E3 Preview

With the annual electronics trade fair juggernaut at our doorstep, I decided to take the opportunity to write a piece about what it is I’m expecting and looking forward to at the conference. So without further ado:

Console War:

It’s fair to say that Sony ‘won’ E3 last year (who could forget the whole ‘used games’ section of their conference?) so do the company rest on their laurels or push for the killing blow? Meanwhile Microsoft have done so many U-turns since this time last year that it’s hard to tell what direction they’re facing. Will they pull a Hail Mary in a desperate attempt to save face? And finally will Nintendo finally announce a Sandbox, online Pokémon game and retire Mario once and for all?

Destiny:

I’ve been excited for Destiny since it was announced at the last E3 conference, this year it looks like we shall be given full details of the game as well as the date of the Beta. My expectations for the game are shown in the fact that it is the only game I have ever pre-ordered. Technically it brings nothing new or revolutionary to the gaming world, but rather compiles some of the most exciting aspects and binds them in what will undoubtedly be a tight, well-made shell; something that can only be expected what with Bungie the team behind Halo at the helm. For PC gamers it may be a cocktail already tasted, but for console gamers an MMO FPS is something very, very fresh.

Tom Clancy’s The Division:

I love my post-apocalyptic scenarios and the late Tom Clancy’s machine keeps on chugging, this time into a future where a virus has changed civilisation completely. Running on a very exciting new engine, the game already looks beautiful but the developers have been keeping the cards to their chest regarding solid facts. If this can take the atmosphere of titles such as The Last of Us and allow me to experience it online with my friends, count me in.

The Last Guardian:

Feels like decades since The Last Guardian was initially teased. The new title by Team Ico has never really materialised and amid rumours that the game’s been cancelled, fans of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus remain on tenterhooks. Come on Sony; show us a bit more than a chain and a pit.

Oculus Rift:

I am more curious that excited when it comes to Virtual Reality. It feels as gimmicky as 3D but Oculus Rift has remained on my radar simply because if nurtured it could be a revolutionary bit of technology. Alternatively it could end up on the scrap pile like Sixaxis and Kinect.

Battlefield: Hardline:

After the leaked announcement trailer, Battlefield: Hardline looks set to take the series off at a tangent to the ever comparable Call of Duty. What really interests me with this title is the new modes. Similarly to Destiny, the new Battlefield is taking game-modes of titles such as Payday and Kane and Lynch and bringing them to the triple-A market. The two aforementioned games both passed me by because their selling points lay in their unique multiplayer modes, but with the majority of my gaming friends indulging their online gaming needs playing Battlefield and Call of Duty, I never truly experienced them. Finally I can team up with a few mates and experience a meticulously planned heist.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare:

Like an ex-girlfriend, the Call of Duty franchise returns with a new low-cut dress and makes me wonder whether I was right to leave her. I’ve been disillusioned with the series since the first Black Ops title, but every annual announcement, I remember the good times of CoD4, Modern Warfare 2 and to a lesser extent Modern Warfare 3. However with the announcement of Battlefield: Hardline and the new spin they are putting on the series, Call of Duty need to pull something out of the bag.

Alien: Isolation:

After the disappointment of Aliens: Colonial Marines, Alien: Isolation puts a much more horror-orientated spin on the franchise, something which has been overlooked on the gaming side, despite it’s origins in the initial movie. Combining the zero-combat helplessness of Amnesia: The Dark Descent with the claustrophobic environment of the Alien movies and it’s resulting influence of titles such as Dead Space, this could be the game to reinvigorate the movie-to-videogame sinking ship.

Uncharted 4:

It’s troubling times for Naughty Dog, but the Uncharted games have all been exquisite and The Last of Us was arguably the best game of the last gaming generation, hopefully all the staff issues wont affect this title.

Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth:

I put a lot of time into Civilization 5 and eventually ran out of steam with the title, simply because the easier difficulties bore no challenge, while the harder difficulties essentially restricted freedom of play to one method of victory. It has been a few months since Beyond Earth’s announcement, I really hope it gets a showcase at E3. It is probably my most anticipated PC title.

Timesplitters: Rewind:

One of the greatest tragedies of all time was the cancellation of Timesplitters 4 after Free Radical went under. Timesplitters: Rewind is a fan-made remake of the previous titles which is essentially testing the waters for Crytek as to whether a sequel is viable. Although it is being developed on PC, rumour is that it’ll be hitting PS4 – it would be brilliant to see Sony give the project a boost by officially announcing it for the console.

Half-Life 3:

Maybe, just maybe…

New IPs:

We have already been indulged with several completely new titles, but the more new, original titles, the better as far as I am concerned. If this is the year of the Intellectual Property, then I would love to see Sony or Microsoft take a wild punt on something completely bonkers.

E3 kicks off on the 10th July. Expect a review of the event here the following Sunday.

Simon Jenkins