20 June 2015
EA
Despite all the Star Wars hype, my most anticipated game at EA was the new Need for Speed, and they finally showed a gameplay demo that matches their intentions. There really is deep, and more importantly, specific car customisation. The camera panned around a stock Subaru BRZ which was littered with tiny icons, all indicating parts to be modified. This includes the front, rear and side skirts - individually - exactly what I was after! Onto the streets the driving and drifting looked fine, very Need for Speed Underground 2, but I could not draw my annoyance away from the player's camera angle while drifting. It was aiming to capture the style of a car chase in a movie, but it was driving me insane! Thankfully, after a mini rant to EA on Twitter, I was relieved to find out this is one of many camera angles available. So all in all I'm super excited for this game when it launches in early November.
Then came the E3 cringe moment (there's always one), or actually the first of two as later revealed. Yarny was unveiled to the world, along with a terrible looking indie game, clearly backed by EA, Unravel. Terrible might be too harsh but I didn't like the woolly platforming at all. The second moment was a woman on stage beginning her presentation with the line "Let's talk about mobile". Immediately I envisaged the gaming media bowing their heads in disgust. One interesting point here though is the polar opposite reactions between this and the Fallout Shelter announcement. Both mobile games, which arguably have no place at E3, but a Fallout game vs EA published kids games? Only one winner.
The star of the stage at EA was without doubt Pelé. Although after the standing ovation settled, I did feel he dragged on a little (for a gaming conference) and Americans really weren't following the 'beautiful game' of soccer.
Another game I was excited to see more of was Mirror's Edge Catalyst, and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. No guns are making their way into Faith's hands, online races and time trials sound awesome, and there will be no levels or load times - one huge free roaming world. How huge remains to be seen, but this is a strong candidate for my first purchase of 2016.
Of course closing EA's show was Star Wars Battlefront. I didn't know what to expect after only seeing a short engine trailer, and having no previous Star Wars titles in my gaming library. But the moment the gameplay trailer started, just after a message on screen read all footage captured on PS4, I sat bolt upright stunned by the graphics. Even from the YouTube stream I was using to watch it. The soldier movement, the snow, the walkers, the fighter jets all looked so good and on a large scale too. This was a multiplayer demo so player perspective switched to the different roles available. Two great moments were flying between the legs of an AT-AT, and the player turning to face Darth Vader. Being a fully licensed Star Wars game, the sounds used throughout were also spot on adding to the whole experience. However despite being open-jawed for most of it, focusing on the gameplay, no aim down sight (ADS) on regular guns seems like a stupid decision. Especially considering this is developed by DICE who have implemented this in all the previous Battlefield games I know. There must be a reason for leaving it out, and all I can think of is storm troopers didn't have the best accuracy in the world... Regardless of this missing feature, Star Wars Battlefront was still my favourite gameplay demo of E3 2015.
Ubisoft
Ubisoft have a habit of unveiling brand new, big budget IPs at E3, and this year was no different. For Honor looks like a great medieval melee combat game, and after a nice fairly standard CGI trailer, 8 people walk out on stage, pick up PS4 controllers and play a live multiplayer demo. That was awesome. For a new game to reach a live multiplayer demo on console, without any leaked info to the public is a real achievement in today's world.
The funniest (and weirdest) trailer of E3 this year has to go to Trials Fusion's new DLC, Awesome Level Max. A cat with a gun riding a flaming unicorn to promote a dirt bike game... I loved it when I realised it was for Trials Fusion as I'm playing the game right now! I'm very intrigued to see how the trailer relates to the new content.
As for the new triple-A games at Ubisoft, the new demo of Tom Clancy's The Division didn't really impress me. It looks too multiplayer focused and I don't see how there can be an attractive loot system in this mid-crisis, realistic (ish) environment. I'm comparing the game to Destiny at this point where a loot system is much more appropriate in a sci-fi world to get the craziest gear and coolest weapons. Tom Clancy's other property, Rainbow Six Siege made an appearance and got a release date, but I almost feel sorry for the game as it seems to have lost so much hype from last year's E3 (related article here). Continuing on an unfortunately negative path, I now have zero interest in Assassin's Creed Syndicate. The initial gameplay trailer (before E3) revealed London in it's glory, and new gameplay elements such as the grappling hook. But at the Ubisoft stage it was a real step backwards showing CGI moments of the story. No gameplay at all. For games launching in the remainder of the year, the best snippets of gameplay have to be shown as Autumn/Winter is the killer window for the best video games.
Lastly there was one more trick up Ubisoft's sleeve. It was another new game they kept watertight, and another title for Tom Clancy's collection. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands was Ubisoft's most exciting game and featured their best trailer. Another tactical multiplayer shooter yes, but set in a Far Cry-esque open world, with multiple strategic assassination options, and various off road vehicles... Yes please! The end of the trailer was very telling too, showing gameplay moments from a whole range of different locations across South America. Proving to me that more than a 'vertical slice' has been made for this game already.