, but I was fortunate enough to play through 2 and Brotherhood via a former roommate with copies of both games.  They were highly appealing and nothing was more fun than running across rooftops and shooting people down with the broken crossbow from the game.  However, it wasn’t even memorable enough to compel me to buy the next installation: Revelations.  Largely because I figured it to be very much the same game.  But with Assassin’s Creed 3, the environment takes a completely different course to Revolutionary America where the buildings become trees and the swords become tomahawks.  Oh absolutely I am going to get this game.

Something Clearly Not Making My List: Call of Duty 17

I got this idea from an iPhone app making fun of the two very popular first person shooter games.  And while Activision hasn’t released an announcement pertaining a new Call of Duty Game, pretty much every year there has been a new Call of Duty game.  I luckily bought my first and last Call of Duty game last year with Modern Warfare 3.  The action was fun enough and I spent enough hours sucking hard and occasionally winning, but I don’t have much appeal in ever buying another one of these games again.