The simplest way to describe this year’s E3 is to look at what was missing. Obviously we don’t know what Sony or Microsoft stripped out, but looking at the suspiciously long Usher and Wonderbook segments, it seems pretty clear something else was meant to be shown. Was it new hardware? I doubt it, but it might have been a tease for it.
The star of the conferences was obviously Ubisoft. Not for Watch Dogs (although that looks interesting at the very worst) or Rayman Legends or even for Far Cry 3. No, they get it for Flo Rida. Yes, he might have just added a space to Florida but that microphone was incredible. I hope Usher was watching, he could have learned a thing or two.
I thought Halo 4 looked great (for a Halo game at least), and whilst I felt that The Last of Us was a bit overly violent it was still incredible. The aforementioned Watch Dogs and Far Cry 3 weren’t shabby either, but my pick for game of the show has to go the slightly surprising choice of Rayman Legends. That looks simply brilliant, and has a fantastic use of the Wii U. I want Nintendo’s new console for that alone.
I was a bit disappointed by the way Dance Central 3 was only shown with Usher, rather than with anything actually useful. I was also saddened that Gears of War only got a trailer, I really could have used a short gameplay demo to sell me on it. And why no love for the next Rainbow Six game? I know they announced Blacklist, but something (or a tease in the Splinter Cell trailer) would have been brilliant.
The lack of Vita recognition and the missing hardware are no brainers of course, but I wasn’t expecting either of those so I was prepared for it.
I think the main thing I took away from this E3 was that the next-generation of consoles is definitely on the way, and not far off. The console makers were showing off more third-party content than their own, and especially in the case of Sony, who have a lot of studios under their name. Something is certainly a-brewing. With only one project on show from the colossal Santa Monica Studio, no Kinect Adventures 2, and the fact that this year’s Kinect Sports is just a compilation, suggests that Sony and Microsoft are beginning to focus their resources on the next round of consoles.
Elsewhere, I was pleasantly surprised by Nintendo’s conference. They managed to show that the Wii U has some cool and unique features – particularly ones not already shown in Microsoft and Sony’s second-screen segments – and that they have significant third-party support for the new console. I actually came out of the show interested in (maybe even in buying) a Nintendo console for the first time ever.
As for my favourite game, it’s an easy pick. Watch Dogs. Absolutely, without a doubt, Watch Dogs. It looks very much like Ubisoft’s next-gen Assassins’ Creed – there’s a very definite, unique atmosphere, with cool new gameplay, and despite the company claiming it is coming to this gen of consoles, my guess is that it will end up on PS4 just the way that the original Assassins’ Creed was first planned for the PS2 generation. And I don’t have a problem with that – Assassin’s Creed was one of the games that sold me on a PS3: something unique and exciting, and I reckon if Ubisoft can pull it off right, Watch Dogs will probably be doing the same for me come next year.
For the first time in a good few years, my disappointment of the show was easily Sony’s conference. For a company with so much at stake with the Vita (and as I’ve already said, so many internal studios), the showing for the handheld was disappointing, even if they were showing off more out of the conference and on the showfloor.
The demo for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, a game I’m pretty interested in, was dull and lifeless, not showing us anything we hadn’t seen at the announcement, and I was disappointed that we only saw two new characters and no new stages (that there was even footage of the new characters in battle in the game’s E3 trailer makes me wonder why they weren’t in the on-stage demo).
Finally, I was disappointed with The Last of Us. A game I’d been excited for since the announcement, and one claimed to be ‘so unlike Uncharted’, felt over-familiar to me. I’d love to see them blow me away with future showings, but for now, I’ve kinda lost interest.
I thought the lack of Vita during Sony’s conference was a bizarre omission, and one that – as I’ve said – won’t have done the portable any good. The nods they did give it felt like token gestures, and replacing an opportune segment with Wonderbook was a little bit of an insult in my opinion.
The PS3 games were fine (apart from Assassins – yawn – Creed) but there should have been more surprises – most of Sony’s press conference was already revealed – by Sony – months ago. Beyond looks like it could be great, though, and I can’t wait for David Cage to cancel out the still sour taste I have for Heavy Rain. Haven’t really watched anything else yet, but I will, but from what I’ve heard though I’m not really missing much.
Game of E3 2012? Er, not sure. Not having seen what else is out there yet I’d have to plump for Beyond, or The Last Of Us. I can have two.
XisTG
Just when 2D platforming was making a big comeback with Rayman, they go exclusive. I hope they reconsider :/
damoxuk
Most likely won’t be a full exclusive but more timed exclusive.
Omac_brother
Yes. This. Rayman Origins was brilliant. Cant believe they would shorten the audience for their next title.
TSBonyman
For me, it was all about the games and i’m excited for a lot of great up and coming games, too many to mention but the next 12 months looks set to deliver some awesome gaming experiences. Although, with the noticeably grittier tone displayed in many of the games i may have to dip into Flower quite often to restore harmony.. ;)
I remain unconvinced of the merits of a second screen when playing a game on tv but it’ll possibly be handy for some non-gaming elements. I’ll watch with interest to see what develops but i don’t see myself yearning for those features for my own gaming.
LTG Davey
Highlights:- Far Cry 3, Watch_Dogs, Rayman Legends, ZombiU, Tomb Raider, Last of Us, Pikmin 3
Disappointments:- Microsoft’s conference, Lack of Vita focus, Splinter Cell (looks good, just the wrong direction for me), Lack of Wii-U price tag (After their e3 showing I really want one but it’s hard to budget until I know the final price)
damoxuk
Good Points of E3 – Last of Us, Beyond, Watch Dogs, Assassins creed 3 Vita, Halo 4
Bad Points – Lack of Vita Focus, to much talking about Services (microsoft) rather than games, Wonderbook who cares games is E3, Wii-U – pretty much boring as always. But i’m not interested in First party nintendo stuff.
2013 I think will be the killer E3 – And one which Wii-U will be forgotten about immediately.
Forrest_01
“Wonderbook who cares games is E3”
Not to be argumentative, but E3 is an entertainment expo.
damoxuk
Ah but your response indicates an argumentative stance :)
But yes it is an Entertainment Expo but lets face it Games are what people check E3 for.
bigbaldwolf
Soul Sacrifice, Assassins Creed Vita and Watch Dogs all look very good. I was disappointed with how little Sony hyped the Vita but with all the games coming out over the next 12 months and PS1 classics being available soon, I’m very happy
cam_manutd
Good points: Watch Dogs, PS+ Free games, Xbox Smartglass, The Last Of Us, Beyond and Assassin’s Creed 3.
Bad Points: Lack of Vita coverage, Xbox kinect voice commands, Wreckateer, Nintendo+Microsoft Keynotes, Dead Space 3 co-op, Black Ops 2, Halo 4, Wonderbook, Battlefield 3 premium.
Best moment: The roar when Jack Tretton announced everyone would receive a years free PS+in the audience. Think that was as upbeat as it got this year :/
Tuffcub
The best bit was not having to stay up till 4am to cover the Sony conference it and going shopping in New York instead :)
Roynaldo
Best bits? All i read is moaning! :D
Personally i enjoyed it and it kinda put a spark back into my recently lack lustre hobby of gaming. Everything Ubisoft showed, yup everything, was brilliant. Most of Sonys too.
Looking forward to the next 12-18 months of gaming now :)
bunimomike
Same here. There’s so much moaning going on. E3 will barely ever cater for to all of us but I feel like we’re resembling spoiled children when it comes to “E3 sucks because” comments or the like. It was great. It’s always great. Sure, certain conferences screw things up but that’s always the way. You take the good, you forget the bad and you get on with gaming. Sheesh! Not rocket science, eh? :)