THE HYPE LIST

2013's Top 13

So lately I've been doing a lot of looking backward which has made me feel like the old man who often complains that "they didn't make these like they did back in my day!" And well, I'm 18 and I shouldn't be acting like an old man. I should be looking forward to our future with youth and optimism.

And with video games we may have a good year a head of us. Yes, I've been looking back at my "Dolphin Days" nostalgia for a while now, but I shouldn't soon forget that there are still good new games!

So I made a Top 13 list of titles I'm hyped up for in 2013. Surprisingly, even with my picky tastes it was hard to even eliminate down to just 13 titles. It was tough but here they all are. Some you've probably expected, some you may be hyped for yourself. Some you might just hear from here and my hype will spread, who knows!

---

BONUS: Kaiju Combat (Fighting, Sunstone Games)

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/14214732/kaiju-combat-giant-monsters-awesome-fighting-onlin

I couldn't put this game on the list because it might not happen unless it gets funded via Kickstarter, but I feel it easily would make my top 10 if it goes through!

I LOVE giant monsters! Giant monsters are cool and they NEED more fighting games. Giant monsters seem to be making a bit of a comeback recently with the new movie Pacific Rim with giant monster on robot action (and with oddly distracting GLaDOS voice, but we'll ignore that for now). And this Kickstarter is not just to fund one monster fighter, but a whole series! A "Madden" series for monster fighting! Once or twice a year a new Kaiju Combat will be made with an updated roster of both original monsters as well as some old time greats such as Godzilla, Ultraman, Gamera, Cthulhu, and even the Stat-Puft Marshmallow Man.

Seriously, for $20 this game is not only a steal, but an investment! If you love big monsters you may want to take a look!

---

13. Star Wars: 1313 (3rd Person Shooter, LucasArts

Huh... that's a lot of 13's, and its not like 13 just happens to be my favorite number or anything!

But in all seriousness, I'm kinda sad that this game placed so low. I like the new direction and all, but I see this as another "Forced Unleashed" situation. LucasArts find a new successful game (Uncharted) and decides to rip it off with a Star Wars twist (like Unleashed to God of War). And Forced Unleashed was a HUGE disappointment, and its over the top sequel is just an embarrassment.

So it looks to play a lot like Uncharted. Maybe they'll throw a few gimmicks our way, but I see it as another potential disappointment.

But its on the Hype List for a reason! And that is direction!

You thought Disney buying LucasArts would turn everything into Space Hannah Montana Well think again because Disney is publishing the first M Rated Star Wars. Star Wars is the one franchise I think can actually go dull and gritty and actually feel fresh. I prefer Star Wars as a family franchise, but I do like to see things branch out a bit.

Plus hey Bounty Hunters are freakin' rad! They are arguably the coolest characters in Star Wars! Screw the glow sticks, give me a flamethrower and some rockets!

---

12. Watch Dogs (Stealth Action, Ubisoft Montreal)

I see people saying this game is "a modern age Assassin's Creed" and "the game that won E3", and I'd like to agree, but something about it bothers me.

The E3 demo was FANTASTIC... up until the last 5 minutes. Then COVER BASED SHOOTING! Seriously, the hacking mechanics looked great! Hunting the target looked fun, but then the execution (literally) was a boring shootout!

Maybe they'll change that before release, but its certainly a title to look out for.

---

11. Double Fine Adventure (Adventure, Double Fine Productions)

I'll admit... I don't know that much about this game actually. Mostly because I didn't back its Kickstarter. I can now still back the development with a $30 price tag (which I will soon). Then I can see the behind the scenes look at its development.

And this would place higher if I was a bigger fan of Point-and-Click Adventure games. Its not that I don't like them, but its that I just haven't really played any.

But still Tim Schafer man... he willed his fans to fund the project and they bathed that man in money! And hell, Tim and his Double Fine team is a development team I love so much, they could never do me wrong.

---

10. Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs (Survivor Horror, thechineseroom)

Well have you heard of Amnesia? Seriously, you probably have by now.

Its an indie game that's been around for a while... and it kinda got famous...

Something about it just seemed to capture the emotion of its players... but not quite unbridled childlike wonder though like some games can... but another emotion... Oh yeah!

IT SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF YOU!

Seriously, its been a long while that I felt fear from a video game before Amnesia came around. Some people claimed games like Resident Evil and Dead Space to be scary, but really they aren't scary at all. You get big guns and feel too empowered, and thus you can't be afraid!

Amnesia does fear right! You are helpless! Your best bet is to run and hide! But even if you lose the monster, the atmosphere will still get you!

And I'm really glad fear like this gets a sequel. Ever since Amnesia's release there has been a horror craze lately with tons of indie games popping up! Namely one having to do with a guy in a suit who is not scary and might as well be a big troll face icon.... Slender sucks....

I feel that Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs will show these wannabes how horror is done right again. They may need a refresher course because they missed the part when they started shoving memes in our horror games.

---

9. Bioshock Infinite (First-Person Shooter/RPG, Irrelevant Games)

Here's a game that I am VERY confused about!

Lately, I've been getting bored of shooters. Bored to the point where I'm on a self proclaimed hiatus from the FPS genre until further notice. But I may have to make an exception with Bioshock Infinite.

It seems to be doing what Bioshock 2 should have done in the first place, be a good single player game! Bioshock 2's single player was HORRIBLE! And quite frankly I don't even see why they bothered sticking around Rapture. The first one ended on a fine note, so why go back?

Though there is ONE thing from Bioshock 2 that I'll miss... and apparently I'm the only one I know that feels this way. Bioshock 2's multiplayer will be missed! WOW YES I ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT!

I LOVE Bioshock 2's multiplayer! As soon as I got the game I spent 3 straight days playing it! Its probably my favorite online multiplayer shooter ever! ...But I'm really the only one who feel that way, and if it means that the singleplayer won't be shit this time around then I suppose I will compromise. I'm done with competitive shooters anyway.

---

8. The Cave (2D Platformer, Double Fine Productions)

I remember saying once, "Hey a 2D Psychonauts would be a pretty cool idea" and hell this is close enough! The Cave is a new 2D Platformer made by the lovely people at Double Fine! Essentially you play as multiple characters with different abilities as they explore a mysterious Cave. And Well I'm pretty 2D Platformer hungry about now so I have a mighty need!

Plus hey MORE DOUBLE FINE!

---

7. The Witness (First-Person Puzzle, Johnathan Blow)

Okay maybe I'd be more hyped for this game if I knew more about it.

But its a game that a lot of people are really looking forward to because its developer Jon Blow who created Braid! Braid is probably one of the best 2D Platformers you could ever play.

His new project looks quite interesting, though I know little about it. I'll make sure to do more research on my own, but I'm still looking forward to this one anyway!

---

6. Grand Theft Auto V (Sandbox, Rockstar Noth)

So the Grand Theft Auto series has been dethroned recently. GTAIV tried a little to hard to immerse you in realism. The city just wasn't as fun as it used to be back in the day. Which is a real shame because San Andreas is one of my favorite games of all time!

Oddly enough, GTAV goes back to San Andreas, but not just as one, but 3 characters. I actually do tend to like the characters in Grand Theft Auto games. I remember as a kid playing the story missions and actually caring about what happened to CJ and the gang, despite me stuffing hamburgers down CJs throat till he burst.

So now I have 3 characters and 3 stories to get into which is great for someone like me!

For everyone else, just look at this game. San Andreas look beautiful! And apparently its supposed to be massive!

Let's hope Rockstar can win back their crown! I feel they may have learned what works and doesn't work and we'll get another great GTA game to spend hours on!

---

5. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (Adventure, Next Level Games)

Luigi's Mansion was perhaps one of the best launch titles for a console that I have had the honor playing (its only surpassed by one other that happens to be on the same console). Years later we are finally getting a sequel!

With more mansions to explore, Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon is a must have title for 3DS owners (I sadly am not included because I am poor). This and one other particular game are really making me want to buy a 3DS! Maybe they'll have a cool limited edition package for this. That would be cool!

---

4. Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Life Simulator, Nintendo EAD)

The other game that makes me want to buy a 3DS!

Animal Crossing is possibly one of my all time favorite Nintendo games ever. Animal Crossing has been a huge part of my life even. Though one sad issue is that I never felt it ever had a real sequel.

Wild World felt more like a DS demake. And City Folk felt like an expansion pack! Neither of these games ever felt like an Animal Crossing 2.

And now the series is about to turn a New Leaf! This long awaited 3DS title looks to be like an actual sequel to the GameCube classic which is LONG overdue!

The game has a slight change in style, graphics update, and you are now the Mayor of the town adding new gameplay features! Its still the same life sim we all know and love, but bigger!

Seriously, everything I see for this game just brings me back to the days I was a kid fully immersed in this strange animal world! And I look forward to going back soon!

---

3. Rayman Legends (2D Platformer, Ubisoft Montpellier)

Lately, I've been hoping to see some cool new 2D Platformers. I really do miss that old genre. But lately all we've had were some pretty sup par Nintendo titles such as New Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Country Returns, Metroid Other M, and Kirby Return to Dreamland.

These games were all good fun, but none of them really felt like super solid 2D Platformers like they used to be.

And then last year a little game came out called Rayman Origins, a game I completely ignored! I look back now and discover this GREAT platformer that puts New Mario to shame!

And now we get a WiiU sequel as Rayman Legends, which is one of the best looking titles for the console! If there is any symbol of what the 3rd Party can do with the WiiU they should look to this game! Its great! Now if only I could get myself some money to buy a blasted Wii U!

---

2. Pikmin 3 (Real-Time Strategy/Adventure, Nintendo EAD)

Remember the other game that I said was a better launch game then Luigi's Mansion? Well best launch title game ever in my opinion goes to Pikmin! Pikmin is a beautiful mix of Real-Time Strategy and Adventure! Both Pikmin and its sequel are Nintendo classics!

Its taken them a long time, but a 3rd installment is on the way for the WiiU. And to be honest, this was the game that finalized my decision to want to pick up one! It actually reminds me of the GameCube launch which I see as a GREAT sign for the Wii U's future!

---

1. The Last Guardian (3D Puzzle Platformer, Team ICO)

Okay... so this game is not "confirmed" for 2013, but its ABOUT DAMN TIME THEY RELEASE THIS ONE!

Seriously I'm getting worried! There have been rumored cancellations of this game that thankfully have been shot down. Apparently the game was at a playable state, but some mysterious technical issue was keeping it from being a finished product.

But really this game NEEDS to come out and this would be the year to do it! They have been developing the game exclusively for the PS3 for YEARS now and the PS3's lifespan is probably coming to an end with the next year or 2.

If you don't understand the hype do yourself a favor and pick up the ICO + Shadow of the Colossus HD edition for the PS3 for cheap! Play those then watch the trailers for The Last Guardian... you done? Good! You probably should be blown away by now!

Team ICO may be one of the best game development teams to ever exist! They've only made 2 games and they are already far ahead of the competition. Shadow of the Colossus is in a pretty close tie with Mother 3 and Yoshi's Island for my favorite game ever, and ICO is not too far behind!

The Last Guardian would be the PERFECT send off for the current generation of consoles. Why not go out with a HUGE bang. Last Guardian has the making to be one of the best games of this console generation.

If this game released this year, I'd go out and buy a brand new PS3, if not JUST to play this ONE game! Its a game about a young boy and his mysterious creature exploring a mysterious land. The game in its early 2009 footage look beautiful even for today's standards. The creature itself also looks like its actually alive in the trailers. Imagine actually interacting with this thing in a game!

Perhaps I'm overhyping this a bit, but this a game that just needs to be released, and released soon. And its my most hyped game for the year!