With that said, I’ve already pre-ordered my copy of H.A.W.X. 2.  Here’s the newest trailer for the game that just came out today.  Enjoy.

Alan Wake (release date: May 18th, 2010) – Xbox.com

This game really sneaked up on me.  This is an action-thriller game that seems like something out of the X-Files.   They even released a live action prequel series entitled ‘Bright Falls‘ for the game.   I’m not quite sure it’s worth buying yet, as I can’t tell how much replay value it will have, but it certainly looks worth taking a look at.  From what I’ve seen, the game really reminds me of the original Xbox title, Indigo Prophesy (Fahrenheit in Europe), and I really enjoyed that game.

Blur™ (release date: May 25th, 2010) – Xbox.com

Blur has to be one of the more exciting racing games I’ve seen in a long time.  Bizarre Creations has a hit on their hands with this game I think.  It’s got the great graphics on the new console system, coupled with the awesome multiplayer battles I haven’t seen in a racing game since Mario Kart. The multiplayer beta for this game ends this Monday morning, so get in what little more you can while it lasts.

Tranformers: War for Cybertron (release date: June 22nd, 2010) – Xbox.com

Yes, there have been two Transformers movies released in the last few years and some crappy movie related video games along with them.  This game stands out to me for two reasons.  First, it’s not based on the movies.  It’s based on the Generation 1, 1984 version Transformers storyline.  Secondly, it’s canonical.  This game sets down the official back story for the Transformers.  It looks to have some fun multiplayer action in it as well, giving players the ability to transform as often as you like.  Pre-orders from different stores get you different exclusive transformers to play as in the multiplayer game.   Ordering from Amazon will get you Demolisher, from Gamestop will get you Shockwave, and from Best Buy will get you Jazz.

Medal of Honor (release date: October 12th, 2010) – Xbox.com

EA just announced their next Medal of Honor game with this teaser trailer.  After all the chaos that has ensued at Infinity Ward over the Call of Duty series, this game looks to be the most anticipated realistic war/soldier game coming out in the near future.  Personally, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the Call of Duty series.   I simply don’t trust Activision to make a good quality game.

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. 2 (release date: Fall 2010) – Ubi.com

In some random chance,  I stumbled upon the announcement of the sequel to 2009′s hit fighter jet game, H.A.W.X., just minutes after Ubisoft released it.   As a kid growing up on military base and having a father work for the Air Force, I’ve always been a fan of fighter jet games.  I’m not too competitive with them, but just view them as really enjoyable to play.  H.A.W.X. was very fun to play, especially with them using GeoEye satellite images overlayed on the game’s landscape making it very realistic.  This is definitely a game I’ve pre-ordered already.

I didn’t look too much more into it then because for the most part I’m not interested in flight simulator games. My biggest gripe with flight sims is that they make the most mundane elements of flying the focus of the game. Landings, take-offs, etc are not why I play flight games. I think the last flight game I actually enjoyed was the old Sega game After Burner II, which I used to play at the youth center on the military base I lived on at the time. At least now I don’t have to save up my quarters to play the games.

One night some friends and I just finished playing some video games together (probably Halo 3) when we decided to all download and try out the HAWX demo. I was very pleasantly surprised. HAWX is in no way a flight simulator, despite the excellent graphics in the game. This is 100% a fighter arcade game. No more practicing landings where precision control is required. This game just throws you into the middle of a dogfight and goes until all the enemies are killed. You get virtually unlimited ammunition and a wide range of aircraft to pilot. The game gives you the option of playing the campaign in multiplayer cooperative mode. Unlike other games where playing co-op makes the game easier (because you have more help on your side) HAWX developers scaled up the number of enemies you have to stave off when you add more teammates to the battle. This can be quite unnerving when you’re playing missions where the objective is to protect a valuable target from enemy fire.

After playing the demo we all went out the next day and picked of the full version of this game. HAWX developers did a great job with the landscapes in the game. Having visited some of the cities in the game, I was able to find key landmarks and even follow the roads to a friend’s parent’s house (Sorry Nate, I crashed into your parent’s house). The game took out the the realism that makes flight simulators so boring, in my opinion, but left in all the aspects of flying a jet fighter that any little boy wants to experience. This game lets you fly everything from the A6 Intruder to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. (note: the F-15B is the actual fighter depicted in the game, with the vertical landing engine visible) They even threw in the YF-12 (SR-71 Blackbird). Even though the YF-12 isn’t a fighter plane, they made it handle like one. I remember going to the Air Force museum as a kid and seeing this plane on display and imagining what it’d be like to fly that fast. Those type of imaginings are what I think spurred developers to include this plane.

The multiplayer versus mode of the game can be a bit unnerving at first. Instead of flying against the artificial intelligence pilots in the game, you’re flying against other gamers. The reaction time has to be quick, but the thrill of lining up a shot and blowing the other guy’s plane to smithereens exceeds anything felt when I watched Top Gun the first time.

Overall, HAWX is a great game that will provide many hours of enjoyment. The game could use a bit more flexibility in the multiplayer setup, such as implementing a party system where players can join a game together, but what it does provide is sufficient. This is a game I recommend to anyone who can still connect with their inner child and enjoy the thrill of flying big, fast airplanes.