Most Anticipated Games of 2009: 20-11

And in the blink of an eye 2009 is upon us, and games like Gears of War 2, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Animal Crossing: Let’s go to the City seem like a distant memory. Now, as is the way with the world, we turn to the future without having given the past the time it deserves. Fable 2 creator Peter Molyneux says nothing in 2009 excites him. Well that’s not how we feel. And in an attempt to get all that excitement off of our chest, allow us to present our week-long Most Anticipated Games of 2009 feature, where we compile the 40 games that make us wet just at the thought of playing them. Here, in the third instalment, we run down from 20 to 11. Read on, and let the hype begin, or check out 40-31 or 30-21 first.

20. F.E.A.R. 2, Warner – Xbox 360, PS3 and PC – February 13

F.E.A.R. is a brilliant FPS. If you haven’t played it yet you really should – even the console ports are pretty decent. While we were excited about Monolith’s Project Origin it just didn’t seem right. Now with the F.E.A.R. name once again, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin seems altogether more exciting. It might sound like the worst rationale ever, but now we’re going to get a proper sequel in every sense – not just the sequel the IP holders would allow. If you’re yet to meet Alma, perhaps the most terrifying little girl in gaming, you really have no idea what’s coming.

19. Aliens: Colonial Marines, SEGA – Xbox 360, PS3 and PC – 2009

Games based on movies mostly suck, mostly. Don’t let that get you down though, as this is Aliens we’re talking about – a series almost tailor made to spawn great video games, and it already has. We’d probably be even more excited if it weren’t for the fact that we’re yet to see it in action, with its last planned appearance (at Games Convention 2008) being cancelled at the last minute. Latest info makes us happy and sad. Happy: a cover system, squad-based gameplay, six levels each with a different playable marine. Sad: Quick time events. Gearbox is a well respected developer, but we want a game that is a level above the good but not brilliant Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway. Fingers crossed.

18. Ratchet and Clank (the next game), Sony – PS3 – 2009

If you finished last year’s downloadable PS3-exclusive Quest for Booty, the continuation of full retail release Tools of Destruction, you’ll know that more was promised for 2009. We’re going to assume that, in keeping with Insomniac’s PS3 releases so far, this means we’re going to see a full sequel this year. Presumably we’ll see the new additions from Quest for Booty along with plenty of new ideas and, hopefully, weapons. Played as a third-person shooter (yes, the series isn’t a platformer really, despite including jumping) the PS3 debut was brilliant and we can’t wait to see what Insomniac brings to the table next time around.

17. Professor Layton 2, Nintendo – DS – 2009

In many ways, Professor Layton and the Curious Village is Nintendo’s best game in the last five years. It’s the perfect fusion of hardcore and casual gaming, brought together by a wonderfully intelligent murder mystery and an art style to die for. The only problem, though, is that once you solve the puzzles, that’s it. They’re solved. Which makes the promise of a follow-up, with a new mystery, new characters, new setting and, most importantly, new puzzles, something that’s worth getting very, very excited about it. A game all DS owners must have on their 2009 wanted list.

16. Mafia II, Take 2 – Xbox 360, PS3 and PC – 2009

Did you play Mafia? For most people we’re going to assume the answer is no, and lots of the yeses probably come from those who played one of the terrible home console ports. If you did play the original PC release of Mafia you’ll likely be wondering why Mafia II isn’t higher on our list, as it still ranks as one of the best PC action games of the decade. Our major concern is developer 2K Czech’s (previously known as Illusion Softworks) lack of hits and critically acclaimed titles since. We’re hoping the return to its best franchise produces stellar results, but there’s a definite air of uncertainty that we can’t quite shake. Be good, or we’ll send the boys round, capiche?

15. StarCraft II, Blizzard – PC – 2009

StarCraft is perhaps the greatest RTS ever made. It’s still played in competitions to this day, despite being over a decade old. Being a South Korean and being good at it probably means you’re a celebrity. So, we can’t wait for the long-awaited sequel. Why will it be great? It’s StarCraft, except with gorgeous graphics. And it’s being made by Blizzard, a developer seemingly incapable of making a game worth less than a 9/10. Some might say it’s just StarCraft with bells and whistles, but, even if that is true, we can’t help but scout for a million-button gaming mouse just to make sure we’re ready for what’s guaranteed to be one of the biggest PC releases of 2009.

14. Dawn of War II, THQ – PC – February 20

Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War was brilliant, therefore, we expect Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 2, the sequel from RTS geniuses Relic, to be even better. Not only that, but from what we’ve seen and played it looks like a genuine effort to revolutionise in a genre that’s notoriously difficult to innovate in. Smaller armies, no base building and only one campaign might disappoint some, but destructible environments, cover based gameplay and the TYRANIDS!!!!! make us jump up and down like a cub scout playing that game where some bloke swings a rope around a youth centre.

13. Killzone 2, Sony – PS3 – February

Killzone 2 may well be the best-looking game ever made. It puts developers that have released poor quality PS3 versions of multi-platform games to shame. Although the game is due out soon, and we’ve played it loads already, we’re still pumped for its February release. We’re excited by the multiplayer, an interesting take on fusing multiple competitive game types into a single mammoth slog, but we’re even more excited by what we haven’t already seen of the single-player campaign, both in terms of gameplay and in astonishing visuals. Potentially the biggest PS3-exclusive of 2009.

12. Rage, EA – PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 – 2009

id Software’s Rage is carrying the studio’s new game engine on its shoulders, and so far it’s doing a great job of showing it off. Again, it’s another game on our list that we don’t know a great deal about, but assuming you’re not one of the moaners who didn’t like Doom 3 because it was too dark there’s good reason to get excited about this FPS/Car combat crossover. While id might not be as well known among gamers as it was in the 90s, if Rage can meet the company’s lofty ambitions it’ll be one to keep an eye on.

11. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Sony – PS3 – 2009

Have you seen those screen shots? Have you? Of course you have. While we’re a little suspicious about the game looking as crisp and generally wonderful as those screens suggest, there’s no question that Uncharted 2 will be one of the best looking PS3 games on its release – you just have to look at the original for developer Naughty Dog’s pedigree. The big question we have about the game is how it’ll improve on the original. While we enjoyed the adventure, the combination of cover-based gun-play and Lara Croft-esque platforming didn’t quite gel as we’d have liked – and those jet-ski parts weren’t good at all. What we know about Drake’s second adventure is that it revolves around 13th century explorer Marco Polo and his voyages, it’ll have stealth action segments and free climbing over walls. We’re so excited about Uncharted 2 that we’re dribbling on our keyboard as our trembling fingers type these words, which, when we think about it, isn’t very professional.

Agree? Disagree? Let us know what you think in the comments section below. And don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the final instalment of our week-long run down of VideoGamer.com’s Most Anticipated games of 2009, where we’ll reveal our shiny number one pick!