The Most Anticipated Games of 2012

GTA V

It’s Grand Theft Auto V, a return to Los Santos and the surrounding region, and another story from Rockstar Games. When it’s all said and done, we’ll all be playing the game and exploring the vast, detailed, living world from Rockstar North. There’s no arguing that. What makes it one of the most aniticipated games of 2012? There’s so much we don’t know! [Release Date: TBA 2012]



Sound Shapes

No other game has captured as much attention from the GameRevolution staff on the upcoming PlayStation Vita. Whether we’re creating compelling platforming levels or a couple of awesome tunes, Sound Shapes looks to be the only game you need to take with you on the go. With a portable platform, a piece of software that makes you want to haul the extra hardware around with is a must-have. Let’s just hope Sound Shapes lands sooner rather than later. [Release Date: TBA 2012]



Mass Effect 3

The culmination of two games, two great conflicts in Bioware’s future-space opera, will come to an end in the trilogy’s finale, Mass Effect 3. Whether you’ve been living the life as Shepard since the first Mass Effect or you picked up the saga with Mass Effect 2 on PS3, the choices you’ve made will all be coming to a head in March. Did you save the Rachni queen? Is Wrex still alive? Who did you romance in the previous Mass Effects? Did you actually die in Mass Effect 2? It’s time to think back because the future will be exploiting all of those experiences to bring the war to the Reapers home. [Release Date: March 6, 2012]



Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

The revelation that the Hideo Kojima would have canceled the title altogether had us worried, but knowing that Platinum Games is at the wheel gives hope to anyone who’s wanted to slice and dice enemies to meaty little chucks. Yes, Raiden is now playing the lead and he’s not exactly the heavily favored Metal Gear Solid character, but the ninja-robot aesthetic plays right into Platinum Games’ strengths. [Release Date: TBA 2012]



South Park: The Game

It’s been a while since we turned yellow snow against our fellow man in South Park’s 64-era outing. A few minigame collections and downloadable titles later, the world finds itself ready for another full-fledged romp with Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman. Easily the most exciting part of the game’s announcement is that Matt and Trey are working closely with developers Obsidian, and it certainly shows in the game’s art style. [Release Date: Q3/Q4 2012]



Max Payne 3

The original Max Payne titles were some of the most cinematic games of their time. With everything Rockstar Games has learned from their Grand Theft Auto titles, Red Dead Redemption, and L.A. Noire, Max Payne 3’s campaign will surely be one of the most exciting and involving this year. If you’re wondering what 2012’s summer release schedule is like, don’t worry about it. You’ll probably still be playing Max Payne 3’s multiplayer. [Release Date: March 6, 2012]



Hitman: Absolution

If Hitman: Absolution’s E3 demo is anything to go by, you’ll want to pay attention to the advances IO Interactive have made in their long-running series of assassination contracts. In the released gameplay we’ve seen, Agent 47 dispatched police men with environmental hazards, statues, guns, and even a bong. He’s hidden in plain sight thanks to a dead cop’s body and he’s disappeared into a crowded train platform. When Hitman’s next outing is released, we’ll have plenty to absolve by the end. [Release Date: Q3/Q4 2012]



Borderlands 2

More guns? More co-op? More claptrap? More-- you get the idea. Borderlands 2 is just around the corner and it’s bringing with it... more! The best part? Actual variation from environment to environment. In a demo at PAX Prime last year, convention-goers got to see three different environments, two new characters, a ton of new guns, and even an old friend. Gearbox knows what the fans want and Borderlands 2 will surely please anyone who got lost on Pandora the first time around. [Release Date: September 1, 2012 (Tentative)]