Pick 5: Must Play Indie Titles

Every time I browse online game stores whether it's from Xbox Live, PSN, or Steam, I always get tempted to get independent titles. I've experience great indie games that come out just as good or even better than some retail games priced at $60. Maybe it's the freedom they have to make the game? I'm not too sure, but indie games is always a breath of fresh air with an industry filled with sequels and games all about shooting people. 2012 was another great year for indie developers, but my Pick 5 is a mix of new and old games.

Super Meat Boy - $14.99 Release date: November 2010

To this day, if I want some good old fashion platforming that would really test my patience, I head back to Super Meat Boy on my Xbox 360. It was released in 2010, but I only got my copy of the game around 2011 and I'm glad I did. It's simply a 2D platformer with the goal of reaching the end of the stage, but don't think this will be easy. They have one of the most ridiculous stages and game mechanics, and since you die in one hit, the tension never goes away. There are around 300 stages in this game, and have a good amount of characters with unique abilities,  so this title has a good amount of content.

FTL: Faster Than Light - $9.99 Release date: Sept 2012

This is actually one of the newest title in the bunch. FTL: Faster Than Light is a PC indie title that can kill your whole afternoon if you're not careful. This Real Time Strategy game let's you take command of a space ship that must deliver vital information to the allied fleet. You manage everything in your ship from, ship upgrades, ship repairs, which crew member mans a station on the ship, and do battle against other ships that you come across. This game is a time sink. When I finished downloading the game(only 157MB) I couldn't stop playing. This also has one fo the best soundtracks from an indie game so far.

Terraria - $9.99 Release date: May 2011

Terraria is a 2D action adventure platformer with a hint of RPG elements. This game is all about exploration and experimentation. You simply start with nothing and slowly create what you need to survive with the materials around you, Sounds familiar? There's no story, or objective. But as you go deeper into the world, more monsters and items will unlock, bosses will show up, and you instantly find yourself invested in this game.

Legend of Grimrock - $14.99 Release date - April 2012

Legend of Grimrock is old school dungeon crawlers return to modern gaming. This game is greatly inspired by past titles like Eye of the Beholder and Dungeon Master. You hardly see games like this anymore, but it's good that a very new indie developer took the challenge at bringing it back. As you go deeper in, you find weapons, level up, figure out clues, find hidden rooms, and trigger traps that will instantly kill you. The way the combat works may feel awkward for people unfamiliar with games like this, so have an open mind when you give this game a try.

Binding of Isaac - $4.99 Release Date: September 2011

This is one game that's disturbing and addicting at the same time. It's a top down 2D action adventure with a very strong replay value. It's a pretty tough game and every time you finish it, new items, bosses, and stages unlock, as well as more endings to see once you reach the end. Each time you play the game, your play style always comes out different thanks to the many random item upgrades you pick up, making each playthrough appealing. It's worth the investment if you are looking for a game that will never go dull after your first run through it.

Pick 5: Games that could join the PS4 reveal

The big meeting from Sony is tomorrow and everybody (including me)suspects this is will be a console reveal. For a few minutes, let's just all assume that yes, this is indeed the Playstation 4. Great specs, amazing features, but  the important question is - What games will be available in the future? This I believe is crucial for Sony since there has to be games that we can't wait to play on the new console, and with their horrible presentation with the PS3 reveal, I'm sure they have been waiting for the chance to redeem themselves. Here are possible candidates that might just join the reveal.

Killzone 4

Sony has been trying long and hard in making Killzone the go-to FPS game for PS3 owners and I don't see them stopping anytime soon. FPS is still one of the most famous genre's, so their exclusive FPS franchise should definitely make an appearance to satisfy the shooter-crazed fans. Just please Sony, no more "use the Sixaxis to turn on the valve" gimmicks, please.

Naughty Dog game reveal - Uncharted, Jak and Daxter, maybe Crash Bandicoot?

Okay, maybe Crash Bandicoot was a bit too much, but one can only hope right?

Naughty Dog; Makers of the Uncharted series, Jak and Daxter series, and currently working on their new game The Last of Us, might just make a game reveal during the meeting. They have become an important part of PlayStation's exclusive title line-up thanks to the success of the many titles in the PS3. It might be a sequel to their old franchises, maybe even another new IP is planned, but I'm positive Sony has asked Naughty Dog to start working on something big.

The Last Guardian

Ah, a game that has been in development for how many years now? The latest entry from Team Ico (Shadow of Colossus, Ico) has been in development limbo for most of the PS3 's lifespan. With a new console now entering the market, it doesn't make much sense anymore for it to hit the PS3. My guess is - They stopped any development news and updates to upgrade the game to next-gen. Let's just all hope that if it does hit the PS4, it actually gets released once and for all.

Another new game from Quantic Dream 

Yes, I know Quantic Dream (Heavy Rain) is currently working on Beyond: Two Souls, but David Cage talked to Game Industry saying that there are three more games planned after Beyond and is already in development. My bet is that one of those games will be used as a tech demo for the PS4, then later revealed as a full title exclusive to the new console. David Cage always talks about innovation, and the power of story-telling in video games, so it's a perfect opportunity to showcase something during this week's meeting.

LittleBigPlanet

Every console has their "cool" features. PS3 had the sixaxis, and later got the PlayStation Move. The next console will be no exception. LittleBigPlanet as a franchise has been a success for Sony, and with it being appealing to all ages, a new LittleBigPlanet game would be an ideal place to showcase the new features of the console, be it motion control or touch screen features. And to be honest, I think Sackboy is a perfect mascot for PlayStation.

There are still a lot of possible candidates to join the reveal like a new Gran Turismo, or a ne Infamous game, but what about you? What would you like to see get revealed alongside next PlayStation console?

The big 2013 Sony meeting is happening tomorrow at 6PM PST (6AM in the Philippines)and I'm pretty hyped for what they have planned for everybody. You can the event live here on Twitch.tv. We'll be updating our Facebook and Twitter  accounts for any updates regarding the reveal.

Pick 5: Remembering THQ's Best

Just in case you don't know, the video game publisher THQ has gone bankrupt recently and has auctioned all their studios and franchises to the highest bidder.  It's sad to see a great publisher go out like this, but the game industry is still a business. To pay tribute to the now bankrupt publisher, here are a couple of great games that came out of the company. 

Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II

There were tons of Warhammer 40k games, but the one title that really stood out from the rest was Dawn of War II. A game that I've played for hours online thanks to it's addicting gameplay. It didn't have base building, but has a squad system that makes each unit crucial for your success. It can get intense even in the campaign and I considered it one of my personal favorite RTS games. In a span of two years after it's release in 2009, it earned two expansions. The developer, Relic Entertainment, was bought by SEGA during the THQ auction.

Metro 2033

Ha! I started playing Metro 2033 last weekend and was able to finish it before writing this, and I can now say that from start to finish - It's a great game. It has a lot of interesting mechanics behind this fairly new franchise, and together with an appealing post-apocalyptic setting, I just can't wait for Metro: Last Light. Thankfully the property was purchase and is now under the Koch Media banner A.K.A Deep Silver (Dead Island). Development for the sequel is still underway, but no other details were given after the sale.

Saint's Row: The Third

I'd like to call this as THQ's Grand Theft Auto with a sense of humor. I wasn't too keen on previous Saint's Row titles, but the third was so over the top that It kept me entertained for hours. The story was so ridiculous that I was eager to start the next mission. It's even a great coop game that also scratches that sandbox itch. The developers, Volition Games, was also bought by Koch Media and they even bought the property rights to the Saint's Row franchise.

Red Faction: Armageddon 

Also developed by Volition, Red Faction: Armageddon is the fourth Red Faction game and retained the unique feature of destructible environments. They took it a bit farther in Armageddon by not only giving players the ability to destroy everything around you, but also the ability to rebuild. Still set in Mars, Armageddon is a more linear affair compared to the open world Red Faction before it. With the ability to destroy and rebuilt, packed with the addicting magnet gun, Armageddon was a great sequel to move the Red Faction series forward. Sadly, the Red Faction series was not picked up during the THQ auction sale.  Volition was saved but so far no publisher has no interest of owning this franchise.

Darksiders 1 and 2

Darksiders, developed by Vigil Games, is a rare gem. An action adventure series that tried to be different. In the first game, they added so many elements to the gameplay, bringing a lot of variety to the game. It also incorporated the hardly used lock-on system mostly used in The Legend of Zelda games. It was considered one of the best new IP's to come out of 2010, and that's saying a lot considering that this is the first ever game for the developers. Sequel came and they continue to bring something new to the table by adding a leveling system and loot system on top of everything else. During the THQ auction sale, the Darksiders property and Vigil Games did not receive a single bid, destroying any possibility of having a third Darksiders game. Hopefully, a company would see the potential in the Darksiders series (Platinum Games is considering it) but so far no dice.

R.I.P THQ. If you'd like to read more about the bankruptcy case, you can check out this Forbes article. And if you want to see the final results of the THQ auction sale, have a look at Kotaku's article.

Pick 5: Great Co-op Games

Dead Space 3 is now out and the biggest change for this survival horror is that there is now a drop-in drop-out co-op for the campaign. So it made me think what are my favorite co-op games of this generation. There's a lot I know, but here are 5 special games  that I loved playing with a buddy or three.

Army of Two

This isn't the best series, but it's definitely one co-op I had the most fun with a buddy joining me. The aggro mechanic, allowing you or your player to draw fire from your partner, is a great concept that requires teamwork and coordination with your partner. There's also those back to back moments where you just lay waste to all those poor soldiers that can't seem to hit two guys out of cover. The first Army of Two is the best, 40th Day was a joke, and the third game the Devil's Cartel is coming up and I can't wait to play that game for the heck of it.

Saint's Row: The Third

Volition Games got the right idea when they were creating Saint's Row: The Third. Forget multiplayer, let's make the whole campaign playable in 2-player co-op. One of the best decisions ever made because a GTA-ish game that can be played with another player online is great. It's a simple drop-in, drop-out feature and you can literally experience everything the game has to offer with a friend. Saint's Row: The Third is hilarious and obviously doesn't take itself too seriously. It was hard to go through the story since wandering around with a tank messing things up is way more satisfying and disturbing at the same time.

Portal 2

One of the best games of 2011. The solo campaign was amazing, and to my surprise the co-op wasn't an after thought for the sake of adding more variety. The co-op is a whole new take with the use of the portal gun with test chambers designed for 2 players to figure out. You are now working with 4 portals, not two. It's a real challenge, pure teamwork and a mic is needed. Don't play the co-op though from some random guy in the internet, some have already done it and ruin the experience by showing you how its done. Grab a friend that's as clueless as you in the co-op and you'll have a great time with Atlas and P-Body.

Trine 1 and 2

Here's one more game that require a lot of teamwork, but with two buddies instead of one. Trine was my first purchase in the PSN store and it was well worth the $15. This game is quite dull on your own, only when you have two other people controlling the other characters is where it gets interesting. All three character's unique abilities complement one another and requires everybody cooperation in order to reach the end of the stage in one piece. The game was a bit short but well worth the playthrough.

Castle Crashers 

If you don't know what Castle Crashers is, then your missing out. This beat 'em up 4-player co-op is a great game to de-stress, have a few beers, and play with some buddies. You are simply a bunch of knights off to save a group of princess' that were captured. It has an amazing cartoon art style that may seem childish at first glance but when you see all the carnage and gore that occurs when you start playing, you will take back that thought. There's level ups, stat building, weapons to unlock, and characters to unlock giving it a strong replay value once your done with it. This game reminded me of the good old days when I was playing the X-Men beat 'em up arcade game. Speaking of which, I think that needs to be remade...

There's a lot of great co-op games that weren't mentioned like Borderlands or even Diablo, but these are the games that I enjoyed the most when playing with friends. What about you? What are your Pick 5?

Pick 5: Most Anticipated Games of 2013

It's a Wednesday again! The first month of 2013 is about to end and it made me wonder - Which games are you most excited for? We are all still recovering from last year's wave after wave of great titles, but since we are now hitting February, I just can't help but look ahead. Here are our Pick 5 most anticipated games for 2013. 

BioShock: Infinite

What was most appealing to me about the BioShock franchise was the rich world you get to explore. Rapture was amazing, and it was hard to see the game with any other world. But of course Irrational Games loves a challenge, so they created a whole new city for BioShock: Infinite. Since I first laid eyes on the floating city of Columbia I was already on-board for a BioShock game outside of Rapture. This game has had its many shares of delays in the past couple of years. Irrational Games kept on pushing back for the sole reason to polish the game and get everything right. When it's done, it's done. Well, apparently it is because the game is planned for a March 26 release and I can't wait to jump in.

Grand Theft Auto V

Even before this game was officially announced by Rockstar, everybody couldn't wait for the next GTA. Planned for a 2013 release, Rockstar is stating that Grand Theft Auto V will be the biggest open world game to date. Everything you love about Grand Theft Auto will most likely return. The story revolves around three protagonists that the players get to cycle through, and I don't know why I'm so excited for this but we finally get to fly jets! The city of Los Santos will be filled with tons of activities and I already can see all of us losing ourselves with all the freedom and carnage we usually do in a Grand Theft Auto game.

The Last of Us

Step aside Uncharted, there's a new title in town that needs everybody's attention. Naughty Dog's The Last of Us is a PS3 exclusive that is set in a post-apocalyptic world doomed by a deadly fungus. Naughty Dog is taking a break from all the Hollywood style action and is focusing more on the narrative for their latest project. gameplay seems very dynamic with enemy AI set to react based on the situation they are in, even Ellie's AI will react and find ways to assist the player rather than being dead weight. The Last of Us is visually stunning and I just love post-apocalyptic settings. Game is out on May 7 exclusively for the PS3.

Watch Dogs

Last E3, Ubisoft did not impress the world with their Farcry 3 presentation, nor their Assassin's Creed 3 gameplay demo, it's the reveal of their latest IP called Watch Dogs. An open world game that give the players the ability to hack or manipulate any electronic device in the world. The game looked amazing when it was first revealed, the graphics made me believe that this could be a potential next-gen title in the works. Thankfully it's coming on Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and PC sometime around 2013.

Dark Souls 2

This is one game I didn't think would happen. The unforgiving RPG Dark Souls is getting a sequel. not much information is given so far since it's unveil during last year's Video Game Awards, but the I'm positive it will be as challenging as the first two games. The trailer gave me the impression that this game will have more of a story this time around because the last two didn't really have one, but I could be wrong. It's expected for a release this year and I just can't wait to get my ass handed to me over and over.

There you have it. What about you? What are your most anticipated games?