PixlBit

Happy New Year everyone!  At this time of year I like to write about what games I’m looking forward to playing and reviewing in 2014.  Now I know there will still be lots of games announced as the year goes on, but these are what popped into my head at the time. 

I’d also like to apologize if my list seems a bit Nintendo-centric.  You see, a lot of new games from Sony and Microsoft will be on the PS4 and Xbox One, and I don’t have those consoles yet.  Nor do I plan to buy them in the near future.  Maybe not for another year or so.  There are just not enough games for those consoles that I want to play yet.  So 2014 may be a rather Nintendo-ey year for me.  If I buy any new consoles this year, chances are it’ll probably be a Vita.  So hopefully you won’t think I’m TOO biased now.  With that said, let’s get onto the games!

LEGO Movie Videogame (360)

I’m really looking forward to the LEGO movie this year.  It looks like a lot of fun.  Silly and stupid, but still fun.  So I might snag the video game based on the movie at some point.  It’ll be available for all the consoles, but if I have my druthers, I’d get it on 360.  And if I get to review it, even better!

LocoCycle (360)

OK, so this is one that’s not really announced to be coming out yet, but I’ve heard rumors that this Xbox One downloadable title will also be ported to the 360 as well at some point.  But don’t quote me on that.  I sure hope it does get ported to the 360, though, as that’s the only Xbox One game I’d be interested in playing right now.  It’s made by Austin, TX based Twisted Pixel, so you know it’ll be funny.  You play as a robot motorcycle named IRIS who is best described as what would happen if Kitt from Knight Rider and GlaDOS had a baby.  Gameplay is like a cross between Spy Hunter and OutRun, and I think it looks really fun and humorous.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call (3DS)

Speaking of games that haven’t been announced yet, this is a sequel to the first Theatrhythm game, which was my Game of the Year for 2012.  The sequel either just came out in Japan or is going to be released soon there, so I hope Square announces a US release date, too.  I hear it has FF: Mystic Quest music in it, which rocks.  I think it has a good chance of coming to the US, due to the popularity of the franchise.  But then, I thought Square would release the Rocket Slime sequel in the US and they haven’t yet, so who knows?

Tales of Symphonia Chronicles (PS3)

Actually, chances are I probably won’t get this one, but I will keep my eye on it.  I did enjoy playing the original Symphonia on GameCube, but I’m not sure I have a desire or time to play it again.  Plus I haven’t even opened my copy of Xillia yet.  And the items in the special edition set didn’t get me fired up either. 

Tales of Zestria (PS3)

However, even if I never get to play Xillia or even buy Xillia 2, I’ll probably get this one anyway if it gets announced for a US release (it may already have).  And why?  Well, because for this one, Go Shiina is doing the music for it, and he’s my favorite video game music composer.  Motoi Sakuraba, who usually does the music for Tales games, his music is so bland.  But I’ve heard he may do some music for this new Tales game anyway.  Bet you’ll be able to tell which composer did which songs!

BlazBlue Chrono Phantasma (PS3)

If I don’t get to review this game, I may not even buy it.  But the BlazBlue games are pretty decent 2-D fighters with fun characters.  My favorite is Litchi. Who are your favorites?

Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Remix (PS3)

I haven’t even played much of my 1.5 Remix I got for my birthday yet, but I’ll probably end up getting this one, too, to fill out my collection.  Plus, whenever I do get a chance to play it, it’ll be neat to see TRON, Steamboat Willie, and the revamped Winnie the Pooh worlds in HD!

Pac-Man Museum (360)

This downloadable title featuring a collection of Pac-Man arcade games was announced at last year’s E3, but it hasn’t come out yet.  So I hope it comes out this year.  There have been a few downloadable Namco games that haven’t seen the light of day yet (like Aero-Cross), so I’m a little concerned about this one, too.  It’ll be available for all the consoles, supposedly.

Chibi Robo: Photo Finder (3DS)

They just announced this at the last Nintendo Direct, and it’s coming out soon!  It was a total surprise, and it was the game I was most excited for in the last Nintendo Direct.  I love the Chibi Robo game on GameCube and Park Patrol on DS.  I’m sad we never got the original Chibi Robo sequel in the US on DS, but I’ll happily play this one all the same.  I’m a little bummed out it’s a download title only.  I’ll probably have to get a memory card to hold it!  It looks like a really unique title, though; although I’m afraid there might not be much to it (the $9.99 price tag tips me off of that).  But I’ll still get it anyway when it comes out in a week or two.

Wii Fit U (Wii U)

I know you can already download this one, but the disc copy of it comes out early this year.  I don’t know if I’ll get this one or not either, but I may keep my eye on it.  I already have a gym membership, so I may not have much use for this, but I do like the idea of the pedometer that comes with the game, as I do go for a walk nearly every day and it would be fun to see how it is incorporated into the game.  But we’ll see.  I do think it’s funny that the Wii Fit trainer will be in the next Smash Bros. game!

Bravely Default (3DS)

Do any of you remember a DS game from Square that came out a few years ago called Final Fantasy: 4 Heroes of Light?  Well, Bravely Default is actually a cleverly disguised sequel to that.  I loved that game, but it was a little too hard.  So hopefully Bravely Default will fix that.  I’ve already got the special edition pre-ordered, as it comes out next month.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)

Another game that comes out next month is this one.  Looks like some great platforming, but I hope it’s not as hard as DKC Returns was.  We’ll just have to see.  I’m already planning a blog about my top five favorite Donkey Kong games when this one comes out.  Can you guess which ones they are?

Kirby Triple Deluxe (3DS)

It’s a Kirby game, so you know I’m excited about it.  I don’t really have much more to say about it than that.

Yoshi’s New Island (3DS)

The original SNES Yoshi’s Island is one of the best 2-D platformers ever made, and it’s a very special game to me.  My college roommate’s wife got into video games with this one, and I also enjoyed playing it with my brothers.  So I’m looking forward to this new one as well.  I wonder if Nintendo will have that Wii U yarn Yoshi game this year, too.

Prof. Layton vs. Phoenix Wright (3DS)

I didn’t like the Prof. Layton titles because they required too much math for me, but if you put Phoenix Wright in the game I’ll be glad to play them.  Hopefully I’ll be able to stomach the math parts in order to enjoy the Ace Attorney sections!

Hyrule Warriors (Wii U)

This was another one that was just announced at the last Nintendo Direct.  Even the title is tentative.  It may be weird to combine a Zelda game with a Dynasty Warriors game, but this isn’t the first time that a Nintendo license and a Koei property teamed up.  The year before last we got Pokemon Conquest on the DS, and it was a mix of Pokemon and Nobunaga’s Ambition.  Doesn’t seem so weird now, does it?  I really never had a desire to play a Dynasty Warriors game.  I’m sure they’re fun, but the generic Chinese warlord characters and settings just didn’t get me fired up.  There have been Dynasty Warrior crossovers in the past, like a Gundam one, but again, not interesting enough to me.  But I am a big Zelda fan, so I’ll be happy to give Dynasty Warriors a try now.  We’ll see if I like it!

Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)

While Mario Kart games can be long in the tooth sometimes, they’re still pretty fun and this one looks great.  I’m sure I’ll have fun with it.  I hope Toad is playable.  He’s been my main man since the first Mario Kart on SNES!  I still think they should make a Super Smash Kart game and let other Nintendo characters at the driver’s seat.  I’d also like to see them port the Mario Kart Arcade GP games as well.  I know they’re not as good, but I’d like to be able to play those more and whenever I want.

Super Smash Bros. (Wii U, 3DS)

And speaking of Smash Bros., the next entry in the series should be out this year as well.  I bet it’ll be Nintendo’s big holiday release.  It’ll be for both Wii U and 3DS, and I’ll get them both!  Looking forward to trying out the new characters, like Mega Man, and pit them against old favorites like Kirby.  I’m not very good at the Smash Bros. games, but I like them all the same.  The last two Smash Bros. games were my Game of the Year for the years that they were released!

Indie Boom

It’s harder to keep track of and follow release dates for downloadable games, but I’ve seen a few indie titles Nintendo will have as downloadable entries for their systems, so we’ll conclude with brief overviews of those games I’m looking forward to.  Treasurenauts is made by the same folks who did Mutant Mudds, and hopefully it’ll not be as frustrating as that first one was.  Grinsia and Pier Solar HD look like classic styled RPGs, we’ll see if I have time to play them.  I will definitely make time for Shantae & the Pirate’s Curse on 3DS, though, as it’s WayForward’s baby.  Siesta Fiesta looks like a fun take on the BreakOut/Arkanoid formula.  Armillo looks like a neat cross between Mario Galaxy and Marble Madness, as you control a rolling armadillo through various planets.  And finally, Shovel Knight is a classic 2-D platformer made by ex-WayForward employees. 

Conclusions

And that’s all the games I’m looking forward to right now in 2014, but I’m sure they’ll be more!  Thanks to everyone who read my Cary’s “Best Video Games of 2013 Awards Show” blog.  In the comments section, let me know what you think of my picks, share any games I may have missed that you think I’d like, and tell me what you’re looking forward to playing in 2014!  Later!  --Cary