My Late E3 2017 Highlights!

So another E3 has come and gone and I am again feeling hollow, but hey at least its time to talk about the games and the convention on a whole. Unlike the last two years I’m currently on holiday so I had to catch all the E3 material erratically as I went out to eat and celebrate birthdays, so that’s why my thoughts are on the late side. But I couldn’t leave this blog without doing so form of wrap-up mini discussion so here we go!

The Press Conferences

Unlike last year I didn’t get to see all of the main press conferences live, Microsoft and Sony’s conferences I had to watch a good few hours after their main announcements while Ubisoft and Nintendo’s I got to check out on time. As for the press conferences I liked what Microsoft brought in terms of their game selection, but I wouldn’t say it was anything mind-blowing, plus the fact that the Xbox Scorpio just ended up being the Xbox One X felt like such a lazy name. With Sony I thought there were certainly some cool highlights with some of their specific game reveals but it was a far cry from their incredible show from last year, it just felt a little slow and awkward with some of the stuff the presenter was coming out with. Ubisoft was honestly the real surprise, their conference while not mind-blowing, had some solid reveals, moved at a good pace and gave people a bit of what they expected and what they didn’t and think it all worked out well for them. With Nintendo as usual they did their own thing with their digital event and it was solid, most of it was covering games we knew were coming especially for 2017, but their were just a few major surprises that tipped the scales in their favour which I will discuss below. So who won E3? Hard to say because everyone had really cool material, but hardly anything amazing that made one company stand out more than the others, but I feel like Ubisoft and Nintendo did the best with the material they had to offer, but I think that’s just me.

But what’s E3 without talking about the games? While there were some games we’d seen before there were plenty that were new that I hadn’t seen which was great, so now I’m gonna talk about all of my favourites.

Spider-Man PS4

I think the game that really stood out to me was the PS4 Spider-Man game which was unexpected to a degree. Last year when that trailer was revealed I was hyped, and I remember there being a lot of naysayers stating that the game was suing pre-rendered graphics and that the in-game visuals wouldn’t look that good. And yet here we are in 2017 with footage that was just as clean as what we saw last year with seamless transitions between the cut scenes and gameplay and it is pretty frigging awesome. The graphics look super detailed, clean and colourful and the animation with very fluid and slick from the character movements to the all the environmental elements. I like how we got to see a bit of Spidey’s combat, stealth mechanics, web-swinging and the use of quick time events. I like how cinematic the cut scenes are and the combat looks fluid and Spidey’s overall movement feel so kinetic and acrobatic, if this game can keep up this level of quality with a solid story mode, good mission variety and different costumes then I’ll be so happy.

Super Mario Odyssey

I was already obsessed with this game from the first reveal but this just brought the hype to a new level. Having Mario use his magic hat to tak control of so many enemies and objects was pure insanity the first time I watched the trailer. It opens up so many possibilities for the gameplay, exploration and bizarre scenarios. The game just looks mad and I love it, the fact that the game not only looks so gorgeous but also has a lot of gameplay variety and the fact that Mario can wear different suits? Hell yes I’m hyped!

Sonic Mania

This game could almost be my game of E3 thought it had been revealed last July, but I just can’t help it I just really want this game dammit! Haha. Sonic Mania is the 2D Sonic adventure I’ve wanted for years and didn’t know it. The game just looks like a nice balance of the old and new, but with improved art and animation, redesigned levels and brave new ones and absolutely gorgeous music too. The more I’ve seen from the game the more I’ve wanted to shout from the rooftops that this will be the best Sonic game ever, at least that’s what I hope. Each new reveal has gotten me more hyped and with the recent footage of Chemical Plant Zone Acts 1 & 2 and Green Hill Zone Act 2 with the boss battle I’m stupidly hyped now.

Dragon Ball Fighter Z

This game was one of the best surprises from E3 I had no clue this game was a thing until a good few hours after the Microsoft press conference had ended and since then I have watched so much footage and I still can’t get enough. The fact that us fans are getting a DBZ 2D fighting, the first since Burst Limit in 2008 is such a lovely surprise! The game is probably the best-looking and most accurate portrayal of the art style and animation from the original show with such intricate detail that’s gone in the character stances, fighting styles and crazy cinematic special moves, and it is all done the Marvel Vs. Capcom style of gameplay. What’s not to like? The gameplay looks so frantic, fast and intense and I love it, it perfect captures the chaotic nature of the show and I can’t wait to touch this game!

Metroid Prime 4 & Metroid: Samus Returns

This was the defining moment for a lot of people when Nintendo won E3, while watching their Spotlight video I saw their trailer announcement for something and I wasn’t too sure what it was for the first 2 seconds, but as soon as the music dropped I knew it was true and that happiness was coming my way… Frigging Metroid Prime 4! Finally! Thank god! I’m not even hardcore into Metroid but I’ve been waiting for a new game in this series for what seems to be an eternity and finally we know its in development and that was enough to sway me into thinking that Nintendo may have gotten this E3 in the bag. But then after that during the Treehouse stream those crazy people at Nintendo dropped another bomb on us; another frigging Metroid game, in 2D! Damn! Even though the art style was in 3D and this is a remake of the original Game Boy game, just to know we’ll get to play this game makes me so delighted beyond words.

Anthem

This game looks like a lot of fun just for the size and scope of the world alone. Graphically the game looks so beautiful and detailed and I’m curious to learn more and get to play this with friends with the different armour classes. Now normally this kind of game would be my cup of tea but I’m just so intrigued by the world and co-op potential that I’ll have to keep my eye out for it!

Sea of Thieves

It was good to see this game back in action and though like last year it a little cringey due to the narrator trying to deliver jokes that just didn’t land, but otherwise this larger look at the game in regards to swimming underwater and finding treasure underwater, battling enemies on the beach and getting shot out of cannons among other things. It just looks like a lot of fun with the right people.

 

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

This game was the first major surprise of E3 in the sense that a lot of people (me included) thought this game would be a joke that no one would want to buy and yet creatively Ubisoft have taken the core foundation of the Mario games and made something special in a turn-based strategy style that has a lot of potential for creative gameplay. Straight from the trailer and game footage I can tell this will be an intriguing  and hilarious session with the Rabbids.

Other Games Worth Mentioning

Firstly there’s Assassin’s Creed Origins which looks kind of different to what’s come before and I like the setting, The Evil Within 2 had a cool trailer, God of War for PS4 still looks great, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 showed off some interesting gameplay but had some horrible English dubbing, South Park: The Fractured But Whole looked great but it was also awesome to see the reveal of South Park: Phone Destroyer was just as delightful. Monster Hunter World, looked like an interest evolution of the series though I don’t know if the new gameplay elements sit well with me, the Shadow of the Colossus PS4 Remaster looked cool and learning that a new Pokemon RPG was in the works for Nintendo Switch was a nice surprise.

Conclusion

In the end E3 2017 was great experience and while it wasn’t as great as last year it had a lot of great reveals and moments that will last for a while to come. I can’t to not only get my hands on those 2017 games but also touch those games that’s on the horizon for 2018, good gravy I’m gonna be out of money for months! Hopefully you all will join me for the next year’s session as well. 😀

So did you watch E3 this year and if so what games are you excited about? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below and I’ll see ya on the next post, laters! 😀

 

My E3 2016 Highlights!

So another E3 has come and gone and I am sad. To me there’s always a bit of a hollow/melancholy feeling when the biggest convention in gaming ends, that being said at least we have all these awesome gaming experiences to look forward to in the future. I have to say going into this E3 I was interested, but my hype levels weren’t nearly as high as previous years, but my god I was not prepared for all the awesomeness I was going to experience. This year E3 2016 wasn’t playing around, for the most part everyone brought their A-game and it was just a treat to watch. There’s so much that happened that I’m not even sure where to start but hopefully I’ll be able to cover everything that I saw.

The Press Conferences

I skipped EA because I don’t watch their conferences anymore and since I haven’t played any Bethesda games I skipped their show too. So it was down to Microsoft, Sony and Ubisoft, and while Ubisoft impressed me to a degree, it was Microsoft and Sony that really surprised me. Microsoft’s conference was straightforward and full of a lot of games I never knew I wanted, especially with the VR material, and Ubisoft as usual had some memorable moments with Aisha Tyler, the featurette on the Assassin’s Creed film and those colourful dancing people at the beginning of the show. But it was Sony that won E3 for me, their presentation was slick, moved at a swift pace, always showing new games and even had a live orchestra. You don’t get cooler than that.

But what’s E3 without talking about the games? While there were some games we’d seen before there were plenty that were new that I hadn’t seen which was great, so now I’m gonna talk about all of my favourites.

Forza Horizon 3

This was a game I wasn’t expecting to like because you know after you’ve seen one fancy-looking racing game, you’ve seen them all right? However I have to say the Forza series always has me coming back because the advances the developers make in graphics, gameplay, the types of cars, tracks and weather effects. And this game just looks gorgeous, I’m not even that big into racing games and yet I feel like I need tis game in my life.

Sea of Thieves

This was a big surprise for me as I didn’t know I wanted a game like this until I saw it. At first seeing all the people talking while playing the game was super cringey, but as the trailer went on I saw a game that I’d love to dive into and get lost in. Co-op gameplay in the world of pirates? Looks awesome, from the drinking and blurry vision, to sailing across the sea, to engaging in boat combat and having to make repairs once your boat start to sink. Sign me up yo!

Horizon Zero Dawn

I was really impressed when I saw this game revealed at last year’s E3 with the world, main character and robot enemy designs, but this year we got to see more of the world and some specific gameplay and I have to say I’m loving it. This game looks pretty unique in terms of its approach to combat, enemy behaviour and sense style with the art direction and animation which all looking pretty slick.

God of War PS4

This was the game that proved that you can never truly be sure what expect from a new game in a franchise. I’d heard rumours of a God War game for PS4 but I didn’t care, at this point I was over the franchise and didn’t care if it was revealed or not, but as soon as I saw the gameplay trailer I was sold. This game from a graphical standpoint looks great, but it is the way the game is framed with the third-person perspective and more cinematic camera shots that make it feel more intimate. From what we’ve seen here this will be a more story-driven adventure and the whole fact that Kratos is a father, is rocking a sweet beard and is teaching his son to hunt while also trying to keep him safe, that just feels strange considering what has come before in this series, but it is a very welcome addition. Kratos needs some humanizing and a reason for the players to care about him and this looks like a good start.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole

As much as I’d like another season of South Park at the same time, if we’re getting another RPG game from Matt Stone and Trey Parker and Ubisoft, then screw it I can wait for the TV material as Fracture But Whole looks insanely fun. I’m liking the expanding game mechanics and the theme of superheroes being in a South Park game works so well that its ridiculous. The jokes about the current state of superhero genre and the specific references to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phases of film or the whole Marvel vs DC film material was hilarious. I’m looking forward to this game a lot.

Spider-Man PS4

This game came out of nowhere, frigging nowhere. I saw this and I’m like what th fuck!?! Where has this game been hiding? A new Spider-Man game made by Insomniac Games? Gimme! Gimme dammit! The game looks incredibly detailed, versatile in terms of the combat and very over-the-top with the kinetic movement and overall presentation. Most Spidey games have sucked since Spider-Man 2 or at least Shattered Dimensions, if the developers can get the combat, open world and main campaign and mission structure right, then we’ll have the best Spidey game ever. 🙂

Death Stranding

Another game I didn’t expect to see this year. I guess we have no idea what this game is without further information or a gameplay trailer, but so see Hideo Kojima back in the spotlight at E3 and see Norman Reedus was just delightful! I have no clue what this game will entail but I’m as intrigued as hell!

Tekken 7

Now the main reason I’m including this is not because I’m looking forward to the game a great deal, I mean I am, but I’m more interested in the way it was presented. This was Akuma from Street Fighter versus Heihachi from Tekken, I thought at first that this was the Tekken x Street Fighter game fans were promised 6 years ago. It just felt like such a big troll to people who knew about the planned crossover, only for it to be revealed that Akuma had just to be a guest appearance in a new Tekken game, weak. Sorry if I’m a optimistic idiot, but the Street Fighter crossover came out years ago and the Tekken game has yet to be made, I think it’s about time that game came out.

Final Fantasy XV

What can I say bout FFXV that hasn’t been said already? The game looks damn good, very action-packed, with super kinetic combat and large-scale boss fights and most importantly it looks like fun too. I just need September to hurry up so I can grab this game already.

Star Trek: Bridge Crew

Never expected to be interested a VR game, let alone a Star Trek game, however during the Microsoft conference this game stood out and really got me in the mood to step into virtual world of the Enterprise and do some cool Star Trek bridge related activity with some friends. It looks like a very fun, interactive and nostalgic experience and I’m very curious to see more.

Resident Evil 7

I was not expecting this game to be the game that it ended up being once the trailer got to the end, I mean the trailer was very scary, atmospheric and like a real film. The limited view, lighting and lack of sound made me feel so unsettled, and to find out it was a new Resident Evil game? Bloody hell that shocked me, but in the best possible way.

Detroit: Become Human

I liked the trailer for this a lot, it had a great sense of style, art direction and tone, and to see this scenario of an android trying to talk another android from killing a human girl had my attention, but to then be able to play out that scenario several different ways depending on how you approach the situation was what really hooked me. It felt just like Heavy rain when I watched the trailer and my friend told me it was made by Quantic Dream, I was like “That makes so much sense.” I just hope the in-game graphics, story and choices are as captivating as this trailer.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

And finally there’s the game that stole my heart, Zelda Wii U/NX, now dubbed Breath of the Wild. Damn, this game had all nervous going in, I mean I knew it’d be good but I wasn’t expecting to be blown away… How foolish was I? That trailer hit straight away on Nintendo live stream and I was completely taken back by the amount of changes there was the basic Zelda formula. I mean where to start? The looked like a combination of Skyrim, Monster Hunter and Xenoblade Chronicles X. The environments are so much larger and varied, there’s wildlife inhabiting the area, the enemies has a little more variety and everything feels so new, mysterious and compelling in a way I haven’t seen since Zelda on NES or Ocarina of Time. also let’s talk about Link for a second, he has different weapons and armour, he can climb, he can hunt, collect and cook, and he can frigging jump! Oh and that voice over in the beginning, does that confirm full voice acting throughout the game? I really hope so. There’s a lot of ways this new game could suck or be a let down, but for now I’m choosing to believe it’ll be badass. 😀

Other Games Worth Mentioning

Firstly there’s Battlefield 1 which I didn’t think I’d be excited for, but the trailer and gameplay footage from everyone playing during stream looked so incredible and fun that I want to jump in (also shout out to Snoop Dogg haha). Seeing The Last Guardian in action again was great and to have a release date set October made me smile so much! Dead Rising 4 also looked cool with the new graphics and variety of weapons, also Scalebound once again proved to be a game worth playing with the crazy creature designs, interesting combat and multiplayer possibilities.

Conclusion

In the end E3 2016 was an awesome experience, I did not expect to love the games so much this year and now I’m so stupidly giddy about the future. I pray that my wallet will be able to take it and that I’ll have the free time to be playing these games between now and next year. 🙂

So did you watch E3 this year and if so what games are you excited about? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below and I’ll see ya on the next post, laters! 😀