Top Six Video Game Releases of 2017
With the games of 2016 aging and consequently starting to lose popularity, 2017 looks to bring in a new wave of video games. So far, there have been a number of gaming remakes announced, as well as several big-name sequels. In order, here are my top six most anticipated releases of the year.
- Horizon: Zero Dawn- Rating- T
A PlayStation 4 exclusive release, Horizon is the first game to be released by Guerilla games that is not from their infamous “Killzone” series since 2004. Being one of the more anticipated titles of this spring, Horizon tells the story of Aloy, a young girl who has been sheltered from the outside world for her whole life because of the threat of thousands of killer robots that inhabit the now-ruined planet. Players will discover more about the world that Aloy is in as they progress and discover why the robots have inhabited the world. The game will have an open world, with thousands of close ranged and distanced weapons for players to choose from to fight the robot hoard. Horizon will release February 28th.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild- Rating- E10+
With Nintendo’s 19th installment of “The Legend of Zelda” series, Breath of the Wild is one of the most highly anticipated video games of the last five years and breaks all conventions that are synonymous with Zelda games. It will feature an open world without boundaries for players to explore, Downloadable Context expansion packs (DLC), the ability to play through dungeons in any order, and voice acting in every cut scene, all firsts for the series. With the main character, Link, waking up from a deep sleep that he was in for 100 years, players will be left to explore the ruins of the land of Hyrule to discover what happened in the past to leave it in its current state. Since its announcement at E3 2015, the title has been exciting Zelda fans everywhere. The game will be released March 3rd for the Nintendo Switch (Nintendo’s newest console set to release the same day as Breath of the Wild) and WiiU.
3. Just Dance 2017 (Nintendo Switch Version)- Rating- E
With the release of the Nintendo Switch comes another title in the “Just Dance” series. A popular family game, Just Dance will take advantage of the Switch’s motion controls; much like the Wii Motion Plus did. This feature will make players feel as if they are dancing alongside their favorite artists on screen. It will feature dozens of hit songs from 2017 so far and late 2016, as well as classics from all genres. The game is set for a March 3rd release, the same as the release of the Switch Console.
4. Super Mario Odyssey- Rating- E
Mario is a family classic, and has been since the late 1980s. With the release of the Nintendo Switch on March 3rd, another entry to the Mario series will soon follow. The game will have an open world similar to that of Super Mario 64, and will follow Mario and his quest to get back to the Mushroom Kingdom. With the Switch’s graphics power and its ability to be played as a portable system as well as a handheld console, it will be extremely popular among younger children and older fans alike. It is set for a holiday 2017 release.
5. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King- Rating- T
One of the most beloved video games of all time, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, a PS2 original, returns in remastered form for the Nintendo 3DS. The classic RPG (role playing game) will have remastered graphics, new locations, and new items obtainable for players. The game plans the market to younger generations as well as those who played themselves as children. With the court Jester of the castle of the Kingdom of Trodain, Dhoulmagus, stealing a magic scepter, he turns the King into a troll, the princess into a horse, and the rest of the Kingdom to plants and sets out on a path of murder and destruction. The only one left unaffected, the unnamed protagonist who is a guard of the King, sets out to find a way to reverse the spell and defeat the evil summoned from Dhoulmagus.
6. God of War 4- Rating- M
The classic Greek mythology based game, “God of War”, is set for another sequel. The games have always been PlayStation exclusives, and this entry in the series will be no different. Players will follow the story of Kratos, The Ghost of Sparta, a man tricked by Ares (the God of War) into murdering his family. Being punished by Zues, Kratos is forced to display the blood and ashes of his family on his skin forever, as well as to wear heavy chains on his arms and legs. This is the fourth entry in the series, and after a cliff hanger at the end of God of War 3, the game looks to be one that will excite players that are fans of the series. With no official release date yet, the game is planned to release in early June.