7 Most Wanted PC Games For 2007 (Part 1)

OH MAN, 2006 was so dissappointing from a PC gaming perspective. There were some near misses, lots of delays and just enough anticipation to keep things moving along, but basically it’s up to 2007 to deliver on all the promises. From my perspective there are 7 games in particular which will make it all worthwhile, for very different reasons, however I should point out to all you elflords and demonhorde out there that this is a personal list, so it doesn’t include any MMORPGs like World of Warcraft or Dungeons & Dragons Online.

When I sat down and thought about this I realised that I wanted each of these games for very specific reasons, some of which surprised me. I’m going to list them in alphabetic order, because to be honest I’d probably go slowly insane if I tried to seperate they into some sort of priority list; basically I’m going to be happy whenever each game hits the shelves, no matter what the sequence. So – if PC gaming is your ‘thang’ then sit back, get comfortable and prepare to drool as I give you Howl @ The Moons! top 7 most wanted games of 2007 (Part 1):-

First up we have Bioshock, from 2K Games and for me this one is all about the adventure. This game comes from a great pedigree (System Shock, System Shock 2) and represents the pinacle of strategic decision making and intelligent game design. It’s a world of choices, each one changing how the world around you reacts as a result of your leanings. Will you opt to save the poor souls you encounter, or manipulate and take advantage of them instead?

Erie settings, insanely creepy creatures,  ambient sounds, amazing conceptual AI, seriously sexy locations (underwater, 1950s art gone wrong, science out of control etc.) and a wonderful back story will make this game an adventure to remember, and it’s been a long time since I’ve played a well designed adventure game.

If you read any of the previews (Gamespot, IGN, Gamespy) about this one you will get a sense of just how good this game really is, and why it’s one of the most wanted for 2007, although you will only have to wait until the end of March for this one.

Ah yes, my old favourite the Command & Conquer series. This one is about recapturing some lost youth on my part, and maybe maybe just a little smattering of FMV (Full Motion Video) cut-scene goodness too. In a return to a winning forumla this third installment (Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars) has the best of everything, a great storyline, fab cut-scenes with some old favourites (Kane is back in glorious lunacy) and lots of newcomers including some of the babes from Battlestar Galactica (Boomer and Six!), improved graphics, improved AI, new weapons, new abilities and of course the thing everyone is waiting on… the arrival of aliens in the game!

Basically this is a classic RTS (Real Time Strategy) game with all the trimmings, and a strong cut-scene story driven plot which will wisk you along through the single player campaign, with some great multiplayer options too for Internet mayhem. It’s old school. It’s cheesy. It’s hamfisted acting and over the top drama… and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Current release date is 30th March… can’t wait!

Now this puppy is a different sort of animal from the previous two games. Crysis is the latest incarnation from Crytek, the same team who brought us the excellent Far Cry a few years ago. Far Cry was lauded for it’s graphical advances and simply stunning outdoor environments – although the AI was a bit ropey in places. Crysis takes this eye candy to a whole new level, offering the most detailed and interactive environments yet committed to a PC game. In addition the developers have upped the action stakes as well, adding the use of a ‘biosuit’ which enables the wearer to pump up on speed, stealth or strength in different situations – yielding an endless set of tactical decisions which the player will be required to make.

Let’s be honest – this is a balls out FPS (First Person Shooter) with the most photo-realistic eye candy you are likely to see this year until UT2007 hits the shelves, so what are you waiting on? Current release date predictions are running at March too, but the smart money is on a slip to Q2. Check out the previews (IGN, Gamezone, Gamespy) while you wait!

Hopefully 2007 will be time to kick ass and chew bubblegum again, and I’m all out of bubble gum! Duke Nukem Forever has been on the ‘most wanted’ shelf for so many years now it has gone from being a joke, to a legend to some form of myth at this stage. Killer one liners, politically incorrect and madly over-the-top voice acting, humourous setups and babes galore - this is just one of those titles that I will always want to play, no matter how long it takes. I guess it’s a form of nostalgia more than anything else, because I was a kid when I played the original Duke Nukem side-scroller and the amazing Duke Nukem 3D FPS that followed.

If you like it quick, funny, politically incorrect and generally devious then this title is a must. There are no release dates – it will be ‘done when it’s done’, there are no previews – it’s all under wraps and probably undergoing yet another graphic engine change, there are no current screenshots. This is just one of those games which may or may not happen. Ever. But if it does? Oh boy… if it does.. cancel everything else ’cause it’ll put the smack dab on your ass!

Part 2 will follow tomorrow night.