With E3 around the corner, its time to start hyping up games that will be released later this year, and more importantly, what game will be announced game of the year. Right now, Halo 3 is the most hyped game to be coming out. While many people weren't pleased with the beta, I personally was. I know that the graphics weren't final, so I didn't pay attention to that, even though where they are at right now isn't bad. But the area that pleased me most was the gameplay. Halo 3 is like a super-Halo. Its Halo 2 on steroids, but Master Chief doesn't have a tiny penis. It will be a great game. But too bad for Bungie, they are releasing it during a year that could rival 1998 for the best year in video game releases. Lets look at some of the contenders that can, and will knock of Halo 3 for game of the year.

Grand Theft Auto IV This one is really a no-brainer. GTA IV will be a huge release. Finally a GTA game that looks good, plus it will have a great storyline because that is something R* never messes up. Also there will be new gameplay elements. One I'm excited for is climbing up ladders. Sounds easy I know, but think about a chase sequence with the cops. Your running down the alley and cops are chasing you. You see a fire escape and start climbing up it. Cops are shooting at you and bullets are ricocheting all around you. Very intense. This one will knock off Halo 3.

Assassins Creed You may think that I am crazy for having this game on here, but this game has a chance to be amazing. A very good chance to. It may be one of the most original games coming out this year. You play an assassin during the Crusades (for people who don't know history, this was when countries were trying to take over Jerusalem). You are given the task of taking out key figures that are organizing the Crusades. The catchy thing here is that it has been rumored there is something bigger behind the game. Supposedly, the story is about a company that can read people's memory, and also their family's memory. So you could read the memory of your great-grandpa, for example. The idea is that this guy whose memory they are reading is from a family that has had a bunch of assassins in it. So could we see Assassins Creed in the Revolutionary War. I think it would be cool to be an Assassin during the Old West. This one will be a hit.

Mass Effect Once again the boys over at BioWare are making a game that has a scope amazingly big. If you like Star Wars: KoTOR, then you should be looking out for this one. You play as Commander Shepard. It has a great sci-fi story with machines destroying humans, probably some monsters here and there, most likely a girl in a bikini at one point. The world of Mass Effect is gignormous though. You have probably 20 planets you can visit at anytime. You drive around on them with your little buggie. It will be a blast.

These three games I think have a great chance of knocking off Halo 3 for game of the year. Personally I am excited the most for Assassins Creed. I have always wanted to play a game during the Crusades, and it has realistic sword fighting. And a horse. If a game has a horse, its amazing. But do you agree or disagree? Do you think other games should be up here? Leave a comment.