Batman: Arkham Asylum
Rocksteady Studios
PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Summer 2009

Could this be a Batman game worth playing? Based on the comics, Rocksteady's Arkham Asylum certainly looks stylish--and with Animated Series writer Paul Dini on board, and voice actors Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy signed up, the presentation is a lock.

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Ghostbusters: The Videogame
Terminal Reality
PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, Nintendo DS
June 2009

Could this be a Ghostbusters game worth playing? All the Ghostbusters team voice talent is on board, and the script was written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis--so again, it all looks good on paper. Players will take on the role of a new recruit, and will no doubt be taken through a "don't cross the streams" tutorial.

Quake Live
id Software
PC
2009

id Software's web-based port of Quake III Arena has been in beta quite a while. By all accounts, it should finally be released this year, bringing the twitchy FPS back to gamers in free-to-play form.

Braid
Jonathon Blow/Number None
PC: Feb-March 2009

Jonathan Blow's lauded XBLA title hits the PC early in 2009, bringing the time-shifting platformer to a new audience. Endlessly acclaimed for its innovative, elegant design, Braid should make it to the new platform by March at the latest.

Prototype
Radical Entertainment
PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
April 2009

This open-world action title is set in a modern urban landscape, featuring a hero that can shapeshift and absorb his enemies' powers. Parkour-style acrobatics from a third-person camera make this project a blend of Crackdown, Assassin's Creed and Mirror's Edge.

APB
Realtime Worlds
PC
2009

Designed by Grand Theft Auto and Crackdown creator Dave Jones, APB presents the typical cops vs. robbers scenario, but in an MMO setting. Players will choose between two sides: the Gangs or the Law Enforcement. From there, it's a skill-based effort to deny the other side by either robbing the banks or attempting to crack down on the gangs.

Storm of War: Battle of Britain
Maddox Games
PC
Q2 2009

Looking for a flight sim fix? Developed by Oleg Maddox--creator of the renowned IL2-Sturmovik sim series--Storm of War might be your best bet this year. Utilizing a new 3D engine, Maddox looks to provide some stunning airplane models in its effort to recreate the historic Battle of Britain.

Overlord II
Triumph Studios
PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
2009

The sequel to 2007's unique action title, Overlord II is said to greatly increase the scope of the minion-based gameplay. New AI routines will allow the minions to perform actions such as riding mounts, while the control scheme has supposedly been improved overall.

Aion: Tower of Eternity
NC Soft
PC
Q1 2009

Recently named Best Korean Game of the Year, NCSoft's newest MMO is based in a fantasy world where two playable races inhabit a lower and upper plane--one dark, one light. Clearly inspired by heaven and hell, all characters will have the ability to fly by way of angelic wings, allowing for expedient exploration of the ethereal landscapes.

Alpha Protocol
Obsidian Entertainment
PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
March 2009

A new RPG from some of the guys responsible for other great RPGs, there's a lot of expectation going along with the release of Alpha Protocol. The game centers around a CIA field agent, and will include plenty of branching dialogue and third-person espionage.

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