Feature: Xbox 360 Spring 2012 Showcase Preview

Microsoft has been quiet. I’d say too quiet, about what’s coming to their platform in 2012. Granted there’s always surprises come E3 time, as Microsoft loves to announce tons of new stuff at the expo. But what’s coming this Summer? Ah, well that’s what the Xbox 360 Spring Showcase is for.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the games that should be there. This isn’t a complete list; but these titles are pretty much confirmed to be at the showcase. Not all are set for a Spring or Summer release (Halo 4) but most are.

Halo 4

The big daddy of the show and the one title that has the most to prove. Halo 4, being developed by Microsoft’s new studio 343 Industries has a monumental challenge in front of them. We know next to nothing about the title but we do know that story is going to finally be a big focus of the game — It’s about damn time to. The Halo universe is rich and full of history but one wouldn’t know it by just playing the games. 343 hopes to change that and make not only John (Master Chief) more of a character but also the world around him with this new trilogy. I can at least say I’m digging the new armor, he looks leaner and more agile than ever. Expect the Halo 4 media hype train to begin at the Spring Showcase.

More details Halo 4 | 

Deadlight

In an apocalyptic world where existence is futile, a solitary man treks the American west coast. The year is 1986 and a mysterious disease has decimated mankind, transforming people into killer automatons. Survival is the measure of all in this original cinematic puzzle platformer coming exclusively to XBLA. Deadlight is the frightening odyssey of an ordinary man fighting extinction like a flame in the desert. Deadlight promises to be anything but your usual zombie title. [XBLA Exclusive]

More details on Deadlight |

Dragon’s Dogma

Dragon’s Dogma is a massive open world action-RPG developed by Capcom inhouse. It’s is said to be the biggest and most expensive games ever produced by the studio and hopefully the start of a promising new franchise. It’s easily one of the most ambitious looking titles that Capcom has ever made, and with more and more studios simply focusing on stable IP’s it’s nice to see Capcom be one of the few developers willing to take a huge chance on a new title. 

More details on Dragon’s Dogma |

Hybrid

When an alien bacteria infects and takes over half the population of the Earth, the other half aren’t going to go down without a fight. This online multiplayer shooter from 5th Cell depicts the war between the Variant alien-human hybrids and the Paladin, the remaining humans immune to the pathogen. Hybrid is a sci-fi third person shooter with heavy persistent online play. [XBLA Exclusive]

More details on Hybrid |

Sine Mora

Sine Mora is a horizontal shoot ‘em up being co-developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and Digital Reality. Sine Mora will feature “unique time manipulation mechanics”,  and classic shooting influenced by R-Type and Einhänder, and a dieselpunk art style inspired by Battle Garegga, Porco Rosso and Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise. Sine Mora is Latin for “without delay”. [XBLA Exclusive]

More details on Sine Mora |

Class 3

Class3 is an ambitious zombie-survival open world game using the powerful CryENGINE 3. Class3 is the embodiment of the “What if?” zombie apocalypse scenario taken online and if Undead Labs president Jeff Strain’s previous project Guild Wars is any indication of what to expect, then gamers are going to be blown away by what an XBLA title can be. [XBLA Exclusive]

More details on Class 3 |

FEZ

Fez is a puzzle platformer developed by Polytron that uses an awesome 2D perspective shifting mechanic to solve puzzles and complete levels. Retro with a little bit of the new; FEZ is as charming a title as they come. Oh, and it also has a badass soundtrack. [XBLA Exclusive]

More details on FEZ |

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is a multiplayer team-based third-person shooter take on the Resident Evil universe. Set during the events of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, players take on the role as officers of one of two opposing factions: the Umbrella Security Service (U.S.S.) or the U.S. Special Forces, as they battle through the zombie-infested Raccoon City and try and eliminate the infection and survive each other.

More details on Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City |

Crimson Dragon

What was once Project Draco is now Crimson Dragon. This Kinect exclusive XBLA title is as close as old school Panzer Dragoon fans are going to get to a new Panzer title. D irected by Yukio Futatsugi, the man responsible for Phantom Dust and the Panzer Dragoon franchise; Crimson Dragon is a Panzer title in every way but naming. [XBLA Exclusive]