Final Fantasy XIII
Square-Enix
Square-Enix
U.S. Release Date: TBA
U.K. Release Date: TBA

PlayStation loyalists were up in arms when Microsoft made the shocking disclosure that Square-Enix would be bringing the then-PS3-exclusive Final Fantasy XIII to Xbox 360. No matter: it’s still coming to PS3 and promises to be an unabashed celebration of the Japanese RPG, epic in scale and true to Square-Enix’s top form.



Resident Evil 5
Capcom
Capcom
U.S. Release Date: March 13
U.K. Release Date: March 13

The Resident Evil series has always clicked with Western audiences, and all signs indicate that Resident Evil 5 will again appeal to a worldwide fanbase with its cast of sickeningly animated non-zombies and high-res graphics. 2005’s Resident Evil 4 proved to be a watershed moment in third-person shooter design, with its over-the-shoulder cam inspiring bullet bouts in everything from Gears of War to Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Can RE5 and its greater emphasis on action leave a similar legacy that inspires not only gamers, but also game designers?



Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
SCE
Naughty Dog
U.S. Release Date: Q4 2009
U.K. Release Date: Q4 2009

2007’s Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was an amalgamation of pop-n-shoot and platforming elements combined with a popcorn-munching story and plot that had players buying completely into the treasure-hunting lead man Nathan Drake. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves introduces an intriguing premise involving the 13th-century explorer Marco Polo, an adventure that Naughty Dog promises will reveal more about the inner workings of Drake’s character.

And tech heads will be happy to hear that Uncharted 2 will be “maxing out” the PS3 hardware, whereas the original used just 30 percent of the PS3’s SPUs, according to Naughty Dog.



God of War III
SCE
Sony Santa Monica
U.S. Release Date: Q4 2009
U.K. Release Date: Q4 2009

The God of War series is deliciously violent, inherently epic in scale and for many, the defining franchise for the PS2. With PS3 hardware poised to continue the series’ emphasis on astounding, sweeping eye candy, and a firm faith that Sony Santa Monica will deliver on the combat-based gameplay, God of War III has a prime chance to bring that heritage to the current generation. We’ve seen little of the game, but with a pedigree so steeped in excellence, we’re willing to bet this is will be a required purchase for many consumers.