Developer: Planet Moon Studios
Publisher: SEGA
Release Date: March 2007
Genre: Flight Action
What to Expect:Now here's a series that simply needed to come back. Fans of the original arcade masterpiece know that few games today match Afterburner's visceral aerial combat. Who needs real-world flight physics and politics when a single heroic jet can tear through a sky filled with enemy fighters? All that other stuff just gets in the way. The first PSP game in the series, Afterburner: Black Falcon, will offer old-school gameplay in a contemporary package. Players can choose from a selection of aircraft and pilots, then take to the skies to recover stolen military vehicles. Along the way, players will destroy swarms of enemies in land, sea and air. Happy hunting!
Burnout DominatorDeveloper: EA UK
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: March 6, 2007
Genre: Racing
What to Expect: The fastest and most intense racing series on the planet returns with a PlayStation-exclusive release. Taking design elements from the entire franchise and mixing it into one package, Burnout Dominator harkens back to the high-intensity racing roots of the series. Burnouts are back while checking traffic is out, proving its focus on pure racing. A new Maniac mode will challenge you to drive as recklessly as possible, and Signature Shortcuts will have you taking out opponents to open up quicker paths. Burnout has been the preeminent arcade-styled racing series for a number of years now, and no new release is to be missed.
Call of Duty: Roads to Victory
Developer: Amaze Entertainment
Publisher: Activision
Release Date: March 2007
Genre: First-Person Shooter
What to Expect:Developers have kept this game under wraps, so there's little about it. Having said that, it's pretty obvious what kind of experience players can expect. The game should strap aspiring soldiers into the boots of an elite British Parachuting Commando, as well as an 82nd Airborne Division Infantry soldier. Players will get to use stationary machine gun placements, just like in the console games, as well as engage in heated sniper battles. Not only that, developers say the game will include wireless play for six players. And finally, all of the content and maps in Roads to Victory is unique to the PSP - nothing has been ripped from previous games.
Capcom Puzzle World
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: February 2007
Genre: Puzzle
What to Expect: What happens when you combine five different puzzle games into a single handheld collection? You get Capcom Puzzle World, that's what! Packed tight with Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, Block Block, and the three-game Buster Bros. Collection (which includes Buster Bros., Super Buster Bros., and Buster Buddies), Capcom's brain-teasing anthology could potentially keep fans of the genre exercising those thumbs for ages -- especially since the set comes complete with ad hoc multiplayer support, a screenshot capture mode, unlockable bonus content, customizable backgrounds, and a viral leaderboard system that allows you to upload your high scores to your friends PSPs.
Coded Arms Contagion
Developer: Creat Studio/Konami
Publisher: Konami
Release Date: March 2007
Genre: Action
What to Expect:As far as handheld First-person shooters go, the first Coded Arms game stood among the best. It failed to revolutionize the genre, but there's so little competition in the handheld market that it didn't really matter. The sequel, Coded Arms Contagion, looks to fix some of the problems that kept its predecessor from greatness. Players can expect a series of new weapons and power-ups, as well as all-new environments. What's most interesting is that levels are no longer randomly generates - they're all static. This will make each locale feel different. Also, the action will take players outdoors this time, which fans know is a big departure for the series.
Dungeons & Dragons Tactics
Developer: Kuju Entertainment
Publisher:Atari
Release Date: March 2007
Genre: RPG
What to Expect:Dungeons & Dragon's Tactics looks to offer a comprehensive role-playing experience. Fans of the property can expect a true D&D experience, from the rules and story, to the story and characters. It's also doesn't hurt that it looks downright pretty. The game offers a string of impressive locales, not to mention advanced lighting technology. The latter makes everything from the flicker of a torch to the blast of a magic spell look fantastic. Of course, combat is a huge part of the experience, and it looks like Tactics won't disappoint. Players will take their band of warriors and throw down with all sorts of creatures.
Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure
Developer: Nihon Falcom
Publisher: Mastiff Games
Release Date: February 2007
Genre: Action RPG
What to Expect: A fast paced adventure with a precocious young girl. Left at her grandfather's house by her parents, Parin discovers a hidden monster dimension within the town and quickly starts on her own journey through the realm. When it's attacked by mysterious phantom creatures that kidnap the monsters, it's up to Parin and her legendary drill to rescue her new-found friends. There's a mix of gameplay elements to Gurumin, including platforming levels, action sequences, and RPG-like sequences that keeps Parin's adventure fresh and exciting. Plus, a veteran voice actor cast helps bring the story to life with loads of voiced cutscenes.
MLB '07: The Show
Developer: SCE Studios San Diego
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: February 2007
Genre: Sports
What to Expect: Numerous additions to the baseball franchise. MLB '07 takes the strong features of last year's game and improves on them. Some of the new features for this year included a refined pitching system, based around the success of your pitches and the calls from your catcher. Players will also need to take umpire personalities into account for this year's game to consistently earn strikeouts, and the Road to the Show lets you take the field solely from the perspective of a particular position. With sharper textures and animations, MLB '07: The Show could be one of the stronger sports games this Winter.
Sid Meier's Pirates! Live the Life
Developer: Full Fat / Firaxis
Publisher: Take-Two Interactive
Release Date: January 22, 2007
Genre: Adventure
What to Expect: We've called the original release of Sid Meier's Pirates! one of the best games ever made for very good reason - it's design is so solid and addicting that a re-release more than 15 years later was close to winning our Game of the Year award that year. A handheld version of said game is making its way to the PSP in late January, and it just so happens that the original design fits extremely well in a portable package. There hasn't been a lot of hype for this one yet, but expect it to be one of the year's biggest sleepers.
Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters
Developer: High Impact Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: February 2007
Genre: Action
What to Expect: Ratchet and Clank can't catch a break. Here they are, trying to enjoy their vacation on a quiet resort planet when a young girl is suddenly kidnapped. And naturally, who else can help her but the universe's favorite PlayStation duo? Thus begins Size Matters, the first portable installment in Sony's long-running intergalactic action series. But just because the screen is smaller it doesn't mean that the adventure is. Players can expect a full-length quest with all the same gameplay that made the franchise such a hit with PS2 gamers, in addition to an all-new customizable armor system, Clank-themed shooting sequences, and four-player multiplayer support in a variety of modes.
Rocky Balboa
Developer: Venom Games
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: February 2007
Genre: Sports
What to Expect: If you loved the movie, now you can live it. Assume the role of the aging Rocky Balboa as he steps into the ring with Heavyweight Champion of the World Mason "The Line" Dixon for one last chance at glory. That's the premise of Ubisoft's first boxing opus for the PSP, and it looks like it could be a real winner. Relive past fights from throughout Rocky's career (including bouts against Drago, Clubber, and Apollo) or step into the ring with a friend with some ad hoc multiplayer fun. Go for it indeed.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: March 20, 2007
Genre: First-Person Shooter
What to Expect: The Rainbow Six franchise is making its debut on the PSP and what we've seen so far looks pretty promising. Using the more-and-more popular dual-D-pad setup for freelook aiming, the game retains most of what's made the series so popular in the past without having to rely on a lock-on targeting system. Stealthy items like the snake cam make an appearance, and careful planning and tactics still reign supreme. A number of classic maps will appear in the multiplayer portion, which will be playable both online and off. We're big fans of the console series, and Ubisoft doesn't aim to disappoint with the original PSP release.
Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Release Date: February 2007
Genre: Sports
What to Expect: The latest chapter in the acclaimed soccer series. Winning Eleven makes a number of refinements to the franchise, such as improved defender AI, tighter control and more realistic players. More clubs have been included as well, so players looking for clubs like Manchester United will find them in this year's game. Shots on goal are much easier to pull off, as are defending against them with your keepers. Winning Eleven also boasts a larger online mode that supports up to eight players, as well as a faster boost in gameplay. Winning Eleven could just be the soccer title that fans have been looking for when it's released in February.
Arthur and the Invisibles
Developer: Estranges Libellules | Publisher: Atari
Genre: Action | Release Date: February 2007
M.A.C.H.
Developer: Kuju | Publisher: Vivendi Universal
Genre: Action | Release Date: February 2007
Metal Slug Anthology
Developer: SNK | Publisher: SNK
Genre: Shooting | Release Date: February 2007
MLB '07: The Show
Developer: SCE San Diego | Publisher: SCEA
Genre: Sports | Release Date: February 2007
Prince of Persia: Rival Swords
Developer: Pipeworks | Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Action | Release Date: March 2007
Prince of Persia: Rival Swords
Developer: Pipeworks | Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Action | Release Date: March 2007
Test Drive Unlimited
Developer: Melbourne House | Publisher: Atari
Genre: Racing | Release Date: February 2007
The Warriors
Developer: Rockstar Leeds | Publisher: Rockstar Games
Genre: Action | Release Date: February 2007
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2
Developer: Red Storm | Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Shooting | Release Date: March 2007
Games of Winter 2007: PC Dan, Steve, and Charles reveal the keyboard and mouse games you should watch out for. |
Games of Winter 2007: PS2 | PS3 | PSP Jeremy, Chris, Juan, and Jeff pick would-be hits that are so hot they're cool. |
Games of Winter 2007: Xbox 360 Doug, Jon, and Erik proclaim, "Hey! Check these out!" |
Games of Winter 2007: Wii Matt and Mark show you the future. The future we say! |
Games of Winter 2007: DS Craig points you in the right direction. |
Games of Winter 2007: Wireless Levi chimes in with his picks. |