Risen 2 picks up where the original left off, and the players step into the shoes of the Nameless Hero again. The main character now wears a eye-patch because of the injury he received during his fight against the Titan in Risen 1. The story is said to start with Commandant Carlos requesting your help with rescuing sailors of a sunken ship. You will meet several characters from the first game (such as Patty), as well as many new ones.

Risen 2: Dark Waters preorder bonus

Pre-order Risen 2: Dark Waters at participating retailers and you will receive the Treasure Isle: a bonus DLC normally worth €10 or 800 Microsoft Points. According to the official website, “the player will embark on an extra story questline to uncover Captain Steelbeard’s legendary treasure – a quest that will continue a plot element from the first Risen game and finally bring it to an exciting conclusion”.

GamesCom trailer

Risen 2: Dark Waters is scheduled to release on April 24th in North America, and April 27th in Europe. The game needs to be activated online through Steam.

Read the original Risen 2: Dark Waters Pre-Order Bonus article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Mass Effect 3, Prototype 2.

The game was a hit among PC gamers due to its captivating storyline and great graphics, although there were some complaints about the combat system and the learning curve. CD Projekt RED has addressed these concerns, making certain parts of the game easier than in the PC version.

The Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition pre-order bonuses

The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings for Xbox 360 and Windows is treated as a separate release in terms of exclusive preorder content. Reserving a copy of the game at one of the following US retailers will get you a single bonus item:

• GameStop: an exclusive Wolf Head Keychain modeled after the Witcher’s medallion.
• Amazon: a Witcher Digital Comic Book which “unravels the secret of the werecat”.
• BestBuy: an exclusive Wolf’s Head T-shirt.

That is not all – like with the PC version’s release last year, CD Projekt is pretty generous when it comes to additional content. Read on to find out what’s included in the standard and premium editions of the game.

Enhanced Edition

Enhanced Edition is the “regular” edition of the game and comes with some nice extra items for the standard $60 price:

• Audio CD
• Quest Handbook
• World Map
• Game Manual

Dark Edition

The collector’s edition of The Witcher 2 for Xbox 360 carries a price tag of $100 and includes the following:

Game intro

An impressive 4-minute CG video gives Xbox gamers a taste of what’s to come:

The Enhanced Edition of The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings will be released on April 17, 2012 for Xbox 360 and PC platforms. Existing owners of the original PC version of the game need not despair – they will get upgraded to TW2: EE completely free of charge.

Read the original The Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition Pre-Order Details article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Mass Effect 3, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning.

Since ME3 is the last part of the series, your choices have a much bigger impact on the story. You can import save data from the previous two games, so the fate of the galaxy depends on your actions throughout the entire trilogy. According to Bioware, one of the endings even has Shepard losing to Reapers, thus dooming all intelligent life to extinction.

List of Mass Effect 3 preorder bonuses

Pre-order Mass Effect 3 at the following retailers to receive exclusive bonuses:

• Gamestop: in-game N7 Warfare Gear – N7 Valkyrie Rifle (accurate and powerful) and N7 Defender Armor (stores extra ammo and provides additional shields).
• Origin: a powerful in-game AT12 Raider Shotgun.
• Amazon and Walmart: both are giving away $10 store credit with the Standard Edition.

In addition, all Mass Effect 3 preorders will get the M55 Argus Rifle: “the high-powered Argus rifle is an excellent close-range weapon, and its rapid bursts of fire conserve ammunition during lengthy conflicts”.

UK gamers can acquire the N7 Warfare Gear pack at GAME, with all other British retailers offering only the aforementioned Argus rifle.

N7 Collector’s Edition

N7 Collector’s Edition costs $79.99 and includes a plethora of physical and digital items:

• Collectible metal case featuring commemorative Commander Shepard artwork.
• 70-page hardbound art book with hundreds of unique illustrations from Bioware’s artists.
• Limited edition Mass Effect comic by Dark Horse Comics with unique cover artwork.
• Exclusive N7 fabric patch.
• Exclusive 4×6 lithographic print featuring a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork.
• A rich collection of in-game content that can’t be found anywhere else:
  • N7 Arsenal Pack: bring the firepower with the N7 Sniper Rifle, Shotgun, SMG, and Pistol.
  • Robotic Dog: a faithful sidekick to keep you company on board the Normandy.
  • Squadmate Alternate Outfit Pack: new appearances for your favorite squad members.
  • N7 Hoodie: for Commander Shepard’s casual days on board the Normandy.
• Mass Effect 3 extended digital soundtrack.
• Xbox Live Normandy prop for your Avatar (available with Xbox 360 versions only).
• A collection of forum and social badges, avatars, and perks.

This edition of Mass Effect 3 is available for pre-order at participating retailers (the official website lists Origin, Gamestop, BestBuy, Amazon, and Walmart) in limited quantities.

N7 Digital Deluxe Edition

Gamers who prefer digital distribution over physical copies, or live in a location where ME3 Collector’s Edition is unavailable, might be interested in the N7 Digital Deluxe Edition. It carries the same price tag ($80) and contains all the in-game content that the N7 Collector’s Edition does, although you will be missing out on all the material goodies.

• 70-page digital art book.
• Digital Mass Effect comic by Dark Horse Comics.
• Digital version of the lithographic print featuring unique artwork.
• The same in-game content as in the Collector’s Edition:
  • N7 Arsenal Pack: includes the N7 Sniper Rifle, Shotgun, SMG, and Pistol.
  • Robotic Dog: a faithful sidekick to keep you company on board the Normandy.
  • Squadmate Alternate Outfit Pack: new appearances for your squad members.
  • N7 Hoodie: for Commander Shepard’s casual days on the Normandy.
• Mass Effect 3 extended digital soundtrack.
• A collection of forum and social badges, avatars, and perks.

Mass Effect 3 Digital Deluxe Edition is available at Origin and Amazon Game Downloads.

Gameplay changes

The gameplay of Mass Effect 3 isn’t drastically different from that of ME2, but rather improves upon it. The combat is faster, the enemies are smarter and coordinate better, and Shepard can move around the battlefield easier. The game is also more challenging – as game producer Casey Hudson put it, “Normal is the new Veteran”.

ME3 offers the players more freedom in customizing their character without going back to the messy inventory system of the first game. This is achieved by means of larger skill trees and bringing back the weapon modifications.

Other notable changes include the return of grenades, class-specific melee attacks capable of one-hit kills, and an overhaul of the tedious mining mini-game from ME2.

Squad Leader trailer

This gameplay trailer previews the combat in Mass Effect 3. Featuring Shepard, Garrus aka the “Calibrations Guy”, and Liara who rejoins your team, versus some Cerberus mercenaries.

Mass Effect 3 is scheduled for release on March 6, 2012 in North America, and March 9 in Europe.

Read the original Mass Effect 3 Pre-order Bonuses article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, The Darkness II, Syndicate.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 features multiple endings and is said to have a darker story than FFXIII. It starts off in New Bodhum, from where Serah and Noel set out on a journey to find Lightning.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 pre-order bonuses

Preorder Final Fantasy XIII-2 at the following retailers to get some extra items.

United States

• Amazon: $10 credit and the Omega boss battle, a unique coliseum battle against boss enemy Omega who will join your party after being defeated.
• BestBuy: Final Fantasy XIII -Episode i- novella, a collectible hardcover book that ties the events of FFXIII and its sequel together.
• Gamestop: an exclusive alternate outfit for Serah, visible during gameplay as well as cutscenes. In addition, PowerUp Rewards members get a Genji Bow which allows Serah to attack more frequently.
• Walmart: $10 credit and an exclusive poster featuring the Battle of Valhalla.

United Kingdom

• Amazon: a downloadable weapon for Noel – Muramasa – with special design and gameplay effects.
• GAME: an exclusive steelbook case, Episode I novella, 3 exclusive art cards, and the following in-game content: Omega boss battle, and alternate outfits for Noel and Serah.

We’ll update this list if more bonuses are announced. Now let’s take a look at the contents of the European and North American special editions:

Collector’s Edition (US)

The Collector’s Edition of Final Fantasy XIII-2 costs $80 and includes the following items (in addition to whatever pre-order bonus the retailer is offering):

• Hardcover slipcase with character illustrations by Yoshitaka Amano
• 20-page concept art book bound into the packacking
• 4-disc OST
• Game manual

According to Square Enix, this edition is available in “limited quantities” at Gamestop, Amazon, and BestBuy.

Limited Collector’s Edition (EU)

Limited Collector’s Edition of Final Fantasy XIII-2 is available at various European retailers. Its contents are as follows:

• Special packaging
• Soundtrack CD with select tracks from the game
• The Art of Final Fantasy XIII-2 artbook
• 6 collectible cards featuring CG artwork of the main characters
• Lenticular art print of Lightning

Most UK retailers have it listed on their websites (with Amazon and GAME also offering additional incentives).

Crystal Edition (EU)

Crystal Edition is a step up from the previous special edition; it includes everything listed under Limited Collector’s Edition, plus the following goodies:

• “Presentation box” package
• 4-disc OST (instead of just 1 in the LCE)
• Exclusive Final Fantasy XIII-2 T-shirt from Square Enix

Square Enix confirmed that this edition has recently sold out (source).

Game trailer

This Final Fantasy XIII-2 trailer from E3 2011 features some awesome CG as well as impressive gameplay sequences:

FFXIII-2 hits the store shelves on January 31st, 2012 in North America, and February 3rd in Europe – or on Tuesday and Friday, respectively, as is customary with most game releases.

Read the original Final Fantasy XIII-2 Pre-order Bonus List article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Mass Effect 3, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Risen 2: Dark Waters.

There are some big names working on this title: Ken Rolston, the lead designer of Morrowind & Oblivion; bestselling fantasy author R.A. Salvatore; and Todd McFarlane, the creator of Spawn comics. Considering all this talent and the promises of a complex RPG system, deep storyline, and engaging combat, Reckoning is definitely something RPG fans should take note of.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning pre-order bonus items

Preorder Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning at participating retailers to receive one or more of the following DLCs:

• Destinies Choice Pack: offers a unique Twist of Fate card to enhance the beginning of your gameplay experience, the Compass of Fate, and three unique armor sets. Each armor set is tailored to a specific class which players will define and redefine during their time in Amalur.
• Fate-Touched Weapons Pack: enter battle as fully prepared as ever with 9 rare Fate-Touched weapons: a longbow, hammer, staff, faeblades, daggers, scepter, chakrams, longsword, and greatsword. The weapons will help satisfy every player’s combat style with Reckoning’s on-the-fly weapon swapping in combat to take down even the most dreadful of foes.
• Ultimate Treasure Hunter Pack: for treasure hunters who will dive into every nook and cranny in the world of Amalur, the Dowsing Rod will seek out all reagents for concocting potions on your in-game map. A worthy companion tool for any adventurer, it will help players get the most out of their alchemy skill.

Where to buy

United States

• Amazon: exclusive Ultimate Treasure Hunter Pack, and Fate-Touched Weapons Pack.
• Gamestop: exclusive Destinies Choice Pack, and Fate-Touched Weapons Pack.
• Origin: Fate-Touched Weapons Pack.

United Kingdom

• Play.com: Destinies Choice Pack.
• TheHut: Ultimate Treasure Hunter Pack.
• GAME: Fate-Touched Weapons Pack.

Special editions

Three different premium editions of Reckoning are offered on the official website: the $80 Special Edition, the $200 Collector’s Edition. and the $275 Signature Edition (now sold out). All these packages are available in limited quantities and in the US and Canada only.

Gallery

E3 2011 trailer

KoA: Reckoning is scheduled to release in February 2012. According to 38 Studios, an MMO based on the same universe is planned after the launch of their single-player RPG.

Read the original Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Pre-order Bonuses article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Mass Effect 3, Risen 2: Dark Waters, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City.

Speaking of characters, the game will have three playable ones. First off is Grant Alexander, an American college student and football player who was indifferent to the human / mutant conflict until he awakened his own powers. The second is Aimi Yoshida, a Japanese teenager whose parents sent her to San Francisco to save her from incarceration in a mutant camp. Finally, there’s Adrian Luca, a member of the Purifiers (an anti-mutant organization) who was trained to hate mutants before discovering that he is one himself.

X-Men fans might be disappointed to not be able to play their favorite characters from the franchise. However, lots of them will make an appearance in the game (even though they won’t be playable), and you will also be able to equip some of their powers using the X-gene system.

X-Men Destiny pre-order bonuses

Preordering the game at certain retailers will get you some neat costumes and extra powers for your characters. The bonuses are for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions only.

GameStop: exclusive Havok Costumes for each character, and Havok’s X-gene powers which include plasma damage, ability for projectiles to pass through characters, increased resistance and boosted mutant power.

Amazon: early unlock of Emma Frost Suits and powers, as well as $10 promotional credit.

BestBuy: exclusive Juggernaut Costumes and bonus stats once you find the Juggernaut X-gene in the game:

X-Men Destiny game trailer

A preview of the game that was shown at San Diego Comic-Con 2011, focused on the choices you can make in X-Men Destiny.

The game hits the stores on September 27 in the US, and September 30 in Europe.

Read the original X-Men Destiny Preorder Costumes article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Risen 2: Dark Waters, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Mass Effect 3.

The game will offer three protagonists to choose from: Eradan, a human archer; Andriel, a female elf with magic powers; and Farin, a stout dwarf warrior. War in the North will have a single-player and a co-op mode for up to 3 players, and it will support local co-op (split screen) for 2 players as well. Furthermore, you will be able to call the Great Eagle, Beleram, to aid you in battle – however, it won’t be controllable like the other three characters.

Lord of the Rings: War in the North pre-order bonuses

There’s a variety of different bonuses available; as usual, they depend on which retailer you place your LotR: War in the North preorder with:

• Amazon: $20 promotional credit and an in-game Orc Champion Sword that increases the maximum health of your characters.
• GameStop: Osgiliath challenge map, and an exclusive Human Pack with a 2-handed Forochel Frost Sword which adds ice damage, and a full 6-piece Arthedain Guard’s Armor set which adds bonus Dexterity, Power, and increased EXP gain.
• BestBuy: Lothlórien Challenge map, and an Elf Theme Pack which includes a mystical Elven sword, armor and helmet.
• Target: three exclusive tracks from the soundtrack of War in the North.
• Walmart: an exclusive Dwarf Theme Pack with a dwarf sword, armor and helmet.

The challenge maps offered by GameStop and BestBuy seem the most interesting; or, you could save $20 by ordering the game from Amazon.

Collector’s Edition

The Collector’s Edition of the upcoming Lord of the Rings: War in the North action RPG carries a SRP (suggested retail price) of $129.99 and includes a number of extra goodies. The following physical items are part of the package:

• Ranger of the North Quiver Case
• War in the North art book featuring concept art of key characters in the game, various enemies and beautiful environments of the Middle-earth
• Inside Look: The Music of War in the North – content includes: interviews and footage of legendary composer Inon Zur at Abbey Road Studios and the E3 2011 Concert event, along with three tracks from the game soundtrack

Collector’s Edition also includes a digital bonus, namely, the Ranger of the North Avatar for Xbox Live (consists of a Ranger armor set, helmet, quiver and bow).

Game trailer

The following video introduces the three playable characters in LotR: War in the North.

The game was originally supposed to come out in August, but it has been delayed until November 1st. You can get the latest updates by following @warinthenorth on Twitter.

Read the original Lord of the Rings: War in the North Pre-Order article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Mass Effect 3, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Risen 2: Dark Waters.

Dead Island is going to offer four named playable characters, each with their own skill tree and upgradeable abilities. Performing an action – such as swinging a weapon or sprinting – will consume stamina, which is regenerated as you rest. The game will have a large number of ranged and melee weapons, many of which you will be able to modify and improve. These customizations will range from hammering a few nails into a baseball bat for increased damage, to more complex weapon mods.

Dead Island preorder bonuses

The following retailers are offering incentives to gamers who pre-order Dead Island before the launch. We’ll update the list if any other bonuses become available.

United States:

• Gamestop: exclusive Limited Edition of Dead Island which includes Bloodbath Arena DLC ($10 value) and the Ripper weapon. Bloodbath Arena offers single and multiplayer challenges in four different arenas, fighting waves of increasingly stronger zombies. The Ripper is a baseball bat and buzz saw combination, and the blueprint needed to craft it will only be available to players who pre-order this edition of the game.
• Amazon: exclusive Digital Art Book with concept art of game characters, enemies and the island itself.

United Kingdom:

• GAME: exclusive Special Edition which includes the aforementioned Bloodbath Arena and the Ripper.
• Amazon: Bloodbath Arena DLC.

Australia:

• EB Games: exclusive Collector’s Edition which includes the Bloodbath Arena and Ripper DLCs, as well as a Turtle Beach X11 headset. It comes with a slightly higher price than the regular edition, however.
• GAME: a “Dead Island Preorder Pack” which includes Bloodbath Arena, unique packshot artwork, and an AFTERGLOW controller.

Digital download:

• Direct2Drive: Bloodbath Arena DLC.
• GamersGate: Bloodbath Arena, discount when buying 4 copies of the game.
• Steam: Bloodbath Arena and the Ripper.

Dead Island trailer

This is the famous Dead Island CG trailer that impressed so many gamers a few months ago. It has no gameplay footage, and most people probably enjoyed its artsy and emotional aspects.

Dead Island is developed by a relatively unknown Polish game studio, Techland. Its release date is set for September 6th in the US and September 9th in PAL territories.

Read the original Dead Island Pre-Order article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Risen 2: Dark Waters, Mass Effect 3, The Darkness II.

The game will take place 200 years after the events of Oblivion. Like in TES IV, players will start out in a prison, sentenced to execution for crossing the border. After escaping, they will learn that the dragons are coming back, and that the only person they fear is Dovahkiin, the Dragonborn.

TES V: Skyrim is going to use a brand new Creation Engine that will offer unprecedented graphics, improved AI, and side quests that are dynamically generated based on your character’s actions. The gameplay and combat system will also be improved. For example, you’ll be able to equip a spell or a weapon in each hand, allowing you to dual wield weapons and magic. Another new feature is Dragon Shouts – extremely powerful spells that can be obtained by defeating dragons and absorbing their souls.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim pre-order bonuses

Gamers who pre-order Skyrim will receive a premium-quality map of the game world. According to Bethesda Blog, it’s made from “a high-grade material that has a feel similar to burlap”. Customers who buy the game after the release will get a regular paper map instead.

Here are some of the stores where you can preorder Skyrim and get the cloth map bonus. Skyrim fans will be happy to learn that there won’t be retailer-specific DLCs for the game – although some stores are offering additional bonuses (see below):

Skyrim will also be available in a limited Collector’s Edition.

Collector’s Edition

The Collector’s Edition of Skyrim carries a rather hefty price tag of $150 and includes several physical collectibles. It offers no exclusive DLCs, which is probably for the best. The contents of Skyrim CE, as announced on BethBlog, are as follows:

• A 12″ tall statue of dragon Alduin, the World Eater, created using the actual 3D models from the game. The statue is made from high-quality PVC material, and produced in conjunction with the IP Factory. Alduin stands perched on a dragon wall, an object that will teach you the language of dragons in the upcoming game.
• A hardbound Art of Skyrim book with over 200 pages of full-color illustrations featuring the characters, creatures, weapons, and places from the game. This massive coffee table book measures 9 3/8″ x 12 1/8″ and includes commentary from Bethesda artists.
• Making-of DVD which contains lots of behind-the-scenes footage from making of the game, various interviews with Bethesda Game Studios team, and extra insights into the story, gameplay and legacy of the Elder Scrolls franchise.

According to Bethesda, the Collector’s Edition “will be available in extremely limited quantities”. We don’t know how many copies will be released, but it might be wise to preorder it in any case.

Gameplay demo

Most people have probably already watched the official trailer, so check out the preview of Skyrim gameplay from this year’s E3 expo instead. You get to see the highly detailed environments, 3D inventory, dual wielding, Guardian Stones, and other interesting features from the upcoming game. Todd Howard, the game director of Skyrim, also answers a number of questions about TES5.

Skyrim will be released on the beautifully symmetric date of 11/11/11. You can get the latest news on the game by following @ElderScrolls on Twitter or visiting the official website.

Read the original Skyrim Pre-Order Bonus article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Mass Effect 3, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Risen 2: Dark Waters.

• Oblivion GotY edition (comes with both Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles expansions)
• A full-color map of Cyrodiil and the Shivering Isles (from the Collector’s Edition)
• A bonus making-of DVD (from the CE as well) with added Skyrim trailer
• A $10 discount coupon for Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (coming out 11/11/11) – probably the best part of the package, and according to NitroBeard.com, it’s redeemable at any retailer in the US.

Word is, only 200,000 copies of Oblivion 5th Anniversary Edition will be available, so it might be wise to pre-order it before the launch. This edition of the game will only cost $30 and is currently available for preorder online at Gamestop, Overstock and Amazon.

Read the original Oblivion 5th Anniversary Edition with $10 off Skyrim article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Mass Effect 3, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Risen 2: Dark Waters.