Long post. Apologies in advance.
I was expecting other replies here before I post this. Oh well.
Rather than posting pure predictions, this time I want to talk about what I personally want to see next year as well. I don't know that much about gaming in general (
BATTLEGROUNDS? What's that and why people think that's revolutionary just because it's a free-for-all shooting game? Actually, who even is PLAYERUNKNOWN?), and I'll be concentrating on stuff I actually care about.
Kirby: Star AlliesWhat it is:
The next main series Kirby to be released in spring. Features elemental add-ons to abilities, the return of helpers and Cleaning. We don't know what the plot is, or what sub-games it will get.
The
trailer suggests that it will be a continuation of the "modern" Kirby line directed by Shinya Kumazaki starting from Kirby Super Star Ultra and Kirby Wii (Return to Dream Land), but it will not be as similar as the 7 3DS Kirby games are to Wii.
What I expect:
The plot should be similar to the other main series Kirby games (invade then possess or modify). The trailer suggests that Dedede mutated thanks to the food he ate (did Whispy eat that too?), so it wouldn't surprise me if alien scientists are behind this (again).
It will be a solid game (as all Kirby games are), but in terms of surprises I don't think it will best Planet Robobot.
What I want to see:
The Mario 3D World-like world map makes me wonder if it will be used for more than level selection. I hope it will also give entry points to sub-games, ability rooms and perhaps extras like Sound Room and Theater.
I also wish to see animated enemy 3D models (like the enemy cards in Kirby 64) as the collectibles this time, but given the puzzle-shaped items seen in the trailer, I think we will actually get artwork, not unlike one type of collectibles in Squeak Squad. These rewards don't need to be a throwback to Kirby's past; the 3DS games already did that. I don't mind either way.
The Joy-Cons are much lighter than the Wii Remote and the awful Wii Remote pointer function is gone, so I wouldn't mind if the sub-games are of the gimmick-of-the-day kind like in Kirby Wii. I just wish there are more than 2 this time. Come on, Mass Attack had 6! And half of those felt like they could be their own DSiWare releases!
Fire Emblem 16What it is:
Nothing is known about it, besides some very basic info. It's a Switch game coming somewhere in 2018, and it will be a new game (as opposed to a remake) in the main series.
What I expect:
I can't expect anything about the game itself when no details are shown.
I'm betting on a December 2018 release, since October and November are reserved for the general-audience games and September seems too early. It also fits the recent trend to release Japanese-style games in December, where they don't care about Thanksgiving and could claim to be out in time for Japanese gamers to spend the new year holidays (1-3 Jan) with.
What I want to see:
Being a home console game (finally), I want to see the series go back to Radiant Dawn-level of graphics. Fire Emblem is not a particularly action-heavy game, and IS has learned a lot about making 3D games thanks to the 3DS and Wii U, so going 1080p30 or even 1080p60 shouldn't be a problem.
I want to see some of the Tellius mechanics come back. Mostly the elevation differences. Having the full-blown multi-tier trinity of magic and having non-wall-penetrating arrows and magic are also welcome. Don't revive the skill capacity system, though.
Some actual game balance would be nice. If they couldn't do it, I'd rather they make everyone overpowered. At least I can then use anyone I like. Don't make it worse than Radiant Dawn! (Anyone tried putting the Laguz Emancipation Army in the final team?)
And I want to see the past chapters made replayable. RPGs and adventure games up to and including Super Mario Odyssey have this problem of cutscenes, dialogs and missions not being replayable.
Not much to say about the story, and I don't have high hopes there. Just don't force me to choose between units, don't kill units I've already recruited, and don't have time travel.
Anything else published by Nintendo / The Pokémon CompanyWhat it is:
Other known games thus far include:
- The Dead Heat Breakers (3DS, Spring 2018)
- Sushi Strikers: The Way of Sushido (3DS, 2018)
- Yoshi for Nintendo Switch (Switch, 2018)
- Metroid Prime 4 (Switch, TBA)
- Generation 8 Pokémon (Switch, TBA)
- Bayonetta 3 (Switch, TBA)
Zelda and Pikmin were just brought up in interviews without any official announcement, so I'm not counting them.
What I expect:
I'm betting on 2018 releases for Mario Party and Animal Crossing. The Switch's nature practically screams Mario Party, and it wouldn't be a modern Nintnedo platform without Animal Crossing (oh wait, the Wii U didn't have a main series AC). They could be holding them back, but I'm under the impression that general-audience Nintendo games take 2-3 years to make, so there's no need to.
Oh, and I think Pokémon won't actually come out in 2018. Nor will Metroid Prime 4.
What I want to see:
The return of CAMELOT? I'm not hopeful, though. They're a small team that struggled with HD development, and I doubt they can hire new staff to help. "Come join us so that you can make Mario Tennis forever!" Not good.
I also wish to see a new Luigi's Mansion. And I want to know what are Retro Studios and Next Level Games doing. They have been silent for a long while.
Nintendo also seem to have this "big game" mentality lately. Sure, they also released Snipperclips, but most of their other games were major releases. I want to see more spinoffs and experimental games.
Mega Man 11What it is:
Classic Mega Man goes 2.5D. People are skeptical. This game will be out in late 2018.
What I expect:
I think the first impression has already left sour tastes in many people. Poor Mega Man can't catch a break. That said, I'm skeptical too. I think the final game won't be bad, but it will also end up feeling bland. To be fair, Mega Man's very premise (8 Robot Masters, infiltration to Wily's operation base, and so on) means that its 11th numbered entry won't have a chance to stand out.
What I want to see:
Just one thing: Please don't be download-only. I want to buy it physically.
Whatever SEGA feat. HATSUNE MIKU Project will make nextWhat it is:
In a Famitsu interview regarding Project DIVA Future Tone DX, it was mentioned that the series will continue in the future, with a new update to Project DIVA Arcade planned, and that they also have "other project(s)" in the making.
What I expect:
Honestly, I can't quite imagine. At 328 songs, PD FT DX was a gigantic music game, and where can that lead to? Having another "standard" release with anywhere between 20 to 50 songs won't feel as satisfying. I also heard that the Project mirai team was disbanded, so it's not like the series is ever going to the 3DS again.
What I want to see:
Switch release, of course, whether it's a Future Tone port or a new game. And I hope it combines mirai's system (full-length songs, and actually assume a diamond button formation rather than directly porting Arcade FT's △□×○ layout to the PS4) and DIVA's difficulty.
There are many reasons both for and against a Switch version: the demand is obviously there, but the base series is also so deeply linked to the PlayStation family. I'll just give them one compelling reason here: Joy-Con (L) has disjointed directional buttons, making it a better default controller than the DS4 in this aspect.
That said, I have my reservations, given the Switch's worse-than-PS4 hardware (it can't render the newest PVs like Ghost Rule) and my doubt on whether the Switch really makes a good system for music games, despite the presence of games like Thumper and VOEZ.
Other third party stuffWhat it is:
Right now, I'm mostly concerned about the Mega Man compilations, Valkyria Chronicles 4 (though I'm just mildly interested), as well as the general attitude of Japanese publishers towards the Switch.
What I expect:
More like what I don't expect. Falcom still won't care about it, since the PS4 remains the most-installed system. I think they may allow other developers to port games to it, provided any developer ask to do so in the first place.
Full-fledged, non-mobile-based FINAL FANTASY on Switch also won't happen, but it won't be SQUARE ENIX's fault.
The Mega Man compilations on Switch should be physical releases like they're on other platforms. Don't know about the X series, since CAPCOM didn't even state how will they be released (compilation game vs ACA-style individual downloads).
What I want to see:
Nothing much, really. On one hand, there are all those games I want to play, but on the other hand, as someone who got Mario Kart 8 really late, I feel bitter about Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. I imagine if they're making re-releases of other platforms' games to the Switch, such resentment may arise.
