The 2019 gaming scene promises to be richly varied, following closely at the heels of the launch of the Nintendo Switch, featuring masterpieces like Super Mario Odyssey and Zelda: Breath of the Wild in 2017 and the genius of Sony’s God of War and Marvel’s Spider-Man in 2018. It is expected to make big-budget console game sequels co-exist with the comparatively smaller indie projects, making it harder for gamers to pick a favorite. Be that as it may, the following may be said to be few of the gaming titles one should look out for this year:
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Final Fantasy 7 Remake
A game that has been anticipated since Sony exhibited the FF7 PS3 tech demo way back in 2005 received its own official announcement in 2015 as the situation stands now, the glimpses of the game show an action-oriented gameplay style quite similar to that of the Kingdom Hearts series. However, it may be expected that the game shall be released in parts, much unto the style of the release of Final Fantasy 13.
Furthermore, Final Fantasy’s 30th anniversary in 2018 revealed news of the launch of the FF7 Remake being extended all the way out to 2023. While there still stands a chance that the game may be launched in the latter part of 2019. Gamers can do nothing except hope for the best; given that its release may just be one of the year’s best surprises.
Dying Light 2
The first Dying Light, in its own way, may be said to have saved the dying interest in games involving zombies. Resurrecting the zombies of the zombie genre, Dying Light strengthened and maintained gamers’ interest in the same with the fact of its receiving a great expansion in ‘The Following’, which came with a full year of content.
The first Dying Light is becoming dangerous at night with its large world, chock full of creatures. Game lovers can explore, traverse, and utilize a simple crafting system focused on melee weapons. The game received a boost in ‘The Following’ and is expected to be taken to the next level by “Dying Light 2”.
Not only will this new installment by Techland include a game whose play-space shall be affected significantly by a player’s decisions, but players will also be responsible for a community of NPCs. It remains to be seen what new monsters are going to make their way into the game this time.
Shenmue 3
The brainchild of Game Director Yu Suzuki, Shenmue was one of the most expensive games of its time, and its impact was so great that gamers wanted more. The same gamers crowdfunded the game’s development, and it is now being said that the journey of Ryo Hazuki’s in search for answers about his father’s death is all set to receive its next, and maybe the last chapter, this August.
It does, however, remain to be seen if the game will introduce evolved combating systems and controls, eschew quick-time events, and implement the massive amount of collectibles that the game’s previous versions featured.
Cyberpunk 2077
With the stakes being set sky-high by CD Projekt Red and the leaps taken in quality from Witcher to Witcher 3. The launch of Cyberpunk 2077, with its first lengthy gameplay, may be one of the most anticipated games this year.
The open spaces in the gameplay demo are stuffed with NPCs and have numerous interactive elements to allow players to engage in many side-quests besides the main one. Built upon the lore and rules of Michael Pondsmith’s Cyberpunk series, Cyberpunk 2077 promises to be an engaging experience for gamers who are lovers of sci-fi.
Beyond Good and Evil 2
The sequel to Beyond Good and Evil entered the gaming scene in 2018. It is in the form of a prequel to the story of the first Beyond Good and Evil, where it opens wide a world whose slices have been glimpsed in the first game. In the sequel, gamers may explore this new world that has been opened up to them solo or with friends.
While it does not match up to the thrill of the first game, this sequel comes with its own perks. The communicators from the developers’ team asked gamers for their suggestions while developing the game. Thus, it is expected that the game may introduce massive changes during its beta stages to build a world co-created by developers as well as players. Besides this, the game also seems full of new explorable planets that may be left for heading out to space on ships with explorable interiors. While the game may be years from its official release, its first glimpses can be expected this year.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown features an expensive weapon through the sky along with music that defines the movement of the game. The game is the underdog to watch out for, albeit having dog-fighting as its primary motif. Its innovativeness also lies in the fact that some of its missions have been tailor-made for virtual reality, and although still in its testing stages, if successful, the game may be transformed entirely to cater to the needs of virtual reality.
Streets of Rage
This hand-drawn game combines stylish looks with hard-hitting action to appeal to gamers specifically interested in brawlers. Alex and Blaze have every chance to finally get the love they deserve with a new top-level entry in this cult classic. Developers have announced that new characters shall be introduced eventually, and Skate is expected to be one of them.
Dead or Alive 6
Fans of Team Ninja’s version of face-punching action finally have some news to be thrilled with, with news of Dead or Alive receiving the 6th installment this year. The visual effects of previous series entries and building upon it by allows players to see their fighters get bruised and bloody. The game is also all set to provide a few beginner-friendly features expected to make the game approachable to new players, still unused to the excessive blood and gore. Overall, fans who have been substituting with Street Fighter 5 or Super Smash Bros Ultimate may finally heave a sigh of relief.
Earth Defence Force: Iron Rain
Earth Defence Force: Iron Rain is following closely behind Earth Defence Force 5 which hit the US markets only last month. With its whole outlook of smashing giant alien bugs, the game is similar to its predecessor but differs in it being developed with a Western audience in mind besides having features like boost meter and overcharge abilities being added to it. It is also boosting its visual effects by adding more intricate battle damages to surrounding buildings. It is expected to hold on to its arcade action roots and may release exclusively on PS4 in the later part of the year.
Battletoads
While there is not much to go on regarding this new installment, a short teaser trailer of Battletoads has revealed that the game shall feature a 3-player couch co-op, besides having hand-drawn art. Infamous for being a classic action brawler with extreme difficulty and a racing level all but impossible for most gamers to complete, Battletoads is all set for a launch this year exclusively for Xbox One and Windows PC.
Far Cry: New Dawn
Ubisoft had left the end of Far Cry 5 with numerous plot elements with open ends only to have them be tied up in Far Cry: New Dawn which it sprung upon the players at 2018’s Game Awards. The game, with its landscape resembling a combination of Mad Max and Montana, features a dark sense of humor and open-world exploration gameplay; along with mysterious new twins who may as well be the new antagonists of the new world. Far Cry New Dawn is all set to be released on February 15, 2019, on Xbox One, PS4, and Windows PC.
