Upcoming Action Games of 2011

2010 was a stellar year for action games and 2011 looks no different. Even though there’s a dearth of original IPs (intellectual properties), one can’t help but be excited at the sequels releasing this year that has something for everyone from solving crimes in a noire thriller to stepping back into the boots of the world’s greatest detective or even treasure hunting across the Arabian desert. We’ve combed through 2011’s release calendar and zeroed in on 9 games that are worth keeping an eye out for.

Batman: Arkham City (Xbox360, PS3, PC)

This tight rope is really uncomfortable

Developer Rocksteady have the distinction of giving the Dark Knight his first kick ass game adaptation in the form of Arkham Asylum. And now that they’re done with the loony bin, the action has shifted to Arkham City where Batman faces a new threat in the form of Dr. Hugo Strange. Although the game has a very strong open world vibe, it sadly won’t be one. However, like the Asylum, Batman will be able to explore the crap (or another word if you can think of it) out of certain areas to look for clues and other collectibles. The robust free-flow combat system has also received a major upgrade so Batman will now have quite a repertoire of moves under his belt. New to the series is the inclusion of multiplayer, the details of which are not known till date.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (PS3)

Making plane crashes look cool

Fusing death-defying platforming, intense action, spectacular set pieces, stellar production values and good ol’ fashioned humor, the Uncharted series has gone on to become a system seller for the Playstation 3. This year’s adventure has Drake and brother from another mother, Sully, exploring the vast expanses of the Arabian desert in search of an artifact called the “Atlantis of the Sands”. Things don’t go as planned – thankfully – and Drake finds himself on yet another adventure that spans the entire globe. 

L.A. Noire (PS3, Xbox360)

Smile for the birdie

Even though Rockstar is pitching in as far as development is concerned, L.A. Noire is nothing like their GTA games where players explore an urban city, hijacking vehicles and killing people. L.A. Noire’s USP lies in its revolutionary motion capture technology that also ties into gameplay. You see in L.A noire, your character is a detective who will have to question perps and determine their honesty (or dishonesty) solely by looking at their facial expressions. 

True Crime: Hong Kong (Xbox360, PS3, PC)

You didn't think I wouldn't know martial arts right?

True Crime is a lot like GTA – only you’re playing on the other side of the law dishing out street justice when all else fails. The first two True Crime games didn’t quite set the cash registers ringing and so developer Luxoflux had to shut down shop in early 2010. Now the reigns of development have been handed over to the makers of Modnation Racers, who’ve taken the action overseas to Hong Kong. As an undercover cop, players will have to infiltrate a triad organization to take them down from the inside.

Upcoming Action Games of 2011