Top 10 March video games that aren’t God of War III

Morning all! hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, if not.. well then I'm sorry and maybe you'll have more luck next weekend :D haha. well i haven't hear of any major games coming out like i did when COD came out. so if the articles get boring feel free to tune out .

Despite normally being a time reserved for catching up on all the games released during the holiday season, February was a surprisingly busy month for gamers. There was the cinematic Heavy Rain, the frenetic sci-fi shooter Aliens vs Predator, hack-and-slash Dante’s Inferno and many more.

Lest you think that the start of spring finally gives customers a much-needed break from the onslaught of high-caliber titles, publishers are looking to make March another huge month for gaming.

Leading the pack is, of course, Sony’s highly anticipated PlayStation 3 exclusive God of War III, the last in a trilogy of action-adventure games inspired by Greek mythology. The thing is, there’s really no point in going on about how amazing the graphics look, or fun it probably is going to be. Everyone with a pair of working eyes and an awareness of the obvious knows this already.

If you don’t, go watch the trailer, change your pants and then come back. We’ll wait.

Back? OK, good. We’re now going to focus ten of the biggest, most anticipated, upcoming games in March that aren’t God of War III.


10. Metro 2033 (03.16.10)
Platforms: Xbox 360, PC

In the wake of Borderlands, Fallout 3 and S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat, post-apocalyptic first-person shooters (FPS) are quickly becoming the next cliché in video games. Nonetheless, developers THQ and 4A Games are looking to buck that perception with the narrative-driven, survival horror FPS Metro 2033

Based on the Dmitry Glukhovsky novel of the same name, Metro 2033 has gamers scavenging for guns, ammunition and various other items in the mutant-infested metro tunnels running underneath the ruins of a (naturally) post-apocalyptic Moscow. The game forgoes a head-up display in order to immerse gamers in its gritty world. In other words, you’ll have to rely on visual cues like blood splatters to gauge your health.

Despite a strong premise, there are a lot of question marks surrounding this game. The trailer showed promise, but was not fantastic, and, despite having worked on S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow of Chernobyl, this is still technically 4A Games’ first console project.

Metro 2033 could easily be as good as S.T.A.L.K.E.R, but it could also be a forgettable, generic FPS. Regardless, be sure to keep your eye on this one–gamers could be in for a big surprise.


9. Resonance of Fate (03.16.10)
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

What would happen if a Japanese role-playing game (RPG) gave its mandatory cast of teenage heroes guns, instead of the typical swords, bows and arrows? You’d probably get the Persona series. Now, pretend like they use these guns to fight killer robots and diabolical bad guys, instead of shooting themselves in the head, and you should get Resonance of Fate, tri-Ace and Sega’s latest RPG.

The story sounds a little trite (complete with Byronic, teenage mercenaries), but developers tri-Ace has proven time and time again that they’re exceptional at crafting exciting, action-packed battle systems. Coming off Star Ocean: The Last Hope, there’s no reason to doubt that the veteran RPG developer will strike gold again with Resonance of Fate.


8. MLB 10: The Show / MLB 2K10 (03.02.10)
Platforms: PlayStation 3 / PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Sony’s MLB 10: The Show series is a lot like the Chicago Cubs if the Chicago Cubs were consistently awesome instead of sucking and breaking my heart into a million pieces each and every year. The last several installments in Sony’s exclusive baseball franchise have been stellar, so it’s likely that MLB 10: The Show will probably be just as good.

MLB 2K10, on the other hand, has a whole lot to prove. After the incredibly disappointing, bug-infested MLB 2K9, developers Visual Concepts have learned their lesson, making some substantial improvements to ensure this year’s addition remains a viable contender in the marketplace.

Batting and pitching has been revamped to allow for great control and precision, and a number of new features, like the highly anticipated “My Player” mode, have been added to bolster the game’s robust selection of gameplay modes. After whiffing with the last title, expect MLB 2K10 to put the series back on the board.


7. Pokemon Heart Gold / Silver (03.14.10)
Platforms: Nintendo DS

Though the whole entire Pokemon craze has lasted a bizarrely long time (well, for a video game franchise that revolves around enslaving and conscripting cute monsters into gladiatorial events), the gaming franchise really hit its pinnacle with Pokemon Gold and Silver for the Game Boy Color.

More than a decade later after that success, Nintendo is revisiting its roots with the enhanced remake, Pokemon Heart.

With upgraded visuals, touch-screen support and new mini-games, Pokemon Heart should rekindle fond memories of raising your Pokemon into a formidable team so you could beat up your friends at school and become the number one trainer around. You caught them all before. Now, you get the chance to do it all over again.


6. Just Cause 2 (03.23.10)
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC

Just when you thought running amok in a sandbox-style world, sowing anarchy and causing enough explosions to sexually arouse Michael Bay, was getting old, Eidos and Avalanche Studios serves up the highly-anticipated sequel to 2006’s Just Cause.

In Just Cause 2, there’s an evil dictator in need of toppling, and it’s up to CIA agent Rico Rodriguez to usher in democracy the American way–by blowing everything up, of course.

Rodriguez has a bristling arsenal of weapons, stunt parachutes, grappling hooks, cars, helicopters and even jets at his disposal. While Rico’s campaign of violence may not earn the love the locals, destroying foreign countries one precariously placed gasoline tank at a time never gets old. Ever.


5. Lunar: Silver Star Harmony (03.02.10)
Platforms: PSP

Nearly12 years ago, Game Arts and Working Designs remade the classic Sega CD role-playing game Lunar: The Silver Star for the PlayStation. It used simple 16-bit graphics that looked archaic in comparison to other RPG’s like Final Fantasy VII, but what was lacking visually-speaking was made up for with a innovative battle system, charming characters, and one of the best localization jobs in video game history.

In the PSP remake, Silver Star Harmony, the adventures of Alex and his friends receives a graphical face lift and a few new gameplay features. More importantly, gamers will finally get the chance to play one of the most defining RPG’s of the 1990s without having to pay through the nose on eBay.


4. Red Steel 2 (03.23.10)
Platforms: Nintendo Wii

The first FPS to utilize the Nintendo Wii’s motion-based controls, 2006’s Red Steel was ambitious and fun, but received mixed reviews from critics. With the sequel, developers Ubisoft have taken the franchise in a brand new direction, complete with an aesthetically flashy, cel-shaded look.

A creative hybrid of Japanese samurai culture and the lawless archetypes of the Wild West, Red Steel 2 follows the story of a mute protagonist, The Swordsman, as he seeks revenge against an enemy clan called The Jackals. Red Steel 2 uses the Wii Motion Plus, allowing gamers to manually wield katanas and shoot guns with an unprecedented degree of precision and accuracy.

Granted, you’ll probably look silly as hell waving around your Wii remote and making growling noises, but it’s a small price to pay for being able to finally live out your repressed fantasies of being a badass samurai.


3. Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon (03.16.10)
Platforms: Nintendo Wii

tri-Crescendo and Namco’s gorgeous, post-apocalyptic role-playing game (again?) is finally arriving in North America after being stuck almost a year in localization. Rest assured, though, the wait will be well worth it.

Set in the ruins of a decaying planet, Fragile Dreams has you playing as a young boy named Seto who is searching the world for survivors. The gameplay is comprised mostly of exploring deserted cities, then fighting off roaming ghosts and marauding demons, but Fragile Dream’s real highlight is its fascinating story and breathtaking, anime-inspired visuals.

Already praised by big name critics, including Japan’s Game Famitsu, expect Fragile Dreams to be one of this year’s biggest sleeper hits.


2. Battlefield Bad Company 2 (03.02.10)
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC

Get ready to drive tanks, fly helicopters and snipe your friends in the face with Electronic Arts and DICE’s action-packed, destructible military shooter. Based on the beta, the graphics look better than ever, more guns and vehicles have been added, and countless tweaks have been made to the gameplay to create a more authentic, balanced experience.

The single-player campaign also promises to rival Bad Company 2’s top competitor, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. If the current demo is any indication, the expansive multiplayer mode is already guaranteed to keep hardcore FPS gamers addicted to its unique brand of chaos, strategy and frenetic violence.


1. Final Fantasy XIII (03.09.10)
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIII is a huge departure from the normal conventions associated with past Final Fantasy video games. Its gameplay has been streamlined to make progression more linear, the combat system features a heavily revamped version of the traditional Active Time Battle. Final Fantasy XIII also marks the first time a single-player, numbered Final Fantasy adventure has appeared on multiple consoles.

Whether all these changes will be for the better remains to be seen, but considering the stellar reviews it has been receiving overseas, it’s a safe bet that Final Fantasy XIII continues Square-Enix’s reputation for delivering unparalleled excellence.

Other Games You’d be Stupid Not to Check Out:
Mega Man 10 (Wii Ware, XBLA, PSN), Perfect Dark (XBLA), Command and Conquer 4 (PC), Supreme Commander 2 (PC), Yakuza 3 (PlayStation 3)