This week is the Continuation of my list for the top ten most anticipated console games of 2008. Last week I gave you my picks for games 10-6, and this week I’m continuing the countdown all the way down to the number one most anticipated game of 2008. So let’s not waste any more time. My picks for games 5-1 are as follows:

5) Grand Theft Auto IV – April 29, 2008 (Playstation 3 and Xbox 360)

Aggressive drivers have found a better way to express their anger than giving the finger.

The much-acclaimed Grand Theft Auto series is preparing to release its ninth edition of the franchise. Not much of the gameplay or concepts will change – you’ll still be able to run recklessly around the city doing whatever your deviant mind can conjure. This time the around the game producers have redesigned Liberty City, basing it largely on a replica of New York City and New Jersey. GTA IV delivers new graphics on top of newly added features, including the standard ability to climb obstacles, steal cars, drive boats and navigate helicopters throughout the city. The protagonist of GTA IV is Niko Bellic, an emigrant and con man from Eastern Europe looking for change and a better opportunity in his life; however, contrary to Bellic’s hope, his trip to America is only going to bring him further pain and death. Oh, and don’t worry you’ll still be able to run over old lady’s with a stolen SUV and have brawls with random pedestrians as much as you want because let’s face it, doing whatever you want in GTA games has always been more fun than actually finishing the assigned missions.

4) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots – June 2008 (Playstation 3)

Why use my giant gun when I have this little knife?

Snake’s first outing, which debuted on the MSX2 computer system in 1987, set him sneaking around in stealth rather than running out guns blazing like many other games of the time. The gameplay was fresh and the premise was new and Metal Gear was a smash hit in Asia, Europe and America. This time around in Guns of the Patriots, an aged solid Snake is faced with his final mission. Set across terrain in the Middle East and South America, Snake is presented with the task of assassinating his long standing rival, Liquid Ocelot. Snake will retain his stealth-like maneuvers that made the franchise popular back in the 80’s and 90’s, but this time around he’ll also have an all new weapons and accessories like the all new OctoCamo suit helping him to avoid detection. Many familiar faces from the past Metal Gear entries will be making cameos in Guns of the Patriots and all new features like the CQC (Close Quarters Combat) system, as well as many others, will help write the final chapter of Snake’s legendary tale. We’ve waited a long time since Guns of the Patriots was first announced a couple years ago, and we only have just a little bit longer to anticipate Snake’s return.

3) Ninja Gaiden 2: Bad Moon Rising – TBA 2008 (Xbox 360)

Umm…blood…lots….ridiculous? Nope!

If you never played the original Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox or any of its re-releases (Black or Sigma) then you’ve really missed out on just how crazy fun this series really is. I remember playing Ninja Gaiden II back on my NES when I was a kid. The gameplay was phenomenal and the power-ups and characters were all great. The only thing that ever put me off about the game was its ridiculously hard difficulty level. Well Ryu (the protagonist) has received a makeover from his NES days and so has the franchise. Ninja Gaiden: Bad Moon Rising looks to be one of the prettiest games on the Xbox 360, just as Ninja Gaiden excelled as the Xbox’s most stunningly graphic game. It looks like they’ve upped the gore factor from that of its predecessor just judging by this painted red screen shot, and Team Ninja has also provided all new power-ups, weapons and epic portioned bad guys in your new quest to avenge your ninja clan whilst saving the human race. Hopefully this game maintains its over average difficulty level just as its prequel had done before it. Stay tuned for new information as it surfaces because this game is going to be one for the ages. Can anyone say Xbox 360 game of the year?

2) Resident Evil 5 – TBA 2008/09? (Playstation 3 and Xbox 360)

Now would be a good time to throw that grenade I wasted earlier.

Resident Evil 5, which was originally scheduled to be a late 2008 release, looks to be seeing store shelves sometime in early 2009; however, I’ve decided to keep it on the 2008 countdown list so just deal with it. Resident Evil 5 is to be an actual sequel to the franchise’s storyline proceeding shortly after the end of Leon Kennedy’s mission to save the Presidents daughter in Resident Evil 4. Chris Redfield, the co-star of the original Resident Evil game, has been confirmed as the hero and the game will follow his story from the ten years between the mansion outbreak in the original Resident Evil and through RE4. As a member of the group known as BSAA, Chris is sent to investigate an incident in an unknown desert region. Low and behold he runs into what appears to be zombie-like people thirsting for his blood. However, Capcom producer Takeuchi has reported that these people are not zombies nor are they infected by Las Plagas like the villagers of RE4. Not much else is really known about the game except that its gameplay resembles closely to that of Resident Evil 4 – the 3rd person control and the camera over the character’s right shoulder is still intact. The graphics look to be sexier than ever and Redfield looks to have put on some serious muscle in his ten year lapse from the original Resident Evil. Another cool factor about the game shows Redfield’s eyes as they continually adjust from going in and out of dark and sunny areas throughout the village. Apparently when Chris enters a shaded building his eyes will blur as they try to adjust to the dark surroundings. This new feature will undoubtedly open up a whole new definition for terror in this already innovating survival horror series. If you still don’t think this game sounds completely awesome then go check out the newest RE5 trailer online. One word can describe this game thus far – INTENSE!

1) Super Smash Bros. Brawl – March 9, 2008 (Nintendo Wii)

This game is going to cause serious decline in my schoolwork!

The number one game of 2008 can only be a sequel to my personal favorite franchise of all time – Super Smash Bros. If you’ve read any of my other blogs then you’ll understand my intense love for the Smash Bros. games and you’d have probably guessed that it was going to be my number one pick. However if you still don’t agree with me that this is the number one anticipated game of 2008 then let me try to convince you otherwise. Super Smash Bros. Melee, Brawl’s predecessor, was the Nintendo Gamecube’s best-selling game ever, and it was a launch date title. It beat out The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Super Mario Sunshine and Mario Kart: Double Dash in every way, shape and form. If you’ve never played Melee then you need to grab yourself a copy of this greatest hits title and begin smashing and bashing with your favorite Nintendo characters.

Not only does Brawl pick up on Melee’s formula for 4-player frantic fun, but it has officially been confirmed to support wi-fi matches with friends and complete strangers throughout the world. Brawl has already been released in Japan (January 31, 2008) and if you’re wanting to see the complete list of playable characters and levels then you can just Google the info – I won’t put any spoilers in this blog, but I will tell you that the list looks amazing give or take a few characters. Brawl’s formula of providing frantic 4-player slug fests only begins to scratch the surface of this anticipated Nintendo fighter. For the first time ever Brawl will feature an extended single-player game mode known as the Subspace Emissary, and it will feature co-op play as well. With more characters, items, levels, options and features than ever before, any video game fan can see why this killer title is going to be anything short of spectacular. Come March 9, 2008 you better be ready to brawl because I’m going to be online taking numbers for any takers.

Well there you have it, the bottom half of the top ten most anticipated console games of 2008. If you have any games that you feel should have made the list or any titles that you felt were rated too high or too low let me know by leaving a comment. I’m always game for hearing other people’s opinions. As always, thanks for reading.

-Dillon (D-Dub)