With E3 approaching in less than a week the gamer community is a buzz with speculation. We still don’t have an official list of what games are going to be featured by the individual publishers and the news that’s going to come out about the next generation is anyone’s guess. Both Sony and Microsoft are going to be out in force trying to prove why the PS4 or Xbox One is worth your while. It’s going to be one hell of an event.
A lot of us here at Nerdophiles are pretty decent gamers. We’ve got our favorite platforms and genres and so we’ve got a pretty wide variety of interests. Here’s what we’re going to be watching for next week.
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Beyond Two Souls
Quantic Dream (PS3) – October 8, 2013
I loved Heavy Rain. There are some games that some people can go back to and play time and time again and for me Heavy Rain is one of those. The first time I played it I played through a couple hours. The second time I sat down to play it? I finished in in one night with an audience of six other people shouting and screaming at all the right moments. I loved the interactive cinematic feel. The folks over at Quantic Dream are visionaries. I’ve been reading a lot about Beyond Two Souls and it’s not necessarily the big name stars on board with it that get me but the story. Not that we know a lot about it other than what we can garner from Wikipedia and a few interviews here and there (a Kotaku spoiler post mentioned something about delivering a baby…??) but still. After Indigo Prophecy and Heavy Rain I am so down for this game.
Destiny
Bungie (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One) – TBD
Right, so, Bungie broke ranks and after ceding Halo over to Microsoft’s in-house developer 343 Industries they’ve finally announced their own big property Destiny. Tackling not just Microsoft’s consoles but Sony’s too was a great choice on Bungie’s part. They are already going to be bringing in their Halo fans from Microsoft and now they can reach out to a new generation (so to speak) of fans as well. Plus the game looks awesome. Obviously all we’ve seen so far are concept art and a few ambigous trailers but hey. This is E3. Maybe we’ll get more of an idea about how the cross-platform play will work and how they are going to wrap in MMO elements without making it solidly an MMO. Bungie is taking an ambitious step and I’m really looking forward to hearing more about Destiny this year.
Dragon Age III: Inquisition
BioWare (Probably PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC) – TBD 2013
In a lot of ways Dragon Age defined all over RPGs for me this generation. It mixed all the best parts of fantasy novels and roleplay games together to create a really awesome, detailed world. I thought it was great and I loved the choices I was able to make in the first one. The second one was a little lackluster in comparison but it was still a pretty solid game. Dragon Age III, though, could be the best of them. It’s supposed to cover more ground, change up the battle system, and build off the climactic events of Dragon Age II. I’m looking forward to seeing where they go with it.
Final Fantasy
Square Enix (PS4)
So we know nothing about this title except that it exists. It’s not FF Versus XIII – or if it is it’s been rebranded. Either way, it’s the first next generation Final Fantasy game and I’m keeping my eye on this one because I am hoping that Square Enix finally catches on to the new wave of games and starts breaking out of it’s usual conventions. It would be nice to see a game that appealed a bit more to Western gamers who aren’t into JRPGs but who knows if we’ll see anything like that.
Infamous: Second Son
Sucker Punch Productions (PS4)
Man, how awesome did this look at the PS4 announcement? Seriously though. inFamous is one of my favorite series from the PS3 era and the next generation looks like it’s going to be awesome. I’m digging the technopunk-ish Big Brother-style dystopian future. It seemed a bit Watchdogs to me but who knows. I don’t think it’ll be just like that. Those sorts of corporate, techno dystopias are just in these days. Infamous: Second Son looks like a fantastic game and a fantastic story – though Delsin as the lead character’s name? Not important. What is important is seeing more of this game in action at E3.
Quantum Break
Remedy Entertainment (Xbox One) – TBD 2014
We saw this one at the Xbox One announcement and it looked freakin’ awesome. Granted we didn’t see much and that’s largely because E3 was on the way and Microsoft was more concerned about showing us the Call of Duty dog, apparently. I don’t know, it sounds interesting. Apparently they are adopting Defiance’s show/game mash up where the things you do in the game theoretically “effect the show and the show informs how you play the game.” I’m looking forward to seeing more on this if just to see how exactly it all comes together.
Scribblenauts: Unmasked
5th Cell (3DS, Wii U, PC) – Q3/Q4 2013
You can literally play as any character in the DC comic universe. That’s what they claim anyway. And they seem to have done it. I’m looking forward to seeing it in action and seeing what obscure characters people can come up with. Mostly because I want to see all the Blue Beetles together. I also wish it were on more than just Nintendo consoles and PC – why not my PS Vita!? (Because it’s a Nintendo product, I know. But still.) I assume it will come to iOS at some point as most of the other games have.
I’m also looking forward to the Last of Us but considering that game comes out on the day after E3 and it’s already rocking a 96 on Metacritic it’s not really going to be a game I’m paying that much attention to next week. Mostly because I don’t want to spoil a damn thing. Pretty much just anything next gen is also on my radar.
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Watch Dogs
Ubisoft (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, PC) – November 19, 2013
Out of all the games coming out this year, I am the most excited for this game. I am literally foaming at the mouth for this game to come out. Playing a hacker in a city where everything is put onto an operating system, including the city itself? Hell yes. I just want more of this. Ubisoft claims this an open-world game like no other, and since I played the insanity that was Assassin’s Creed 3, I know that they are serious about this. As far as news goes, there has been so little about this game, I’m really excited to see more gameplay for this come E3.
Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag
Ubisoft (at first PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U; later PS4, Xbox One, Wii U) – October 29, 2013
I was a little disappointed when the new Assassin’s Creed didn’t turn out with a female assassin, like they did with Liberation, but when I looked at Edward Kenway… well I was ok with the result. Assassin’s Creed was the first game I ever played, so I am very excited for this game to come out despite everything. The game boasts new features, but the only thing I’m concerned about is a better ship controls because that part of AC3 was horrible. Anyways, I’m very excited since there is a “new team” developing this game, not Montreal.
Elder Scrolls Online
Zenimax (PC, Mac) – TBA 2013
My knowledge of MMOs go as far as my three months playing WoW when I was in seventh grade. I was never able to get into them. I love games for their stories, and never saw too much of it in those types of games. However, when I saw this game come out, I promptly freaked out. I love the world of Cyrodill and just the Elder Scrolls, and after seeing a few videos of the concept art, I was sold. Besides, the plot just sounds really great to me.
Batman Arkham Origins
Warner Bros Interactive (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC) – October 25, 2013
I was a little worried when WB announced that the new Batman would be voiced by a different man, but after seing some of the thing they have in store, I think I’ll be very impressed. Batman Arkham is one of those games that makes me really happy when I play it. I love the Batverse, I love the combat style, which is one of the best in my opinion, and I love the style of the game. I know I’ll enjoy an origins story, but the only question I have is how much I’ll love it.
Batman Arkham Origins Blackgate
Warner Bros Games (Vita 3DS) – October 25, 2013
I love games for the Vita, because I loved the Vita. Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Assassin’s Creed: Liberation were both great games for the handheld console, so I am excited for this. The Armature team (founded by a lot of the Metroid Prime developers) developing this may give the game a throw back, but I think that’s a good style for the handheld. I know I’ll be purchasing this game come release, but I’m also excited to see some gameplay.
Tearaway
SCCE (Vita) – October 22, 2013
This game reminds me of Limbo and Don’t Starve, and watching the trailer just made me want to throw my money at it. I didn’t expect it to be so cute, but after researching a little I promptly died. The main character is named Iota, in a world where everything seems to be folded out of nice Asian origami paper? Take my god damned money already.
Quantum Break
Remedy Entertainment (Xbox One) – TBD 2014
Well walking away from the Xbox One preview was disappointing to say the least. I left thinking, dogs in Call of Duty. But in between the dumpster fire that was a preview for the new Xbox, I had a snippet of something that could be glorious. No one seemed to react very much to the game Quantum Break, but somewhere between “TV and game interaction” and a bridge being ripped apart, I was foaming at the mouth with grabby hands. This is probably the game I am the most excited for in the midst of all that bro-gaming.
Castlevania: Lord of the Shadow 2
Konami (Xbox 360, PS3) – TBD 2014
I’ll be honest, I haven’t played Castlevania yet. To be fair I didn’t even know about it until after my friend Elise told me to play it. She was in love with it, and I have to say after looking at the game, I am excited to be a part of this experience. The first Lord of the Shadow had some great voice actors like Patrick Stewart or Robert Carlyle, and great graphics. I am excited to see what the second game will do with the story.
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Super Smash Bros. 4
Namco Bandai/Nintendo (3DS, Wii U) – TBD
Who is not excited for this game, honestly? Nintendo fan or not, we all know that Super Smash Bros. is probably one of the greatest series ever created. Many a weekend and late night during the course of my life has consisted of crushing friends in Smash tournaments (or, I admit, being crushed). Brawl was everything I had hoped for, and was the reason I was so desperate to acquire a Wii in the first place. This is your cash cow, Nintendo; don’t mess it up. Nintendo is promising to give fans an update, and if they unveil significant information on any major first-party game this conference, it better be this one.
UPDATE: Nintendo has announced that it will be showing the game’s trailer on the June 11 Nintendo Direct! That’s what I’m talking about!
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
Traveller’s Tales (3DS, DS, PC, PS3, Wii U, Vita) – Fall 2013
I am a huge fan of the LEGO games, childish as they may be. Unfortunately, they tend to be hit or miss. The LEGO Star Wars franchise was a hit, and while it had its hiccups, destroying blocks with blasters and building things using the force never gets old. Can you imagine destroying a New York skyscraper as the Hulk? Would there be anything more epically adorable than controlling a LEGO Robert Downey Jr.? Yeah, didn’t think so.
Mario Golf World Tour
Nintendo (3DS) – Summer 2013
Hey, I wouldn’t be writing for this blog if I wasn’t a nerd. I have good memories of Mario Golf for Gamecube, and I also used to golf a lot when I was younger, believe it or not. When I got too frustrated on the course, I would turn on the Gamecube and…get more frustrated, usually. But it was fun most of the time, and it’s nostalgic for me. So I’m looking forward to what Nintendo has to say about this game, especially considering it’s slated for release this summer. Chances are I’ll buy it no matter what, just because it’s Mario Golf.
Mario Kart Wii U
Nintendo (Wii U) – 2013-2014
If Super Smash Bros. wasn’t good enough, Nintendo also has a Mario Kart game in the works for Wii U. Anyone who has played video games has probably played a Mario Kart title sometime in his or her life, and it’s always a party favorite. I have no doubt that Nintendo can churn out something great here; it’s just a matter of timing. It will also be interesting to see how they incorporate the Wii U game pad into the races. Will players still be using Wii Remotes? Will one player have control of the game pad while the others use different controllers (this would be strange, but it’s what has been trending)? The courses will be fantastic, the items classic, but the game controls remain up in the air.
Pokemon X/Y
Nintendo (3DS) – October 2013
I’ve been playing Pokémon since elementary school, and as fellow gamers in my generation can attest, this stuff never gets old. We know quite a bit about X and Y already, including that they’re the first handheld Pokémon adventure games to be fully rendered in 3D graphics. The buzz about these games is significant, and there are all sorts of crazy theories floating around the interwebs (one rather convincing theory claims that this generation is based on Norse mythology). It will be interesting to see whether Nintendo reveals more about X and Y, or if they just let the mystery and tension build until their October release.
Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem
Intelligent Systems/Atlus (Wii U) – TBD
What is this and why hadn’t I heard of it until just recently? This game remains shrouded in mystery, the only confirmed facts being that it’s an RPG featuring both Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem characters. If both developers can pull this off, this has the potential to be a very nice game, as well as the boost the system needs in terms of RPGs.
Super Mario 3D Wii U
Nintendo (Wii U) – TBD
“Mario” is basically synonymous with “Nintendo,” and a new Mario adventure game will likely be the Wii U’s saving grace. I think fans and non-fans alike can all agree that if Nintendo doesn’t whip out some Mario next week, the rest of the year is not going to look promising as far as Wii U sales are concerned, and that’s the last thing Nintendo needs. There hasn’t been any word on what such a game might entail, but I’ve got my fingers crossed for something as original and fun as Super Mario Galaxy …without being Super Mario Galaxy.
The Legend of Zelda HD
Nintendo (Wii U) – TBD
Can I just say: I live for Zelda games. If Nintendo reveals anything of substance regarding a new Zelda title for Wii U, I will be flying as high as a Loftwing. But my guess is that Zelda is in the same rut as the next Mario adventure game, and we won’t hear anything about it this year. Chances are they’ll focus on the new Windwaker HD, and I’m not sure how I feel about that quite yet.
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Watch Dogs
Ubisoft (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, PC) – November 19, 2013
I’m generally a huge fan of anything Ubisoft does–yes, even the Just Dance series. But I’ve been really looking forward to their other titles besides Assassin’s Creed, so Watch Dogs has me very excited and it’s probably my most anticipated game of the year. I’m a huge fan of futuristic premises and cyberpunk atmospheres (see: the review I did for Psycho-Pass) and it looks like the game is definitely going to exceed all my expectations and more.
Dragon Age III: Inquisition
BioWare (Probably PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC) – TBD 2013
Ever since I attended the Dragon Age panel at PAX East 2012, I’ve been trying to read everything I could about Dragon Age III (it’s set in Orlais, aka France). I know a lot of people weren’t fans of the second in the series, but I really enjoyed it. However, I’m confident that BioWare isn’t going further in that direction with improvements to their battle systems and dungeons. In all honesty, though, I’m more intrigued with what party I’m going to have and what relationships there will be and how the story will continue over the series.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Ubisoft (at first PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U; later PS4, Xbox One, Wii U) – October 29, 2013
Of course, as an Ubisoft follower, I must anticipate Black Flag, even though I wasn’t very happy with their setting and choice of main character. Pirates, really? We’re going back in time, really? And a male MC, really? But at this point, I’m so invested in the story that I’ll take anything the team will give me, so let’s hope Haytham’s father is a more enjoyable character than Connor was.
Beyond Two Souls
Quantic Dream (PS3) – October 8, 2013
Very rarely are there games that focus much on spirituality, so combined with psychological and thriller aspects, Beyond Two Souls is going to prove to be a very fascinating title. I admit I’ve yet to play Heavy Rain in full (I know, shame on me!), but I liked what I experienced, so if “interactive cinema” is the way some games are planning on going, I’m not complaining too much.
Tales of Xillia
Namco Bandai (PS3) – August 6, 2013
Okay, JRPGs are my jam and I love the Tales series like no other. It’s real-time combat, which I prefer much more over the traditional turn-based games like Final Fantasy, though in truth, they’ve been innovating their battle system more and more as the series progresses. There’s a lot of buzz online about Tales of Xillia (it’s already released in Japan), hailing it as one of the better, if not best, games of the Tales series, so I’m incredibly optimistic about that. I should probably try to get my hands on Tales of Graces F before I do anything else, though…
Rune Factory 4
Neverland Co. (3DS) – July 16, 2013
So, Rune Factory is probably something no one has ever heard of. Unless you’re into the Harvest Moon series, which is a farming/life simulation that occupied a good portion of my younger years. Rune Factory takes the farming/life sim aspect of Harvest Moon and adds RPG combat mechanics to it, making it the most brilliant combination ever. Interestingly enough, the bosses you defeat in Rune Factory 4 can transform into humans and thus, possible marriage candidates. Which kind of freaks me out.
Elder Scrolls Online
Zenimax (PC, Mac) – TBA 2013
I’ve been waiting for a promising MMORPG for a long time now. I’m a veteran World of Warcraft player, beginning a few months after its vanilla release and playing several years after, until I finally quit right before the Cataclysm expansion. No MMORPG has gripped me like WoW did, and believe me, I’ve tried. Age of Conan, nope. The Old Republic, nope. The Secret World, nope. Nothing drew me in and made me stay. However, I love the Elder Scrolls series and the lore behind it, so hopefully I’ll finally find something to occupy another large chunk of my life.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
CD Projekt RED (PC, PS4) – TBA 2014
I’ll be honest here and say I only played a few hours into Witcher 1 and Witcher 2. That’s not to say that the games weren’t good. My PC just wasn’t high-end enough to load them without sacrificing the graphic quality, which is a very big deal to me. However, the combat and mechanics were excellent, and CD Projekt RED is an amazing company, so Witcher 3 will definitely be a great game. If I purchase the PS4, which I probably will over the Xbox one, I am definitely going to get Witcher 3 for it.
Broken Age
Double Fine (PC, iOS) – TBA
Ah, the game that started the Kickstarter frenzy. I am crazy about adventure games and Psychonauts gives me good memories, so how can I not love everything that Broken Age will be? Parallel lives? The girl that fights back against her fate? This has the makings of a classic, so let’s see how Tim Schafer and his excellent team will do!
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Watch Dogs
Ubisoft (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, PC) – November 19, 2013
When I first saw the game play trailer and preview of the game I flipped like a little girl seeing a One Direction concert…okay, maybe not that crazy but you get the picture. I love 3rd person games and even more so I love open-world sandbox games. I also love computers and to be able to hack a city…hell yeah! It’s like being in the Matrix without all the pink goo, metal squids, and not to mention a giant hypodermic needle shoved in the back of your head. Watch Dogs is going to be amazing and I will be the first to pre-order that baby as soon as it comes out.
Batman: Arkham Origins
Warner Bros – Games Montreal (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U) – October 25, 2013
BATMAN! YES! OMG! I played the hell out of the Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, they were freakin’ the best games ever. I loved the villains and I loved the graphics. I loved the gameplay, the movement, the puzzles, the fighting…I can go on and on. Now that Warner Bros is going to release Batman before he gets into his groove…where he is even more aggressive and animalistic, I can’t wait. It will be really fun to escape all the villains trying to kill Batman because he has a bounty on his head and I like that it’s taking a darker tone. Jeez…I’m going to go broke in October.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Ubisoft (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, PC) – October 29, 2013
Truth be told, I’m not all that crazy for this game because there is a lot more of that ship fighting stuff. I played AC3 and it was great, but the ship battle sequences weren’t for me. If there are improvements for AC4 in regards to this then hell yeah I’ll play it, but I really wish that AC4 would have followed Connor because I liked that sassy smartass.
So now that you know what we’re watching for what are you looking forward to seeing more of at E3 this year?
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