SEQUELS IN NEXT GEN GAMING

Picking up where the last article left off, these are the new game sequels set for release exclusively for the next generation of consoles. Let this continue to provide food for thought for those still on the fence regarding the console they want.

Final Fantasy XV
Platforms: Xbone, PS4
Release Date: March 2015
FFXV is the Chinese Democracy of the Final Fantasy series. The game has been in the works for eight years since it was first announced in May 2006 under the title Final Fantasy Versus XIII. FFXV takes place in a dark and gritty new world with no connections with any of the other games. The protagonist, Noctis is the heir to a mafia-like royal family and a weapon summoner of some sort. Tetsuya Nomura, creator of the Kingdom Hearts series, is directing FFXV. His influence in the combat system means that FFXV is subscribes to third person action instead of turn-based combat like most other Final Fantasy games. Looks great. Do watch the gameplay and proceed to drool.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U
Platforms: Guess, genius.
Release Date: October 2014 for 3DS, fourth quarter of 2014 for Wii U
SSB is a fighting game which doesn't require you to memorise complex commands but requires a good deal of skill all the same. The characters and stages all come from different Nintendo franchises such as Star Fox, F-Zero and Fire Emblem. The last SSB even saw Solid Snake from MGS: The Twin Snakes on GameCube. I hope this one has Naked Snake, courtesy of Snake Eater 3D. The most amusing newcomer this time would be the Wii Fit Trainer. With every new generation of Nintendo consoles, a SSB game is bound to come out, except this time it's on their portable console too. Do you know what this means? You can play SSB anytime, anywhere!

Fable Legends
Platforms: Xbone
Release Date: TBA
Previous Fable games were all waifu simulators with some real estate management on the side. But this game definitely isn't Fable 4. All that useless horse placenta has been stripped away to give you a D&D-like hack-and-slash RPG. There are four Heroes (Warrior, Magician, Rogue, Archer) and a Villain. The Villain doesn't directly oppose The Heroes but rather sets traps and controls monsters through their bird's eye view of the battlefield. In D&D, it falls upon the Dungeon Master to make a game enjoyable. Similarly for Fable Legends, I expect the success of this game will depend on the empowerment of The Villain and how good a player plays as The Villain on the other end. You can sign up to be chosen for the multiplayer beta testing.

Mario Kart 8
Platforms: Wii U
Release Date: May 2014
It's-a Maariio Kart. 'Tis the time for reconciliation and merriment as Mario signs a temporary truce with Bowser and Donkey Kong so they can all get together for go-kart racing. Even his estranged brother Wario is invited to the affair. They all race around in little karts, throw shells at each other and have a jolly good time in general. The premise hasn't changed since Mario Kart 64 (there's anti-gravity racing now) but the graphics sure have and I urge every reader to please look at the gameplay trailers. This was supposed to be the game that would raise Wii U sales. And it did, but just not by the margin they'd hoped. I still very much want to play this.
Don't let this get you down, PC gamers. There are a lot of PC exclusives you can look forward to too, like the sequel to 2009's hit game, Forklift Truck Simulator.