Cubed3's Most Wanted 2019 Games

By Az Elias 22.01.2019 20

Whilst some of us might still be stuck in 2018 and playing a handful of the great games released last year, there is plenty to look forward to over the next twelve months, as we move into what looks to be the final stages of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One's lives. Coupled with Nintendo Switch and PC gaming, there are more than enough standouts to keep us going through 2019 and beyond. The Cubed3 team shares what we are most looking forward to getting our hands on.


Dead or Alive 6

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Team Ninja is taking a more brutal approach to the sixth Dead or Alive tournament, with a focus on fighting entertainment that will emphasise the heavy impacts of hand-to-hand combat, revealing cuts and bruises fighters will accumulate during each round on interactive stages that feature dinosaurs and krakens. Of course, the sexy side DOA is known for returns in the form of skin-revealing outfits, and players will be able to unlock more of them through Dead or Alive 6's new quest mode, which requires a number of tasks to be completed under specific conditions. Some light customisation elements are introduced, and, naturally, the whacky story that stars ninjas, clones, wrestlers and drunks continues alongside the bid to see who will be crowned the next DOA champion.
- Az


Dragon Quest XI S

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Dragon Quest XI has already set records in its home turf of Japan when it released on PS4 and 3DS back in 2017, and then was met with overwhelming critical success on PS4 in the west in 2018. The 3DS version would, however, not come at all outside of Japan. Dragon Quest XI S is set to bring to Switch the full fat version of the game, complete with some extra features and content added on top to make up for the late release (despite being one of the first Switch games ever announced). It won't be the unique 3DS version, which had two visual styles combined in one game, but it should more than suffice to scratch that portable Dragon Quest XI itch.
- Rudy


Gears of War 5

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The cinematic trailer showcased at E3 2018 looked incredible. Those with an Xbox One X and a 4K TV will be able to gawk at some incredible visual set pieces. As with most Gears of War games (or just "Gears"), the human race is under incredible pressure and on the brink of extinction. Undoubtedly, Gears 5 will be the biggest first party launch of 2019 for Microsoft, so expect regular updates throughout 2019 pushing further details on what to expect.
- Neil


Yoshi's Crafted World

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If there is one thing Yoshi's side-scrolling platformer games are known for, it's gorgeous visual styles that rarely stick to the same design. Whether it is a cel-shaded hand-drawn crayon aesthetic, patchwork and stitching, oil paintings and watercolours, wool and yarn, or, in the case of Yoshi's Crafted World, arts and crafts-style cardboard cut-outs, the Yoshi series is forever delivering on unique-looking worlds that keep the series fresh - and is especially noticeable given the stale formula the New Super Mario Bros. games have become known for. Yoshi is always pushing originality, and Crafted World oozes creativity, with its level designs based around the folding and flipping of its hand-made Yoshi's Island. If the final game plays as good as it looks, this will be a wonderful time to platform away in.
- Az


Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age

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A whole slew of Final Fantasy games have been announced as coming to both Nintendo Switch and Xbox One this year, but Final Fantasy XII seems to be on the radar of the Cubed3 team more than other games in the series right now. The idea of exploring the vast world of Ivalice and battling and grinding away against foes in the mix of strategy and real-time combat system, coupled with the host of new features, such as the gameplay speed boost, is far too appealing to pass up - certainly portably on Nintendo Switch.
- Az


Metro Exodus

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The third entry in the series based on the books by Dmitry Glukhovsky takes place two years after Metro: Last Light's Redemption ending. In Metro Exodus, Artyom flees Moscow and heads east with his wife Anna, in a first-person survival horror adventure that spans the course of a whole year, with changing seasons, day-night cycles, a dynamic weather system, as well as the ability to scavenge and craft weapons to take down the mutated creatures and humans that plague the harsh post-apocalyptic Russian wastelands.
- Az


Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition

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This GameCube spin-off didn't quite get the love it deserved back in the day, mainly due to the convoluted and expensive demands required to experience it in its best form: multiplayer. Needing multiple Game Boy Advances and link cables per player, it was a messy set-up that resulted in many people simply playing solo...and not getting the most out of it. Now, this remaster will add an online feature that will solve most of the problems and allow friends to tackle the many gorgeous locations in a bid to rid the world of the miasma air poisoning the lands.
- Az


Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled

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Following the undeniable success of Crash's original trilogy remakes, demands were high for his racing debut to be given a tune-up of its own. Those wishes are coming true, with CTR: Nitro-Fueled set to be overhauled by Activision subsidiary Beenox. The original PS1 title gave Mario Kart 64 a good run for its money at the time, not least because it even incorporated an adventure mode that, to this day, Nintendo's franchise has still yet to properly introduce into its gameplay. On top of being rebuilt from the ground up with new assets, new tracks and playable characters will be added, plus an online mode and kart customisation.
- Az


Resident Evil 4 (Nintendo Switch)

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It was only a matter of time before Capcom brought one of the most genre defining classics to the Nintendo Switch. This will be the first time that Nintendo owners will get to play Resident Evil 4 in high definition, but hopefully Capcom will implement other features such as motion aiming, HD rumble and IR sensor reloading. It is crazy to think that people have not yet played Resident Evil 4 given that it is widely available on a multitude of consoles. Adding it to the Switch library will no doubt be a runaway success.
- Neil


Rage 2

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Taking on a far more vibrant look than its predecessor and other post-apocalyptic games, Rage 2 is set 30 years after the original, as players take control of the customisable Walker, attempting to survive a mutant-infested world following being hit by an asteroid. The combo team of id Software and Avalanche Studios means there is good reason to look forward to what Rage 2 can bring to the first-person shooter table.
- Az


Fire Emblem: Three Houses

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Initially thought to be a 2018 title, Fire Emblem: Three Houses quickly got pushed back into 2019 - and it will be all the better for it. Transitioning back to a single-screen display will be the largest challenge for many fans of this tactical RPG series. The set-up of the 3DS allowed for a much more fluid and intuitive gameplay experience, and it has been over 12 years since Fire Emblem has appeared on anything else. Nintendo will be hoping that it can continue the momentum set by the success of Fire Emblem Warriors - and more so now that the Switch itself has even more adopters.
- Neil


Death Stranding

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It says much about the legacy of Hideo Kojima that he can put out trailers of Death Stranding's main character simply...walking over various terrains, and fans will still get extremely hyped for it. With his track record on the Metal Gear series, though, it is no surprise that this obviously strange and mysterious looking PlayStation 4 exclusive is hotly anticipated the world over. A star-studded line-up of actors, including Norman Reedus, who was set to play the leading role in Kojima's canned Silent Hills project, portray the game's cast of characters, in a universe that sees players flitting between the lands of the dead and the living. It wouldn't be clever to even attempt to make sense of exactly what Death Stranding is all about, but that just makes it all the more exciting to play it.
- Az


Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

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Like a few others on this list, Iga's spiritual successor to Castlevania has seen a few push-backs but will deliver 2D platforming goodness when Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night releases this year. The 8-bit styled spin-off Curse of the Moon was a welcome appetiser for what's to come, but Miriam's prime adventure is looking very tasty indeed, with previous demos and updates from the development team indicating things are progressing excellently, especially now that the talent at WayForward has been hired to ensure the quality stays its course.
- Az


Days Gone

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There may be an argument for whether we need yet another zombie apocalypse game in the world, but Sony's Days Gone, revealed way back in 2016, does look to set itself apart from the crowd. As a biker outlaw, the means of traversal across the infected land is, of course, motorcycles, and suffice to say, main character Deacon has his work cut out for him if he wants to survive. What's left of humanity has been transformed into "Freakers", ever-evolving zombie-like creatures that will stop at nothing to rip Deacon apart. Stealth will play a major role, but the most heart-pounding situations arise when hundreds of the infected swarm the screen and chase players down at speed. Don't think the plague only hit humans, either, as there will be plenty of animal Freakers to deal with, too.
- Az


Metroid Prime 4

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Has there ever been a bigger reaction to a logo than what happened at E3 2017? A year and a half later and Nintendo has been incredibly coy as to what to expect. Nothing has been shown to help push the hype, yet still, the Nintendo Switch's third year on market looks like it could be headlined by Metroid Prime 4. At the start of 2018, rumours swirled on the internet, which eventually pointed towards Bandai Namco heading up the development. However, there has yet been any talk of what is going to be lined up for Samus other than a potential teaser at the end of Metroid Prime: Federation Force. Nonetheless, the three mainline titles have proved to be excellent additions to the Metroid universe, and if Prime 4 can evolve the original formula, then Nintendo fans are going to be incredibly pleased.
- Neil


Pokémon RPG (Nintendo Switch)

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Pokémon: Let's Go had a very divisive fan reception when it launched at the back end of 2018. Some appreciated the fact that it adopted a friendlier approach to catching critters and storming through the game, whilst others hated it for those very reasons. While no real details are available, the new Pokémon title for 2019 should be a return to the original core formula of catching and training Pokémon. It would be surprising if Nintendo's E3 show floor was not focused on the world of Pokémon for 2019. Expect big things!
- Neil


Doom Eternal

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The Doom Slayer returns as the demons of Hell have begun to invade Earth. Equipped with new combat weapons and features, such as the grappling hook-like Meat Hook attached to the super shotgun for quickly getting up close and personal, as well as a retractable arm blade to deliver those sweet glory kills, players will relish the continuation from 2016's Doom reboot in Doom Eternal, which will boast twice as many demon types as before. Introducing a range of new moves that benefit combat and navigation, this looks set to keep that fast-flowing pace going strong in the midst of brutal battle.
- Az


Shenmue III

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Ever since Shenmue III was confirmed as reality, it has still felt like an eternity for it to finally come out. This is the year, though, as the third part in Yu Suzuki's saga featuring Ryo Hazuki on his quest to avenge his father's murder will arrive in August. Even without solid gameplay footage at this point, fans have a good idea of what to expect, and are simply eager to continue this unresolved adventure at long last.
- Az


Devil May Cry 5

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The DmC reboot divided fans, but Capcom has returned to the fan-favourite universe, with Dante and Nero back to do what they do best: hunt demons. Set years after Devil May Cry 2, the fifth instalment in the main series will be familiar to what players have come to know from this hack and slasher, whilst introducing a third playable character in the form of "V", who uses demons to do his dirty work for him.
- Az


Bayonetta 3

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Bayonetta 2 was the best third party exclusive on the Wii U, and quite easily a contender for one of the best hack and slash games of all time. Somehow, Nintendo stepped into the arena to help publish Bayonetta 2, much to the dismay of fans who hadn't picked up a Wii U. The runaway success of the Nintendo Switch and the rise of interest in the Bayonetta series, thanks to the inclusion of the witch herself in the Super Smash Bros. series, should see Bayonetta 3 become one of the most popular third party games on the system. Similar to Metroid Prime 4, the details have been incredibly scarce, but expect this to be a Game of the Year contender.
- Neil


Luigi's Mansion 3

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Luigi's Mansion 3 features yet another adventure by the lanky green plumber. So far, both of Luigi's outings on the GameCube and Nintendo 3DS have been fun adventure puzzlers. Next Level Games did a great job with pushing the 3DS to its limits for Luigi's Mansion 2, adding in new types of puzzles and ghosts, and it would be good to see what they can do with new hardware. Given the spooky theme and setting that the series is known for, it would probably be best to assume that Luigi's Mansion 3 will be released sometime around Halloween.
- Neil


Kingdom Hearts III

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Although almost a dozen games in the series have been released in total, this is the big one Kingdom Hearts fans have been waiting patiently for. Following on from Dream Drop Distance, and being the latest in the series chronologically, Kingdom Hearts III sees Sora and his sidekicks Donald and Goofy return in a bid to recover seven guardians of light to thwart Master Xehanort, preventing him from igniting a new Keyblade War. Over time, the series has played less and less on its Final Fantasy crossovers, and more on its Disney and Pixar characters and worlds, which looks set to continue here. Properties making their debut include Toy Story, Frozen, Monsters, Inc., Tangled, and Big Hero 6, alongside plenty of returning franchises.
- Az


Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

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Anything with FromSoftware's name attached to it is going to pique the interest of most gamers, and whilst Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a step away from many of the role-playing aspects synonymous with its standout games such as Dark Souls and Bloodborne, this action-adventure title has those familiar vibes that looks to imbue a satisfying style of gameplay set in the late 16th century Sengoku period of Japan. The shinobi protagonist, with his prosthetic arm and katana, must use his skill to attack his enemies' poise and balance, creating an opening that leads to a single killing blow.
- Az


Resident Evil 2

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Leon and Claire will return to where it all began for them in Raccoon City, as Capcom's remake of the second game in the Resident Evil series looks set to scare the pants off its players very soon. Where the original Resident Evil remake kept the fixed camera perspective, Resident Evil 2 has reverted to a third-person over-the-shoulder viewpoint, putting the rookie cop and biker girl closer to the horrors that await them in the zombie-infested town. No question about it, this is the most anticipated game of 2019 amongst the Cubed3 staff. Just remember to play it properly: lights off, sound up, and with a few spare changes of underwear handy.
- Az

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It's going to be quite a year! Smilie 

Tom Barry [ Reviewer - Editor - Resident Sim-Racer @ Cubed3.com ] 

Was reluctant to include any unconfirmed 2019 games, but, well, so many people had voted for Prime 4, Bayo 3 and Death Stranding (and Neil had already written up for MP4 and Bayo haha), so couldn't really disregard them. Given Smash 5 was announced and released the same year, I think it's possible for the same to happen with MP4, but I'd be surprised. I want it bad, tho.

Main confirmed games I want this year: DOA6, Shenmue 3, Resi 2, Bloodstained, Yoshi, and FFCC. If Prime 4 does come at the end of the year, that will be a great year to me. Maybe some other surprises from Nintendo too.

I wonder if Prime Trilogy HD will come before Prime 4...

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

Adam Riley said:
I wonder if Prime Trilogy HD will come before Prime 4...

Portable Metroid Prime would be amazing. Hopefully happens, but I wonder about the motion-only MP3. If they can convert it to MP1+2 controls, then great. But I think it would be tricky.

I think at the bare minimum they can probably convert the motion controls to gyro controls. Adding dedicated controller support would be fantastic, but Nintendo isn't exactly known for going all-out with their ports.

NNID: crackedthesky
My blog, mostly about writing: http://www.davidjlovato.com

Heh! I'm glad I forced your hand! I am trying to think what would prop Nintendo's Q4 up, Pokemon and Animal Crossing most likely but they need to have a mature audience game for November /December.

It would be great if a prime collection released on Switch, it makes sense...we still don't know what Retro is working on after all, especially since all the effort they put into Funky Kong!

Endless Solitude (guest) 24.01.2019#7

The title I'm most looking forward to right now is 'Away: Journey to the Unexpected.'

Pity it didn't make the list.

Also surprising that there's no mention of Biomutant.

This is why I didn't want to include unconfirmed games Smilie

Metroid Prime 4 development restarted and will likely be a long time before it comes out now. I'm guessing at least 3 years. But nice to know they are working with Retro and are taking this seriously, instead of just pushing a Metroid FPS out there.

https://youtu.be/00Fv-O103Gw

Bonus is that they should have plenty of time to port at least Prime 1 and 2. MP3 is a separate matter due to the controls, so will be interesting what they do with that.

( Edited 25.01.2019 14:01 by Azuardo )

Azuardo said:
This is why I didn't want to include unconfirmed games Smilie

Metroid Prime 4 development restarted and will likely be a long time before it comes out now. I'm guessing at least 3 years. But nice to know they are working with Retro and are taking this seriously, instead of just pushing a Metroid FPS out there.

https://youtu.be/00Fv-O103Gw

Bonus is that they should have plenty of time to port at least Prime 1 and 2. MP3 is a separate matter due to the controls, so will be interesting what they do with that.


Haha, I was thinking the exact same thing when I saw the announcement. Either way I'd say it says more about the team working on it, although Retro were suffering on the first prime until Nintendo stepped in. I do wonder what Retro have been working on since DKTF though. 

It's disappointing news for sure, but good at the same time. I didn't really have faith in Nintendo to deliver a quality Prime game without Retro (even if current Retro has lost many of the original Prime staff), and it's worrying Nintendo doesn't know what to do with Metroid as a home console franchise, but going back to the devs that at least know how to make it work is reassuring. I just wish Nintendo itself would do the clever thing and stick to 2D Metroid. It's about time we got something set after Fusion.

But yeah, given Retro has been working on something else since DKCTF, that might put Prime 4 development further on hold till they're done.

Azuardo said:
It's disappointing news for sure, but good at the same time. I didn't really have faith in Nintendo to deliver a quality Prime game without Retro (even if current Retro has lost many of the original Prime staff), and it's worrying Nintendo doesn't know what to do with Metroid as a home console franchise, but going back to the devs that at least know how to make it work is reassuring. I just wish Nintendo itself would do the clever thing and stick to 2D Metroid. It's about time we got something set after Fusion.

But yeah, given Retro has been working on something else since DKCTF, that might put Prime 4 development further on hold till they're done.


I am hoping that Retro will try to recruit them back to be fair. For all we know they might be able to transfer some of their current project over to Prime 4. Despite the backlash I wonder what Next Level Games are working on, if they are going to follow up Federation Force.... 

The rumour for Retro is that it's doing a Star Fox racer...

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

Adam Riley said:
The rumour for Retro is that it's doing a Star Fox racer...

Ah yes, I had forgotten about this, I guess there is some credence to this rumour considering they helped out with Mario Kart. I wonder if there is an appetite for a StarFox racer though? Maybe with their connections to the DK universe they might consider doing Diddy Kong Racing instead Smilie

I think one of Retro's old cancelled projects was a racing game, so clearly there's passion within the team... what's left of it, actually, since didn't the team get gutted a few years back? I'm trying to remember the other big cancelled project discussed ages ago...maybe it was a big RPG or something. I vaguely recall...

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses
Our member of the week

Azuardo said:
Bonus is that they should have plenty of time to port at least Prime 1 and 2. MP3 is a separate matter due to the controls, so will be interesting what they do with that.

Rumour says the trilogy exists, was completed some time ago already, and was supposed to be announced last month already.

Lots of things we haven't heard of in a while. Nintendo Direct soon methinks. I predict sometime mid-February.

( Edited 28.01.2019 11:14 by RudyC3 )

Cubed3 Limited Staff :: Review and Feature Writer

Well I'm starting to think they'd hold off on releasing Trilogy now, at least until a year out from MP4. No point in having the momentum from that and then losing it. With that said it'll take me a little while to go through all 3 games so the sooner the better!

Our member of the week

Flynnie said:
Well I'm starting to think they'd hold off on releasing Trilogy now, at least until a year out from MP4. No point in having the momentum from that and then losing it. With that said it'll take me a little while to go through all 3 games so the sooner the better!

Exactly, a trilogy package would take ages to complete, I know it took me a long time to unlock everything on my Wii disc. Better release sooner rather than later, but considering that MP4 is now likely two years away, MP Trilogy HD will likely be more towards the end of the year, rather than in the first half methinks.

Cubed3 Limited Staff :: Review and Feature Writer

I still have a sealed copy of Metroid Prime Trilogy for the Wii, i have them all separately but GAME were flogging it for £20 ages ago and i felt like I had to pick it up 

I wonder if they'd work in any amiibo functionality, I'd love a ship amiibo! 

Our member of the week

RudyC3 said on January 28th 2019:

Lots of things we haven't heard of in a while. Nintendo Direct soon methinks. I predict sometime mid-February.

What did I tell ya?

Cubed3 Limited Staff :: Review and Feature Writer

RudyC3 said:

RudyC3 said on January 28th 2019:

Lots of things we haven't heard of in a while. Nintendo Direct soon methinks. I predict sometime mid-February.

What did I tell ya?

Good shout. Fingers crossed for some exciting reveals. 

Star Fox Racer, if that's a thing.. and it's like Diddy Kong Racing. Sign me up. 

 

Tom Barry [ Reviewer - Editor - Resident Sim-Racer @ Cubed3.com ] 

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