The curtain has finally fallen on Europe’s largest games show and this year has delivered a bumper crop of new titles to get excited about. Join us as we pick out the highlights from Gamescom 2009, including announcements for the PS3 Slim, Fable 3, Uncharted 2, New Super Mario Bros and more....
PS3 Slim
Format: PS3
Release: September 2009
Not strictly a game – but still one of the biggest announcements at the Gamescom show was the news of the freshly designed PS3 that’s about to hit the High Street in September.
The internal design architecture of the new PS3 Slim, from the main semiconductors and power supply unit to the cooling mechanism, has been completely redesigned, achieving a much slimmer and lighter body.
Compared to the very first PS3 model with 60GB HDD, the thickness and weight are trimmed down to approximately two-thirds. Power consumption is also cut to two-thirds, helping to reduce fan noise. That’s not all, the new PS3’s storage size has increased from 80GB to 120GB, and with the extra capacity users will be able to store more games, music, photos and videos.
Mini Ninjas
Format: DS, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
Release: 11 September
In Mini Ninjas you play as Hiro, a young trainee Ninja and the last person that would be expected to go and save the world. When the Evil Samurai Warlord, with the help of an ancient magic, turns forest animals into an army hell bent on world domination, Hiro must lead his small band of midget Ninjas on a journey through a disintegrating world, to battle the magical hordes of twisted Samurai and eventually confront the Warlord in his Fortress of Doom.
Bamboo forests, snowy mountains, flooded valleys and massive looming castles – the gameworld looks rich and varied in this humorous colourful action title that promises to blend platform action with button bashing combat.
Assassin’s Creed II
Format: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Release: November 2009
In the first game players filled the boots of Altair as he ran around the 12th century, despatching his victims, helping bystanders and generally being the type of medieval mercenary that delivered a fresh and innovative perspective on the stealth action genre.
The sequel introduces a new hero - Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a young Italian noble, and a new era, the Renaissance, and a new locale: 15th century Italy. Publisher Ubisoft promises plenty of gameplay freedom - you will be able to perform missions when you want and how you want in this open-ended world that brings back free-running and adds elements such as swimming and even flying to the new adventure.
Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier
Format: PS2 and PSP
Release: November 2009
Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier is a third person action adventure game that picks up their story where the original trilogy ended. With trademark Jak and Daxter game play, players will manipulate light & dark levels, engage in vehicular combat, and wield a customisable gunstaff, Jak’s weapon of choice.
With intense sky battles and attacks on behemoth capital ships that comprise nearly half the game, players will earn frequent rewards and raw materials to customise their aircraft. There’s five different planes to play with and an open ended storyline allowing players to engage in side missions as well as plot-critical assignments
Uncharted 2: Among thieves
Format: PS3
Release: Winter 2009
The sequel to the 2007 hit Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, this PS3 exclusive looks set to deliver the same high level of polished action adventure antics – but this time incorporating a whole new multiplayer aspect.
The game will feature up to 10 players in 5-versus-5 competitive gameplay. Cooperative multiplayer modes allow up to 3 players to progress through a variety of environments by working together to accomplish set objectives. Using a new party system, groups of players will remain together in ranked and custom matches while earning currency, which used in combination with currency earned in single player missions, will unlock additional content and upgrades.
New Super Mario Bros.
Format: Wii
Release: Christmas 2009
Both veteran gamers and Nintendo’s own developers have dreamed of creating a simultaneous multiplayer Super Mario Bros. game for decades. The Wii console finally makes that dream come true this Christmas. Now players can navigate the side-scrolling worlds alone as before or invite up to three others to join them at the same time on the same level at any point in the game for both competitive and cooperative multiplayer action.
Quite why this took so long to develop is something of a mystery to us - but at least it’s finally on the release horizon. Mario, Luigi and two Toads are all playable characters, while many others from the Mushroom Kingdom make appearances throughout the game. Gamers can even ride different Yoshi characters and use their tongues to swallow enemies – or their fellow players. We’re tipping this game to be the biggest Wii title over the Christmas period and we’ll eat our collective hat if we’re wrong!
EyePet
Format: PS3
Release: Christmas 2009
Sadly not a chance to raise and teach a virtual Geordie, but a new game that utilises the technology of the PlayStation Eye peripheral. Place an object in front of the camera and EyePet will interact with it. Tickle EyePet by waving your fingers in front of the camera and he will laugh. Poke him, and he will jump. Roll a ball and EyePet will chase after it. We’ve had less responsive real life pets – this looks like great fun!
With over 250 collectibles you can customise your pet’s look by styling his fur, changing his clothes and giving him new toys. There’s Pixar-like magic behind the scenes so the on-screen animations look freakishly life-like. A real contender for the coveted Christmas number one spot.
Dark Void
Format: PC, PS3, X360
Release: 2010
From the publisher behind the stonkingly good Bionic Commando comes Dark Void – another well produced arcade game for the hardcore gamer. The unique combination of jetpack-booster aerial dog fighting and third-person combat promises to create a new gameplay dynamic to the third-person shooter experience.
Taking 3D action to a whole new level, Dark Void's unique vertical combat system allows players to dangle from thousand foot drops as they take cover and hurl enemies to their doom, bringing a whole new sense of tension and vertigo to the player. From tight corridors to immense canyons, this arcade shooter promises to deliver a whole new angle on the well worn shooter genre
Napoleon: Total War
Format: PC
Release: February 2010
The Total War games are the benchmark PC strategy titles, offering a level of depth and tactical gameplay pretty much unparalleled in a highly competitive field. The latest instalment expands on the Total War series by cherry picking all the features from previous games such as the full 3D land and naval battles, the detailed campaign map, and an in-depth diplomacy system and then taking it a step further with a whole new Napoleonic theme.
In Napoleon: Total War, aspiring generals have the chance to play as the legendary French general Napoleon Bonaparte or as one of his opposing factions. Battling through his three biggest military campaigns, the game will take you through Italy and Egypt, narrating the early years of the fearsome commander, while the third campaign will tell the story of his fateful drive towards Moscow and, ultimately, his showdown with the Duke of Wellington at one of the most famous battles of all – The Battle of Waterloo.
Fable III
Format: Xbox 360
Release: Christmas 2010
The exhibition floor was alive with the buzz that Peter Molyneux, legendary games developer, was preparing to make a big announcement. The rumours were true and Fable III was officially unveiled – the follow-up to the best selling role playing game on Xbox 360.
“We’ve spent a lot of time at Lionhead thinking about how we can innovate the gameplay and progress the world of the ‘Fable’ games for its third chapter, and we’re confident that players won’t second-guess what we have planned for ‘Fable III,’” said Molyneux
In the story of Fable III, the journey to rule the throne of Albion begins five decades after the events of the last chapter, and you play as the child of your hero from Fable II. As you rule your kingdom as king or queen, you will be called upon to make choices and sacrifices that will test your morality and can affect the entire kingdom. Themes of heroism, leadership and consequence are taken to a grand scale as you fight to unite a divided people. It’s going to be epic, trust us.
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