Konami’s upcoming lineup definitely left an impression. I’ve had the pleasure of trying out three of their most highly anticipated titles of Q4 2011. From demon hunting jigsaws, a tired return to an all familiar town, and getting my stealth on with the 3DS, the lineup certainly conjures the stimulus spectrum on varying levels.

So what do I think?

NeverDead

This title was a real treat. After watching the big screen trailer, I just had to give this baby a shot. Set in a world of technology and the paranormal, you play as Bryce, a man who witnesses the murder of his wife and, in turn, is cursed by the ‘Demon Eye’, granting him immortality. Finding work as a demon hunter for hire, Bryce sets off on a mission to trace the footsteps of his wife’s demonic killer for vengeance. This may be the usual story seen in many games, and Bryce may be the typical bad ass with a cynical outlook on life, but there’s some unique benefits to being immortal other than the stereotypical longevity: dismembering yourself for the win.

Hell hounds mucking up the territory? Play fetch by ripping off your own arms, however, you can detonate the limb once the beasts sink their teeth in. Would you like to see what’s down a narrow shaft? Rip off your own head and roll it down there to get a view. Of course, as a demon hunter, Bryce comes with the usual assortment of guns and broadswords.

So how exactly can an immortal fail at missions? One way would be if your mortal partner, Arcadia, falls in battle and fails to be revived. Once she bites the dust, that’s it, game over. Another way is if your wayward head is digested by a demon. Bryce can regenerate any given limb, but if he loses his head, he loses period. Therefore, while it’s amusing to roll your noggin around, it’s best to have it rejoined with the other body parts, before things get too hectic. If you’re blown to pieces, your head is the body part that you’ll always control and you’ll have to work it Katamari style in order to put yourself back together again.

NeverDead, will feature epic cinematics, a tale drenched in dark comedy, and a soundtrack from Megadeth. Be sure to look forward to its release on PS3 and Xbox 360 this winter. I know I will.

Silent Hill: Downpour

Prior to this year’s E3, Silent Hill fans have become divided in speculating how Downpour might perform – the preview pics seem to exude a completely different game from the SH universe; a scenery that is reminiscent of Lynch’s Twin Peaks. In other words, there doesn’t seem to be any noticeable fear factor.

As we’ve already seen, you play as a convict who is the lone survivor of a derailed prison transport, and he winds up waking in none other than Silent Hill. The demo packs the usual intro where you’re surrounded in the odd fog and the way out of town is cut off from the rest of the world. Either it’s because we’ve seen this before way too many times, or it’s the fact that the first battle doesn’t occur (until after you solve a time consuming puzzle), but there really seems to be a lack of preliminary anxiety.

With the headset firmly wrapped over my dome, the only sounds that try (too hard) to give off creepy vibes would be the squawking of crows, plus the traditional use of ambient sounds seem to have softened greatly. So instead of a soundtrack that sets you up for panic, it’s as if you’re playing to the simple sounds of the detective genre.

When I spoke with one of the crew, I was advised that the game had to be played in the dark in order to bring out the full effect. We’ve been told this ever since SH1, but the past installments have been so masterful in mood and visuals, you could still get creeped out when you’re playing in the day. However, it would appear thus far that the worn out advice of lights out will apply more to this title. As I’m sure that the full version will have moments of fright, those who may not like scary games, but are interested to learn about the SH universe, might find this title to provide that much needed ease into the franchise. Downpour’s release is set for October 2011.

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D

Porting the game to the 3DS was an ingenius choice on Konami’s part indeed. With the split screen, you can observe the 3D action at the top while using the bottom for the map screen as well as reviewing your items and settings. While it was only a demo, meaning Snake would not obtain the needed tools to track enemy movements, knowing that this will be provided in the bottom screen is a true delight in adding convenience to stealth.

At first, I was skeptic as to how the port might perform but the controls erased all doubts. You move with the circle pad while changing your stances and weapons via directional pad. The four buttons are used to control the camera and given the diamond layout it’s as straightforward as can be. The trigger buttons are for utilizing your weapons and along with the four face buttons, the action provides little room for awkwardness.

The 3DS port is slated for a winter release, 2011.