The year is at a close, which means the Blend Games staff will gather this weekend to drink cheap whiskey and discuss gaming in 2007. At some point a list of our favorite games for the year will come out of the ordeal, but before we get to that it’s time to look forward. After all, it was nice playing Warhawk but it’s no time to get complacent with our gaming. There’s a brand new stack of titles just itching to be played. Hopefully none of them have any debilitating diseases that will require daily cream application.

2007 gave everyone a great year; everyone except Sony. Jack Tretton of SCEA has said in recent interviews that 2008 will be the year of the Playstation. With a bundle of new titles and many exclusives making their ways to the big George Forman Grill by Sony in 2008, they might be right. I’m not a gambling man, but I’m hoping that this year will bring people to hold their heads up high and say, “Yes! I own a PS3.” Here are a few games that are a good start.

5. Final Fantasy XIII


So many people couldn’t wrap their minds around the fact that this would be the first Final Fantasy game for the PS3 and not the non-existent remake of part seven. Still, Square Enix keeps making their lion’s share of profit from the Final Fantasy stories. The first Final Fantasy game was supposed to be Squaresoft’s death knell. That utterance from a dying developer spurred on one of the most successful franchises in the history of video games. Several generations later FFXIII is a highly anticipated PS3 exclusive which may be able to step in and return the favor to Sony for keeping them alive since the early nineties.

4. Turok


The dinosaur hunter is making his way to the next gen with this early February release. With new features in game play such as being able to use enemies against each other, Turok looks to be a great title. Turok games have always been a gamble. People who have liked past incarnations defend them rabidly. The rest of us, otherwise known as the clinically sane, are surprised that this one actually looks like it will be worth our time.

3. Playstation Home


Sony’s answer to Xbox Live has had more release dates than Paris Hilton has social diseases. That’s not nice; I shouldn’t say that, it’s only had three that I can remember. The hope is that this feature of the Playstation Network, which will be free to all PS3 owners, is what will make people want to play online with the Playstation. You get the world and your avatar for free unlike XBL, it’s all the stuff to make your avatar cool that will cost you a lot. Aside from the virtual consumerism, all I’ve heard about it is the ability to share porn over your PS3.

2. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots and MGS: Online


This is another franchise game that is, mercifully for Sony, an exclusive at the moment. There has been some worry over exclusivity, but it looks like Hideo Kojima is staying with Sony for his last game. This year will bring us Solid Snake as an old man dying from what we can assume is Fox Die. In the bleak and not too distant future war is everywhere and there are a lot of familiar faces responsible. Not only will we be getting the tactical stealth game Guns of the Patriots this year, but we’ll also see Metal Gear Online which we’ve already had the precursor to with PS2’s Subsistence.

1. Little Big Planet


Sony needs something that will appeal to more than just hardcore gamers if they want to make their lofty goal of dominating 2008. In response to such requirements they offer Little Big Planet, the story of… well, it’s about cute little things that you lead through a world you have full creative control over. This 3D simulator and platformer is far and away the most creative looking of any PS3 title we’ve seen so far.

Looking like someone told Tim Burton to design a game for Nintendo, Little Big Planet utilizes the range of capabilities in the PS3. This will offer the ability to make maps and boggle your friends with its evolving community play options. Reactions to hands-on demonstrations so far have been enthusiastic if not ecstatic. If any game announced this year has the potential to restore the Playstation to its former glory, it will be Little Big Planet.

Other titles we have our eyes on: Haze, GTA IV, Gran Turismo 5, Resident Evil 5