Fabulous February: Seven Games to Look Out for This Month

SuperPhillip Central is doing something new for 2013. At the start of every month we will be listing the top games that will be releasing in a given month-- titles that you should without a doubt be keeping an eye out for. We know that not everyone shares the same tastes, so we have selected a wide variety of games from different genres and platforms.

Not only are the game names and brief descriptions posted, but also to help plan your shopping schedule are the release dates. Note: The release dates are based off of North America. With that, let's get to the awesome games.

Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)
Release Date: 2/4

The first game to watch out for this ridiculously packed month is one that has been receiving critical acclaim worldwide. It's the first entry of the Fire Emblem franchise for Nintendo's 3DS, Fire Emblem: Awakening. This turn-based strategy RPG offers a class and job system, the ability to create a customizable avatar for battle, and now a mode that does not permanently remove a character from your roster if they perish in battle. Don't worry, as the classic rules of the franchise still apply. Nintendo 3DS owners will have a lot to play through with Awakening, and the wait to play it is almost over.

Dead Space 3 (Multi)
Release Date: 2/5

There has been a lot of skepticism and criticism towards the direction the Dead Space series has been heading. Some argue that the series is going in a direction where it's more action than the original Dead Space's survival horror feeling. Whichever side of the fence you are on the debate, I think most of us can agree that Dead Space 3 is looking mighty enticing. The game's campaign can be played solo or in co-op with a drop-in/drop-out feature. Dead Space 3 promises to have a significant amount of thrills as well as chills, and if past games have been an indication, it will have some scenes that gamers will be talking about long after the game has been put to the shelf.

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3, PSV)
Release Date: 2/5

If you've picked up and played The Sly Collection (which you should have), then you know that the Sly Cooper series is a fantastic one full of sublime platforming fun. Sly and the gang's fourth outing, and the first made specifically for the PlayStation 3 and Vita, introduces costumes into the fold, which allow Sly new abilities such as a Robin Hood-like outfit that grants Sly the ability to fire arrows that create a sturdy line of rope for him to cross. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time will be part of Sony's Cross Buy promotion, meaning if you purchase the PS3 version, you get access to both that and a code for the Vita version.

Aliens: Colonial Marines (Multi)
Release Date: 2/12

If one sci-fi horror shooter wasn't good enough for you with Dead Space 3, then you are totally in luck as Sega and Gearbox are bringing Aliens: Colonial Marines to home consoles and PC this month with a Wii U version to follow later on. Fans of Aliens will adore seeing familiar characters and the fabled weaponry of the movies, including flamethrowers and pulse rifles. Up to four players can participate in drop-in/drop-out co-op for the main campaign, which is sure to make the game stretch out in its replay value if the ability to upgrade your character already does not. Look forward to Aliens: Colonial Marines in less than two weeks.

Crysis 3 (Multi)
Release Date: 2/19

Running on the CryEngine 3 game engine, Crysis 3 is the third installment of the graphically intensive first-person shooter franchise by publisher EA. Along with the campaign mode, which promises to delight with its breathtaking vantage points and set pieces, comes an all-new mulitplayer mode, Hunter. In this mode several players are C.E.L.L. troopers while the other players are hunters. The objective of the troopers is to stay alive, or at least longer than their counterparts. If they die, they get spawned back as a hunter. Things can get particularly crazy when there is just one trooper left against a swarm of hunters. Crysis 3 shoots onto North American store shelves on the 19th.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3, 360)
Release Date: 2/19

Raiden returns and is at the center of the stage for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, developed by the one and only Platinum Games. Most significantly about the oddly subtitled game is the ability for the player to accurately and with fine precision slice and dice foes and cut off their limbs in an effectively efficient manner. It doesn't just stop with cutting enemies, the developer showed off various objects like watermelons and vehicles that could be cut into as well. Even if you are a casual Metal Gear fan, this more action-oriented offshoot of the series is shaping up to be one "can't miss" title.

Rayman Legends (Wii U)
Release Date: 2/26

After wowing the gaming world with Rayman Origins, the limbless wonder returns in an all-new Wii U exclusive platforming adventure with Rayman Legends. Right off the bat you can just ogle the positively gorgeous graphics and art style the game possesses. Alongside the traditional platforming levels, Rayman Legends has levels where the player with the Wii U GamePad interacts with enemies and objects to help the player(s) on the TV screen get through the level. If the demo that can currently be downloaded on the Wii U eShop is anything to go by, then Rayman Legends is going to be one slap-tastic fantastic game to end the month of February, and one that all Wii U owners should look into getting.

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An honorable mention to these list of games is Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan for the Nintendo 3DS. It's a remarkably niche game, but it's one that deserves at least a mention. Which games for February are you going to get?

My Five Most Wanted PlayStation 3 Games of 2013

We have reached the middle of the week and the middle of this series of five articles. Today we will be looking at the five most wanted PS3 games by yours truly. It really seems like the PlayStation 3's year, and we only known the titles releasing for the first half of the year!

God of War: Ascension

A March release, God of War: Ascension is a prequel to the entire God of War series. It stars Kratos as he does his very best to part ways from the man who tricked him into murdering his family in cold blood. Ascension will give players an entirely new combat and weapon system as well as a first for the franchise, multiplayer. I've been waiting for some big changes to occur with God of War, and Ascension is exactly the type of stuff I have been clamoring for.

The Last of Us

An ultra-violent (though that's not the reason the game appeals to me) survival horror action-adventure game from the studio behind Jak and Daxter as well as Uncharted, The Last of Us takes two survivors through a post-apocalyptic world, fending off the Infected. The reason this game interests me is how enemies will react differently depending on how the player goes about playing through the game, whether stealth, violence, or a combination of the two. Naughty Dog is known for their cinematic and engaging games, and The Last of Us seems to go along with just that.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

The lone non-exclusive on this list, this game was originally titled Metal Gear Solid: Rising. Kojima Productions came to a dead end in development with the game. The title was secretly cancelled before reappearing in 2011 under the capable hands of Platinum Games as the developer. Now the game has a new questionable title, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and a release date for next month. Rather than deal in stealth gameplay, Revengeance is almost entirely an action-oriented affair, having main character Raiden slice and dice enemies and objects with his katana. It's a bold new direction, and one that seriously interests me.

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time

The fourth Sly Cooper game, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time offers the familiar stealthy platforming action of previous games with new additions included such as costumes for Sly, giving him new abilities. One such costume transforms him into a Robin Hood-esque figure, able to shoot arrows with ropes attached to them, allowing Sly to walk across the ropes over chasms. Thieves in Time will be a part of the Cross Buy program that Sony has in place. Buy the PS3 version and you get it and a download code for the Vita version. That's not too shabby, nor is the $40 price tag. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time hits store shelves next month.

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

I don't get involved in too many RPGs simply because of their length. Why play through a 200 hour epic when you can play ten twenty hour titles instead and get much more variety? Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch entices me with its gorgeous art style. It looks like a living, breathing cartoon, and that is all thanks to the artistic prowess of Studio Ghibli, known for their work on such anime films like Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, and Spirited Away. This PS3 exclusive seems to have capable gameplay to back the presentation up as well. All in all, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is a game on my radar this year.

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From God of War: Ascension to Ni no Kuni, the PlayStation 3's lineup for 2013 so far is quite lovely. I look forward to seeing what else the year brings for PlayStation the Third. Tomorrow we go from an aging console to a struggling new handheld, the PlayStation Vita. I look forward to seeing you there!

13 in '13: Most Wanted Games

The majority of the "big" titles for 2012 have been released. While I am not finished with my look at 2012 (remember that the SPC Best of Awards happen every year), I would like to take this chance to gaze foreward and highlight my most anticipated titles of 2013. Much like my list of twelve most wanted games of 2012, this list will be comprised of 13 games for 2013. It is based off of games that are planned for next year, most of which have a concrete release date. From realistic shooters to cartoony platformers, my list of thirteen most anticipated games features a grand range of genres, content, and characters.

Grand Theft Auto V (Multi)

Let's start off with what is most likely to be the biggest game of 2013: Grand Theft Auto V. For the first time in the series, players will take control of three different main characters in the story. In fact, when a player switches from one character to another, the two main characters not being controlled by the player will go on with their daily lives. Outside of the story, which is sure to be captivating, is the ability to participate in all sorts of activities such as yoga, golf, base-jumping, gym excursions, and even scuba diving. However, what excites me most about GTA V is how Rockstar is calling the world of the game their biggest to date, larger than the worlds of GTA IV, Red Dead Redemption, and San Andreas combined. I loved Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, so being able to revisit it in altered and much grander form gives me a warm tingly feeling all throughout my body. 

The Last of Us (PS3)

A third-person action game with multiple elements of stealth involved, The Last of Us is the latest from Naughty Dog, one of my favorite Western game development studios. Players control Joel, who is accompanied by a computer-controlled girl named Ellie. The Last of Us excites me because of the different ways and strategies players can go about using to survive and progress through the game. Enemies will behave in a number of ways depending on what strategy the player uses. Alongside gunplay, there is melee combat to be had in the game. The E3 2012 demonstration certainly turned some heads-- mine included-- so the May release of The Last of Us cannot come soon enough.

God of War: Ascension (PS3)

The seventh installment of the God of War franchise, God of War: Ascension, will be a prequel to the series. The game will star Kratos and feature an entirely revamped combat system. For instance, Kratos can pick up weapons found on the ground, as well as switch weapons while in the middle of a combo. Also, for the first time in franchise history, God of War: Ascension will have a multiplayer component to it that will offer battles for up to eight players to participate in. The new direction the God of War series is embarking in is one that should delight players. I know it intrigues me deeply as I was growing weary of the once fresh formula.

BioShock Infinite (Multi) 

Leave it to gamers to make mountains out of molehills. The latest "controversy" regards the cover art of BioShock Infinite. This isn't to be an apologist for the publisher of the game, but give me a break, gamers. Whine about stuff that actually matters before publishers and studios just ignore you altogether. Anyway, the concept of the game enthuses me highly-- a city suspended in the air. It only makes sense, I imagine, as the BioShock series has already explored a city submerged in water. Regardless, BioShock Infinite is shaping up to become a hot seller when it releases next year-- what, with its take on first-person shooting action, RPG elements, high-powered weaponry, and blockbuster production values.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (Multi)

Thank the gaming gods that this next game on my list was not canceled and was saved by Platinum Games. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance's name might be silly, but the gameplay is anything but. In the game, Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots's Raiden character gets top billing in his cyborg form. Armed with a deadly katana, Raiden can slice and dice enemies and obstacles with high accuracy, even entering a bullet time-esque mode where he can cut foes to shreds with the pinpoint precision of a surgeon. Don't worry, though, stealth fans, MGS: Revengeance will also feature moments of stealth and reconnaissance for you as well. Players can take control of cyborg Raiden when the game releases in February 2013.

Anarchy Reigns (PS3, 360)

I was one of many Wii owners who enjoyed MadWorld, an M-rated monochrome brawler that players could paint the town red (with opponents' blood) in. The primary cast of that game have been transferred over to Anarchy Reigns, available in the first dozen days of 2013 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game will feature a single-player aspect as well as a multiplayer one with modes like Death Match, Tag Team, and Battle Royale, to name a few. For a budget price of only thirty dollars, Anarchy Reigns looks and sounds like a compelling impulse buy.

Aliens: Colonial Marines (Multi)

The popular Aliens movie series once again gets the video game treatment. This time around it is with Gearbox Software's Aliens: Colonial Marines. The game is based heavily on the original Aliens, even showcasing characters from it. Players utilize a myriad of weapons from the movie to slay the hordes of monstrous scum that await in ambush. Killing enemies earns experience points that can be used to upgrade weaponry and learn new skills. In addition to the solo campaign, there is a multiplayer piece to the game. Shown so far are competitive deathmatch and objective-based modes. I, for one, am excited to see how the Wii U version will pan out, particularly how the GamePad will be utilized (and if it will be utilized in a smart way).

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3, PSV)

I had a great sense of trepidation when I heard/read that Sucker Punch, the original developer of the Sly Cooper series, would not be on-board as the major party behind Sly's first original adventure on the PlayStation 3. After playing the demo of the upcoming Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, courtesy of the Ratchet & Clank Collection, my worries seem unwarranted. The gameplay features all of the tightrope walking, stealth-based fun, and elegant platforming fans have grown to expect and love of the Sly Cooper franchise. New to this installment of the series is the ability for Sly to take on different costumes. The one in the demo allowed the wily raccoon to fire arrows as if he were Robin Hood. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is scheduled to hit the PS3 in early February.

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (PS3) 

I must admit that for this game, one of the sole reasons I am interested in it is Studio Ghibli, the creators of such fine animated films like the Academy Award-winning Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch looks like an interactive cartoon thanks much to the animation studio's stellar abilities. I don't think I have seen a better looking art style in quite a while. (Actually, the next game on this list will rival Ni no Kuni, but that's a topic for a different day.) Another reason I am so enthralled by this game is because it gives off a very old-school Super Nintendo RPG-era feel. As someone who grew up on that system, that is mighty fine praise from me.

Rayman Legends (Wii U)

Another game with a gorgeous art style is Rayman Legends, due out Feb. 26 of next year in North America. If you have played last year's Rayman Origins, a game that debuted on a multitude of platforms, then Rayman Legends should be strikingly similar at first. You run, jump, and slap your way through brilliantly designed in structure and aesthetics levels. What the Wii U GamePad brings to the table are levels where you help an AI player move through levels, using the GamePad's touch screen to tickle enemies, move platforms, and other helpful and innovative assisting ways. These Murfy levels have taken the place of the "moskito" affairs in Origins. As stated, platforming, as well as multiplayer fans can look forward to Rayman Legends in late February.

Pikmin 3 (Wii U) 

One of the only Wii U games given a second quarter of 2013 release time frame, Pikmin 3 officially brings Shigeru Miyamoto's charming creatures to the world of HD for the first time. In this iteration of the Pikmin franchise, players cordon off tasks to up to four different Pikmin leaders, as opposed to the two in the second Pikmin game. New Pikmin types also join the fray, including the hard-hitting Rock Pikmin and the mysterious Pink Pikmin. Players can use either the Wii U GamePad or the Wii Remote and Nunchuk combo to control the game.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)

Probably my most anticipated Nintendo 3DS title of 2013 in an already packed year for the system is Animal Crossing: New Leaf. As my old Animal Crossing Journal showed, I have a certain admiration for the franchise. However, this entry in the series brings a lot that is new to the table to change things up, unlike a certain Wii game (*cough* City Folk *cough*). This time around players will become the mayors of their towns, able to put landmarks like fountains, lampposts, bushes, and benches wherever they please. The customization of the game has never been greater either. I feverishly await Animal Crossing: New Leaf, whether in retail or digital form.

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS) 

Fans of the original Luigi's Mansion have waited over a decade for a sequel to transpire. Now, Nintendo and Next Level Games (Mario Strikers: Charged, Punch-Out!! for Wii) have teamed up together to create a haunting 3DS-exclusive adventure starring everyone's favorite plumber, Luigi! Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is set to produce some scares, some thrills, and some chills with its multiple mansions and ghost-busting action. The aforementioned multiple mansions each have their own theme to make things even more interesting. While no concrete date has been given for this game as of yet, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is set for a release in the first half of 2013.

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No doubt my list of most anticipated 2013 games does not match your own. That's all right. You're allowed to have a different opinion as much as I am. That said, why not post your own list of thirteen titles that make you quiver with excitement in the comments section?

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (PS3, PSV) Raiden Trailer

It looks more and more like that leaked character list is right on the money through every passing roster reveal trailer. The latest is a third-party cyborg ninja from Metal Gear Rising, Raiden. Watch him hack, slash, slice, and dice his way through opponents as if they were nothing. Better think twice before engaging this seasoned fighter.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3, 360) E3 Trailer

Leave it to something associated to Hideo Kojima to have a stupid subtitle. Thankfully, Platinum Games is behind the game, so it is sure to have more action than waiting for exposition to play out. Watch this extended trailer showing off Raiden's hack and slash capabilities. Not for the squeamish indeed!