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7

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visit gameinformer.com daily for the latest and greatest, and follow @gameinformer on Twitter

N

ANDY McNAMARA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF andy@gameinformer.com

Read my column or comment on this letter at gameinformer.com/mag or follow &GI AndyMc

veryone has had a bad experience with

gaming, whether it's playing an online

match, discussing games in a forum, or getting dragged into a dreaded Twitter show- down. In an effort to make the world a better place for gamers, | offer you three things you can do in 2013 to strengthen the community.

The amazing thing about being a profanity- spewing racist or homophobe online is

that you aren't really being the enlightened individual you believe you are. You are just one of the many clichés of stupidity that have ruined online games for years. га pay any company an exorbitant fee to play on an age-gated service that actively and aggres- sively removes dirtbags, and | have a feeling I'm not alone. Try being nice and hanging out. It's a novel approach and far more enter- taining for everyone.

Stop telling people they are wrong when they share their favorite game or praise a recent game that they enjoyed. One of the great things about gaming right now is there is a mind-blowing number of options. From simple mobile games to Call of Duty and everything in between, there is something for everyone. Just because | like Journey and you don't doesn't make one of us better than the other. Appreciate gamers for being just that - gamers.

I’m sure someone will argue this with me, but no game is perfect. Even my all-

time favorites have had minor

glitches or scenes that didn't

quite work out. And that's

okay. The total experience

is what it's all about. You will do

yourself and others around you a huge favor by letting some of the small things go and just enjoying the game for what it does right, not what it does wrong.

If everyone follows these simple rules,

then talking about games around the water cooler and playing games online will be even more enjoyable.

Cheers,

Lego Marvel Super Heroes

Traveller's Tales has tackled Star Wars, Batman and other DC heroes, Pirates of the Caribbean, Rock Band, Lord of the Rings, and Indiana Jones. It hasn't steered us wrong yet, and the next franchise it has in its sights is the Marvel Universe.

regulars

6 Feedback This month, readers say goodbye to playing games to full completion, talk about how much they love the dreary and hopeless world of The Walking Dead, and question the merits of a gaming icon.

What’s Next for Wii U

10 Connect Last month we shared our list of the best games of 2012. Now we share your picks for who deserved the spotlight. We also look at the future games slate of the Wii U and discuss when we can expect news of next-gen consoles.

74 Previews This month we have two- page previews of Gears of

War: Judgment, and Metro:

Last Light. We also got some hands-on time with Nintendo’s upcoming 3DS titles Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon and Fire Emblem.

The 2012 Reader Games of the Year

86 Reviews Check out our reviews of Skyrim’s Dragonborn DLC, the Studio Ghibli/Level-5 collaboration Ni No Kuni, and the new Devil May Cry reboot.

The Coming Storm

100 Game Over See how much you know about Traveller’s Tales’ Lego video games, and test your knowledge of the Lego toys themselves in this month's trivia.

contents 3

4 contents

Little Inferno

Arkane Goes Its Own Way

Fire Emblem: Awakening

games index

Anomoly: Когеа................. 37 Chasing Ашгога ................. 94 Company of Heroes 2 ............ 84 GRASAMO сз ае оваа and 94 Ну, e е seater ise eer RR 64 Devil May Сту .....„ cscs caine save 88 Drowning, Тће.................. 36

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim —

Dragonborn, Тһе............... 91 Europa Universalis V............. 85 Family Guy:

Back to the Multiverse........... 94 Fire Emblem: Awakening.......... 82 Gears of War: Judgment .......... 74 Guardians of Middle-earth......... 89 Lego City Undercover............. 64 Lite Infermo. . «255 e inrer rie 93 Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon........ 83 Metro: Last Light................ 78 Ni No Kuni:

Wrath of the White Witch......... 90 Pier ЗОГ: лг» акасы са ай 34 PlanetSide 2................... 28 Planets Under Attack............. 94 Ratchet & Clank:

Full Frontal Assault ............. 92 Rayman едепӣѕ................ 80 Rise of the Guardians ............ 94 Shadowrun Веїштпѕ.............. 68 Skulls of the Shogun............. 92 Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 ........... 81 Tank Tank ТапК................. 94 Transformers Ріте.............. 93

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6

Contact Us

feedback@gameinformer.com

his month in Feedback, readers ply us with GTA V

questions, praise one of 2012’s most heart-wrenching games, give up on comple- tionism, and finally acknowl- edge that we’re right about something. What a great way to start the New Year!

Grand Theft Euphoria | just read your cover story for Grand Theft Auto V and cannot wait until this game comes out. I’m particularly hyped for the idea of three playable protagonists and being able to switch between them on the fly during certain mis- sions. However, | have a question. If | decide to only play as Michael, will | be missing out on story missions specific to Trevor or Franklin? After reading the story | feel like | may need to play the game three times to see the story from all angles. Either way, I’m looking forward to playing the crap out of this game.

Lance Howard

via email

After reading this month’s GTA V cover story, | have a question that | think a lot of other people have as well: Will the missions be less linear? | would like to see more paths avail- able during missions. I’m a player who likes to sneak around in games; l'm not asking for GTA V to be a stealth game, but some variety other than blasting away everything in sight would be nice. Did Rockstar make any com- ment about that? Kevin via email

This month we were inundated with letters from GTA V fans craving more information. Fans can learn more in our extensive Q&A online, but to answer Lance and Kevin’s questions, you won't have to play the game three times to see the whole story, and there will be more gameplay variety during missions. Now go read our online coverage at gameinformer.com/gtav!

Enemy Mine | love Minecraft, but sadly my brother does too. Every day when | come home from school, he is on my Minecraft account. It's like he's on it more than me, and it's my account. | used to have my password saved on my computer, but even when | turned that setting off he still finds a way to get onto my account. What should I do to keep my brother off of my account? Tristan Titus via email

The simple solution would be to tell your parents - but that would be missing the bigger picture. Instead, put him to work for you; threaten to rat him out to your parents unless he slave mines precious ores for you. What else are brothers for?

A Fallen Hero Last year | wrote to you guys regarding who I thought should play the role of Nathan Drake in the Uncharted film. | stated that | thought Bradley Cooper should play the role, and you published my feedback in one of your issues, essentially mocking my choice. | just wanted to let you know that Mr. Cooper stayed in our small town in the Berkshires this past summer during our annual theater festival. | had the opportunity of serving him at an after-play party, and Cooper pretty much ignored me. | admit that as a fan, | felt a little hurt. Although | still enjoy Cooper’s acting, he's no “every-man” like Nate Drake! | also finally got to see Nathan Fillion in action, and am now in agreement with you guys. He should play the role. Thanks for showing me the right way. Mike Leja Williamstown, MA

We've never felt this vindicated before. Still, we’re sorry Cooper didn’t live up to the Nathan Drake standard when you met him. To us he'll always be the guy who had diarrhea in Wedding Crashers.

“Will there be a Star Wars level in Kingdom Hearts 3?”

They put everything else in those games, so why not?

“My mom grounded me for a month from ‘everything fun,’ so all | have left is old GI magazines. Isn't this beyond cruel punishment?"

Sounds like a sweet deal to us.

“Am | the only person that would play a Grand Theft Pirates game?"

Definitely not.

Adam Biessener's editorial on giving up completionism (Letting Go, issue 236) hit the

nail on the head; if the average gamer age is

now 31, we former “completionists” must shift “т emailing you by text, from gears to accommodate, you know, life. This my bathroom, to inform you that epiphany has allowed me to revisit games like issue 234 does not include even

Arkham City, which | had played an hour before 01е image of a cat." shelving in hopeless dismay of ever finishing

the game and finding all the Riddler Puzzles.

Now games like Uncharted provide a new joy;

before | was so busy trying to find collectibles

that | literally couldn’t see the beautifully ren-

dered forest for the trees. It’s liberating, and

frankly good therapy for what might be consid- —“! just want to complain on your ered borderline compulsive behavior. Kudos to review for Pokémon Black and Adam for verbalizing what | think many gamers White Version 2.”

need to hear.

Andrew meena" [Quantifiedt

Whether it’s attaining 1,000 achievement On average, one reader per points or seeing a completion stat hit 100 month accidentally sends us a percent, many gamers have a tendency to school paper on a topic that has try to finish everything a game has to offer - ^ nothing to do with video games. often to the detriment of the overall experi- We know we often school our ence. The joy you get from simply having readers, but we draw the line at

fun with a game will always trump perform- grading their papers. ing frustrating or monotonous tasks for the

sake of being complete. We always knew

Jerry Maguire was full of crap.

Jim talked about industry predic- tions and fancy suits with Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter at the ESA's Nite to Unite ht) Jim also started a purple tie club with SCEA’s Shane Bettenhausen

|

CANDID PHOTOS FROM THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTR continued on page 8

feedback 7

On Your Mind пишшишишинш

m GTA V Excitement 36%

Genre Revival Picks 29%

ii Technomancer

Hoodie Despair 19%

W Nerdy Burning Pokémon Question Rebuttals 9%

W Assassin's Creed IIl Bug Complaints 7%

Question of the Month: Which next-gen console

do you plan on buying, and why?

Gaming With Wolves

| own Red Dead Redemption, Fable III, Skyrim, and Assassins Creed Ill. These are all excellent games, and | have no complaints with them, save for one: they all feature wolves as an aggressive animal that attacks you on sight. Why do developers do this? | don't mind them being in the game or being able to hunt them in games. What 1 object to is their portrayal as man-eaters. Granted, there have been cases where humans have been attacked by sick or starving wolves, but those instances are rare. 1 still enjoy these games, and will continue to do so - | just wish they could portray wolves in a more positive and truthful light.

Jason Mimiaga

via email

You bring up a fair point, Jason, but if you think wolves get a bad rap, consider the plight of zombies. At least Okami and Wolf Link offer some positive takes on the ancestors of man's best friend. All the undead have is that jerk Stubbs the Zombie.

Reach for the Stars

| just finished reading issue 236 and you have honestly given me the best holiday present ever! | have been searching for a game similar

to Freelancer for over a decade. There has been no other game that captured space sim- ulation and combat physics better while also giving players limitless customization. After | read your preview on Star Citizen, | literally jumped out of my chair in excitement (which for some reason my wife can't comprehend). Thank you for highlighting a project that | and many others have been searching for to fill the void Freelancer left.

Joseph Drew

via email

You may be the most excited Star Citizen fan we've heard from, but you're not the only one. Roberts Space Industries raised a total of $6.8 million for its ambitious MMO, including $2.1 million from Kickstarter, which covered all of the developer's stretch goals. All that's left now is the wait.

Not So Super Mario?

| was wondering: If Mario had not been cre- ated way-back-when, would his games be as popular as they are now? l've come to the conclusion that they would not. They frankly aren't very imaginative or fun, but are accepted because of nostalgia. Teenagers who played Mario when it first came out grew up, had kids, and passed it on to them. Those kids like them because their parents like them, but if their parents hadn't introduced them to the games, they wouldn't play them at all. Just putting it out there; I’m prepared to take the hate.

Mark Watkins

via email

Mario's storied history has certainly put him on a pedestal. That said, your nostalgia argument is overly simple. Older genera- tions played a lot of games that didn't stand the test of time; you don't see kids playing Pong nowadays just because their parents loved it. While some Mario entries have been more innovative than others, the series remains popular because it contin- ues to provide fun experiences for kids and adults alike.

It's Alive!

[ҮТҮ

In issue 236, we asked readers what classic video game genre they would revive and why. The most popular answer was a sur- prising one: the text-based adventure. Here are some responses:

If there was one genre І could bring back, it would easily be the text-based adventure genre. It is like reading a book. | love Black Ops II and Halo 4, but Zork has a certain charm no other genre can deliver.

Jack Little

Easy: shmups. The last good shmups were Gradius V and Ikaruga. | think current-gen reincarnations of this classic genre would be amazing. In a game world where player- friendly games reign supreme, a dose of hardcore shmup action would be a great breath of fresh air.

Scott Hewson

| would revive the classic RPG genre. There’s

nothing like getting lost in a world of Final

Fantasy, Legend of Dragoon, or Xenogears! Drew Croff

EOL OOOO Le OLD LO AOL LO ALO LADLE LOLOL LEO LE LOL LO LO ES LOLOL LOLOL АЙА АРИ ААРА АЙЫРА АРААРАР OLE LOL OTOL ELS LOLA OLE ALA OL OLD LOLOL LS LL OLE DEES LOLOL AA

(Left) City Interactive’s Michael Sroczynski

and Highwater Group’s Lance Seymour stopped by the office to improve our aim with Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2. Read our preview on page 81 (Right) Not evena surprise Wampa attack could stop Ubisoft's Sarah Irvin from showing us Rayman Legends. Now that’s what we

call professional!

1 Zach Raw Nothing says “romantic moment” like a terrifying invasion of Earth.

2 Kevin Engberg

We're not validating the rumors of Nintendo buying Sega, but that sure looks like a Dreamcast logo on Mario’s sole.

\ 3 Jake Potts Adult themes worked for Conker, so why EES | [июн 1 LESEPEENNCDDOSGESDAULISGIXGUNCEA \ WEE wouldn't Rare be able to do it with Banjo? 4

4 Alejandro Alvarado Jill gathers the first required ingredient for her patented Licker Jerky.

Corrections:

In our article on the history of Crystal Dynamics (Something in the Water, issue 237), we stated that Sledgehammer Games’ Glen Schofield worked on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. In actuality, Schofield worked on Modern Warfare 3.

Submit your art for a chance to win our monthly prize. Please include your name and return address. Entries become the property of Game Informer and cannot be returned. Send to: Game Informer Reader Art Contest | 724 First Street North, 3rd Floor | Mpls, MN 55401 or Email to: ReaderArt@gameinformer.com

LEIA AAI MI MAMA AMMA dd Added ddd ddd bi did di ibid di dl ddd dtd ddd ddd ddd lid bid dh dtl di blididi ddd didi ddd dd did ddddddia

(Left) Gazillion Entertain- ment's Leo Olebe and David Brevik, and Fortyseven Communications' Chase Colasonno braved the harsh Minnesota weather to show us Marvel Heroes. In our book, you guys are the real heroes. (Center) We're not sure why Deadpool showed up at Gl and started hurling burritos at editors, but we were hungry so we didn’t ask questions

t) Deadpool is like that annoying roommate who's always touching your stuff — only with more guns and swords

feedback 9

IHE 2012 READER

Last issue (+237) we told you our picks for the games of the year, and now you've told us yours. In an online reader poll with 56,415

respondents*, our community picked out its favorite titles in a number of categories. See how they stack up against our choices:

* Respondents could vote multiple times, but not every person had to vote on every question

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READER EDITOR

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connect 13

he entire industry has been talking about the next generation for some time now, but this year we should see both Microsoft and Sony join Nintendo in the next-generation console fraternity. Software development is currently under way for both Sony and Microsofts new systems (codenamed Orbis and Durango, respectively), and we already know details on games being created right now – some of which you will play this year. by Matthew Kato

SOFTWARE OF THE FUTURE ---

Even before development kits for the two new systems were handed out to studios, work had already begun on next-gen titles using rough target specifications and pre- production elements such as game concepts, art, and stories were worked on in an- ticipation. We've also learned that developers have already received the development units of Microsoft's new console, which means next-gen development is moving full

14

steam ahead. The games listed here are in various stages of development, and although some studios are still tight-lipped regarding their plans (Microsoft in par- ticular is making their partner companies toe the line), that doesn't mean that their ideas aren't taking concrete shape as we speak.

We hear that both Sony and Microsoft are targeting special Apple-style press conferences to unveil their platforms near the Game Developers Conference in late March. ЕЗ in June may be the industry's biggest event, but both companies want to give their systems their own limelight. That doesn't mean ЕЗ won't be without its surprises. Next-gen games will be announced at the convention in preparation for the systems’ release at the end of the year. We hear that Sony in particular is determined not to come out last this time like the PlayStation 3 did this generation, so we'll have to see how soon it can get the PlayStation 4 out the door, and whether Microsoft is motivated to prevent this from happening.

According to a leaked document obtained by IGN and confirmed by Bungie, Destiny is set 700 years into Earth's future, where humans have flourished in the solar system but since fallen into decline. The aptly named Last City on the planet is protected by a massive, mysterious moon-sized spaceship known as The Traveler. The game casts you as "knights" who must protect the Earth from an emerging alien threat. Bungie has released art for the four-game series with Activision, and the developer says it plans to share more on the game soon.

connect

15

Ubisoft announced Watch Dogs for PS3,

Xbox 360, and PC this past ЕЗ, but it also

said that the release is far out enough

that it could support more systems.

Watch Dogs is set in an open-world, near- е future Chicago. The city and its citizens

are monitored and connected to a central operating system called the CTOS. As

Aiden Pearce, players use this network to

their advantage to manipulate the city’s infrastructure and use people’s personal information hacked from the CTOS for

their own ends. We don’t know what

Pearce’s motivation is just yet, but it

appears the multiplayer component is an integral part of the experience as well.

RESPAWN ENTERTAINMENT'S TITLE "memes Now that they've found a home with EA, former Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella are rumored to be working on a sci-fi shooter. We expect an official announcement sometime this year. No information about the game has come out yet, but the studio has released a pair of blurry screenshots that we can all speculate on.

BATTLEFIELD 4 EA hasn't announced the consoles for Battlefield 4, but the company has said that its

beta starts in the fall. A new Battlefield would be a great opening salvo for any system, and given the scalability of the Frostbite engine, we fully expect it to come to the current consoles as well.

CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 4

Activision has developers Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer and Treyarch alternating releases with the Modern Warfare and Black Ops series respectively, and 2013 represents Modern Warfare's turn at bat. Infinity Ward hasn't said anything about the project, but given that Call of Duty 2 helped establish the Xbox 360 launch, it's a good bet it will be present for a console debut once again.

16

The not-so-secret secret regarding this title's E3 2012 showing was that the game is also a next-gen title. The demo showed at the convention specifically did not reveal the game's bounty hunter protagonist — who is believed to be Boba Fett. The game takes place on Coruscant, and LucasArts says that given the fact that it's centered on a bounty hunter, Star Wars 1313 won't feature The Force and the title will have a gritty, mature tone.

і!

Tomorrow & Today

Even though the next-gen consoles are coming out and software development is well under way, that doesn't mean the transition between the present and the future is black and white. Making next- gen games costs a lot of money, time, and resources. When you consider that the initial install bases for these platforms will be much smaller than the current ones, it will be hard for most of these initial titles to make their money back on next-gen versions alone.

To alleviate this inevitability and try and make as much money as pos- sible on their creations, publishers — as they have done in past launches — will release some of these games for both current- and next-gen consoles. These will be of different quality as developers try to either scale up games created primarily for current consoles by putting some extra shine and features on them to make them appear next-gen, or pare back features or graphical fidelity for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

] ++

e£,

Brandon McNamara - former- ly of L.A. Noire's Team Bondi studio - has a new game for Y the next-generation consoles Ы that's set їп 1936 Shanghai, which he describes as “the most corrupt and decadent city on the planet, where \ anything can be had or done for the right price.” Sounds like a great place for an open- world game that could explore themes of colonialism, the drug trade, political intrigue, and organized crime. Given L.A. Noire’s detailed facial- capture system, we expect Whore of the Orient to usher in the new systems beautifully.

ASSASSIN’S CREED

Releasing another Assassin's Creed title a year after AC Ill may seem ambitious, but given the four-year run of annual releases - as well as the company’s clamoring for new systems — we expect another title in the series in 2013. Recently, an online survey was sent out gauging players’ interest in things like co-op play, different protagonists than AC Ill’s Connor in different time periods, and more. Relying once again on Ubisoft's

= = history, it would make sense that the next AC would be an offshoot akin to AC II:

Brotherhood and Revelations.

EA SPORTS’ LINEUP & NBA 2K14

Sports games’ yearly schedule makes them a good candidate to appear simultane- ously for both generations, since systems usually cover their genre bases with a sports game or two. Plus, skipping a year (or three if you’re NBA Live) simply isn’t a good idea. Since Madden, FIFA, NHL, and 2K Sports’ NBA 2K14 ritually appear in the fall – the soonest we would see either Sony or Microsoft's next systems - they would be in a good position to bolster any launch.

(CD Projekt RED) In a recent interview, CD Projekt CEO Adam Kicinski stated that both of these games are next-gen titles. Cyberpunk 2077 is based off of Mike Pondsmith’s seminal Cyberpunk pen-and-paper RPG, and the developer is working with Pondsmith on a mature game that contains a non-linear plot, plenty of character customizations options via weapons and gadgets, and extensive RPG gameplay systems.

connect 17

(BioWare) Inquisition is set in a larger map of the series’ world of Thedas than the previous two titles, with an all-consuming war between mages and templars raging. EA has hinted that the game introduces a new hero, although any save info you have from the previous two titles will be taken into account. In general, BioWare says it is listening to the criticism of the franchise to date, and plans to include more customization options, strategic combat, and better environments, among other

In the Works

As much as we know about many of the next-gen titles currently in development, there is a lot going on behind the scenes. First-party Sony developers Naughty Dog (Uncharted series) are hard at work on a PlayStation 4 title, and given the studio's pedigree, it's a good bet that the project will use the system to the fullest. We also expect big things from THQ Montreal, which is headed by Patrice Désilets, former creative lead of Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed and Prince of Persia series. He signed with THQ to much fanfare in the summer of 2011, and the studio has been busy executing his unknown vision. THQ is also publishing the next title by Turtle Rock Studios - the developers of Left 4 Dead and a former Valve subsidiary — as well. The game is a first-person shooter powered by Crytek's CryEngine 3, and although we don't know a lot of specifics at the moment, we've heard some developers not affiliated with the project rave about the title.

Other big-name studios we know currently working on next-gen software include Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios, which is working with Square Enix on a "groundbreaking" open-world title. Meanwhile, the Japanese publisher/developer is working on its new Luminous engine, which was showed off at this last ЕЗ in the company's Agni's Philosophy: Final Fantasy Real-Time Tech Demo. While it's probably a bad idea to place too much stock into the demo turning into an actual product (see the teased "remake" of Final Fantasy VII for proof), the engine will obviously power the company's titles — including Final Fantasy – on the upcoming systems.

Elsewhere, Shinji Mikami's Tango Gameworks is working with Bethesda on a survival horror title called Project Zwei, Neversoft might be working on a Call of Duty title or perhaps something completely different, Dark Souls' developer From Software formerly announced a sequel that could be cross generation, and LittleBigPlanet creator Media Molecule has moved out of the R&D phase for its next-gen project.

18 connect

things. A level designer for the game at EA Shanghai recently tweeted that the game is targeting the next systems and a release date of 2014.

(Robotoki) The game is the first project from ex-Infinity Ward community manager Robert Bowling's Robotoki. A prequel for the game will be exclusive to down- loadable games system Ouya, but the main game will hit in 2015. Human Element takes place 35 years after a zombie apocalypse, and surviving is about dealing with your fellow humans as much as it is about the undead. Players choose identi- A ties like being a solo adult or one partnered with

a child, for example, and this template influences

your story as you progress.

MIRROR'S EDGE 2 (EA/DICE) According to Ngmoco's Ben Cousins, it's well known around Stockholm, Sweden that DICE has started on a follow-up to the cult classic. Given the timing, we expect it will come to next-gen systems.

KILLZONE 4 & UNNAMED NEW IP (Guerrilla Games) Guerrilla has confirmed it's begun work on the two projects, and it only makes sense Sony would leverage their talent for high-fidelity graphics to show off the power of the upcoming PlayStation.

DOOM 4 & RAGE 2 (id Software) Id Software's John Carmack said that development on the Rage sequel will occur after Doom 4. That game's release is currently nowhere in sight, but we hope to hear something soon. 9

Awakening i <

- Spyro the Dragon

Despite the popularity of dragons in video games, success- fully playing as them is a rare occurrence. Spyro stands strong as the exception, with all the powers of the typical dragon in a much smaller package. He has also success- fully reinvented himself on more than one occasion to be a

by Kyle Hilliard

01

Deathwing World of Warcraft

By simply showing up, Deathwing created a widespread cataclysm that changed the landscape of arguably the most popular virtual world on the planet. The warring factions of Azeroth put aside their differences to fight the gigantic dragon, who never got over his banishment to the elemental plane of Deepholm 20 years prior.

- Pokémon After Pikachu, Charizard may be the most recogniz- able Pokémon in the franchise. He starts out small,

long to become one of your most powerful allies in the fight against gym leaders.

staple in the world video game mascots.

- Okami

- Dark Souls - Adventure

struggling to keep his tail on fire, but it doesn’t take him

- Final Fantasy Bahamut may be a product of Arabic myth, but he made his fortune as a frequent guest star in the Final Fantasy series. He has appeared in nearly every Final Fantasy game as a summon, and even had his own Japan-only release in the form of Bahumut Lagoon.

- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim In the world of Elder Scrolls, dragons are often malevolent, but Paarthurnax is in some ways the exception. He is the leader of the Greybeards, and has seen great wars in his life- time. He spends his time meditating at the peak of the Throat of the World, which sounds boring until you understand that he is doing it to keep himself from engulfing Skyrim in flames.

- Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat’s protagonist may not look like a dragon, but when those iconic words echo through the battle- grounds demanding that Liu Kang “finish him!” you can see why he makes this list. One of Mortal Kombat’s most memorable fatalities turns the fighter into a dragon so that he can chomp off the upper torsos of his opponents.

- Far Cry 3

Orochi has eight heads, each one with its own separate demonic power. He is one of the largest bosses in a game that has a lot of huge boss fights. You take him on early in the game, but it’s all an elaborate ruse to bring demons into the mortal world.

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The Hellkite Dragon, like just about every enemy in Dark Souls, loves to kill wander- ing heroes. He protects the bridge in the Undead Burg with a body covered in red spikes and fatal breath. Few heroes can get past the Hellkite Dragon without at least a few deaths slowing them down.

Adventure’s dragons may not be impres- sive by today’s standards, but back in 1979 when you saw Rhindle, the red dragon, you ran. He was the most aggres- sive dragon roaming around the castle walls of Adventure and he had no qualms with ripping your dot out of existence with his open mouth and stealing your key.

A lot of things on Far Cry 3’s islands can kill you, but nothing consistently kills you as expertly as the Komodo dragon. When you see a pack of these giant lizards in the grass, you better get ready for a fight. Or you can just give up and save yourself some time.

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When it comes to dissecting Halo 4, there’s a lot of ground to cover. We spoke with creative director Josh Holmes about the campaign, multiplayer, Bungie, and more.

In Halo 4, Master Chief

had more of a stake in the narrative. Not only was he dealing with these big cosmic battles, he was trying to save Cortana as well. Was this a concerted effort?

Absolutely. When we started approaching the story of Halo 4 and the return of the Master Chief, we wanted to develop him more as a character and have him come through as a human being a little bit more

in the game. The way that we chose to do that was to explore that relationship between Chief and Cortana, and especially deal with this personal prob- lem where he has his closest friend and Al who’s dealing with her impending rampancy and mortality. Part of the balance of telling the story was how to tell that larger galactic-scale threat with Chief and the Didact and the threat that he represented to humanity, but then also have this smaller, more personal tale. Can Chief not only save the galaxy, but also save his friend? What impact will that journey have on him as a character? That was something that was really interesting to us.

Neil Davidge’s score is a great complement to the game. It seems like the classic themes were used sparingly.

With the introduction of Requiem, a new enemy, a new threat, and

a very personal story that we’re telling with Chief and Cortana, it required a whole new approach in terms of the music. Neil was able to bring a really amazing combi- nation of organic and cinematic score mixed with digital, which plays to a lot of the elements of the game with the Prometheans being these tortured Al-like beings that are mechanical in form. It was very deliberate, but at the same time we wanted to bring back some of those famil- iar themes at the right moment so that players would have that sense of nostalgia.