Happy New Year! Well, I’ve already done my Game of the Year blog, (if you missed it, I’d like to encourage you to go read it as well). So now I’ll list some games I’m looking forward to playing and maybe reviewing in 2013! This isn’t a complete list, as not every game in 2013 has been announced yet, of course. So I’m sure they’ll be others I’ll play in 2013 as well. This is just some that I know about right now. So let’s get started!

Ni no Kuni (PS3)

I already have this one reserved on Namco’s Web site. I’m getting the “Wizard Edition” so expect an unboxing article later on January when this game comes out. I’m a huge fan of Miyazaki’s and Studio Ghibli’s cartoons. In fact, I’ll probably even write a blog about my favorites closer to the game’s release. Since Ghibli designed the characters and plot for Ni no Kuni, I think this may be one of the few times I play an RPG for the story and characters, and not the gameplay. But hopefully it’ll still be a fun game. From what I’ve seen in video previews and playing it at E3, it looks really endearing.

Tales of Xillia (PS3)

Another PS3 RPG from Namco. I do like Tales games so I’ll probably give this one a try, too. It’ll be nice to play a Tales game designed for the PS3. Tales of Graces f was originally a Wii game in Japan, and you could tell (but it was still fun).

Vita Stuff?

And that’s all I know about games I want on the PS3. I still don’t have a PS Vita yet, so maybe 2013 will be the year I get one? Right now, the only games I want for it are Touch My Katamari and Gravity Rush, and two games aren’t enough for me to want to buy a new console. But I keep hearing about Dragon’s Crown, made by VanillaWare, who also did Odin’s Sphere and Muramasa, and I loved those. Back in 2011 I first heard it was coming out on PS3 and then Vita. But I haven’t heard anything about it since. If it came out on Vita, that might help encourage me to get one. Another game that would encourage me to get a Vita is the new Ys game that Falcom said they were making for it. If XSEED localizes it, I’d be tempted to get a Vita, too.

Speaking of games that haven’t been announced in the US yet, I’d like to see Phoenix Wright 5 and the Prof. Layton vs. Phoenix Wright games come out over here. That’s the only way you’re going to get me to play another Prof. Layton game is to put Phoenix Wright in it! Also, last year Square-Enix released a sequel to Rocket Slime on the 3DS in Japan. I sure do wish they’d bring that one to the US in 2013 as well!

Toki Tori 2 (Wii U)

OK now we’ll do some Wii U stuff. Most of these are downloadable titles because I don’t know much about new retail games coming out (sorry, not interested in Pikmin 3). Toki Tori 2 was originally supposed to come out late in December, but it’s been pushed back to this year sometime. It’s a sequel to a puzzler platformer originally on the GBC, but you can play it on other venues now. You play as a cute little yellow chick who must jump and climb and solve Lolo-like puzzles. At PAX, the developers were wearing yellow shirts with Toki Tori’s face on them. I wish I had one of those shirts. I think they should make plush toys or squeezy toys out of Toki Tori, as he’s a cute and huggable little guy. Anyway, I hope I do get to review this one on Wii U when it does come out, which will hopefully be soon.

Bit.Trip Runner 2 (Wii U)

Even though the Bit.Trip games are a little on the too difficult side, I’ve enjoyed reviewing them in the past for their simple gameplay mechanics and sensibilities. In fact, I recently purchased the Bit.Trip collection for Wii, so in honor of Runner 2, I’ll probably pop that in and make a blog about the games on that collection later on, too. Hopefully I’ll be able to review this Wii U downloadable title as well.

The Cave (Wii U)

The last Wii U downloadable title I’m looking forward to is The Cave. It’s kind of a point and click adventure published by SEGA. It was made by some of the same people who did a few of the point and click adventures at LucasArts, such as Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion. Hopefully I’ll get to review it. It’s totally unrelated, but when I was a kid, there was a ride at Six Flags Over Texas called The Cave. It was just a kiddy boat ride in the dark, but they had these creatures on the ride that looked like a cross between Fraggles and Lemmings, and they used a lot of cheesy black light effects so I liked it. Later on, they changed the boat ride theme to be about Looney Tunes. It was cute as well, but I still miss The Cave.

Game & Wario (Wii U)

As good as Nintendo Land turned out, I don’t know why more people aren’t excited about this. I sure am, but then, I love the WarioWare games, and this uses the same characters. Rumor has it that Nintendo is working on another Yoshi’s Island game for Wii U. If that’s the case, I’ll be excited about that, too, since SNES Yoshi’s Island is a very special game to me.

Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse (3DS)

Now we’ll finish with some 3DS offerings in 2013, and there’s quite a few. I read about this in the next to last issue of Nintendo Power. WayForward is making another Shantae game (yay), and this one’s on the 3DS. I haven’t read the whole NP article yet, but it sounds like Shantae has lost her powers, and has teamed up with her arch-enemy, the evil pirate Risky Boots. I hope it’s a cartridge game this time and not just a downloadable title. And speaking of Nintendo Power, I was wondering if one of you readers could maybe do me a favor? You see, one of the things I asked for Christmas was the last issue of Nintendo Power (I don’t subscribe to it anymore, so I’d have to pick it up at a newsstand). But I didn’t get that for Christmas. Nintendo Power was a special magazine to me, so I’d like to have the last issue. So if one of you sees it straggling in a magazine rack somewhere, I would like for you to buy it and send it to me. I’d pay for it and shipping, too, of course. If you are interested in helping me out with that, you know how you can contact me.

HarmoKnight (3DS)

HarmoKnight was recently announced for a US release from Nintendo. It’s a combination 2-D platformer and music/rhythm game. Interestingly enough, it’s developed by GameFreak, makers of Pokemon. But GameFreak can make other good games, too, as they also did the Treasure-like GBA gem Drill Dozer.

Brain Age: Concentration Training (3DS)

I’m not TOO excited about this one, but I have a feeling it’ll come out when I’m itching to try a new game. Plus I’m always interested in educational games anyway. I do like the premise of this entry. The doctor who makes these games says that people are so distracted by checking their e-mail and cell phones that they’re losing the ability to focus on tasks at hand, so the exercises in this game are meant to help improve focus. And that sounds cool to me, as I get tired of going somewhere and seeing everyone texting on their cell phone when they shouldn’t be!

Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS)

I loved the original Luigi’s Mansion on GameCube, so I’m glad it’s finally getting a sequel. After playing it at PAX and E3, I’m worried about the controls, but then, the controls took a little getting used to on the GC game. But once you got the hang of it, the controls became second nature! I’ll also add that my brother Jeff and his friends STILL play Luigi’s Ghost Mansion on Nintendo Land!

Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)

And finally, we have this game. I’m looking forward to this one more than any other. I’m a HUGE AC fan, and the original one on GameCube is one of my top five favorite games of all time. The online entries in the series on DS and Wii, I’ve had fun playing with people online, including folks who read my articles on this site! Not to mention playing it with my little brothers and family. Speaking of which, even my mom taught herself how to turn on the Wii so she could play Animal Crossing when she was around when I wasn’t there, so when New Leaf comes out, I’ll be buying her a 3DS as well. I’m even a little worried I’ll be TOO engrossed in New Leaf! You can bet I’ll write about it here close to when it comes out! I hope I can get some of you 3DS owners out there to get it and play it with me online, too! It’s a very special game series to me, and I think Animal Crossing and WarioWare are my two favorite ‘new’ Nintendo franchises.

Conclusions

And that’s all I can think of for now. What do you think of my picks? Are there any I missed that you think I’d like? What games are you looking forward to in 2013? Let me know in the comments section! Later! –Cary

Tags: Misc