Nerd Mentality

Most Wanted - February 2012

Posted January 31st 2012 by Anthony DiPalma.

2012 was off to a rough start with only two noteworthy games that were released in the month of January. February on the other hand, is the month that will make it hard for workers and students to avoid calling in sick. This Valentine's Day, show your loved ones who really matters in the relationship. (I hope the hole in my Kingdoms of Amalur disc is big enough) With a month chock full of games that will surely appeal to everyone, it's going to be hard not to start coughing into the phone as you tell your boss that you probably have Swine Flu for the fourth time.

Futuristic setting? Check. Supernatural powers against waves of enemies? Check. Third person action? You get the picture. NeverDead* is about a hero who is... Well, never dead. In fact, he is immortal and it's up to him to stop a demonic plague of baby eating monsters by throwing his own body parts at the enemies. Yeah. NeverDead looks great, sounds great, and is definitely on the list of "Best Games That Allow Players to Dismember Themselves."

The much anticipated debut project for 38 Studios is finally on the verge of hitting store shelves. When I first heard about Kingdoms, I was pretty excited. In fact, it's even at the top of my list in my previous article: 2012 - What We Want Kingdoms of Amalur is its own universe with thousands of years of history based on works written by famed author R.A. Salvatore. After spending roughly an hour with the demo, I can safely say that this is an RPG worth playing. It's fun, looks great, plays great, and I can't wait to dive in and play more.

Based on the best selling comics, The Darkness II is the sequel to one of the more... interesting shooters out there. Players take control of mobster Jackie Estacado, head of the Franchetti crime family as he shoots, slash, hurl, and marginally disrupt his foes from attacking. An outside force has begun to wage a mob war, and it is up to players to find out who, or what, is responsible. Jackie wields the Darkness, an ancient power that allows him to control his enemies while simultaneously dual wielding weapons. If that doesn't hook you, I'm not sure what will.

If console shooters aren't your thing, great news! Resident Evil Revelations has shooting, zombies, and boats. Who doesn't like shooting zombies on a boat? Revelations takes place between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5, and tells the story of Jill Valentine and her new partner, Parker Luciani, as they search for Chris Redfield on a Carnival Cruise ship. Close quarters survival horror makes welcome return, and now you can cower in the corner of the bus because you can quiver with fear on the go!

Normally we here at NerdMentality shy away from sports games in our Most Wanted features, but fighting is awesome and I don't care what you have to say. UFC Undisputed 3 has plenty of punches, kicks, take-downs, choke holds, and all the stuff MMA fans love. Even better, THQ is making UFC Undisputed 3 an easy game for newcomers and players unfamiliar with the rules of the Octagon to jump into. The retooled career mode allows players to use roster fighters and craft them to their liking. If you want to put known Welterweight fighter Georges St-Pierre in a Lightweight division, nothing stops you from training your fighter yourself. With new controls that allow players to focus on footwork and develop signature moves, UFC Undisputed 3 seems to be the most user friendly entry in the series.

Snowboarding games have kinda gone downhill... (OK I'll stop) SSX aims to fix that. I'll admit, when I first saw the reveal for SSX, I wasn't that interested. I mean, snowboarding games? I have a PS2 for that. However SSX has, over time, grabbed my attention. Why? Well for one, it's not just about going down a bunny slope. SSX is about flying down mountains while keeping up speed so players don't black out due to extreme temperatures. It seems like the series is taking new strides to bring an experience that is not focused simply on snowboarding down a hill, and I'm perfectly fine with that.

Eating 10 pounds of chocolate for Valentine's Day isn't the only way to deal with a Sweet Tooth. (I'm so sorry.) Twisted Metal returns, though! After a long absence, players will get to go behind the violent wheel of the PlayStation's longest running franchise once more. I'm personally excited for this since Twisted Metal 4 was one of my all time favorite games on the original PlayStation, despite being called the weakest in the series. Explosions, hysterical and absurd weapons, and clowns. What can go wrong?

Who doesn't want to use cybernetic linkups that utilize the DART 6 biochip technology implemented into their cerebral cortex in an effort to end a war between 3 corporations who control the American market? Developer Starbreeze AP is introducing players into a world where everything is connected—and controlled—through computers. By using hacking mechanics, players are not just limited to stylistic gunplay, as they're able to slow down time and take out opponents with ease. While Syndicate is a reboot, it's also in first person and offers 4-player co-op. Fans of the series owe it to themselves to check it out, and newcomers like myself should try something new as well.

Mythological stories which deal with vengeance have been done before, but not quite like this. Asura's Wrath can best be described as an interactive anime or cinematic epic. Asura is a fallen god and must fight back against those who wronged him. With a little bit of action, on-rails shooting, and quick-time events, one could say that Asura's Wrath is less of a "game" and more of an experience that should be had by anyone who enjoys gaming. You can try the demo yourself on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.

It's almost time! After a long wait, Sony will finally release the PlayStation Vita, the handheld counterpart to the Nintendo 3DS. With a large lineup of anticipated games such as UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss, Modnation Racers: Road Trip, Touch My Katamari, Rayman Origins, and WipEout 2048, it's safe to say that the PlayStation Vita will have something for everyone. Look out for more titles in the coming months!

And that's it! February, the month of love, romance, and in this case, videogames. Guys: Now is the time to break up or get a divorce so you can spend your money on more important things like Kingdoms of Amalur. Girls: I'm single and wealthy.

What do you think of this month? Let us know if you'll be picking up any of these titles in the comments section below!

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