The second quarter of 2010 contains a lot of solid releases. Will we ever have time to catch up on our backlog? More and more, it’s looking like the answer is a big, fat “no”. However, you might find a few games from Q1 that have snuck in thanks to delays. What you’ll see below is a collection of the WingDamage staff’s most anticipated Xbox 360 games of Q2 2010.

Splinter Cell: Conviction

“Splinter Cell: Conviction is a complete reinvention of the stealthy franchise. Sam Fisher has been betrayed by his agency, Third Echelon, and it is up to the aging super-spy to once again save the world from a terrorist plot. No longer confined to the shadows, Mr. Fisher can dispatch enemies like never before using the intriguing new “Mark and Execute” system. You can now Mark an enemy with a simple bumper press and then, with the touch of a button, send them to oblivion. You can even Mark a string of enemies and Execute them in quick succession.” -Dave

Alan Wake

“A game that has been talked about since before the launch of the Xbox 360, Alan Wake is a horror/mystery that promises a very cinematic experience. Going for the popular serialized TV style, the game is broken up into “episodes”, complete with cliff hangers. The story revolves around “darkness” taking over everything and everyone. It is up to Mr. Wake and the power of light to fight the encroaching darkness.” -Jonah

Blur

“From Bizarre Creations (the guys who made Project Gotham Racing and Metropolis Street Racing), Blur looks to marry insane arcade style racing with realistic driving physics. Think Mario Kart mixed with Burnout mixed with PGR. Blur looks to be the perfect party game.” -Dave

Lost Planet 2

“It’s time again to visit E.D.N. III, but this time you are not alone! You and up to three friends can band together in a squad to take down gigantic akrids in Lost Planet 2. Ten years after the original, the snow of the planet has been melting, revealing new types of environments for you to explore. Pilot the mechanized armor known as Vital Suits to increase your firepower. Customize your characters appearance and weapon set to increase your squad’s versatility. Built on the new MT-Framework 2.0, Lost Planet 2 promises to be bigger and better than its predecessor in every way.” -Jesse

Red Dead Redemption

“It is a proven fact that there are not nearly enough westerns. Anyone who has seen 3:10 to Yuma, John Wayne in True Grit, or Clint Eastwood in any of the spaghetti westerns can attest to how amazing a setting the old west can be. Red Dead takes place in 1908 as the modern world is slowly overtaking the old west. You take on the role of John Marston; a former outlaw tasked by the government to take down his former gang. Developer Rockstar is pulling out all the stops as Red Dead improves upon the original in just about every way. Random encounters generate as players explore the countryside. These include hangings, ambushes, pleas for help, and animal attacks.” -Dave

Split/Second

“I played the demo of Split/Second at PAX 2009 and my initial impressions were very positive. I’m not a huge racing game guy, but when I do play them, I prefer the arcade style over racing sims. The hook for Split/Second are the numerous short cuts, which trigger very flashy action movie style destruction in the environment around you. You can use this to take out other racers and get even further ahead. With proper online and split screen support, I can definitely see this one being a hit.” -Jonah

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands

“Now that the Prince has been officially Gyllenhaaled, Ubisoft is returning the series to the storyline from the critically acclaimed Xbox and PS2 releases. The Forgotten Sands finally reveals what happened in the seven year gap between Sands of Time and Warrior Within that transformed the happy go lucky prince into a brooding bad ass. The PoP series has excelled at offering gripping platforming mixed with fun accessible combat and this inter-quel looks to continue that tradition.

(Notes on the Wii version - The Wii version is being developed separately and features different gameplay than the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. Also, the Wii will include co-op and my mind is already buzzing with the thought of sending my buddy Nate to his death.)” -Dave

Super Street Fighter IV

“The follow up to 2009’s fantastic re-launch of one of my all-time favorite franchises, Super Street Fighter IV has more characters, more modes, better balance, and all the characters unlocked right from the get go. Better yet, it will release at a reduced price of $40. Naysayers be damned, this promises to bring the franchise to a whole new level of 2D fighting perfection.” -Jonah

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

“With a style all their own and a sense of humor to match, the LEGO games have proven themselves to be a pure joy. Couple that with the magic of Harry Potter and the result should be amazing. Gamers of all ages can finally explore a LEGO-fied Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.” -Dave

Tags: Alan Wake, anticipated games q2 2010, Blur, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, Lost Planet 2, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, Red Dead Redemption, Splinter Cell Conviction, Split/Second, Super Street Fighter IV, Xbox 360

This entry was posted on Monday, April 5th, 2010 at 5:00 am and is filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.