The Top Ten Video Game Sequels for E3 2012

With an operative time-line in the game that begins in the 1970's and extends through the Cold War Era in one branch of the storyline, the complimentary second branch starts out in the near future of 2025, and between the pair of story branches encompasses active locations that include (but are not really limited to) Central and South America, the Mideast (and in particular the areas central to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan), during which Mason's mate and colleague Frank Woods returns (he narrates the future branch of the story so clearly he did not die in the last game as it appeared and as we might have presumed he did).

A new aspect to the game is the enforced time lines, so that -- for example -- the player's choice of a specific mission from within the Strike Force Mission Menu naturally and logically locks out selection of missions that take place at overlapping times, since the player cannot be in two places at the same time. Not only is mission availability and progress controlled by time, but many events and choices that are made by the player as well as the outcome of specific missions can (often will) have a significant impact upon the future events in the game.

For the third time in the CoD series, a Zombies mode returns and in fact Black Ops II has its own Zombie Campaign in a manner similar to Call of Duty: World at War and Call of Duty: Black Ops. Developer Treyarch has confirmed at E3 that for the first time in the series the Zombie Campaign will run along with the main story.

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Developer: Epic Games

Platform: Xbox 360 Exclusive

Release Date: TBA 2013

The Gears of War series is perhaps one of the deepest story-arcs to play out on the Xbox 360, and in particular with a tightly-woven band of core characters, starting with the first title (that named the series) 2006's Gears of War, which established Delta Squad as the unit to belong to! The direct sequel in 2008's Gears of War 2 carried on the story and extended our relationship with both Delta and its members, with the final entry in the three-story-arc, Gears of War 3 arriving in 2011.

Despite providing many answers, GoW 3 left open several key issues relating to the survival of humanity and the health of the world, following the final bittersweet surge that lead to the death of a beloved character in selfless sacrifice, reunification of a family thought to have long ago been shattered, and the final solution to the problem that plagued the world since the beginning of the story, but still nicely wrapping up the important bits.

Naturally this fourth title -- introduced at E3 -- takes the form of a prequel whose events take place years before the resolution of GoW3, and we wouldn't have it any other way! In fact for many Gears fans the knowledge that certain key characters are not only still living in this time/place but have yet to suffer the traumas of the main arc is comforting knowledge indeed, and finding our mettle once again as the hero-protagonists Damon Baird and Augustus "The Cole Train" Cole, who along with three new characters, Garron Paduk, Ezra Loomis, and Sofia Hendrik, comprise Kilo Squad -- a predecessor of Delta and the opportunity for us to create yet another legendary unit!

Portraying events that are set in the immediate aftermath of "Emergence Day" the members of Kilo Squad are on a mission to save the city of Halvo Bay from a seemingly unstoppable enemy -- the Locust -- battle ensues utilizing a new Smart Spawn System for both campaign and multi-player modes, a set of brand-new multi-player experiences that includes "OverRun," the new class-based competitive mode pitting Locust and COG soldiers in head-to-head battle!

The E3 reveal was extensive in terms of new features -- as in addition to those noted above there is also the "Mission Declassification" system that permits players to experience a more challenging measure of play in scenarios and achievements by uncovering critical information during the course of campaign play -- there is still much to be learned and excited about in the game, especially the continuation of the cooperative-play-focus that allows up to three friends on Xbox LIVE (four players in total) to play together at a time when Sera is on the brink of annihilation from an enemy we know all too well.

While there is only so much that can be reasonably altered to offer new challenges and play modes, what with the "history" already having been experienced once, the measure of new elements that combine with the previously established canon offer the unique opportunity to revisit the battle during a period in which, thanks to the previous three titles, that hazy lack of certainty that largely shaded our appreciation for what was accomplished no longer dominates, providing a unique opportunity to exact an enthusiastic sort of revenge on an enemy that can have no idea why we are so stoically committed to providing it detailed instructions on how to stick its own head up its... Ahem...

This new Gears title making the list will certainly come as no surprise to most gamers, though I must say that in some respects I envy gamers who are just now coming to the GoW universe for the first time, a universe that they will surely find as appealing even now as we did when the adventure and saga began back in 2006!

06 -- Borderlands 2

Publisher: 2K Games

Developer: Gearbox

Platform: Xbox 360 / PC / PS3

Release Date: 18 September 2012

Another lock for this side of the Top Ten List, the original Borderlands caught the gaming world completely off-balance, with its over-the-top and enthusiastic western-themed shootout style that is at once an action-adventure game with elements of stealth and strategy to it that was so successfully built around its mission and quest system and its unique dynamic weapon and kit generation system that it was (still is, really) rather intimidating on the whole... But once it is wrapped in the unique personalities of the different supporting characters, left us constantly coming back for and wanting more...

There are so many attractive and addictive elements to the core game -- even ignoring the DLC -- that there never was a question of there not being a sequel -- and robot love aside, once the player gets used to the idea of comparing and replacing or upgrading their weapons and kit the process becomes mostly automatic, an element you will know has arrived for you when you find that you complete the assessment process without even having to think about it!

The RPG/FPS format that prompted Gearbox to declare the game by a new standard genre -- a "role-playing shooter" -- returns in the sequel, naturally featuring four new characters, each with a unique set of special skills and weapon proficiencies that, once they are specialized and shaped by leveling will become a velvet hammer or an iron fist (depending upon your choices) with which to rule the world!

In the five-years that have passed on Pandora since the events of Borderlands, when the four vault hunters exposed the secrets of the Eridian Vault and solved its enduring mystery, we find that they have been usurped by an out-and-out fraud named Handsome Jack who has taken all of the credit -- and the treasure -- by claiming the accomplishments as his own!

Posted: 15th Jun 2012 by CMBF
Tags: Hitman: Absolution, Xbox 360, Wii U, Wii, PlayStation 3, PC, Halo 4, Far Cry 3, Assassin's Creed III, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Borderlands 2, Gears of War Judgement, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, ARMA 3, Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2