A Look Forward At 2011

I loved the first Dead Space to pieces, and I'm really looking forward to spending more time in the haunting universe that Visceral Games has created. I'm a bit apprehensive about the promise of a more action-oriented experience, but the demo has put me much more at ease than I was.

I loved Morrowind and while I still have yet to finish Oblivion, I've loved all the time I spent with that game as well, so Skyrim is a no-brainer for me. I can't wait to see more of this game, including the new engine and the expanded-upon game mechanics.

Rockstar may only be publishing this title, but their involvement alone is enough to have me interested in it. I'm impressed by what I've seen and I really hope this title can deliver an original story-driven experience.

It's weird to think that this time last year, this wouldn't even have been on my list. After spending a vast amount of time with Shepard last year, though, I can't wait to see the story reach its conclusion.

I'm approaching this one with caution. The lack of Kojima's involvement is a concern for me, but I'm still intrigued by the different gameplay approach, and I'm a sucker for all things Metal Gear.

Portal was one of the greatest releases of the last ten years. This sequel looks set to take the core mechanics of the mind-bending first-person puzzler and build an even larger game around them. I have every faith in Valve that this will be awesome.

Even though I know next to nothing about this game, I find myself strangely hyped for it. Given how much I loved Fallout 3 and Borderlands, maybe it's the aesthetic. Whatever it is, I know I'll be checking this out when it hits shelves.

I've long been a fan of the Tomb Raider franchise. The unique blend of adventure platforming, puzzle solving and light combat has delivered time and again. Even though this reboot looks set to take things in a new direction, I have faith in Crystal Dynamics and can't wait to get my hands on Lara's next adventure.

This game's been sitting in my collection for a couple of years now. Given how much I've enjoyed the other RPG/FPS hybrid titles I've played recently, this seems like a logical title to pick up.

In spite of the many hours I've put into Oblivion, I've never actually finished it. With Skyrim just around the corner, I know that if I don't push my way through Oblivion's main quest this year, I probably never will.

I started my serial blog, Enduring Final Fantasy VII, last year, but a combination of too many games and too little time interfered with its regularity. This year, I'm hoping to see the project through to its end.

One of the series' most divisive entries, I've always enjoyed Final Fantasy XII's gameplay and respected the changes it brought to the franchise. I'd love to see the credits roll on this game, so hopefully this will be the year.

Last year confirmed for me how much I love Rare's work as a developer, after having a great time with both Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts and Viva Pinata. This year I'd like to see more of their work, and Kameo seems like a good place to start.

I've had this game for about six years, I think. In all that time I've never completed it, despite reaching the final boss at least three times. I'll return to it in 2011 and see if I can finally finish it.

After spending a substantial amount of time with Just Cause and Just Cause 2 last year, I think I finally "get" these kinds of games. Armed with that knowledge, now might be the perfect time to go back to Mercs and play through it.

Another long-time resident on my shelf of shame, I bought Okami shortly after released but I've never even made it out of the first town. I need to devote some serious time to this gorgeous title.

Last year pretty much confirmed it for me - I like the Resident Evil games. After playing through 4, 5 and the GameCube remake of 1, I intend to pick up RE2 and see how I fare with it.

Second Sight is one of my all-time favourite titles, in spite of its flaws. One thing I'd really like to do this year is revisit it and experience its brilliant story all over again.

Chaos Theory remains the only Splinter Cell game from last generation that I haven't played yet. I enjoyed the first game and thought the second was a marked improvement, so I'm looking forward to seeing if the third game continues that trend.

I think this is the game that's been sitting on my shelf without being finished the longest. In spite of its dated gameplay, this stands out as the best of the PS1 Tomb Raiders for me, and I'd love to pick it back up and finally put it to rest.