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Suffering from sequelitis? You’ve come to the right place. In our third annual New Horizons special, we preview the original properties set to take flight in 2012.

The first Vita game from Silent Hill director Keiichiro Toyama may prove to be just as surreal as his most famous creation. Exploring the cell shaded dreamscape of GRAVITY RUSH will require you to shift your perspective (which way is up, again?) with the aid of the handheld’s inbuilt motion sensor. You won’t have long to enjoy the view, however, as the macabre inhabitants of this crumbling world are determined to put a stop to your plans. REVIEW

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to slip on a leather mask, wacky 2D brawler GUACAMELEE could be the game for you. As heroic luchador Juan Aguacate, your quest to liberate the president’s daughter will require you not only to pound your enemies into submission, but also to alter the very fabric of reality. Developer DrinkBox Studios (Tales from Space: About a Blob) is yet to reveal target platforms for Guacamelee.

While some developers find their niche and stick to it, others refuse to be pigeonholed. 5th Cell is leaving behind the Technicolor whimsy of Scribblenauts and blasting its way into the highly competitive shooting genre with HYBRID. Set in a post apocalyptic future (is there another kind?), this XBLA exclusive boasts a semi-automated traversal system designed to place gunplay at the core of the experience. REVIEW

Making its third (and hopefully final) appearance on our annual New Horizons list is Ubisoft’s I AM ALIVE. Once an ambitious retail project, the disaster epic has since been relegated to downloadable status, leading many to view it as a disaster of a different kind. With its promising blend of combat and platforming, not to mention its intriguing intimidation mechanic, I Am Alive may yet deliver the goods. Look for it on XBLA and PSN this summer. REVIEW

It has long been said that you can’t trust a man with two first names. Fortunately “hot headed cop” Davis Russel isn’t the sole protagonist in Saber Interactive’s oft delayed alien invasion shooter INVERSION. You can also play as his “neighbour” (yes, that’s the only description offered) Leo Delgado. In a market dominated by Call of Duty clones, Inversion’s gravity defying shenanigans may turn heads when it lands on 360, PS3 and PC in February.

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Suffering from sequelitis? You’ve come to the right place. In our third annual New Horizons special, we preview the original properties set to take flight in 2012.

Monster Hunter publisher Capcom is preparing to expand its fantasy portfolio with the open world epic DRAGON’S DOGMA. This is an action game first and foremost. You will have a chance to chat with the locals, but your focus will remain squarely on killing them. As you pursue your reptilian nemesis, you’ll attract followers who will not only fight for your cause, but evolve over time. Dragon’s Dogma is in production for 360 and PS3. REVIEW

The World War II subgenre may have cooled in recent years, but City Interactive is hoping you’ll reenlist in 2012, if only to prevent the Nazis from perfecting their doomsday device. With its chunky art style and destructible environments, ENEMY FRONT might provide some visceral thrills. The latest project from FPS specialist Stuart Black, Enemy Front is coming to 360, PS3 and PC.

Is black and white the new black? It certainly looks that way. If Limbo and Winterbottom didn’t satisfy your need for monochromatic puzzle platformers, you can now look forward to ESCAPE PLAN. This darkly comic offering from the producers of Fat Princess will see you guiding a pair of ink filled blobs through a series of diabolical traps. One of the more daring titles in the Vita launch line up, Escape Plan will be available for download in February.

A small group of former Bungie developers are working on a new sci-fi project, but this stylish 2D shooter looks to be anything but a Halo clone. FALLEN FRONTIER will feature solo and cooperative action in a film noire influenced universe. Moonshot Games is yet to announce a publisher, but if all goes to plan, Fallen Frontier will make its way to XBLA, PSN and Steam in the first half of the year. CANCELLED

While several titles permit you to shift between the second and third dimensions in order to progress, only one of them is named after a hat. Despite enduring a protracted development cycle, Polytron’s FEZ remains firmly on the radar of indie gamers. You can experience its quaint art style and perspective shifting gameplay when it finally (fingers crossed) hits XBLA in the first quarter of 2012. REVIEW

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Suffering from sequelitis? You’ve come to the right place. In our third annual New Horizons special, we preview the original properties set to take flight in 2012.

Castle Crashers developer The Behemoth continues to toil away on its long overdue 2D puzzle platformer BATTLEBLOCK THEATER. The game will apparently require you to caper like a madman in an attempt to satisfy your hedonistic feline overlords. (This scenario will already be familiar to owners of domestic cats.) When it eventually lands on XBLA, BattleBlock Theater will boast a four player co-op campaign and several multiplayer modes. REVIEW

When the office photocopier breaks down for the fourth time today, you may begin to doubt the capacity of machines to rise up against their human masters. If BINARY DOMAIN is any guide, SEGA holds no such reservations. In this squad based third person shooter, you’ll be expected to prevent a full scale robot uprising. The latest game from the team responsible for the Yakuza series, Binary Domain is scheduled to hit 360 and PS3 in February. REVIEW

Are you tired of rescuing members of the royal family? Do you struggle to contain your violent rage? If you answered ‘yes’ to one or both of these questions, BLACK KNIGHT SWORD could be the game for you. A collaboration between Grasshopper Manufacture and Digital Reality, this 2D fantasy action game will dispatch you on a quest to slay a sadistic princess. Look for it on XBLA and PSN this summer.

If MLB: The Show doesn’t offer the level of realism you’re looking for in a baseball sim, you may want to check out DIABOLICAL PITCH. Employing the Kinect for extra authenticity, it sees you hurling mystical baseballs at the grotesque denizens of a haunted amusement park. You can even bring a friend along for the ride. Diabolical Pitch is an XBLA exclusive from the increasingly prolific Grasshopper Manufacture.

Arkane Studios is behind one of the more ambitious sandbox titles in the pipeline. A first person blend of action and stealth, DISHONORED will occur in a disease ravaged whaling town known for its technological wonders. After first being framed for regicide, you’ll be forced to hunt down and eliminate the world’s most dangerous prey. Publisher Bethesda Softworks is aiming for a 2012 release on 360, PS3 and PC. REVIEW

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Suffering from sequelitis? You’ve come to the right place. In our third annual New Horizons special, we preview the original properties set to take flight in 2012.

Shaq-Fu designer Paul Cuisset is set to embrace survival horror with AMY. As the ill-prepared Lana, you’ll emerge from a train wreck only to be menaced by contagious mutants. Worse yet, you’ll be responsible not only for your own safety, but also for that of the eponymous child. Frankly, if you’re still willing to travel by train after Rise of Nightmares, you deserve everything you get. Amy should arrive on XBLA and PSN in early 2012. REVIEW

Super Smash Bros. notwithstanding, there appears to be plenty of room in the market for an online adversarial brawler. SEGA and Vanquish developer Platinum Games aim to fill that gap with ANARCHY REIGNS. Despite its focus on fast paced multiplayer madness, it will also offer a full single player campaign. Originally due in January, Anarchy Reigns is now expected on 360 and PS3 in July. REVIEW

If you fantasise about barking orders at diminutive underlings, you should probably seek professional help. You should also check out ARMY CORPS OF HELL, which places you in command of up to 100 murderous goblins. Entersphere founder Motoi Okamoto is more than familiar with the RTS genre, having contributed to Pikmin during his time with Nintendo. Publisher Square Enix is planning to launch the game alongside the Vita in February.

While Capcom continues to factory farm the likes of Resident Evil and Street Fighter, it is also prepared to roll the dice on original ideas. Inspired by Chinese mythology, ASURA’S WRATH is a fantasy action tale packed with colossal boss battles and flashy quick time events. The game is in development at CyberConnect2, the Japanese studio best known for its work with the Naruto license. Look for Asura’s Wrath on 360 and PS3 in February. REVIEW

The MOBA scene has long been awash with top down fantasy epics in the League of Legends mould. Ronimo Games plans to shake things up with AWESOMENAUTS. This explosion of colour retains the focus on team tactics, but transfers the action to a side-scrolling sci-fi setting. If you only play one game featuring a jetpack monkey this year, it will almost certainly be this one. Awesomenauts is coming to XBLA and PSN.

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