In issue 262, we asked readers what their most anticipated game of 2015 is. Star Wars Battlefront, The Division, and Zelda Wii U were at the top of the list, but plenty of other contenders are still in the running. Here are some responses.
Ready For Battle:
- Definitely the Star Wars Battlefront remake. Hopefully it releases alongside the new movie, as SWBF II did. There were many great maps in the previous two installments which I hope to see again, only expanded. 10 years waiting for a sequel is enough time to see a revolution in visuals and gameplay, so I hope for the best from DICE.
Quentin Johnson - The game I'm most looking forward to is the new Star Wars Battlefront game. I loved Battlefront I and II. As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I've often preferred the Star Wars take on game styles to the games that came before them. For example, I liked Dark Forces better than Doom and Galactic Battlegrounds better than Command and Conquer. Battlefront was better than Battlefield 1942 in my opinion because, like with the other games, the developers found ways to make improvements on the originals and – even more importantly to me – they are based on the Star Wars universe with the characters, locations, weapons, etc. that I like so much. I loved being a stormtrooper and blasting rebel scum! In Battlefront II, we got to jump in snow speeders and take down AT-ATs in first person. I've imagined what that might be like ever since I was a little kid playing with my Empire Strikes Back toys. The Battlefront games combine the visceral excitement of a first-person shooter with the nostalgia of playing with our Star Wars toys as kids. Battlefront II was better than the original Battlefront, and I hope that Battlefront III is too.
John Enfield - I'm positively ecstatic for the new Star Wars: Battlefront. I put hours upon hours into Pandemic Games' Battlefront II with the epic campaign, huge multiplayer battles, and ridiculously fun Heroes and Villains mode. With DICE at the helm now and its knack for creating visually magnificent multiplayer shooters of grand scale, I have no doubt the developer is the greatest hope the dormant franchise has to rebound with roaring success.
Joey Thurmond
Divided We Fall (In Love):
- I am so excited for The Division! Ubisoft didn't have the best 2014, but I feel The Division will put the publisher back on top because of what we've seen so far in the game. Having to team up with your friends to travel this gorgeous post-apocalyptic New York City seems like the perfect recipe for fun.
Matthew Alexander - The Division. I hope this game gets released this year because it looks pretty awesome. Knowing Ubisoft, it probably won't come out till 2016, but one can wish.
Jesus Rocha - The Division. I have been hyped for this game since the announcement, which was a long while ago.
Evan Anderson
The Legend Returns:
- There are a few interesting games coming out this year that have caught my eye, but I have the most hype for The Legend Of Zelda Wii U. I remember watching the E3 trailer for it last year, and my mind immediately went to Skyrim's expansive world with high mountains and caves galore. I'm extremely anxious to see how this will play out in my favorite game series of all time.
Caleb Nowell - My most anticipated game of 2015 is hands down The Legend of Zelda Wii U. I was stunned by just the visuals in the new gameplay trailer. The new mechanics sound like it'll take some getting used to, though. Nevertheless, my dad and I are both waiting with bated breath for the new LoZ!
Madison R. - My most anticipated game of 2015 is The Legend of Zelda Wii U. I don't even own a Wii U though, so I'm just going to go to a friend's house to play it.
Adam "Dixel" Kaplan
Sky-High Expectations:
- No Man's Sky! Ever since I first heard about this game, I was excited. I thought one of the coolest things was being able to fly from the land out of orbit into space without a loading screen or anything. I really hope it comes to Xbox One not too long after launch, though since I don't have a PS4 and my wife won't let me get one anytime soon.
Kelly - I'm honestly excited for No Man's Sky. It looks like such an ambitious game and I love the idea of exploring an entire universe, finding planets that no one else has set foot on, and even just flying around space in general.
Alley Alminiana
Bewitched:
- With so many games coming out this year, one stands out the most to me: The Witcher 3. This is the last chapter of Gerald's life and I'm dying to find out what happens next in this huge open world. In my opinion, this game will define what a RPG title is supposed to be. The first two games were amazing and Projekt CD Red won't disappoint with this game. Plus, I spent 5K on a gaming rig with two GTX 980s specifically for this game. It's gonna be glorious!
Dwight K Morales - For me, personally, I have to say The Witcher 3. The game looks amazing from what I've seen, and the open-world RPG is exactly what I've been waiting for. I've played games like Dragon Age: Inquisition and Assassin's Creed Unity and I have to say, while fun, they seem a bit stale and boring to me. Here's hoping The Witcher 3 lives up to the hype, as many games that I was excited about let me down in 2014.
Marshall Taylor
Lara Love:
- The game I'm most looking forward to in 2015 is Rise Of The Tomb Raider. I enjoyed the first reboot very much and never replayed the new-gen remaster, so I'm very much looking forward to enjoying more of Lara Croft's adventures with updated graphics.
Sergio Castañeda - It was a very close call between Lara Croft and Bruce Wayne and a lot of blood was spilled to choose it, but I'm going to go with Rise Of The Tomb Raider. The last one was so unbelievably good and such a humongous leap forward in the series (even if it's a reboot). Even if this new one is just a few strides forward, I know that it's in the very capable hands of Crystal Dynamics and I will enjoy it immensely. Who would have thought that Lara could overpower Bruce?
Omar Gallegos
This Time It's Persona:
- While Disgaea 5 is a close runner-up, I'd have to say that so far, Persona 5 is the game I'm most anticipating this year! The trailer made me so excited (I squealed and hopped!), and I love Persona 3 and 4 to bits, so hopefully 5 will live up to my excitement. I'm very pleased that Atlus decided to release it for both PS3 and PS4, because now I can get it when it comes out in North America.
Elisa N - My most anticipated game of 2015 is Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 5! Everyone including their mothers should get and play this game! Not only is this game coming out for PS3 in 2015 but also for PS4! I wish Atlus can be quick with their information on the game. We've only seen the main protagonist and that's about it. Hopefully, new information will be revealed soon!
Dimitri Castel
Out But Still In The Running:
- Evolve by a long shot. Not only because it's original (something that can't be said about many games), but also because it's the first of its kind. The fact that I've actually played it probably factors in heavily as well. But Evolve's one-of-a-kind gameplay and the constant anticipation of seeing what the new DLC monster is going to be is enough to provide tons of replayability and definitely keeps me interested in the game.
Caleb - As a casual gamer, I find that online multiplayer has been diluted with players who fail to communicate and work as a team. For that reason I am looking forward to Evolve. Titles from the same developer like Left 4 Dead forced players to work as a team or be voted out of the game. While I haven't read if Evolve will offer the same functionality, hunting and defeating the beast will have to be a team effort.
Cody Gammon - Easily The Order: 1886. While much false criticism has been leveled at Ready at Dawn for supposed graphical downgrades, I have no doubt this game will be epic. Lycans, Victorian London, and the lore of King Arthur’s Court? Yes, please!
Jason Linderman - I am really looking forward to The Order: 1886. From what I've heard and seen of the game I can't wait. The story is new, dealing with monsters and conspiring revolutionaries, and some of the weapons look intriguing. This mix of sci-fi and fantasy has me shaking in anticipation.
Joshua Pope
The Best Of The Rest:
- I’m most excited for Bloodborne this year. Dark Souls is really special to me as it reminds me of all the things I loved about gaming as a kid: punishing difficulty, near opaqueness, no handholding, and this awesome sense of community amongst other players who dissect and mine every aspect of what is essentially a single-player experience and come together to share in something they love. To see Miyazaki’s wonderful verticality in level design come back is really going to send me whirling back into that punishing spiral of defeat and retry, all the while marveling at something so dense, mysterious, and breathtaking. And I bet it works on day one, too.
Christopher Walker - The most anticipated game for me will be the new Call of Duty. After the catastrophic Call of Duty: Ghosts, I feel like Advanced Warfare took a giant jet-pack leap into the right direction. So I will be interested in seeing how Treyarch will change the series on the new systems.
Brian Franklin - Xenoblade Chronicles X is by far what I'm most looking forward to in 2015. Takahashi has constantly been behind my favorite RPGs, directed my favorite game (Xenogears), and Xenoblade on the Wii was an RPG masterpiece. I own a Wii U only for the next Xeno game.
Steve RudzinskI - My most anticipated game of 2015 is Mistborn Birthright. I love the series and am excited to play it as a video game.
Pauline Breck - Halo 5! Why? Because it's a new Halo on a new console, that's why! Always exciting to see what Halo has in store for its fans. Can't wait!
Nick Pope - I feel like I may be in the minority here, but the game I'm looking forward to more than anything else would have to be the localization of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate on the 3DS. This game series has enraptured my attention more than a series should have any right to. Countless hours has been spent across multiple systems, including the PS2, Wii, PSP, and the 3DS, hacking and slashing at giant monsters. As an avid player of this series, I am looking forward to having full Internet capabilities for multiplayer, a key piece of the experience that has been lacking in previous entries. I don't have the joy of having a group of friends that plays video games to the degree that I do – especially not such niche titles as Monster Hunter, where fans in the United States are few and far between. This game is going to be epic, awesome, and balls-to-the-wall hard; I can't wait to get my ass kicked.
Javan Boyd
And The Winner Is...:
- Metal Gear Witcher of Uncharted Arkham. In all seriousness, if these games (and many others) don’t get delayed, it will be hard to pick a favorite for this year. I guess today I’m anticipating Arkham Knight the most, but tomorrow it could be Uncharted 4 or The Witcher 3, and another day it might be No Man’s Sky! It's a good dilemma to have, and I’m sure that others feel the same way.
Sammy Caloras
What's your favorite game to play with friends? Share your pick in the comments below!