"But the game also does react to how the players play the game."
New releases of video games in 2019 represent a great new and exciting era in gaming.
From the stunning graphics providing realistic environments in 2018 which were the perfect backdrop for the memorable stories that were told, 2019 promises a plethora of video games to appeal to all gamers.
Games such as God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2 were two standout games from 2018. So what will be big in 2019?
There are a number of games which players are eagerly looking forward to more than others.
We present a selection of the most anticipated games that will release in 2019.
Resident Evil 2
Release Date: January 25, 2019
Consoles: PS4, Xbox One, PC
The Resident Evil franchise is one of the most successful survival horror franchises, with the first released in 1996.
Its sequel was released in 1998 and received a lot of praise for its atmosphere and setting.
Developers Capcom has now created a remake of the 1998 game. It sees players control rookie police officer Leon Kennedy and student Claire Redfield as they try to escape from Raccoon City during a zombie apocalypse.
To meet modern audiences, the game is more realistic and has been completely rebuilt for a deeper narrative experience.
Capcom has prioritised horror over action with the intention of creating a claustrophobic feel.
Resident Evil 2 offers a fresh take with realistic visuals and immersive audio which will guarantee heart-pounding moments.
Being aware of your surroundings is vital if you want to survive whatever horrors that may be lurking around every corner.
Some of the locations look similar in design to the ones in the original game, they are full of surprises for both Resident Evil veterans and newcomers.
It is a game people are looking forward to especially as it won the “Best of Show” award at the 2018 Game Critics Awards.
Crackdown 3
Release Date: February 15, 2019
Consoles: Xbox One, PC
After initially being slated to release in 2018, the much-anticipated sequel Crackdown 3 will finally launch in 2019.
The game is set ten years after the events of its predecessor and sees The Agency back in action after an attack from an unknown source wipes out power around the world.
The attack is controlled by the mysterious organisation Terra Nova. When The Agency’s first attack fails their last resort is two super-powered Agents to destroy Terra Nova any way they can.
Crackdown 3 has similar gameplay elements of previous games, featuring different organisations that players will need to take down.
That is achieved by killing bosses and destroying their facilities, using a variety of weapons to help.
When developing the game, Sumo Digital focused on a world which comes to life and the gameplay mechanics behind it.
The intention was to create a fully destructible city environment, however, in the campaign mode, it is limited.
As well as a campaign mode, the action-adventure game will have several multiplayer modes where full-scale destruction is available.
The effects are mind-blowing and that is thanks to the computing power of the console to be freed up.
All it does is concentrate on rendering so that gameplay remains smooth. Even if there are several buildings toppling at the same time, it is crisp.
After many delays, Crackdown 3 looks set to be a game to watch out for in 2019.
Metro Exodus
Release Date: February 22, 2019
Consoles: PS4, Xbox One, PC
The third instalment in the Metro video game franchise based on Dmitry Glukovsky’s novels will release in 2019.
It follows the events of Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light and follows a band of survivors attempting to escape Moscow.
Similar to the previous games, the first-person shooter game contains horror and stealth elements within the post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Executive producer Jon Bloch said: “The game certainly encourages you to take a more careful, stealthy approach to scenarios.
“But the game also does react to how the players play the game.”
Players control Artyom who sets off on a continent-spanning journey while surviving against mutated creatures and hostile humans.
To help, gamers have several weapons which can be customised through scavenging materials and a crafting system.
In the previous games, even venturing outside was dangerous, requiring a lot of caution.
In Exodus, it is a little easier, especially with your fellow survivors.
The magnitude of Exodus is much larger than the previous two games as it is set over one in-game year.
A dynamic weather system and environments change along with the seasons as the story progresses.
The in-depth story makes Metro Exodus one of the games to look forward to in 2019.
Anthem
Release Date: February 22, 2019
Consoles: PS4, Xbox One, PC
The upcoming online multiplayer game will see players take on the role of a Freelancer, one of a group of people that goes to explore the surrounding landscape.
Anthem combines elements of a third-person shooter and action role-playing games (RPG).
As a Freelancer, you get to don fully-customisable exo-suits called Javelins.
Each of the four Javelins classes has unique weapons and superhuman abilities.
Interceptor boosts speed and agility, Colossus improves your defence, Storm gives you the ability to use magic attacks and Ranger is an all-rounder.
Two of which were shown during Microsoft’s E3 2017 Conference.
Developers BioWare has created Anthem so that is not just all about futuristic mech-suits, the RPG elements are also prominent.
Players can build relationships with non-playable characters but cannot establish romantic relationships with them. This was a trademark of previous BioWare games.
Anthem has single-player and co-operative elements that can have up to four squad members per team.
Teams fight against savage beasts and merciless raiders while exploring ancient ruins in what promises to be a fan favourite among gamers.
Devil May Cry 5
Release Date: March 8, 2019
Consoles: PS4, Xbox One, PC
The latest in the hack and slash franchise comes out in 2019, over a decade after the previous release.
Dante and Nero return as playable characters along with a new character, known only as “V”.
All three fight off hordes of demons using a variety of attacks and weapons.
Gameplay is similar to the other Devil May Cry games, focusing on fast-paced “stylish action.”
Nero is equipped with his famous Red Queen sword and Blue Rose double-barreled revolver to help him against enemies.
The story is set several years after the events of Devil May Cry 2 when “V” hires Dante to solve a series of demon attacks happening across the world.
It goes back to the feel of the original games and makes combat all about juggling combos. Launch one demon in the air and you can keep them there with bullets as you move backwards.
The visuals have taken a graphic style effect, which is intended by Capcom for a “photo-realistic” look.
The gameplay trailer shows the latest game in all its gun-toting glory. Huge creatures and violent combat promise to be on Devil May Cry fan’s games to buy.
The Division 2
Release Date: March 15, 2019
Consoles: PS4, Xbox One, PC
The Divison 2 is the latest in Tom Clancy’s immersive gaming series and takes place seven months after its predecessor.
This time, it is set in midst of a civil war between survivors and villainous groups of marauders in Washington D.C.
The city is on the edge of collapse and instability threatens society. The threat of a coup will only increase the chaos.
It is up the Division agents to save the city in a race against time.
The map is unlike anything that has been seen before as Washington D.C. is a scale representation of the real city, making the world more authentic than ever.
Players cooperate with each other to complete objectives in the third-person action game.
The map offers close-up views of landmarks, natural landscapes and enemy hideouts.
The Division 2 will also feature raids, which can be completed by up to eight players for a social experience with friends.
Massive Entertainment plan to include more game content at launch and to improve the endgame.
When it releases, three episodes of downloadable content will be released for all players for free.
It will add new story content and gameplay modes which will only provide more entertainment for players upon release.
Days Gone
Release Date: April 26, 2019
Consoles: PS4
Zombie games may have lost their sparkle with their prominence in many games such as Left 4 Dead and Dead Rising.
The standard, running zombie just doesn’t appeal anymore.
However, it seems that developers SIE Bend Studio have found a way to make zombies more popular, have loads of them.
Days Gone is the post-apocalyptic open world game similar in aesthetics to Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us which will make zombies exciting again.
Players control Deacon St. John, a rebellious biker who prefers life on the road to wilderness encampments.
Days Gone takes place two years after global pandemic killed almost all of humanity. It also transformed millions of others into “Freakers”, mindless creatures that are quickly evolving.
They are fast, relentless and arguably unstoppable in their hoards.
A vast open-world enables players to approach locations in a multitude of different ways.
Approach enemies using stealth or aggression depending on your circumstances, influenced by resources, health and abilities.
While the map is huge, you will always have to be cautious of the different variations of “Freakers” prowling.
The narrative is still unclear but we imagine it will involve searching for a cure while surviving on the open road.
After many delays, gamers will finally get to experience the zombie apocalypse in Days Gone when it releases.
Shenmue III
Release Date: August 27, 2019
Consoles: PS4, PC
After almost 20 years of waiting for a sequel, Ryo’s story will continue in Shenmue III.
This is nearly two years after director Yu Suzuki first expected to launch the game.
It is a game franchise which has garnered a cult following since it made its debut in 1999.
The latest game, however, has had a hard time in the development phase.
Previous games have been commercial failures despite fans praising the game and making appearances on several “greatest video games of all time” lists.
It looked like fans of the Shenmue franchise would never get to see the next chapter of protagonist Ryo’s story.
However, Suzuki began a crowdfunding campaign to develop and market Shenmue III in 2015.
It exceeded expectations and became highest-funded video game in history. Crowdfunding ended in September 2018 with a total of over £5.5 million.
Shenmue III is the sequel nobody expected and continues teenage martial artist Ryo Hazuki’s quest to find his father’s killer in 1980s China.
The action-adventure game potentially could be one of the games of the year.
Rage 2
Release Date: Q1/Q2 2019
Consoles: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rage 2 is a sequel nobody expected when it was released at E3 2018, nine years after its predecessor.
The original game left players on a surprise cliffhanger that left gamers wanted more.
They will now have the chance to see what happened to the world.
The game is set 30 years after the original and features a cast of both new and existing characters.
Players take control of Walker, the last ranger who lives in a sprawling wasteland after it was hit by an asteroid.
The world is now inhabited by dangerous mutants who you must fight against to survive.
The first person shooter gives players access to lethal weapons and a stylish Wingstick to help you survive the harsh setting.
Early game footage has already shown the brilliant gameplay, which combines combat and vehicular warfare among a desert-like environment.
When Rage 2 releases, gamers will finally get the answers that they have been waiting nine long years for.
Gears 5
Release Date: TBA 2019
Consoles: Xbox One, PC
Simply titled Gears 5 as opposed to the rest of the Gears of War franchise, very few details have been announced for the game.
Xbox marketing boss Aaron Greenberg explained that the new title was a natural change as many players had been cutting out the “of War” part for years.
Gears 5‘s reveal at E3 gave fans glimpses of what to expect from the upcoming game, with it being called a “dramatic contrast” to previous games.
The series is famous for big men trundling along, but Gears 5 showcased speed and immediate hand to hand combat.
These potential changes could be the approach for future games and to appeal to more players.
Coalition studio head Rod Ferguson promised “a bunch of innovations, a bunch of changes, a bunch of things that are really exciting and different but still feel like Gears of War.”
The third-person shooter focuses more on returning character Kait Diaz and delves into her past. The developers want it to be a story from her point of view.
Ferguson added: “We realised Gears 5 is Kait’s story again, so let’s play it from her perspective.”
As 2019 comes around, more details about the latest game in the successful franchise will be announced, making gamers even more eager to play it once it comes out.
It promises to be a big 2019 when it comes to video games and these are just a few which are coming out.
Other games set to be released include Yakuza 5, Skull & Bones and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
We may even see the release of The Last of Us Part II, which would be a huge surprise but we will just have to wait and see.
But 2019 is going to be full of massive video game releases and we cannot wait.