Games, games, games!

Ah... Why is 2010 looking so good for the gaming world?! I don't have the money to keep up! Already had gaming gems this year like Red Dead Redemption and Mass Effect 2, and now the games coming in the autumn and winter months look amazing too! (At least to me it does.) Let me run down a small list of what I'm looking forward to.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood 

Ezio with some new friends

The next in the Assassin's Creed series, the story returns to Ezio as he starts to settle down after the events of Assassin's Creed II. But his past can't escape him and he is dragged back into the assassin world. He must gather a brotherhood of assassin's (hence the title) and overthrow Rome from the Borgia, his enemies who he spared at the end of AC II. This is also the return of Desmond in the present day. He has gained the skills of an assassin through re-living Ezio's tale and although not a lot has been revealed about his role in the game, we have been promised it will be far different than the basic 'walking around then lie down again' we've played in the last two games.

The big thing about this game, and what has me the most excited, is the new multiplayer mode. You have to hunt another player who looks like many NPCs, but must keep a good cover as you yourself is being hunted. A hunts B hunts C etc. This mode sounds like a tense and fun game type that is much more unique than recent games. Due November 2010.

LittleBigPlanet 2

The sequel to the amazing LittleBigPlanet. The first was a platformer with an insanely in-depth level designer. So in-depth that the levels for the main story (if you want to call it that) were all made out of that design mode. The sequel promises even more variety for customisation and will allow for many types of gaming genres like shooters, puzzlers, platformers etc. to be created in the new level designer. It also allows not only for levels to be created, but entire games!

I haven't actually used the designer myself other than to make a couple of rocket-powered cars, but the community are sure to make some amazing levels which I am very much looking forward too.

Halo: Reach

Does this really need an introduction? The final Halo game by the devs. Bungie, this is a prequel to the Halo story. Set on the planet Reach, it tells the story of Noble team as they fight the Covenant on the doomed planet. You play a Noble-6, the new member of the team and see the story through his eyes.

Not only does the story sound amazing, but the Forge mode (level editior) is getting a huge boost as well. With a HUGE canvas called Forge World, players can build almost any type of structure and level to use in multiplayer. This will also be a lot simpler than the Forge mode in Halo 3, where it first debuted.

Just a glimpse of the huge Forge World

It also has an improved Firefight mode, where you and up to 3 other players can face wave after wave of Covenant forces of a variety of stages. The waves, weapons, time limits and more can be customised to your liking. Want to face wave after wave of grunts with only a pistol? Go for it! The customisation is the main pull for me about this game. Between Firefight, the Campaign, Forge World and multiplayer online, this game will keep me busy for a long time. Due 14th September 2010.

That's right. You can drive a forklift. Badass.

And finally, my most anticipated game of 2010 is...

I bet you weren't expecting that! Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 is the sequel to one of my best games of all time. It runs through the story of Naruto during the Shippuden arc. right up to the tense battle against Pain. For those who don't know, Naruto is an Anime/Manga series that tells the tale of the ninja Naruto. The game is set just as Naruto returns from his 2 and a half years training with his sensei, Jiraiya. To say any more would be spoiling things, and it would take me far to long to tell you.

Boasting beautiful visuals that are true to the anime, the easy is play, hard to master fighting style and having over 40 characters to play as, this game is just what I wanted from a sequel to Storm 1. It's hard for me to explain why I love this game, so just have a look at the video below.



As an avid fan of the Naruto series, this game has my hype meter through the roof! As you saw, the demo is out soon, so give it a go and see what you think.

Well that's my list. But I'm also looking forward to 2011! Gear of War 3, Dead Space 2, Batman: Arkham City, Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword... gaming is looking good! That is, if you ignore Kinect and PS Move...