For this next edition of the list, we’re going to count down the 2014 games we’re most hyped about from numbers 20 to 11.
20. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
There’s never enough Donkey Kong Country goodness laying around for us. Thankfully, Nintendo is gifting Wii U owners with a new side-scrolling adventure that features DK and his many monkey buddies. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze comes with the same awesome and tight platforming that was prevalent in Donkey Kong Country Returns. We know this game’s gonna be tough, but we’re ready to test our platforming skills anyway. Plus there’s Cranky Kong! No joke, we’re excited about his inclusion.
19. Strider
Capcom’s coolest ninja is making his welcome reboot debut this year and we’re glad it harkens back to his old-school roots. Strider adopts some wonderful 3D graphics and returns to the side-scrolling gameplay that Capcom’s cyber ninja is known for. That familiar sword swishing noise, those acrobatic skills and all that super fast motion will make older fans and newer followers addicted to Strider’s next-gen return. Lt’s hope this game plays as awesome as it looks.
18. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
*SPOILER ALERT FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T BEAT THE FIRST LORDS OF SHADOW* Gabriel Belmont is now Dracula, the Lord of Darkness.*SPOILER DONE* Now that we’ve gotten that obvious story twist out of the way, we now have the right to exhbit how hyepd we are for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2. Playing as Dracula himself is a great reason to tackle this game, but the new suite of supernatural powers and modern-day setting also make us excited for this release. SO where will Gabriel Belmont go this time? We’re eager to find out…
17. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Shout out to Game Informer for revealing this new Lord of the Rings action/adventure release. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor puts players into the battle-worn boots of a wraith named Talion. He comes back from the dead with a clear hit list he has to fulfill and a journey that will hopefully explain his death. The open-ended gameplay and the cool mechanics that let you keep enemies alive for future battles/plot changes makes this title seem like something that could be a grand adventure. We’re so ready to play with Talion and carry out some justice in Middle-Earth.
16. Thief
Thief. PC gamers already know the deal. Console gamers with current-gen and next-gen machines will now get the chance to experience some of the greatness master thief Garret can pull off. Playing with Garrett and pulling off slick arrow shots, pick locking doors and hopping behind unknown assailants and dropping them silently are factors that have us ready for this reboot. The “Focus” mode enchantments will slow things down and make your silent kills look even more lethal in action.
