.jpg)
[Updated] Here's some videos of the below games shown at E3.
The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3); it’s the gaming convention that excites us for gaming titles for next year or later then we wait through a gaming-free summer. With E3 officially starting on Tuesday, and conferences starting tomorrow, here are ten of my most anticipated titles for E3. Note that not all games and developers will be attending. Swine Flu seems to have made an impact on travel plans, especially for Japanese developers.
1. Mass Effect 2
Despite the mediocre gameplay of the first game, I loved the first Mass Effect, and the sequel, already in the hype machine process, looks to strengthen the series by wading through a complicated storyline branching due to player-made decisions in the first game. Although details are slim, and we're not even sure if we're playing as the same character from the first Mass Effect, it seems like everything Bioware touches turns to gold so you can be confident it'll be stellar.
2. Borderlands
Upon first seeing this game, I almost felt as if we were looking at Fallout 3 sans the Vats system. However, although again, not many details, there are shades of Fallout, but relatively different with a heavy sci-fi feel and emphasis on vehicular combat and multiplayer, including a 4-player co-op campaign mode which is always a great addition if pulled off without hiccups and connectivity issues. Borderlands is also boasting a staggering amount of weaponry, think in the hundreds of thousands. Roleplaying games have been advancing out of the Medieval Ages and focusing on modern and futuristic technology which is a welcome to the usual questing and grinding found in previous RPGs.
3. Bioshock 2
When Bioshock's sequel was announced, the general consensus was would you kindly explain the need for a Bioshock sequel? The first Bioshock is a story-driven game, focusing on an aquatic utopia collapsing under its own ambitions until finally crashing down when an outsider arrives “unexpectedly.” Because of the great twist and definite ending, how could it have a sequel cohesive with the first game? Instead of playing out a similar situation, the player is put into the giant boots of the behemoth title character Big Daddy 10 years after the events of the first game. An even more disturbed creature has taken over Rapture, Big Sister, a former Little Sister who’s been capturing girls along the coast for years and twisting them into her own childhood likeness. Judging from the trailers, the gameplay doesn’t look too different from the previous iteration except for Big Daddy’s advantages such as weapons like the big drill and rail gun. Multiplayer is to be included but details are scarce. If the game can keep the same psychological edge and involving story, than I have faith in it, but this isn't a game that can survive simply on the same material.
4. Alan Wake
Survival horror games are far and few between these days with games like Resident Evil and Codemned having far more action elements than survival. When Alan Wake was first announced and the initial trailer was shown, it had a unique look, a very moody and atmospheric town that has its own terrible secrets, which your character, a writer-block suffering author, writes on as he progresses. It looks like Silent Hill intertwined with the drug-induced scenes in the first Max Payne.
.jpg)
5. Bayonetta
If the makers of Devil May Cry were to switch out Dante and put in a female lead with guns in her legs would this interest you? This heavy action, 3rd-person game looks chock full of huge combos, stylistic enemies and random dramatic soap opera scenes. If it has bad English acting and corny one-liners, Devil May Cry may be surpassed in greatness.
6. Saboteur
A World War II action-adventure shooter set in Paris, sounds familiar right? What separates this from every other WWII game is the distinct usage of colors, indication of Nazi occupation and context controlled events and situations called "Will to Fight." As an Irish, racing-enthusiast, you're trapped in a spin-off fictional Paris during the Nazi occupation. Your main concern however isn't breaking the Nazis' hold but vengeance for the death of your friend. It sounds like a fresh take on WWII games and has some unique gameplay elements by utilizing colors.
7. I Am Alive
First it was Washington in Fallout 3, soon it'll be Las Vegas in Dead Rising 2 and now it's Chicago falling in I Am Alive. The Windy City's gone mad in the aftermath of a historically powerful earthquake as the citizens of Chicago fight and claw each other for survival. Food and water takeover Oprah as the main concern but for the protaganist it's his lost girlfriend. It seems similar to Dead Rising in that you'll be tasked in finding and banding survivors together and searching for food/supplies while battling others who are scavenging for the same.
8. Halo: ODST
I'm optimistic about this expansion pack for Halo 3 although not entirely sold on the idea. You experience several UNSC soldiers' stories within New Mombosa, handling the Covenant invasion and searching for their teammates between the storyline of Halo 2 & 3. Because you're not a Spartan, you don't have shields, you're scaled down considerably and the heroic run-and-gun style isn't going to cut it. That said, because it's Halo, I'm excited, and I love when games fill in the history and other plot points the main series doesn't cover. Plus it has 3 new multiplayer maps so at least it's got that going for it.
.jpg)
9. Red Dead Redemption
Don’t call it Grand Theft Auto in the Wild West. In the spirit of western movies like the “Wild Bunch,” Rock Star Games hopes to make a true western experience in their follow-up game to Red Dead Revolver. The game looks like it’ll have everything you’d want in a western; poker, horses, whores, the mysteriously informative bartender, but sadly no Delorean. The presentation looks nice, but if the revolver mechanics and horse-riding aren't fluid and workable it will certainly make-or-break the game.
10. Portal II
A lot of developers simply throw in multiplayer as an afterthought which isn't fully supported and never builds up a proper online community. Valve is superb at online gaming and if there’s any game I’d be interested in seeing multiplayer it’s Portal II. Because it's not a conventional shooter, the regular matches in a competitive multiplayer won't work as well unless weapons are added which adds an interesting layer in creating a simple but fun multiplayer.
10t. Final Fantasy XIII
Square Enix's franchise series makes its first appearance on the 360 and here's what we know: 1. The main character's name is Lightning. 2. The turn-based and action elements are fused into one confusing gameplay mechanic. 3. There's long drawn out cut-scenes 4. You'll ride on an airship at some point. 5. They'll be a chobo-moogle love child called Choboogle. Okay, maybe not the last one, but if there's any game I'm confused about it's this one. Is Sqenix evolving the series or is this going to be like the previous few ones but with better graphics?
Comments
Damn so many games to buy...
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!