Xbox 360: Top 10 Xbox 360 Games of 2012

Xbox 360: Top 10 Xbox 360 Games of 2012: Nice article on planetxbox360.com Top 10 Xbox 360 Games of 2012 10. Prototype 2 - April 24, 2012:  
The first Prototype was a hit or mi...

Top 10 Xbox 360 Games of 2012

Nice article on planetxbox360.com

Top 10 Xbox 360 Games of 2012


10. Prototype 2 - April 24, 2012: 
The first Prototype was a hit or miss for many gamers. While I felt the gameplay was certainly fun, the graphics and story left much to be desired. The sequel is set to right all the wrongs by allowing gamers to play as a new protagonist with enhanced graphics, gameplay, and a storyline that puts Alex Mercer taking the role of the villain. I happen to like games that don't challenge you quite as much as they let you destroy everything with the abilities of an extremely powerful character and that's just what the team at Radical Entertainment are creating. It certainly won't be the first time Manhattan becomes a stomping ground, but I'm expecting this will be the game we all wanted the first Prototype to be. With tons of new animations, gameplay features, and a plethora of moves to devastate New York and rip apart your enemies; Prototype 2 could have an improvement as substantial as Assassin's Creed 2 had to its predecessor.

9. Street Fighter X Tekken - March 6th, 2012: 
With the exception of Mortal Kombat vs DC, mixing different universes in fighting games has been a successful formula. You would be hard-pressed to find a fighting game enthusiast not impressed with the latest Capcom endeavors so it should come as no surprise that many are anticipating seeing two of the most popular fighting franchises in gaming go head to head. Capcom will be using the tried and true 2D style so fans of Street Fighter 4 and Marvel vs Capcom 3 should have a good idea of what to expect. While the game will incorporate the 6-button combo system that Street Fighter is known for, a 4-button combo system will accommodate the Tekken characters for players more familiar with Tekken's gameplay. Tag teams are also making a comeback so it will be interesting to see how mixing the universes on one team changes up the gameplay. If you're like me you might be interested in one question: who is the better wrestler? Zangief or King? I really want to know. Namco is also working on a Tekken X Street Fighter using their own system but that game has yet to get an official release date.
   

8. Dragon's Dogma - March 27th, 2012: 
With such major success in Western RPGs using medieval fantasy settings, it was only a matter of time before a Japanese developer worked on something to captivate Western audiences while hopefully doing the same at home. While comparisons could be made to Monster Hunter, Capcom has stated that Dragon's Dogma is meant to be more of a single player action/adventure game with the standard swords and sorcery elements Western fantasy fans love. You will be able to create a character by choosing a gender and a class (fighter, mage, and strider/rogue) and explore an open world full of unique characters to meet or partner with and plenty of monsters to kill like dragons, hydra, and griffins. I can admit that Japanese RPGs have never appealed to me simply because I have a biased love for all things Western fantasy, so I'm extremely curious to see how Capcom pulls this one off. Judging by all the gameplay footage, Dragon's Dogma seems to have the right recipe.

7. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
 - March 6th, 2012: It's been awhile since the last Ghost Recon game but the fourth installment is shaping up to be the best. Future Soldier could perhaps be the military shooter of 2012, allowing gamers to step into the boots of a futuristic military team of four while taking advantage of their high tech arsenal. The Ghost Recon series is known for being more of a tactical shooter rather than the usual run and gun adventure. Expect to enter zones full of enemies and work with your team to isolate and secure the area while also engaging in firefights. Not a whole lot is known about the game so far except that it will be primarily third person, only changing to first person when in cover or aiming down the sights of your gun. You will also be able to use a light bending camouflage very similar to the cloaking in a Predator film for a limited amount of time for some major reconnaissance tactics. Probably the most interesting feature is that the game will take great advantage of the Microsoft Kinect to not only allow players to play the game hands free but also introduce a unique customization interface to modify guns to their liking. This feature was shown off at E3 earlier in the year and was certainly impressive. If it works out as well as we think it will, then Future Soldier may just increase Kinect sales.


6. Kingdoms of Amalur: The Reckoning - February 7th, 2012: 
A lot of people are still going to be exploring the expanse of Skyrim, but RPG fans definitely need to keep an eye out for Kingdoms of Amalur. The story, world, and lore is written by the great R.A. Salvatore, with art by Todd McFarlane, and development from the lead designer of The Elder Scrolls III and IV; Ken Rolston. It's possible that Reckoning gets overlooked by many gamers, but I'm going to go ahead and say that there is potential for this to be one of the best games released in the first half of the year. While the 4 races and 3 classes might seem underwhelming compared to Skyrim, Amalur still allows the player to craft their character to their play style and potentially customize their own class. Rogue-warrior, warrior-mage, necromancer-assassin, etc. It's all in how you play and where you allocate your skill points. There is also a fully rendered world divided amongst 5 regions, a hefty amount of gameplay hours, and a surprisingly intense and enjoyable action combat system said to hybrid between God of War and Skyrim. I can never really get enough of RPGs so if you find yourself slowed down from Tamriel, you really may want to take a journey into Amalur.


5. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - TBA 2012: 
There are quite a few action games slicing into 2012 and between Ninja Gaiden 3, Devil May Cry, and Metal Gear Rising; one look at Revengeance's trailer released during the VGA's should have dropped your jaw like it did mine. This is the first Metal Gear released on the Xbox 360 and the first Metal Gear game to focus heavily on action. You play as a kitana wielding ninja cyborg (what is more badass than a ninja cyborg?) named Raiden who is ready to take the hack and slash genre to a more literal level of sophistication. The new cutting system in Revengeance will allow players to cut objects and enemies in every possible direction. Cut something in half. Cut it into quarters. Cut it into chunks or little pieces. This is the type of gameplay technology many gamers could once only dream about. Fans of action hits like Bayonetta and Vanquish should particularly be excited to know that Platinum Games is at the head of development. While there is not an official release date at the moment, I really don't expect it to push into 2013 and I would predict it to come out in the Fall of next year.


4. Bioshock Infinite - TBA 2012: 
Several years before the events in Rapture during the first two Bioshock games, there existed another society that eventually found itself in a dystopia. “Columbia” doesn't rest at the bottom of a sea but instead rises high in the Earth's atmosphere as somewhat of a cloud city designed to travel the world and promote the American exceptionalism concept; basically that America and its foundation is exceptional and other countries should take note. The city was eventually isolated after a series of events and civil war was soon enacted. Players pick up here as a former Pinkerton agent named Booker Dewitt, whose task is to find and rescue a woman under the interest of Dewitt's unknown employers. Anyone that played the first Bioshock and Bioshock 2 shouldn't need much convincing as to why Infinite will be an important release. The series has quite the habit of introducing unique settings and stories structured around American concepts and periods of the past while also throwing in some harrowing science fiction and horror. Infinite will still be a first person shooter but introduces a new traveling mechanic around the city using grappling hooks, new weapons, and special power abilities similar to the plasmids and tonics in Rapture but called vigors and nostrums in Columbia. Some may be disappointed with the introduction of a new setting but I think it's a brilliant idea to keep the series fresh rather than revisiting and simply improving Rapture; which I could argue may have been the overall disappointment gamers had with Bioshock's sequel. An official date has not been released but sometime in 2012 is still a safe bet.


3. Halo 4 - Fall/Holiday 2012: 
Just when you thought John-117 had saved humanity for the last time, he makes his triumphant return to battle a new sinister force that threatens the galaxy. Some may be wondering why the fourth game for the Xbox 360's most popular franchise isn't listed at number 1, and that is only because I've become skeptical that Halo 4 will triumph without Bungie at its helm. Regardless, 343 Industries still deserves a chance to fill some big boots and deliver another badass trilogy. I thought Reach was the best in the whole series and I think that was because it was a bit more fresh. With the Covenant seemingly defeated, this could be the opportunity to give gamers a more unique experience with Master Chief rather than what we have already been used to; which fortunately is exactly what the developers are planning. The game is being designed from the beginning to span the narrative into a trilogy and should explore more details about the state of humanity in the future and gameplay that may include RPG elements rather than the traditional first person story. Keep a look out for more information in the near future that should hopefully give us all a better idea of what to expect.

2. Borderlands 2 - TBA 2012: 
I felt like Borderlands was an incredibly addictive game with perhaps one of the best co-op experiences of the current generation. Most of the formula developed a game that was purely satisfying. Make a cel-shaded first person shooter, throw it into a desolate science fiction planet, and include RPG elements like free roaming, side missions, and more loot and weapons than one can imagine. I loved Borderlands but the one thing I felt it was lacking was a solid story. I don't remember hardly anything except just running around and killing everything or doing what an NPC requested. This is a particular area that Borderlands 2 aims to improve by giving players a particular goal to seek revenge on the villain and save the original characters from the first game. This of course means that you will be playing with a new assortment of characters with different classes and abilities. The world of Pandora is said to now be larger and more connected together rather than just going from region to region which will also allow the game to feel more immersive.

1. Mass Effect 3 - March 6th, 2012:
The most anticipated game with a solid release date is by far Mass Effect 3. Anyone unfamiliar with the series needs to catch up quick and get involved. Mass Effect is arguably one of the best science fiction themed action RPG series ever created and the way the story has flowed from game to game is equally amazing. This is the final chapter in Commander Shepards fight against the Reapers so one can only guess as to how the story will conclude. Mass Effect 3 will sport an improved combat and cover system, new characters to meet and recruit, new modes geared for casual gamers, and an online co-op mode separate from the single player campaign but said to still have an affect on its outcome. I am extremely eager to see how the trilogy wraps up and have high hopes that this could conclude as one of the best trilogies in gaming history. Mass Effect 2 seemed to have less exploring than the first game and more action. The increase in action made sense considering the details of the story but I was slightly disappointed that the areas were smaller than the first game. I'm predicting that Mass Effect 3 will be even heavier on action and considering the scope of the game's events may actually decrease the amount of exploring. The game is only a few more months away and I actually plan on playing the first two games over again in preparation.

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Nice article i found on About.com

5 Reasons to Buy an Xbox 360 

If you haven’t jumped in to the next generation of videogame consoles yet, deciding between the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii can be a challenge. We try to help here with our top five reasons why the Xbox 360 is great for the whole family and why you should buy an Xbox 360 instead of a Wii or PS3. They are all great systems, but the Xbox 360 just does some things better.

#1 - You Won't Find Better Games

Games are the most important aspect when choosing a system, and the Xbox 360 has a wide range of great games representing every genre you can think of. Shooters, racing, RPGs, sports, family games, music, strategy, action, fighting – you name it, the Xbox 360 has you covered. If exclusive titles such as Halo 3, Halo Wars, Gears of War 2, Tales of Vesperia, Viva Piñata,Fable II, Lost Odyssey, or Left 4 Dead aren’t enough, multiplatform games (titles that appear on multiple systems) tend to play better on Xbox 360 and some, such as Grand Theft Auto IV, Tomb Raider Underworld, and Fallout 3, offer exclusive downloadable content to extend the game that you won’t find anywhere else. The Xbox 360 has the most games of the best quality in the most genres. Period.

#2 - You Can Play Friends Online and Download Demos

The heart and soul of the Xbox 360 experience is Xbox Live. Not only does it offer silky smooth online gaming and a universal friends list across all games, but you can also download demos for nearly every Xbox 360 game so you can try them before you decide to buy, download Xbox Live Arcade games (which include both classic games as well as brand new titles), chat with friends even if you aren’t playing the same game, and much more. You can even check your friends’ status or send them messages from your PC or cell phone. Online play does come with a $50 a year MSRP while other services are free, but there are ways to get it for less. Xbox Live is an optional service that isn’t required, but it has so much to offer that it is highly recommended to really get the most out of your Xbox 360.

#3 - Its 'Achievements' Will Keep You Motivated

Our personal favorite feature of the Xbox 360 is Achievements. Achievements are goals programmed into each and every Xbox 360 game that reward you with points when you complete them. The points add up and form your total GamerScore. Does the score really mean anything? No, not really. But it is a fun way to be motivated to win another race or finish a level in a faster time or to seek out a hidden object that you might not normally try to find to earn a few more GS points. Simply put, Achievements help add replay value to games, and in this turbulent economy getting more out of the stuff you already have instead of buying new stuff is always a good idea. Since you can also check your friends’ profiles online or on Xbox Live, it is a nice way to keep track of what everyone is playing and how far along in a game they are. There are also many websites such as 360Voice andTrueAchievements that let you track your Achievements and compare them with people all around the world, which is fun. To get you started on your path to Achivement addiction, we have a list of the Best and Worst Games for Boosting Your Gamerscore.

#4 - The Xbox Streams Videos and Music

Another great feature is that the Xbox 360 is a multimedia entertainment powerhouse. You can stream videos from your PC or put them on a USB thumb drive to watch them on your TV through your Xbox 360. You can stream music from your PC or rip songs to your 360 hard drive so you can listen to any music you want while playing any game. The 360 can upconvert normal DVDs to high-def if you use HDMI cables to connect to your TV. You can also download high definition TV episodes and movies from the Xbox Live Marketplace, and you can evenstream movies from Netflix. Not only is the Xbox 360 a great game system, it is a complete entertainment device.

#5 - Parents Can Control What Their Kids Do

This last feature isn’t quite as flashy, but for families it can be very important. The Xbox 360 has a full suite of parental control features that allow you to control pretty much everything your kids can do on the system. You can block games above a defined ESRB rating or movies above a defined MPAA rating. You can restrict who your kids can play with on Xbox Live as well as who can talk to/contact them. And the Xbox 360 also has a timer option so you can determine how long your kids can play in a day or even during an entire week. It is impossible to monitor everything your kids are doing, but these features, along with making sure youchoose the right games for your kids, make it a little easier.

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Top 10 Kinect Games You Must Play

Top 10 Kinect Games You Must Play very nice list i find on planetxbox360.com

10. Rise of Nightmares - If you think the Kinect is just a peripheral aimed at moms and kids, think again because Sega has broken that stigma with Rise of Nightmares; a gruesome, gritty title aimed at hardcore gamers. The game was built from the ground up for the Kinect, so it makes excellent use of the camera, tracking your movements in real time. While the game isn't without flaws, just remember that the Kinect is still in its infancy, so the strides made by Sega in Rise of Nightmares is nothing to scoff at.

9. Your Shape - If you've been looking for a solid home workout and Wii Fit simply isn't cutting it for you, Ubisoft's Your Shape may be just what you've been looking for. You can ditch that clunky balance board and experience a fitness game that truly makes use of motion controls. With the Kinect's camera and voice recognition systems, Your Shape can accurately detect how hard you are working and more importantly whether or not you are performing the exercises correctly. Who needs a personal trainer when you've got a Kinect?

8. Fruit Ninja Kinect - Sure, slicing and dicing on your smartphone may be a fun way to kill time when you're on the go, but what about when you're at home and you want a similar mindless experience in your living room? Fruit Ninja Kinect delivers the same addictive gameplay as its iOS counterpart, but instead of touch controls, you get to wave your arms. Want to burn a few extra calories and look absolutely ridiculous in the process? Look no further.

7. Forza Motorsport 4 - Turn 10 has made fantastic use of the Kinect in its latest racing title Forza 4, proving that not every Kinect game has to be based solely around the hardware. Forza 4 still plays like you would expect a racing game should, only it adds additional options for the player, including motion controlled steering and added immersion in the game's Autovista mode. While not having a Kinect won't ruin the experience for racing aficionados, the added layers of integration truly serve to elevate the experience and offer more options to the player.

6. Halo CE Anniversary - Now just try and tell me you don't want to yell "grenade" at your TV while playing Halo… oh wait, you actually don't? Well, you may not think you'll want to, but you might just end up warming up to the idea. Just hear me out. When you're playing a first-person shooter like Halo, your ability to execute commands are limited to four fingers: both of your thumbs and pointer fingers. Any hardcore Halo fan will tell you that you need to choose wisely in how you plan to make use of these four fingers, in an effort to be as efficient as possible. Having to move your right thumb off of the thumbstick to reload or jump can end up inhibiting your ability to aim. So, with the ability to call out commands, gamers won't have to compromise their aiming abilities - assuming this voice recognition functionality is responsive enough to work. In addition, 343i has also added the ability to scan enemies and other essential parts of the Halo universe to build up a library of information so that Halo nuts can delve further into the series' lore.

5. Once Upon a Monster - When Tim Schafer of Double Fine took the stage at E3 this past year and announced that he would me making a Sesame Street game for Kinect, I think just about every gamer in the audience rolled their eyes. Why would such a talented developer waste his time on a toddler-focused game? While I'll admit that the game definitely won't appeal to the average gamer, it has turned out to be one of the best family games to grace this new motion-based peripheral. Families that are looking for a way to have fun with their kids have the perfect game that will get them up off the couch, and that is an achievement in and of itself.

4. Kinect Sports - With Season Two on the way, it looks like Microsoft is really striving to take the Wii Sports idea to a whole new level. With more interactivity than any other sports game before, Kinect Sports will have you up off the couch laughing with a group of your friends. While the game can hardly be considered a hardcore title, it provides that casual, lighthearted fun that drew so many people to the Wii several years ago. Will Rare be able to recapture the magic that is rapidly fading from Nintendo's console? Only time will tell, but if anyone will manage to do it, it's these guys.

3. Dance Central - The guys over at Harmonix are music rhythm geniuses and their latest IP is no exception. Dance Central has been - and will likely continue to be - the killer app for the Kinect. With a sophisticated control scheme that accurately reads your body as you dance, this game provides a fun and exciting way to learn how to get your groove on. With a broad library of songs and some killer new features packed in the game's sequel, there's so much to love about this game.

2. The Gunstringer - Twisted Pixel is a talented bunch, and they've proven themselves once again with a wholly unique and innovative title called The Gunstringer. In the game, the player controls the title's protagonist as he/she would a marionette puppet. It seems a little bit out there, but it actually works really well. While your arm may get a bit tired after a few hours of play, it's a minor complaint when considering all that this game achieves. With innovative ideas like this, there's no telling what developers will be able to come up with in the future. It's no wonder Microsoft just recently purchased these guys.

1. Child of Eden - If you're ready for a truly out-of-body experience, Child of Eden has got to be the craziest, most trippy game since its spiritual predecessor Rez. This color-filled psychedelic shooter is a marvel to behold, with bright and vibrant visuals that are sure to strike up seizures in anyone susceptible. Accompanying the other-worldly visual style is a soundtrack that complements the game's artistic direction and serves as the most compelling part of the package. If you couldn't already tell, this game is pretty hard to describe, so check it out for yourself and see what I'm talking about. Believe me, once you see it, you'll be headed to the store to pick up a Kinect. It's really that cool.

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