At this time of year, the video game geek inside of me comes out. It’s E3, the biggest video game convention held annually out in California. And every year, I watch and drool at the fact that technology is being used to its fullest and the coolest games are being designed at this very moment. Everything, from action to sports to RPGs, all have the potential to be the next great game. So here were the games that got my serious attention this past week:
-Assassin’s Creed: Revelations: Ezio has been the parkour king of video game characters and it looks like it will continue in what seems to be the final installment of the very popular series. And if the trailers and sample game footage are any indication, the game will have what the fans have come to know and love and then some! The epic story is also bound to have a superb ending that will hopefully satisfy all of our wants. Why can’t it be here now?!
-Battlefield 3: I will admit it, I have never really been a fan of the Battlefield series. I have never been a fan of the gameplay and I have preferred other shooters over it (Call of Duty). But after viewing the various trailers, I can now say that might change. The first thing that struck me was the intense realism. When I first saw the action scenes, I jumped! Plus, the intensity with the style of movements looked good. Hopefully I can like this one as it gets closer to release and I am pleased.
-Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: Yes, the trailer is not necessarily earth-shattering. But let’s face it, it is Call of Duty. I am going to buy it. You are going to buy it. Millions of other people are bound to buy it. Why? It’s realistic gameplay, simple controls, and addictive multiplayer. And this looks like it will do the same thing. The single-player campaign has a deep story about the U.S. being under attack and it looks so realistic, it is scary to think that is even possible. The multiplayer also looks just as fun. While it will have to compete with the new Battlefield, look for this to be extremely popular around the holiday season.
-Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: The game that my buddies back in “Party Quad” (some of my good friends at RIT) have been waiting for is soon on its way! And by the looks of the trailers, it looks like a gem. The previous versions are all beautiful and epic tales and this is exactly the same. The gameplay is similar to the previous games but with some added features (both 1st and 3rd person). When this bad boy hits shelves, I know the RPG fan is bound to pick it up!
-Gears of War 3: I have played the multiplayer beta and let me tell you, that plus what was shown at E3 blew me away and has me giddy with anticipation. The intensity that Gears has been known for is still present. The graphics are still as sharp as ever. The humor is still there. plus, the multiplayer present in the beta is GREAT. All in all, I cannot WAIT for this one to come out.
-Minecraft Kinect: I will admit, I got addicted to Minecraft for quite a while when I was back at RIT. Now that it is hitting consoles, the fun spreads to even more people! Using Kinect, Minecraft for XBOX will allow users to continue to build and mold expansive worlds that allow for hours of addicting fun. The downside I see to this is that it is for the Kinect and might be exclusive to only that so XBOX users may have to go out and spend money for that. But it looks like fun nonetheless.
-Rocksmith: Guitar Hero for people that actually know how to play guitar!! It has finally come. With Rocksmith, simply connect a guitar that has the ability to plug in to an amplifier into the cord that comes with the game and bam, you can use it as your controller. Notes and chords come across the screen and you strum the real guitar to hit the notes. Its difficulty is based on experience so depending on where you are, the game will fit where you stand. It is a great way to learn guitar and for the pros to show the world world what they have.
-Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time: Words cannot describe how excited I am for this one! The Sly Cooper series, specifically the second one, have been some of the best and most fun games I have ever played. I have been waiting for what seems like ages for a new release for the PlayStation 3 so when I saw the trailer, I became giddy. The gameplay does not look like it has changed (which is not a bad thing!) and the all-ages humor is still present. I look forward to getting this one right when it hits shelves.
-UFC Undisputed 3: I am a HUGE UFC fan. Despite its faults, UFC Undisputed 2010 is still one of my favorite games to break out when it is all said and done. So now that they are FINALLY releasing a new one, I got excited. There are going to be more fighters, the addition of more weight classes, and it gives the user the ability to use PRIDE style rules. For MMA fans around the world, if they can fix the online and not make it as annoying, this can be one great release!
-WiiU: Yes, the name may be stupid. Yes, the graphics may not be as good as what Sony or Microsoft put out. But come on! This is a breath of fresh air that looks AWESOME! An option where you can view your own personalized screen in the palm of your hand to prevent screen-watching is great. You can switch channels and still play your game. I know it’s going to get its fair share of garbage but again, the creative minds at Nintendo put out a hard-to-refuse product.
