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.

According to game producer Tomm Hulett, SH: Downpour takes place to the south-east of Toluca lake, a region that wasn’t explored in the previous Silent Hill titles. Unlike the previous installment, the game has a combat element, although Murphy is only be able to carry a single firearm and melee weapon. The weapons also deteriorate with usage.

Similarly to the previous installments, the game features multiple endings and involves puzzles, monster fights, and exploration. It’s also worth mentioning that Downpour is the first Silent Hill game to support stereoscopic 3D.

List of preorder bonuses

Pre-order Silent Hill: Downpour before March 13, 2012 at one of the following retailers to get exclusive in-game weapons:

• Amazon: $10 credit and two exclusive weapons, a .45 Pistol and a Baseball Bat.
• Gamestop: two bonus weapons, a Nail Gun and a Double Axe.

A nailgun definitely sounds like lots of fun, but saving $10 on a new game is always nice, too.

E3 2011 trailer

The trailer shows the bus crash that leaves the survivors stranded in the woods near Silent Hill:

Silent Hill: Downpour will hit the store shelves on March 13 this year. You can find out more about the game by visiting the official website.

Read the original Silent Hill: Downpour Pre-Order Bonuses article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: The Darkness II, Max Payne 3, Street Fighter X Tekken.

Volunteering for a Red Zone patrol, Heller barely survives an ambush which leaves his entire squad dead. Alex Mercer saves the man by infecting him with the Blacklight virus, and Heller soon develops incredible powers not unlike those of Mercer himself. Blaming Mercer for the death of his family, an enraged Sgt. Heller sets out to destroy him, and everyone else who stands in his way.

Prototype 2 preorder bonuses

Pre-ordering Prototope 2 for Xbox 360 or PS3 at Gamestop will get you a “Bio-Bomb Butt Kicker” ability which involves Heller turning an opponent into a bomb, and kicking it into a group of enemies for collateral damage. You can see this vicious move in action below:

It’s worth mentioning that this is a purely cosmetic addition, since all players will be able to make Bio-Bombs and throw them (rather than kick) across the map. The “Bio-Bomb Butt Kicker” is a preorder-exclusive DLC until June 12, 2012, when it becomes available to everyone.

BestBuy, on the other hand, is offering a “Hardened Steel Vehicle Armor” DLC. Any military vehicle that Heller enters will gain a huge defensive boost, protecting you against even the most devastating attacks by enemy soldiers, helicopters, tanks, and APCs. Watch the promo trailer for this bonus below:

In addition, you will also get a limited edition Prototype 2 poster (available while supplies last).

Furthermore, pre-ordering at any of the participating retailers will give you access to RADNET, an online content delivery system that provides you with a “mix of over 55 pieces of additional content including Events, friend vs. friend competitive score Challenges and weekly themed Rewards” for free. RADNET will be available in limited quantities after the launch as well. A FAQ explaining this service can be found on the official website.

Prototype 2 is set to release on April 24th, 2012 in the US, and three days later in Europe.

Read the original Prototype 2 Pre-order Bonus article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Risen 2: Dark Waters, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, The Darkness II.

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.

SCV makes numerous changes to the gameplay compared to the previous installment, such as replacing the Soul Gauge with a new Critical Gauge that needs to be charged up, and can be used to perform powerful Critical Edge attacks. Guard Impacts also work differently, and block attacks regardless of their height. New in Soul Calibur V is the Quick Step mechanic, which allows you to sidestep and dodge vertical attacks.

Soul Calibur V pre-order bonuses

Preorder SoulCalibur V at one of the following US retailers to get some neat bonuses:

• Gamestop: exclusive Ivy Bobble Budd figure.
• BestBuy: exclusive playable Lord Geo Dampierre character.
• Amazon and Walmart: $10 store credit.

Gamers in the UK can get Dampierre by pre-ordering at Play, TheHut, and GAME.

Collector’s Edition

SoulCalibur V Collector’s Edition retails for $79.99 and contains the following items:

• Exclusive book box packaging
• Hardcover art book featuring artwork from Soul Calibur V
• Making-of videos
• Original Soundtrack CD
• White Knight and Black Knight armor set DLC for the Character Creation Mode

European CE of Soul Calibur 5 is very similar, but it does include two extra items.

Gamescom 2011 trailer

A preview of the game, as shown at the Gamescom 2011 convention.

Soul Calibur V is scheduled to release on January 31st in the US, and February 3rd in Europe.

Read the original Soul Calibur V Pre-order Info article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: UFC Undisputed 3, Street Fighter X Tekken, SSX.

According to EA, FIFA Street 4 offers twice as many tricks as FIFA 12 does, and introduces a new Street Ball Control system. The game features a large number of world’s best soccer players, and 35 diverse locations to play in. Speaking of players and locations, preordering the game will get you some additional ones.

FIFA Street preorder bonus

Pre-order FIFA Street 4 at participating retailers to get the following bonuses:

• Adidas All-Star Team: includes 12 top soccer players in the world, plus Lionel Messi.
• Leo Messi’s Barcelona Venue: play in a location inspired by Plaça de Catalunya, the square at the center of the city.

We’ve seen this bonus content mentioned at Gamestop and Amazon websites so far. It’s possible that other retailers are going to offer it as well, so watch this space for updates.

FIFA Street 4 is scheduled to be released in March 2012. You can find out more about the game on the official website, as well as by following @EASPORTSFIFA on Twitter.

Read the original FIFA Street Pre-order Bonuses article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: UFC Undisputed 3, SSX, Asura's Wrath.

Ninja Gaiden games are known for being notoriously difficult, but NG3 features a new Hero mode which allows more casual players to sail through the game thanks to automatic blocking and evading. Hardcore gamers needn’t worry, however – there’s still the “Master Ninja” mode for those who enjoy a challenge.

Another interesting addition to NG3 is the online multiplayer. It includes both competitive (4 vs 4 Team Deathmatch and Battle Royale) as well as co-op modes.

Ninja Gaiden 3 pre-order bonuses

Pre-order NG3 at one of the following retailers to receive a downloadable 2 character stage demo of the upcoming Dead or Alive 5 from Team Ninja:

• Amazon: Dead or Alive 5 demo with Ayane and Hayate.
• Gamestop: Dead or Alive 5 demo with Ryu Hayabusa and Hitomi.

Collector’s Edition

NG3 is also available in a deluxe Collector’s Edition which contains the following:

• Unique “Duel of the Masked” figure.
• Exclusive NG3 art book, “Unmask”.
• Soundtrack CD.
• Access to all four characters in the Dead or Alive 5 demo bundled with the game (Ayane, Hayate, Hitomi, and Ryu).

The Collector’s Edition of Ninja Gaiden 3 retails for $99.99 and can be found exclusively at Gamestop and EB Games.

Grip of the Murder trailer

This trailer shows the main antagonist of NG3, Regent of the Mask, placing a curse on Ryu’s right arm.

Ninja Gaiden III launches on March 20, 2012 for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Wii U platforms.

Read the original Ninja Gaiden 3 Pre-order Details article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Asura's Wrath, Prototype 2, SSX.

The player steps into the shoes of an Umbrella Security Service officer, tasked with destroying any evidence of Umbrella Corporation’s illegal research. The game is said to allow the player to diverge from Resident Evil canon, such as killing Leon or Clair.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City pits the player against survivors of the T-Virus outbreak, zombies and other mutated enemies, and the U.S. Special Ops who aim to expose Umbrella’s crimes. Besides the single-player campaign, the game also offers several competitive multiplayer modes.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon pre-order bonuses

Preorder Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon at any of the following three retailers to get alternate costumes for the six playable characters (Vector, Lupo, Bertha, Spectre, Four Eyes, and Beltway). In addition, each retailer is also offering exclusive in-game weapons:

• Amazon: Renegade Pack which includes the Machine Pistol and the Cowboy Shotgun.
• Gamestop: Power Weapon Pack with the Anti-Material Rifle and the Combat Shotgun.
• BestBuy: Elite Weapons Pack which contains the Perforator and the Combat SMG.

The same in-game weapons are also available at the following UK retailers:

• Amazon: Renegade Gun Pack (Machine Pistol and Cowboy Shotgun).
• GAME: Power Weapons Pack (Anti-Material Devastator Rifle and Combat Shotgun).

Fans looking for even more extra content should consider the Limited Edition.

Limited Edition contents

RE:ORC is also available in a Limited Edition which retails for $69.99 and includes the following items:

• SteelBook package with exclusive art
• Umbrella Security Service and U.S. Spec Ops Field Unit embroidered patches
• All bonus weapons, 8 in total

Naturally, if you pre-order the Limited Edition of Operation Raccoon City you will also get the same 6 alternate costumes as with the Standard Edition. This bundle isn’t exclusive to any one retailer, and can be found on Amazon, Gamestop, Walmart, and so on.

Triple Impact trailer

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City will be released for consoles on March 20, 2012 in North America, and March 23 in Europe. PC version will be released at a later date.

Read the original Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City Pre-order article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Mass Effect 3, The Darkness II, Syndicate.

Street Fighter X Tekken is essentially a 2 vs. 2 tag-team fighter that plays similarly to other SF games. It features elements from the previous Street Fighter titles, such as Super Combos and EX Attacks, and uses the familiar 6-button control scheme. Tekken characters, however, can perform combos using Tekken’s 4 button layout.

SFxT introduces a new “Gem System” which lets you equip up to 5 Gems and use them in battles. Activating a Gem grants you various power-ups, such as increased attack, speed, defense, and so on. Preorder the game at participating retailers to get bonus Gem Packs.

Street Fighter X Tekken pre-order bonuses

The following retailers are offering different Gem Packs for SFxT pre-orders:

• Amazon: Iron Curtain Gem Pack which boosts you Defense abilities (9 yellow Gems).
• Gamestop: World Warrior Gem Pack for increasing your Attack (9 red Gems).
• BestBuy: Lightning Legs Gem Pack which boosts your Speed (9 green Gems).

Scroll down to the trailer for a more detailed explanation on how Gems work in SFxT.

Special Edition

Street Fighter X Tekken is also available in a Special Edition which retails for $69.99 and includes the following content:

• Special Edition artwork
• Prequel comic book from UDON Comics
• Build-it-Yourself Arcade Bank (5″H): an easy-to-assemble model that represents old-school arcade cabinets. Store your quarters (and more) for your next challenger.
• 36 Gem power-ups:
  • All three Gem Packs listed as Standard Edition pre-order bonuses (Iron Curtain, World Warrior, Lightning Legs).
  • Special Edition-exclusive King of Iron Fist Gem Pack which boosts your Balance.
• Pre-order bonus: Cross Arts Gem Pack that helps you fill your C. Gauge faster.

That’s right, pre-ordering the Special Edition gets you yet another Gem Pack. SFxT SE with the additional Cross Gauge Gems can be found at Amazon, Gamestop, and BestBuy.

Game trailer

This 5-minute-long video explains the new Gem System as well as game concepts like Launchers, Cross Counters, Switch Cancel, Super Arts, and so on.

Street Fighter X Tekken launches on March 6, 2012 in the United States, and March 9 in Europe. It will be available on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 consoles, Windows, and the upcoming PS Vita handheld.

Read the original Street Fighter X Tekken Pre-order Details article on Game-Preorders.com.

More upcoming games: Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, The Darkness II, Max Payne 3.