Friday, June 26, 2015

Five games I'm really looking forward to playing between now and the end of 2015

True story: I've been on a bit of a "pre-order tear" for the last couple of weeks due to all of the just-announced games that have been offered up for sale at sites like amiami.com and play-asia.com.

I only mention this because the afore-mentioned pre-order-athon is fully responsible for the creation of this post.

So, which games am I really looking forward to playing between now and the end of 2015, and which ones have I already pre-ordered? Keep reading to find out.


Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer (3DS)--I don't know about you, but I've had quite a change of heart regarding this soon-to-be-released (in Japan, at least) 3DS title. When it was first unveiled, I looked at it in horror due to the fact that it sounded like little more than an embarrassingly limited cash-in. After its brilliant E3 2015 showing, though, I "did a 180," as the saying goes. Now, I'm not only interested in this game, but I've got a copy of the Japanese version, Doubutsu no Mori: Happy Home Designer, pre-ordered along with a couple of packs of the Animal Crossing-branded amiibo cards that will join it on store shelves in late July.


Code: Realize (Vita)--I've considered myself a fan of the otome genre ever since I played through the first Hakuoki game that made its way to the West. (I shared my impressions of that PSP title in this "somewhat gay" review.) Does that mean I'll get a kick out of Code: Realize, which will earn both a digital and physical release sometime this fall courtesy of Aksys Games? Not necessarily, but I certainly hope I'll end up feeling as positive about it as I did about Demon of the Fleeting Blossom. The story "hook" of this Otomate-made game should help matters quite a bit, given that it features a number of famous literary characters as romance options.


Super Mario Maker (Wii U)--Does this mean I'm actually going to get off of my cheap, lazy butt and buy a Wii U before 2015 comes to a close? That's the plan, but your guess is as good as mine as to whether or not that's what will happen. If it does, though, you can thank Super Mario Maker, which I think looks absolutely stunning at this point--and I'm not sure we even know all there is to know about it yet. Speaking of which, if someone at Nintendo were to reveal that Super Mario Bros. 2 (Super Mario Bros. USA in Japan) characters, enemies, items and moves will be appearing in this game, too, I'd go out and buy a Wii U console the very next second.


Taiko no Tatsujin: V Version (Vita)--My decision to include this upcoming Vita release on this list shouldn't surprise those of you who previously read this post or this post. Still, I'm mentioning it here because it's easily near the top of the heap in terms of games I desperately want to play in the next six months. Thankfully, I know for certain that I'll be playing it either in late July or in early August, as I pre-ordered it as soon as I was able via the previously discussed amiami.com.


Yo-kai Watch (3DS)--I've wanted to play this Pokemon-esque Level-5 RPG since it first graced Japan with its presence two years ago. Thankfully, Nintendo revealed it will be releasing a localized version of it in North America this holiday season. Will it also bring the series' second and third entries to our shores, potentially in 2016 and 2017? I sure hope so, although I can't say I'm all that confident that's what will come to pass. Oh, well, at least we'll always have this first ghostly adventure.

This isn't the extent of the games I'm looking forward to playing between now and the end of the year, by the way. In fact, I've already started writing a follow-up post in which I declare my love for five more such titles, so look for it to be published sometime next week.

In the meantime, let me know which games, if any, you're chomping at the bit to sink your teeth into at some point during the remainder of 2015.

17 comments:

Eric withCheese Ashley said...

I could not be more excited for Super Mario Maker! And the Treehouse Live really sold me on Happy Home Designer.

thegaygamer.com said...

Actually, the video that was released just before E3 is what turned me around on Super Mario Maker, Eric. Regardless, it looks SO GOOD! And HHD looks surprisingly packed of content :)

Eric withCheese Ashley said...

I've always wanted Mario Maker since its announcement last year. Creating Mario levels is like a dream come true. Seeing it in action at the Nintendo World Championships, I think, sold a lot more people on it, too.

thegaygamer.com said...

Yes, I agree that the mere idea of being able to
make (and share!) your own Mario levels is like a dream come true, Eric. That
said, the initial reveal of the game left me feeling a bit cold, as it just
looked too basic/limited to me. Now, though, it’s clear that it’ll be far from
basic or limited. I do wish the SMB2 graphics, moves, etc., were in there, but
even as is it should be a thrilling game to own and play.

Eric withCheese Ashley said...

I think finding out that people cannot create unbeatable levels is also a huge draw of the sharing. People have to win their levels in order to upload/share, which I think is incredible fair, yet challenging!

thegaygamer.com said...

Oh, yes, I think that’s a really important component to this game, Eric. Without it, way too many people would simply make difficult courses for the sake of making difficult courses, even if the resulting “products” can’t actually be completed. I’m so glad people are going to have to be able to prove they can beat their homemade stages before sharing them with others…

Bodo said...

I was late to the show and bought my WiiU two months ago as the selection of great games is very good now. And I'm really looking forward to Super Mario Maker as it looks fantastic.

thegaygamer.com said...

That's great to hear, Bodo! That you now have a Wii U, I mean. Which games do you currently have for it, if you don't mind me asking?


As for me, one of the main reasons I've put off buying a Wii U up to this point, strangely enough, is that there are *too* many games I want for it. That's a problem for me because at the moment I prefer to spend my money on 3DS, DS, PSP and Vita games (along with the odd retro game, of course).


Still, there's no question I want to be able to play games like Fatal Frame 5, Mario Kart 8, Super Mario 3D World, Super Mario Maker along with all sorts of others, so I have to imagine I'll finally buy a Wii U either after my birthday (late Nov.), after Christmas or possibly even some time before then if things work out...

Obscure Video Games said...

I REALLY want Yo-kai Watch, but I know I'm gonna end up disappointed. I've the battle system isn't very good. I kinda want Rodea The Sky Soldier, Danganronpa Another Episode, Lost Dimension, and Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold, too.

thegaygamer.com said...

Aw, I hope that's not the case, Steve! I'm going to buy it anyway, though, and just hope I find it at least mildly enjoyable. I mean, trillions of Japanese gamers can't be wrong, right?


Also, thanks for sharing a list of the games you at least kind of want to play between now and the end of the year--especially since it's an interesting looking list!

Bodo said...

Your welcome, Bryan :-)


So far I have only 5 games - Mario Kart 8, Smash Bros., Captain Toad, Scribblenauts and Bayonetta 2 - but I'm only playing MK8.


And there are a lot of games which I have to buy - Super Mario 3D World, NSMB, Wonderful 101, Yoshi's Woolly World, Kirby, Pikmin 3, ...

thegaygamer.com said...

Ah, I want to play Captain Toad and MK8 sooooooo much. Bayonetta 2, too, I guess. Oh, and Kirby. And Pikmin. Gaaaaahhhh!!! XD

Zaphod65 said...

There are so many games I want. Fallout 4 is casting the largest shadow. The thrill for me is the crafting element they've added so you can build your own house (or entire settlement) from scratch. Finally, I'll have a use for all those toilet plungers I collect!

Beyond that, I'm also looking forward to trying Yokai-Watch, Mario Maker, and Happy Home Designer.

thegaygamer.com said...

Oh, yes, I want P4: Dancing all Night, too, Terry! In fact, I think you can rest assured I'll be including it in the follow-up post to this one, which will be published in a few days :)


As for Fallout 4, I'm sad to say I know next to nothing about the series. I think I'm going to have to read up about it now, though!

ZACH said...

Oh man, I'm totally there with you on Yokai Watch and Mario Maker!! Did you get a chance to watch the Nintendo World Championship? The custom levels they made for that were nuts. Here's hoping that, in addition to the mind-numbingly difficult levels that'll no doubt spatter the selection, we'll also see some really incredibl, fun levels! I'm hoping to see some throwback levels or maybe something rad like a Metroid-styled level? Which makes me also hope against hope that we can get some more "skins" to design with in the future, like Super Mario USA, or (gasps) Yoshi's Island?? ... That would probably be a technological nightmare, but one can dream!

thegaygamer.com said...

Oh, yes, I saw them, Zach--and I loved them! Also, yes, I'm 100% with you in hoping that some stages that are focused on being fun, rather than tougher than nails, are included in SMM, too.


As for the "skins" you talked about here (and a Yoshi's Island one would be TO DIE FOR), maybe they'll be DLC, or maybe nintendo will release a SMM 2 down the road. Whatever it is, I want it!

CamilleSHarshman said...

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