Assuring the quality of a game is never a good idea, but it's safe to say that designer Chris Taylor and Gas Powered Games (Dungeon Siege, Supreme Commander) have a fighting chance to deliver a hit with Space Siege. Published by Sega and due in the third quarter, Space Siege is an action RPG that will no doubt draw comparisons to Bioware's Mass Effect. Playing as cybernetics engineer Seth Walker, the game takes place on a ship carrying some of the last living humans. Searching for a planet to colonize, the ship is under attack, and Taylor has offered that story's central dilemma involves a choice between self-augmentation in the name of preserving humanity. Heavy stuff, indeed.
Notable designer Chris Taylor is the man behind Sega's action RPG Space Siege
Developer Gas Powered Games are crafting a great-looking RPG with moral undertones in Space Siege
Two games with no hint of a release window (other than "sometime in 2008") are Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising (Codemasters) and Borderlands (published by 2K Games and developed by Gearbox Software). Both games may be more appropriately tagged as "RPG Shooters", as the action element is ingrained in their gameplay. Operation Flashpoint 2 is the sequel to 2001's Operation Flashpoint, and the game uses Codemasters' versatile Neon engine for graphics duties. Promising a more accessible experience than the original Operation Flashpoint (which was notoriously difficult), Codemasters is banking on the military simulation sequel to garner more mass appeal. All we've seen so far is a shiny trailer, so there's nothing to base even a passing assessment of the gameplay.
Operation Flashpoint 2 is the sequel to Codemasters difficult 2001 tactical shooter
Borderlands, a combination sci-fi shooter and RPG, is a departure for developer Gearbox Software
Borderlands, on the other hand, deserves the benefit of the doubt, as Gearbox Software have a resume stacked with hits, from Half-Life expansions to the Brothers in Arms series. Gearbox have been light on details regarding Borderlands, but we do know that the game will feature an extensive, non-linear single player experience, as well as multiplayer and co-op for up to four people. Set in a Mad Max-inspired wasteland on a distant planet, the universe of the future is rife with conflict. The key to the game is customization, with everything from weapons to vehicles capable of near-limitless upgrades (the weapon system alone is capable of generating over 500,000 unique weapon variations). With the right combination of RPG elements and FPS action, Borderlands could be a hit. Gearbox and 2K Games seem to think so, as the game is the first in a planned franchise.
Cult classic Fallout finally receives another sequel in 2008 with Fallout 3
Fallout 3 - your typical post-apocalyptic wasteland, only with a touch of humor
There's no argument regarding the most anticipated RPG of 2008: that honor belongs to Bethesda Game Studios' Fallout 3. It's been ten years since the release of Fallout 2, and the series still has a fan base that rivals any game in commitment and enthusiasm. Though there was some initial doubt as to Bethesda's intent in acquiring the license, it appears that they don't intend to deviate from the themes that made the first two Fallout games popular. Fallout 3 , though Bethesda will curb some of the pop-culture humor (of the type featured liberally in Fallout 2), which tends to not age well. The post-apocalyptic game world and graphic combat won't be removed, however, giving credence to previews which are fawning over early builds of the game.
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