Konnichi wa, minna-san!

Although I've already put my most anticipated game of 2013 down in my Game of the Year Awards I still want to do a proper countdown. So because I already listed my top game in my GOTY awards Im going to do my top 11 - 2. The next generation of consoles has begun with the introduction of the Wii U but the current systems are still going strong. Everyone is hoping Microsoft and Sony announce their new consoles this year to get them into the next generation. But in the meantime there are still games to discuss. Although I am likely to stick with Nintendo exclusively for next-gen because of me going to university for at least the next three years I still plan on buying 360 and PS3 games to augment my gaming. Of course, there is also my 3DS which I will also stick to. These games have to be close to completion to be put on here. There's no point in putting a game that may not be done soon. So here we are: my top 11 - 2 most anticipated games of 2013!

11. The Last Guardian (Team Ico, Santa Monica/Sony, PS3)

Release Date: ???

This is the last time I'm putting this game on my list. If it does not come out in 2013 or no release date is announced in 2013 I will drop all hope for the game. I am still excited for this game but it seems like I will never be able to play it at this point. Team Ico's games bring out this sense of wonder and atmosphere not found in many games these days. Very few games can do a minimalist style and still manage to be good but this studio is one of the ones that can do it and do it well. But the multitude of problems they have run into has pushed its release date farther and farther down the line. The director and executive producer leave Sony (Director Fumito Ueda is still directing it but its only because of the contract). Sony puts Santa Monica on to help out. Game is scrapped entirely because of technical issues. A game that was supposed to be released in late 2010 early 2011 has now made it to 2013 with nothing to show for it. Sony abandoning the trademark for the game has not helped its case either. That's why it places this low on my list.

10. Fire Emblem: Awakening (Intelligent Systems/Nintendo, 3DS)

Release Date: February 4, 2013

This was a rather sudden release date since it was given only a few weeks ago but Im glad it's coming out soon. I love this series except for the difficulty of it because of permadeath. Apparently you are able to turn it off in this game which is a huge relief for me. It gets me more excited for the game. It also seems like they refined the gameplay which is always a plus.

9. Pikmin 3 (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo, Wii U)

Release Date: Q1 or Q2 2013

Nintendo has been rather ambiguous regarding Pikmin 3's release date. They originally said Q1 2013 but then they said Spring 2013 which places it in March - May. Anyway, the game should still come about before the summer which is good. I loved Pikmin 2 for its gameplay and I hope Pikmin 3 is just as good. The game looks great though both from a gameplay and graphics angle.

8. Rayman Legends (Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft, Wii U)

Release Date: February 26, 2013

Rayman Origins was amazing. Pretty much everyone who played it says so. So when a sequel was announced, people got excited. When it was revealed as a Wii U exclusive, I was very happy. While it could still be ported to other consoles, so far the only way to play it is on Wii U. And judging from the demo, this game is going to be an easy contender for platformer of the year.

7. Rome II: Total War (The Creative Assembly/Sega, PC)

Release Date: Q3 2013

I loved the Total War series. Its strategy and real-time tactics combined which is a match made in heaven for me. The original Rome: Total War was my introduction to the series and in my opinion is still the best entry. While Q3 2013 is a long ways away, as long as I dont look at gameplay and start drooling over it, Ill be all right.

6. Pokemon X and Pokemon Y (Game Freak/Nintendo, 3DS)

Release Date: October 2013

For the first time since Pokemon Diamond and Pearl was announced, I am legitimately excited for a Pokemon game. As the fanboy I am, I picked up each main Pokemon game simply because I could. The 5th generation is the first time I've been disappointed in the series. Maybe because the DS has hosted the game for too long or my love for Pokemon is draining away or it could be those stupid designs from the 5th generation. I'm not excited about the 6th generation of Pokemon starting in Pokemon X and Y either but now, for the first time in the main handheld games, we have actual battle animations and it will be broadcast in glorious 3D.

5. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PLATINUMGAMES/Konami, PS3/Xbox 360)

Release Date: February 19, 2013

As a fan of action games, I know that PLATINUMGAMES makes the best action games in the business. So when they got their hands on Metal Gear Solid: Rising rebranded as Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, I was on board. A sword that can cut through anything is the dream of anybody and youll finally be able to live this out in Metal Gear Rising. I stayed away from the series because of its stealth elements but since this game is action, bring it on!

4. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Capcom/Capcom, Wii U, 3DS)

Release Date: March 2013

I'm a little disappointed this game isn't Monster Hunter Portable 3rd but it is Monster Hunter Tri G which has been out in Japan for quite a while now. At least it's coming out here; I wasn't sure if it would. So the two games will be the same but the Wii U version will feature online multiplayer and you can save your data from the Wii U to your 3DS game kind of like Sony's Cross-Play with their PS3 and PS Vita. I never thought Nintendo would be copying their stuff from anybody! Anyway, now that Monster Hunter Tri G has been confirmed for release here I'm very happy... oh sorry, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.

3. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (Level-5, Studio Ghibli/Namco Bandai, PS3)

Release Date: January 22, 2013

Anybody who knows my taste in movies knows that Studio Ghibli is one of my all-time favourite studios. Pixar and Studio Ghibli are my animated movie go-to's. So when I found out that Studio Ghibli was collaborating with Level-5 to make a game, I was ready to go out and buy the game. Since Studio Ghibli has zero experience making a game, they are in charge of doing the visuals, music, and story, all of which Studio Ghibli are experts at making. Having played the demo, the game plays well and it plays a little differently that your standard turn-based JRPG. Collecting creatures for your party, an addicting battle system and Studio Ghibli in charge of everything that makes them superb in my eyes has me stoked for this game! Only a week and a half to go!

2. Monster Hunter 4 (Capcom/Capcom, 3DS)

Release Date: TBA

I can guarantee if Sakurai did not say that SSB had the possibility of coming out in 2013 this would have been my #1 no question about it. I'm such a huge Monster Hunter fan (although some may question that since I skipped out on the PSP) that I went out and bought the Circle Pad Pro the minute they said Monster Hunter 4 would use it. I made sure to pre-order
Monster Hunter 4 as soon as it became available (although at the time of writing this my pre-order has been switched by EB Games to MH 3 Ultimate on 3DS). I'm still not entirely sure if this game has been 100% confirmed for release in North America but I'm still willing to believe Capcom will bring the game over. From what I've seen of the game so far, it looks amazing and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

I know my list is mostly dominated by games on Nintendo consoles but what are you going to do? Anywya, that's my list for this year. All of these are must-haves for me and you can expect to see me playing all of these when they come out.

Mata ato de!