The Games That Will Make 2013 Awesome

January:
Anarchy Reigns
The long awaited sequel to the fantastically bloody Wii title, Mad World, hits consoles and promises to be even more bloody, more violent, more colorful, more multiplayer, and less waggly.

The Cave
While they're finding ways to spend all 3.3 millions dollars on their Kickstarter adventure game, Double Fine teamed up with Sega to release a puzzle/platformer called The Cave.  If it's anything like their previous titles, it should be just as charming and humorous.

Ni No Kuni: The Wrath of the White Witch
I absolutely love anything that Studio Ghibli churns out. So when I heard that they teamed up with Level 5, creators of the Professor Layton series, to make an RPG with an original story AND a definite North American release date, I nearly entered a comatose state just imagining getting my hands on a game that's dedicated to gameplay just as much as telling a great tale.


February:
Fire Emblem: Awakening
The Fire Emblem series enters Nintendo's newest generation with the apparent return of Marth.  Also you'll get to kill undead soldiers as Marth . . . in 3D!

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

While playing Metal Gear Solid 4, I thought how cool it would be to play a fast-paced action game starring cyborg Raiden. Then Hideo Kojima unveiled Metal Gear Solid: Rising that would have you play as Raiden and would bridge together the events of MGS2 and MGS4. Then nothing. And more nothing. Then it was revealed that the game had actually been canceled! But luckily for us, the fine folks at Platinum Games took up the reigns of the development process and thus the oddly named Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance was born.  The game now looks to take the over-the-top hack n' slash route and while its place in MGS canon is still debatable it looks to be a hell of a lot more CRAZY than that dumb DmC reboot.


Rayman Legends

Rayman Origins was a surprise hit for me back in 2011.  Ubisoft made a cooperative multiplayer platformer that is actually enjoyable unlike those hacks at Nintendo with their New Super Mario Bros. games.  The Wii U exclusive not only looks to bring more of that glorious platform but gamepad elements that actually look fun. A lot more than those Nintendo hacks can pull off. PFFT!


March:
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
I have no idea why it took Nintendo twelve entire years to make a sequel to this game but they have finally come to their senses and continued the tale of Luigi's real estate escapades. There will also be an odd multiplayer addition which means 4 times the Luigi!

South Park: The Stick of Truth
I find South Park to be a pretty great show so for me hearing that Obsidian is joining forces with Matt Stone and Trey Parker to make an RPG was pretty similar to me finding out about Ni No Kuni except replace beauty and magic with Crab People and Jew jokes. Although the death of THQ and the game's acquisition by Ubisoft hopefully will not disrupt its release.

TBD:
Pokemon X & Y

Remember back playing Pokemon Red/Blue and thinking to yourself "Wouldn't it would be neat if they made an awesome 3D Pokemon game?"  Well, our childhood dreams have come true with the latest Pokemon generation and it might actually get me to play a Pokemon game since Gold/Silver came out.  I might even be willing to endure all the stupid new Pokemon designs that they've unimaginatively mustered up.


Killer Is Dead
WOAH! It's like it's No More Heroes, mixed with Killer 7, mixed with a little Shadows of the Damned.  Basically, it's everything that defines Suda 51's style wrapped up into one thrilling looking title.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf
When I played Animal Crossing for the Gamecube, I was devoted to that game. I did everything; I collected all the bugs, caught all the fish, paid off my home, designed the coolest shirts, and pitfalled the most annoying neighbors.  I haven't played an Animal Crossing game since then on the count of me not being able to find enough time. So with New Leaf being released on the 3DS, I felt it would allow me to dedicate a ton of time with the game as I could take it anywhere.

Bayonetta 2
With all the butthurt that surrounded Platinum Games' reveal that Bayonetta 2 would be a Wii U exclusive, it's not going to just be about playing a climaxing sequel; it's also going to be fun watching everybody boycotting and hating a game that they can't even play.

Grand Theft Auto V
My favorite GTA game is San Andreas due to the huge map that allowed for maximum exploration, something I enjoy doing more than the actual missions. GTAV brings the game back to Los Santos with Rockstar promising a map bigger than the worlds of GTAIV, San Andreas and Red Dead Redemption combined.

Pikmin 3
How great would it feel to play a Pikmin game with a touch screen, being able to point where your Pikmin will be thrown; RTS style. Thanks to Nintendo, we'll soon be able to realize that feeling.

The Wonderful 101

The Wii U drought ends with Platinum Games' interesting puzzle/brawler that has you control 101 super heroes that form together to create different objects like a sword or a ladder.  Also the main character looks and sounds an awful lot like Viewtiful Joe, perhaps a throwback to Platinum's original gig as Clover Studios.