8-Bit Ape Presents: The Top 10 Most Anticipated Games of 2015

Welcome to 2015! While 2014 was a bit of a disappointing year for games, 2015 looks to finally be the year that the eighth generation of consoles shine and next-gen will truly become current gen (if it hasn't already). Remember this is MY list, I'd love to see what your most anticipated games of 2015 are. So let me know! Now for some honorable mentions (in alphabetical order); Assassin's Creed Victory. Battlefield Hardline, Halo 5: Guardians, Just Cause 3, The Division, Zelda U, and many more that I probably forgot. Now, here's the top 10 list!

Number 10

Volume: Ah let's come out with a game you probably haven't seen yet on a most anticipated list! Volume is an upcoming stealth game from Mike Bithell, the creator of one of my favorite indie games ever created: Thomas Was Alone. It was announced at this past Gamescom as a stealth action game that was inspired by and looks a lot like Metal Gear Solid (with the top down camera). It features a cool look that is coupled by what looks to be an excellent performance by Danny Wallace. It will also feature the ability to create your own levels, share them, and play levels that others have made. Mike Bithell was somehow able to make me get an emotional attachment to geometrical shapes (and I hate geometry), so it's pretty safe to say I'm excited for this game and so should you.
Release Date: TBA
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC
No Pre-Order available at the time of this publishing

Number 9

Bloodborne: This is a game that, the more I see of it, the more I get excited for it. Bloodborne is from developer From Software, the makers of Demon's Souls and Dark Souls, and the game is a successor to the previous games in the franchise. I got to be honest with you, I was not a big Souls fan. Sure, I find them great games, but it didn't wow me as much as some others have been fortunate to be. However, when I saw Bloodborne for the first time at this past E3, I got really excited. The gameplay has been reported to be "slightly faster" than the gameplay of the previous games, and that's something I've been waiting for in a Souls game. Nothing arcade-like, but just a little bit quicker. And now that I've seen more of the trailers, this game is marked on my to-play list this year.
Release Date: March 24
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Click here to pre-order Bloodborne from Amazon

Number 8

Persona 5: I'm not a big JRPG fan. I am much more a fan of western RPG's like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. But not so long ago I decided to get Persona 4 Golden for the PS Vita. I had been hearing great things about it and it was on sale so I was like "Why the hell not?" Well, to say I got hooked would be an understatement. I was hooked by the excellent gameplay that is pretty much Pokémon but that's not a bad thing, and by its high school drama filled story. I know, it sounds cheesy, but trust me it's not as bad as it sounds. So after adoring Persona 4 Golden, I find myself super excited for Persona 5 and am looking forward to playing it on PS4. Hopefully I will have a lot of free time when this game comes out.
Release Date: TBA
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
No Pre-Order available at the time of this publishing

Number 7

Dying Light: The wait for this one is a pretty short one, but it still feels like a long one. Dying Light looks to be the open world zombie survival game I've been waiting for. Think Dead Island meets Mirror's Edge parkour. Yeah that sounds pretty sweet. I've been amazed by every gameplay video released by this game. And the developers seem to be focused on making this game as good as it possibly can. I applaud their risky decision to cancel the PS3/360 versions of the game in order to make the next gen versions better. While this game has been delayed many times, we've seen before that delays are never a bad thing...except with Duke Nukem Forever but that was different. I just hope it lives up to the hype and starts 2015 off with a bang!
Release Date: January 27
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
Click here to pre-order Dying Light from Amazon.

Number 6

No Man's Sky: It seems like the hype for No Man's Sky has reached, well, sky high expectations. It does worry me that because of all this hype that the game won't deliver, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm looking forward to this indie surprise. Made by Hello Games, an indie team comprised of four people, No Man's Sky can be best described as a game all about exploration across the universe. Everything is procedurally generated, meaning everyone can start on a different planet and find new species never before seen, even by the developers. You can travel to the other planets by space ship, and even engage in some space combat. There is a lot of content in the game thanks to the procedurally generated gameplay, too much in fact. The developers estimate that it would take approximately Three Billion Years to discover everything. The sun is expected to explode in less than a billion. You excited yet?
Release Date: TBA
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC
No Pre-Order available at the time of this publishing

Number 5

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Okay let me get this straight, I have not played a Witcher game. I never owned an Xbox and my PC isn't good enough to run a Witcher game, so I know nothing about the lore or anything about what the previous games were. All I know is that this game looks like Skyrim times 20. It has all the features that I love about The Elder Scrolls series and other Western RPG's; a great story filled with exciting lore, a beautiful world to explore and admire, dozens of side missions to undertake, loot to find, dynamic stories to make, an excellent sound production, and so much more. If all these things turn out to be true, than you will not be able to find me for a while when this game comes out.
Release Date: May 19
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
Click here to pre-order The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt from Amazon.

Number 4

Star Wars Battlefront: Out of all the games on this list, this is the one I've been looking forward to the longest. And it's not even close. I've been waiting for this game for ten years. I've seen this game cancelled, shift from developer to developer, before finally landing in the hands of Battlefield creator DICE as a reboot of the beloved Star Wars franchise. I think I poured over a thousand hours into Battlefront, it's my favorite multiplayer shooter perhaps of all time. So the pressure is on DICE, especially after the disastrous launch of Battlefield 4 which made the game unplayable for me for two weeks. And yes I know some are upset that it will be a first person shooter (I'm a little disappointed too, as Battlefront was always a primarily third person shooter). However, if anyone can pull this off, it's DICE. And I have the utmost faith that they will deliver.
Release Date: TBA Fall 2015
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
No Pre-Order available at the time of this publishing

Number 3

Batman Arkham Knight: After four long years the Arkham series has been returned to its rightful creators. Rocksteady changed tie-in games forever with the release of Arkham Asylum and created a combat system that is replicated in many games today. They followed it up with my 2011 Game of the Year: Batman Arkham City. Now (after that other Arkham game that no one cares about), we have the final chapter in Rocksteady's Arkham series. This installment seems to be even bigger and better than before. There is plenty of reason to be excited for this game. The open world Gotham City, the drivable Batmobile, the additions to the combat system, the return of Scarecrow and other fan favorite villains (minus the Joker...maybe), and the intriguing mystery of the game's main antagonist: the Arkham Knight. I'll be on a trip when this game comes out, but you bet I'll be very eager to play it when I get home!
Release Date: June 2
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
Click here to pre-order Batman Arkham Knight from Amazon.

Number 2

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain:  I'm a huge Metal Gear fan. I consider the original Metal Gear Solid to be one of, if not the very best, game ever made. So with each new Metal Gear release I get excited. While the game's prologue Ground Zeroes was incredibly overpriced, it made me get more excited for The Phantom Pain. I loved the open approach to the Ground Zeroes mission that allowed you to choose how you wanted to handle the mission. Now multiply that times 149. Yes, according to a file in the PC game code for Ground Zeroes there will be 149 missions in The Phantom Pain. That doesn't include the beautiful open world that allows you to play with the great stealth gameplay, build your own Mother Base they way you want to, and of course play in the return of Metal Gear Online, which is expanded upon to include attacks on other players' bases. If you've never played a Metal Gear before, play through the other ones to get ready for this one. As for the rest of us, well just hope that Hideo Kojima announces a release date for this soon.
Release Date: TBA
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC
Click here to pre-order Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain from Amazon (Note, the PC version is not available for Pre-Order at this time).

Number 1

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End: I have come to the conclusion that Naughty Dog is the best developer in the industry. Look no further than games like Jak and Daxter, Uncharted, and of course my Game of the Generation winner The Last of Us. Now here comes Uncharted 4, the game that is rumored to be the final installment in the Uncharted series from Naughty Dog. It features the return of Nathan Drake, the man who has pretty much become the mascot of the PlayStation brand as well as other series favorites like Sully and Elena. But perhaps a more intriguing character is the man who's been referred to as Drake's brother, who is voiced by Troy Baker. Naughty Dog games have always been known for their impressive stories and that is reason enough to get excited for Uncharted 4. However, another surprise was probably the gameplay. Yes, on the surface it looks like the same old gameplay that they've been using in this franchise since 2007. But the gameplay shows a much more open approach to level design and therefore combat. This allows for more cinematic sequences to appear naturally and unscripted. The game also takes a few cues from The Last of Us, such as the improvements to stealth and melee combat. The multiplayer is also returning, and that is something Naughty Dog has been consistently getting better at. There's probably a million reasons to be excited for Uncharted 4, but those are just the big ones. It would not surprise me at all if, at then end of this year, we are giving Uncharted 4 and Naughty Dog yet another Game of the Year award.
Release Date: TBA
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Click here to pre-order Uncharted 4: A Thief's End from Amazon.




So that's the list! It's going to be a great year! What games are you looking forward to this year? Let me know! And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.

8-Bit Ape's Top 10 Games of 2014

So 2014 is in the books, and many will agree that it was a less than stellar year for games, especially when being compared to 2013. However, we still had a ton of great games come out this year, and many of them deserve your attention. My top 10 list is based off of games I have played and games I enjoyed the most. I did not play games like Bayonetta 2, Sunset Overdrive, and Divinity Original Sin so therefore they are not on this list. I do feel it necessary to give three honorable mentions that didn't make this list but still deserve some praise:


HONORABLE MENTION-Dark Souls II: Dark Souls II kicked my ass, but when I finally was able to overcome obstacles in the game I felt a great sense of satisfaction. I didn't actually get to finish the game, therefore I can't put it into my Top 10 list based on playing just part of the game. I hope to get back to it one day, and I'm still looking forward to developer From Software's Bloodborne.


HONORABLE MENTION-Hearthstone Heroes of Warcraft: While it was in beta form for a while Hearthstone's official launch took place earlier this year. Hearthstone was a surprise for many, myself included. I'm not really a big card game guy, but Hearthstone grabbed me and it kept hold of me for a while. I haven't been back in a while but I might go try it out on mobile when it comes out there. If you enjoy card games you must get this one.


HONORABLE MENTION-Mario Kart 8: Mario Kart has always been among my favorite Nintendo franchises. It's a great party game that's highly replayable and doesn't really get boring. This new Mario Kart offers a ton of great new features and has excellent functionality with the Wii U gamepad. I can't have more than ten games on this list, but if I had a number eleven this would be that game.


And now, here is my Top 10 Games of 2014 (this is not necessarily ranked in order of review score):

Number 10

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare- Well this was a surprise. I haven't really enjoyed a Call of Duty game in a long time but this might be the best one since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. No it's not the mediocre campaign that is redeemed only by set pieces and Kevin Spacey that makes me say this. It's the multiplayer. Sledgehammer took a massive risk with the exosuits and the emphasis on mobility. They knew going in they'd probably cut off a portion of Call of Duty's fanbase by making this game a living nightmare for longtime campers. But they did it anyway. And while there's still some balancing issues, I've had a ton of fun playing Advanced Warfare multiplayer and it would be stupid for the next Call of Duty game to not include this.

Number 9

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS- I really don't know how I still like Smash Bros. They've been using the same formula and mechanics for ages but yet I still find myself coming back to it and having a blast. But if it ain't broke don't fix it. And that's what the new Super Smash Bros. does. It provides a more modern take on the classic Smash Bros. formula and what you get is an addictive experience whether if you're on the go on the 3DS or at home playing on your Wii U. Nintendo had a fantastic year this past year, so it's tough to determine which one was the best. But I think I've found that game, and that's Super Smash Bros.

Number 8

Far Cry 4-I got to be honest with you, I found Far Cry 3 to be a bit overrated. Yes I know I'm in the minority and I still think it's a great game, but I don't understand why some people gave that game a perfect score. It doesn't make sense with its sequel, but I can say I enjoyed Far Cry 4 more. Yes I know, it's very similar to Far Cry 3, but I think it's a great improvement to that game and therefore I enjoy Far Cry 4 more. It doesn't hold your hand for the first half of the game, and the villain is actually in the game for more than 20 minutes, contrary to how Vaas was. It still isn't perfect, but Far Cry 4 is a blast and charging into an enemy outpost on top of an elephant is an awesome experience.

Number 7

Watch Dogs-Yes I know. I'm probably one of the few people to actually feature Watch Dogs in their top ten list. But since this is MY list, I can place Watch Dogs here and I'll tell you why. As I stated in my review, Watch Dogs provides many unique gameplay experiences I haven't found in an open world game before. Taking out an entire enemy controlled area without ever entering it is still a satisfying experience every time I play it. The multiplayer is really unique and very tense. And there's a lot of things to do in this recreation of Chicago. It's unfortunate that this game's graphics were downgraded and I feel that left a sour taste in people's mouths. But I enjoyed Watch Dogs a lot, and am very much looking forward to a sequel.

Number 6

Velocity 2X-It's quickly becoming clear that indies are going to be the dominant force in the industry soon, and many people think that's a bad thing, and even I'm still a bit skeptical. But if the indies we get are anything like Velocity 2X, that's going to be a pretty cool future. Velocity 2X relies heavily on fast and fluid arcade gameplay, both in space and on foot. It's a very fast game that can keep you hooked for hours trying to beat your high score. It doesn't hurt that the game looks fantastic, controls great, and is accompanied by an excellent musical score. Futurlab should be proud of what they accomplished with Velocity 2X, and I'm looking forward to what they do in the future.

Number 5

Infamous Second Son-I had tried so hard to like the first two Infamous games. I really wanted to find out what makes these games so special to many people. Unfortunately, I didn't see that, and I've found the Infamous games to be overrated. Well, at least until Second Son. The third installment in the Infamous series does away with everything I disliked about the first two Infamous games by having an exciting plot, varied missions, and more fluid gameplay. The powers in this game are fantastic. They each provide their own tactical advantages and disadvantages in battle, one is not overpowered. It doesn't hurt that the production quality is on the scale of a summer blockbuster. This is the game to own if you get a PS4, and had the karma system been a bit better, this easily could have been much higher on my list.

Number 4

The Walking Dead: Season Two-I'm amazed this isn't on more "Best of" lists. Sure developer Telltale Games doesn't really change anything from the first season, but it still is a fantastic journey and has a captivating story that keeps you hungry for more. But perhaps the most impressive thing that the second season of The Walking Dead does is the development and growth of Clementine throughout the season. It's something you do see a lot in video games, but nowhere near this well done. Is this season weaker than the previous one? Yes, but "weaker" isn't a good term to describe this game. If you didn't really like the first season, this doesn't do anything to change your mind. If you were hoping for innovation, it's not there. But what Telltale continues to achieve in interactive storytelling is far beyond what many could have imagined. And they show that in this game.

Number 3

South Park: The Stick of Truth-Everything I stated about The Stick of Truth can be found in my review and it still stands true. But for here, just know that The Stick of Truth is the best adapted video game since Arkham City, and it succeeds because Trey Parker and Matt Stone were involved. Yeah sure, Obsidian is a very talented studio and they should be commended for what they did here, but without the involvement of the show's creators they would have only been able to put out a slightly above average South Park game. This game will leave your jaw dropped in shock at the humor, but it will also make you laugh a lot. This is the funniest game I have ever played, and it is also one of the best games to come out in 2014.

Number 2

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor-These last two games I went back and forth with choosing their places. But I feel satisfied with their rankings. And you should be satisfied by knowing that Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is the most fun I've had with a video game in a while. It features an excellent story written by the writer of my 2010 Game of the Year: Red Dead Redemption. It also features plenty of side missions and great gameplay. But that's in EVERY open world game. What sets this apart? The Nemesis System. These little mini-bosses provide an excellent distraction from everything else you can do in this world to fight off that stupid orc that kept killing you and was getting promoted for it! And it is so satisfying when you finally defeat them. This game is very ripe for dynamic storytelling, and even though it doesn't win my Game of the Year award, it is a very, VERY close runner-up.

Number 1

And now, I am pleased to present what is in my opinion, the best game of 2014. Here is my 2014 Game of the Year:




















































Dragon Age: Inquisition-If you read my previous post, you probably saw this coming. I know, I'm very original, I'm going with what is perhaps the most popular choice for Game of the Year this year. But you know what? It deserves it! Dragon Age: Inquisition provides a deep story with a fantastic cast of characters, much in typical BioWare fashion. But it also provides a vast, breathing world that is ripe for exploration and discovery. There was more than one occasion when my jaw dropped at the beauty of the world and all I could say was "Wow". I also hadn't even played the Dragon Age games before this one, but my love for the Mass Effect series compelled me to go play this and I have no regrets. The story is intriguing, with many twists and turns throughout that keeps you guessing throughout. And it does a great job of getting first time players familiar with the story. I was caught up and intrigued by the Mage-Templar conflict very quickly. The combat, while it isn't spectacular, is very deep and offers a tactical viewpoint as well. The character customization is very deep and well done. There are a plethora of side quests to do, places to explore, requisitions to fulfill; it's a ton of stuff to say the least. There's also this very interesting army building mechanic, where you can build the Inquisition and choose where to focus your efforts on, and this leads to some very interesting decision based events during the game. The music is great, as well as the voice acting and the graphics. I'm probably forgetting about nine million things to talk about that this game gets right. Sure, the multiplayer is forgettable, and the story isn't nearly as memorable as Mass Effect in my opinion, but what BioWare has crafted here is truly remarkable and an achievement. When we look back on 2014, this is the game I'll remember the most. The game that kept me hooked for dozens of hours and provided a memorable experience. When you put all that stuff together, there is no doubt that this is as good as it got this past year. BioWare should be getting a LOT of praise for the hard work that they put into this fantastic game.


Dragon Age: Inquisition is the 8-Bit Ape 2014 Game of the Year.

















What did you think of my list? What is your Top 10 games of 2014? Let me know! And, as always, thanks for visiting 8-Bit Ape.


Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is available on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC. Buy it on Amazon.


Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS. Buy it on Amazon.


Far Cry 4 is available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC. Buy it on Amazon.


Watch Dogs is available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, and PC. Buy it on Amazon.


Velocity 2X is available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita (Digital only, buy it on the PlayStation Store).


Infamous Second Son is available for the PlayStation 4. Buy it on Amazon.


The Walking Dead: Season Two is available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Mac, and on some mobile phones. Buy it on Amazon.


South Park: The Stick of Truth is available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. Buy it on Amazon.


Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC. Buy the 2014 Game of the Year Runner Up on Amazon.


Dragon Age Inquisition is available for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC. Buy the 2014 Game of the Year on Amazon.