Welcome to the month of love, groundhogs, Abe Lincoln and... video games, obviously. So January was pretty damn light as far as video games are concerned. February 2012 is correcting that, offering up a number of standout games that range from must-haves to potential sleeper hits. Oh, there’s also this little handheld coming out called the PlayStation Vita, you might have heard of it, no? Below, we’ve compiled, for your perusing pleasure, a list of 10 gaming products worth consideration. Let us know in the comments below which games you’ll be picking up this month.
Alan Wake’s American Nightmare
Platform: Xbox 360 / Release Date: 2/22/2012
What It Is: Alan Wake’s American Nightmare is Remedy’s second standalone entry in the Alan Wake brand. While not a sequel, this XBLA title looks to explore more of what makes Wake, well Wake. You’ll be put in front of classic horror tropes throughout the campaign as you fight Mr. Scratch.
CraveOnline’s Call: Our staff may be a little biased here, but we fell in love with the original Alan Wake. We dubbed ourselves “Wakers,” god damnit. If this XBLA title can keep the same charm, thrill and mystery the original title managed to provide, we’ll be ecstatic. We want the game to keep us talking even after we finish it. If it does that, it’s a win.
Jak & Daxter Collection
Platform: PlayStation 3 / Release Date: 2/7/2012
What It Is: Collecting Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II and Jak 3, this compilation offers all three classic titles remastered in high definition with added Trophy support.
CraveOnline’s Call: Frankly, this is the HD collection we’ve been waiting for. We’re huge Jak & Daxter fans around these parts, and this collection feels like a godsend for our PlayStation 3s. The added trophy support is a nice touch, but we honestly just can’t wait to replay these incredible PS2-era classics with HD visuals. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Naughty Dog’s Jak & Daxter franchise or a complete newbie, you need to do yourself a favor and pick up this collection.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC / Release Date: 2/7/2012
What It Is: Kingdoms of Amalur has a developing pedigree that’s completely unique. The studio behind it is helmed by a former Red Sox pitcher, the writing was worked on by fantasy-great R. A. Salvatore, the design is being head up by Ken Rolston (the man behind The Elder Scrolls III and IV) and the art is being lead by Todd McFarlane (Spawn). It’s a damn who’s-who of creativity.
CraveOnline’s Call: This game could be the perfect blend of Fable and Skyrim. It could be a glorious take on the RPG genre with an emphasis on fun, style and customization. We’ve got our eyes on the project and will be reviewing the title with the review sample in hand. Hopefully, it’s as good as it stands a chance of being.
PlayStation Vita
Release Date: 2/22/2012
What It Is: The PlayStation Vita is Sony’s second full foray into the portable gaming hardware. It boasts stronger graphics, touchscreen interfaces on the front and rear, two analog sticks and a whole bunch of new social feature. The device hasn’t been selling insanely well in Japan, but the western world will likely be a bit more impressed with the launch lineup.
CraveOnline’s Call: We’re actually most excited about a few of the launch games; three, in particular, have our attention. Uncharted: Golden Abyss looks like a nice addition to the franchise, we’re always suckers for a new Katamari title and ModNation’s portable entry looks fun as hell. Between those games and the thrill of new gaming hardware, we’re really looking forward to this device’s launch.
Resident Evil: Revelations
Platform: Nintendo 3DS / Release Date: 2/7/2012
What It Is: The Resident Evil series gets a full-blown canonical entry on the Nintendo 3DS with Resident Evil: Revelations. Furthermore, Revelations is a return to the series’ survival horror roots, featuring a story centered around Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield investigating a quarantined oceanic city.
CraveOnline’s Call: Our very own Joey Davidson has already embarked on the journey and is enjoying the experience thus far (expect our full review soon). Resident Evil: Revelations seems to be built with on-the-go gamers in mind, offering up small chunks of gameplay to be easily digested on the move. Plus, Resident Evil: Revelations maintains the third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective the series adopted back in Resident Evil 4, while also bringing the franchise back to its horror roots. If you’re a 3DS owner, you’ll want to keep an eye on this one.
