Top 10 PC Exclusives In 2011
Who says PC gaming is dead? We've compiled a list of our top 10 most anticipated PC exclusives for the year. Some of them have already been released, and others are just on the horizon. One thing is for sure, these games should definitely be on your hit list if you have a gaming PC.
10) Natural Selection 2
Natural Selection 2 is being crafted by Unknown Worlds Entertainment with guidance and support from Valve. What originally started as an ambitious mod for Half-Life , Natural Selection 2 sets out to blend RTS and FPS seamlessly in a hectic, online environment which pits a team of human space marines against a team of aliens known as the Khraa. Using a modified version of the Source engine, Natural Selection 2 is shaping up to be one hell of a thrill ride. No official release date has been confirmed, but we should be seeing this by the end of the year.
9) Shogun 2: Total War
Shogun 2: Total War puts players in command of a massive, and brutal Japanese army during the mystical days of the Samurai. Featuring a fantastic single-playe campaign, along with co-operative and competitive multiplayer modes, Shogun 2 is sure to keep the RTS fan more than happy. Sega just announced fresh DLC too, so that's always a bonus. Check out our review.
8) Might and Magic Heroes VI
While Might and Magic Heroes VI may have faced several delays in the past, that doesn't mean our excitement to jump back into the rich gaming world has faded. Turn based RPG meets strategy is the order of the day as the game puts gamers in control of a faction with specific units to take on an onslaught of enemies along their quest. The latest edition adds in some epic boss fights, new features when entering a town and a brand new reputation system.
7) Gemini Rue
Dark, moody and gripping is how we would describe this indie adventure game. Gemini Rue is a throwback to classic point and click adventures featuring a retro graphical style, interesting characters and a plot that wouldn't seem out of place in a Ridley Scott movie. It demands your attention from beginning to end, and is well worth the $15 price tag. Don't believe us? Check out our awesome review.
6) Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad
It survived Australian Classification Board, so now the question is will you survive the realistic depiction of World War II that Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad wants to serve up to you? This online shooter from Tripwire Interactive features a dark, gritty look at one of the bloodiest battles in human history, not to mention one of the deepest and most engaging shooters on the market. Realism is the order of the day ladies and gents, so you better learn to aim without a HUD for this one.
5) Hard Reset
Who needs fancy marketing or the assistance of the hype train? Flying Wild Hog and their upcoming shooter Hard Reset certainly doesn't. An announcement flew in last month surrounding this mysterious title, with a release date set for September. For those of you playing at home, that's only two months before the launch of the game! Hard Reset sets gamers down in a Blade Runner-esque dystopian future as they protect the digital identities from some evil robots that have taken over the world. Check out our hands-on preview.
4) Guild Wars 2
Gamers are skeptical as to whether we will actually see this one in 2011, but the release date is still slated for release sometime this year. Guild Wars 2 follows on from the wildly successful MMO that captured the hearts of gamers across the globe. Featuring a new graphics engine, a new dynamic quest system that features an ever changing storyline and refined mechanics this is sure to give WoW a run for it's money.
3) Dota 2
The popular mod for Warcraft III is stepping out on its own as a standalone product, and Valve is the studio that is making it happen. Based on the ever popular Source engine you can expect all the great gameplay mechanics of the classic, with fantastic visuals and great physics.
2) Star Wars: The Old Republic
Some still class KOTOR as Bioware's finest work, but finally gamers are gearing up for Star Wars: The Old Republic this year. Continuing on from its predecessors, it looks set to light the internet on fire with a sprawling MMO story set across the Star Wars galaxy. Unfortunately no release date has been announced for Australian gamers, although Bioware have stated that import copies won't be region locked.
1) Diablo III
Everything Blizzard touches turns to gold, and with 11 years between drinks, fans have been waiting a bloody long time for Diablo III. This epic hack and slash dungeon crawler will feature both a single-player and multiplayer component, will allow people to sell their in-game items for real world money and offer an unparalleled Diablo experience. It could be this year, or it could be pushed back into 2012. Obviously we're hoping for the former.
By Stephen Heller