Xbox 360 Summer 07 Preview

It’s no secret that summer stinks for the videogame industry. There are no major holidays, or exciting events (even though E3 is now being held in July), and understandably videogame companies are reluctant to release hot titles with the holiday season only a few months off. So would it surprise you to hear that Summer 2007 might be the first time videogamers have a reason to stay inside their cold dark basements as opposed to the warm sunny outdoors? Good games for summer? Am I crazy? Well after reading this list of AAA titles for the Xbox 360, you tell me. I won’t be buying any sunscreen any time soon that’s for sure.

Disclaimer: All release dates are subject to change.

Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars - May 10th, 2007
Developed by: Electronic Arts
Genre: Real-Time Strategy
The Command & Conquer franchise is legendary within the RTS circles. It easily can be mentioned next to heavy weights like Warcraft, Starcraft, and the Age of Empire series. C&C3 marks the first time the franchise makes a jump to a console (Xbox 360). Mixing fast-paced RTS gameplay with amazing graphics, and a much more intuitive control scheme than Battle For Middle Earth 2, C&C3 is going to finally prove to the PC snobs that RTS games can be done correctly on a console. Besides who doesn’t love watching cut scenes with real life actors like Kiko Ellsworth, Josh Holloway (LOST), or Michael Ironside (Starship Troopers)?

Forza Motorspot 2 - May 29th, 2007
Developed by: Turn 10 Studios
Genre: Racing Sim
While Project Gotham Racing 3 was a great game within its own right it was missing all the cool features car nuts love. The features only games like the Gran Turismo franchise has. Microsoft has needed a racing sim to stand up to the Sony giant, and Forza 2 is looking to do just that. By combining the power of the Xbox 360 and passion to create a realistic racer, Turn 10 Studios has literally made the most true to life racing sim ever. Factor this in with the racing guides from the original Forza (we don‘t want you spinning out on the first turn), a car list which includes everything from Ferraris to Corvettes, as well as being the first game to be crafted from the ground up around the Force Feedback Xbox 360 Steering Wheel and Forza 2 looks like a winner from all sides.

Shadowrun - May 29th, 2007
Developed by: FASA Interactive
Genre: First-Person Shooter
An update to the classic pen and paper game, Shadowrun, is going to be the premiere Microsoft game which supports Microsoft’s Live Anywhere feature. For the first time console (Xbox 360) and PC gamers are going to be able to compete against each other in the online multiplayer environment. Mixing the First-Person Shooter genre with pen and paper lore is panning out to create some interesting results for Shadowrun. Firearms and magic are now common among the multiplayer matches, with players being able to literally resurrect dead teammates during skirmishes, or create Trees of Life in order to heal the wounds of teammates (in order to tip the battle in their favor). While it isn’t Halo 3, Shadowrun should keep FPS enthusiasts happy until Fall of 07.

Mass Effect - June 2007
Developed by: BioWare
Genre: RPG
From the company that brought us the legendary KOTOR and the oriental masterpiece Jade Empire, comes the next generation of RPGs; Mass Effect. Epic doesn’t even begin to describe how much content and ambition are being poured into this trilogy. Gamers are going to fill the shoes of the “Jack Bauer” of outer space as he protects the human race from an ancient machine force known as the Geth. By combining real time squad based combat with RPG magic attacks (known as Biotics), a gigantic galaxy with numerous side quests on unexplored planets, and a narrative that only the wizards at BioWare could weave, Mass Effect looks like it is going to be the RPG to beat, on any console (sorry Final Fantasy XIII).

Too Human - August 6th , 2007
Developed by: Silicon Knights
Genre: Action Adventure
In development since the original Playstation days, Too Human is the most ambitious project Silicon Knights has ever undertaken. Based heavily on Norse Mythology, Too Human is the first in a trilogy of games which tells the story of Baldur, a cybernetic Norse God charged with the protection of the human race from an ancient evil machine threat (sound familiar?). Too Human is bringing a number of new ideas to the table. Combat is done via the right analog stick (melee and firearms), while the problem of sloppy camera control has been regulated to the game itself. It knows when to zoom in, or pan out based on the situation. In addition players will have a wealth of weapons, combat types, and powers to choose from. No experience will be the same. While it did have a rather negative showing at E3 of last year, Too Human has come a long way and looks to be another great addition into the Xbox 360 library.

Bioshock - August 21st , 2007
Developed by: Irrational Games
Genre: First-Person Shooter RPG
When it comes to First-Person Shooters BioShock doesn’t fit the typical mold. While the game is played in First-Person there are so many elements unnatural to the genre that BioShock could be in a league all its own. Whether it is the creepy underwater city known as Rapture, the ability to manipulate the onscreen enemies with Plasmids, or the compelling story it’s easy to say that BioShock is going to wow Xbox 360 owners when it is released.

Blue Dragon - August 2007
Developed by: Mistwalker
Genre: RPG
Japanese RPGs are few on the Xbox 360, which is why the announcement that Blue Dragon is on its way to the 360 in the US is a breath of fresh air. It doesn’t hurt either that the creator of Blue Dragon, Hironobu Sakaguchi (creator of Final Fantasy) teamed up with Akira Toriyama (creator of Dragon Ball Z), as well as Nobuo Uematsu (famed composer of Final Fantasy) to create this heart-warming RPG. Blue Dragon follows the story of a young boy named Shu – who with the help from his friends – must battle against an ancient machine enemy (I am seeing a pattern here). Luckily, Shu and his friends have the ability to command phantom shadows (i.e., big ass creatures) to aid them in battle. Turn based fights, with slow level progression, and light humor all make Blue Dragon look rather enticing to the RPG fanatic who is wanting an old school RPG experience.

John Woo Presents Stranglehold - August 2007
Developed by: Midway Games
Genre: Third-Person Action
Once you’ve played one third-person action game you’ve played them all. So it’s quite commendable that this latest game from Midway based on the John Woo movie character, Inspector Tequila, from the cult classic, Hollywood-changing action film, Hard Boiled, is turning heads whenever it’s shown. Fully destructible environments, cinematic slow motion, multi-enemy targeting and the ability to run up structures or slide across them all while shooting is making this game an experience in a league all it’s own. Expect numerous John Woo signature moments when this game comes out at the end of summer.

Article By: Cloud890