The 5 most anticipated N-Gage games for 2009

2008 has been a topsy-turvy year for the young N-Gage platform. April saw its belated release with a small handful of mixed-quality titles (a disconcerting pattern for the immediate future). August saw the system’s first must-have title in Reset Generation, which appeared set to catch the attentions of people who usually turned their noses up at mobile gaming.

Of course, since the July release of Apple’s App Store, the iPhone has all but run the portable show, and much of what N-Gage has to offer was largely forgotten. Nokia’s platform has finished the year on a high, though, with two high quality, high profile releases in Metal Gear Solid Mobile and Resident Evil: Degeneration.

It all sets up a mouth watering 2009, which will hopefully see Nokia continuing the flurry of releases and really give Apple something to think about.

Having reflected on the year that was (well, is and soon won’t be) we thought we’d take a look at what the future holds for N-Gage. Which are the titles that Nokia will be pinning their hopes on come the new year?

Read on…

The 5 most anticipated N-Gage games for 2009

5. Tomb Raider: Underworld I have to confess that Tomb Raider probably wouldn’t have made it onto this list two weeks ago. So what changed? Metal Gear Solid Mobile and Resident Evil: Degeneration were released, that’s what. These two paragons of N-Gage 3D action gaming have shown that near-console quality gaming is perfectly possible on a Nokia handset. Lara Croft’s debut on the platform seems as good a bet as any to emulate their success. Here’s another console giant, who made her name on the PlayStation and helped redefine action gaming. Precise details for Tomb Raider: Underworld are a little scarce at present, but we do know that there will be three modes: Adventure, Puzzle and Time Trial, with the main adventure mirroring the story of the popular console game. Don’t let us down, Lara.
4. Real Football 2009 Again, Real Football 2009’s place on this list is at least partly attributable to another game’s release, but this time it’s for less positive reasons. So far the FIFA series is the only footy experience to have seen the light of day on N-Gage, but it has failed to capitalise with two fairly mediocre efforts. Real Football is perfectly placed to become the N-Gage football mascot. We at Pocket Gamer already feel that the series just about edges out both FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer on mobile phones, thanks to its near-perfect blend of accessibility and depth. Imagining the supremely playable and attractive Real Football series souped up, presented in landscape and making use of properly laid out D-pad and two-button controls makes us all warm inside.
3. Dance Fabulous Dance Fabulous is the first of a trio of innovative titles we’re looking forward to in 2009. It tasks you with choreographing dance moves to go with your own music stored on your phone. You’ll then be able to share your finished masterpieces with your friends via N-Gage Arena. If it all sounds a little too ambitious, you should take comfort in the fact that there are some steady hands at the helm, including developer Digital Legends, who made the fantastic ONE earlier in the year. Dance Fabulous will also be a first in its attempts to launch the career of a pop star. Canada’s Cindy Gomez will lend her likeness and songs to the game, in what should be a fascinating experiment and – hopefully – a fun little game.
2. Mega Monsters Mega Monsters appears to be onto a winner with its combination of wanton destruction and cute, collectible characters. Think of it as the lovechild of arcade classic monster-masher Rampage and the ever popular OCD-simulator, Pokemon. Your first job is to design a towering (if impossibly cute) monster with its own unique attacking attributes, before sending it out to wreak havoc in the game’s 3D city environments. As well as developing and cross-breeding your monster, you’ll be able to battle your friends head to head and share your creations via N-Gage Arena. Our first impressions really are positive for this one, and it has the potential to be one of those system-selling crossover hits that every publisher dreams of.
1. Yamake There were some excellent candidates, but Yamake takes the honour as our most anticipated game for 2009, thanks to the sheer freshness of its concept and the scope for growth beyond its initial release. The aime of the game is to use media files from your own phone or PC - photos, videos and sound files - in the construction of your very own mini-games. These games take the familiar form of picture puzzles, top trumps, quizzes and the like, but it’s the scope for personalisation that really sets the game apart. You’ll then be able to share your designs with the wider Yamake community and in turn download other people’s efforts for your own amusement. Of course, Yamake’s success depends on how much freedom you have to experiment and create – a simple picture puzzle will always be a simple picture puzzle, after all. But the potential for something special is clearly there. We can’t wait.