Feature: The 48 Best Games of 2008 (page 6 of 8)
10. Final Fantasy XIII
PS3 * TBA...2008?
Why you should care: Although little is known about this newest Final Fantasy, the first game trailers proclaiming its existence were phenomenally gorgeous. The game stars a gun/sword wielding female protagonist named Lightning, and features real-time combat that eschews those pesky random battles that plagued the Fantasy series until XII. Recently, Square revealed a brand-new, hulking male ally for Lightning, and showed off some new, very awesome monster summons. We also hear it'll take full advantage of the PS3's finnicky-but-powerful Cell CPU.
Why you shouldn't: We're drawing a blank here. A complete blank.
9. Dead Space
X360, PS3 * Late 2008
Why you should care: Resident Evil 4 fans will instantly spot the similarities between that game and EA's upcoming splatter-fest Dead Space. Both games play from a slick over-the-shoulder perspective and feature more decapitations and eviscerations than you can shake a plasma cutter at. But Dead Space, a horror gamer's dream come true, goes several steps further. The plot-part Alien, part Event Horizon-is shockingly well paced, putting you in the boots of a humble engineer trapped on a haunted mining spaceship. Other surprises abound: Zero-gravity segments have you bounding from wall to wall, and combat focuses almost exclusively on amputating limbs from the pus-spewing, gut-busting creatures that infest the ship. Creativity counts, too: slice off a creature's limbs, and you may cause it to float helplessly into the void while saving yourself a few precious shots. Nice!
Why you shouldn't: The multi-limbed enemies looked suitably freaky, but we picked up on more thrills than chills. Of course, there's a whole year for Team EA to pump up the scares...
8. StarCraft II
PC, Mac * 2008, in theory
Why you should care: Protoss, Zerg, and human once again meet in mortal combat in this much anticipated sequel to the classic real-time strategy StarCraft. The game takes place four years after the events of StarCraft and includes the standard complement of new weapons, units, and game scenarios. This time around improvements include, say, new plasma torpedoes for the Terran BattleCruiser, and teleportation abilities for some Protoss units.
Why you shouldn't: If you don't own a game-worthy PC or Macintosh, you're missing this party.
7. Left 4 Dead
X360, PC * March 2008
Why you should care: It's more zombie-killing mayhem, this time in the first-person perspective. As part of a four-person team of survivalists, it's your job to escape, outwit, and blast speedy super-zombies ala 28 Days Later. The twist comes from being able to play as special zombie-types in multiplayer, too, and the developers promise this experience will be vastly different than the human campaign. We particularly dig the fast pacing, realistic weapons, and emphasis on teamwork.
Why you shouldn't: The team-based play might not be so fun for players who have to rely on computer-controlled allies. Then again, that's what friends are for.
6. Tekken 6
PS3 * TBA 2008
Why you should care: Because after Tekken 4, the programmers learned their lessons the hard way and have been kicking major booty ever since. Tekken 6 is the first game in the venerable fighting series to have fully smashable arenas, so feel absolutely free to pile-drive and dragon punch your friends through walls, floors, and other minor obstacles. True to Tekken form, there are also a whole bunch of crazy new characters, including a matador and a lady contortionist. But our early favorite is Bob, a pork-fried brawler with a whole lotta wiggle.
Why you shouldn't: The arcade version hits in early 2008, and a PS3 port later that same year seems like a long shot. Fingers crossed, people!
5. Spore
PC * TBA 2008
Why you should care: Famed game designer Will Wright has created a simulation where you start off as a one-celled organism and end up as a spacefaring race of creatures capable of kicking ass in copious quantities. There is literally no game like Spore, and it may cause a revolution the likes of which has not been seen since the mega-selling The Sims.
Why you shouldn't: Spore may well be too ambitious and wide in scope for its own good.
![Screen Update: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe [Xbox 360]](/screens/141960/206695-1-1.jpg)
![Screen Update: Spider-Man: Web of Shadows [Xbox 360]](/screens/142213/206692-1-1.jpg)
![Screen Update: Spider-Man: Web of Shadows [PS3]](/screens/142214/206693-1-1.jpg)
![Screen Update: Spider-Man: Web of Shadows [PC]](/screens/142216/206694-1-1.jpg)
