Targeted for release in early spring, “The Passing” takes place just after the Dead Center campaign of L4D2. Set in a small town in rural Georgia, players assume the role of the L4D2 Survivors as they meet with the L4D1 characters.
 

In addition to the new co-operative campaign and associated narrative, “The Passing” will include new arenas for Survival, Versus and Scavenge mode and introduce a new co-operative challenge mode of play. The Passing will also include a new “uncommon common” zombie class, melee weapon, and firearm.
 
With the AI Director 2.0, L4D’s dynamic gameplay is taken to the next level by giving the Director the ability to procedurally change weather effects, world objects, and pathways in addition to tailoring the enemy population, effects, and sounds to match the players’ performance. The result is a unique game session custom fitted to provide a satisfying and uniquely challenging experience each time the game is played.
 

“The Passing will become the most important campaign in the Left 4 Dead story, as all the Survivors are being called together in one campaign,” said Doug Lombardi, VP of marketing at Valve. “It will also be a huge offering of new gameplay content, with something new for every game mode plus a new uncommon common and weaponry.”
 

Exclusively available for the Xbox 360 and PC, L4D2 sets a new benchmark for co-operative action games. The title adds melee combat to enable deeper co-operative gameplay, with items such as a chainsaws, frying pans, axes, baseball bats, and more. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.
 

So far 2009 wasn’t the best year for gamers, but in the coming few months many EPIC titles will be released, and here are our most anticipated 5 games yet to come in 2009:

 
 
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

 
The direct sequel of COD 4, one of the best selling shooters of all time, here comes the most anticipated game in 2009. Even though the game will feature a brief single player campaign, multiplayer is what Call of Duty is all about.
 
 
The game will have a new co-op mode “Special Ops” that supports up to two players online or locally in split-screen. The competitive online multiplayer will have the same rank up system of COD 4, with few more features, new weapons, upgradable perks, 15 kill streak rewards and THANK GOD an “in game host migration” which means that even if the damn host leaves the game, players will remain.
 
 
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

 
One more reason to buy a PS3,as if we need one, Uncharted 2 takes off a couple of years after the events of Uncharted: Drake’s fortune, the game will show a “darker” side of Nathan.
 
With Naughty Dog’s new game engine players will experience a whole new level of gameplay mechanics, and stunning graphical technology (the game will use between 90-100% of the PS3 cell processor).
 
Also the game will feature a co-op mode that will allow up to three players to play as Nathan, Sully and Chloe and a competitive multiplayer mode that allows a maximum of ten players to play through different modes.
 
 
Halo 3: ODST

 
I know we had it with Microsoft “milking” the Halo franchise, but so far this game looks amazing. This time around the player will take control of an ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper) soldier “The Rookie”, a few years before the events of Halo 3.

For the first time in an open world Halo game, the player can approach missions anyway he wants. You can choose to be patient and use stealth, or you can just start shooting everyone, but be careful, because you’re not “Master Chief” which means no health regeneration, no advanced armor and less strength.
 
The game will also have the same Halo 3 multiplayer with 24 maps (all map packs + 3 new maps), and will include a new Firefight mode *cough*horde mode*cough* which will allow up to 4 players to team against waves of enemies.

I think gamers will fall in love with the multiplayer mode, but there is a big question here: will the campaign mode meet the expectations of the fans of the series?
 
 
Assassin’s Creed II

 
The first AC was a real great game that felt short in a few aspects, such as the lack of variety, weapons and yeah “the best assassin in the world” couldn’t swim!

So far AC 2 seems too good to be true!! Impressive graphics and physics, gameplay seems flawless and varied, lots of upgradable weapons and this time you will play as Ezio, who is way more badass than Altair. Ubisoft Montreal has done a great job listening to fans, know you can swim, fly, buy a lot of different upgradable weapons, use enemy weapons and no cover is safe anymore.
 
 
Left 4 Dead 2

 
Left 4 Dead is one of those games that you can’t really like and understand the gameplay until you try it, seriously when the game first came out, I couldn’t care less about it, I just didn’t think it was that good! But after playing the game with a few friends, I discovered I was missing a lot.

L4D 2 will use the same engine (source engine) used in L4d. Four new survivors will shoot their way through hordes of different zombie types in 5 new larger maps that will be playable in co-op, versus, survival and an all new multiplayer mode.

The first game was one of the best co-op experiences of all time, and with the addition of over 20 new weapons (such as the chainsaw, axe and frying pan!!), new ammo types, new infected zombie types and a new A.I director. Even though the L4D was just released less than a year ago I think Valve’s additions will double the fun.
 
 
 

Honorable Mention:
Dragon Age: Origins, Borderlands, Brutal Legend, Demon’s Souls, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, Forza Motorsport 3, FIFA Soccer 10, Tekken 6