After an extremely busy month for the gaming industry in November, it seems the pace of game releases is slowing down slightly for December. With that in mind, I’ll be taking a look at the handful of titles being released.
Mario Kart 7
Developer(s): Nintendo EAD, Retro Studios
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Genre(s): Racing
Mode(s): Single play, multiplayer
Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS
Release date(s): December 1, 2011 (JP), December 2, 2011 (EU), December 3, 2011 (AUS), December 4, 2011 (NA)
Mario Kart is a truly iconic series of games, loved by individuals worldwide. With a lack of release titles for the Nintendo 3DS in March, Mario fans everywhere have been anxious to obtain this title. Mario Kart is a game that would influence fans of the series to actually purchase the Nintendo 3DS.
Mario Kart 7 is sticking with similar gameplay concepts that its predecessors possessed. The player has the ability to select from an array of Mario characters, to race against others on Mario-themed tracks. Mario Kart 7 has some new additional abilities, which is the ability to drive underwater and applying hand-gliding attachments to your kart.
Mario Kart 7 does include some new gameplay features, despite sticking to the traditional Mario Kart theme. One feature is the ability to customise the kart you choose to drive. The player has the opportunity to select various frames, which range in weight and a selection of tires which will affect the kart’s handling on certain surfaces. The player can also apply hang gliders and parachutes to their kart, which allows players to collect coins, glide through the air when hitting certain ramps and grants them access to alternate routes. Additional weapons are being included in Mario Kart 7, such as the Fire Flower, the Super Leaf and Lucky 7, which is a roulette item.
The coin feature included in Super Mario Kart makes an appearance in Mario Kart 7. Instead of increasing a player’s speed and defence as the coin feature has previously, it is now the key to winning new parts to customise your kart. The trick system from Mario Kart Wii is also featured in Mario Kart 7. This feature allows the player to earn a boost by performing tricks in the air.
The player will have access to the multiplayer feature, which allows up to eight players to compete online. Mario Kart 7 will also make use of the StreetPass and SpotPass features, which allows the player to download ghost data from other players.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Developer(s): BioWare
Publisher(s): Electronic Arts, Lucas Arts
Genre(s): MMORPG
Mode(s): Multiplayer
Platform(s): PC
Release date(s): December 20, 2011 (INT)
Players will have the opportunity to join one of two major factions – the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire. Each faction is led by a benevolent or malevolent leader, but the player still has the ability to possess their own individual morality along the light/dark spectrum. Differentiating between the player’s morality and faction is the primary focus of the project. An example of this is if a player had ties with the Galactic Republic, they may belong to the Dark Side, whilst attempting to achieve their own goals.
Each class in The Old Republic will favour a certain playing style, such as melee or ranged. A combination of customisation and companions will allow the player to tackle various scenarios, with or without support of other player’s characters or specific classes to move forward.
Choices that the player makes throughout the game will impact the storyline and the non-playable characters. Every character in the game will feature full voice dialog. Interactions will feature a dialogue system similar to that of the Mass Effect series. The player can choose various companions to interact with. It is said that spending time with a single companion is useful in developing story and content, in comparison with interacting with numerous companions. Exploration is paramount in this title, as the player has access to numerous planets throughout the game.
The plot feature in The Old Republic takes place 300 years after the events that took place within the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic games, and more than 3,500 years before the events of the Star Wars films.
Puss In Boots
Developer(s): Blitz Games
Publisher(s): THQ
Genre(s): Action
Mode(s): Single play, multiplayer
Plaform(s): Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS
Release date(s): 2 December, 2011 (EU)
Puss in Boots is a game based on the Dreamworks film of the same title. It is a title that makes use of both the Kinect and Move on their respective platforms. Puss in Boots is a unique title, aimed primarily at fans of the Shrek franchise.
Puss in Boots allows you to step into the boots of your favourite feline from the Shrek series. Puss primarily uses his sword to engage in combat with enemies. A combination of deadly sword strikes and a sly combat style, allows Puss to become a legendary hero. With the ability to use cat-like sneaking skills, or participate in furious sword slashing, it really does rest in the player’s hands how Puss defeats his foes. Throughout the game, the player has the opportunity to interact with characters from the Puss in Boots film. The main objective is to catch the Golden Goose, that’s if Puss doesn’t get distracted serenading señoritas along the way! With a combination of Kinect and Move features and a charismatic kitty-kat, this game looks to be a purrrfect game for the children this Christmas.
After such a manic month during November, it’s no wonder that the industry has slowed down a bit during December. With three extremely different titles coming out, I’m confident that one of them will satisfy your gaming needs, even if you’re ashamed to admit it!
The gaming line up is already looking to be a fantastic one. With so many titles already announced and rumoured, which ones are you looking forward to? Contact Zero1gaming or any member of the team, and let us know! We would love to hear from you, and would be extremely grateful for your input! Many thanks for reading, hope you all have an idea what games you’ll be placing on your Christmas list!
Hannah
Release date sources:
No comments:
Post a Comment