Another year, another E3 – the dust has settled and the booth babes have gone home to put some proper clothes on. Now we’ve all had time to sit back and digest the news headlines and conference spiel, I thought I should select a few highlights. Judging by the internet frenzy over the Wii U and PlayStation Vita it would be easy to forget about the games. Although it was a sequel heavy show, it wasn’t light on quality, as my highlights show.
Wii U
No E3 round-up would be complete without a look at Nintendo’s big announcement. Wii U is Nintendo’s new console, which features a tablet touch-screen controller. Always two steps ahead of Sony and Microsoft, this could be seen as an attempt to take the wind out of Kinect and Move’s sails.
Once again, Nintendo proves that it understands branding with the clever name. The logo looks like a smile and fits perfectly with the Wii brand and everything it stands for.
The new console is matching Xbox 360 and PS3 in terms of power and where there’s power, games are sure to follow. Nintendo announced some serious third party support with titles like Assassin’s Creed: Revelations and Batman Arkham City coming to the console – a big score for gamers.
However, the big sell for the Wii U, is the touch-screen tablet. In-game objects can be flicked from the controller to the TV. Shuriken were used as an example. But the best bit is you can continue playing a game on the controller if the TV is switched off or being used by someone else. Now that is cool. Still no price, but the Wii U is heading this way in less than 12 months.
PlayStation Vita
In a declaration of war on the handheld market, Sony came out with fists flying at E3. Vita is four times more powerful than the PSP, offering something akin to the PS3 in the palm of your hand – or so they say.
Blah, blah, blah dual micro-analog sticks, Wi-Fi, 3G, blah and yes, the seemingly ubiquitous touch-screen. It seems that the future will be seen through a film of smudgy fingerprints as we swipe and jab our way through life. The Vita also boasts two touch pads on the back, two cameras and motion sensing, giving it enough bells and whistles to sink a battle ship.
Sony topped off its announcement with a competitive price point of $249 (€249) for the Wi-Fi only or $299 (€299) for the 3G version, as well as a Quarter 4 2011 release.
Now for some games.
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=racEFHNhcQk
Female gamers everywhere will be hot under the collar for this one – Ezio’s back and this time he’s a silver fox. The action has shifted to Constantinople, which is looking fantastic. As we’ve come to expect of the AC games, the details are there, with the light filtering through the covered souks taking me back to my trip to Marrakech.
It looks like Ezio’s got a host of new moves, including throws and zip wires, adding to his agility. The assassins are still in the picture, but now we get explosives and some new weapons. This looks like it could be the last adventure for our enigmatic Italian, so I’m looking forward to a better story than we got in Brotherhood.
Release: 15 November 2011
Batman Arkham City
http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=BR1GPU2bvVc
The big reveal for this Batman sequel is Catwoman. She’s a playable character too, which is a great move. And talking of great moves; she’s got a whole host of them. Love the fact that we get to play Catwoman. Hate the slutty look.
Release: Autumn 2011
Halo 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=poVtcAKnosM
Okay, when I heard about this one, I thought – snore! But now I’ve seen the teaser trailer, I’m sold. There’s something about the music, Master Chief and Cortana that just works.
The teaser was suitably epic, with Master Chief hanging out of the back of a wrecked space ship, staring down at the ring planet – cool. Halo’s still got it, despite being a bit long in the tooth, and I’ll be there on day of release.
Tomb Raider
http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=c73inUf7k4Q
Speaking of long in the tooth – Lara’s getting on a bit, but E3 showed us the trailer for the latest reboot to the series. Lara’s 21 and not the hardened adventurer we love. The trailer was slick, but then, aren’t they always? We’ve all seen the battered and bruised new Lara poster girl and the trailer shows a Lara that’s vulnerable and one with emotions. If they get some good writers on board, this could be a welcome return to form.
I’m guessing this game is all about the "journey" from girl to gaming icon. Let’s hope it involves less skyscrapers and more er…tombs.
Release: 2012
Mass Effect 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=HddXGwXkWlQ
The gameplay demo of Mass Effect 3 revealed cool voice activated dialogue and combat commands using Kinect, which is a really cool use of the technology. I for one would be keen to play this way, for further immersion into one of the most engaging stories to grace the 360. There’s not much to say about this one, other than it looks awesome and sign me up.
Release: tba 2011
Love it, hate it or just plain confused, there’s no getting away from the fact that Nintendo’s Wii U stole the show at this year’s E3. Microsoft had a strong, quiet and confident open to the conference, while Sony dazzled with the Vita. This wasn’t one of those vintage E3s full of big reveals and startling trailers, but gamers should definitely come away feeling spoilt for choice in terms of consoles, peripherals and games alike.
Sometimes it’s good to be a gamer.
Most played: L.A. Noire