Lock's Quest
I've been reading interesting stuff, and watching cool footage, for Lock's Quest since a while back: a two-phase action/strategy game where you first build defenses, and then take part in the battle. Following 5th Cell's Drawn to Life, I was understandably apprehensive toward Lock's Quest; but after trying the downloadable Nintendo Channel demo - despite the intro battle dragging on long enough that I didn't even finish it - I'm pretty much sold. The art is still meh, the sounds are still dull, and the story is still boring, but this time, the gameplay is genuinely intriguing.
EDIT, years later - it's hard for me to get excited about tower defense, anymore. And I have no confidence in this game's non-gameplay elements. No longer anticipating.
Progress: Gave Up -- Played first four days of the demo