Game previews of 2008

So it’s a new year and we’re all going to be accidentally writing 07 on stuff and scribbling it out to write 08 on it when writing cheques or filling out forms. With a new year comes more great games hopefully so let’s see what there is to look forward to.

First up there’s the delayed GTA 4, originally pencilled for a pre-Christmas release it slipped quicker than a well-oiled person rolling out of the pub on New Year’s Eve to an Easter release date. In the game you play Niko, a not-so-happy chappie from Eastern Europe. You arrive on the shores of Liberty City and get involved in lots of violent corrupt stuff as usual over four boroughs. This being next-gen I think we’re in for a treat with the same great open-world gameplay, great detail in the scenery and characters and much more to do than ever before. One thing’s for sure, it’ll sell by the lorry load on all formats and get good reviews on the hype-wagon whether good or bad.

Then there’s Metal Gear Solid 4. Good to see Solid Snake’s still taking the Viagara – now he’s an older gent getting a bit fed up of war and wondering – what’s it good for? Anyway, looking at the trailers it seems Hideo Kojima is still into making Hollywood movies on consoles and is going to be back with a blinder. This time there’s nowhere to hide so you have to blend where you can round the city as you sneak past guards and get intot some pretty hefty firefights too. Expect some old favourite characters and plenty of surreal humour too – this time exclusively on the PS3 with no exceptions. Now where have we heard that before?

Nintendo promise us Wii fit, their sort of plate looking thing that goes on the floor and plugs into the Wii which lets you exercise without leaving your house! And if you want to fight on the Wii, Super Smash Brothers brawl will be massive with new guest characters including the afore-mentioned Solid Snake out to kick Mario’s ass.

Hurrying things up now we have yet more sequels. Capcom will be releasing hardcore fighting shooting game Devil May Cry 4, Sega will be scaring us again with Condemned 2, Resident Evil 5, Far Cry 2, Silent Hill 5 and RPGers will love Fallout 3 and Sony has high hopes for Killzone 2.

And let’s not forget Splinter Cell Conviction, Burnout Paradise, Ghostbusters and GT5.

That’s lots of games and not too everyone’s taste. I guess the proof of the pudding is in the eating so we’ll find out if all these games live up to the hype as the year rolls by.