It’s E3 time again, which means we’re all due for another “too long, didn’t read,” all encompassing E3 preview article from yours truly. As is the usual case, the gargantuan length is in play to conceal the horrendous errors in both judgment and prediction contained within. For 2010 I’m adding a bit more structure. Games are still going to be sorted by publisher, but may be divided into “What we know,” ‘What we think we know” and “Megaton” categories. “What we know,” are titles that will probably be somewhere on the show floor. “What we think we know” are unconfirmed rumors that have a significant chance of actually happening, and “Megaton” is fan boy baiting material that typically has less than one percent chance of actually coming true. Enjoy!
Sony
What we know: Sony, rather than let nearly everything leak again, has opted to show their hand early. Killzone 3 looks to address the complaints of its prequel, namely input lag and imprecise gunplay, but also looks to boost the level design by shying away from kill rooms and corridors. The art direction also looks like it’s getting a much needed kick in the face; even though it’s still the systematically ugly and mostly destroyed planet of Helghan, the diversity between the environments appears to get away from the brown mess that plagued Killzone 2. That, and it has jetpacks. Jetpacks. LittleBigPlanet 2 is tracking to melt my face off with its majesty. Up until it was revealed I sort of hoped Sony wouldn’t force Media Molecule into making a sequel; the original had a ton of great content and dropping it in favor of a new platform could diminish its potential. So, naturally, LittleBigPlanet 2 is going to feature full backwards compatibility with the existing content, and piled on top of that are the reworked creation tools. The included levels still appear to favor platforming, but the creation modes apparently let you craft everything from a shmup to a real time strategy game. The potential there is an amazing, and the ability to link levels together might give everyone what they’ve always wanted; a Metroidvania racing game with jetpacks and hilarious British humor. Gran Turismo 5 isn’t exactly a known quantity because the game keeps getting more awesome by the day, but they have to have hit diminishing returns at this point, right? I mean the last time I checked Polyphony was bragging about their environmental reflections on the side view mirrors. I understand Sony needs that ace in their holiday release schedule, but just get it out, guys. I saw that thing at E3 2007. InFamous 2 had me on name alone, as the original might have been my favorite game of last year. Not really feeling the character redesign, but we don’t know a lot of other solid info at present moment, so I’ll give Sucker Punch the benefit of the doubt. PixelJunk Shooter 2 looks to take the kitchen sink approach to their particular brand of elemental manipulation. As a faithful subscriber to loving Ico and Colossus, The Last Guardian is poised to be my game of the show, or, at the very least, the only game I’ll wait more than 15 minutes to play. Its potential is immeasurable, in terms of scope and what kind of “art” it can bring to interactive entertainment. The guys at Team Ico have something to say, and I’m sure everyone is more than ready to let them do it. It’s been three years since Super Stardust HD, so Dead Nation should be ready to go, right? SOCOM 4 doesn’t tickle my fancy, but Zipper is a great developer and those guys don’t have a bad game under their belt. Although not ultimately required, it hinges on its connection to PlayStation Move, which stands as the finest known example of Sony’s attempt to break motion control out of the Wii minigame paradigm. Now is the time for innovation, and if Sony really wants to steal some thunder from Natal then they’re going to half to take significant risks with motion control. No more minigames, no more shoehorned implementations, and no more bullshit where I could easily do the same thing by hitting a button. We’ve seen all the tricks before guys, show me something new. On the PSP side, God of War: Ghost of Sparta looks pretty good, and we know it’s safe in the hands of Ready At Dawn, and…and…c’mon there has to be something else for PSP!
What we think we know: Sony’s probably going to burn time with a bunch of mildly impressive 3D tech demos, but their press conference should still contain the requisite number of surprises. Talk on PSP 2 has been hot and cold over the last few months. When Nintendo jumped the gate with the 3DS announcement, we all thought it was to steal some thunder from imminent news of the successor to the PlayStation Portable. Then, the buzz on PSP 2 was its inevitability; unconfirmed reports of developers already having kits, chatter over a possible 3G connection, touch screen and 3D hoopla, and, most obviously, a lack of commitment from Sony on the current PSP. The Go was kind of a failure, but it did its duty; no one’s hacked it (yet), which solves PSP’s main problem. The timing seemed right, but Sony’s apparent renewed focus on the original PSP (thanks, Kratos) might imply it’s not quite time to let the cat out of the bag. Then again, it’s not like Sony has ever shied away from operation two generations of their hardware simultaneously. Or making it a phone. MotorStorm 3 has to be there, right? The two year cycle on that is due, and Pacific Rift was a fantastic game. Kotaku posted screen from an alleged leak, but I don’t know if I buy it. Those screens look kind of awful, but post-apocalyptic might fight the bill. Resistance 3 exists, but Insomniac might actually take 2010 off, especially considering Killzone 3 and Socom 4 are filling the first person shooter gap. Something new, ala last year’s ModNation Racers reveal, would be nice as well. EatSleepPlay’s David Jaffe said his game won’t be present, but here’s to hoping that was a ruse. Oh, and what the hell ever happened to Star Hawk?
Megaton: Some sort of guarantee Final Fantasy Versus XIII will stay exclusive, Uncharted 3 teaser, Twisted Metal teaser, and maybe of indication as to what the hell the guys at EatSleepPlay have been working on.
Capcom
What we know: Dead Rising 2 is going to allow me to demonstrate the sort of behavior one often wishes they could engage in at E3, namely forging weapons out of show floor materials and obliterating the leagues of zombies on the floor. Its M.O. is humiliating zombies in the worst ways possible, and I am totally cool with that being its backbone. I’m not so cool with the apparent return of the original’s bizarre save system which, while adding a sense of consequence often missing in modern games, was completely frustrating. Still, the sequel might be so much stupid fun that it completely eviscerates the failings of a few asinine design choices. Marvel Versus Capcom 3 is going to be the biggest game on the planet for a large minority. If Street Fighter IV got the fighting game scene back on track, Marvel 3’s going to keep it there. MvC2’s reputation as the best accident to ever come out of Capcom’s 2D fighter stable is at stake, and some might fear a dumbed down experience in favor of accessibility, but the end product shouldn’t disappoint, especially with Marvel being hotter than ever. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is a little game that isn’t getting a whole lot of buzz, but its focus on humor and gameplay should easily win over the DS faithful. Unlike much else you’re going to $ee, Ghost Trick looks completely original, and for that it has my appreciation. On the other side of that coin is Okamiden, the handheld sequel to a PlayStation 2 game so dear to my heart. It’s a known quantity, but it embodies a feature the original (and its Wii port) wished it would have; a tangible ability to draw. Rather than awkward analog motions or Wiimote swipes, the stylus grants the gift of precision. Though I was actually a fan of the 3D remake, Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 looks to capitalize on the success of one of the first truly great downloadable games. Granting Nathan Spencer the ability to jump sort of defeats the purpose of the mechanics, but I’m all for expanding the design philosophy in favor of a thematically different experience. Resident Evil Portable might be there, or it could be one of those games quietly swept under the rug (Devil May Cry PSP, anyone)? Sengoku Basara doesn’t interest me in the slightest, but I have to commend Capcom for at least properly localizing it this time around.
What we think we know: On Shacknews’ (excellent) Weekend Confirmed podcast, host Garnet Lee teased some embargoed information procured from E3 Judge’s week; a major Capcom franchise is set to return in the hands of a Western development studio. The obvious answers are Resident Evil 6 or Devil May Cry 5, with the former being the front runner. Capcom, along with Square-Enix, seems to be one of the few Japanese development studios with considerable insight into the current hardware generation, but their recent financial failures with Western studious (Bionic Commando, Dark Void) has lead to a loss of confidence outside of their home country. Still, throwing their biggest franchise in the hands of someone new is wildly intriguing, and might deliver in spades if it can refresh a series badly in need of new blood (which, again, fits both Resident Evil and DMC).
Megaton: Darkstalkers. It doesn’t make any sense given Marvel’s place as the next best thing, but it would still destroyed certain portions of the internet if announced. The long rumored Strider reboot would be shocking as well, but at this point Strider’s more a matter of “when” than “if.”
Nintendo
What we know: Metroid: Other M has me a little worried. Team Ninja’s lack of former talent isn’t necessarily a bad thing, god knows Ninja Gaiden 2 could have used fresh blood and fewer Yes Men, but their ability to force their talent into the Metroid paradigm isn’t a sure bet. All Other M has to do is be better than or equal to Shadow Complex, and nothing I’ve seen thus far has lead me to believe that is what’s in the cards. I’m not special enough to have played it yet, but the Wiimote missile system (and combat in general) screams gimmick and contrivance. Don’t make me use motion controls to do something that could easily be a button press. Still, it’s freakin’ Metroid, and the return to 2D is cause for celebration, so I’m still a little excited. Sin and Punishment 2: Star Successor is a known quantity and has already been released and reviewed in other territories. And it’s awesome. Treasure knows what they’re doing, and it was one of the best Nintendo games I got my hands on at E3 2009. I’m not entirely sure why Nintendo keeps pushing it back (timing, I guess) but I wish this would get out the door asap. Wii Party is the new Mario Party replacement with Mii’s, right? If it’s another minigame assemblage then I’ll pass, but the Big N isn’t one to follow trends, let’s hope it at least requires Motion + support. 3DS is inevitable, as is most of the software for it. I really can’t speculate because no one knows what in the hell the tech is or even how the alleged 3D is going to work. The rest of Nintendo’s lineup is quite a mystery; they front loaded the first half of the year with some great games and purposely set E3 aside a showcase for the second half, but all will be revealed at the press conference early Tuesday morning. Oh yeah, they’re also publishing Dragon Quest IX, which is quite a vote of confidence in a title that doesn’t quite mesh with the North American DS demographic. Lastly, and cross your fingers for Xenoblade or Golden Sun.
What we think we know: Technically cheating because it’s been unofficially confirmed several times over, but Zelda is locked in for a holiday release. Details are sparse (thanks to NeoGAF for that thread), but the unknown is more “how” than “if.” How will it use Motion +? How is it going to cater to Nintendo’s casual audience (or will it not give a shit, ala Mario Galaxy)? What’s the visual style? What are they doing to NOT make it another spiritual Ocarina of Time remake. One can always hope for another representative from the Windwaker school of timeless charm, but that didn’t make much $en$e last time around. Man I hope The Last Story is going to be there. Mistwalker didn’t really hit its potential with Lost Odyssey or Blue Dragon, but hey, third time’s a charm. I’d also like to see Star Fox or F-Zero make some sort of comeback, but Nintendo might have forgotten they exist at this point. Pikmin 3 is still somewhere in the pipeline, right? And Pokémon Black/White? Too soon?
Megaton: Nintendo has the highest potential to blow minds this year because we literally have no idea what the hell they’re going to do. It might not even be software; Steve and Greg maintain Other M’s delay is to coincide with new Wii HD hardware, but I still think they’re off by a year or two on the launch of a Wii successor. Still, that would annihilate the universe if they announced it a year early. One thing is guaranteed; they’re almost certainly going to pull something spectacular out of left field…maybe with the Vitality Sensor? And what the hell has Retro been doing for the last three years?
Namco – Bandai
What we know: Count me amongst the biggest champions for Enslaved. The fiction may look a little hackneyed, but Ninja Theory’s art direction is second to none based on the brief snippets of screens and video I’ve seen. I’m a total sucker for atmosphere, even if the mechanics are rather dull (see: Nier), but, if Heavenly Sword was any indication, Enslaved might be a satisfying mix of both. I don’t think it’ll be the savior Namco apparently suggests it will, but it’s going to turn a lot of heads on the show floor. The best thing I’ve heard about Clash of the Titans is that it actually isn’t awful. Movie tie-ins have set a bar almost as low as whatever pet simulators Ubisoft has been cranking out, but Clash’s ability to not suck total ass definitely works in its favor. Much like the new Transformers game, all it has to do is work some visual magic and back it up with solid mechanics and everyone will go home happy. After gracing the cover of EGM like two years ago it appears Splatterhouse is finally a tangible videogame. The studio drama behind that one is a tale best told by some furious Googling, but it looks like it’s finally on the right track. As long as it doesn’t trade too heavily on nostalgia, of course. Not 100% sure on what the hell Knights Contract is, but the tailor looks sort of cool, if not derivative. Apparently Namco is doing something with Pac Man as well? One can hope for some sort of spin off ala that Super Nintendo game (Pac Man 2? was it actually called Pac Man 2?) that no one other than me played or liked, but I’m not getting my hopes up. Also for people who care about Dragon Ball there is definitely going to be more Dragon Ball with Dragon Ball Raging Blast 2. Dragon Ball.
What we think we know/Megaton: I’m stumped here. I’ve always been a fan of Namco’s library, Klonoa in particular is dear to my heart, but they’re not as hot as they’ve been in consoles past. In the age of Burnout, Need for Speed, and recent titles like Blur and Split/Second it’s a tragedy that Ridge Racer hasn’t resurfaced in some capacity. Tekken and Soul Calibur could turn heads, but it’s a little too soon to announce a full blown sequel for any of those series.
Square-Enix
What we know: Japan’s premier publishing house’s recent acquisition of Eidos has caused quite a conundrum. hasn’t it? Tomb Raider flying under that banner is going to take some getting used to, but I can’t complain. A shift in scope and media might make Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light the much needed departure the series needs, but I wouldn’t count out a traditional entry in the future, regardless of how well Lara hits the mark in her first downloadable title. Deus Ex: Human Revolution is another one I can’t believe their name is on, but few names in gaming carry as much respect as either Deus Ex or Square, so odds are in its favor. Something called Nerkas leaked out at the Staples Center, no clue on what the hell that is but my fingers are crossed for some sort of elaborate hoax. I wouldn’t have any interest in Kane and Lynch 2 if it weren’t for its unique gonzo-ish presentation, so here’s to hoping its gameplay can match the intrigue of its appearance. Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep should fare better at translating the Kingdom Hearts experience to a portable device than 358/2 Days did for DS last year, but the series is starting to wear itself a bit thin. Final Fantasy XIV should be ready to go this fall, meaning it’s going to have to be playable (at the very least) somewhere on the show floor or behind closed doors. MMO’s are a pretty big gamble at this point, and with DC Universe also apparently retaining PS3/PC exclusivity and launching this fall, there might be significant competition in formerly barren console MMO space. Maybe we’ll get Final Fantasy IX on PSN finally, yeah?
What we think we know: A few months back, Tetsuya Nomura said Final Fantasy Versus XIII wasn’t going to make it to E3. On one hand that’s kind of silly because the game was announced with a trailer in 2006, but hey whatever. It’s done when it’s done, right? As of this writing rumors of a new Kingdom Hearts game were on the horizon, but while III is probably in some form of development somewhere odds are it’s probably Kingdom Hearts: Coded. Parasite Eve: The Third Birthday and Final Fantasy Agito XIII are other hot properties, but they’re probably being tucked away for the Tokyo Game Show (or vaporware infamy). (edit: after this writing both Kingdom Hearts: Coded and Parasite Eve were confirmed for the show)
Megaton: Though often regarded as a silly wish, the announcement of a Final Fantasy VII Remake would set the world on fire. That right there is the megaton to end all megatons, even though it’s fantastically inevitable (…on a long enough timeline).
Konami
What we know: Even with Hideo Kojima’s apparent guiding hand, I just can’t get it up for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. Now more than ever is the perfect time for a 2D revival of practically anything, and Konami is treading ground it already failed at covering over a decade ago. Koji Igarashi’s lack of involvement is also puzzling, but maybe fresh blood and a fresh take on the series is exactly what Castlevania needs. I’m proven wrong quite often, and I certainly wouldn’t mind it here. On the other hand, Metal Gear Solid: Rising still carries the wonder and intrigue of the great unknown. I honestly expect it to be teased in the form of another CG trailer, but gameplay (in any form) could knock my socks off. I literally can’t believe Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes del Ring exists. The crazy Mexican wrestling league, which is also apparently featuring live matches on the show floor, should in no way have its own game, but I am oh so glad it actually does. It’s an insane idea and a considerable risk, one I couldn’t be happier Konami is taking, Def Jam: Rapstar needs to be rated Mature otherwise who gives a shit? I mean it might be cool censored, but c’mon guys you know your core audience is going to want a legitimate rap game.
Ubisoft
What we know: The tease of Rome from Assassin’s Creed II apparently spilled over into Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. While not a full on Assassin’s Creed sequel, rather a direct sequel to ACII, I can’t help but feel like it’s too soon. I love ACII, (I got 100% trophies in it!) but I can’t help a sneaking suspicion that Brotherhood is a bunch of left over design concepts that never made it into ACII-proper. Multiplayer is obviously a big addition and at the forefront, but man I really hope Brotherhood does something substantial with the series rich mythology. Seriously, there are few narratives I genuinely care about in gaming, and I’d hate to see story set aside in Brotherhood. Other than that, Shaun White Skateboarding might be cool if not a tad underwhelming, and the alleged Driver sequel should be worth taking a look at. (HAWX 2 and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier look decent to pretty good, though I don’t think the latter is due out until 2011.
Electronic Arts
What we know: Though not dropping until 2011, Dead Space 2 is at the top of my EA wish list. The original literally came out of nowhere and turned in one of the best experiences of 2008. Dead Space didn’t just best Resident Evil, it outclassed nearly everything else that holiday season. Dante’s Inferno didn’t sit well with a lot of people, but I’m sure Visceral will do a significantly better job with the sequel to their breakout title. Really anxious to see what they’re doing with the HUD items, combat, and weapon selection, above all else. Cry-Tek’s fairly confident Crysis 2 is going to be the best looking console game of all time. That’s a lofty claim and such ridiculous hubris might become more visible a few years down the road, but what the hell, I mean, they actually did that for the original Crysis on PC. Its three years old at this point and still at the top of the visual/physics game. Bulletstorm is going to kick ass. If someone said they were going to mix Burnout with a 3rd person shooter you’d normally ask them to put down the pipe, but the talented folks at People Can Fly might actually pull it off. The unique aesthetic and technical backing by Epic is nice too. Medal of Honor is back, even though everyone thought that ship sailed a few years ago. Still, EA is throwing a shit-ton of money at MOH to try and take a stand against Call of Duty and, in an odd twist, the single and multiplayer components of the game are being developed separately (with the later coming from DICE, the Battlefield guys). NBA Jam might be preying on the collective nostalgia of my generation, but I can’t help but adore its ambition. Sure, street ball has been done bigger and better since Midway’s 90’s classic but the spirit of that dead genre lives on in its name, and I really feel like it’s going to thrive, especially if they nails its finer intangibles (yeah, Obama better be in it). EA Sports MMA (is that really what they’re calling it?) is coming knives out at THQ’s similar offering, but I think that’s one area where mighty EA might bow to little brother. Shank already has my heart for favorite downloadable title. Aren’t the guys over at Criterion supposed to be working on a new Need for Speed game? While the pairing is odd, Burnout Paradise, to me, is the premier arcade racer for the current generation of consoles. Definitely excited to see what they can do.
What we think we know: Details concerning a PlayStation 3/360 port of the Wii’s Dead Space: Extraction have leaked and its presence appears inevitable. That’s really awesome considering Extraction got shafted worse than most other AAA games last year. M rated titles just don’t do it for the Wii audience, and Extraction fell victim to demographics. It was a huge shame because the game was really good. It’s also apparently going to be priced at $15, which, aside from being an admission that the original was a tad much, is quite appropriate. The only question is if it’s going to offer Move or Natal support.
Megaton: This is a bit biased toward my own tastes, but blowing out their press conference with a slick Mirror’s Edge sequel would do to me what a Zelda sequel would do to Nintendo fan boys. It has less than one percent chance of happing, but I can dream, right? It’s definitely too early to figure out whatever the hell Respawn is working on, but, eh, a tease couldn’t hurt, right?
Microsoft
What we know: Natal is going to be the focus of Microsoft’s E3. Yeah, I know the press conference on Sunday is supposed to be Natal-specific, but I can’t imagine it’s going to outshine their traditional presser regardless of how many punches it pulls. Over the past year we kept hearing scuttlebutt that the tech was being dumbed down in an effort to drive the price down, but there hasn’t been too much to substantiate that claim. I don’t know, Milo looks cool but I’m anxious to what the actual “games” are. Crackdown 2 is going to be there, and I couldn’t be happier. The original kicked off the superhero/sandbox crossover, and the sequel looks to exploit most of its much loved insanity. Honestly I’m pretty sure Ruffian could simply make the game a quest for agility orbs and nothing more, but odds are they have a lot more up their sleeves. Fable 3 has a long way to go before I believe Lionhead actually makes good on their ambition. I had fun with Fable 2, but man was a disappointed when I read all the prerelease buzz and promise and wound up with a final product that, while fun, didn’t deliver. Oh, and there’s also Halo: Reach. You can bet your ass Bungie is sending off their last Halo game with everything and the kitchen sink (and jetpacks). Halo isn’t as popular as it once was (thanks Modern Warfare), but Reach’s refinement is going to reign in a lot old fans, assuming they didn’t feel too burned by ODST. Gears of War 3 will be there despite not dropping until early 2011. It’s going to feel weird having Gears and Halo at the same E3, but at least their releases are staggered appropriately. Anyway that series needs a severe change in direction because, with the exception of the worm sequence, I was bored to tears with Gears 2.
Megaton: Whoever is going to tap a guy on the shoulder and announce a previously exclusive franchise is now coming to 360. Honestly I think they’re out of people at this point, but they always have something.
Sega
What we know: Vanquish looks insane. Absolutely batshit stare-at-the-sun-and-melt-your-face out of control crazy. Japanese development studios typically operate free of Western influence, and typically falter when they try to cater directly toward the Western market. Vanquish isn’t going to have that problem. At first blush is looks like another ho-hum cover based shooter, but then you see it motion and its eight different flavors of spine shattering awesome. Of course it’s from Shinji Mikami and the guys at Platinum Games, whom, since Clover was dissolved, appear focused entirely on creating the craziest shit people have ever seen. Hell, watch the video in the link and see for yourself. They don’t make them like that anymore-or ever, for that matter. Sonic 4 will be there, and I was probably the happiest person on the planet when I heard it was going to be delayed until later in the year. If Sonic games needed one thing the answer would be more time in the oven, because Sonic’s been half baked for nearly a decade. I love him, but at a certain point it’s felt like an abusive relationship. Regardless, Sonic 4 looks awesome and I can’t wait to finally play it. Sonic Colors came out of left field, didn’t it? Though the teaser is mercifully short on information it doesn’t look like another entry in the so-called Storybook series, so I’m cautiously optimistic about its potential. Oh and do I even need to mention the surprise of Yakuza 4? I never heard any sales numbers for Yakuza 3, but I always assumed that launching it alongside Final Fantasy XIII was the final nail in that series North American coffin. The fact that Sega gave the green light to localize the fourth entry feels like a gift and, as a big fan of the first two games, I couldn’t be happier. Finally, it would be crazy if Valkyria Chronicles 2 was a no show. I’m bummed that the sequel to one of the PlayStation 3’s best RPGs is being cast off on the PSP, but it’s better than nothing,
What we think we know: Apparently The Conduit 2 was given the green light, though it seems a tad early for that to exist in any playable form. If ratings leaks and constant hinting is anything to take seriously, Sonic Adventure (and a whole mess of other Dreamcast titles) might be hitting PSN or Live Arcade in the very near future.
Megaton: I don’t know Sega’s actual E3 lineup is fairly awesome. All the stuff I normally wouldn’t consider realistic, Yakuza 4 and Sonic 4, are actually going to be there. I suppose the reemergence of Aliens: Colonial Marines would be a good surprise, though barely a megaton.
Activision
What we know: I think Call of Duty: Black Ops has the most to prove. Treyarch has definitely gotten the short end of the stick in regard to undeserved hate. CoD 3 and World at War were not bad games, but they were wrought with the stigma of coming from the alleged B team. With Black Ops they’re finally going to be able to break out of the tired World War II backdrop, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time. The bar is incredibly high, but it’s their time to shine. Transformers: War for Cybertron tickles my particular fancy. Like anyone else born in the 80’s, I’m hopelessly infatuated with anything concerning giant morphing robots, and War for Cybertron looks to scratch that itch far better than Michael Bay’s bloated bullshit. Going with the Cybertronian forms is bold, and the amount of fan service jammed into the entire package is off the charts. The gameplay/gunplay simply has to be modest – nothing spectacular – for it to be a success. With limited classes it sounds like High Moon is keeping it tight, so here’s to hoping it’s good. Spiderman: Shattered Dimensions looks like its taking risks with its art direction and general game design, and hopefully it will thrive on the freedom of not being attached to a feature film. It certainly worked for Batman. Singularity doesn’t get enough love. Though slightly derivative, it looked really cool last year and all the media sense then has indicated quality. It’s an unknown, but it could fall on the side of greatness. Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock exists, as does True Crime, but I can’t really comment on either due to complete lack of interest.
Warner Bros.
What we know: Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 is going to do it’s best to recapture lightning in a bottle. I have the utmost faith in Rocksteady after delivering a sleeper hit last year, but that’s an incredibly short turnaround time. F.E.A.R. 3 looks a lot better when it’s called Fear 3 and not F3AR, but, dumb name notwithstanding, the premise sounds cool. Option co-op Point Man a ghost Paxton Fettel, who may or may not have your best interests mind, is definitely unique, but what if I don’t have anyone to play with? Co-op is obviously the way the go, but I wonder what the developers are going to do with everyone else. Lego Harry Potter is going to sell a million copies and it doesn’t really matter what anyone thinks or says, but I can’t fault Traveller’s Tales for wanting to make trucks of cash. Super Scribblenauts might actually get more attention than Batman, as 5th Cell has quite a bit to prove. Last year Scribblenauts went from E3 darling to critical disappointment in the blink of an eye, but a refined dictionary (with adjectives), better fixes, and a pledge to fix the controls inspire nothing but good faith. I’d love to see it pulled off, guys.
2K Games
What we know: A bunch of people freaked the hell out when an X-COM reprise was announced a few months ago. Fan boy’s were rampant with infantile rage that it’s being reborn under the premise of a first person shooter, but 2K would probably like to actually make money, so it’s bound to that fate. Civilization V is on track to be the hottest Civ yet. Civ Rev’s emergence on the iPhone and DS brought in the masses, and Civ V should be the ultimate expression of that concept. In other words, it’s time to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. Spec Ops: The Line doesn’t look as bad as the awful name would suggest, but it does smell like 2K’s attempt to reach for some of that Call of Duty fallout. Lastly, Mafia was actually a bigger game than you might have thought, and there is actually genuine excitement for Mafia II by people who aren’t me. I don’t know, the setting looks alluring, but nothing about that game seems relevant to pushing the open world genre forward.
Megaton: Whatever Ken Levine has been working on for the last two years.
THQ
What we know: You know what? THQ is going to have a really solid lineup, not bad for a publisher that had been on the edge until a few years ago. Red Faction: Armageddon is poised to be the star of the show after the breakout success of Guerilla last year. The teaser trailer released focuses on narrative even though that’s the last thing anyone cares about. Really, all that matters to me are the ways in which Volition will allow me to blow the hell out of everything on my screen. Go with what you know, guys. Similarly, Saints Row 3 needs to push absurdity to the absolute brink. Saints Row 2 never really operated with the premise of reality in mind, and it worked out for the better. I can’t help but smile when I think of de Blob: The Underground. I actually haven’t seen any piece of media related to it, but the original was such a charmer I can’t help but grin. Homefront has a cool premise and that’s about it. UFC Undisputed 2010 is king, though I wish it didn’t have to fall into the trap of being an annualized sequel. Still, the original was such a runaway success THQ would have been stupid to not crank another one out.
Bethesda
What we know: Fallout 3 wound up being one of my favorite games of all time, but I’m a little hesitant to embrace Fallout: New Vegas. Fallout 3, while stellar, was the buggiest game I’ve ever played and suffered more crashes than a destruction derby. That, and the character animation and general aesthetic felt a few years behind. Fallout’s aces were its scope, atmosphere, isolation, character interaction, and general mood, and from what I’ve seen thus far New Vegas has focused on refining those beloved features without bringing much new to the table. The setting is definitely a step up, especially for those of us who’ve been to Las Vegas before, so all I can do is remain casually optimistic toward Obsidian’s vision. Rage still looks awesome but you can’t convince me it’s going to come out any time this century. Brink and Hunted: The Demon’s Forge hopefully won’t be this year’s Wet and Rogue Warrior, the latter of which was so bad it might have been the worst game I played last year,
Disney Interactive
What we know: Disney, in the most unlikely of up-and-comers, has turned into a quality publishing house over the last few years, and Epic Mickey is their crown jewel for 2010. Warren Spector’s role as lead designer turned heads, but the steam punk art direction kept eyes firmly fixed on Epic Mickey. Better yet, rumor has it Mickey’s currently undergoing an epic aesthetic redesign, aligning it closer with that awesome concept art that popped up last year. Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned and Tron Evolution have the most to prove, but I believe the folks over at Giant Bomb said they weren’t looking too bad.
Annnnnd, the rest…
The Force Unleashed II might have a flimsy premise and legions of fans burned by the last game’s endless repetition, but it sold a ton so a sequel was kind of necessary. Still, the allure of officially sanctioned Star Wars mythos is alive and well, and we’ll all probably wind up playing it anyway. Persona 3 Portable is going to be the first thing I check out on the show floor. Persona 3 was my favorite game of 2007, FES was great on 2008, and I need to see if Atlus is going to justify purchasing the same game three times (yeah, they will). Valve is up to their usual Shenanigans; they’re supposed to be pimping Portal 2 but at this point (link) it’s anyone’s guess. It could be anything from Source Engine 2 to something Half Life related. Naughty Bear has appeal, or at least the potential to ignite the biggest controversy on the show floor. Rock Band 3 is apparently going to feature a keytar, which is never a bad thing. Ron Gilbert is basically some sort of deity, so it should be no surprise that Death Spank looks significantly awesome. Quantum Theory looks sort of terrible, which says a lot considering I made it a goal to be optimistic when I typed this whole thing.
