The first half of 2012 is now in the books, and we've been treated to some great games thus far, from Diablo 3 and Mass Effect 3, to Max Payne 3 (are you seeing a trend here?) and UFC Undisputed 3 (OK, I did that on purpose, I could've gone with Xenoblade, Kid Icarus, Mortal Kombat, or any other number of great games in its place).
Yet as good as the first half's been, the second half promises to be even better, and these games are just 5 of the reasons why; our 5 most anticipated games of the second half of 2012, and their estimated release dates.
1. Halo 4 ~ November 6
Halo is about to enter a new era, and if it's anything like the first trilogy, consider us sold. Epic music, a brilliantly crafted world and ethos, compelling storytelling, and most of all, outstanding gameplay that keeps you strafing and gunning into the wee hours of the morning are all hallmarks of the great Halo franchise. With Bungie no longer at the reins, no one knows quite what to expect from this one, except the greatness that defined the prequels.
2. Grand Theft Auto V ~ 4th Quarter
Not a lot of news has trickled to us concerning GTA V recently, but there's still optimism that the game will see a release just in time for the holidays. And what better present to unwrap on Christmas morning than the latest version of one of gaming's most iconic series, a giant virtual playground where players can go where they want, shoot who they want, and drive their cars over whatever prostitute they want (after they've received their services).
3. Guild Wars 2 ~ August 28
Set 250 years after the first, GW2 hopes to provide the same jolt to the MMORPG genre that the original did so many years ago. The level cap is receiving a big boost for the sequel, but PvP will still remain the star of the show, and GW2 will likely become one of E-sports biggest games upon its release. PvE fans shouldn't feel neglected though, as there's great storytelling, fun combat, and plenty of quests and content for them as well.
4. The Last Guardian ~ 4th Quarter
TLG was absent from this year's Tokyo Game Show, and some technical difficulties have cropped up in its development, but that shouldn't lessen your excitement for what promises to be a remarkably unique and thrilling experience when it releases. Crafted by Team ICO of ICO and Shadow of the Colossus fame, TLG will partner a young boy up with a fearsome bird-monster-thing, and their relationship forms the crux of the narrative and gameplay.
5. Borderlands 2 ~ September 18
One of the most addictive online experiences ever, Borderlands flawlessly melded the otherwise seemingly disparate genres of FPS and RPG, and then mixed them into an online game, and the entire package just WORKED. Borderlands 2 won't mess much with the winning formula established by the first, but will improve upon every aspect of it to create what should be one heck of an enjoyable and fun ride.
Disagree with any of these choices? Feel free to share your list below of the games you're most looking forward to for the remainder of this year.
