Editor’s Note: Part eight now of our twenty-five most anticipated games of 2012. After culminating a comprehensive list of the confirmed games for next year, the MediaKick team voted on the games they are most looking forward to for next year, and after processing the results through a methodical algorithm we’re here to bring you the results. Taking a closer look at both what we know so far and why the team are excited for each game, we’ll have an article at midday everyday until Christmas – when we’ll reveal our most anticipated game of 2012. Be sure to check out the previous games so far if you haven’t already - #25, #24, #23, #22, #21, #20, #19.

Prototype 2 was announced at the VGAs last year to a positive response by media and gamers alike thanks to the originals exciting introduction in the open-world genre – having seen players take control of Alex Mercer, a former Gentek employee with no recollection of his past. The announcement trailer showed that we could be playing the part of the villain but also showed off some of the great gameplay that was brought into the title by Radical Entertainment.

Mercer’s amnesia brought in one of the game’s core gameplay mechanics, consuming, which allowed him to gain his target’s memories. Combined with the destructive yet fun gameplay, it helped bring in an engaging storyline to what could have been a mindless hack and slash title. Prototype was released a month after inFamous, another supernatural open-world title, and reviewers drew comparisons between them despite the two being very different. inFamous was a slow, precise game whereas Prototype was fast, brutal and, most importantly, incredibly fun – except for its tough ending; something that fellow writer Igor agrees with.

“The original Prototype won well deserved respect as an entertaining and engaging open-world adventure,” said Igor. “Carnage and destruction was the aim of the game and as long as Prototype 2 delivers more of the same action-packed mayhem with another intriguing story, I will be one happy gamer.”

With Mercer infecting Blackwatch soldier James Heller, we are placed in the shoes of the Sergeant for the sequel and, with his mutated infection, he plans to exact revenge against the man who condemned him to his outlaw life. With a newly introduced ‘tendril’ gameplay, we’ve been promised a combat system more akin to a lovechild of Prototype and Spider-Man allowing Heller to string up enemies, reaching into the game’s environment and throwing objects.  Radical has also a more emotional story, as seen in the Homecoming trailer, and a more meaningful upgrade system. Prototype 2 looks to be one of the finest open-world games of 2012 as it improves over the originals satisfying combat and traversal system, a statement that our Editor Davs concurs.

“Though it had some quite glaring faults, Prototype was an enjoyable title, one that probably would’ve done better if it wasn’t released so close to InFamous,” noted Davs. “The potential was there and from the trailers we’ve seen so far (all of which are specifically noted to be ‘pre-alpha’) look very promising. It’ll all depend on whether it can shake off the horribly repetitive aspects of its predecessor, but Prototype 2 should certainly be given your attention.”

With the release day just under five months away, Activision has already started hyping the title up with a series of developer diaries explaining the game’s plot, combat system and the game’s world, New York Zero. We’ve also been given a timeline of Blackwatch, the Blacklight virus and the story leading up to the sequel. Prototype already has a solid following and it looks to gain more next year as it looks to take the crown of 2012’s Best Open-World Title despite competition from Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V. Prototype 2 is due out April 27, 2012 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.