The Console War Heats Up: Best Exclusive Games
Aug 31, 2007
Although last fall might have seen all three next-gen consoles facing off on store shelves, the real battle will be fought in 2007. Despite initial sellouts of the system, the PS3 was severely lacking a decent game selection in 2006. Matters weren't much better on the Wii, even if you could find one. Most couldn't. And on the Xbox 360, which had the advantage of an extra year's momentum behind it, the line-up was missing one crucial component: Halo.
None of that is the case this year. Each console is packing a portfolio of fall exclusives that any gamer will take seriously. Each sees the debut of at least one major exclusive series. In the case of the PS3 and 360, they're also sporting lower prices and an expanded range of bundle options. With any luck, we won't see a repeat of last year's availability problems (although signs are that the Wii may still be hard to find) and purchasers will have the whole spectrum of next-gen gaming to bewilder them.
The PS3 suffers slightly from the lack of a genuinely major first-party title, but Gran Turismo Prologue (while not a full game in the usual sense) should do much to please fans and entice shoppers. The Wii is confounding recent criticism that it's focusing too heavily on casual gamers with a portfolio of three superb-looking classic Nintendo titles. Meanwhile, the Xbox 360 continues to solidify and diversify its lineup, and is set to deliver a compelling -- if somewhat unoriginal -- set of true holiday blockbusters. Read on for an in-depth look at each console's exclusive fall releases.
Before we do, though, one more thing: don't forget there are a ton of other outstanding games that will appear on more than one of these consoles before the year's up. Rock Band, we're looking at you. Madden NFL 08, Guitar Hero 3, Haze, Assassin's Creed... we'll be spoiled for choice. About the only thing missing is Grand Theft Auto IV, which was originally scheduled to release this fall but slipped into next year.
Choose A System:
PS3
Heavenly Sword
PS3 owners look to be in for a heavenly treat with this upcoming God of War-style hack-em-up -- and there's just a few weeks to wait. This action title tells the story of striking game heroine Nariko, who takes up a legendary, soul-draining weapon to gain revenge on an evil king who is invading her homeland. Her weapon, the Heavenly Sword, can transform into various forms, allowing her to switch up her fighting style to suit her circumstances. Check out the video for a taste of this fast-paced thriller.
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Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Explore a secret Spanish colony on a Pacific island in this third-person action-adventure, which hails from Naughty Dog, the studio responsible for the Crash Bandicoot and Jax and Daxter series. There's a definite Lara Croft feel to the gameplay, but there's a lot more to the combat than you'll find in more traditional exploration-focused romps. True to its reputation, Naughty Dog look to be really pushing the PS3's capabilities with Drake's Fortune, and we're certainly looking forward to getting our grubby mitts on it for real.
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Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Another gorgeous-looking offering, the latest in the successful Ratchet & Clank series is set to bring its unique mix of platforming and action to the PlayStation 3 for the first time. Tools of Destruction delves into Ratchet's backstory, includes a new galaxy to explore, Sixaxis motion sensing support for some controls, and stacks of new weapons.
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Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
Although there's still no clear indication when we can expect Gran Turismo 5 to be released, Sony is throwing PS3 owners a bone this year: Prologue will be released in October, and give us all a taste of the future of the Gran Turismo series. Although it's far from a full game, featuring just 50 cars and 5 tracks compared to GT4's 750 cars and 50 circuits, it'll still support 16-player online racing and crystal-clear 1080p visuals. You can't tune your car, but you can spend money you win on new ones.
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Xbox 360
Halo 3
Already a million-seller, thanks to a frenzy of pre-orders, Halo 3 is practically guaranteed to be one of the most popular games of the fall, and the whole year to boot. A popular multiplayer beta test earlier in the year already gave us a good idea of what to expect from Halo 3's online play, but details on its single-player campaign are still hard to come by. But it's unlikely to diverge very far from the formula of the last two games: run about, drive vehicles, shoot things, kick ass. If it's not an enormous hit, we'll eat our hat. And we wear very, very big hats.
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Bioshock
You can already buy Bioshock, and if you have any sense you've probably picked it up. It takes place in a sprawling art-deco underwater city called Rapture, once home to a thriving community of libertarian utopists, but now semi-abandoned and in disrepair after a...well, let's leave it there. Discovering the story on your own is one of the chief joys of Bioshock -- along with its awesome combat, outstanding visuals, and compelling emotional involvement. A masterpiece of design, storytelling and immersion, it's one of the best games available on the platform. Don't miss it. Seriously. Or we'll send a Big Daddy to come get you.
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Project Gotham Racing 4
Petrolheads are already salivating at the prospect of the next in the Project Gotham series, which adds motorcycles to the mix for the first time with the participation of manufacturers such as Honda and Ducati. It's also heading off to even more exotic destinations: Quebec, Shanghai, and Macau are among the cities added this year. As if that wasn't enough, version 4 also adds dynamic weather effects that can change mid-race for extra realism. Can you imagine lapping the Nurburgring in the snow? No, nor can we; but once PGR4 comes out we won't have to.
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Mass Effect
Bioware has a reputation for being one of the best role-playing game developers out there, and this year the company is making its debut release on the Xbox 360. Mass Effect promises to take its players to a sci-fi world where a mysterious alien threat is casting a shadow over the galaxy. Yeah, yeah. But it gets better: Bioware has created a unique conversation system where you can interrupt other characters, and new facial animation technology that makes interaction more convincing and personal. Can the creators of Knights of the Old Republic pull it off again?
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Wii
Metroid Prime 3
Here's another game that's available right now, and if you're looking for a first-person shooter on the Wii there's nothing better. Metroid combines its gunplay with a healthy dose of exploration and adventuring, and suits the Wii's unique controller perfectly. Its graphics also push the Wii to its limit. It's the perfect counter to the allegation that Nintendo are neglecting their hardcore customers in order to sell the Wii to their grandmothers -- it's a safe bet that this probably isn't a game your granny would enjoy.
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Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Sure to be a smash hit (sorry), Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a fighting game that combines classic Nintendo characters with addictive multiplayer modes and a ton of unlockable content to discover. For the first time, it's adding at least one character from a non-Nintendo franchise to its selection: you can play as Solid Snake, complete with cardboard box. Snake joins old favorites like Mario, Link and Pikachu, and fellow newcomers Samus, Diddy Kong and a nameless Pokemon Trainer on the game's roster, which looks set to top its predecessor's total of 25 playable characters.
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Super Mario Galaxy
Marking Mario's first "proper" appearance on the Wii, Super Mario Galaxy's accessible gameplay and fun-filled graphics have already made it a popular attraction at trade shows and press demos. It sees the diminutive, red-hatted plumber catapulted into space, jumping from planet to planet while hunting for stars, dodging black holes and (naturally) fighting the forces of the evil Bowser. It's also tipped as being one of the most natural uses of the Wii's remote controller so far. Can it recapture the incredible success of Super Mario 64, Mario's first N64 appearance? We'll find out this fall.
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