Sunday, June 21, 2015

The 15 Games of E3 2015

E3 2015 is over. The attendees have returned home, the booths are closed and have evacuated the premises, and all the megatons have been dropped. It was an awesome E3 overall-- one that will go down in the history books, for sure. As is customary for me after E3, I have devised up a list of the games from the show that got me most hyped. After you check out my choices, I'd love it if you'd share yours in the comments section below!

Horizon: Zero Dawn (PS4)


From the minds behind the Killzone series of games, Horizon: Zero Dawn was the all-new IP from E3 2015 that excited me most at the event. It's colorful, and most importantly, it feels like something completely different from the norm. In this post-apocalyptic world, mechanic beasts roam the planet, and it's up to you to take them down as the female lead. It's games like this that helps my decision to eventually get a PlayStation 4 a much easier one.

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (PS4)


Although the on-stage demo at Sony's press conference suffered from some control issues at the beginning, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End seems like it checks off all the boxes of what I would want from a new gen Uncharted sequel-- gorgeous, jaw-dropping visuals, humongous and eye-popping set pieces, and the trademark wit the series has always possessed. It's going to be a busy 2016 for PlayStation 4 gamers. This year? Not so much.

The Last Guardian (PS4)


After many gaming events and conferences being MIA, The Last Guardian reappeared this E3. The response was phenomenal, and while the game obviously has evidence of being brought over from the PS3, it still looks mighty interesting to me, offering something that a lot of games at the show lacked-- heart. I eagerly await the day I, along with many other gamers, can finally get their claws on The Last Guardian.

Final Fantasy VII (PS4)


Years upon years of clamoring by fans, hints and troll announcements like an HD port of Final Fantasy VII on the PS4 from Square Enix, this past E3 was the official time that a much desired remake of Final Fantasy VII was finally announced. While I don't hold the original to a high esteem like many fans, I do appreciate it for what it did to the JRPG genre in the West. I look forward to seeing how the remake progresses, what changes, if any, are made, and what decade I can look forward to actually playing it.

World of Final Fantasy (PS4, Vita)


While many Final Fantasy fans got hyped for the Final Fantasy VII remake (and understandably so), the biggest amount of hype I got towards the series was the chibi-styled World of Final Fantasy, a spin-off featuring collectible monsters, an altered active-time battle system, and a soundtrack of new and remixed songs by Masashi Hamauzu. The news that the game is also hitting the PlayStation Vita got me only more hyped for the game.

Kingdom Hearts III (PS4, XONE)


We saw a snippet of gameplay at E3 2014, but this year we saw a full healthy heaping of delicious gameplay at Square Enix's press conference. Kingdom Hearts III looks absolutely divine, sporting colorful worlds, intense and free-flowing combat, and all the love from the developers that you'd expect to poured into a Kingdom Hearts game. This might be another example of a game that'll suffer from delay after delay, but as long as I keep being fed new gameplay, I'll put up with it!

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness (PS4)


One of my favorite JRPGs of all time is Star Ocean: The Second Story (also available in port form as Star Ocean: Second Evolution on the PlayStation Portable). I also enjoyed the third entry, Till the End of Time, which released on the PS2. I skipped the fourth game due to scathing reviews by both critics and fans of the series, but the fifth Star Ocean is set to right many of the wrongs past games contained. Offering battles with more than six party members and a score by the great Motoi Sakuraba, I shake with anticipation to learn more about this most likely epic RPG.

Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4, XONE)


This is the main game that makes me wish I had a current gen system other than the Wii U. Batman: Arkham Knight is the final chapter in the Arkham series, and I cannot wait to see how it ends. I already know the game will be of excellent quality due to the masters at Rocksteady, so all I really need to know is when I'll be able to afford either a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One to play it on!

Ratchet & Clank (PS4)


My favorite PlayStation franchise returns to the forefront of gaming with a new movie and a new game next year. Ratchet & Clank isn't necessarily a remake of the PlayStation 2 original. Instead, it's more of a re-imagining with new and returning planets and set pieces, new bosses, and a familiar cast of characters. The game looks so darn beautiful, almost like a Pixar cartoon in quality. If there is one game that would make me get a PlayStation 4 upon release, it's Ratchet & Clank.

Rare Replay (XONE)


I consider Rare Replay one of the best deals in gaming history. You get thirty Rare classics like Battletoads, Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark, and Conker's Bad Fur Day for only thirty dollars. Hopefully we'll see Xbox One owners pick this compilation of classics up, as it's one heck of a steal.

Super Mario Maker (Wii U)


As someone who has a genuine interest in creating games, Super Mario Maker seems like terrific practice to design some (hopefully) killer levels to test my own abilities to create and players' abilities to beat my (once again, hopefully) creative concoctions. With so many options available to creators, Super Mario Maker appears to be the real deal when it comes to level creating and level sharing.

Star Fox Zero (Wii U)


Though not looking in appearance as a visual beast, the space combat and ability to transform one's Arwing into a land trotting vehicle makes Star Fox Zero highly appealing to me. Star Fox is one of my favorite Nintendo series, and I cannot wait to see what Platinum Games has in store with the campaign outside of what was seen by attendees at E3 2015.

Yoshi's Woolly World (Wii U)


Reggie Fils-Amie was mentioning something about not revealing games that were more than a year or so out. Yoshi's Woolly World proves he's mistaken, as the game was revealed last E3 and still won't release until this October. Still, I think the wait will be worth it, as this looks like the best Yoshi game since the original Yoshi's Island. That might not be high praise, but it looks like it will rival the SNES classic in entertainment and clever level design. I'm eager to finally get my hands on this game this October. You lucky PAL gamers get next week.

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (3DS)


Similar to Four Swords as it is a multiplayer-focused Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes premiered last week at E3, and it blew me away. I adore the A Link Between Worlds art style, supporting such fluid animation, the creativity of the designers by making a game for three Links to team up in various costumes to achieve one goal. Supporting local and online play, as well as a single-player mode, Tri Force Heroes seems like a grand game for the holiday season.

Metroid Prime: Federation Force (3DS)


My reaction to Metroid Prime: Federation Force wasn't nearly as bad as others. I certainly don't want to sign a petition to see it cancelled, but I can understand the disappointment in the first Metroid game in over five years being something totally different than what fans were expecting. Still, this game looks like it'll scratch an itch I've been having with the Nintendo 3DS's library, and I trust Next Level Games greatly with their talent and skill in making fun games.

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