(Note: The trailers listed below are not mine, and therefore not embeddable. I'm linking to the YouTube pages for each under the screenshots.)
Not much to talk about this week, so I figured I would link some game trailers of games that I'm looking forward to. (To which I'm looking forward? Sometimes I hate prepositions. Ahem.) Anyway: Games!
The Witcher 3, uploaded by Gamespot
The Witcher 3 is almost upon us, and man it looks good. Early reports sound great, monsters are lining up for Witcherfication (i.e., to get their heads cut off with a silver sword), and the trailers keep coming. I completed both previous games (although only going down one of the two possible paths in The Witcher 2) and I am 100% ready for the next chapter.
Geralt spent the last two games trying to recover his lost memories, and in the process he reunited with old allies, took sides in an ongoing race war, played cards, arm wrestled, got friendly with any number of ladies (sorcerous and otherwise), hung out with a dragon, and killed a whole lot of monsters. He's become an anachronism in an evolving world, but no matter how much they rail against the magically mutated man, the people still call on him when villagers start getting carried away by griffons. Geralt moves stoically forward through it all, determined to find his place.
Keep in mind, The Witcher as a series is rated Mature for pretty much every reason on the list. The linked trailer is especially bloody, but there are all manner of other adult situations in the game. Be warned!
Xenoblade Chronicles X, uploaded by 許為傑
Xenoblade Chronicles X has been released in Japan, but has a few months to go before we see it stateside. It's a sort-of sequel to Xenoblade Chronicles, which was released on the Wii a few years ago (and only reluctantly brought to the west after a petition campaign), but X has little to do with the original game. It still looks glorious, though, and appears to be pushing the limits of the Wii U hardware. The above link goes to a 20+ minute overview with English subtitles. (You may have to turn the subtitles on; for some reason it did not default to subtitles for me.)
Xenoblade Chronicles X is a sci-fi action RPG, and it looks like there's a lot going on here. Humanity has fled Earth and made its home on an alien planet. Unfortunately the planet doesn't care much for its new inhabitants, and every day is a struggle to survive, much less thrive. I'm intentionally hazy on the story elements, since I've been trying not to spoil it, but I do have hopes. If nothing else, simply exploring the plant looks like a crazy time. I really enjoyed the first game (overabundance of convoluted side quests aside), and am looking forward to this one even more.
Fatal Frame 5, uploaded by GamesHQMedia
I linked a Fatal Frame 5 trailer when originally working on the site, but by God I'm not going to let that stop me from linking another one. I'm a big fan of horror games, and the Fatal Frame series is a classic in the genre. No guns, knives, or even rocks to throw; your weapon against the paranormal is the Camera Obscura, an artifact that can exorcise any angry ghosts or spirits that haunt you. These games provide a masterclass on setting up a creepy atmosphere; even the originals hold up when played in a dark room with surround sound.
This is another Wii U project, and the Wii U gamepad seems like a perfect match for the photography mechanic. I've said it before: bustin' makes me feel good. I'm ready!